In 43 years I can’t remember a Christmas that wasn’t exhausting. When I was 7, the excitement of seeing whether Santa had visited became unbearable around 5am. Like all kids, I was eager to discover what exactly he’d left for me under the tree. As a consequence, my parents and I had heavy eyelids andContinue reading “Chronic at Christmas – my best ideas for balancing the festivities with pain and fatigue”
Category Archives: chronic illness
Crap poem 57 – Disability dating
Hi everyone, and welcome to my 57th Crap Poem as part of the COPE campaign. First a disclaimer – I watch a lot of crap on the TV as a distraction. It seems, at the moment, I need distracting a lot. One of my favourites (and my partners, although he’d deny it!) is MAFS. What’sContinue reading “Crap poem 57 – Disability dating”
Health support services – helpful tool or additional trigger?
***TRIGGER WARNING*** This post talks in detail about the current wait times for NHS care, as well as mental health treatments and physical health pathways. The post will touch on suicidal thoughts and the effect of delays in crisis care. Please only read on if you feel strong enough. You can find more information forContinue reading “Health support services – helpful tool or additional trigger?”
Pain bias – why is everything collectively coined as ‘backache’?
There are so many things to be frustrated about when you live with chronic pain and / or chronic fatigue. As soon as your pain becomes ‘chronic’, the level of explanation needed just to get across to family, friends, doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers, what you’re experiencing can mean that you spend most of yourContinue reading “Pain bias – why is everything collectively coined as ‘backache’?”
Finding cheap chronic pain solutions
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 thatContinue reading “Finding cheap chronic pain solutions”
Crap poem 56 – Chronic Stigma
Hi everyone, and welcome to my 56th Crap Poem as part of the COPE campaign. This poem is a serious one, despite the rhyming. Let me start by explaining my reason for getting so worked up about this. As some of you will know, some of my more disabling diagnosis are ME/CFS, Ehlers Danlos SyndromeContinue reading “Crap poem 56 – Chronic Stigma”
Sick of guilt – being the ‘cared for’
***TRIGGER WARNING*** This post will talk about grief, family, mental health, chronic pain and the role of carers. Please only read on if you feel strong enough. For more information on organisations and charities that can support these issues, visit my mental health and suicide prevention support lines page, or my Get Support page forContinue reading “Sick of guilt – being the ‘cared for’”
Creative Steph 