One thing chronic illness guarantees is uncertainty. One thing a global pandemic, in the form of COVID-19, guarantees is uncertainty. No matter how much we might like to think we have things under control, our bodies, diseases, unexpected life events, loss of loved ones, always find a way of creating times of chaos, confusion, fear … Continue reading Facing An Uncertain New Year
"You better watch out You better not cry You better not pout I'm telling you why... Santa Claus is coming to Town!!" It's Christmas Eve!! I think it's always been my most favourite day of the Christmas period ever since I was a young girl. The excitement and anticipation of Christmas Day just around the … Continue reading It’s Christmas Eve……Chronic Illness Style
How many times have you jumped to a wrong conclusion about something? How many times have you inadvertently assessed a situation from the entirely wrong angle? How many times have you completely misjudged someone? Without even realising it, we all easily do this on a regular basis. Tiredness, busyness, listening to others views and opinions, … Continue reading We All Need To Be Understood…Everyone Has A Story
(As published on The Mighty) What are the rules for living with a chronic illness or rare disease? Where can I find the rule book to help me manage, especially when all my symptoms are flaring and are "Off The Charts"? This is the question my husband and I have been contemplating over recent weeks. How do … Continue reading Where’s The “Off The Charts” Rule Book?
For some time I've really admired people who Vlog. It's such a great way to interact with followers and convey, in an easy relaxed way, a message which could get lost in the written word of blogging. It's also terrifying! I've always been used to Public Speaking throughout my working life. Somehow that was different. … Continue reading Dipping My Toe In The World of Vlogging
Many people with Chronic Illness require full time Carers. Often that role is filled by loved ones. Our husbands, wives, life partners, siblings, parents, children, even grandparents. Watching a loved one suffer is just so confronting. No one wants to see someone writhing in pain, or watch the person they're caring for lose their ability … Continue reading Caring For The Carer
We all know the saying; "When life gives you lemons, use them to make lemonade" It conjures up the notion of strength, determination, optimism, resourcefulness, resilience. All characteristics I've drawn on to deal with the "chronic illness lemons" continuously thrown at me. My lemons often feel like tennis balls in one of those practice machines. … Continue reading This One Is All About Handling Lemons
I was once called "Stoic", when I was working, because of the way I got on with my chronic health issues without fuss. I was always cheerful, smiling and putting others first. I kept working full time with that stoic attitude and nature, until my body physically would no longer let me. Even with a … Continue reading Stoic By Nature…..Just Not For A Moment!
I’m currently in an extreme pain cycle (that’s a civilized way of putting it) My bone disease is progressing and my entire skeleton seems to be under attack. Put plainly, I hurt! Pain Is So Personal Pain is such a highly personal thing and while we can all relate to varying levels of high pain, … Continue reading Pain Is So Personal
I can cope with most things about my disability. I'm not saying it's easy. It's far from easy but I have a toolkit of chronic disease management strategies, I've written about in the past, that help me on a daily basis......(My Chronic Disease Management Plan and Body Behaving Badly) My pain is unrelenting during the day but … Continue reading Sleepless Night Strategies
