#chronic illness hacks

[ididit-allofit-foryou]

Chronic Illness Products: Tried and Tested by a Fellow Spoonie

Hey! I’m Rain, and I have various chronic illnesses and disabilities, including: POTS, chronic migraine, chronic pain, and chronic fatigue. The following products are some that have helped me with my symptoms!

Migraine Ice Head Wrap

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09BN7TV6N/?coliid=I2CB88I8424KRB&colid=OPCCR26R0SR4&psc=1&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it

This is great because it can be either heated in the microwave or cooled in the freezer. It has gel in it and it is heavy so it puts a little pressure on your head. It also has velcro closure so it can be adjusted for head size and pressure. You don’t even have to put it in the freezer if you like it cold, because if you keep it at room temperature (my house is usually between 68-71 degrees F) it will get cold by itself and it can help for a while, about 10 minutes before it gets warmed by your body heat.

Monthly Pill Organizer

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09V53JTM6/?coliid=I2IBUBXDTRNU36&colid=OPCCR26R0SR4&psc=1&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it

I hated having to refill my pill box every week, so I got 2 monthly organizers and use one for morning and one for night, and I only have to fill it once a month! I like this band because it is easy to open and each week comes out by itself so if you travel you can take just one week with you. I also like that they are all in a case and it closes for safe keeping.

Bed Tent

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07T4JV6ZT/?coliid=I33UE149JTQBTG&colid=OPCCR26R0SR4&psc=1&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it

This is more expensive, but it is absolutely worth it if you have migraines. It has 6 zippers: one on each side, one on each end, and the top part of each end flap has a second zipper that opens a mesh area if you want air or light. You can close it entirely, and it makes it dark even in daylight, but it is still breathable and not stifling. There is also a pocket at one end that can hold a TON of stuff. I keep snacks and things in there for easy access. Finally, there is a little circle hook on the top where you can hang a camping fan or light if you want!

Cooling Neck and Head Towel

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JH4H5AS/?coliid=I3L6Z4MFFV2IK1&colid=OPCCR26R0SR4&psc=1&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it

There’s a few different brands of these, and I couldn’t find the exact one I have, but any will work! My brother used this brand for when he played sports–I use mine to cool my neck when I’m nauseous lol. It stays cold for longer than just a regular rag and the water doesn't get everywhere.

Neck Pillow

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09MQ416CR/?coliid=I34LO7QKQ5H4Z&colid=OPCCR26R0SR4&psc=1&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it

Simple, yet effective. If you have POTS or any other condition that makes it hard to sit up for long periods of time, or a condition where you have neck weakness/pain, then this is for you. Riding in a car? Recline that seat a bit and put on a neck pillow. 10/10 much better car experience.

Cane With Seat

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DPOOCC0/?coliid=I133WRLIWPH40D&colid=OPCCR26R0SR4&psc=1&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it

I have POTS, and I use a wheelchair for most places that require walking, but a lot of areas where I live are not wheelchair-accessible. So, I use this! If I feel dizzy, I can just open the seat and sit down for a bit until by body chills the fuck out.

Electric Toothbrush

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08LJNZW3Y/?coliid=I189MT1VEIKUTZ&colid=OPCCR26R0SR4&psc=1&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it

It doesn’t have to be this kind, but since I can’t stand long enough to brush my teeth very long (or at all some days), I use an electric toothbrush to get a better clean in a shorter amount of time. They cost a bit more, but less than a cavity filling.

Shower Chair

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NM77DJ2/?coliid=I1SRRBS7ISI3E1&colid=OPCCR26R0SR4&psc=1&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it

If you feel dizzy in the shower, or can’t stand very long due to pain, or for whatever reason, and are considering getting a shower chair, this is your sign to do it!! It has helped me so much and makes showering SO much easier and way less daunting.

Bath Pillow

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B9WG925R/?coliid=I1C4T2MUPR33WU&colid=OPCCR26R0SR4&psc=1&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it

I have chronic pain and laying in the bathtub in warm water can help with it, but it also hurt my neck to lay on the hard surface. Not anymore! I’ve also seen full-body bath pillows that would be GREAT but I don’t have anywhere to store it. For this one, I just keep it in the tub all the time.

That’s all I could think of at the moment, but I will reblog this with more items if I think of any! Feel free to add to this list yourselves!

[chronicallydragons]

I'm so mad! I've been wearing compression socks for 3 years and only just learned a super easy way to put them on??? I've been rolling them down to the toe like I'd put on panty hose and it's been fine--not easy but it's compression socks and it's not supposed to be easy, right? WRONG. Apparently you can reach inside, grab the heel, pull the sock inside out from the cuff until you reach the heel (so the leg bit goes over the foot bit), put your foot into the opening (which just slid in?? no fighting??) and have the leg part over your foot as one long inside out sock bit, and then you just, slide that right side out over your leg? and it?? just slides into place?? like butter?? I've been triggering my POTS putting the socks on that are supposed to help my POTS and taking 5-10 minutes to get them on, especially with higher grade compression, and I could have JUST BEEN DOING THIS THE WHOLE TIME?!! It took 30 seconds tops.

[the-salty-avocado]

So I have one of these electric scrubbers and I wanted to share that they exist. They are great for POTS or other chronic illnesses/pain. You can scrub with no effort from you. Plus the long handle means no bending.

I personally clean my shower/tub by sitting on the toilet next to it and using one of these on the long pole. It’s effortless.

[chronic-lee-lizard]

Here are some filling foods for when you feel nauseous or not wanting to eat!!!

Eggs

Greek yogurt

Rice

Cottage cheese

Pastas (always a good option)

Chicken (maybe a plain rotisserie if you are needing something not overwhelming)

Potatoes, especially mashed

Soups, the broth helps :))

Overall anything protein-rich will help you feel full quicker. I know on nights when I’m feeling super nauseous but I know if I don’t eat it’ll get worse these foods have saved me lol.

[rosesandthorns44]

Why did nobody ever tell me that one can rip the godforsaken push-and-turn cap off of pill bottles, and there is a perfectly functional, easy to open cap underneath???

What sorcery is this?!?!

Who knew about this and didn't tell the rest of us???

[anthroamazed]

tips for stem majors in math and science courses (spoonie + neurodivergent friendly)

hi y’all! my nameis lila and i’m a 28 year old physics and anthropology major who’s about 2 years through college (in the US)! as we’re coming up on the start of the fall ‘23 college semester, i thought i might share some really solid hacks for fellow STEM students taking science and/or math courses that i’ve basically built my college academic career on. and! these study tips are spoonie and adhd friendly! as a matter of fact, a lot of these are tips/methods that specifically work for me as a neurodivergent spoonie (i have pretty severe adhd, as well as POTS and ME/CFS), but that i think non-disabled/non-spoonie and/or neurotypical students could also benefit from using! so with out any further ado, here are my 7 tried and true study hacks for college math and science classes…

1) discover your learning style and tailor your studying towards leveraging it.

you’ve probably heard of visual, audio, and kinesthetic learning styles, but did you now there’s actually way more learning styles than just those three? i’m personally a “social learner,” meaning i learn best through discussion and socialization with 1+ other people to interact with. this could look like teaching other classmates concepts and methods that we’ve learned or discussing ideas with classmates and/or professors until i fully understand the concepts at play and how they connect and can reflect them in performing analysis and application, etc. honestly, figuring out my learning style was hands down one of the most helpful things i’ve done in college. it has allowed me to choose professors who i will mesh better with in terms of how they teach, as well as to adapt materials and methods to my style of learning in order to master them quicker and more effectively.

2) rewrite your notes after lecture, for the love of god.

this tip actually comes from my high school IB Math HL teacher, who told me to do this when i originally left high school for college. even if you think you’ve mastered the basics of the topic covered during the lecture, rewriting those notes after lecture helps really hammer in the knowledge that you’ve already established and also helps to get the wheels turning on pieces of information you might have less of a grasp on. try tp set aside at least 30 - 40 minutes after class to just rewrite your notes and try to really digest the information.

3) body doubling is one of the most beneficial things ever to be invented even if you’re not adhd, and i WILL die on that hill, thank you very much.

“body doubling” or “having an accountabilibuddy” are interchangeable terms in the adhd community that mean you have one or more consistent study buddy/buddies who you do all the homework and/or studying with in person on a regular basis, even if you’re just working next to each other in total silence. this does a couple of things. first off, it forces homework/assignments/studying to become a concrete social obligation you need to regularly show up for, rather than a nebulous obligation based on an invisible deadline. second off, it gives you 1+ partners to work out your problems concerning course topics with. third off, it allows you to build a network of peers where you feel comfortable helping each other with course material (this is especially great because it’s likely you and your classmates have different strengths regarding course content). tbh, body doubling is the other method that i, personally, have found most useful in college and i highly recommend trying it, even if you don’t have adhd.

4) teach others/your classmates the analysis and application methods you’ve learned, even if those methods aren’t 100% solidified for you (trust me on this).

the goal of stem courses is never memorization, but rather being able to understand a topic well enough to analyze a similar situation and apply the what you’ve learned creatively. this is where teaching others comes in. in order to teach others a concept and its related analysis and application well, you have to have at least a fraction of a decent understanding of these things yourself, and, further, often time in teaching these things you also learn to grasp the concepts/aanalysis/applications even better than you did before with each new teaching session. basically: teaching others is a creative way of also teaching yourself. you get the benefits of repetition, of thinking about a concept/technique/analysis and application in a new way, and of getting to apply the concept/technique/analysis and applicatioin to a new scenario each time. plus, you’ll typically make friends quickly in the process! there’s really no downside to this tip imo ;-)

5) utilize your college’s tutoring center/program(s), even when you don’t think you need to.

usually colleges have either set up a general “tutoring center,” on campus where you can find tutors for all different kinds of topics and courses available during regular hours for walk-in sessions and/or appointments free of charge or departments will hold regular weekly (or twice weekly) free on-campus tutoring sessions for specific courses. regardless of which of these options your college has, i highly recommend attending at least one tutoring session/appointment (ideally with the same tutor if/when you eventually find one you click with) every single week, even when you don’t feel like you’re struggling with the topic(s) covered in that week’s lecture. this will help you review topics and techniques covered in lecture, deepen your understanding of them, and, if nothing else, it’s an excuse to get homework out of the way while having someone else there who can help you if/when you get stuck. attending at least one session weekly also helps you get into a habit and routine of keeping up with your assignments, so you’re not left scrambling at the last minute before they’re due.

6) if you have accommodations, request access to record lectures. if you do not have accommodations, ask your professor if you are allowed to record lectures. IF YOU RECORD LECTURES, DO NOT FORGET TO REVIEW THEM!

okay, so first up for my fellow spoonies and neurodivergent peeps: when you apply for/renew your accommodations, make sure that “recordinng lectures” is on your MOA (memorandum of accommodations), because so long as it is, your professors legally cannot deny you permission to record lectures without risk of themself and the college being sued for an ADA violation. also, make friends with a classmate and ask them to record lectures and send them to you if/when you are absent (let the professor know that you’ve asked this classmate to record and send you the lecture if you are absent)

now, if you aren’t disabled, a spoonie, and/or neurodivergent, you aren’t guaranteed permission to record lectures. however. ask the professor if you can have their permission to audio record lectures (be sure to also let them know that such a recording would be for personal use only and that you don’t plan on distributing the recordings). i’ve found that many professors don’t mind you having an audio recording.

even if you aren’t an audible learner it can be really useful to have these recordings to review at a later point. oftentimes reviewing lecture recordings can be useful if you glazed over and missed a section of the lecture and/or if you can’t remember what a professor taught during a section of a lecture.

7) last but not least, on a related note, if you have accommodations, also request access to your professor’s lecture notes. if you don’t have accommodations, check if your professor posts their lecture notes for students to use.

having your professor’s notes can be extremely useful for review purposes, but they can also help you understand where your professor is going with course content and what they want to stress as important.

[amethystsoda]

For people with low energy or spoons/can’t stand up long to hand wash dishes/etc but have a dishwasher, let me put you onto these—

[Photo ID: a bag of Cascade Platinum Plus dishwasher actionpacs. End ID]

If you’re like me and end up with dishes accidentally left bc you can’t deal with em yet (and stuck on food 😅😅😅) these babies have special enzymes that will eat it ALL.

Get a pair of vinyl dish gloves, put all the nasty dishes in unwashed, and pop this dish pac in AND IT WORKS. All the gross food gone.

It’s been such a lifesaver when I’m looking at dish mountain and want to cry 😭

[positivelyqueer]

Have difficulty cutting solid vegetables like pumpkin or potatoes or carrots? Roast then whole first! Boiling the smaller vegetables would also work but I like roasting because I can walk away from the oven for the forty or so minutes it takes to cook. Much much easier to chop up afterwards. I use technique to make soup but could be good for roast veggies, mash or other recipes. Enjoy!

[that-awkward-fae-nerd]

LIFE TIPS TIME, BITCHES!

Are you a struggling spoonie with lots of shit that needs dusting? Do you collect little knickknacks and collectibles to bring joy in your life? Do you find yourself despairing over dust goddamn everywhere?

Well do I have the product for you!

(This is not an actual product placement I’m actually just super excited about this)

Say hello to museum putty!

This shit. This shit is the TITS! And I’m talking top tier tits here, none of that Barbie doll shit!

Listen.

Listen to my wise words

You just take your various collectibles, slap a bit of museum putty on the bottom, and bam! It’s not moving. You can dust without moving all your little tchotchkes and filling yourself with despair at the idea of putting them back again.

But wait!

There’s MORE!

If you have cats, this makes anything unable to be knocked off tables or shelves!

If you live in an earthquake prone area, it keeps things in place while the planet has a temper tantrum!

Not to mention, it is reusable! You can use the same putty over and over again until it becomes a pile of sad grit that sticks to nothing!

It doesn’t work on fabric, because you don’t want putty in your fibers, but everything else? Oh ho, it is fair game!

Museum Putty! Hell yeah!

[ididit-allofit-foryou]

disability hack: keep a giant bag of trail mix and a thing of gatorade next to your bed incase you Need Food but also Can't Get Up. life changing.

[enbysaurus-rex]

So maybe life is hard sometimes

and it would be nice if it were easier. It might not be any one thing, but maybe there are a lot of little problems that add up or thinks that are just exhausting? Disability/executive dysfunction/life/burnout maybe has you down, that’s all, and you know you can make your space yours to make it better, but what does that mean???

An incomplete list in no particular order about the Weird Shit I do to make my life less fucking exhausting, sometimes. I’m a certified adult, I promise.

More garbage cans! Put them everywhere! Next to your bed and your chair and your couch and both ends of your counter and your litter boxes and-

Hair ties, everywhere! If you have tie-back-able hair! Brushes, maybe, or combs! I keep them in my desk and in my kitchen and my bathroom and my car and my floor (I have cats) and my trunk and my bag and-

Toothbrushes and toothpaste! Gum! Those weird little single use toothbrush fuckers! Everywhere! I keep a toothbrush and kids toothpaste in my car cup holder! I brushed my teeth at 3pm while running an errand for my boss! I use kids toothpaste bc my hands hate me and it’s easier to squeeze! Big packs at the dollar store for the toothbrushes, and you can get cheap toothpaste! Hell, even if you just use the brush it’s better than nothing!! I keep another set in my shower and in my kitchen and in my bag

Loads of chairs! Seating! Everywhere! Stools in the kitchen, chairs by your vanity, shower chairs, literally??? There’s no law that says you have to stand up??? Sit on the goddamn floor if you’ve been standing in line for too long? I do it all the time? Live your best life!

Pre-chopped/cooked/peeled/whatevered food!! Whatever makes food edible for you, fckn do that! No need for extra steps! I throw a handful of craisins in my jar of peanut butter and then eat them out of the jar with a plastic spoon! There’s a food truck out there where they get worried if I don’t show up every day! I eat beans straight out of the jar if I’m not up to cooking! (I like cooking and I love my slow cooker but??? If you’re not up to it? Who gives a shit??? Get you some minute rice and some beans and microwave that shit!)

Disposable! Dishes! Fuck! Throw them away! Dishes are the WORST?? Buy some plastic bowls and some utensils and just!!! Yeet em!!! (Meal prep containers are great if u can bc you can keep reusing them if u want but u don’t have to? You can put them in the fridge if you don’t finish, take it to lunch the next day, rinse, repeat!)

Changing clothes totally depends on your work wardrobe? But fckn sleep in the next days clothes if you have to/can? Or sleep in some of it and leave the rest laid out next to you? Sometimes getting all the way dressed and undressed is too goddamn much?? Fuck knows I can’t!

Cleaning!! Clorox wipes are the love of my life and I would kill for them! Leave a box of those fucks everywhere! Esp the back of the toilet, where you bathe, and near where you meal prep, cuz that’s where you’re gonna have Waiting Time! Which means your bored little gremlin hands could clean!

Put things close to the floor if u gotta! I used to keep all my appliances (my slow cooker, my microwave, tea kettle, etc) on the floor bc I was too tired to stand up very often? So I propped myself up on walls and did my veggie chopping on the floor

If u gotta crawl, crawl. Butt scooch? Do that. Lean on walls, hang onto counters, do whatever. I’m usually dragging myself around the apartment like a shitty legless zombie extra and my cats love it. Maybe put extra pillows around for yourself if you’re a spontaneous napper

If keeping food fresh/using food before it goes bad is hard, buy frozen or canned or eat out. I sure as hell have no idea when the things in my fridge got there, and I’m lucky I’ve only gotten food poisoning like once that way lol, so just?? Yeah

Medicine bottles can come with easy open caps! You have to promise there aren’t kids in the house, but if u ever have grip strength issues or even if it’s a reason you sometimes don’t take your meds (CVS bottles, I’m looking at you), just ask your pharmacist to switch them out. They’ll do it so fast!

Charge cords everywhere! None of that ‘idk where I put my cord 😭’ shit cuz I have like? So many? All of them cheap? But they do the job

Please add more if you have them? These are ones I can think of from bed because someone reminded me that I Do Things Like This Now and it might be useful to someone

[prismaticstreams]

Time management tips for living with dynamic disability

Definition of a dynamic disability: A dynamic disability is a type of disability where an individual's physical, mental, or cognitive abilities fluctuate over time. Unlike static disabilities, which remain relatively constant, dynamic disabilities can vary in intensity and impact from day to day, or even hour to hour. This variability can affect a person's energy levels, functional capabilities, and overall well-being, making it necessary to adapt and adjust daily routines and activities based on their current state.

Anyone who has a dynamic disability knows that planning ahead and time management are really challenging, because your energy levels fluctuate dramatically. They can be unpredictable from hour to hour, day to day and week to week.

So how on earth can you manage your time and energy effectively? It can seem impossible at first, but there are effective ways of working around it.

The best strategy I have found is to brainstorm and list what tasks you can complete on high energy days, medium energy days and low energy days. The most physically and cognitively demanding tasks can be allocated to the high energy days, moderately demanding tasks on medium days, and the easiest tasks for low energy days.

Obviously, what you consider to be a more high energy task will depend on the individual. For example, some people may find making phone calls stressful, and allocate them to high energy days. Other people may find phone calls to be an easy task, and allocate them to moderate or low energy days. You have to tailor it to your specific needs and the nature of your disability. For example, some disabilities limit people physically but not cognitively, while others limit people cognitively but not physically. Many affect both, but not always at the same time!

I recommend practicing mindfulness and body scan meditation to tune into how you feel each day, and get a realistic idea of your current bandwidth. Energy can shift and fluctuate greatly even throughout the day, so it helps to stay aware and present. Don’t be afraid to rest, pace and take breaks when needed.

Many people, especially those with ADHD, find that their energy capacity shifts depending on what activities they find interesting or enjoyable, so keep that in mind too. Neurodivergent individuals also often find being around other people gives them a boost of energy and motivation, which is why body doubling and coworking can be so effective.

It’s a great idea to develop a flexible daily routine that accommodates your varying energy levels. This can provide structure while still allowing for the unpredictability of your condition. Ticking off a few simple tasks each day provides a dopamine boost that can keep you feeling motivated.

Remember, managing a dynamic disability is a journey, and it’s okay to take it one step at a time. It can be incredibly frustrating and discouraging sometimes. It’s not always easy to manage the ups and downs, so make sure you continually practice self compassion and self care. Your well-being is paramount, and by finding the right balance, you can create a life that respects your needs and empowers you to thrive.

Do you have any further tips or insights to share? Please write in the comments below! I’d love to hear more hacks from other spoonies, disabled and ND people.

[stefkaryan]

"A real meal is a meal made the hard way." That's a sign I see at the local KFC, and it ticks me RIGHT off.

There is nothing whatsoever that makes a meal "made the hard way" any more real than a meal made using short cuts. Sure, I love a good mirepoix for my soup, and I often make one from scratch. Most of the time, even. But you know what? My husband has NEVER turned up his nose at a homemade soup I've dished up that involves ingredients I bought pre-chopped.

Will buying veggies pre-cut help you to eat more of them? Pre-sliced cheese? Frozen burritos? Jarred spaghetti sauce? Good, good, good, and good. There is no moral failure to using convenience foods. Heck, there is no moral failure to using shopping and delivery services, either.

"Fed is best" is for more than just babies. Busy, sick, quarantined, have a disability, just bloody don't feel like [insert avoidable task here]? Then work around it, whatever that means for you.

Fond as I am of some of the Colonel's products, the attitude in the opening quote is puritanical, ableist, pointless nonsense. Life is hard enough. You owe it to nobody to make it harder than you need to, just because it is physically possible for you to do so.

[k41tlyn8487]

I’m bored so I’m on an Asking Spree

what’s one life hack that you know?

Oh wow ok

Not sure if this counts as a life hack but if i have a pot of dipping sauce ill put the sauce on my fork and then the food so that the food doesnt fall in the sauce the drown in it

Not sure if this counts though hahaha

[lord-hand-me-spoons]

A lit has happened since I last logged on here. I got accepted to my dream school and I have moved far away from my home town. It has been a hectic (and scary) time, but I feel excited for this change.

Mentally I am not great. This is an exciting time with a lot of new things, and I have been able to stay afloat and get some nutrition, but I would be lying if I said that it hasn’t been a struggle. I feel so alone with my thoughts, I have no support system here and it will take months before I can get a new therapist here, the waiting list is so long. There is no one here that knows anything about my past, which in a way feels good, it feels like I can start fresh. But at the same time, there is no one here that I can talk to of ask for help with the food.