Day: 12/29/2015

“I would rather be a rebel than a slave.”

Suffragette is a movie about women. About the strength of women bonded together for a common cause — the right to vote. About what women in history were willing to go through, to sacrifice, for the right to be treated equally. About how, after 50 years of fighting for this right, it took the death of one of these amazingly courageous women to begin to see a change.

This suffragette, Emily Wilding Davison, committed suicide and became a martyr, just for the right to vote. (“All she had, she gave to others” was the sign on her casket.)

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/may/26/emily-davison-suffragette-death-derby-1913

“It is hugely significant as a moment in history, a moment that absolutely sums up the desperation of women in this country who wanted the vote.”

From the movie:

“Emily Wilding Davison’s death was reported across the world. It drew global attention to the fight for women’s rights. It was a fight that led to the imprisonment of more than 1,000 British women.”

Considering the very low percentage of women who vote in this country, it almost seems like these sacrifices were made in vain.

Is there a cause worth dying for in this day and age? Today, it appears that only the extremists in our society are willing to go to such lengths, regardless of the insanity of their causes.

I look into what the future holds for chronic pain patients and I wonder if there is anyone, male or female, willing to make this kind of sacrifice. I can recall only one story that I’ve read about a pain patient — a veteran — who tried to make a statement about the opioid war through suicide. But it’s not like anyone paid attention to that story:

Thinking of you, Thomas Murphy

“I think he’s a martyr for what he did,” veteran Brandon Coleman said of Thomas Murphy, who tragically took his life while sitting in the parking lot of the VA administrative offices in downtown Phoenix.”

How desperate do pain patients have to become before we start fighting back? How long will it take for us to win this war and regain our rights? How can anyone fight powerful forces like the DEA and CDC?

Watch this movie. These women fought forces much more powerful than the DEA. They were beaten and bloodied by the police, imprisoned, and force fed — all because they were fighting for the right to vote. For 50 years, women fought the respectable fight. But as they found out, it takes a lot more to make a difference.

One line in the movie says it all:

“I would rather be a rebel than a slave.”

The experience of chronic pain. Every. Single. Day.

If you don’t suffer from chronic pain, you can only imagine what the experience would be like. How to explain in a way that others can understand?

I think there are three types of pain:  acute, chronic, and terminal. Every human being will experience acute pain within their lifetimes. As an example of acute pain, let’s look at grief.

Everyone will also experience grief in their lifetime. When a loved one is lost, the first day of grief is acute. The pain is raw and overwhelming. You feel like things will never get better — that this incredibly strong pain will last forever. That pain can bring you to your knees… You feel like there’s a hole in your soul that will never heal…

But for most people, the acute pain of grief begins to subside with time. Of course, that doesn’t happen when you suffer from chronic pain (or depression and other chronic illnesses).

Just imagine what it would be like to suffer the acute pain from grief… Every. Single. Day. Imagine how it would feel to live inside that bubble of pain, with no way out. Just an ever-expanding bubble of pain, enclosing your body, heart, and soul…

It’s hard to find things to live for when you live inside this bubble of pain, yet it’s something that pain patients struggle to do…  Every. Single. Day. We’re not always successful, and the struggle is often ugly and depressing. But it’s the truth.

20 Extremely Well-Mannered Insults To Use On Your Worst Enemy

http://www.tickld.com/x/jaw/20-extremely-well-mannered-insults-to-use-on-your-worst-enemy-number

1. May the chocolate chips in your cookies always turn out to be raisins.

4. May your article load that extra little bit as you’re about to click a link so you click an ad instead.

15. May your cookie always be slightly too large to fit inside your glass of milk.

18. May you never be quite certain whether that pressure is a fart or poop.

The Incredible Story Of Marilyn Monroe’s Perseverance

http://www.tickld.com/x/t2/the-incredible-story-of-marilyn-monroe

Marilyn never knew her father. Her mother, Gladys, struggled with poor mental health, and was institutionalized before Marilyn (then known as Norma Jeane Baker) reached the age of 10.

Marilyn was first placed in the care of Wayne and Ida Bolender, who, according to Marilyn, were incredibly religious, to the point of approaching zealousness. As young Norma Jeane, she had to attend church multiple times a week, promise to never drink or swear, and was told repeatedly that she was going to Hell.

But these were not the only caretakers Marilyn Monroe had. She lived primarily in an orphanage, and had 11 sets of foster parents throughout her lifetime…

Life in foster care was bleak. She was often mistreated, and not cared for properly. In 1937, she was rescued by Grace McKee Goddard, when she took Marilyn out of foster care to live with her and Doc Goddard. Everything looked like it was going to be a lot better…

But eventually, Marilyn’s new family decided to move. Marilyn was devastated. This meant she would have to go back into foster care. However, with the help of Grace, Marilyn made a plan. To get married. If she could tie the knot by 16, she could escape foster care forever. And that’s exactly what she did.

In December 1941, Grace asked Jim to escort Norma Jeane to a company Christmas dance. By March, they were going steady, by May they were engaged. In June, less than three weeks after her Birthday, Norma Jeane Baker became Mrs James Dougherty.

She later followed her new husband to the South Pacific, and began working at an aircraft plant, and was discovered shortly after by photographer David Conover, who had been sent by the U.S. Army Air Forces’ First Motion Picture Unit to shoot morale-boosting pictures of female workers…

People admired her not only for being a sex symbol, but also for her genuine and honest characteristics. Due to not being fed with a silver spoon, she was able to capture the hearts of many who could feel her vulnerable but humane energy. She humbly stated “Nothing’s ever easy as long as you go on living.” …

Marilyn and Endometriosis

But despite the glamorous photo spreads and sexual icon status, she spent much of her life in chronic pain due to endometriosis , suffering miscarriages , reportedly having at least one ectopic pregnancy and becoming addicted to pain killers. There was even one story that before going into one of her surgeries related to her infertility issues, she taped a note to her stomach, pleading with doctors not to take her female parts.

A few years ago, the Endometriosis Association was even bold enough to suggest that Marilyn’s infertility may have indirectly contributed to her death: “Marilyn Monroe was a victim of endometriosis, putting her in the hospital repeatedly, contributing to her use of pain-deadening narcotics and aggravating her psychological problems.” …

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2700667/

(2008) Recognising, understanding and managing endometriosis

Endometriosis is a chronic recurring disease that is often left undiagnosed. A high level of suspicion is required in women who present with pelvic pain.

‘One of the most famous sufferers from endometriosis was Marilyn Monroe. The condition was so severe that it destroyed her marriages, her wish for children, her career and ultimately her life. In days before effective conservative surgery or effective medical therapies, it led to progressively increasing use of strong analgesics, tranquilisers and hypnotics – and drug dependency.’ …