Joanna No Banana
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    • How to Grieve: Chronic Illness Edition
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    • A Letter to My Chronically Ill Body
    • My Chronic Illness Changed Me & That’s Okay
  • Disability
    • Top 10 Ways To Increase Shower Accessibility
    • Imposter Syndrome: Dynamic Disability Edition
    • Disabled People Aren’t Burdens
      • Disability

        Top 10 Ways To Increase Shower Accessibility

        March 21, 2021

        Disability

        How to Grieve: Chronic Illness Edition

        October 15, 2020

        Disability

        Imposter Syndrome: Dynamic Disability Edition

        September 6, 2020

        Disability

        A Letter to My Chronically Ill Body

        July 18, 2020

        Disability

        Disabled People Aren’t Burdens

        July 18, 2020

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Joanna No Banana
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Chronic Illness
    • How to Grieve: Chronic Illness Edition
    • The Difficulty of Weight Change Caused by Chronic Illness
    • A Letter to My Chronically Ill Body
    • My Chronic Illness Changed Me & That’s Okay
  • Disability
    • Top 10 Ways To Increase Shower Accessibility
    • Imposter Syndrome: Dynamic Disability Edition
    • Disabled People Aren’t Burdens
      • Disability

        Top 10 Ways To Increase Shower Accessibility

        March 21, 2021

        Disability

        How to Grieve: Chronic Illness Edition

        October 15, 2020

        Disability

        Imposter Syndrome: Dynamic Disability Edition

        September 6, 2020

        Disability

        A Letter to My Chronically Ill Body

        July 18, 2020

        Disability

        Disabled People Aren’t Burdens

        July 18, 2020

  • Contact Me
  • Shop
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Author

Joanna No Banana

Joanna No Banana

About Me

About Me

Writer & Reader

My name is Joanna. I’m a 24-year-old chronically ill and disabled blogger whose goal is to help build our wonderful community.Read More!

Newsletter

Recent Posts

  • Top 10 Ways To Increase Shower Accessibility

    March 21, 2021
  • My Chronic Illness Changed Me & That’s Okay

    February 6, 2021
  • How to Grieve: Chronic Illness Edition

    October 15, 2020
  • Imposter Syndrome: Dynamic Disability Edition

    September 6, 2020
  • The Difficulty of Weight Change Caused by Chronic Illness

    July 18, 2020

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joannanobanana

Joanna. 26. Queen of Allergies. 👑
MCAS. POTS. EDS. & more 💛
Small business owner @allergyfriendlybeauty
Email for Collab 💌
joanna@joannanobanana.com

Queen of Allergies | MCAS EDS
Being disabled and happy is a revolutionary idea i Being disabled and happy is a revolutionary idea in an ableist society. 💛

There are many reasons for us to not be happy, from forced poverty to eugenics to lack of access to proper healthcare and much more.

But while we fight for equality and equity, it’s also important to take care of ourselves on a personal level. Whatever that may mean to you. For me it means finding a spot with nature and flowers. 

What makes you happy? Comment below! 💛

Follow @joannanobanana for more content like this!

#MastCellActivationSyndrome #EhlersDanlosSyndrome #POTSSyndrome #POTSAwareness #ChronicIllness #ChronicallyIll #Disabled #Disability
Double tap if you can relate! 💛 Being chronica Double tap if you can relate! 💛

Being chronically ill can mean a fluctuation of symptoms for many people. We have some better health days. We have some worse health days. We usually can't predict in advance which one it'll be on which day. 

People may assume that a better health day comes with a worry-free mind, but that's not necessarily the case.

Even on our better health days, we may still be experiencing symptoms which if a non-chronically ill person was experiencing they would take a sick day and maybe even book a doctor's appointment.

Our better health days don't necessarily mean we feel good in the way others would assume. We just feel relatively better to our regular level of symptoms.

Also, if we choose to do something on a better health day, we know it often comes with consequences. Going out with a friend once may mean being stuck in bed for the next week. There is this underlying fear of suddenly not being in the relatively better health situation anymore. It could change in an instant. 

On your better health days, do you worry about your symptoms getting worse or is it not a concern for you at that time? Comment below!

Follow @joannanobanana for more content like this!

#ChronicIllness #ChronicallyIll #ChronicIllnessAwareness #MastCellActivationSyndrome #POTSSyndrome #EhlersDanlosSyndrome #DynamicDisability
(Giveaway Alert! 🎉) Are you on the lookout fo (Giveaway Alert! 🎉) 

Are you on the lookout for easy and delicious gluten free meals? 😉

Look no further because @feelgoodfoods has it all! From pizza to mozzarella sticks to mac & cheese bites and more, @feelgoodfoods offers a wide variety of amazing gluten free foods! 🥰

I’m so excited to get to partner with such an amazing brand today to choose one lucky winner to receive 3 coupons for free Feel Goods Foods of their choice!

In order to enter this giveaway please:

1. Like this photo

2. Follow both @feelgoodfoods and @joannanobanana 

3. Tag a friend (more tags in unique comments = more entries!)

4. Share this post to Stories for more entries

Must be 18+ years old and live in the continental U.S.

The winner will be informed via DM on 8/8/2022. 

Good luck to all of the participants!

#GlutenFree #GlutenFreeFoods #EasyMeals #AccessibleMeals #GlutenAllergy #AllergyFriendlyFoods #AllergyFriendlyFood
Double tap if you can relate! 💛 With chronic i Double tap if you can relate! 💛

With chronic illness and disability, a lot of aspects are outside of our control. We can't predict when symptoms will flare up. We can't fully know if something will actually be accessible to us.

It's difficult when those things which are outside of our control cause us to lose people around us. Many disabled and/or chronically ill people have lost friends, family, partners, and much more due to aspects of their disability and/or chronic illness which are outside of their control.

It's difficult to feel like you're in the same place as your peers when life moves differently for them. The pace of life is different both on the daily level and on the long-term level. It often can feel like we're left behind, especially when those people don't reach out.

When we reach out, it tends to take a lot of energy from our side. It can be difficult to keep trying especially if the people from the other side don't understand and don't try to understand.

That being said, there are many people just like you who know what it's like to be in your shoes in many different ways and would love to be friends with you. Even though it may feel like it, you're not alone! 💛

Reach out to people in the disability and chronic illness community and build those friendships. I promise you that they are worth it! 💕

Have you found a way to meet friends who understand your chronic illness/disability and are there for you? If not, how would you like to meet new friends? Comment below! ⬇️

Follow @joannanobanana for more content like this!

#Disability #Disabled #ChronicIllness #ChronicallyIll #MastCellActivationSyndrome #EhlersDanlosSyndrome #MCAS #EDS #POTSAwareness
Have you heard of @voyagefoods peanut butter alter Have you heard of @voyagefoods peanut butter alternative? #sponsored

As someone with a peanut allergy, I’ve been extremely nostalgic for some of my childhood favorites such as pb&j sandwiches. I can faintly remember what they tasted like before I became allergic and didn’t think I would get a chance to taste them again…until now!

I finally had the chance to make my own allergy friendly “peanut butter” & jelly sandwich! 

Both those who developed peanut allergies later in life who miss their childhood favorite foods and those who never got a chance to try them before finally get to enjoy all of the peanut-free deliciousness.

Go to @voyagefoods and get yours today!

#AllergyFriendly #AllergyFree #PeanutFree #GlutenFree #TreeNutFree #DairyFree #EggFree #Vegan #AllergyFriendlySnacks #AllergyFreeSnacks #Top8Free #Top8AllergensFree #Top8AllergenFree #Top9Free #Top9AllergensFree #Top9AllergenFree #VoyageFoods
Double tap if you can relate! 💛 Chronic illnes Double tap if you can relate! 💛

Chronic illness is oftentimes dynamic to some extent. The symptoms may change within a month, a day, or even a second. Sometimes it’s for the better. Sometimes it’s for the worse.

When we’re feeling better, people may think that is a fully blissful time for someone with a chronic illness, but that’s not necessarily the case.

Yes, I’m happy that I’m dealing with less pain, fewer symptoms,etc but there is a fear that it’ll turn into a much higher symptom day/more extreme symptom day. Alongside the fear we know that pushing ourselves beyond our limits can end in days of necessary rest just to recover. 

On the bad days, there is hope for the good days. On the good days, there is fear of the bad days.

I hope to celebrate the good days in ways which don’t cause bad days the next day. If they do, I hope that whatever I did on the good day was worth it. 💛

How do your “good” chronic illness days differ from your “bad” chronic illness day? Comment below! 

For more content like this follow @joannanobanana 

#ChronicIllness #ChronicallyIll #MastCellActivationSyndrome #MCAS #MCAD #MastCellActivationDisorder #EhlersDanlosSyndrome #POTSSyndrome #Dysautonomia
#ad I've always been someone who enjoys my daily r #ad I've always been someone who enjoys my daily routines. However, this weekend my partner and I stepped out of our comfort zone to have a little spontaneous adventure!

We started off the day by scratching off a challenge and worked with what we already had at home to make it come true!

Part of the challenge was to dress up as a high school stereotype so we thought about how we could represent that. 

If you went with me to high school, you'll remember all of the ukulele players. It was always a really awesome way to start the day by walking into school and being greeted with cheerful music, so as someone who now finally plays the ukulele I chose the musician stereotype. 

My partner wanted to go for a nerdy type of look so he chose a button up shirt and some work pants.

Finding a football field which was open was a bit of a challenge in itself but after an hour of searching we were extremely proud of ourselves for finding one!

We talked about our high school experiences, made some new inside jokes, ate some snacks which reminded us of high school, and had a fun time celebrating who we used to be and how we have grown since our high school days. 

I'm glad we tried something new and exciting. It's definitely a day that we won't be forgetting anytime soon! As much as I love our daily routines it's great to explore and have an adventure with your partner as it helps you grow closer in ways you may not expect. It's great to step out of the comfort zone together and do something new and exciting. That's why @theadventurechallenge offers such a vital tool for relationships! I'm so happy that I formed these new awesome memories with my partner. I'm excited to see others utilizing this tool to help improve their relationship with their partners.

I highly encourage you to try a challenge and see for yourself! 

Use code “SUMMERTIME” at checkout for 25% off your @theadventurechallenge book!

Which high school stereotype would you dress up as? Comment below!

#TheAdventureChallenge #CoupleGoals #Couples #Couple
People will say the most ableist takes they can th People will say the most ableist takes they can think of and when disabled people try to explain why we need those accommodations, accessibility devices, etc. we often get shut down by the other party.

What hurts is that the other party doesn't say "I'm sorry I didn't consider that" or anything like that. It's usually "well this clearly wasn't meant for you." If you're talking about how nobody or everybody should be doing something, then that's going to include the 25% of the world's population who is disabled.

I see it all the time in conversations which make fun of accessibility aids. Who needs an electric device to open a jar? Who needs something to help them tie their shoes? The attitude and tone set forth is that nobody needs these things. They call them a waste of money, while disabled people call them a step towards our independence. 

If you don't understand why something exists, then it probably wasn't meant for you. 

Accessibility helps everyone. You use an accessibility device every time you use a microwave, a car, etc. Encouraging non-disabled people to use more accessibility devices which are marketed towards disabled people helps bring down the costs of those products so disabled people can get them at a better price!

What device makes things more accessible for you? Comment below!

Personally, my favorite device recently has been my cervical collar. I only wear it for a little bit and it makes such a big difference with my neck subluxation which allows me to sit at my desk, get some work done, and more!

Follow @joannanobanana for more content like this!

#DisabilityRights #Disabled #Disability #DisabilityPride #DisabilityPrideMonth #DisabilityJustice
A little message to others who can relate, especia A little message to others who can relate, especially those in a flare up or a bad spot. May you find at least a glimmer of a better day soon. 💛

Follow @joannanobanana for more content like this!

#ChronicIllness #ChronicallyIll #MastCellActivationSyndrome #MCAS #MastCellActivationDisorder #EhlersDanlosSyndrome #POTSSyndrome
Inviting people into a space should mean inviting Inviting people into a space should mean inviting them in a manner that's accessible for them.

Some spaces, events, etc. are not safe for us to attend by ourselves.

Even if you mean well and ask what we need to be able to do something by ourselves, it doesn't mean that it's enough for us to be able to go. It doesn't mean that we don't want to be there. It just means that we can't.

New spaces, events, etc. means that things are unpredictable. For those with allergies, we don't know if the food there will be safe. Not only safe enough to eat but also safe enough for airborne allergens. There are a lot of other things to take into consideration, such as wheelchair accessibility, sensory overload, seizure triggers, and many other things.

Please be considerate to those who need their caretakers with them to be able to enjoy the experience which they want to attend.

What makes an event/space inaccessible to you? I would love to hear all about it!

For more content like this follow @joannanobanana 

#Disabled #Disability #Accessability #DisabilityRights #Ableism #DisabledLife
Remember when you feel like you’ve hit rock bott Remember when you feel like you’ve hit rock bottom, there is nowhere to go but up. 💛

Additional CC: Melodic music in the back singing “Someday I’m gonna be with you” twice and then singing “it’s okay.”

For more content like this follow @joannanobanana 

#ChronicIllness #ChronicallyIll #MastCellActivationSyndrome #EhlersDanlosSyndrome #POTSAwareness #Dysautonomia
"You should go see a doctor for that!" Have you he "You should go see a doctor for that!" Have you heard that one before? 🙃

Yes, we would love to get the proper care we need, but unsolicited advice like that doesn't help the situation for chronic illness patients. Oftentimes, it can imply that we're not trying hard enough to "get better" and that there is an easy solution that we haven't even tried.

There are a couple of reasons why a chronically ill patient wouldn't be going to doctors often, such as not having access to the type of specialist they need or insurance not covering the appointment. 

Another aspect that comes into play is medical trauma. 

Also, a lot of chronically ill patients may not feel comfortable going to certain doctor offices, hospitals, etc. unless they absolutely need to due to sheltering from the c to the nineteen.

On top of that, many of us are very busy with school, work, running other errands, taking care of our health in other ways, etc. and going to doctor's appointments constantly may not be the best use of our time and energy.

Everyone will be different in regards to what they need to do to take care of themselves and that’s okay. 💛

How do you feel about going to see doctors? Do you go often, rarely, or somewhere in between? I would love to hear your thoughts! Comment below!

For more content like this follow @joannanobanana 

#ChronicIllness #ChronicallyIll #MastCellActivationSyndrome #EhlersDanlosSyndrome
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Categories

  • Chronic Illness (5)
  • Disability (5)

About Me

About Me

My name is Joanna. I’m a 24-year-old chronically ill and disabled blogger whose goal is to help build our wonderful community.

Popular Posts

  • 1

    Imposter Syndrome: Dynamic Disability Edition

    September 6, 2020
  • 2

    The Difficulty of Weight Change Caused by Chronic Illness

    July 18, 2020
  • 3

    How to Grieve: Chronic Illness Edition

    October 15, 2020

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