Being uncomfortable and trying to mitigate my pain is a daily obstacle for me. I’ve saved up to buy heated pillows, expensive support cushions, feather filled large cushions and I’ve been given support wedges by social services. Despite all these options, I still found myself struggling to get comfy while sitting up. After less that an hour my pelvis is grinding and I end up laying down. Not really a healthy way to live for someone who barely moves anyway.
But right now I’m sat upright with the first cushion behind me that’s kept me here for longer then an hour (although how long it lasts remains to be seen). What’s the solution?
A Squishmallow.
If you have no idea what I’m talking about then do a quick Google search. This is a childrens soft toy that’s huge in popularity. There are thousands of designs and new ones come out regularly – I guess it’s an effort to keep kids (or their parents) coming back to add to their collection.
I was first introduced to them via my daughter who was given one for her birthday by a friend. She immediately started using it as a prop on her bed, and when I sat with her and placed it behind my head I was surprised by how comfortable I was. Critically, these things are soft as shit and come in a variety of sizes. Thanks to a sale at Smyths I was able to get a huge one for less that £20, so after years of trying and failing with ‘support cushions’, the best solution I’ve found is a toy designed for children. For anyone raising an eyebrow, I am genuinely more comfortable right now than I’ve been for years, and although I will eventually have to lay down again, this is the longest time I’ve been given sitting up for some years.
How come the best solutions are often the least obvious? It’s almost frustrating that this idea has been available to me throughout my discomfort, but I’ve wasted cash on rubbish ideas designed for my problem, but useless in practice. It’s not the first time I’ve been presented with a challenge that had an odd (and cheaper) fix.
The clothes in my drawers that aren’t getting used end up needing another wash by the time their wearable season comes around. It’s a waste of time and money, but drawer freshener sheets can be expensive and don’t always leave a pleasant smell. I’m a fan of scentsy products, and although they’re expensive, I find the number of times you can reuse them makes them better value for money than the cheapest air freshener brands.
I can add to that value by shoving the unused air fresheners and scent packs in the drawer with my out-of-season clothes. The scent stays in the cupboard and leaves my clothes with a much fresher smell, especially if I choose the ‘fresh laundry’ scents.
Finally there’s my support bandages. As someone with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS), there are some days when my joints hurt, swell or break out. On those days I find I have more stability and pain that’s better controlled if I use a support. Problem is, you end up needing a separate support for every joint and it can get expensive….or do you?
I’m fortunate that I can chop and change my supports, placing the wrist support on my ankles on the days I need to. I have one for each area rather than two and move them around as necessary.
I know these solutions aren’t the norm, but in a time of extreme financial strain, every penny counts. Some of the problems I experience as a result of my health can be incredibly costly, so finding workarounds has become essential because I simply can’t afford the official kit anymore.
Look after yourselves and thanks for reading.
Creative Steph 