Chronic Illness Changes Birthday Dinners | Missing Healthier Times

#chronicillness #gastroparesis #birthday - May 24th - May 26th, 2023 - In this video, I discuss my two birthday dinners and why the aftermath of those dinners lead me to feel quite sad. I talk about how menus now just seem like a list of ways I will get sick later or even while eating. I talked about pressure to eat with family and enjoy celebrations even though I feel sick. I talk about how my "good days" are basically what I used to think of as flare days now. I talk about how much I miss being healthy and the physical sensations that I can no longer experience from food due to my chronic illnesses. I talk about being guilty that birthdays and other special events often make me feel sad now because I think about what those special days used to be like before I got sick. I also talk about memories from better times.
Video of my 19th Birthday: • Video . My mom made delicious oil-free vegan apple & maple cupcakes. This video also includes a montage of childhood birthday photos and childhood memories. It's really sweet.

[@alison2288]

Totally get what you’re saying. Funny, my Hubble and I have birthdays 11 days apart; I’m the end of April and he’s the beginning of May. I’m sorry you’re feeling the way you are. I truly hope things get better for you. You’re right in hoe central food is in all celebrations and when you can’t eat, it stinks. Been there, done that. But at least you got some fun activities planned! Happy Birthday to you both.

[@linneanelsonvlogs]

We are on our way to the concert now :) It’s so cool you and your husband have close birthdays too! Robert and I are 13 days apart :) I’m sorry you’ve had to experience similar things with food-related celebrations, but glad to not feel alone. I hope you are doing well. Thank you for your well wishes as well. I’m still working on coming to terms with this as chronic. It certainly helps to focus on time with loved ones and other positive things in life beyond food. Also trying new beverages is fun. I tried a latte today with macadamia nut milk which was interesting for sure. I keep trying to remind myself to stay present with loved ones. It is certainly easier when doing non food focused activities.

[@AprilLeighchronicallyme]

Love your red outfit. You look gorgeous in red!!

[@linneanelsonvlogs]

Thank you so much! 🥰

[@AprilLeighchronicallyme]

@@linneanelsonvlogs if I were you I’d wear a red lip and something red somewhere every day lol Even a red headband lol . The whole eating not being enjoyable because of symptoms is the story of my life a minimum of the last 20 years. I totally understand and that’s why so many with stomach problems avoid gatherings around food. Everyone notices if you don’t eat much and then you don’t like talking about it because it’s upsetting and then you feel like you have to explain

[@linneanelsonvlogs]

@@AprilLeighchronicallyme You’re so kind! I feel like I should wear more red now ☺️ I wear burgundy a lot but rarely red like that dress. It truly is hard when everyone notices. It certainly makes it tough when trying to just focus on the company rather than the food when trying to answer questions/make excuses/explain. I’m sorry you’ve been dealing with the struggle to enjoy food due to symptoms for so long. I do always feel less alone with your comments though. I hope you are doing well :)

[@AprilLeighchronicallyme]

@@linneanelsonvlogs I’m like you with the symptoms daily in my stomach. It’s like a different symptom with each meal each day. Never just eat and feel great. The medication took me from severe to a basic low key set of symptoms and some days next to none which is our normal. Its totally normal to have those days where you just wish every body function knew how to function. I have decided to adjust my way if thinking about it because that’s the only way to live with it and have peace. Just like you are doing. I fought against it for so long trying to give my body an ultimatum. Like you get better or else 😂 I can’t really kick my own A$$ if you know what I’m saying lol if I could billy my body into working right you better believe I would 🤣

[@linneanelsonvlogs]

Currently replying to this while being extremely nauseated after eating my normal fairly plain dinner. I had a few extra bites than normal and it certainly isn’t sitting well. I think that’s my least favorite symptom- honoring my hunger and then being so ill afterwards I regret it. I wish every day I could eat as much as my body actually needs. I totally get being overly hard on oneself. I blamed myself for so long and kept thinking if fixed my diet more or found the right supplements, I would get better. All the pressure to “heal” myself tore me up more mentally than coming to terms with this being chronic is. It was a sort of self-blaming denial. It honestly made matters tougher with all the “advice” I got from people who deal with much different digestive issues than us. I still get advice from close family all the time despite all the effort I’ve put in to explain my condition to them. The most recent one I got was that my pain is from “being hungry” …. I try to just focus on appreciating those who do understand even though we share so many struggles and I wish we were all healthy. Hope you’ve been having a lower symptom day today :)