Tag: chronic

• The Pain Scale

  

  I’ve never understood the pain scale. My doctor wants to know how I’m feeling today (during our telehealth appointment), can I quantify my pain on a scale of 1 to 10, sometimes she asks in the form of percentages. What percentage of improvement did you feel on that medication? 10%? 20%? 50%? I make something…

  ashleyfenker

  May 22, 2020

  chronic illness

  Autoimmune Disorder, chronic, doctors, essay, illness, lupus, pain, sickness

• Close-Ups: Grocery List

  

  I lost my grocery list. Crumpled, half-folded, itemized secrets to eating and living. Blueberries Kale Flowers I forget. Omega-3s for joints, anti-inflammatory, immune-system-building ingredients. Back then, my elbows leaned on the cart as I crossed off essentials. But seasons change, it’s gone, or it will resurface when the ice melts. Tonight: frozen pizza.

  ashleyfenker

  January 23, 2019

  Close-Ups

  chronic, eating, food, groceries, illness, life, lists, living, winter, writing

• Brought to Our Knees

  

  This post is part of a new project that I’m working on. Visit Jess Alston’s website to learn more about the Dig Deep Podcast. I have a confession: there’s this song by Zach Williams called Chain Breaker, and the chorus starts with, “If you’ve got pain, He’s a pain taker.” Sometimes, when I’m alone and angry and…

  ashleyfenker

  November 9, 2018

  Dig Deep Podcast

  affliction, chronic, confession, doctors, faith, faithful, family, God, health, invisible pain, joyful, life, pain, patience, pray, prayer, rejoice, sick, sorrow, tears, waiting