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
"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
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!
(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? This is the question my husband and I have been contemplating over recent weeks. How do we know when we should worry and seek medical attention? How do we know if … Continue reading My Four-Day Rule
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
When living with chronic illness, goals need to be achievable but they also need to be something we are passionate about. Something that drives us to want to achieve them.
Unrelenting levels of pain, excruciating pain, day in day out is isolating, exhausting. It's so hard to describe to others who have not experienced this kind of life altering agony. I know there are so many people who suffer enormous pain each and every day, who perhaps can’t find their voice to explain it or … Continue reading Shining a Light on Living with Chronic Pain
I love life's little challenges. I love problem solving and turning obstacles into opportunities. I love putting positive spins on what would otherwise be a very negative situation. I've done that all my life, both in my personal life and my working life. So, chronic disease really wasn't going to change that about me. It's … Continue reading When All Else Fails….Just Cancel The Day
