Help Is it possible to live a good life with chronic illness? - looking for advice!

[qualityOV3Rquantity]

I have IBS, irritable bowel syndrome. it's far from the worst chronic illness, but it affects my life every day and has changed my entire life since I was diagnosed. It's greatly worsened my depression too. The thing is, about a year after first being diagnosed, my IBS is quite 'under control'. I still have pain and discomfort every day, but I'm able to function - I work an online job, I go out with friends sometimes, I play piano, I read books, I live at home with my parents (although I'm in my mid-20s...) I eat as diverse a diet as I can tolerate. I'm on two medications - one for IBS and one for depression, and I think both of them help. I meditate and do breathing exercises that help reduce my anxiety. I go to church every week and do a biweekly Bible study. I could probably travel, so long as I plan in advance with my restrictive diet and medications.

And yet, it still feels like my life is over. I can't get rid of this horrible feeling that my life is forever worse than it was, that I'll never again be as healthy or feel as good as I did in the past (and I was passively suicidal even before my illness!). It feels so empty, like it's all pointless now that I'm chronically ill. And I feel like I have no certainty about the future - any day, my illness could just get worse for no reason and stay bad. So I feel like I can never get married or have kids, because I can't depend on my health to stay at this level and for me to remain functional. I know to a degree, this is true for everyone - even a perfectly healthy person could get cancer or get paralyzed in a car accident without warning, and their life would be forever changed too. But for me it feels much closer, much more likely - like I am slowly dying, rotting away, like I'm already living in a sort of 'palliative care', just maximizing my quality of life before my inevitable demise?

What can I do in my situation? What can I do to improve my health, mental or physical, and just to live a better life? I'm open to any suggestions really, no matter how crazy. I've even tried a carnivore diet for a few months previously, although I eventually went off it because it seemed to cause me fatigue and constipation. Just saying that to illustrate how open-minded I am about suggestions to improve my situation lol.

 

[hidingblankets]

The way I see it, things might never be the same and our lives don't look the same as many others... but we're still here, you know? We need time to grieve the function we've lost, but that doesn't mean there's nothing left. Today you are here and there are things you can do, to lose sight of them chasing what's already gone is a very quick way to spiral. It's the same case for the future - it's a bit cheesy, but if we don't know if tomorrow we'll be worse, it's just more reason to make the most of today, right?
I've got a degenerative condition that will likely paralyze me eventually, but today my limbs still mostly work and I'm going to make that everyone's problem! That's how I personally cope. I hope your body and mind are both kinder to you, and that you can find some measure of peace.

 

[Life_and_Death]

I've got a degenerative condition that will likely paralyze me eventually, but today my limbs still mostly work and I'm going to make that everyone's problem!

i might become paralyzed (lower back issues, hoping it doesnt get worse) and i cant. physical is lower on my list of reasons to ctb, but its high on my fear list
(i mean this as a good thing)



@qualityOV3Rquantity, have you tried youtube (or any platform/blog etc really), looking for people with your condition that you can relate to? someone thats going through it might have better or more specific advice, or for some people seeing someone else being "ok" can be encouraging.

 

[nogods4me]

I doubt it gets better. More likely only worse. Leaving this horrible world is the only relief for some.

 

[SadFoxDreamer83]

I have IBS, irritable bowel syndrome. it's far from the worst chronic illness, but it affects my life every day and has changed my entire life since I was diagnosed. It's greatly worsened my depression too. The thing is, about a year after first being diagnosed, my IBS is quite 'under control'. I still have pain and discomfort every day, but I'm able to function - I work an online job, I go out with friends sometimes, I play piano, I read books, I live at home with my parents (although I'm in my mid-20s...) I eat as diverse a diet as I can tolerate. I'm on two medications - one for IBS and one for depression, and I think both of them help. I meditate and do breathing exercises that help reduce my anxiety. I go to church every week and do a biweekly Bible study. I could probably travel, so long as I plan in advance with my restrictive diet and medications.

And yet, it still feels like my life is over. I can't get rid of this horrible feeling that my life is forever worse than it was, that I'll never again be as healthy or feel as good as I did in the past (and I was passively suicidal even before my illness!). It feels so empty, like it's all pointless now that I'm chronically ill. And I feel like I have no certainty about the future - any day, my illness could just get worse for no reason and stay bad. So I feel like I can never get married or have kids, because I can't depend on my health to stay at this level and for me to remain functional. I know to a degree, this is true for everyone - even a perfectly healthy person could get cancer or get paralyzed in a car accident without warning, and their life would be forever changed too. But for me it feels much closer, much more likely - like I am slowly dying, rotting away, like I'm already living in a sort of 'palliative care', just maximizing my quality of life before my inevitable demise?

What can I do in my situation? What can I do to improve my health, mental or physical, and just to live a better life? I'm open to any suggestions really, no matter how crazy. I've even tried a carnivore diet for a few months previously, although I eventually went off it because it seemed to cause me fatigue and constipation. Just saying that to illustrate how open-minded I am about suggestions to improve my situation lol.

I would write down which foods cause pain and which don't, alternating with fasting days. For example, one day you eat only salad and the next day you fast with water. If it doesn't hurt, it means that the salad doesn't cause you pain. You write it down on a list, and so on with other foods. Once you have made a list of the foods that haven't caused you pain, you create a personalized diet with those foods and discard all the others. In this way, you will have a diet that doesn't cause you pain and you will also heal your intestines. I used to have pain frequently until I discovered that by stopping drinking milk, it didn't hurt anymore. I haven't had pain in my stomach since I stopped drinking milk.

I have IBS, irritable bowel syndrome. it's far from the worst chronic illness, but it affects my life every day and has changed my entire life since I was diagnosed. It's greatly worsened my depression too. The thing is, about a year after first being diagnosed, my IBS is quite 'under control'. I still have pain and discomfort every day, but I'm able to function - I work an online job, I go out with friends sometimes, I play piano, I read books, I live at home with my parents (although I'm in my mid-20s...) I eat as diverse a diet as I can tolerate. I'm on two medications - one for IBS and one for depression, and I think both of them help. I meditate and do breathing exercises that help reduce my anxiety. I go to church every week and do a biweekly Bible study. I could probably travel, so long as I plan in advance with my restrictive diet and medications.

And yet, it still feels like my life is over. I can't get rid of this horrible feeling that my life is forever worse than it was, that I'll never again be as healthy or feel as good as I did in the past (and I was passively suicidal even before my illness!). It feels so empty, like it's all pointless now that I'm chronically ill. And I feel like I have no certainty about the future - any day, my illness could just get worse for no reason and stay bad. So I feel like I can never get married or have kids, because I can't depend on my health to stay at this level and for me to remain functional. I know to a degree, this is true for everyone - even a perfectly healthy person could get cancer or get paralyzed in a car accident without warning, and their life would be forever changed too. But for me it feels much closer, much more likely - like I am slowly dying, rotting away, like I'm already living in a sort of 'palliative care', just maximizing my quality of life before my inevitable demise?

What can I do in my situation? What can I do to improve my health, mental or physical, and just to live a better life? I'm open to any suggestions really, no matter how crazy. I've even tried a carnivore diet for a few months previously, although I eventually went off it because it seemed to cause me fatigue and constipation. Just saying that to illustrate how open-minded I am about suggestions to improve my situation lol.

Can I ask you what kind of online work you do? I wish I knew how to work online, for me it would be wonderful.

 

[Sasukecel]

No.

 

[Regen]

I know someone who has lived with irritable bowel syndrome for many decades. He has adapted to his peculiarities and is open about them with those around him, for example when he is late as a result.

I think it's very important to find people who also have these difficulties so that you can exchange ideas.

In addition, there is still incredible research potential when it comes to intestinal health; not even half of all intestinal functions have been researched. I am completely convinced that there will continue to be groundbreaking developments in this area in the coming years and decades.

You will also get to know your body better and adapt to it.

Otherwise, it is of course always a difficult task to face reality and say that I am chronically ill. That's stupid, I wish it were different, but I accept this fact and move one step further through this radical acceptance. Not easy. This unites you with all people with chronic illnesses around the world. You can certainly learn from one or the other how someone manages to accept that.

I wish you courage, strength and hope.