Just Like Me

If you know me you know I love the play Wicked. I have seen it a couple of times and could see it a hundred times more.

Kristin Chenoweth played the good witch, Glenda, on Broadway. And I love her.

 

She’s funny, adorable, sweet, kind and is so talented.

Today while on the treadmill I got lucky and happened to run across a Tivo’ed Regis and Kelly show that she co-hosted. I laughed and laughed…even while on the treadmill. Not many people can make me laugh on the treadmill.

While watching the show she mentioned her book she wrote. I had totally forgotten about it and KNEW I had to order it on my Nook.  A friend had read it and mentioned that Kristen Chenoweth has Meniere’s Disease! You know, the very same monster that plaques me, the disease no one understands, the illness there is no help for? Yes, the very same one.

I bought the book tonight…..

and started reading it. I hoped she would say something about having the disease. I didn’t have to wait long. On page 20, this is what she writes……

“ If you’re unfamiliar with the joy of Meniere’s (and I hope you are), imagine a floor warping, ceiling spinning,  brain-churning, think-you’re-gonna-die-and-afraid-you-might-not hangover and multiply that times the aftermath of a power outage at the all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet. That’s Meineire’s. Saying it’s an inner ear disturbance that causes vertigo sounds so Bless my petticoats, Miss Petunia is having a spell. This is more than that. This SOB is seriously debilitating at times. I have tried everything short of handcuffs and a swing to control it but the bottom line: Meniere’s Disease sucks a big fat corncob. “

I think I made it until the SOB part before I started crying. It came out of nowhere. I had no idea it was going to happen.

Just to see it in writing. To be able to relate with her on this thing, heck to be able to relate with anyone on this one thing. To see that someone “gets it” was pretty amazing.

People are so nice to me about this disease. They try to say the right things, and they ask me how I am doing. But, they don’t understand. I feel guilty feeling sad about having it because others are suffering with much worse things. People have diseases that shorten their lives. People die from diseases every day. People are suffering with conditions WAY more difficult than what I am going through. But I can still get pretty darn depressed about it.

I try not to whine about it and try not to talk much about it. I can get pretty scared when I feel (or think I feel) an attack coming on, but I don’t usually say anything because it might not amount to anything. I joke about feeling dizzy and being unbalanced even though it’s not funny. I get frustrated about not being able to hear, hate that I cringe with loud noises (which, doesn’t that seem odd? I can’t hear, but loud noises send me through the roof and shoot 100 lbs of adrenaline though my veins), and I miss the days when watching movies wasn’t such a chore.

So I live with this chronic disease every single day. Some days are better than others. I worry about my future and progression of my symptoms and yet, there isn’t a single thing I can do about it. Nothing.

I wish I could pick up the phone and talk with Kristin Chenoweth about it!  Wonder if she’s listed…….

Going back to my book now. Peace out.

LB