Living Obliquely

Approximately 1400 people are diagnosed with Transverse Myelitis (TM) annually.
Similar to Multiple Sclerosis, it attacks your myelin, leading to painful and debilitating side effects.
About 33,000 Americans are currently disabled as a result of this rare neurological disorder.
Not one person with TM will ever know their prognosis.
I happen to be one of them.



I am a neurological soup. Since my TM diagnosis, I have developed encephalitis, MS, RSD/CRPS, Osteoporosis (I am 34, no 35, eek), and Chronic Anemia. Yeah...life sucks, but I still rock.



8.05.2011

"Yoga Helps Stroke Victims"... so shouldn't it help all of us gimps too?

Yoga Helps Stroke Victims

Not certain how reliable the source is, but as an ex-yoga practitioner of almost 15 years (before Neuro-ism Struck.... ironically during a morning yoga class), and someone who was probably been a minus 6 on the balance scale (see article: linked above and in the post title), and an I got bored with the 6 exercises you had to give me in aqua therapy so I created my own yoga-qua-therapy (including a water version of downward dog without getting your hair wet thus no wet barking dog smell to ruin the serenity with our hyper-superpower-sensitive senses)....

I think this is exciting. Finally we nationalist-capitalist-imperialists are embracing some of the wisdom and natural healing available to us for centuries from other cultures. So turn off your xenophobe, and PLEASE SHARE any ideas or experiences with incorporating non-occidentalist-pills-infusions-scalpels-long hospital stays experiences, practices, trials, accidents, or tribulations with out of the good-ol'-American-box medical practice that we all know and love so well.

Looking forward to hearing what's worked or not worked or might be working for you - especially if it's free :).

I've missed you,
Melanie

PS I'm in an art show in NYC this week with funds going to research and treatment for patients with rare and incurable diseases. If you're a New Yorker - or going to be in NYC-er, and you want more info, comment here and when I can get off my couch potato ass (just finished day 3 of high-dose IVIg infusions), I'll post the details.

PPS I actually own that book... and it's fascinating and appropriate for anybody interested in body-mindanatomy... perhaps served with a hint of neuroplasticity.


Here's another book on my shelves. This one, I'm reading right now. I kept the image in because 1) I couldn't get it to delete; and 2) I felt it would be a good visual to differentiate the subject from the likes of Barbie and other fine plastic ware.

For the record, I purchased my copy from my local individually-owned bookstore - Joseph Fox Books - for about 2x what Amazon is offering.




In Pictures

Please Note: Some photos may contain partial nudity or depictions of medical procedures. Though I am in many of these photos, my reason for sharing these personal photos is to promote awareness, understanding, and advocacy for people with TM and other rare diseases.
To play the slide show, click the big play button in the center of the screen, then the small one in the bottom left corner. Click here for more advanced viewing instructions, and select "Help."

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    See My Art Published in Monkey Puzzle Issue #7

    See My Art Published in Monkey Puzzle Issue #7
    Representing TM through Art and Dialogue...Locally, Nationally, Virtually.