Chronic Illness

Are there days when you wonder why you even got out of bed? Do you wake up in the morning so exhausted that it seems you didn't sleep at all? Do you feel done in just thinking about having to make dinner?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you're not alone. More than 3 out of 5 Americans share the pain of chronic illness, and the frustration that each day seems to bring more pain and less enjoyment. Sometimes a diagnosis is easily made after some blood tests. Most of the time, however, those of us living with chronic illness undergo test after test, only to be told that there is nothing wrong with us.

I can't number the times I have been told, "But you look so good!" My response is usually, "Thank God for makeup!" I have found that keeping a sense of humor now is very important to my emotional well-being because how I think often affects how I feel. Rick, my hubby, has been known to say, "It's not easy being you, is it?"

My particular health health issues include frequent migraines, fibromyalgia (FMS), chronic fatigue immune deficiency disorder (CFIDS), widespread arthritis, and thyroid problems. I know that there are many people with more severe problems than mine, but I'm the one who is trying to live with this personal health cocktail. I've come up with some ways to streamline certain tasks that make things much easier for me, and I'll be sharing these with you.