Before ME/CFS, I never really thought about allergies. Hay fever season would come and go, a bit of sneezing, maybe some watery eyes, but nothing dramatic. I could eat what I wanted, drink what I wanted, and fill my house with scented candles like a normal person.

Now? Not so much. Somewhere along the line, my body decided it hates everything. It’s like my immune system’s taken it upon itself to cause me additional challenges.

When people talk about medication side effects, they often mention the obvious ones first: fatigue, nausea, dizziness, and weight gain. What I rarely heard anyone talk about, before I began experiencing it myself, was how profoundly uncomfortable and disruptive chronic dryness can be, dry mouth, dry nose, and dry eyes that linger day after day. It sounds mild compared to the dramatic lists printed on leaflets, but when you’re living with it, dryness can influence everything from your confidence and concentration to your ability to enjoy a meal or get a good night’s sleep

Our home is busy, noisy, and full to the brim with love. Between my adult children (and their girlfriends) and my teenagers, there’s rarely a quiet moment, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Lately, I’ve found myself thinking a lot about the world our kids are growing up in. It feels like every year, sometimes every month, there’s some new leap forward in technology, something that changes how we work, learn, communicate, and even how we think. When I look at my children, I realise they’re standing right at the forefront of that change. They’re growing up side by side with artificial intelligence, with technology that’s learning, adapting, and talking back.

Earlier this year, I was diagnosed with severe degenerative jaw disease (TMJD), I can only open my mouth one finger width. Living in constant jaw pain has changed everything, from talking and eating to smiling. Here’s my story of coping, pain, and finding small moments of relief.

There are moments in life where you stop, look around, and think, How on earth did I end up here? Recently, it was one of those days for me. My little girl has just turned 13, and while birthdays always bring some reflection, this one feels different. A teenager. A whole new chapter. And I can’t help but sit with the memories of how she came into our lives, and what these 13 years have really meant.

I’ve been on a journey these last six years, a long, exhausting, and painful downward spiral with my health. When I look back, it feels like I’ve been living in survival mode, just trying to get through each day. Along the way, I lost so much of myself.

This Has Been One of My Most Exciting Reviews in a While!

Living with chronic illness and chronic pain changes the way you approach everything — from movement to food, to self-care, to supplements. For me, spinal narrowing and mechanical back pain means daily pain, constant fatigue, and the need to be extremely mindful of what I put into my body. I don’t have the luxury of taking chances on mystery ingredients or chasing fads that might do more harm than good. My energy is limited, and so is my tolerance for products that overpromise and underdeliver.

When I have a flare-up or a relapse, it wipes me out completely. There’s no easing into it, no gentle warning, just a sudden, overwhelming wave that crashes over me and drags me under. In those moments, I’m pretty much housebound and bed-bound. Even staying awake feels like a battle I barely have the strength to fight.

Navigating life with a chronic illness is a mammoth task, made even more challenging when you throw long-term medication into the mix. As someone managing fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), I’ve developed a toxic yet close relationship with my medication. On the surface, they offer hope. Relief. The possibility of feeling “normal,” even for just a few hours.

It’s a bright, golden afternoon, the kind that invites the world to come alive. But I’m not part of that lively rhythm—not in the traditional sense. Instead, I’m lying in bed, my body heavy with fatigue and discomfort, the lingering effects of living with chronic pain and illness wrapping around me like a thick fog. The sun spills through the curtains, warm and gentle, a silent witness to the stillness that defines much of my daily life now.

So I decided to clean my bathroom cabinet out. It seemed like a small project, something that most people could tackle in a matter of minutes. But for me—living with chronic pain—it turned into a monumental task. What should’ve been a quick chore became a delicate balancing act between determination and self-care.

Over the past few weeks, I've witnessed a troubling shift in how the media portrays chronically ill and disabled individuals. What should be a compassionate dialogue about health struggles has turned into a wave of vilification. We’re no longer seen as victims of our conditions but as scammers or burdens. And it's not just hurtful—it’s dangerous.

I greatly regret and dislike how this Chronic illness of MECFS, Spinal Stenosis, and Fibromylagia dominates my life and takes so much away from me. This past weekend was my youngest brother's wedding. It was a long day, starting early in the morning and returning home quite late. Despite the length of the day, it was truly delightful.

I recently had the opportunity to try out the Simba Hybrid Original Mattress, and let me tell you, it was a game-changer. As someone who struggles with chronic back pain due to my conditions like ME CFS and Fibromyalgia, finding the right mattress has always been a priority for me. So when I heard about the Simba Hybrid mattress and its claims of providing comfort and support, when I was offered to review it, I knew I had to give it a try.

I was very luck to be sent Vegamour Hair products to review. And, as someone dealing with chronic illness, finding hair products that not only work (to make hair care easier for me) but are also gentle and natural is a top priority for me. So, let's dive into how Vegamour fared for me.