This week marks 4 years since I stopped working as a nurse. I remember a doctor telling me a little while before that it would be ideal to have at least 6 months off to deal with my health. I drove to my parents’ house and burst into tears to Mum, thinking how on earth […] Read more…
Chronic fatigue
5 ways to deal with orthostatic intolerance
Orthostatic intolerance can be a part of various health conditions. I was diagnosed with postural hypotension as a child, and further testing later in life resulted in a diagnosis of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) (you can read about this here). Dealing with the inability to cope with orthostatic changes is definitely a trial and […] Read more…
Living a satisfying life (even when unwell) & changing your expectations
As of today, I have been unable to work for three years. Wow. That is a long time. It took me that long to get my degree for the career I loved! On the day that I had been unable to work for a year, I had a group of friends over with my family, […] Read more…
You look good
Among the community of people with chronic illnesses, a common topic of contention is the grey area of receiving a compliment – a particular compliment, that is. The compliment in question? “You look good.” It seems harmless. It is a mostly well intentioned statement, offered up as a token gesture of good will and care. […] Read more…
Chocolate and coconut cake
Here is a simple and easy chocolate cake for you to make for a healthy and yummy weekend treat! Banana flour is a great gluten and grain free substitute for flour. It is becoming more easily available in health food shops and aisles. It does have quite a savoury flavour, and it is quite absorbent, so […] Read more…
Glimpse into a day in the life of a sufferer of Myalgic Encephalomyeltis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
As part of raising awareness of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) leading up to the International Awareness Day on May 12th, I decided that I would document an average day for me, a sufferer of ME/CFS. Wednesday April 30th, 2014: 11am: I wake up just after 11am, feeling groggy and tired. I lie there for […] Read more…
Glimpse into part two: things to do when your body doesn’t want to play ball -Wellness Wednesday week 16
Last Wellness Wednesday, I blogged 5 ideas for things to do when you are chronically unwell, to keep yourself entertained and happy. You can read them here. This week, I bring you five more ideas! 1. Do a chore. I know, I know, I said that these ideas would entertain you and make you happy! […] Read more…
Glimpse into International Awareness Day May 12th ~ countdown…13 days
Glimpse into things to do when your body doesn’t want to play ball -Wellness Wednesday week 15
A common question I see popping up in forums and groups for people with chronic health issues is “how do I stop myself from going crazy with boredom/frustration/loneliness/anger/sadness?” It can be a problematic issue, and it is a catch 22 situation. You feel so unwell because your body is sick, so you inevitably miss out […] Read more…
Glimpse into body image with chronic conditions (i.e. wanting to look and feel great!) Wellness Wednesday week 15
Something that I do not see written about much in relation to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) and other chronic illnesses, is body image and getting fit. Obviously, it is not the highest priority when you are struggling to gain a good quality of life, so it doesn’t feature so much in […] Read more…