Introductions

[Nico]

That's good to hear about the story being a good view on it, will definitely have to check it out now!

Good luck on your event, it sounds like a lot of work but a very worthwhile cause.

I understand about the housebound situation. I feel privileged every time I am able to go out, even knowing the penalties and pain of doing so. It's rough. I wish you so much luck with your freelance work though!

[Shae]

Hello! My name is Shae (she/her) and I live in Alabama, USA. I'm 36, no children, lots of cats. My husband and I foster with a local rescue and our county shelter. It's emotional but really rewarding. I used to go to shelter events before I got sick and I miss being involved hands-on, but we are still able to give the kitties a safe space until they are adopted. I work during the day as an administrative assistant and I'm a serious tea drinker! I have POTS/Dysautonomia and chronic migraine, plus arthritis (though I haven't been diagnosed yet with a specific type).

My favorite book, or at least the one that immediately popped into my head just now, is The Historian. Hmm, something annoying about books. It's hard for me to think of anything that's super annoying, but I guess one thing would be large type. I love small print books, but that will probably change as I get older. I'm sure my opinion will completely reverse itself at some point. :D

I don't post much, but I am @spharo00 on Instagram, @spharo on Facebook, potsylady on Tumblr, and Shae on Steepster.

Excited to be here!

EDIT: I also want to add that I haven't been officially diagnosed, but I really struggle with anxiety and am pretty sure I have obsessive-compulsive disorder. I need to find a therapist/psychiatrist but it's so daunting that I keep putting it off. Putting this here in case others can relate. Oh and I have been diagnosed with idiopathic condylar resorption + temporomandibular joint disorder, so looking at jaw surgery before too long. Wondering how that's going to play with the POTS, but now I'm rambling so I'll leave it here. I'm sure I'll think of something else later. When it rains, it pours!

[Nico]

Hi Shae! The Historian is really good, I enjoyed it a lot.

Can definitely empathize with the POTS since I have it too, and the chronic migraines, and the anxiety. I have a facial pain disorder as well, though not involved with the jaw joint like yourself but rather the facial nerves. Facial pain of any type seems particularly awful. It's just such a personal place to have pain.

I'm not so much a fan of large-type books, either, but I think that's mostly because they weigh more. Haha. I had to switch completely to an e-reader (Kobe) because the weight of books was causing me so much hardship and pain. Hardbacks are a thing of the past...

I wish you so much luck finding a therapist. It's such a personal thing, trying to find someone that you're comfortable with, so it's frustrating that insurance can also be a factor in that decision. I hope your surgery goes well, I know how daunting surgery can be.

I love that you and your husband foster kittens! My own kitty was a foster, she's a Bombay and quite typical of her breed (very silly, friendly, and acrobatic!), and I'm happy to have her, she really brings a lot of cheer.

[Shae]

Nico wrote: "Hi Shae! The Historian is really good, I enjoyed it a lot.

Can definitely empathize with the POTS since I have it too, and the chronic migraines, and the anxiety. I have a facial pain disorder as..."

Hello Nico!

It's always great to hear from someone else who has POTS, though of course I wish neither of us had to deal with the issues it causes. I wonder sometimes how many of my other symptoms (even migraine and anxiety) are directly related to POTS. I just wish I knew how to get it under control. I feel like I'm spiraling lately, so I know I need to work on both my physical and mental health these days. Thanks so much for your well wishes on the therapist search. It's definitely intimidating.

I agree with you about the hardbacks! I thought I was one of the few people in the world who didn't like them. My husband buys them on purpose, but I'd much rather have a softcover or paperback. Plus, they are cheaper!

Bombays are gorgeous kitties! How special too that she was a foster. They really do bring so much joy into the house. Even when they are running across the bed at 3am. :D

Thanks so much for replying, it's so great to chat. If you have any good books on POTS or anxiety that you'd recommend, I'd love to hear. I followed you also, so I'll have to look to see if we have anything in common on our bookshelves (other than The Historian, of course).

I hope you're having a great week!