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Self-Care with major Physical illnesses

AdgeSenior Contributor28 Oct 2018, 10:24 pm AEDT

Self-Care with major Physical illnesses

Hi @Former-Member This is an old post - it explains how medical neglect by Drs (doing no scans or tests) ended with me in hospital - the direct cause of my 1st emergency bowel surgery.

I have no current GP, since mine left (months ago) - will need to find one.

I have lived for several decades with serious physical illnesses (or conditions) -

Scoliosis, causing severe back pain

Sleep Apnea (diagnosed 11 years ago), causing debilitating daily fatigue - treatment & stimulant medication has moderately improved my functioning. Not to anywhere near a "normal" level, for someone without a Sleep Disorder (or a fatigue condition).

A bowel obstruction (tumor), with 3 major bowel surgeries (2 emergencies) - from which my body has never fully recovered.

My digestive system (which was disconnected for 6 months), has not worked effectively for the past 3 years - since my bowels were re-connected (stoma reversal surgery).

I also have Complex PTSD, from more than 2 decades of trauma.

Because PTSD is supposedly an "anxiety disorder" (so-called) - medical professionals have on several occasions attempted to "explain away" my physical symptoms as being "just anxiety".

This has stopped me from accessing adequate medical care, on several occasions.

The "just anxiety" was later found to be a life-threatening bowel obstruction (tumor) - which required immediate surgery. Then a 2nd emergency surgery, 3 days later (when the 1st went disastrously wrong). Then a 3rd bowel surgery, 6 months later to reverse the damage (& clean up the mess).

I now have 2 serious hernias, as a result of the bowel surgeries - wound split, extensive wide scarring, & hernias in the middle.

Have others experienced their physical illnesses (or medical emergencies) not being taken seriously - because of having a mental illness diagnosis?

How did you overcome these obstacles to receiving medical care (if you could)?

Self-care is difficult, when my food does not digest adequately - despite Probiotics & Gastrostop (when necessary).

I must run to the toilet with great urgency (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) - which is a cause of stress in itself, & makes working difficult.

Adge

405 replies

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In response to: Self-Care with major Physical illnesses

AdgeSenior Contributor01 Sept 2019, 3:59 pm AEST

Re: Self-Care with major Physical illnesses

Thanks @eth Appreciated.

Yes, still always one yoga class every week - not yet my 2nd (Saturday) class.

I haven't felt up to that one for the past few months.

Are you going away (did you say)? If so, I hope it goes well.

Adge

In response to: Re: Self-Care with major Physical illnesses

ethSenior Contributor01 Sept 2019, 4:14 pm AEST

Re: Self-Care with major Physical illnesses

Yes @Adge I'll be away from the 3rd til the 14th. Offline so no forums in that time. Going to visit my adult child (post-op support) and my grandchildren.

In response to: Re: Self-Care with major Physical illnesses

MeowmySenior Contributor01 Sept 2019, 7:29 pm AEST

Re: Self-Care with major Physical illnesses

@Adge hey Adge, hope you are feeling a bit better. I had dinner and now reading in bed. Outside there is some music in the street and car sounds. Was raining heavy that it sounded relaxing.Hope to get through the night and start working week. Take good care.

In response to: Re: Self-Care with major Physical illnesses

AdgeSenior Contributor01 Sept 2019, 7:45 pm AEST

Re: Self-Care with major Physical illnesses

I hope you have a good week too @Meowmy Reading in bed sounds a good idea.

I've been doing some of that.

I'm short on food, shall have to be creative & invent something.

It's been raining here too, although only lightly.

I find the sound of rain at night relaxing too.

Adge

In response to: Re: Self-Care with major Physical illnesses

MeowmySenior Contributor01 Sept 2019, 9:00 pm AEST

Re: Self-Care with major Physical illnesses

@Adge ,hey Adge, hope your evening turn out a bit more pleasant.Guess the weekend will be over soon. Not good the recent weekends you had found them hard. I find it took many years to accept my chronic illness. It affects my life minute to minute. That live with it needs great compassion and patience. I found it a lot better when I joined the forum. The burden is so much lighter when do it together with others. My long time male friend suffers from debilitating autism. He is quick and unpredictably to anger and socially very awkward. It unsettled me easily and makes me ill at times. We don't live together.

But we care for each other and support each other.

Hope you feel a bit better .

In response to: Re: Self-Care with major Physical illnesses

MeowmySenior Contributor04 Sept 2019, 6:57 pm AEST

Re: Self-Care with major Physical illnesses

@Adge Hey, hope you are going okay. Hope you are feeling a bit better. With chronic illness, I guess we have to learn coping ways. I have been feeling very tired last two days. Have been having very long naps. My mental faculties are okay, I think. I find my moods very fragile and need attention and care a lot of times. Hope you find ways to deal with your symptoms. Take care.

In response to: Re: Self-Care with major Physical illnesses

AdgeSenior Contributor04 Sept 2019, 7:15 pm AEST

Re: Self-Care with major Physical illnesses

Me too @Meowmy Exhausted.

I cannot actually sleep (even nap) at all during the day anymore.

So I do Breathing mindfulness meditations (lying down) every day, instead.

That helps me a lot.

I just put new funny quotes (& pictures) on my Funny Quotes thread.

That helps me to feel a bit better - & it hopefully cheers other people up too....

Adge

In response to: Re: Self-Care with major Physical illnesses

MeowmySenior Contributor04 Sept 2019, 7:29 pm AEST

Re: Self-Care with major Physical illnesses

@Adge Hey the funny quotes thread was great. Thanks for that. I find massage helps me to nap. I had one today,then slept. Woke up feeling much better. May be hot bath can help. Would you think may be also ask doctor for blood test, ? May be bowel operation leave you not absorbing some vitamins?

In response to: Re: Self-Care with major Physical illnesses

AdgeSenior Contributor04 Sept 2019, 7:40 pm AEST

Re: Self-Care with major Physical illnesses

Here is an edited version of my original post - that the moderators gave me.

Massage is really good @Meowmy Although I cannot sleep after a massage, either.

I know I'm not absorbing my food or vitamins well at all.

That's been for the past 4 & 1/2 years, since the first bowel surgeries.

That's why it took me almost 4 years to gain my healthy weight back (after losing so much in hospital).

The Drs know about it, but never suggested anything to do about it.

I take probiotics every day (expensive), & that helps a bit.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (caused by Disconnecting Bowels for 6 months) - means that most of my food goes straight through.

Adge

In response to: Re: Self-Care with major Physical illnesses

MeowmySenior Contributor04 Sept 2019, 7:44 pm AEST

Re: Self-Care with major Physical illnesses

@Adge Hey, I have some friends who told me Chinese dates and red beans are good to improve energy. Think can buy them any Vhinese grocery shops.lol. Not expensive.

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