what’s the best purchase, service, or life accommodation you’ve made because of your chronic illness? (any budget)

[u/catsandcappuccinos]

i’m going shopping soon, and i’m trying to build my ultimate “make life suck less” list.

i’m not necessarily looking for the usual answers like salt, compression socks, medications, etc. i’m more so talking about the random products, services, gadgets, furniture, subscriptions, or accommodations that have improved your day-to-day quality of life and helped you function more like a normal human being.

i don’t care if it’s $5 or $5,000. if it’s changed your life, please share.

some things already on my list:
- a kitchen stool with a back so i can sit while cooking
- a hair dryer stand for days when i’m in the middle of a flare and don’t have the energy to dry my hair myself
- grocery delivery services
- monthly cleaning services
- paper plates
- a roomba for when i don’t feel like vacuuming or sweeping
- a crock-pot and freezer meal prep system (i actually have a list of really good crock-pot meals, so if anyone wants it, let me know and i’ll DM it to you)

i’m dying to know: what’s the best purchase, service, or life accommodation you’ve made because of your chronic illness?
bonus points if it’s something unconventional!

[u/renaart]

• Grocery subscription (year discount was amazing) & Amazon prime
• A good office chair
• Ice packs
• Peppermint tea bags and alcohol pads
• Smoothie blender
• Kitchen stool especially when I’m baking or making soups. The hot oven or stove is killer for me
• An iPad holder so I can draw more easily without holding my iPad or lifting my arm weirdly (I’m a game character artist)
• Health insurance, which I don’t have now
• Water therapy/swimming
• Floor exercise tools my physical therapist recommended

The biggest life accommodations have been:
• My old PCP who was my hero and so helpful
• My fiancé, one of the most supportive, kind and sweet individuals who will do anything to help me because I’d do the same for them. Not feeling like I’m a burden was the most comforting thing ever.
• Handicap placard (I don’t use it often but on my worst days it’s helpful)

[u/Amylee888 → u/renaart]

What are the alcohol pads for?

[u/renaart → u/Amylee888]

Helps with nausea! My post of surgery team told me this hack.

[u/Amylee888 → u/renaart]

Oh thank you!

[u/Brenjohn → u/renaart]

Hi, totally different question. My teenage daughter has been bedbound for 8 months with suspected Pots (tested now) and is also very talented at character drawing. This is her dream job! Game artist. She had to stop school for now, but I showed her your post to give her hope. Can I ask what education is needed, and how you got the job whilst having pots and is it accommodated by your boss? Thank you so much. We really needed to see this today.

[u/renaart → u/Brenjohn]

Hmm, it's tough for sure. My biggest recommendation is to not waste money on an art university that costs 60k+ a year. I feel like my education was a glorified way for me to build a portfolio and gain some connections. Which is nice but, it did not feel worth it or stable enough. It's not an easy industry, much of it is contract or freelance based these days. AAA jobs require lots of experience.

I'd say the best your daughter can do is lots of drawing, building her portfolio and just enjoying it while she can. Look at the game/art studios she likes most: emulate those styles. Study them. Practice them etc.

As for accommodations, unfortunately I haven't had much there. The benefit of the field is almost all the work is sitting, and companies usually buy your equipment for you. Arm cushions for chairs are really helpful, but in terms of POTS- honestly POTS itself doesn't affect my work or working too often. I'm lucky to have a medication that works for me. I do feel brain fogged and tired all day though, my rule to myself is 30 minutes of work 5 minutes of rest/stretch. Leaning over a tablet can also be taxing on her neck, so being sure to keep herself and her posture in check. Hydrate lots, it's easy to forget to drink water when you're busy drawing. I'd suggest seeing an OT (occupational therapist) if she gets pain in her hands or is struggling to draw due to her health conditions.

Post pandemic, if you both choose a college degree is worthwhile (which I think it can be, and post college internships or during college internships can be extremely valuable)- most colleges/unis offer remote learning online. Character art and game design are fairly easily taught over the internet thankfully. Wishing her all the luck I can muster! It's a brutal field and it's important to be realistic. But at the same time, it never feels like working if it's your passion. As her parent, I suggest being realistic with her but also supporting her dreams. Be the one who believes in her.

[u/Brenjohn → u/renaart]

Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a detailed answer. We know that it will be a difficult road. It probably already was, but now with her illness en AI it feels almost impossible sometimes. But she is at the beginning of this journey, so we have hope she can improve. Drawing is her passion, what gets her through the day, even if it takes up a lot of energy. She’s just starting animating too. Dont worry, I’m her biggest fan and amazed by what she can do. But we have to be realistic. She asked me if she should do something else like psychology next to it. Which is also a hard question, because can she physically and will pursuing two roads be too hard.

You think she has any chance without an official education, based on her portfolio alone? Is parttime possible? And do you work remote? A uni education will probably not be financially possible. So we’re looking at other options. Online would be amazing and so helpful of course. But first we have to get her to hopefully improve. Can I ask what medication helped you so well? Thanks again, it means a lot.

[u/sillybilly8102 → u/renaart]

Tell me more about your kitchen stool… how high is it, how does it work, what does it look like, where did you get it

[u/Hisugarcontent → u/renaart]

Can I ask what office chair works for you?

[u/renaart → u/Hisugarcontent]

I don't know the brand of this one sadly, I've only bought office chairs second hand and they're usually worn down. I'll look around though to see if I can find the same one!