My Graduation and the People Who Made it Possible

 August 2009 - The first year of college for me at UTSA in San Antonio, Texas. I had NO IDEA what to expect once I got on campus, but I was definitely ready to move on from icky high school.

I wouldn't have even gotten to UTSA if it wasn't for my mother. She is the one who pushed me to finish all of my college applications during the summer of 2008. Yeah, it felt like a complete drag back then, but then I didn't have to worry about apps during my senior year! It was really in my best interests, so I'm thankful for her nagging me to do it! Haha!

Anyway, I arrived at UTSA and my parents and sister helped me to move in. Let me just say how damn supportive my family is. They are there for me through it all. No matter what. They are ALL amazing, strong, loving people and I love them so much.

Here are some highlights from the move in:





I felt pretty lonely there my first year. I was alone a lot because I was in a new city where I didn't know anyone. I was also still figuring out what was wrong with my foot.

Once I started to create my friend base, things got better. I earned a 3.9 GPA my first semester! :) I was one happy roadrunner!

Of course, as I started to get more involved on campus and gained friendships, my grades balanced out with my social life.


My feet started to get worse and I was in and out of a wheelchair/crutches.

As many of you know, I met a boy in 2010. I won't even say his name, but he is the reason I had to leave San Antonio. My parents, despite the horrible situation, stuck by me every step of the way. My sister did the same. She even stood up for me when I couldn't stand up for myself. I couldn't have been luckier.

My friends, however, did not stick by me. People who I thought I could trust, who had been my "friends" for our entire lives, ended up stabbing me in the back and leaving when it got hard. I couldn't believe it. I had lost the people who I thought loved me most. I was devastated. People were ashamed of my pain and didn't want to hear about it and it hurt so bad. Because I NEEDED my friends - I needed them more than ever during that time. Nonetheless, they deserted me and I felt so alone. I only had a few people who stood by me, like Lexie and Ashton.

I was a wreck. My boyfriend sucked the life out of me. I was always unhappy, always angry.


I had lost my sparkle and I was afraid. I didn't understand how he could claim to love me when I'd often find myself hurting. He'd pin my wrists to the wall and scream in my face. One day, with the lights off, he straddled me on his roommate's bed and started to strangle me. He leaned down to my face and told me, "I could kill you and drag your dead body out there right now in front of everyone and I wouldn't care."

I thought I was going to die. Why he let me go, I'll never know. I was having so much trouble coping. Thankfully I met a really cool group of people in the hot tub one night. We had a bubble party! Haha! They are in the photo below.


Unfortunately, they ended up moving and I of course felt better moving home. I didn't want to stay in San Antonio after all the crap that had happened.

I had to rebuild from there. Getting out and going home was such a relief. I felt better, not surrounded by memories of a past that had slowly destroyed me from the inside out. Being at home with my family made me feel safe and wanted, and I slowly revealed to my family what had happened to me back at school. It was so unbelievably hard, but it was an issue that had to be confronted.

I won't lie and say it was an easy process, telling them. It wasn't. It hurt to watch my mom's face fall, knowing there was nothing she could do about what had happened to me back then. But we could rebuild.

So there were my parents, behind me every step of the way, urging on my progress, being there for me no matter what. Being the best parents in the world. I cannot thank them enough for not deserting me or being ashamed of me, like some of my "friends" had done. They are amazing parents. Along with that, they were there for me uring my RSD diagnosis. I got my nuerostimulator implant September of 2011 and started walking again! I was so happy! I could tell that my family was, too. They were so supportive.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APeqbLgkexM

Back to Summer of 2012. Enter Trey. We had dinner one night at Chili's just to catch up because we hadn't talked in a few years. We had a great time catching up and he invited me out to karaoke with his friends that coming Thursday. Little did I know that the people I would meet there would end up being some of my best friends.

That summer - I needed it. I needed those new friends. I needed to regain my confidence, my self-esteem, my happiness. And due to the presence of those incredible people in my life, I did. I cannot thank these people enough for restoring my faith in the human race and the realization that love is not a myth - they show me love EVERY SINGLE DAY. These people know the true meaning of friendship and try their hardest to be good people. And they succeed :)





Let me talk to you about this girl right here.

Rachel became my best friend that summer. We balanced each other out in such great ways, and ended up learning from each other's strengths and weaknesses. She taught me to always consider the other side of a situation and walk in another person's shoes before judging them. She has been there for me through good times (JAMBA JUICE) and bad times (panic attacks). She has showed up at 2 AM to eat oreos with me, even after finding out that we could only dip them in a milk bottle for so long until our hands couldn't reach anymore. XD She is the best and this girl deserves so many wonderful things in life!


Then of course my parents urged me to go back to school. Oh man I wasn't sure if I was ready... I was terrified of failing. But, with the help of my mom and dad, I ended up enrolling last minute at Sam Houston State University in the fall of 2012. It was hard to get everything in order, but we did it!

And did I mention how freaking lucky I was to get the LAST ROOM AVAILABLE IN THE ARBORS?! I was paired with a random roommate named Alex Hansen. Mom was worried she'd be weird or crazy or a hooker, but holy moses - she was none of those things! Well, she IS weird, but it's the good kind ;)

Alex is one of the main reasons I am who I am today. That girl knows how to love! She is so kind, gentle, and generous and always puts others before herself. Being her roommate was an amazing experience. Through that school year, we grew so close so fast and I really enjoyed going to school and living with her! Not only did she help me tremendously through recovering from my abusive relationship, she always was there with a comforting word or a hug no matter what time of night it was.

Christmas was a happy time. I got to see Emma, my little niece! :)


Emma can ALWAYS put a smile on my face. She knows immediately when I'm feeling bad or when my foot hurts and always tries to make me feel better. She is the sweetest little girl I have ever met and I adore her. She has changed my outlook on kids and life overall. She has taught me to be kinder and gentler and to, above all else, be unapologetically myself!

The new year promised new opportunities and a new outlook. I was ready to get things DONE! So I started making lists - TONS OF LISTS. In fact, I currently have 20 lists on my desk at this very moment. Haha. I enjoy being organized and knowing what I need to get done.

I got in gear and started getting super serious about my future. I took my projects seriously. I was taking a Practicum in Publishing class and our final project was really cool. We had to design a mock literary journal along with a proposal and a ten minute pitch in our prof's office as if he was a possible investor. I was nervous but I did it and loved it! When I asked my professor about my project, he sent me this:


Needless to say, I was beyond thrilled. I couldn't be happier. I worked SO HARD on that project and it was really important that I did well on it. Hooray for getting an A!

The summer was BUSY. I mean EXTREMELY BUSY. Between planning my sister's wedding, summer classes, and picking out graduate schools, I barely had time to breathe! But I got to spend time with the people who mattered most and that's what counts :)











This guy right here ^ He ended up surprising the HECK out of me when he showed up at my house with a bouquet of roses. I did NOT see that coming. But I was so glad that he did :) Since we first met in 2012, Chase has been a great addition to my life. He makes me laugh so hard that I cry, he respects me, and he is understanding.


I also met an amazing girl that would end up being one of my best friends: Laura, my wifey. It all started with an awkward meeting during a game of Spin the Bottle at Vintage. She basically told me that her best friend wanted me. LOL. And this is how we became friends XD

After that was my last semester of college! Holy moses! :) I had a new roommate (Ashley Sanders) and I was ready to finish strong!

Ashley and I being weirdos after a hilarious trip to Sonic :P

Special thanks for surviving a HORRIDLY BUSY, INSANE semester goes to: Ross Irvin and James Ross.






We met in August of 2012, and since then Ross has always been an awesome friend. We wrote together, sang together, drank together, etc. He stays up with me until 3 AM when I'm having panic attacks or pain flares and makes sure that I'm okay. He takes me to movies for free because he's manager and we're best frands like that (BE JEALOUS OF MY VIP STATUS). But above all else, he's always there for me and he's an incredible friend. He constantly reminds me to be myself because myself is AWESOME. He's awesome, too :D


This kiddo right here is James Ross. We have chocolate/wine/horror movie nights and discuss morbid jokes that other people won't laugh at. We are screwed up in the head and PROUD OF IT! I enjoy our gory psychopathic conversations and how he laughs at my messed up comments instead of being disgusted by them. We are quite a team and I really have appreciated his friendship. I'm gonna miss him when I move out of Huntsville! *sobs*

Here I am today. A college graduate with a B.A. in English! I really am so grateful to my loved ones, employers, professors, and classmates that have supported me over the years. I wouldn't be who I am today without any of you :)

The Question

The question I constantly ask myself is: Is it worth it or should I rest? Many people never have to ask themselves this question, but I have to every single day.

This is normally how it goes:

I get up and start moving around, brushing my teeth, taking a shower, getting dressed, etc. That leads to me taking my pills (Omega 3-6-9, B6, B12, and C) and doing my morning social media check. By the time I'm ready to leave, usually that's when my pain begins.

At this point, I am usually sitting on my bed, thinking, "Should I cancel on dinner plans for tonight?" I weigh the pros and cons and come up with the following arguments.

1. No way! I'll be fine.

2. Nope. Would you rather go out and have fun and make memories, or sit at home, bored and wishing you were out having a good time with your loved ones?

3. No; I can rest during the day and move some things to the next day (which goes along with the spoon theory. If you haven't heard of it, here: http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/wpress/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/)

4. Yes; I need to rest. Taking care of myself is so important. If I rest now, I'll be able to have more fun later.

If you'll notice, I have 3 nos up there and only 1 yes. Does this mean that I value socializing over my own health and well being? Not necessarily, but part of the "no" is definitely denial.

I often do go out when I know that I shouldn't. I'm stubborn, that's just me... my mom will agree with me on that one! Haha!

Sometimes I get so angry with myself for having this disease and I want to prove to the world that I am strong and it doesn't affect me. But the truth is... it does. When I'm having a good day, I'm on cloud nine. Sometimes I forget about RSD. I'll go sing karaoke with my friends or go out to eat dinner with my best friend or hang out with my niece, and the world is my oyster. But when I get home and wake up the next morning, I know that I did too much.

So what's the secret to getting it right?

I'm not sure, honestly.

My number one focus is living life to its fullest. The trade off for that is foot pain.

The thing is: there is no concrete way of knowing what my pain level will be the next day. I can take preventative measures, but that still won't really allow me to gauge my future pain level.

So tonight, when I think about whether I should go to dinner with my friend Justin... or if I should stay home... I'm going to be a bit more realistic and bring an ice pack along. I'm going to wear my Z Coil shoes instead of a cute outfit and heels. I'm going to take care of myself and compromise some things that aren't essential for one of the best things in life - spending time with a good friend.

I hope you guys will be able to do the same! Make compromises with yourself and see how much better you feel. Let me know what you think in the comments. :)

XOXO
-Sammie

Living with CRPS: How to Do It Right Without Missing Out On What You Love

Hey guys! Good morning! :)

Lately, I've been thinking about my lifestyle and how I often miss out on things I want to do because of my pain.

For years, I have wanted to play soccer and run again. I miss those things so much. I would totally go out and do them if it wasn't for the pain I'd experience during and afterward. That scares me.

So, I spend my nights dreaming of one day joining a soccer team and running a marathon... it makes me sad, to be honest.

But the thing is... just because I choose NOT to do those things doesn't mean I CAN'T.

If I train, if I work in little spurts, I can get there. I have a friend who also has CRPS who runs AND plays basketball, despite the pain. Such an inspiration to me that she remains so strong through it all.

Here are the things I keep in mind for planning my events:

1 - Family is the most important thing. Make them number one, no matter what.

2 - Plan events in which you can rest if you need to. Always prepare for the worst.

3 - Comfort over beauty, always. I know you want to look cute and wear those heels, but you will kick yourself for it later!

4 - Always consider your spoons. More rest now means more time tomorrow to have fun!

5 - Never neglect taking care of yourself.

6 - Don't rush. Stress will only make things worse.

7 - Space out events so that you don't feel overwhelmed on one day.

And that's pretty much it. I know it kind of sucks, living with rules, but it really doesn't feel like rules. They HELP me, and really in no way restrain me from doing what I want to do - they enable me! :)

Sure, sometimes it sucks having to cancel on a loved one, but I can spend that time resting and writing, something I adore, or even reading! There are options, and NO MOMENT IS A WASTED ONE. Learn to love every bit of life. Turn that cancelled event into a fun day by incorporating something you normally wouldn't do into it. Bored and stuck in bed? Grab a coloring book and order takeout. Unable to leave the house? Turn on Netflix and start a new series. Play with your hair. Try to cook something.

Being alone and immobile isn't the end of a good life - it's a challenge to create happiness out of misery. And you CAN do it! :) Take those moments and turn them into something fun, beautiful, and productive! :)

Why Me?

I battled so hard with this question for a long, long time. Honestly, I can't say that I have the answer, and that's okay.

Initially I had several negative thoughts running through my head:

1 - I was being punished for something bad I had done in the past.

2 - I was being taught a lesson about patience and perseverance.

3 - God wanted me to be broken.

All of these thoughts fueled my depression. I didn't want a lesson; I just wanted to feel better! I'm sure many of you have felt the same way. Those inspirational posters and their messages can only go so far. When you're having a pain flare, their message is muddled by the immense agony you are experiencing. You focus on what you've lost, and it sucks.

So when you battle with the question "why me," remember that it's okay to not know the answer. Having this disease doesn't make you less of a person than anyone else. Instead of thinking "why me," a question that hinders progress towards healing, start thinking, "How can I heal?"

Role Models

This first picture was sent to me by a friend. Taylor Swift is not the main reason for ME, but whoever made this swears that Taylor Swift and her music had a profound impact on her journey with this disease.

It is important to have role models, especially while you are growing up or experiencing trials. My family has always been a group of great role models to me in several areas. They stood by me every moment when I was trying to figure out why I was in pain so much. As far as other role models go, that's where my network came in. Meeting other people with RSD/CRPS was a godsend. I was able to vent my feelings to people who actually understood, ask questions and have them honestly answered, and find possible alternative treatments. The first person I talked to in length about CRPS was named Payton. Though she lives in another state (that I won't release to you for her own privacy), we were able to connect rather quickly. Payton runs and plays basketball even though she lives with daily CRPS pain. She is a trooper and really pushes through the pain in order to do what she enjoys doing most. She has always been a role model to me and whenever I start feeling down on myself or getting negative, I look at this photo:

Payton posted this on her wall a long time ago, but it still has a huge impact on me every day. It's a challenge, but more importantly, it's inspiration to get up and do what I want to do despite the pain I am experiencing. I may not be able to change my pain, but I AM able to change my attitude.

She reminds me that if she can do it, so can I!

Back in Ol' San Antone

I've been spending the weekend with my family at my sister's new house in San Antonio. It's beautiful! :) Emma is very happy here. Emma is my niece. She's turning 3 in August! :)

Anyway, my foot has been hurting some since I got up here. I had to ice it in the car on the way up to San Antonio with my mom. I know, I know. Ice does more harm than good... but I just couldn't help it. I feel claustrophobic when I have foot pain in a car because I can't go anywhere.

I've been playing with my niece and watching movies with her since we arrived yesterday afternoon. :) She was teaching me and my dad how to do ballet. It was hilarious. There are videos. I will probably post one later.

Anyway, I just wanted to check in and let y'all know what's been going on lately.

Happy healing! I hope you guys have been keeping up with the Facebook page!

If not, here it is: https://www.facebook.com/MyRsdcrpsBlog

Turn That Frown Upside Down

When I first got this disease, I dreamed about two things - my life before and my life after. I yearned so badly to go back to the life I had before being diagnosed with RSD. I imagined myself playing soccer, getting back into running, doing all the things I had wanted to do since I was little. The new me was unable to do those things, but I didn't want to accept that, and that was the problem - acceptance. I only saw this as a roadblock, not as a way of life that I would have to adapt to. Every move I made was to try to heal this thing, to get past it. I wasn't even worried about the moment I was in. I simply wanted to get to the moment where I would finally be free of pain.

So here's what the problem was: I was only looking ahead.

I was neglecting the present by thinking so much about the future. And though I can honestly say that living with RSD is torture, there were little things along the way that I learned, that I experienced, and they were good.

In these moments of helplessness, I learned several important things. The little things suddenly became big quite quickly. Firstly, I was unable to control things. I had to rely on God for strength and made prayer a priority. It felt hopeless at the time, but I had something to hold onto and that made me feel better. Letting go of the wheel was so difficult, but it was definitely helpful. All of the emotional stress made everything harder. God took that off of my shoulders. :)

Secondly, I learned who my true friends were and what love meant. My family was and is so supportive. My mom was next to my bed almost every minute, helping me eat, helping me get up to go to the bathroom, helping me to bathe myself. I remember her sitting next to my bed, saying, "I don't care if I have to spend a million dollars. I am going to make sure you are better." My friends would come visit, but the ones that stayed... those were the ones who I could really count on. Their actions shed so much light on how they felt about me as a person.

Thirdly, I gained strength through this process. I felt so weak, but I grew stronger every minute of every day. I had a choice - and I chose to fight. I am so proud to say that I didn't give up. I always think about how strong we are, individually and as a group of people with this disease. Though life has thrown us down and beaten us to hell, we get back up and THEN go out and help others who are battling the same thing we are. We are impressively strong! I've been called so many names... gimp, cripple, crutch girl, wheelie, broken, captain crutch (that one was kind of funny, I'll admit), the girl in the chair... and I had a choice to let it bother me or to let it strengthen me. Letting their ignorant words and insults roll off my back made me a stronger woman. Words cannot bring me down and I refuse to allow someone to make me feel bad about myself because they are too ignorant to think before they speak.

I also learned about living on "the other side." I never really knew how to treat people with disabilities. Some welcomed help, and others just wanted to be left alone. After living in a wheelchair and losing my independence, I was able to understand why. Having to rely on other people for small things is extremely aggravating. Not being able to reach the top cabinet in my dorm was so embarrassing. A young lady in her twenties doesn't want to be asking for help for things like that. I wanted to do it myself. As aforementioned, I had to let go of the wheel and allow myself to be helped by others.

My life has changed dramatically since I was diagnosed with RSD. Instead of focusing on what I've lost, however, I have decided to focus on the happy things present in my life. I keep several journals - one for my dreams, one for daily journaling about my life, and another as a daily input of things I've learned/watched/read/discovered/seen. On this last journal, I have a slide (I do them all on Power Point) called "Turn That Frown Upside Down." I list bad things that happened during the day, and then I add the word "BUT" at the end of the sentence. Then I type something positive that came out of the bad thing. I do this EVERY DAY. When I get frustrated, I find this helps in fueling my anger into something good. Try it yourself! Here's an example: "I got a foot flare last night BUT that kept me from driving super late at night and gave me time to rest." :) It's that easy, and it truly helps me!

In other news, I did get a foot flare last night. I had just watched Man of Steel with my friend Ross (if you haven't seen it yet, GO SEE IT!!! It's so good!!!) and then we decided to go eat at Buffalo Wild Wings. Some friends came in a little after we did so we sat there and talked for a bit. Unfortunately my foot started hurting, so I had to leave. Ross carried me to my car. Haha! Gotta love my friends. Driving home was not a horrible experience and I was able to keep my cool. I got home and rested for a bit. Today I'm doing alright. Still going to take it easy though and rest; I'll be moving around a lot this weekend when I go visit my niece! :)

Happy healing!

-Sammie

Do What You Want To Do!

Someone once told me, "Never let anyone make you feel like you aren't good enough." That girl's name was Alexandra Gonzales. What she said that day stuck with me over the years and still fuels me to this day. Though her initial intent was to give me advice about dating, the message carried over into other parts of my life.

1. Doctors
In the beginning, it was really hard. Doctors would either not listen or assume I was lying or exaggerating my pain. One doctor told me I would just have to live with it for the rest of my life. I didn't like that answer and I sure as hell was not going to accept it. He may have thought that I was overreacting and could learn to just put up with the pain, but that was not the case. He didn't understand. I wanted a cure. I needed to be healed.  That's why I kept pressing on - I wanted to be better so bad. No matter how many doctors told me I couldn't be "fixed," I kept on looking for a solution to my pain. That's something I hope you will do in your life. Don't give up. No matter what anyone says or tells you about the future, YOU have the choice to keep trying or to give up. No one really fails until they give up. Keep on looking! Keep on trying! We will find a cure one day, even if other people don't believe it.

2. Friends and family
Taking time for yourself is so important when living with this disease. This can put a strain on relationships. That's why education is so vital in keeping our relationships healthy. Make sure to communicate with your loved ones about this disease so that they understand what's going on. Cancelling at the last minute on a good friend may be rude, but if you need to do it, you need to do it. Don't ever feel bad for choosing to take care of YOUR HEALTH first. People may call you selfish or standoffish; ignore them. You know what is going to make you feel better and what is going to make your pain worse. If you need to take a break, then take a break! Your loved ones will need to learn how to be patient with you during this time. I plan ahead oftentimes, just in case. I have ice packs at my friends' places and pain meds with me in case I need them. My family and friends understand that I can't stand for long periods of time, and always have a chair for me. Speak up if you want to be heard!

3. Romantic relationships
This one is a biggie. Dating someone with a disease like RSD/CRPS can be extremely challenging. Patience is absolutely necessary. My last boyfriend was understanding about it at first, but then started losing his patience. We were going to go to a party one night and I just didn't feel comfortable leaving my dorm or driving. I was in too much pain. He got really upset and it made me feel so self-conscious. He kept pushing me to go, which was very rude. We ended up going, but it was an ordeal getting there... Your significant other should be okay with being flexible and possibly having to trade a fun night out for a relaxing night in, watching movies in bed together. Above all, your boyfriend/girlfriend should respect you. You are not less of a person than they are because you have RSD. Do not let them make jokes about your condition or push you around simply because they can. That's not okay and it's not fair. Make sure they understand that you are not a "broken toy" and you deserve just as much respect as they do.

4. The workplace
It's hard getting a job when you have pain. Stating disability on a job application sometimes feels like signing a form that says "don't hire me." Don't EVER apologize for your disease during a job interview. They either understand or they don't. This is, yet again, where education comes in. Be honest about your abilities and make sure they know what accommodations you need to get the job done! If they're good people, they will look past your RSD/CRPS. But also be realistic; if you have severe RSD in your legs, don't sign up to be a track coach. There are several organizations that can help people with disabilities get jobs, and I have listed some below:

http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic//disability/jobsearch.htm
http://askjan.org/job/
http://www.gettinghired.com/
http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2012/09/25/best-way-for-disabled-workers-to-find-a-new-job/


5. Yourself
How you treat yourself has a direct correlation to your personal health. Being sad and frustrated can lead to worse health. Treat yourself well! Work on your self-confidence! I read one time in Seventeen Magazine that you should look yourself in the mirror each morning, hair undone and makeup not yet on, and just say good things about yourself. Say that you are beautiful. After awhile, you will start believing it. I know this sounds silly, but it works! :) Go after what you want, and stop caring about what others think. Chase your happiness. Don't let anyone tell you that doing that is selfish or a waste of time, because it's not. I found so much happiness through doing this. Positivity is very important in building a healthy self-image. Also, take time to relax. Take a bubble bath. Drink some wine. Read a book. Pamper yourself! :)  YOU should be your number one priority. That will lessen anxiety and help you to feel better about yourself. Valuing yourself is a great step towards healing, both emotionally and physically.

Feel free to comment or ask questions below! :) Happy healing!

It's a Mumford Kind Of Day

Today started late but then zoomed forward pretty fast. I took my medication this morning and then got up, straightened my hair, got dressed, and put on my makeup pretty fast! I was so happy that I could be so productive so soon!

No pain this morning! Hooray! I'm glad I didn't go out last night because if I had, I wouldn't have felt as good as I feel today. :) Sometimes you've just got to take a break and relax.

I've been reading some interesting RSD stories lately and I came across this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaTlI6bfF64

Feel free to share this with your friends and family!

I'm so glad to see the media sharing this news with everyone. Not a lot of people know that RSD/CRPS even exists. Sharing our stories can help to raise awareness and help others around us who are also battling this disease. I remember I didn't know why I was in pain for years and I could have used that knowledge back then in 2008 when I first got a flare. I am so glad to have my fellow healers on Facebook and I hope to meet some of them someday. It's really an inspiration to see so many people who are hurting band together and try to help one another and lift each other up. It gives me strength to see yall not give up and push forward, even when it hurts. You guys are so strong and so positive and it gives me so much hope for the future. :)

Ready to Be Better

Goodness gracious these past few weeks have been sheer madness!

I went through the veneer process starting on June 6th, when I got my temporary veneers placed. It was sore for a few days and eating was difficult (as I was told it would be), but then I got a gum infection! Oh, it was hurting so bad I couldn't sleep for two days. I finally got my temporaries off on July 1st and received the permanent veneers. Wow - I can see a huge difference already! They don't hurt anymore except for two teeth in the front (where I had the gum irritation). I am getting my bite fixed today so that the pain will subside. I am ready to be done with this mess!

The good news is that they look beautiful and I am very happy with the aesthetic results of the procedure. None of my other teeth hurt. They look different than my originals, a bit bigger, but they are gorgeous and so white!

In other news, my feet have been better. I almost got a flare last night because I've been running around barefoot. DUMB IDEA! I've been so worried about my mouth pain that I've neglected my feet, but I'm being more careful about them today. Pretty Little Liars and Twisted come on tonight, so I'm going to stay home and watch those with my mom. Another relaxing day for Sammie Davis. Hopefully I'll be able to go out for 4th of July!

I've skipped out on taking my vitamins for two days now. I really don't feel much of a difference. Once I'm done taking all this pain medication for my mouth, I'll start up with the vitamins again. I just hate being on so many meds at once; it's very dangerous and it makes me very sick.

Today seems to be a good day so far - no pain yet. *knocks on wood*

I hope that it continues to be a good week!

Stay strong, healers!

Summer is Hot!

Hey guys!

So it's been a great summer so far. I've spent so much time with my family and friends and I am a very happy woman.

This past week has been difficult though because of all the plans I made. I danced and ran around at the pub on Karaoke Night (Thursday) and then I went out to a movie and dancing the next day and then today I hung out with a friend and went to the library and I'm going to a movie tonight at 8:45. A lot is happening! It's wonderful because I love having fun with my loved ones, but at the same time, my feet are killing me.

I've been icing some (I know... don't yell at me this time; I usually don't have to use it) and that's helped. Hopefully I won't have any flares next week. We shall see. Keep me in your prayers for good health!

Watch this!

http://theillnessevolution.wordpress.com/2013/05/29/words-of-wisdom-wednesday-7/

Countdown to Summer

Hey guys!

So... bad news: I had a flare up last night when I was out at dinner with my youth group. Thankfully, I'm at home resting today.

As many of you know, I get impatient often and I like to get things done ASAP. So being stuck in my apartment all day is pretty frustrating. However, I'm using this time to get some homework done. I have a test tomorrow, so a lot of today will be spent studying.

Question: does anyone use ice to dull the pain? I've heard that ice is bad for you, but it does numb the pain. What about heat?

Summer is Almost Here!

Life has been really good lately. My feet have been hurting more, though. I think my heels are falling apart. Unfortunately, I couldn't find any more of that same style online. I might email the company and tell them about my disease and ask them to specially make them for me so I can buy several pairs and then keep them for when one wears out. That'd be nice to have all those and not have to worry about finding new, comfortable shoes for my feet.

Today I go to Stephen Ministry at 2:30. I might be kinda late today, because I'm running behind. I'm so tired. I didn't go to sleep until 4 am last night. Not good. That's a lot later than I usually fall asleep. Although I was out at Kat Kab with Jay pretty late last night.

Tonight is my initiation into the Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society at Sam! Hooray! I am so excited! :)  I'll let you know how it goes.

I've also been thinking lately about other people I know with RSD. I bet there are some people on campus that have the disease, too, just like me. I would love to start a support group or something or at least a Facebook page for them. Hmm... I'm going to do that. What a productive day already! :)