[Anonymous November 30, 1996 at 1:25 pm Post count: 93172]

#1167459

Amen, Bruce! This drippy-eyed, chubby lady is trying to do just that.
I keep telling myself that there is a light at the end of this tunnel even
though my eyes are too puffy to see very far down it. I have an endo who
is more interested in relating stories of his Egyptian roots than in
educating me on my disease. I have had to lean on you and this support
group to bring some sanity into my life. I continue trying to learn all
I can while relying on you to bring me knowledge. And, yes, on this
Thanksgiving weekend, I am thankful for all of you.

Took our granddaughter Alyssa to see “101 Dalmations” on Thanksgiving
Day. That Ms. DeVil is a hoot. I am taking time to laugh while this
stupid disease tries to make me crazy. Graves’ will win a few battles
but just hide and watch while I win the war. Love to all.

Bruce, keep getting better, you hear?

Rosemary

[Anonymous November 30, 1996 at 2:48 pm Post count: 93172]

#1167460

Hi Rosemary!

Thanks for the moving note!

I have another question to pose tho. What if there IS no light at the end of the tunnel as we think of it? Can we still live a life we love? I’m real clear I will never completely get over this disease, so maybe I have to create a different kind of light at the end of the tunnel for myself. Right now it could be for my surgery to be 100% successful. Maybe it is just to sleep good tonight. I don’t know.

My wife, Claudia has a saying she likes- “eat your desert first, life is uncertain!”.

Maybe tomorrow will be worse than today, better have fun today then, huh?

Must be my philosophical day!

Bruce

[Anonymous November 30, 1996 at 4:54 pm Post count: 93172]

#1167461

Hi Bruce! I couldn’t have said it better myself. Thanks for your inspiration! A positive attitude and an “I’m going to beat this disease” determination is the only way that I’ve made it so far. Just this morning I looked in the mirror and saw that my right eye looked bigger than my left. I said outloud to myself, “Well, they’re not perfect, but this is as good as it gets!” And went back to paying bills, cleaning house, and helping my husband cut wood.

After my last lid retraction, I thought I would actually have normally aligned eyes. I guess not, but I’d never trade these “new” eyes for the old pop-eyed set! I think that GD has made me a stronger person today, and I have many things to be thankful for.

When life hands you lemons, make lemonade!!

Debby

[Anonymous November 30, 1996 at 5:28 pm Post count: 93172]

#1057989

Hi everyone, some thoughts on having chronic disease.

We get much off of this Meassage Board, sympathy, help, compassion and a few laughs. We all have one thing in common, this chronic disease and wanting to make a difference with the course of it in our lives.

We are quite limited actually with what we can do about the disease. Medications, surgery maybe to help, but in the end, we still have this disease.

We all have different ways of handling it, from the crying sobbing mess (been there) to the very stoic who can outwardly handle anything that comes along.

I assert that the only area we have as human beings in which we really hold the ability to alter is WHO WE ARE with this disease. We are limited about what we can do about the disease itself, but we are unlimited in the ability to shift how we interact with the disease.

What if you loved your disease, had fun with it, played with it, made it your hobby and your favorite area of study? That is a powerful way of being (not just about disease). You have then made a difference in who you are with your disease, the only area you can make a big dent in.

What is the alternative? The only other ways I know of having this disease are hating it, Wishing you didn’t have it, wanting to be back to “normal”, etc etc. (been there done that too!) Which all alter the disease very little and leave us exhausted and upset, not to mention those around us. That also make us a VICTIM of the illness, which is very acceptable in this culture (poor Bruce), but not too useful.

Hope this can get some to start thinking, I personally have a real hard time not being a victim so don’t think I’m the stoic type! But I DO have fun, laugh at my disease and have a great life!

Do let people know that you hate this disease and want it to go away, but its like “thank you for sharing that” (you really do have to say those things) , now lets get on with life WITH graves’.

Love to all, Bruce

[Anonymous December 2, 1996 at 10:19 am Post count: 93172]

#1167462

Wow Bruce!
That says it all. You have really started me thinking.
I have gone thru all those feelings in the last few
days. You are right it affects everyone around you
and it’s a wonder they even talk to you after some sessions.
I am going to accept what I have and try to make it better
in the way I feel about myself.
Lynn

[Anonymous December 2, 1996 at 1:26 pm Post count: 93172]

#1167463

Bruce –

Great post. My sentiments exactly!

Patty

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