Does anyone here have a chronic condition?

Tyred_Biggums · 2022-06-26T20:57:38+00:00

Yes. Deal with it. Stop using it as your excuse for failures.

Here is a rule to remember in future, when anything tempts you to feel bitter: not "This is misfortune," but "To bear this worthily is good fortune. - Meditations

Razzoz6 · 2022-06-26T12:52:20+00:00

I have ulcerative colitis and it can really suck if I'm out of remission. If it flares the symptoms are diarrhea, up to 20 times per day can be quite normal and stomach pain.. yea it's much fun!

The most important part I've learned is to stay positive, follow the best practices and take all the pills. Also working out to get that dopamine and sometimes talk about it with some men friends to vent, if needed. It also took me a while to find a good doctor, that does regular checkups and has actual experience.

Don't try and downplay or ignore your issues, I have this one and I'm stronger than this literal shit. It could be worse.

SBIII · 2022-06-26T18:17:06+00:00

I was born with an innate sense of laziness and over time i learned to deal with it by becoming an expert at making excuses.

johneyapocalypse · 2022-07-16T20:04:59+00:00

So I figure I may as well add something of substance while I'm here. I have been managing chronic challenges for quite a long-ass time. Sort of like worst of the worst kind of stuff.

The best way you can proactively manage moods and behaviors that you might only notice after the fact is to chart or journal KPIs associated with your day-to-day.

I would recommend charting (e.g. Google Sheets) vs. journaling (e.g. Google Docs).

Remember, regardless of the condition, there is always cause and effect at play. And it does not come in the manner you imagine.

You think: My conditions get me down, so I take this medication, and so it causes something to happen. That's really only a very small piece of the equation and it pales in comparison to those things truly at the heart of cause and effect in your life.

You want to understand trends:

How do quantity and quality of sleep impact things?
How do your sleep habits impact your Circadian Rhythm?
What about caffeine? How much caffeine? What time of the day?
Alcohol.
Job stress.
Working out (you need to do more than you're doing, regardless of how much you are or aren't doing).
The food you eat.
The relationships you keep.

Understand how these factors and more impact your mood (or really anything) so you can preemptively make better decisions so as to avoid the "it's too late, I didn't see it coming" outcome.

You're only going to improve something if you measure it first.

Then, pay close attention to all those variables and adjust accordingly. Rate your days and learn what is helping versus hurting.

Regarding this:

"all I end up doing is withdrawing and closing myself off and staying in my head until I sort myself out or get through the storm. But I know this is unhealthy."

You'll find that the most effective way to get out of your head is to actively remove what's in your head. I don't suggest brain surgery. Instead, simply write all this down. Then it exists somewhere - say starting on a piece of paper. Over time expand on that. Know what you're going to do to proatively help yourself next week and next month. So instead of just a list of items, it becomes a plan with a strategy.

Usually, too much rumination is simply a result of those important things not getting acted upon, and even moreso, simply not existing anywhere other than within your own head. When they exist elsewhere they won't demand so much ineffective and often mind-numbing attention.

GermanSatay · 2022-06-26T12:55:12+00:00

Check with a health professional. A quick search found a few sources suggesting that exercise can help. Mentioned starting small/slow, but specifically addressed the benefits of weight lifting. Do you lift currently and if so, have you found it helps your mental state?

nikfury69 · 2022-06-26T14:25:22+00:00

Hypothyroidism, I have it. Get a blood screen. The doctor will/should prescribe synthroid, a tablet taken first thing in the morning, 30 minutes before eating.

Easy peasy, nice and easy.

End result, better energy levels.

nikfury69 · 2022-06-26T14:44:48+00:00

Aw... my Batman origin story. I might post this later sometime.

I'm 66 now. Started it around 60. I was suffering from old guy syndrome. No energy. Wants to nap.

Results - nagging wife. She makes the appointment and life changed. Not entirely to her liking. Meh. I'm loving it.

So... just do it and find something else to fixate on.

Asianed1994 · 2022-06-26T21:00:39+00:00

Thank you very much for your comments, guys. I appreciate them a lot.

I think reading them has made me realise my frame is practically non-existent and I'm not owning my shit as I thought I was.

Thanks again everyone.

nikfury69 · 2022-06-26T20:11:19+00:00

Yes. Lack of energy towards the end of the day. Worse after meals.

DeplorableRay · 2022-06-26T21:44:17+00:00

I wouldn’t call it a medical diagnosis, but I have a chronic condition where I just can’t seem to keep my mouth shut. And while this condition has gotten much better, the one thing I did to make it better was owning my shit. For instance, I once outed a friend for being on tinder. And while I used to try to play it off or act like it’s no big deal, I now just admit I did it and apologize. Try to do better next time. I found that people can be pretty forgiving if you act like an adult about your mistakes.

I know this is different situation but, you have to own your condition. Nobody really cares about it but you. Sadly. If you’re feeling weak and have a moment that causes frustrations, you have to own that and eat it. People will respect you for it, and most likely understand you better. We all have problems, and this one is yours.

NoRolexNoSex · 2022-06-26T23:37:16+00:00

Have you looked into TRT? It should compliment your Hypo treatment. I work with a group of older men on TRT and one of them has hypothyroidism. He’s handling business and out having fun.

vithus_inbau · 2022-06-27T00:11:01+00:00

I had subclinical hypothyroidism. Got a reverse T3 blood test and it was off the scale. Got a straight T3 med called Tertroxin and by month three ALL thyroid indicators were normal. Took a boron supp as well. This is a test every person with thyroid issues should get done. Taking T4 like Synthroid does diddly squat because your system isn't getting the T3 it needs.

Edit. Everything life throws at me is an opportunity for personal growth and to build resilience. Shitty health may not seem like a plus, but it is a test to see how much you can hack in life. As long as you want to keep living, you can keep going forward one way or another.

unwillingone1 · 2022-06-27T05:01:19+00:00

Carnivore diet bro.

DuneThings · 2022-07-01T15:44:41+00:00

I get what you're going through. It's hard. The best thing you can do for your relationship and mental state is to stop identifying with the illness. It's something you have but not who you are.

Personally, I focus on two things:

There will be a cure in the future.
There are or were people with the same condition who have accomplished great things.

Do YOUR best with what you have. No excuses.

Over60_FireTempered3 · 2022-07-17T17:02:22+00:00

OK I will chime in a bit here from personal experience.

Anytime you deal with chronic conditions there is plenty you can do and most of it is mental, assuming you have addressed and are addressing everything you can do about the physical issue(s).

First, is just what you mentioned, getting angry or depressed. I call this SAD.

Sometimes SAD can be reduced by just medicating the symptoms. In my case I deal with pain. Once it reaches higher levels, I head downward on the SAD path.

Next- Basics mentioned here by others:

_ Look forward not back. The past is gone and cannot be of any service of you today.

_ Focus on today. The future is not knowable. You only have today.

Finally - I set out a framework for managing my conditions. Maybe you will find some of it helpful:

Assessment - Understand the pluses and minuses of today - the past is gone and the future is unknowable - projecting the future based on today or yesterday is a mental trap - do some cold calculations of your real situation.
Acceptance - do not waste time in fantasy - accept the reality of today. It may change tomorrow. Only with acceptance can my adapting plans (next step) be real Grieving the losses is part of acceptance. It is the sad painful part of the process that allows you into the next step.
Adaptations - Find methods of playing to my strengths and working around weakness. You must be creative and touch with with today's reality. The stress must be managed or I will pay a price, that I can no longer afford.

The hard part is taking the wheel. Driving is easy.

EDIT: FWIW I have not had lifelong disability. My challenges are more recent. Maybe this is no help to your situation

Title	Does anyone here have a chronic condition?
Author	Asianed1994
Upvotes	9
Comments	27
Date	June 26, 2022 12:21 PM UTC (4 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/askMRP
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/askMRP/comments/vl3k39/does_anyone_here_have_a_chronic_condition/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/askMRP/does-anyone-here-have-a-chronic-condition.1119918 https://theredarchive.com/post/1119918

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