Weekly Round Up: The Paradox of Illness

Time for this week’s round-up of the best of the blog posts which I’ve read over the past week. These are the posts that have moved me, taught me something, inspired me, and which I’ve wanted to share with you. Don’t forget if you have written a post which you would like readers to see, just leave a comment below.

I’d like to start off this week’s blog round-up with a compelling and beautiful reflection on the paradox of illness by AudreyAudrey:

I’m in a strange paradoxical place just now; slowed by the rhythms of breathlessness to a different pace that’s closer to becoming my norm now. My head is in a dilemma of how to recover my former state whilst accepting or at least working within my new reality. It’s the challenge of managing a long term condition and knowing how and where to push the boundaries of an undiagnosed problem. It’s exhausting at one level and at another level, strangely, it’s quite compelling; that call just to sink into the soft landscapes of being peaceful.

As a companion to Audrey’s blog, read Mandi‘s moving post this week:

How to live hasn’t been something I have struggled a lot with. How to find time t0 do all of that living seemed to be the question. This week was the first time I felt like I truly fell down. I fell, and am nursing my hypothetical bruises. The bruise has branches up around my heart where they sit. Dark veins, telling me to give up, I don’t want to give up, but it murmers in one tired ear while my fingertips brush it away.

Elsewhere in the blogosphere…

An update after her latest surgery from Jo, who says she is living in hope again. Wishing you continued recovery and strength Jo x

Terri continues to provide practical advice on breast reconstruction. This week she shares information on fat grafting breast reconstruction garments.

Liz has provided a really comprehensive guide full of tried and tested tips for anyone going through chemotherapy. I just know this will be the go-to guide I send people to from now on.

Kimberly lists those oh-so-familiar long term side effects of cancer treatment in her latest post.

Ann Marie Otis captures the pain of invisible illness in her latest blog.

Heart-wrenching post by Uzma on the first day of school.

A superbly well articulated post on “fixing the fixers” by Eileen this week.

What’s exciting in cancer research right now? Lisa reports on several of the most interesting cancer research stories that have been in the news this summer.

Katy has passed a milestone birthday.

My heart lurched with recognition when I read Rebecca‘s latest post on families and unresolved pain.

A good reminder from Caroline not to compare ourselves to others when it comes to illness.

Having watched my own weight steadily climb over the past three years, I really appreciated reading Elizabeth‘s sensible, non-judgemental approach to weight in her latest blog.

Nancy is taking her annual break from blogging – looking forward to welcoming you back to the blogosphere soon Nancy.

Love Beth‘s advice this week to learn to go with the flow to relieve stress and anxiety.

Finally this week, my thoughts go out to Becky who lost her father on 21 August. Sending love and strength your way Becky x

Until next week,

Yours with love

Marie xxx