As the chilly winter fades away, the colourful blossoming of spring appears as a season of renewal, providing a feeling of rejuvenation to those struggling with chronic illnesses.

For those of us dealing with the extra challenges brought about by chronic illness, we find ourselves frequently grappling with sleep disruptions due to symptoms or medication side effects, pain and so much more. When you try to close your eyes, trying to ignore the pain in your body, only to be met with endless tossing and turning. The quest for quality sleep amidst ongoing health battles can be frustrating, upsetting and debilitating.

When you’ve worked your whole adult life, loved being busy and an active person, then suddenly everything changes. The realization hits like a sudden blow: your lifestyle, your capabilities – all limited by the onset of a chronic illness. This significant shift causes you many episodes of a feeling like something is missing or that you feel lost.

The painless day myth

Living with chronic illness means constantly dealing with pain. Whether it's physical or emotional, the pain is always there, lurking in the background, always eager to control us. But every once in a while, there comes a moment when the pain seems to fade away, even if just for a little while. It's what we call a "good pain day." But what does that really mean? Is it a sign that the pain is finally gone for good? Unfortunately, the answer is no.

As someone who suffers from a chronic illness, specifically ME/CFS, I was intrigued to watch this week's episode of Dragon's Den. I had heard that someone with the same condition as me was pitching their business idea on the show, and I was eager to see what it was.

But as I watched, I couldn't help but feel a sense of caution and sadness. The entrepreneur's product was aimed at people like me, who are living with a painful and debilitating chronic illness.

Each day when I open my eyes, I am met with stiffness and discomfort, often accompanied by the unnerving sensation of my arms being completely numb or filled with pins and needles. From the moment I wake up, I find myself analysing the intensity of the pain that will accompany me throughout the day. There is never a day that goes by without some level of pain, but there are moments

Since becoming chronically ill I'd never realised how much of our lives disappear whilst waiting to see doctors, waiting for test results, waiting for referrals, waiting for new treatments to work etc. Months and years just disappear whilst we are stuck on wait lists

Picture this: a cosy bathtub, bubbles floating on the surface, a book propped up on the ledge, warmth and quietness as you sink into pure relaxation and tranquillity. Sounds what you’d expect for having a bath, right? But for me, as someone with ME, the thought of taking a bath can be daunting.

Living with a chronic illness is tough, there's no denying it. It can drain you mentally, physically, and emotionally. But I refuse to let it defeat me. It's been a journey of acceptance and positivity, finding that perfect balance to live my best life despite the limitations that my body has forced upon me. And let me tell you, it's not easy, but it's worth it.

On one of my previous posts about my chronic illness journey a reader left a lovely comment “it honestly feels like a part time job sometimes” – this comment hit home, it resonated with me because it captures the reality of the situation. It was the first time I’d thought of it in that way, but she is correct, being chronically ill is a Part/Full Time Job.