Again, we have just bared witness as tour diaries turned the page over into a brand new year. And as such, we begin to reflect on the previous year and make plans for the next. With the best intentions, people make resolutions only to break them before the end of January.
When living with a chronic illness, however, life becomes unpredictable. Every day we wake up, never knowing how our bodies are going to behave that minute, hour or day. We never know how we are going to feel one minute to the next.
As a result, making resolutions to us seems to be futile. How can we make realistic and achievable resolutions when our lives are so uncertain, and our bodies unreliable? By doing so, are we setting ourselves up for possible failure by making unrealistic expectations?
Last year, therefore, instead of making such demands on my life, which due to my fragile body I may not be able to accomplish, I come up with a ‘theme’ for the year ahead. One word that reflects how I wish to live my life and be a reflection of the type of person I want to become. The chosen word is said to be a compass to help direct us to make smart decisions as well as a guide to the best way to live life day-to-day.
It is now my third year in choosing a word of the year. In 2016 my chosen word was hope, and my word for 2017 was grace.
I had been having a hard time, however, of choosing a word to help direct how I wanted me and my life to become. Inspiration came this morning when the weakness in the legs consumed me and was unable to get out of bed. It is unfortunately not an uncommon experience for me, and such ‘attacks’ have even known to last all day. The strength and function of my legs returned a couple of hours later and was able to get out of bed. Then Eureka, the word came to me – resilience.
Resilience is defined as “the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties.” It is a quality in which a person rather than letting failure or obstacles defeat them, they find a way to overcome such stumbling blocks and rise from the ashes. When living with a chronic illness, resilience is also about learning to recognise and accept that life with an illness is much like riding a rollercoaster, with many ups and downs. Secondly, it is about learning coping strategies to acquire the strength and ability to take the ride. Then, an action plan can be put in place to help ourselves better cope with the challenges caused by chronic illness.
Some say that resilience is a quality that I possess in great supply. These people see a person who despite everything a neurological condition throws at her, she still manages to get up and get on with life. But, then again I don’t have much choice.
But emotionally when dealing with setbacks and the upheaval of coping when the symptoms are at its worse, then I somewhat of a mess! The negativity and upset that it causes impacts on my internal dialogue, my behaviours and my self-worth, and leaves me feeling depleted and flat. So, resilience is my word for the year as I want to learn to be more conscious of how life with this neurological condition is impacting me and to decide how I want to react.
Emotionally, I want to be able to bounce back quickly after confronting such debilitating symptoms. To not dwell on the negative and instead more productive ways to cope when these do occur.
I am starting my journey to resilience by keeping a ‘joy jar.’
Every day it is going to be my mission to write something that gave me joy, or that something that I managed to accomplish despite the limitations that the neurological condition places on my everyday life. I can look back on these little notes of joy, positivity and encouragement on the awful days and allow myself to remember everything that I able to do instead of focusing on what I cannot or no longer able to do.
Wish me luck on my journey of discovering resilience!
Loneliness. Isolation. Solitude. Three words that I would describe life with a neurological disorder. Excluding words, of course, associated with the symptoms that accompany said condition. You become a prisoner to chronic illness; a prisoner in your own body.
Having experienced symptoms from a young age, I have always felt like I’ve never fitted in anywhere. Like Belle, from ‘Beauty and the Beast’ I have always felt that others think of me as odd and different. Both Belle and the Beast are outsiders in the movie, both harbouring feelings of loneliness and it is this that I have resonated with over the years.
Often, I feel that I don’t fit in with my own family; a jigsaw piece that doesn’t fit in with the incomplete puzzle. Of course, I have had made friends, but just like the seasons, they have come and gone. So-called friends bullied or ostracised me. They were unable to understand my unusual ‘quirks.’ Rejection is something that I have dealt with over the years and perhaps is the reason why I find it so hard to trust people and remain protective of my heart, keeping people at a safe distance.
The Limiting of Symptoms
It’s difficult living with a neurological condition that affects your perception of the world. Some places like those with high ceilings or fluorescent lighting can be difficult for me to cope with, including cinemas and large shopping malls. Because of this, over the years I have had to decline invitations to such places to avoid the triggers that provoke the onset of my symptoms.
It seems that if you decline invitations on several occasions, you become a social pariah and such invites become no longer offered. And that hurts because it’s not that we don’t want to go on trips to the cinema or go shopping with friends, but symptoms of our health condition, unfortunately, limit us.
Feeling pushed out and neglected because of symptoms of chronic illness
We want to feel included, invited to events even if we aren’t always able to attend. Our anthem song has slowly become ‘All By Myself,’ and the lyrics “I think of all the friends I’ve known/But when I dial the telephone/Nobody’s home” has never felt so apt.
I feel limited by my condition. The dizziness is so disabling that it leaves me disorientated and confused. Trembling in the legs so severe that I have no idea when they are going to give away and unable to go out without somebody with me. And as I usually only go out with either my parents or my carer, it can make meeting new people extremely challenging. As such, I spend the majority of my days inside the same four walls.
Prisoner to Chronic Illness
Living with a chronic illness can often feel like living in prison; imprisoned by debilitating symptoms which are so constant that they have become a part of everyday life. Debilitating symptoms that keep us chained to our homes, often even just our bedrooms.
During our first cruise, due to the severity of symptoms, much of the holiday was spent inside the cabin. Unable to even get out once off the ship to enjoy the surroundings that the beautiful countries had to offer.
And as much as I wanted to persist and visit the places our holiday had to offer. As much as I would like to get out of my ‘prison’ and participate fully in life, it is incredibly difficult. It feels as though I am being held hostage by the myriad of symptoms that accompany chronic illness.
At other times, it is not being held hostage by symptoms that keep me prisoner but rather the lack of opportunity.
Others may assume that I am forced to decline invitations due to ill health, or otherwise forgotten. But whatever the reason I’m once again excluded, ostracised. Even in the darkest times, experiencing the extreme depths of loneliness and isolation, I crave the company of others. The companionship of others who I don’t live with and already regularly see!
Finding Companionship Amongst Solitude
Amidst the constant solitude, we are forced to find companionship amongst books. Whenever I reread ‘Little Women,’ it is like saying hello again to an old friend. Failing that, on some of our worst days, then it is our favourite TV shows that help keep us company. Netflix is a welcome distraction from the silence and solitude that surround us.
You then have to endure seeing photographic evidence of parties and gatherings that you seemingly have been excluded. Little by little, it chips away at the self-confidence that living with chronic illness has already eroded. Amid the times where you manage to get out of the house, you feel awkward and unsure during social situations. After being stuck inside the house for so long, it seems that we have forgotten how to converse.
The vast community that exists of fellow warriors, helps with the isolation that living with chronic illness can bring. The friendships with others who can relate to what you are going through can bring welcome light into the darkness. At last making, you feel less alone in the world.
It is these relationships which help loosen the shackles. And which can help release you from the prison that living with a chronic illness has built.
Who else can relate? What do you do to get out of your personal ‘prison’?
I am so sorry if you can relate, and that loneliness and isolation is a regular part of your life. But remember that you are not alone. Feel free to comment below, or connect with me on social media (links at the top of the page).
I have been given this product as part of a product review through the Chronic Illness Bloggers network. Although the product was a gift, all opinions in this review remain my own, and I was in no way influenced by the company.
Rewind to the end of the last month, and some of you may remember the blog post I published regarding my personal struggles with chronic pain; how living with constant pain has begun pass for attempting to survive catastrophic and torrential storms. I have made many attempts to try and ‘fix’ the excruciating pain which radiates throughout my legs, but nothing has worked, and the prescribed medications that I have so far tried has done little to relieve the neuropathic pain. This year, after seeing a specialist in London, a visit to a chronic pain clinic has now been put in motion, but after months of wrestling with intense pain, I am in need of some respite from it since yesterday!
Then in August of this year, I was contacted by Chronic Illness Bloggers who asked if I was interested in reviewing the Quell. I had researched many products which claimed to alleviate chronic pain, however, in many of the cases, the wearable technology is worn at the site of the pain which raises questions on where to place the device when the neuropathic pain radiates throughout both legs.
But Quell solves this problem, as no matter where in the body the pain originates the Quell is worn on the upper calf to stimulate sensory nerves, tapping into the body’s natural pain relief response. In other words, by stimulating these sensory nerves in your calf, sends a message to the brain to block pain signals, which in turn leads to widespread pain relief.
What is the Quell?
The Quell is an entirely safe, natural and drug-free pain relief device that is used to manage chronic pain. It is, therefore, safe to wear 24/7 for round the clock pain relief, for those like myself who suffer from constant chronic pain, and suffers from disrupted sleep because of it.
[Tweet “The Quell offers a safe, natural and drug free way to manage chronic pain.”]
The device sits inside a pocket of the adjustable exercise band (also included in the Quell starter pack) and which an electrode strip is snapped merely on at the back of the small, thin device. These electrode strips (which I received a month’s supply of) are placed onto the skin of the upper calf, approximately 1 to 2 inches below the knee and once the band is fastened in places with velcro and the device is switched on you are ready to go!
Calibrating the Quell
However, before using the Quell for the first time and to continue receiving the optimal pain relief for your personal needs, the device needs to be calibrated. This quick and easy step is done by sitting with your feet on the floor and knees bent at a 90°. Then to begin the calibration, you hold the button on the device until the lights start running back and forth. Release the button and then any time you feel a slight tingle, press the button. The calibration is complete when the lights on the device go off, and you are then ready to start full therapy sessions.
This step could not be quicker or easier to complete! In fact, I calibrated my Quell device before leaving on a four-day break with a local bus company with my Mum. The pain had been so severe that I was concerned about the impact it would have on my time away, especially with the number of trips on the itinerary. I was relieved when I received my device on the day before we were due to leave, in the hopes it would have a positive effect on my pain. It didn’t take long at all to calibrate the device, and it was then ready to use while we were travelling to our destination on the bus!
Is the Quell easy to use?
In the simplest terms, yes, it is straightforward to use, and even those who may be technologically challenged would find the Quell uncomplicated! All that is required is to put the device, press the button to switch it on and then leave it and go about your day as usual! The Quell delivers therapy sessions for an hour, then gives you a break for 60 minutes, before starting another cycle automatically (there is also a Quell app which can be used to change the frequency of the sessions).
There are four different options: the standard is a therapeutic session that lasts 60 minutes, followed by an hour break before restarting; manual in which again has a 60 minute therapy time but you have to start following sessions manually. A low therapeutic dose is a 30-minute session that restarts after a 60-minute break, and a high therapeutic treatment which involves a 60-minute session and restarts after a 30-minute break.
After four therapy sessions, it will buzz at the end to remind you to let the skin on your leg for a breather. If you feel the need to continue receiving sessions, however, as I had done when the pain was at its worst you can switch the device to the other leg.
It may be necessary, as everyone’s experience of pain is different, and so Quell has designed the device as such that you can also increase or decrease the intensity of the therapy that the device delivers. To do this, you hold the button on the device down until you see all six lights flashing. Keep holding until the intensity reaches a level you are satisfied. To decrease the intensity, press the button once. To switch the device off completely, press the button four times.
The App
As previously mentioned, the Quell also works with an app that is available on smartphones (available in Apple App Store and Google Play). All in all, I much prefer using the app as it saves so much time in the mornings when I want to start using the device as part of my pain management. All I have to do is press the start button and voila! However, while I was away, I did appreciate having the option to operate the device manually as I wanted to save precious battery life on my phone to take plenty of pictures of our trip.
Although, to my surprise, when connecting the Quell via Bluetooth to my phone in the night to track my sleep, it didn’t use as much battery life as I was anticipating (great to know if you rely on your phone as much as I do!). I read other reviews in which they had used the app for Apple devices and had a feature that reminded you when to change the electrodes (which last approximately 2 weeks) however this particular feature isn’t available on the app for Android smartphones, and which hopefully the developers will rectify. Another aspect that is sadly missing from the Android app is seeing the level that the intensity is currently at; no numerical data available to know how high or low the intensity is at which makes adjusting to your preferred level in future sessions difficult.
The Dashboard which controls the device
The app is also helpful as it notes how many regimens you have had that day (Quell recommends that you have at least 2 to 3 full therapy sessions for the first month). The Quell app also lets you know the amount of battery life left on the device, so you know if and when it needs to be recharged.
An added benefit is that it can also keep a record of how your pain has been over the previous 24 hours (asking to rate your pain, how much it has interfered with sleep, how much it has interfered with activity levels as well as mood). It also has a feature which enables you to track sleeping patterns and activity levels all of which are excellent indicators if and how Quell is helping your pain.
My Personal Experience of Using Quell
To note, the Quell does not work right away for everyone, and sometimes it can take weeks of use until you start feeling the full benefits of the device. However, after hours of wearing the Quell, I began to feel a reduction in the severe pain I had been experiencing during that time.
It is not a magic cure and pain is still a constant aspect of my everyday life. There are still days, however, when I am in agony due to neuropathic pain but it helps to take the edge off the pain, and the Quell is now a permanent feature in my pain management toolbox. When you have been in constant pain as long as I have even a little relief is welcome.
[Tweet “The Quell is now a permanent feature in my pain management toolbox.”]
I have found that the Quell has been much more successful in alleviating the joint pain I have been experiencing in my knees. It is not a pain we know the reason for, although I suspect it is as a result of all the falls I have had over the years, as I often fall onto my knees. If for whatever reason, I am not able to use the Quell, I notice that the pain in both knees exacerbates.
The first night have I started using the Quell; I decided to wear the device overnight to track my sleep, especially since the pain has a significant impact on my ability to sleep, sometimes only managing a couple of hours. So, imagine my surprise when I checked the app and found that I managed 8 hours and 24 minutes of precious sleep!; more amazing since I was also sleeping in a strange bed.
A great night’s sleep has been a welcome side effect from using the Quell.
At first, I was sceptical in wearing the device, as I often wear slim-leg jeggings, and wondered whether I would even be able to pull them up over the device. But this proved not be an issue at all as the Quell is slim-lined in design.
Then I worried that everyone will notice this strange looking device strapped to my leg, leading to many questions about what it was and why I was wearing it. Living with an illness and subsequent disability that has become more visible, I get asked a lot of questions. But we are all more than our illness and disabilities, and therefore wish that people see beyond our physical limitations. However, as the device is slim it was less noticeable than I had anticipated and during the month I have worn it, nobody has seemed to notice the device strapped to my leg.
Even wearing slim-leg jeggings, the Quell is hardly noticeable!
The only problem I encountered was when having to swap the electrode to the other leg, allowing breathing room for my skin, which proved difficult as I was out all day on trips and I was wearing my usual slim-leg jeggings.
Another positive of the Quell is for its incredible battery life. Considering that I am using it for the majority of the day, and overnight, the battery lasted for around a week. The Quell came with a charger adapter and charger cable and has only taken approximately 2 hours to recharge.
What does a Quell Session feel like?
It doesn’t hurt at all and just feels like a vibrating and tingling sensation on your leg. With my neurological condition, I also experience constant trembling feelings and have found that the vibrations and tingling reactions the device produces do, in fact, worsen the trembling which is unnerving when walking while out of the house. Most people report forgetting they have it on but because of this, this is a rare occurrence for me.
I have also found that as someone who suffers a lot of falls due to my neurological condition, I have had issues with accidental disconnections with the Quell device, and have needed to excuse myself to the bathroom to reconnect the device to the electrodes and to resume a therapy session.
Accidental disconnections is also a regular occurrence when I wear the Quell overnight. Many times I have discovered the device has failed to record the length of time I have spent asleep as during the night as the Quell has disconnected (although I am one of those persons who is forever tossing and turning!)
Although the Quell is no cure for the constant pain, I experience I have found I have been able to do more than I would otherwise. During our time away, I found that I was able to walk further and do more than I was anticipating before leaving for our trip. Also, I have noticed that I have been able to increase the time spent on the bike at the gym. Admittedly, I have experienced payback of pain afterward, but it hasn’t been as bad before using the Quell.
Cost of the Quell
The main drawback to the device is the price. At $249 (around £197) it is an investment. However, the company does offer a 60-day money back guarantee, so you are able to recuperate the cost if the product isn’t suitable or if it just doesn’t work out for you.
There are also additional costs to consider, as previously mentioned the electrodes need to be replaced every two weeks; for a month’s supply, it costs $29.95. With the starter kit, I was sent a one month supply of the standard electrodes and a month supply of their new sport electrodes which are designed to absorb moisture so are perfect for those who exercise regularly or play sports. I have found that the sport electrodes do last much longer than the regular electrode.
I found that the blue gel on the regular electrode became tatty quite quickly, although they still have lasted the full two weeks before needing to be replaced. Admittedly, to save further cost, I have pushed one to three weeks of use. Although I wouldn’t recommend it as the Quell felt like a painful stinging sensation, instead of the usual buzzing feeling, and was probably because the electrode became worn out.
The band also gets worn and stretched quite quickly, and the velcro loses its strength, and sometime in the future will need to be replaced, which is yet another cost!
Final Thoughts
Despite the shortcomings that I have experienced with using the Quell, I still think that the Quell is well worth it; it has become my favourite tool to help manage my chronic pain. If someone were to ask my opinion on the Quell, I would have no hesitations in recommending it for someone living with chronic pain. Quell offers a drug-free approach to pain management, which I appreciate as I often have stomach cramps after taking pain medication.
Like with anything, I know that it would not help everyone, but with the 60-day money back guarantee, it’s definitely worth trying.
Recently, I finished a six-week Mindfulness Course. I
I was referred to the course by a healthcare professional to help with the anxiety that I have lived with for many years and is a consequence of living with a long-term neurological condition.
Mindfulness helps to change the way you think and feel about your experiences, especially stressful situations. It involves paying attention to your thoughts and feelings in order to become more aware of them, less enmeshed in them, and better able to manage them.
Throughout the course, we learnt about the principles of mindfulness; specifically the triad of awareness, acceptance and non-judgement that the technique is based upon. Mindfulness teaches us to be focused and aware of the present moment, to acknowledge and accept our feelings without judgement or battling against them, to be better able to embrace them and ultimately let them go.
As the course was facilitated by Mental Health Services, the sessions were focused on the technique being used for anxiety and depression; our negative thoughts were described as being like trains, and when suffering from anxiety we enter the train letting those negative thoughts circumvent our brain. Mindfulness, however, teaches us to stay on the platform, but allow the trains to pass without getting on. Such a brilliant and simple metaphor to explain what mindfulness is and its function.
Mindfulness teaches us to let our thoughts pass instead of becoming entangled in them
As the course progressed, I began to realise that the technique could not only be used for anxiety management but also help with the stress that living with a long-term health condition can have, and as I read further to even help manage chronic pain, which something I have been struggling with for some time now. This is supported by much research which has shown that patients with chronic conditions reported feeling calmer, better equipped to deal with illness during times of stress and reported higher levels of well-being after incorporating mindfulness into their daily routine.
[Tweet “Acceptance, in essence, means acknowledging that of what we have no control of”]
After starting the mindfulness and relating it to my life with a neurological condition, I came to realise how little I have actually accepted my illness. When we are mindful, we give our full attention to whatever is happening in the present, and without changing the narrative and judgement of our thoughts and feelings. Acceptance, in essence, means acknowledging that of what we have no control of; accepting life as it is at this exact moment.
While in the midst of excruciating and debilitating symptoms, however, it is difficult not to judge – ourselves, for our perceived weakness or our failing bodies which cause these symptoms, to begin with. Nor do we as patients sit there without attempting to change our current experience – we try medications, heat/ice packs, warm baths, anything to try and ease the symptoms that are consistently bothering us.
Often I feel at war with my body when my symptoms are severe; I curse, hating my weak legs and the other symptoms giving me grief, wishing that at that time I was someone else, had someone else’s body. I worry about the implications of living with a long-term health condition, such as worrying about the future and as a result, my head becomes permeated with worst case scenarios. So perhaps I hadn’t reached acceptance as I thought.
Mindfulness in many ways somewhat resembles autumn (or fall). It is said that autumn is a beautiful reminder what a relief it is to let things go that we no longer need, or does not serve us any purpose. As trees shed their dead leaves during the season; mindfulness allows us to let go of any negative thoughts which don’t help us and only allows us to get stuck in the depths of despair and hopelessness.
[Tweet “Mindfulness allows us to let go of any negative thoughts which don’t help us… “]
Mindfulness instead teaches us to focus on the present; accept our illness and the way its symptoms make us feel allowing these thoughts and feelings to fall into the background enabling us to focus on the positives. For example, instead of focusing on the pain in my legs, I allow myself to enjoy the feel of the sun on my face or savour the taste of hot chocolate (my favourite Autumn/Winter indulgence!).
Mindfulness is much like autumn reminding us of the benefits of letting go
I am beginning to incorporate mindfulness during my daily routine, alongside the usual practices such as taking medications and journaling. It is not, unfortunately, a cure for the symptoms associated with my neurological condition, they still exist, but it is a coping strategy for times when everything feels out of my control (which is a lot!). There are days when I find it difficult, but like anything, it can take practice to perfect the technique.
[Tweet “Mindfulness is a useful coping strategy for times when everything feels out of my control.”]
Mindfulness I have realised can be a mechanism to help find the light, during the darkest of days.
Useful Reading about Mindfulness and specifically its use to help chronic pain and chronic illness:
Living Well With Pain and Illness: Using mindfulness to free yourself from suffering by Vidyamala Burch
How to Live Well with Chronic Pain and Illness: A Mindful Guide by Toni Bernhard
Mindfulness for Health: A practical guide to relieving pain, reducing stress and restoring wellbeing by Vidyamala Burch
One of my favourite chronic illness bloggers, Sheryl from ‘A Chronic Voice’ has started a link up party! These parties are a monthly get together for any bloggers who live with or have experience with a chronic illness. These will provide opportunities to ‘meet,’ share thoughts, information and learn from one another.
To gain more information about these parties and information on how to participate then you can visit Sheryl’s original post here.
The prompts for this month are:
Missing
Appreciating
Striving
Releasing
Eating
Missing: My late dog, Honey
I’m not going to lie, but I have been struggling these past couples of months and been spending more time alone in the house. And it’s during these times that I have been really missing the company of our late dog, Honey. Although she may have been pretty useless if something happened to me such as a fall (which have also been increasing) however the mere presence of having her around was comforting. Of course, I also miss her copious amounts of hugs and kisses which never failed to make a bad day better.
Appreciating: Books
In my last post, I wrote about my love of books and reading. As the pain and relentless trembling in the legs have worsened recently, I appreciate the wonderful world of books for allowing me to escape from the monotony of chronic pain and the other symptoms that have taken permanent residence in my everyday life. These books, the many that I have read so far this year has taken to many different places that my body is physically unable to go. It has proven to be a great distraction for me on the bad days, which unfortunately have been many. And for that, I have been so very grateful.
Striving: Striving for Progress
As I have already mentioned, things have been challenging in regards to my health which is really frustrating especially as I take steps to try and improve it – I go to a local gym in the attempts to strengthen my muscles (which hasn’t happened). Or at the least ensure that the weakness does not get any worse. I also ensure that I spend time every day to complete the vestibular rehabilitation exercises that I was given at the hospital to help with the dizziness and vertigo as well as the physiotherapy exercises to improve the functioning in my legs. So far, they have been unsuccessful, but still, I persevere in the hopes of improving my situation. Like all of us, I am never going to achieve perfection, but I hope one day soon I manage to attain progress and improvement.
Releasing: Positive Thoughts
As a writer myself, I love words, and I love finding new and uplifting quotes to decorate my bedroom to raise my spirits and inspire me on my bad days, and those days I am stuck in bed. I also own several pieces of jewellery that have a positive quote or mantra that I can wear and remind myself during difficult times. I release these positive thoughts to elevate my mood. I have even found some cards that have positive and inspiring quotes on them that I have even used to send to others also living with chronic illness and disabilities (such as the fun and brilliant #spooniepost) to help remind them of everything that is positive during their own struggles.
Eating: Homemade Pizza
In our attempts to eat healthier, my Mum and I have been spending some time experimenting with some of the recipes from the beautiful cookbook ‘Cook Happy, Cook Healthy‘ by Fearne Cotton. Our favourite meal from this book has been the Healthy Homemade Pizza which uses spelt flour instead of regular white flour due to its nutritious qualities. I love this, as it’s surprisingly easy to make and it doesn’t leave your stomach feeling heavy and stodgy afterward, which I often get after indulging in a takeaway pizza. It has also been enjoyable to make (despite all the mess!), and I have felt incredibly accomplished while enjoying the fruits of our labour!
