Just sitting here

[navydad]

thinking about the things I iss,, and wouldnt you know it,, a tooth that has been coming apart,, just came apart more,,just something else to worry about
   Anyway,, iwas thinking about the things Imiss,
I miss tasting coffee in the morning,,
I miss the taste of sweet corn fresly picked
I miss being able to sleep a full night wthout the constant coughing from the slime that runs dwon my throat all night
I miss havng a beautiful smile
I miss having a stomach that worked right before I found out my gallbladder is full of stones and polys,, and a spleen that covered with something that they want to check next week
I iss a left ear that doesnt ring 24/7,, and constantly is draining,,
I miss time with my two boys,, fishing hunting,, and just hannging out together
I iss my sense of smeel,, I can open a jar of vicks rub,, put it next to my nose,, not smell a thing,, but my brain registers it,
And lastly,, Iiss my relationship ith my Wife,, God bless her,, but she is one of the people wo thinks, if it aint visible,, theres nothing wrong
I;m sure theres more,, but feel free to add to the list your own personal ( I MISS)

[jonnell]

Navydad, once again u have me in tears,  I so wish I could give u a hug.  This disease can ruin your life thats for sure,  And I believe in addition to Jenna having it I also do.  But having a child with it makes it very hard to let it get me depressed, because she looks to me to get her thru this and make her feel better.   Just as I believe you need to try to be happy for your sons Im sure it depresses them to c their dad so down.  And if your wife is anything like me it probably upsets her that she cant fix things, us women think we can fix anything and when we cant it makes us frustrated.   If nothing else I believe dealing with this disease makes us a better person,  Jennas illness as taught me a great deal of empathy for others and has made me appreciate the good things in life that most take for granted.  I hope you feel better and I wish you happiness.    Hugs   Jonnell and Jenna

[Patze]

Okay, group hug y'all!!!

I miss not being able to hear the quiet of an early morning in the mountains anymore (tinnitus in both ears);
I miss not being able to drop five pounds in a week's time and not think anything about it;
I miss having normal eyes, ones where I could watch tv all night long and it wouldn't bother me in the least;
I miss being able to go to clubs (well, a few private ones) anymore because of the smoke just kills my eyes and sinus's (and I used to smoke);
I miss not having the energy to super clean my home in six hours, now a days, it's more like six weeks;
I miss not being able to really taste or smell what I'm eating;
And darn it, I miss being able to party all night long and work a full shift the next day!  Dang, where did the time go?

Patze

[Leisa]

I miss going to the beach and enjoying the sand and sun oh, and ocean.
I miss enjoying the taste of shrimp or heck any food!
I miss going for long car rides into the unknown with my husband.
I miss the joy of gardening.
I miss working as i love helping people.
I miss decorating my house, changing to new themes.
I miss the joy of cooking as i don't taste and don't eat much at all.
I miss taking my dog CoCo for nice walks.
Heck i miss everything and tired of spending my life on the stupid sofa!

But hey, I have my laptop and all of you! Even if it's sad stories sometimes i know i'm not the only person in this world whose lives suck Thank you for you! I love you all! Your my bff!!

[irish]

More for the list.

I miss hearing out of my right ear---big time!!!
I miss being able to walk across a lawn without having to watch so I don't fall and break my stupid neck.
I miss walking down to the basement without leaning my side against the wall so I don't fall.
I miss shopping without having to hold onto a cart for balance and support.
I miss traveling overnight without having to drag all my pills, nasal irrigation stuff including water, nebulizer and Vest for chest percussion.
I miss having the energy to enjoy life without ending up a basket case the next day.
I miss living without infections.
I miss living without constant mucus day and night. (going on since January 2000)
I miss mowing the lawn.
I miss having a vegetable garden and flower garden.
I, too, miss being able to clean house in one day.
I miss the old zest for life and motivation I used to have.
I miss working so much, the satisfaction of a job well done and the friends at work.
I also miss being able to pick up and run to town without it being a major event.(water, inhalers, pills, etc.)

But:
I love the sunsets I see out my kitchen window--they bless my soul.
I love the soft cuddly grandchildren I am still able to hold and hug.
I love watching politics on TV.(I know, I certifyibly crazy)
I love reading and thankful for starting Restasis early enough to do me great good.
I love the fact that I don't have to get up to go to work when the roads are icy.
I love the smell of new mown hay.
I love the smell of the air when it rains.(Yes, I can still smell certain things at times)
I love the ability to do what I want when I want now that I am home.--Put off til tomorrow and I do!!!!!
I love looking out across the rolling land and fields from my living room, family room and kitchen.
I love that I have been allowed the years to watch my 3 sons become men, husbands and fathers.

There are bad days, but I am so blessed to have so many things to be thankful for. On those really bad "blanky" days I am so thankful for a roof over my head and my recliner. Doesn't take much to make a sick person happy does it. Take care my friends. Irish

[Katybarstool]

Irish

Thank you for reminding me that, although I can echo some of the things you miss, we have a lot of blessings to count.

Kathyx 

[Fairy]

What a wonderful Thread. I miss all of those things.
I just wanted to add something that I am doing. I love to garden and I noticed some of you wrote gardening. Well, I had a good idea this year, and it is working wonderfully. I got plastic wading pools (5ft X 12 inches) and I planted my vegies in them. They are working great. Now I can sit in my chair and pick my vegies, and I don't have to try and pull weeds. I do Miss how everything use to taste, but I know my vegies are healthyer than in the store. Just and idea for everyone, because if I couldn't garden, life would be a lot worse. 

[Crabcakes]

Since having an actual diagnosis, I too miss a lot.

I miss my energy!
I miss being able to walk without pain.
I miss being able to roll over in bed without searing pain in my shoulders and arms.


But, I am blessed to have a very understanding husband. He suffers from severe degenerative arthritis and knows what pain is.

I was recently granted time with my grandchildren by my son-in-law
I have my laptop and cell phone and internet!
I have a husband willing to microwave frozen dinners, and love them!
I have my website business.
I talk to my oldest daughter often.
I have oodles of neices to talk to via email, chat and phone.
The ringing in my ears has not made me crazy yet!
I have a percussion massager and Crocs Rx clogs to make it a bit easier!
I do not have an eye problem yet, and hope to escape this! Yikes - what a bother!

[ruby52]

I miss not being able to tackle all the big jobs around the house and yard  that need done and bug my DH to please get them done.
I love tackling even just one on a good day with my DH and hearing him say I couldn't have done that without your help.
                                                                                                                                                                                 
I miss not being able to attend church Sun. mornings with DH.
I love roaming around the yard and garden areas with the puppy in the morning and having pancakes on the table when DH returns.
                                                                                                                                                                                 
I miss not being able to get together with friends for a movie and dinner anymore.
I love connecting on friends and family websites that have allowed me to form deeper relationships with someone like a niece that I wouldn't normally have discovered.
                                                                                                                                                                                         
I miss eating a nice roast beef dinner because my mouth is to dry to swallow.
I love the feel of a cold yummy sundae slide down my throat.
                                                                                                                                                                                   
I miss not being able to complete even one errand on my list at the start of some days.
I love letting it go and laying on the sofa resting and saying aloud,"You are a strong woman and it's ok if you can't do it today."
                                     
This is how I'm choosing to think after 5yrs. of DX and fighting it and feeling like a failure.
                                                                                Ruby

[Dolly Dimples]

  I cant add any more to the lists of  I miss ,
            but our wise old owl Irish sums up the I love's  perfectly !
     I can add one more thing tho'....   Hey, I am still here!!
                                                                                        Bless you all , Dolly x
                         

[lynnmarie219]

                                                                                                                                                                         
     
I miss not being able to complete even one errand on my list at the start of some days.
I love letting it go and laying on the sofa resting and saying aloud,"You are a strong woman and it's ok if you can't do it today."
                                     
This is how I'm choosing to think after 5yrs. of DX and fighting it and feeling like a failure.
                                                                                Ruby

I like the way you think Ruby.... 

[Lesleybird]

  Oh no,  You guys need to get out of your pitty party!!  Don't count what you don't have, count what you do have.  Count your blessings, not your sorrows and you will be happier. Tell a blind man that you miss not having to put drops in your eyes so that you can watch TV forever and you won't feel so bad........ you'll be reminded and happy that you can see.               Lesley

[Chickpea]

Irish sums it all up perfectly - as usual - 'Doesn't take much to make a sick person happy, does it?'

You're absolutely right, Irish! 

Of course we all mourn for the things we miss and some days are harder than others in that respect.  But the joys of daily life, the little moments that we probably used to miss as we rushed from thing to thing ... those are our new pleasures. 

And thank you Ruby for your new mantra which I'm planning to adopt from tomorrow.  I'm going to remind myself that 'I'm a strong woman and it's okay if I can't do anything today.'

Thinking of you all - Chickpea

[jonnell]

     And we all have each other.

[Epson]

I try not to dwell on what has past or what might be.  My dog told me that it is much healthier to live in the present, but then again she also like to sniff butts.