Eleni ( *hugs* Hi Eleni! ) already knows a little about my health issues, and I've mentioned bits here and there in various topics, so if I'm repeating myself I'm sorry. Â
The short list includes: Â
 - Diagnosed with Acute lymphoblastic leukemia when I was only 4 years old.
 - Have many, many issues stemming from both the cancer itself and the treatments.  Among them are multiple heart failures, lost most of my ability to hear (I can technically hear some sounds, but I'm legally considered deaf.  So I can listen to some music, I'm just not hearing all of it and I have to look up lyrics to know what is being said, and that is if I can even hear them being said at all), no spleen and a compromised immune system both, constricted (and damaged) esophagus, minor brain damage and many, many other things ranging from chronic migraines to weaker bones and so on.
 - I'm allergic to some thing(s) in human blood.  There is stuff in almost every other person's blood that causes serious problems if I need a transfusion, and any potential transfusion has to be treated before I can get it.
 - More recently, I've developed some issue with my nerves (not to be confused with panic attacks, which I also have).  At first my doctors thought it was Fibromyalgia, but extensive testing is still inconclusive as to what the problem actually is.  My legs are hit the worst.  I really don't know how to describe it accurately, but it is sort of like a very intense feeling of "pins and needles" when your leg falls asleep coupled with both numbness and constant pain.  Standing and walking are extremely difficult even with help of a cane or walker, but I'm too stubborn to give in and just use a wheelchair all the time.
So yeah, that is the short list.
I try not to let it get to me because, honestly, what is that going to accomplish? Â But I'm only human, and some days I'm going to be overwhelmed just like anybody else. Â
There are some benefits to it all as well. Â I realized that I accomplished my life-long dream of being a mutant like in the X-Men comics on a technicality (unfortunately, no spiffy powers, though), my speech impediment from my hearing loss is often mistaken for an accent (a lot of people assume I'm British, though to be fair I do watch a lot of Doctor Who, Red Dwarf and other British TV), and I get to say weird things like "The doctors said I wouldn't live to see age 11, and I just turned 36 in October. Â So either I made it or I look REALLYÂ good for a dead guy!" and things like that.
One thing that really bugs me, though, is when people say things like "You are very brave!" and things like that. Â No, no I'm not. Â I just don't know anything different than this. Â I don't have a "normal" or "healthy" to compare to, this has been a part of my life for as far back as I can remember. Â If I'm anything, I'm stubborn, possibly delusional. Â
The short list includes: Â
 - Diagnosed with Acute lymphoblastic leukemia when I was only 4 years old.
 - Have many, many issues stemming from both the cancer itself and the treatments.  Among them are multiple heart failures, lost most of my ability to hear (I can technically hear some sounds, but I'm legally considered deaf.  So I can listen to some music, I'm just not hearing all of it and I have to look up lyrics to know what is being said, and that is if I can even hear them being said at all), no spleen and a compromised immune system both, constricted (and damaged) esophagus, minor brain damage and many, many other things ranging from chronic migraines to weaker bones and so on.
 - I'm allergic to some thing(s) in human blood.  There is stuff in almost every other person's blood that causes serious problems if I need a transfusion, and any potential transfusion has to be treated before I can get it.
 - More recently, I've developed some issue with my nerves (not to be confused with panic attacks, which I also have).  At first my doctors thought it was Fibromyalgia, but extensive testing is still inconclusive as to what the problem actually is.  My legs are hit the worst.  I really don't know how to describe it accurately, but it is sort of like a very intense feeling of "pins and needles" when your leg falls asleep coupled with both numbness and constant pain.  Standing and walking are extremely difficult even with help of a cane or walker, but I'm too stubborn to give in and just use a wheelchair all the time.
So yeah, that is the short list.
I try not to let it get to me because, honestly, what is that going to accomplish? Â But I'm only human, and some days I'm going to be overwhelmed just like anybody else. Â
There are some benefits to it all as well. Â I realized that I accomplished my life-long dream of being a mutant like in the X-Men comics on a technicality (unfortunately, no spiffy powers, though), my speech impediment from my hearing loss is often mistaken for an accent (a lot of people assume I'm British, though to be fair I do watch a lot of Doctor Who, Red Dwarf and other British TV), and I get to say weird things like "The doctors said I wouldn't live to see age 11, and I just turned 36 in October. Â So either I made it or I look REALLYÂ good for a dead guy!" and things like that.
One thing that really bugs me, though, is when people say things like "You are very brave!" and things like that. Â No, no I'm not. Â I just don't know anything different than this. Â I don't have a "normal" or "healthy" to compare to, this has been a part of my life for as far back as I can remember. Â If I'm anything, I'm stubborn, possibly delusional. Â
