06/17/2026
“A Little Treat For Myself!”
Today I feel empowered! I hope this gives you the push you need to conquer a goal you have. Life with chronic illness is never easy and you have to mentally accept limitations you have in life that most people don’t have to worry about. I am so proud of myself for conquering a fear of mine because as a result, I had the best day! I drove solo 2 hrs to Universal Studios today which is the longest drive I’ve ever done on my own. With Gastroparesis, Chronic Lyme disease, coinfections, and Sjögren’s syndrome, I’m impacted daily by my debilitating symptoms like vomiting, neuropathy, migraines, insomnia, constant nausea, and lymphedema to name a few. Fun right!? 🫠
I woke up at 5 am and thought about how I could spend the day in bed thinking about all the things I want to do or I could grab my meds, jump in my minivan, and cruise to Universal. The result was a day full of joy, empowerment, screams, and of course ROLLERCOASTERS! When I ride a rollercoaster, I’m too busy thinking about the barrel rolls and upside down turns to think about my nausea and head pain. The shock of the ride jolts me out of my depression spiral. I arrived at 8 am and left at 12 pm having completed 10 rides (3 Velocicoaster rides). Woot Woot! I knew I was reaching my breaking point so I hit the road to drive home safely. Riding solo, I met and shared laughs and park stories with other riders from across the globe. It was freeing!
Park Necessities- Green Juice, Protein Shakes, Zofran (nausea medicine), Elixirs from Hawaii Pharm like Kudzu for headaches and Red root for inflammation, Prescriptions, and Vitamins. I can’t eat solid food without getting sick so I come prepared. I put all these in my backpack and it fits in a free small locker. Tip- they fill your bottle up with water for free at any convenient stand. Set yourself up for success by acknowledging your limitations and working with them instead of letting them limit your life from happiness and independence completely. Don’t wait until you’re well to experience joy. Own your life! As my license plate states, “Let’s Just Go!”
