Time out for me

When you're chronically ill and disabled it's easy for all your time to get sucked into your disability and YOU become secondary. It's your disability that comes first. You are a "disabled woman" not a "woman with a disability". There actually is a very big difference between those two phrases. One puts the person first and the other puts the disability first.

Doctor's appointments, picking up medications, fighting for modifications and DME (I hope you never need to know what that stands for but in case you don't know it means durable medical equipment). It's easy for ME to get lost. So lately I've been trying to really put my self first. It hasn't been easy. One way I've been doing that (and it will sound stupid) is with my teeth.

Having had a brain tumor has made me terrified to go to the dentist. I'm scared of getting x-rays of my head and that the drill will hurt my plates and maybe make a screw come loose. I'm pretty positive these fears are irrational. I have a good dentist who sees my family and who knows about my brain surgery. They've agreed to make accommodations and do whatever I need to make me comfortable. 

So I've been brushing twice a day (I used to never brush in the mornings) and I bought a water pick that I've been using at night. I'm trying to take better care of my teeth leading up to my appointment (and noooo, not just the day before thank you very much!)

The other thing I'm doing is trying to take very good care of my skin. And I was rewarded with yet another fever blister. My second in a single month. I think something is going on with my immune system. -sigh-

One way I take care of my skin is I rarely wear makeup. Like maybe once a week. What do you think. Better with, or without?

Weirdly enough I think my eyes pop more without makeup. Strange! Though I do like covering up my old fever blister scar more with makeup. 

But I think it's not makeup that makes one attractive but an authentic smile. Don't you? One that comes from deep down after taking time out to see friends or family after an afternoon of taking good care of yourself.