Chronic Wellness

Chronic Wellness

By Annette LeonardHealth & Fitness
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Chronic Wellness episodes

  • Episode 185: How Do You Prepare For Difficult Doctor's Visits? Part 2
    I'm heading to Seattle to check on my lungs.
    These appointments always feel really high stakes. Part of that is because if I'm losing ground, the primary course of treatment would be to go back on the lung transplant list. Knowing what it's like to loose significant lung function, it's tough to not be afraid to that possibility.
    Like in a car accident, the results are worse when you tense up and brace for impact. None of this situation is improved by bracing for impact, and adding more fear to the situation.
    Practicing good self-soothing, remembering skills like "I am whole," as a meditation mantra, distracting myself on the long ride up, practicing good self-care while I'm up there -- especially because I'm already under such life stress.
    6 min
  • Episode 184: How Do You Prepare For Difficult Doctor's Visits?
    The world expert in my lung disease practices (interstitial lung disease caused by Antisynthetase Syndrome) at UW Medical Center.
    I travel quarterly have testing and attend appointments with him.
    When I try to downplay the significance of my illnesses, my wife reminds me that few folks are required to see this level of specialist with this degree of frequency.
    Several years ago, I was told my diagnosis was terminal and I wasn't going to survive the next three years. Given these factors, it's difficult not to dread, or brace myself for bad news at these visits. And yet, no amount of bracing will change the outcome or enhance my quality of life.
    5 min
  • Episode 183: How Do You Handle Times Of Crisis? Surf
    Take a deep breath.
    Continuing to think about how we handle times of extraordinary stress and chronic illness.
    When the pain feels unrelenting, how can we handle it?
    When the waves keep coming, when I haven't had a chance to get my footing before the next one crashes down on me -- is there an alternative?
    Is there a way to surf?
    Can these waves represent something other than destruction?
    Can I ride the waves other than being pummeled by them?
    This option is only possible when I'm practicing self-care, when I'm tuning in to my needs, when I'm asking for help, and managing only what's mine.
    When I can interrupt the patterns of stress and seek alternate possibilities instead of being at the mercy of the events that are making this time seem like a crisis, that's when I'm surfing.
    5 min
  • Episode 182: How Do You Handle Times Of Crisis? Honor Your Body's Needs
    How do we manage times of undo stress?
    We cope much like the rest of population does, but with higher pressure and often higher stakes.
    Because of pain, and chronic conditions my threshold managing anything outside the norm is eroded by the pain, stress, and health conditions I'm carrying everyday.
    We are already worn down, depleted, and operating from a place of deficiency.
    Our body is constantly sending us signals and many of us are good at tuning those out.
    When your body says "I need more breaks." or "I need my husband to take the kids." "I must go to bed at 4:00." If you are going to make it through a period of long-term stress and crisis, it is imperative that you tune in to this wisdom, and follow through on the needs of your body.
    6 min
  • Episode 181: How Do You Handle Times Of Crisis? Ask For Support
    I am struggling under the weight of all the recent stressors.
    Today's tip: ask for support.
    There are so many reasons not to.
    Take your reasons, write them down and destroy them.
    When someone I care about asks me for help, that matters to me. It is unreasonable to believe that the same isn't true if I'm the one doing the asking.
    Perhaps we could use help with the kids, the lawn, a meal, an ear to listen.
    Get clear about what you need and when you need it. Then get over the hurtle of asking for the help.
    Even if you aren't in crisis right now, stretch yourself by asking for help right now. How much better to be developing these skills further when you aren't in crisis.
    Reach out, ask for help.
    5 min
  • Episode 180: How Do You Handle Times Of Crisis? Sphere of Influence
    Life feels like I'm in a pressure cooker.
    Some of these issues are short lived, while others are long and ongoing.
    Have you heard about The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, by Steven Covey?
    In that book, he teaches about the sphere of influence.
    In evaluating what my next steps are, it's helpful to consider what things are within my sphere of influence.
    It helps me prioritize how to expend my limited and precious time and energy.
    How can I get clear about which things I can influence and which things I can't?
    5 min
  • Episode 179: How Do You Handle Times Of Crisis? Self Care
    How do we handle undue burdens and chronic illness?
    Life is feeling like it's all too much, how do we proceed?
    What can we do in times of great difficulty?
    Whether or not you have a chronic illness, the maxim holds true that we mus put on our own oxygen mask before assisting other passengers.
    Don't add to the burden of stress by neglecting self care.
    Self care has to be the priority in the midst of hard times.
    Greater fatigue and stress are more likely to lead to flares or relapses.
    Self care must be the thing I focus on so that things don't get worse.
    6 min
  • Episode 178: How Do You Handle Times Of Crisis?
    Have you seen a multi-car pile up?
    What a nightmare, weeding through who is at fault and who pays. What a frustration.
    How is this metaphor similar to my life right now?
    2020 has gotten off to a rough start for me. Here's a bit about what's going on in my life.
    From my wife's livelihood to managing aging parents to what's happening in my marriage things have been really tough.
    How do we navigate this and handle chronic illness?
    6 min
  • Episode 177: How Do You Manage Pills? Prescription Management Service
    Have you considered a prescription service like Pill Pack?
    If you allow Amazon to fill your prescriptions this way they will prepare your pills over the course of the day for the whole month - including vitamins and other pills.
    For someone who has difficulty sorting their pills, this service can be a real asset!
    I expect other companies may be getting into this game as well.
    When combined with alarms or other alerts, this can also help those who have difficulty managing their own medications.
    5 min
  • Episode 176: How Do You Manage Pills Pop Out Container
    Are you taking a lot of pills everyday?
    Keeping track of all the pills and finding the right pill keeper is important.
    Do you need pills on the go?
    Are you going to be traveling?
    What reminders do you need to know whether you've taken your pills?
    Here's another option of how to keep track of the pills you take each day.
    5 min

About Chronic Wellness

From the publisher's feed

Are you one of the millions living with a chronic illness or pain? Our diseases may be very different, but we have many of the same experiences, obstacles and frustrations. We are all working for a better quality of life knowing that pain and limitations will be our traveling companions. My name is Annette and I'm the host of Chronic Wellness, a brief, weekly, podcast where we talk about it all: sex, self-care, mental heath, loss of identity, anger, how to navigate health care and have less days that suck so hard.