Deemed Disabled? Now What?

You've been Deemed Disabled, Now What?


Everyone in my life has told me I am disabled.  The government agrees with them and sends me a check every month.


As a result of this determination, and since I can no longer work, drive a car, or do many of the things that previously made me feel good about myself, I have a lot of time on my hands.

I'm sure you've heard the saying, the idle mind (or hands) is the devil's playground, right?  Well, I can attest to this point, but I won't.


I wan't to talk about what I have actually done to fill the new-found void in my life.


I went and got myself a hobby.  I thought about some of the things I've always wanted to do, but never had the time, and I picked one.


I became a ham (amateur) radio opeerator.


How has this helped me?


When I worked as a Brick Mason, my co-workers were my contact (my connection)  with the world outside my home.   That said, the community of hams have since replaced the void that I felt after  I could no longer work.


Amateur radio is more than talking to people over the radio  In fact,  it is club/community events as well that I enjoy immensely.


I'm not necessarily advocating that you should become a ham.  I'm merely suggesting  that you  search your own mind and find something into which you can  immeerse yourself.  Write poetry, build models, write a book, join a book club, play cards,  scrapbook, learn to play an instrument, try out new recipes, the list of possibilities is as varied as people themselves.


As in my situation, the added activity can take your mind off your problems;  if only for moments at a time.


Being disabled doesn't mean your life has ended,  means you might actually be enabled with time to spend on new endeavors.  Taking advantage of  the opportunities that present themselves will keep your mind and hands active.

Update - Albumin & Total Serum Protein is Up! Why?

Considering the fact that I was just in the hospital about 50 days ago, I'm doing remarkably well.

Prior to that hospitalization, my doctor and I decided I'd try a medicine that acted 'like' spironalactone, but didn't have the hypotesterone side effects.

A few weeks after that change, my protein began slipping to a low of .8 for Albumin and 1.1 for total serum protein.

I had anasarca, weighing 194 pounds upon admission to the hospital for diuresis, and was discharged 5 days later weighing 173 pounds.

Sinse that discharge, I've maintained a low edema-weight of about 175 to 180, and I attribute this stability to the resumption of the spironalactone.... and so does my doctor.

Now, If you are interested in my story; my trials and tribulations, its all in this blog.  Use the link list in the sidebar to find a topic.  After clicking, scroll down through titles till you see one that interests you.

I have many articles here related to my contition, and many still related to chronic illness and the medical community as a whole.

Relationships & Chronic illness

If you are like me, you have people in your life who have to go out of their way to help you.

I can't drive a car, for instance, so my wife has to take me anywhere I want to go.

I can't tell you how many times I've wanted to go somewhere but didn't want to have to ask my wife for a ride.

This situation  relegate my relationship with her  to that of a child.  She's the parent, and I'm the child.

Yes, since I've been diagnosed with ideopathic protein losing enteropathy, my relationship with my wife has changed.

I've had sleepless nights due to pain, and while my wife snored away. I was sitting up clutching my foot.

So not to wake her, I'd get out of bed and go get on the couch.  This is how we started us sleeping in separate rooms.

Relationships can (and do) change.  In some ways it's better, and in some ways it aint.

You have to realize your illness is affecting every loved one you come in contact with.  How you approach your illness is usually how others approach you.

Be positive, smile, talk to your loved ones.  Let them know you love and appreciate them.  You may not have much time left, so mend those broken relationships.