Being productive with chronic illnesses
It can be so hard and so frustrating being productive with chronic illnesses, we have less time and less ability to get things done; So, here are some tips to help. I got sick in my early twenties, I had just finished my diploma in nursing, I was part of the project 2000 intake. I had finally found the ward I wanted to work on and was starting to really learn and gain confidence. However, I had been struggling for a while, and the trigger had been a chest infection I caught while at work. I had started getting migraines at least once a week, and was struggling with fatigue.…
Carers Week 2023
I have been an unpaid carer now since the start of the pandemic, and my husband has been an unpaid carer for me since we met over a decade ago. It is Carers Week 2023, and time we talked about it again. It is so natural to want to care for the people around us. It is small things like calling to check someone took their meds, or popping in to do someone’s shopping that feel so normal. This is how family is meant to be, taking care of one another and being there when someone needs you. However, being a carer can be a lot more than that and…
Coping skills for when you are flaring
I’ve not been well recently, a couple of weeks ago I found myself in A&E so lets chat about my thoughts after that and I share some coping skills for when you are flaring. I will be honest, when I went to the GP I did not think he would send me to the hospital, I had a list of symptoms I had since covid. One of those was chest pains, but I knew it wasn’t my heart instead I was pretty sure it was costochondritis, or intercostal muscle cramps. However, because it was in my chest, the GP immediately sent me to the hospital to be checked over. Now,…
How accessible is Stafford Castle?
Now spring is here, me and hubby are heading out to local museums and fun days out, so lets talk about how accessible is Stafford Castle. I love going out and visiting stately homes and museums, so as a way to make sure we do it every month I decided to start vlogging it for my YouTube channel. However, I also wanted to share it here, so I thought why not take the chance to talk about the accessibility of each place I visit. Often those of us with disabilities or chronic illness rarely get to go out, and don’t have as much money to spent. So, if I can…
All my illnesses awareness month
May is a big month in the raising awareness stakes and for me it is all my illnesses awareness month! So, I thought I would do one big post with lots of information! Lets do this: My illnesses, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, Fibromyaligia and ME/CFS that have their awareness days this month and all fall on the 12th and have all greatly affected my life. Before I was sick I was active always walking everywhere and I was a nurse. When these illnesses started to make themselves known, I had to leave my job, my home, and yet it is more than that. The fact that my body constantly hurts, that…
MS makes me a disabled carer
It is MS awareness week, this illness has had a big affect on my life and I would love to talk about it today because MS makes me a disabled carer. When I was in my early twenties and first became sick, I was diagnosed with relapsing remitting Multiple Sclerosis. I was unable to do some things for myself and as I lived with my parents again, my mom became my carer. She would help me shower, give me injections to keep the MS under control and cook my main meals. A few years into this diagnosis, I was asked to come in to see my specialist who announced a…
Empower Your Elderly Parents: 4 Ways You Can Assist Them
As our parents age, they may require more assistance in their daily lives. It is therefore crucial that we provide our elderly parents with support and show that we are there when needed. Here are four simple strategies that you can utilise to assist our ageing loved ones. Help with daily activities such as grocery shopping and errand running Assisting elderly parents with daily activities requires several key considerations. First and foremost, it’s crucial that you assess their needs and identify any tasks where assistance could be helpful – grocery shopping being one such example as it can be challenging for elderly to navigate large supermarkets or transport heavy items…
Finding the good in every moment
There are times when as people with chronic illnesses, we just feel a little more sick than usual and it is those times when finding the good in every moment can be harder. I have been chatting about this recently, but since I had covid in November, I have felt so much worse everything just feels flared up. Fatigue, pain, headaches, vertigo… even my inner ears are itchy! My body just doesn’t feel mine and it can be easy when it is like this to just feel down and to let your depression take over. However, we still need to live, and I am stubborn I refuse to let how…
Dealing with Boredom When Recovering from Addiction
One of the things that make recovery from addiction very difficult for a lot of people is the associated boredom that comes with it. When you are no longer drinking or taking drugs, then you tend to have a lot more time on your hands, and you may not have the resources necessary to fill that time with healthy and fulfilling activities. Not only that but it is common to experience anhedonia, where nothing feels fun, too. This can make it more likely that you will relapse in the future. That being the case, let’s take a look at a few things you can do to deal with the boredom…
Find space to breathe
I have been making changes in my life, trying to find space to breathe and feel happier and healthier its a process!! Change is never easy, years ago my routines were healthy and I felt better in myself I did some exercise every day, did a little cleaning, I cooked and meditated… my life was lived for me to be happy and healthy. Then I took a break one Christmas for 2 weeks off my daily yoga practice and never restarted, I moved in with my mom to help her and stopped having energy to cook and clean. Time moves on and I am left realising I have been eating…
