This week we had a work get together with an escape room and food (I normally WFH full time) it was super fun. But now I'm in bed because I've had migraines since and my neck has flared up so bad I can barely move. ANYWAY I'm gonna read this next:

I know this is a capitalism issue and not uniquely a chronic illness issue, and I am immensely lucky to be able to work full time to begin with. But boy, if it doesn't still sting. Sometimes weeks go by without responding to friend's messages because I'm too mentally burnt out.

I want to go out for walks. I want to sit in the sun and read and write book reviews. I want to draw and paint and play video games and see friends and family. But much of my time will go on napping and dealing with all the chores and tasks I was too exhausted to even look at in the week.

Now joined by a butterfly fren 🥹

Care Work (which I am listening to on audio, read by the author) is a series of essays and personal reflection exploring how disabled QTBIPOC can reimagine and radicalise community care with a focus on intersectional disabled justice. Leah identifies as non-binary and uses they/she pronouns.

Variations is a collection of short stories/writings inspired by real stories found in British archives. Jacques, a trans woman, uses different formats incl. letters, newspaper clippings and academic texts to illustrate the lives of the British trans people of the past. I'm really enjoying so far!

Love this bookshop!

No big deal, she says, we'll just have to make 2 incisions. And when she put the new implant in, it slid right in with very little pain and was done in a matter of seconds. So clearly, it wasn't just 'pressure' the first time. I was in pain as it forced its way in, and should have been listened to!

Well, I go today and the woman is lovely. She can see I'm anxious and she is really caring with how she approaches me to make sure it's the least discomfort as possible. When she came to my arm to remove it though, she realises the first one was put in the wrong place. (5/-)

..and push through. Was like this for several minutes and then finally, it was in. My arm was throbbing for a long time after, and the bruises lasted weeks. I thought that I was just being over-sensitive to the pain, but I've been so anxious for when the time would come to get it replaced. (4/-)

It was like I could feel it being pushed into the tissue as if there was no space and it was being forced through despite resistance. I told her and she said 'it doesn't hurt, it's just a feeling of pressure'. Ok, well it hurts for me but I guess I'm just being a wimp, so I'll grit my teeth.. (3/-)

When I first had it put in 3 years ago, I informed the practioner about my heightened pain sensitivity due to FMS. She said not to worry as it won't hurt anyway with the anaesthetic. Once she'd made the incision and was putting in the implant, it really fucking hurt. Loads. (2/-)