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Iris Gray- Iris’s Music

@irisgray336

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I’m raising awareness on chronic illness and coping with music. I’m a child sexual abuse survivor, with Lyme, Ehrlichiosis and embedded uti, and IC

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Living with Lyme day to day. Thank you for being here with me.
#lightsensitivity #NeuroLyme #Mayislymeawarenessmonth#chronicpain#lymedisease by @irisgray336

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5 months ago

I was smiling hours ago, but now I’m in severe pain with my left eye.
I still have a Stye. Lyme disease doesn’t just affect the body-it
can effect the eyes too. I have a chronic oil gland dysfunction. My
tear ducts and oil glands don’t function properly. This causes pain
and infections. It also causes dry eye. I was first diagnosed with Neurological
Lyme in 2020 and Ehrlichiosis in November 2022. After I got Bells
Palsy, I got eye pain. It was only on the left side of my face.
It did go away at times and gradually got worse. I live with this
eye pain 24/7 now. I’ve had this eye infection for 3 weeks already.
They’re doing a CT scan on the eye this week, to see if anything
else is going on. Meanwhile my left eye became worse
my vision is worse and my left eye is blurry. Please be patient with me,
replying to messages is difficult. Right now I’m still
here trying to raise awareness. May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month
Let’s raise awareness together. #lymediseaseawareness #neurologicallymeawareness
#invisibleillness #chroniceyepain #stillfighting by @irisgray336

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5 months ago

“14 Days Post-Op… and now I know why I still hurt!” 💜
Went to the surgeon today and found out I had a femoral hernia on the left side,
Along with an inguinal hernia on the right side and two canal of nuck hydroceles.
He took out a lot of tissue during surgery, so apparently my body needs some extra time to heal.
Now I’m on six weeks of no lifting anything heavy.
I’m smiling, I’m healing, and taking it one day at a time.
Guess my banjo and I are going to have to wait patiently for each other. 🪕😅💜
#postoprecovery #femoralhernia #herniarecovery #recoveryjourney #herniasurgery by @irisgray336

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20 hours ago

Here I am 14 days post op…
💜😂 I went alittle purple crazy!
Purple nails, purple toes, purple pj’s, purple blanket, purple shower curtains, purple flowers, purple shoes
Purple everything for my recovery! 😅💜
#purplerain💜 #purpleeverything #14dayspostop #recoveryjourney #justforfun by @irisgray336

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a day ago

I keep telling myself things are going to get better.
Right now I’m in bed…
I’m still having a significant allergic reaction to the surgical glue.
I continue to have red welts, intense itching/burning, and pain
around the areas on my stomach where I was cut for the
bilateral inguinal hernias and canal of nuck surgeries.
I’m 12 days post op.
I do not want surgical glue or surgical adhesive used on me again in the future.
Worst experience ever.
#recoverysurgery #bilateralhernias #allergicreaction #ᴄʜʀᴏɴɪᴄᴘᴀɪɴ #youdontlooksick by @irisgray336

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4 days ago

Are You Sleeping? English & Mandarin 😅
Yesterday I was happy
I played my Ukulele for about five minutes before my stomach told me that was enough.
Now I’m doing puzzles in bed and keeping my mind busy.
Just finding little things to enjoy while I’m recovering.
Learning children’s songs in Mandarin in honor of my granddaughter’s
first birthday.
♥️💕
#learningmandarin #ukulelesong #areyousleeping #ukulelemusic #childrensong by @irisgray336

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9 days ago

Being honest…
This recovery has been way more difficult than I imagined.
I’m having some of the most intense stomach pain and stabbing groin pain, plus nausea. Some days it’s hard to be positive after having three surgeries in one year.
Just being real- this is where I’m at right now. I keep telling myself it’s going to get better.
#RareCondition #CanalOfNuck #InguinalHernias #RecoverySurgery #5dayspostop by @irisgray336

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11 days ago

Some mornings all I can think is, “Are you kidding me?”
The pain was so bad this morning, I just wanted to scream.
Three days post-op, the recovery has been harder than I expected.
And for now, I can’t play my guitar or make the music the way I normally do.
That’s probably one of the hardest parts for me.
But I’m taking it one day, one step, one breath at a time.
I’ve been down some roads I never planned.
I carried some burdens I thought I couldn’t bear.
But every scar is proof that I was here.
I’m still here. ❤️
Better days are coming.
For now, I’m focusing on the good ahead-I’m looking forward to the day
I can pick up my guitar again. 🎸
This is my song in progress, that I was working on before surgery.
#originalsong #surgeryrecovery #recoveryjourney #musicandhealing #chronicillness by @irisgray336

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13 days ago

Surgery was three hours, and I was at the hospital for about ten hours. Wednesday was a very rough day,
and today has been a very rough day too.
I just want to take a moment to thank everyone for your prayers, love and support. ♥️ It
truly means more to me than I can put into words.
They were able to repair the rare hydrocele canal of Nuck cysts and both inguinal hernias. I’m now home and beginning the
recovery process, but I’m still in a great deal of pain and taking things one day at a time.
And just a a little laugh… I couldn’t even get dressed before leaving the hospital, so yes, I went home
in my hospital gown. 😂
Sometimes you just have to laugh.
#CanalOfNuck #InguinalHerniaRepair #SurgeryRecovery #HealingJourney #ThankyouForYourPrayers🤍🙏 by @irisgray336

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14 days ago

I had a very rough day today. All I can say is… music helps. 🎶🎸

Going into surgery Wednesday, I had pre op today, so I’m playing alittle music tonight
before I have to take a break for a while.
Wish me luck🤍
#musichelps #TravelingSoldier #thechicks #ᴍᴜsɪᴄɪsʜᴇᴀʟɪɴɢ #fingerstyle_guitar by @irisgray336

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18 days ago

The music continues… 🎶🤍
#originalsong #musicfromtheheart #movingforward #iwontchaseyouanymore #songwriter by @irisgray336

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19 days ago

Sometimes you just have to show up as you are. 🤍
I’m walking today even though I’m in pain. Taking the stairs and taking it slowly, and doing what I can
while I wait for surgery. The pain has increased and I’m waiting on a doctor to call me back.
So far my surgery is scheduled for next Wednesday, the 23rd of September.
For those who may not know, I’m dealing with inguinal hernias and a very rare hydrocele of the canal of Nuck. Hydroceles
and inguinal hernias are something people often associate with men, but women can have it too. A hydrocele of the canal of Nuck is a rare condition in women where fluid collects in a small passage in the groin called the canal of Nuck.
I have never heard of this happening in women until it happened to me.
It took a couple of months before the GYN ordered a CT, they found the hydrocele of the canal of Nuck, on both sides, and later my surgeon ordered an ultrasound to look more closely at what was going on, and recently found the inguinal hernias.
My GYN, first said it’s probably dermatitis. maybe you used a new soap or something and sent me home.
I knew something was wrong because I had a lot of pain, swelling, and pressure.
I’m sharing this because if you’re a woman experiencing unexplained pain, pressure, swelling, or something that just doesn’t feel right, keep advocating for yourself. Keep asking questions. You know your body. For now I’m taking it one step at a time. 🤍
#CanalOfNuck #InguinalHernia #womenshealthawareness #patientadvocacy #rarecondition by @irisgray336

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24 days ago