spillthebeans

Hey all! See that little "followers" widget on the sidebar? Unfortunately, it won't be there for much longer. Its formal name is Google Friend Connect, and it's being retired by Google on July 1st, which means you won't be able to use it to get updates from me anymore. In order to keep up with Spill the Beans posts, would you do me a favor and follow this blog on Bloglovin? Bloglovin is a great alternative to Google Friend Connect and when I signed up yesterday it was virtually painless. (No pun intended!) If you'd rather, you can also subscribe by email in the sidebar as well, or use another blog reader platform of your choice. I look forward to continuing this blog and having you alongside me on the way! Follow my blog with Bloglovin

All of my earliest memories involve doctors’ offices. I have missed more Christmas Eve services than I have attended due to my apparent inability to recover from the common cold. I have a disease that even most doctors have never heard of. I am a full-time college student. When I was ten, my life ambition was to be a ballerina. Now, I just want to be able to live independently. My name is Susanna Karth and I have Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. And a lot of other things too. Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) is a hereditary, genetic, neurological disorder that causes sensory and motor function loss. Basically, my genetic code has a flaw in it that allows blockage to build up in my nerves (yes, directly in my nerves, I had no idea that could happen). The result is a disconnect between my brain and my muscles because my nerves can’t pass on signals. There are multiple ways that CMT can be inherited, and some types are worse than others, but all of them are incurable. In addition to CMT, I also have...

I lost 20 pounds this year. Most people would be glad to type that, rejoicing in reaching some New Years’ goal. I never intended to lose 20 pounds. I didn’t need to lose 20 pounds. I didn’t need to lose any weight. Especially not in the space of three months. Especially not because there were days when my stomach was so nauseated that the thought of eating was unbearable. Especially not because there were days when all I wanted to do was sleep until it all felt better. Especially not because there were days I was so tired and weary that I had no focus or energy. To look at me, you’d never know I was sick. People assume that I look young and healthy, so I must be. But the illness that edges my days, that keeps me on a six-hour schedule for my medication, that prompts me to carry fast-acting anti-nausea pills in my pocket, that causes me to bring water with me everywhere I go in case I have to take something, that keeps protein bars in my purse because if I get too hungry I’ll be nauseat...

So! I know it’s been a little while since I last updated. And last I posted, my circumstances were pretty dire. Since then, I’d describe my life pretty much as a roller coaster, with plenty of ups and downs to make it interesting. Here’s the official breakdown: I started itching. August 22nd, 2011. I had an allergic reaction to a medication, which made my situation much worse. November 11th. The allergic reaction died down (but my hands felt like they took forever to heal).  Annoyingly enough, the itching didn’t go away (though it may have diminished, I can’t remember).  A few hellish weeks ensue. These were some of the worst moments of my life because of all the uncontrollable itching and burning. Throughout all of this, we thought I had a yeast overgrowth.  Since I wasn’t improving, we decided to do a test. Early December. Surprise! It isn’t a yeast overgrowth. I also discover that I have low progesterone and possibly high cortisol.  December 12th. My chiropractor ...

I’ve recently been made aware of the vlogging duo that is Hank and John Green. (You may know John Green from his book The Fault in Our Stars , which I hope to read very soon.) They talk about a variety of subjects, and seem to really understand teenagers. Plus, they’re hilarious. Overall, they’re pretty awesome. But what I didn’t know was that Hank actually has a chronic disease—ulcerative colitis. I was browsing the Green brothers’ channel one day and was honestly really surprised to see this video. I was instantly intrigued. I watched the whole thing, and I so appreciate how real and transparent he was. Every point he made resonated with me and made me wish the whole world could hear this video. I’d have to say that it’s one of the most accurate summaries of the aspects of living with a chronic illness that I’ve ever seen. So whether you’re struggling to understand what it’s like for someone you know who has a chronic illness, or you have one yourself and just would like a little va...

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally brethren whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and is anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. —Philippians 4:6-8 (NASB) My name is Kayla Woodhouse. I am a Christian, a David Phelps “Phan”, a swimmer, an author, an artist, a music freak, and more. Sounds normal, huh? Well, think again! (I personally think that no one is normal… and that normal is “so overrated”…) :) Before I tell you anything more about myself, though, I’d like to explain that I am a firm believer in God. And I also believe with everything in me that God “knows the plans [He] has for [us], plans to prosper [us] and not to harm [us], plans to give [us] hope and...

I never wanted to be the weak one. And yet here I am. Everything has come to a head today. I am fatigued. So, so tired. I'm barely sleeping because I'm itching and anxious. The itching and anxiety are directly connected it seems; when I have anxiety, my skin feels like it's burning from the inside out. And unfortunately, that's pretty much been all the time. People say all the time, "you're so brave. you're so strong. you're so positive." Honestly, I don't feel that way. I have yelled at my mom this week more times than I'd care to count. I've cried and cried and cried and cried. I've yelled at God, I've been so angry. I've punched my mattress a few times because I literally do not know how to handle this. I'm not as positive and great at this as everyone thinks I am. I'm really not. I'm kind of having a breakdown today. It's been two months of a living hell and I want it to stop. But it won't stop. I fe...