Adjusting to chronic illness

[MastieMum]

Hello, I'm wondering if you could share your wisdom about adjusting to having a chronic illness please? I was diagnosed a couple of years ago, and the prognosis is unknown but it's likely to reduce my mobility long term. I'm already finding it hard to maintain my house and garden and am working full time from home, but not sure how much longer I can keep that up. I'm single and my teenage DSs live a couple of miles away with ExP (moved out due to impact of my health).

If I sell my house and buy a flat I can be mortgage free and that would mean the possibility of working part-time. On paper it's a no-brainer but I find myself unable to make that move. Something inside me is resisting and I don't know how to change it. It would be better to make the move now, before my health declines further, but somehow...

How did you all adjust to the reality of having a chronic illness and needing to change your life to accommodate it?

[pinklillie]

Do you have anyone you can chat to that is impartial?

I would say sell up and work part time but that is solely from someone who is also in chronic pain.

i know you posted a while ago. I have just been looking through for some help myself x

[MastieMum]

Thanks for responding PinkLillie - I know you're right, but psychologically something is stopping me. I guess it feels like it would be like giving in to my illness. At the moment I keep going by pretending to the world that things aren't as bad as they are. It's scary to face the reality!

[Redqueenheart]

I have a long term health condition that causes chronic pain and is getting worse as I age. I really had to face reality and make a lot of changes in my life.

I usually work part-time. I tried going to full-time recently working remotely and it was a disaster, the pain shot up and I was unable to function. I realised that the extra stress and having less time to try to manage the condition was just making everything worse.

I am now about to start a 3 day a week role again and I know I will never work full time again.

I was also recently awarded PIP, because I knew I had reached a stage where I needed help, and I am downsizing my life: selling my current home to move somewhere cheaper and quieter.

I think there is nothing about realising your health put limitations on what you can do and adapting your life so that you can take care of yourself as best as you can.