Comments on: The Spoon Theory written by Christine Miserandino

By: Tabitha Rubertella

Tabitha Rubertella — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:44:20 +0000

My sibling has autism (asbergers ) and i love him very much but my friends make fun of him how do i tell them what he really is like? PLEASE HELP ME!!!!! i cry myself to sleep every night thinking about how he might not be able to get a job like me and who will marry him and take care of him everyday of his life.
love Tabitha

By: April

April — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:44:00 +0000

this is such a good way to explain this. i have lupus and fibro and most people have that ATTITUDE, you look fine. i also suffer from insomnia so i sleep in little fits and starts. have been up most of the last 2 days. usually just fall out from fatigue. my husband also has major health problems and i am the only driver in the house so it gets frustrating for him. i am going to have him read your spoon theory it is the best way i have heard yet to explain this awful way we live. he is sleeping right now and i am ready to scream from the pain but have to hang in there hopefully. Thank you so much for sharing.

By: Jen

Jen — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 03:32:19 +0000

I was diagnosed with MS in September 2010. I have had a difficult tme explaining to people how what my experience is with fatigue and coping in this world. Thanks for creating such an amazing visual explanation that can be used by those of us who just didn’t know how to express ourselves:)

You rock!

Jen

By: Samantha Beckmann

Samantha Beckmann — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 17:46:04 +0000

Hi I’m Sam and I have Chiari malformation type I and Pseudo tumor Cerebri. Reading this brought me to tears because, while I don’t have the same medical issue, this IS my life. Its so hard trying to explain to people how things that seem so effortless to them never get done or can’t be done. How you have to choose between taking a shower or making lunch. How you lose weight because you can’t cook or on the days you can cook, you’re so dizzy and nauseated by the time you’re done that you can only eat a few bites so you can take your medicine. Or only eat half of what you want so you have ROOM to take your medicine lol. Thank you for writing this theory down, its such a gift. And thank your friend for being persistent. I will be directing all of my friends and family here. Thanks again for sharing, you are awesome ^-^ <3

By: Mrs Shirley Chappell

Mrs Shirley Chappell — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 07:19:33 +0000

Dear Christine,
I found your Spoon Theory article most interesting, as I battle with Sjogren’s Syndrome, and have to also plan my days.

I would like your permission to share this article with family and friends. Many just can’t understand why I just can’t get up and go all the time.

Lots of love, and God bless you, and help you to cope as He helps me too.

from Shirley.

By: Marion Downie

Marion Downie — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 04:41:13 +0000

Hi,I just want to say Big Thank You, to all who make this site, especially Christine, accessible to those of us who have never been able to completely explain to others just how we feel and need, to live our lives. I have Fibromyalgia (so painful and depressing), Osteo-arthritis, Severe Sleep Apnoea, very painful lower lumber pain from pressure on the nerves, Diverticulitis at times, and at the present time I am waiting for major surgery, which I have needed for a while due to a badly displaced uterus, a hysterectomy with repair work to bladder and bowel area, they said I could have cancer but a hysteroscopy cleared that but then a smear test came back with changes, I also have glaucoma in one eye. Not knowing when or where the sudden pain will come from, is so frustrating, and debilitating. I learned a painful lesson on how to ‘use my spoons’ and now have to leave things undone until my body will allow me to have a few minutes in the garden or cleaning, changing things around a bit in the house. Without my wonderful husband, I dread to think how hard my life would be. The worst thing is, now that I am an age-pensioner, I have to ‘join the lines’ the line for my surgery, the line for spinal treatment, the line for dental work, etc. this can be a major cause of depression if you were not having a problem with it beforehand. I also have the risk of bowel cancer, as my sister died in her twenties from bowel cancer we have regular tests and my recent bowel scan was positive, so I see a surgeon in another week, for a colonoscopy(which we have regularly. I am going to purchase a copy of Christines ‘spoon lesson’ now. Thank you for letting me tell this to people who understand.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 18:17:34 +0000

I was excited to read this. Finally, someone put into a perspective that those who do not suffer chronic pain can now understand that simple daily activities are so hard for us to complete. I suffer from intractable migraine, fibromyalgia, severed piriformis muscle, sciatica, 2 herniated disks and to top it off, a bad rotator cuff. I live with pain 24/7. When I would get a flare up of my migraines, I was literally confined to my bed and that is hard when you have a very active 5 year old. God bless him, he really is the most patient child. He understands that mommy is not feeling good. But my husband, well that is another story…. He thinks I am faking and has no tolerance nor patience with me or the medicine I have to take all the time.

But thank you for this article, I sent it to my DH and hopefully he will understand better now.

Excellent article – thank you!

By: Justin

Justin — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 06:40:34 +0000

Christine,

I don’t know what to say — I read this a few months ago and thought it was beautiful. It didn’t apply to me, but I was happy (in a general way) to see you advancing the idea that sick people might actually be real people in the first place.

It really seems reify (heh, Firefox doesn’t think that’s a word: to make real) the problems of living in a world that assumes that everyone is a perfect physical/mental specimen.

I recently learned that my brother has ALS. I’m not sure if he’s ready for your theory — he’s doing amazingly well, but I think he is hanging on to an ideal that he’s more in control than he really is. Largely because his progression has been very slow and maybe — maybe — he’ll be one of the lucky, lucky few (so very few).

But I swear, when I think it’s good for him to hear it, the Spoon Theory will become part of his vocabulary. I know you didn’t mean it this way in the first place, but I’m positive that when the time comes where he needs to ask for help, “I’m out of spoons” will be easier to say than “I need help”. Metaphors matter.

Thank you, Christine, thank you — I think you made this aspect of my relationship with my brother easier.

Thank you.

By: Lisa Hellen

Lisa Hellen — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 03:23:20 +0000

I’ve used your “Spoon Theory” countless times for friends who also have chronic illnesses, but I think the people it helped most were my parents.

Thanks

By: Lizzie Deaves

Lizzie Deaves — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:43:28 +0000

Thank you so much! such an easy concept to explain the daily struggles. I always used the word ‘tired’ when actually getting to sleep when in pain is impossible and really just lifeless. But from today I will replace tired for spoons! thank you x