Time is a gift, no matter how little.
Family member (my dad) getting a terminal cancer diagnosis and being one of his primary caregivers. It's everyone's worst nightmare, right? Yeah, it's worse than that.
Within three months he was on a walker. Four months wheelchair. Five months bedridden. Six months couldn't wipe himself or feed himself. Delirious. Couldn't get his pain under control. His arm broke from a metastasis to his humerus. We had to wake up all night to give him pain meds. He cried sometimes, but not as much as I would have. I spent three weeks sleeping with him in the ICU. I poured my heart into those weeks and now that he's gone it feels... empty.
The body is fragile.
Back pain. Two extruded disks in my lower back.
The rising tides can be vicious.
A flooded house.
I knew it was emotionally heartbreaking and financially crushing. But I had absolutely no idea how hard it is to recover, how long it takes, or how much work is involved. Dear lord, it is miserable.
Forever young!
Getting old having your body fall apart and knowing you've got maybe a couple years left. This sucks, there is so much more I wanted to do. On the other hand it was a pretty good ride. Hell if I'm lucky I'll get another 10 but that's a really long shot.
Some pain is unbearable.
When my son died. I thought I understood the concept of the pain, but the actual feeling is something I never could have imagined.
Sometimes we all need to tap into our inner Norma Rae.
Getting fired for something you didn't do. Currently fighting it in the employment court. Expensive as hell, and I shouldn't have to fight this bullshit.
Can't talk details as it's still ongoing but it sucks. Sitting at home not being able to move on (no references yet, and reason for leaving last job is "fired for theft"), so I have to get this done.
I will win though - that's keeping me going.
This screams "based on a true story" film.
Real dehydration. There was a hike I was on, a few summers ago, about an eighteen mile loop out in scrubby, hilly country. I usually bring 4l whenever I go out, but that day I only brought about 1.5, I have no idea why. Temperatures were in the high-nineties without a cloud in the sky. I was running out of water about nine miles (four hours) in and out completely by twelve
It got very bad, very quickly, a real unique species of torture. First, there's the thirst, and it's an angry thirst, it takes root in your tongue and spreads to your throat and grips your nerves like panic. It doesn't let up and you become hot and fatigued as your regulatory systems start to break down, I was plodding along at a snail's pace and stopping every 100y or so. I kept thinking that I just have to make it back to the car, just back to the car, but the thirst unrelenting, it blots out your reason.
Finally, I made it to a road and just kept walking down it until I found a house. Drank right out of their garden faucet, like a full liter, soaked my hair, head, clothes everything. Luckily no one was home. The next day I could barely move I was so cramped.
At least we've got the memories.
Realizing your parents are going senile. It hurts because you start to see the beginning of the end.
Oh Lord we need prayers.
Hemorrhoids and anal fissures. Mother of mercy.
I've fainted! Leave me there.
Kidney stones. The pain was unreal. I had no idea what it was and started peeing blood. I thought I was dying.
Watch out for the flames.
Having a house fire.
Just talking about them is unnerving.
Having bed bugs. I used to think it was kind of silly that people were so insistent that they were a serious concern. I figured it must be like having fleas, you know? Kind of annoying but easy enough to stop. Now? I can't even read an article that mentions them without getting itchy and angry. Bed bugs straight up ruin lives.
Our justice system has serious issues.
Being accused of a crime you didn't commit.
The past isn't easy.
PTSD, I thought you just were sensitive to loud noises/things that triggered you and that you only had flashbacks if you had been in combat. Boy, was I in for a surprise.
The world is a scary place.
Panic attacks.
Sometimes there isn't enough Advil in the world.
Migraines for sure. I had headaches as a teenager and always said "I have a migraine!". When I was in my late teens I think I experienced my first migraine. Completely debilitating. Light sources make me want to retch and vomit.
I haven't had a full on migraine in over 2 years. A couple times I've felt them coming on and would lay down in the dark; but they never came on. I hope to never have one again. People who get migraines and stay productive truly impress me.
Watch what you eat.
Food poisoning. I just figured you'd get a poorly tummy, do a bunch of tummy issues and maybe some vomiting.
But no. For a week and a half it felt like I was juggling hot knives in my intestines. I had to be hospitalized due to the amount of thick black gunk coming out of me. The pain was awful and lasted so long I almost felt ready to die.
Never discount the little things.
Not having hot water. When I was a kid out water heater broke and my parents couldn't afford to fix it for like 2 or 3 months so we either had to take cold showers or boil a big pot of water and use that. I realized how much it was one of those everyday things that we take for granted.
The heart wants what it wants.
Unrequited love/first big heartbreak.
Why is this a fixable problem in every other country but ours?!
Getting sick in the US. About a million dollars in medical bills. Insurance company fought me every step of the way. I had to hire an attorney. Nightmare.
Pain anywhere but THERE!!
Toothache or for me specifically wisdom teeth toothache.
