Staying Cool with Chronic Illness
Staying cool with chronic illness is never easy, many of us struggle to regulate our temperatures which can lead to overheating. Added to that is the fact that many medications can affect how our bodies react to heat and direct sunlight. So, now we finally have sunshine and heat here in the UK, I thought I would share some of my best strategies for keeping cool in a country where we don’t have AC and our homes are built to keep heat in! Why it’s important to keep cool with chronic illness Keeping cool is especially important for children, those over 65 and anyone with chronic illnesses or who are…
If I woke up well tomorrow
This week I thought I would do something different and talk about what I’d do if I woke up well tomorrow… I try not to think about this, to ponder on how I would change my life if I was well and able to do normal things. Chronic illness so defines your life and how it will go, and I became sick so early on in my twenties. That is the point in your life when things start to get going and you find a job and get some independence. For me, it was losing my nursing career, moving back to my parents and having my mom be my carer.…
What Causes Irritable Bladder?
Irritable bladder (not to be confused with irritable bowel) is a condition where your bladder makes you want to go to the toilet all the time, even if you don’t pee much. It’s seriously annoying, especially when you’re trying to work or enjoy a social occasion. But what actually causes the condition? That’s what’s often so confusing. Many times, it seems to come out of nowhere. Fortunately, this post is here to help. We look at some of the determinants of irritable bladder and what you can do, if anything, to reduce your risk. Constipation One of the main causes of irritable bladder is, strangely, constipation. While constipation is something…
Disability Pride Month 2024
It is Disability Pride Month 2024 a time to celebrate, mourn, educate and get angry about the injustices we face every day. I think we can all agree that attitudes towards disabled people have to change, and that we are all disappointed it didn’t when Covid happened. I think I got a bit giddy thinking of all the possibilities that opened up for us that have been shut down just as quickly since. It was so nice to be able to see the option to work from home, something disabled people have been asking for, for so long. I also liked recorded theatre productions suddenly online and feeling part of…
The Importance of Independence When You Have a Disability
Whether you’ve been coping with a disability or chronic illness for a long time, or it’s a recent change in your life, one of the biggest hurdles to overcome is regaining your independence and freedom. It doesn’t seem like the most pressing issue, especially if you’re coping with chronic pain and potentially added risks to your life, but it can have a massive impact on your quality of life. This article is going to explore the issue of independence as a disabled person, as well as how you can explore your boundaries and gain more freedom. Accepting Limitations First things first, different people have different circumstances, which means that they…
Should You Fund Your Own Funeral?
Funerals can be expensive occasions. In fact, the average funeral currently costs about £4000. This money has to come from somewhere. You can rely on loved ones to pay for it, but what if your loved ones don’t have this money? Should you really expect them to take on debts to pay for your funeral? Will they even be able to afford a funeral for you? Paying for your own funeral can prevent your loved ones from having to take on the financial burden. Funding it also allows you to determine exactly how much you would like to spend on your funeral. But just how should you fund your funeral?…
World Continence Week
This World Continence Week let’s talk instead of being shy and be open about my journey hopefully it will help you. I was in my early twenties when I first became sick, and at first it just affected my left lower leg. My continence was not affected and to be honest I didn’t really think much about whether it would, I was young why would I struggle with that? But as my illnesses progressed it affected my legs more, and after a big flare that put me into hospital my continence changed. I found that I would have urine incontinence if I became tired and because I have decreased sensation,…
Migraine and headache awareness month
It is Migraine and headache awareness month and I have a headache most days and regular migraines so let’s get into it. I have spoken a lot about how important awareness days are, and I always keep my eyes on when something that affects me is going to be highlighted. I have struggled with headaches since I was a child, and migraines since I was a teenager, so I thought it would be good to chat about this month’s theme Myth, Truth, Action. Myth: Truth Action: There are so many ways that headaches and migraines can be minimised by the people around us. It is only by educating ourselves and…
Dealing with depression and mood swings
Lately, I have been dealing with depression and mood swings, it has been so hard to cope with so let’s chat about it. I am not sure when it started for sure, though the latest cries from the government and their plans to make our lives harder didn’t help. But I feel like I am no longer able to keep calm and control my moods as well as I have in recent years. Now, like I said this could be due to the government and the stress that caused, but also because of my age and how I could be in menopause. Naturally, our hormones change as we age, and…
Are You Struggling With Your Health? Here’s How You Can Keep On Top Of It
Are you struggling with your health? A lot of people do, so we’re not too surprised to be honest. There are a lot of reasons why someone would struggle with their health, and it’s about identifying the issue so that you can work on it going forward. The good news is that if you are struggling right now, there are things that you can do to keep on top of it, not letting it spiral into a deep dark pit. That’s what we’re going to be talking about today, so keep reading if you are interested in finding out more. Manage Stress Effectively The first thing that we want to…
