Christine Miserandino
Christine is the founder of www.butyoudontlooksick.com.
She can be found on the bydls.com message boards as Christine the spoon lady
She can also be found many other places like twitter, facebook, myspace, etc. You can find how to connect with her here.

More information about Christine can be found here.
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Nikki Albert guest writer
message board name:: Myth1977

I rant about health related issues on my Brainless Blogger site. I live with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, Dysautonomia, a severe vision impairment and some other things. In my spare time I enjoy making cards, painting, and playing with my dogs (Basset Hound and Miniature Dachshund). I am a very contrary person: I work in a bank, have a Masters in philosophy, love to write fiction or essays.
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Jenn Altherr guest writer

I'm a single mom to a wonderful little boy, his dog and an Angel in Heaven. I sufer from Fibromyalgia and possibly SLE, along with other minors like Chronic Gastritis and being a survivor of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. I love to write poetry and articles, sing, dance, cook and a thousand other things.... when my boy lets me! My son was born during the two years I lived in Germany, which was a fun experience! My life has been nothing but twists and turns and no matter what comes I keep peeking around the corner, because there is no other choice but to survive!
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Karen Brauer guest writer
message board name: fanfaire
member since date: January 2, 2005

I'm a 44 year old happily married woman living in a little house on the prairie. My list of ailments has grown ridiculously long, but here is the current tally: Sjogren's syndrome, celiac disease, asthma, peripheral neuropathy, gastroparesis, diabetes, hypothyroidism, periodic limb movement disorder, GERD, fibromyalgia, IBS, chronic myofascial pain and adenomyosis. I have been unable to work since 2005, but prior to that time, I had done graphic design, photographic digitization, radio production, print editing and resume writing (separate jobs, not all at once).
My interests include: music, movies, books, photography, travel, dogs and anything humorous. I have a blog called "browser life" that is my collection of rants, raves, humor and articles on having a life despite chronic illness. When health permits, I also like to scrapbook, take photographs, play board games, converse with just about anybody, and hang around with my husband.
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Stephanie Sures Briggs guest writer, message board host
message board name: sdsures
member since date: Saturday, July 30, 2005

I was referred to bydls.com by a fellow Spoonie at university, and found this to be the most wonderful place in the world! I have a number of “invisible” illnesses such as asthma and cerebral palsy, so I felt at home right away. I’ve made many friends here, as well as meeting the wonderful man who eventually became my husband. I’m so grateful to Christine for creating a place for all “Spoonies”, where talking about doctors and daily medications is considered normal. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Russian language and literature, and I’m currently studying psychology at the Open University. I sell my knitting and other handmade crafts online.
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Carrie Burns guest writer

a 28 year old wife and mommy, completing my two biggest earthly aspirations in life. Not exactly a healthy child since birth, my overarching malady, fibromyalgia, kicked in with full force at the age of ten after my appendix ruptured, amongst all of its other complexities. Stubbornly, I completed undergraduate and Masters' degrees and even lived out my lifelong dream of being an elementary school teacher (for one amazing, but health-wise, challenging year). Besides playing with my active 15-month old son, I enjoy worshipping with the church of Christ, reading, organizing, analyzing, scrapbooking, writing, and cheering on the NC State Wolfpack!
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Lisa Anne Gozzard Social Media Specialist
message board name : ghdcanada
member since date: Sun Aug 12, 2007

LA is a professional carer for people with develeopmental disabilities in Ontario Canada. She was born with a rare birth defect called optic nerve hypoplasia/septo optic dysplasia and has since become a person with panhypopituitarism (or endorcrine failure) and she also has several secondary conditions as well as chronic pain. Her dream is to help all people with chronic health conditions to become effective, positive self-advocates. She loves to contribute to promoting bydls by using creative mediums such as video or poetry, you can see her work by going here.

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Jo Ann Hakola guest writer
message board name: bkfaerie

She has run an internet only home based bookseller business since January, 2000. Prior to that, she spent 25 years in municipal government service as a Finance Director. Her love of books led her to owning her own bookstore. She generally reads a book each day and loves to crochet. You can find her book store at: http://www.bookfaerie.com
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Chef Jill Houk guest writer
member since date: 11/30/2009

Co-owner of Centered Chef Food Studios, a personal chef and catering firm in Chicago dedicated to cooking for clients eating for optimal health. Many of Chef Jill’s clients have fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, or other conditions that don’t appear “sick.” Chef Jill and staff believe when you eat the right foods for your body’s needs, you will naturally feel better and have more energy.
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Erica Jones bydls.com message board social chair and official birthday announcer
message board name: eri
member since: sept 2006
I have been a "spoonie" since birth and most of my dxs are related (asthma, cerebral palsy, retinopathy of prematurity, lordosis, fibromyalgia). I was a preemie. My mom's due date was april 1st and I was born a few months before, so the joke was on me! I was first introduced to disability awareness and rights in college and stumbled upon bydls.com through a link to the spoon theory. I am a science teacher and all around geek. my interests are invertebrate animals that most people haven't heard of, the afrikan diaspora(culture and history), vegetarianism(aspiring vegan), apologetics and current issues facing the churches of Christ and reading.
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Wendy Jones guest writer, bydls.com message board administrator
message board name: Beautifulbigblonde
Member Since 12-12-04

I was brought to the site by a friend way back at the beginning in 2004, the boards were only a couple of weeks old at the time, and we were a small growing community. I had read the Spoon Theory and loved the way it described how we feel each day. I have Fibro, BP issues, Gerd, IBS and Psoriasis. I'm the administrator on the boards and have been since 2006, I'm a mother, and a furkid mother to two German Shepherds, Two cats and a couple of fish. I'm a nanny and i'm a petcare specialist.

The community that has been building here at bydls has grown beyond all our expectations, and just created a bigger, more loving environment for everyone who chooses to call our boards (Spoonville) home. I think it's impossible to find a more loving supportive place on the internet.
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Linda Kaserman Asst. Message Board Administrator, guest writer
message board name: Lindak
Member since: July 2005

You may know me as Lindak, you may know me as Lucy, and you may know me as Nannyspoons. But no matter what the alter ego, I'm here ready to pitch in to keep the site clean, safe and supportive. I've got experience with the chronic illness thing (autoimmune since 1995), working and not working and trying to get thru the SSA approval process. I've also become a caregiver to my mother - sick with heart and lung disease and a father who isn't taking this aging thing very well! My husband and I have lived in my parents home - with them for several years. So, giving up my independence and watching portions of my life chip away due to illness is from personal illness and dealing with another's illness. How do i deal? HA! Gotta be positive, gotta look on the bright side and gotta find a way to cope, it's better than the alternative.

I'm fully committed to the BYDLS community. I've watched the spoonies save lives via the message boards, written articles for the website and talked 'spoons' to more people than I'd like to admit. I wish I could do more - but most days - I can't brain, I have the dumb - along with other responsibilities at home.
But this place - it's a good thing and I'm proud to be a part of it.
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Barbara Kivowitz guest writer
bydls.com member since date: October 2007 (I think)

I am a business consultant (in the areas of innovation, collaboration and organizational change), a writer, and an ex-psychotherapist. I have a mysterious pain condition which was never diagnosed but luckily is well managed through a combination of western and alternative approaches. I am writing a book about couples and illness and blog about this topic at In Sickness and In Health: http://www.insicknessinhealth.blogspot.com
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Connie Knox bydls.com message board host
message board name: ConnieK
Member since November 11, 2006

Like many others on bydls.com, I have a number of medical issues. Mine are primarily due to two genetic quirks: Primary Immunodeficiency and Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. These have resulted in such things as osteoarthritis, GERD, and a variety of autoimmune diseases. I am delighted to be a member of this board - I'm not invisible here and I am among friends who understand what it's like to be a Spoonie. In addition, I have the opportunity to help others through the use of my career background as a medical technologist and as a clinical counselor. When I'm offline and not reading or working on one of my cross stitch projects, I help out with a nonprofit organization which is dedicated to building and supporting an orphanage in Guatemala: Project Somos
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Carolyn Magura bydls.com message board host
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Lindsey Middlemiss guest writer, bydls.com message board host
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Janet Miserandino guest writer, editor

is the proud mother of Christine. She is a Pre-K teacher in Brooklyn and in her spare time she enjoys watching her two precious grand daughters, acting in community theater,.writing and editing. Janet has been an advocate and supporter of the Lupus Alliance and all of her children's endeavors. She especially likes to write about a mother's point of view, when dealing with a chronically ill loved one.
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Stephanie Sayre guest writer
message board name: ReineDeLaSeine14
member since: January 2007

I'm a 20 year old college student with several physical, health, psychiatric and developmental disabilities due to a genetic disorder. I enjoy collecting dolls and photography, knitting, and I am fluent in French. My major is library science with concentrations in computer science and French language and literature. I'm always available via the PM system on the bydls.com message boards to chat or for support.
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Sheila Talley guest writer
message board name: SheilaSchnauzies
Member Since... December 2004

My invisible illnesses are chronic pain from failed back surgeries, Myasthenia Gravis and Type II Diabetes. I am also a DVT and Stroke survivor and have a clotting disorder called Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome. I operate a sanctuary for Miniature Schnauzers called Sheila's Schnauzies Miniature Schnauzer Rescue, Inc., a non profit org. My other interests are writing, crochet design, jewelry design, crafts, art and gardening. You can contact me and see all of my stuff along with the furkids here.
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Melissa Thiessen message board host
message board name: melitami
Member since date: Aug 21, 2005

I'm a neuroscience masters student, who also dabbles in podcasting, blogging, and graphics design. My laundry list of diagnoses are: irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, viral arthritis, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Addison's disease, and a serotonin deficiency. The best place to find me other than on BYDLS is on Twitter
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* There are more people on our team that we would like to thank. As soon as we have updated bio info from them you will see them featured here.

*If you are interested in joining our butyoudontlooksick.com team as either a writer or in any other way please feel free to contact us.