| Let me tell you how I got to this point shall I? | | | | distinction. |
| Well, I had always been very healthy and active, | | | | I had found something to make life worth living |
| but in 2003 when I was aged 42, I injured my | | | | again, it had taken a long time to get there, but I |
| sacroiliac joint whilst doing some gardening; it was | | | | had got my sense of purpose back. |
| quite simply a back problem which just didn't get | | | | Long term health issues can turn your world |
| better. | | | | completely upside down and bring with it feelings |
| This injury had a devastating knock-on effect and | | | | of despair, inadequacy, isolation and frustration - it |
| I was quickly diagnosed with the autoimmune | | | | can feel a bit like being at the bottom of a black |
| disease erosive lichen planus (LP) which in my | | | | hole - but not knowing how best to get out, |
| case causes ulceration and lesions of the skin and | | | | although you know you desperately want to! I |
| mucous membrane. At about the same time the | | | | now work with people who are in a similar |
| symptoms of fibromyalgia began and so did my | | | | situation to the one I found myself in a few |
| battle to get back to some kind of normal life. | | | | years ago so I can completely empathise. |
| What happened next might sound familiar to | | | | Some of the areas often affected by long term |
| many of you: reluctantly I had to give up a job I | | | | health issues such as back pain, vulvodynia, |
| loved, because it was just too difficult to manage. | | | | fibromyalgia, ME, MS, lupus etc are: poor sleep, a |
| Because of the pain, I wasn't able to drive far or | | | | lack of self esteem and confidence (this is |
| to sit at a PC for long periods and I was just no | | | | particularly relevant because it's so easy to feel |
| longer able to think clearly with the brain fog. I | | | | unattractive when you have to cope with weight |
| confess that getting out of bed was sometimes | | | | gain, medication, pain and fatigue on a daily basis) |
| too much of an effort and I'd have what I now | | | | and of course, all of this can have a devastating |
| call 'duvet days' and yes, I still allow myself the | | | | effect on relationships both at home and at work. |
| occasional 'duvet day' when I'm having a | | | | It's good to get some balance back into life so |
| particularly bad flare up - it's part of effective | | | | that you can better manage the 'bad' days. It's |
| self-management for me. Add to this, the | | | | also worth working on some strategies to |
| restricted diet, the enormous weight gain caused | | | | manage your health issues holistically, based on |
| by medication which made me feel old beyond | | | | what looks and feels right for you and work |
| my years, fat and unattractive (I still battle with | | | | positively with your health care professionals to |
| this self-esteem issue even now). Quite honestly I | | | | find the optimum treatment plan for you. |
| didn't see the point in living, if this was all that life | | | | In the workplace, we want to achieve all that we |
| had to offer me. | | | | are capable of in spite of our health issues and it's |
| Because I have always been work focussed, | | | | very important to have the confidence to ask for |
| when I gave up my job, I felt that I had | | | | your needs to be met. Whether that is to ask for |
| completely lost my identity and my confidence hit | | | | flexible hours, special cushioning or seating, to |
| rock bottom. So, to keep myself occupied, I set | | | | apply for a Blue Badge, or even to help you come |
| up a charity to support other people living with | | | | to terms with using an aid for walking. Some days |
| lichen planus (UK Lichen Planus). Many of those | | | | you will not be able to manage what you feel you |
| members also had other health issues and I found | | | | 'should' be doing, and you might need to find ways |
| that I was informally mentoring them to take | | | | to get around the problem of explaining to work |
| back control of their lives, to re-invent | | | | colleagues, family and friends, that you may |
| themselves and to be experts with their own | | | | occasionally have to let them down. |
| unique experiences of the health issues affecting | | | | We are all unique and we all have different ways |
| them. The positive feedback from clients and the | | | | of managing our pain. Having a positive outlook will |
| realisation that I actually really enjoyed the work, | | | | help you to plan ways of overcoming the many |
| encouraged me to make the decision to formally | | | | obstacles you face day in day out. Plan for a |
| train as a professional coach in 2008. | | | | different kind of 'normal living' which takes into |
| It took me a year to qualify because of course, I | | | | account your health issues, so that you are able |
| had to gently pace myself. I negotiated around | | | | to live a life which has real meaning and joy; at |
| my mobility needs and was able to attend the | | | | work, at play and at home. What every person |
| training days in half day sessions. This helped a lot, | | | | with a long term health issues does possess is the |
| not only in managing the pain and fatigue, but the | | | | capability to re-build a life which is meaningful and |
| brain fog, which makes retaining information | | | | worthwhile. |
| difficult. I was very proud to graduate with | | | | |