Chronic Pain Girlies Guide to Daily Exercise!

In August of 2023, I lost the ability to walk due to my Immune System attacking me. I have an autoimmune disease and I never know when it's going to pay me an unexpected visit. I was stuck in bed for 6 weeks before I was in the hospital for 4 weeks, and in a physical therapy rehab center for almost 1 week before I requested to just be discharged because I was getting bored of the rehab facility.

Before the hospital, I was needing to walk with a cane because I would randomly feel like I was going to faint or my legs would give out on me. In the hospital, I was in a wheelchair before they graduated me to a walker. By the time I was back at home, I was exclusively on a walker or staying in a chair. I couldn't even sit on the floor to do stretches without needing someone to help me get off the floor. I lost around 80% of the muscle mass in my legs and just under 50% of the muscle mass in my arms. And I didn't have much because I was just skinny...didn't really go to the gym.

I lost my remote job because I didn't have the energy to sit at my computer for 8 hours and be yelled at for things outside of my control by customers who's vacays were "ruined" 😑.

I was terrified of getting worse. Scared that my then boyfriend was going to leave me because others have left me in the past (thanks douche canoes for leaving. I definitely found better 😂). I even got a cameo appearance from my anxiety, insomnia, AND sleep paralysis after not having them for years (✨ Childhood Trauma ✨).

But, my then boyfriend, now fiancé, told me that it's ok for me to not go back to work if that's what I want. That he knew what he was committing to when I was upfront about having an autoimmune disease and that it's not going to hold us back (we've been together since the pandemic). After trying for the last year to walk without assistance, walk without losing my balance, or my legs feeling like Jello, I was finally able to completely get away from my walker and my cane and go out by myself for a walk.

I ordered some ankle weights, started going with my fiancé to the gym 3x's a week, take morning walks around my neighborhood, and get myself on the healthiest diet plan for my body (Protein! Protein! Protein!). Not to mention, I'm able to clean again without getting fatigued, cook, and even move furniture around the house without help. I also was able to get off of all of my meds, which contributed to my fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, massive weight gain (thanks steroids), depression, and overall feeling like I was a failure.

I'm not saying to do what I do, because everybody is different and every body in the world isn't the same. Some of us can't eat salads every day or drink orange juice. Some of us can't sleep. Some of us can't keep up with cleaning due to work schedules. I went from being a night owl/insomniac, to being a morning girly, who remembers to eat breakfast and drinks water before coffee.

I spend every week exploring somewhere new to me ( There's a lot to do in Nashville that I didn't get to do before because of my health), I'm able to focus on my painting🎨, great recipes🥨, traveling to new places for great views🛣️ and challenging hiking trails🏞️, and I can actually sleep without worrying if my old friends, the sleep paralysis demons, will show up randomly.

I've also made friends with local metal bands in Nashville that have been watching me get my health back and see me recover. I even got to be in 4 music videos in the last year🤘🏼. Next up is my glow up.

If I can do this, I have hope for everyone that reads my post. Even if you don't believe in you, I do. I believe you can do what's just right for you. Don't worry about aesthetics, or getting the perfect body. Just believe in you 💖 and ignore anyone that doesn't make you happy being yourself. #autoimmunedisease #HealthTips #5amclub #chronicillness #Lemon8Diary