Chronic illness sufferers (or #Spoonies) all know that they are in for the inevitable day of crisis. When despite all the best planning, careful management, hope and wishes we end up spending a day or more cocooned in our beds in a health crisis. Or when I am really lucky, I will spend a last spoon to set myself up on the sofa.
So here are some of the things I use at these times to help life go on and help me get out of crisis and back into living again.
I always aim to have some healthy pre-made meals in my freezer. Ready to pop into the microwave. When I am really stick; I love that Antonio's will deliver their healthy homestyle Lasagna and Cannelloni. They are meals I can eat even when my pain levels are so high that I am nauseated. When I eat I can take my medications and hopefully my pain levels will reduce somewhat. But when the pain is just too much, I resort to Cadbury's Milk Chocolate and instant Cup-a-Soups. I make the soups up in one of my travel mugs so it stays warmer; giving me longer to slowly sip.
I use a TENS machine on many different points to reduce my pain levels and give me back some movement. Drug free options are always helpful.
When I know my movement is limited I really load up my Carry Console organizer bag. I can carry a travel mug of coffee and a bottle of water, medications, glasses, snacks, tissues, vomit bags, baby wipes, notepad with pens, phones, chargers, house keys, and all remote controls when I leave the storage pouches unzipped. I so love being able to carry this much stuff and keep my hands free to assist hold me up and support me.
I also carry the Safe Grab Bar Handrail Vacuum Cup Grip which can be suction gripped onto the seat itself or put into the rollator's basket. Walls have long been a friend. The grabbar helps stop me from falling when I have to get up or use steps.
Then I can sit on the walker seat and shuffle myself around the house using less energy than walking would take at that time. With more mobility than I would get if I was using my wheelchair inside the house.
Of course, I also hook one of my pick up sticks on the walker frame. It seems the more pain I am in and the less able to pick anything up off the floor - the more likely I am to drop things and be generally clumsy. So I always keep a couple of extras around the house in case I drop that too.
Leave a comment, I would love to hear how you plan for and cope with your crisis days.