Inspired by the KTMY post ‘Am I Disabled? Why you should define chronic illnesses as a disability’ Does ‘Invisible Illness’ Equal ‘Disability’? Controversial but a hotly debated topic for those within the chronic and invisible illness community. Lots of questions get raised such as: What is a chronic illness? What is an invisible illness? Should this conditions come under disability? What exactly is disability? How do we measure this? How…
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Pain: When does Acute turn into Chronic?
Pain. It’s all relative. It was last Spring and I had just started on a new pain relief medication, after a stint in A&E. I was already on Amitriptyline and now we were adding Gabapentin into the mix. I had been living with my rectal stump for almost eighteen months at this point and every day it was getting more and more uncomfortable. With it’s intimate location, I was limited…
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This is Not My First Choice
Monday. This morning I ordered my stoma supplies with my delivery company and my prescription with my GP. By next week I’ll be organising and putting away another months worth of supplies to get me through August. August. My stoma was created three years ago this August. The day before my partners birthday – we celebrated my ‘new’ chapter and his life. I was always very comfortable with my stoma.…
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Life Lately | Surgical & IBD Update
Let’s catch up, shall we? I haven’t done a ‘Life Lately‘ posts since I was having my wound dressed each day. That feels like forever ago but it has only been a matter on weeks. So, let’s catch up on everything medical that’s happened since my Vedolizumab at the end of May. A general overview of June can be found here. The whole of June can be split into two camps…
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High and Low Symptom Days
One of the worse things about IBD is having unexpected flare ups. You could be perfectly find and then out of nowhere, a deep burning pain starts to build. It’s uncomfortable, unpredictable and can last anywhere from minutes to hours. The best we can do is try to always prepare for it – having heat wraps, painkillers and medications, safe food or drink options, and natural remedies on standby. And…
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Reflecting on 2019 – The Six Month Update
Okay. So how did we get to the end of June already? We are half way through 2019 already. Already! I haven’t really had a chance to reflect on the goals I set myself back in January. You might be wondering, why reflect after only six months? Well, performance reviews in employment take place monthly, quarterly, and six monthly; why not personal reflection? I’ve spent the first half of 2019 really unwell…
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REVIEW: Pelican Platinum with Vitamin E Barrier Range
Why am I using them? Back in late February, I went through a phase where my barrier product wasn’t giving me the protection and security I’d been used to. I started to experience more itching under my baseplate – a sure sign of an impending leak and definitely some skin irritation – and no amount of minor adjustments to my template or routine would fix this: I had to admit…
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How do I do Things for Myself when I’m Unwell?
Reality check: I sometimes I push myself. Too hard. I do things beyond what my pain level will allow me. I end up in more agony because I do things that I shouldn’t, or should just leave well alone. But I don’t listen, silly me. To some extent, I think most people with chronic illnesses do this. For some it’s doing what is necessary and paying the price the day/s…
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Guest Post: MyTherapy
IBD: TAKING CHARGE OF YOUR DISEASE Living with IBD can be difficult sometimes with unpredictable episodes and regular hospital visits that disrupts normal daily activities. However, if the symptoms are well managed, people diagnosed with IBD can live normally with the condition. IBD has been a topic of interest for many people and has become a burden for ages since what specifically causes it is actually not known. So much…