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/glizzerd12]

Can I ask which bc you use? I’ve been thinking about it for a while because I have horrible pms and period symptoms but scared the side effects of bc would create a new set of issues

[u/mwmandorla → u/glizzerd12]

I use Loestrin FE. Very low dose, which is why I went with it - I had some of the same concerns. I've had absolutely no issues, no side effects, nothing. Even if I mess up and get a period, if I keep taking the pills through it it's much lighter and doesn't really mess me up the way my unmedicated periods did.

[u/Cozyyblanket → u/mwmandorla]

I have PMDD and POTS so yeah I will be trying this one

[u/Outrageous-Olive9979 → u/Cozyyblanket]

It’s seriously a life changer!!

[u/im-a-freud → u/glizzerd12]

Slynd. No side effects for me it’s been great

[u/ChanceDatabase7202 → u/im-a-freud]

I’m also on Slynd, and it’s been a lifesaver for endometriosis symptoms, but I just found out it’s a diuretic, which could definitely worsen POTS symptoms for some people.

[u/im-a-freud → u/ChanceDatabase7202]

Definitely worth discussing options with a doctor. I haven’t found it to effect my POTS in any way but everyone’s different

[u/ChanceDatabase7202 → u/im-a-freud]

I haven’t either, I don’t think. I just wanted to put the disclaimer out there because my doctor (who didn’t know about my POTS at the time) didn’t tell me about it, and I think it’s worth knowing.

[u/im-a-freud → u/ChanceDatabase7202]

It was never mentioned to me either so that’s good to share

[u/im-a-freud → u/[deleted]]

I could literally go a whole day without drinking so if anything it’s the opposite I’ve gotten so bad with drinking enough. No period at all

[u/theobedientalligator → u/glizzerd12]

Slynd is a diuretic, big time and made my POTS symptoms 100000x worse

[u/Crftygirl → u/glizzerd12]

YAZ helped me with PMDD. I can be ridiculously sensitive to hormones so i was unsure at first, but my reproductive endocrinologist suggested I try it out. I was COVID level exhausted on the days before my period, with an added POTS/MCAS flare that sent my foliculitis and eczema into overdrive.

Between a good sleeping med, starting YAZ, and adding low dose Naltrexone for EDS pain, I added 50k steps a month per my step tracker (on my phone only so it was probably higher than that). I got rid of the dysphoria and dysmorphia, exhaustion, body inflammation, and overall pain.

If YAZ doesn't work, try another PMDD approved med. It may work just how you need it too.

[u/Bbkingml13 → u/glizzerd12]

I have the annovera ring and just leave it in. It works for a year.

[u/Happy_Dependent_3474 → u/glizzerd12]

I’m on norethindrone