I’ve spent hundreds of hours researching products and services that focus on my health and make my life a little more comfortable while living with chronic illness.

Being productive while chronically ill is possible, but allocated the right amount of time and energy into the right things while remembering self-care and adequate rest are definitely key ingredients! 

So, here I’ll share a list of things I’ve found in my searching.

Consider this page a “Bucket List” that will be growing and changing as I experiement and try new things! Some on the list I have tried and some I haven’t (yet) and some I’m waiting to arrive in the mail or try a couple times before I share my thoughts.

Hey, just to open, some links are affiliate links (which means if you decide to purchase I’ll receive a small commission at no additional cost to you) and some are not. Either way, this doesn’t change or determine my opinions or recommendations. Everything on this page is my personal opinion from experience or detailed research.

Feel free to join me and let me know what works and what doesn’t for you and the ‘why’ behind your findings!

Rest & Recovery Things 

 

I am a non-stop, go-getter…but if I don’t get the rest and recovery I need to manage my conditions I end up in a downward spiral that takes 5x longer to recover and heal from than if I had just slowed down and taken care of myself in the first place.

In this section, I’ve linked to a few items I really want to try (if I haven’t alread) and things I love! I’ll be back later for some comparisons and to edit this post, but for now, here are the products I’ve found in my researching and searching that might be helpful to you too!

Some of the Bedding and Sleep focused products I’ve found when researching and reading reviews (some we’ve tried and some we haven’t yet so I’ll be updating our favorites over time!) I think I’ll be trying pillows and accessories before diving into a mattress. However, some of these have also been recommended to me by other chronic illness warriors and after researching them I felt they were worthy to add to the list:

• Puffy Mattress – these mattresses are designed to rest on any surface. Box Spring, Adjustable, Flate Frame, Slatted Frame, or Puffy Foundation. Manufactured in the USA, again I’m not sure where they source their components, with 4 different types of foams.
• MyGreenMattress – I think I’ve read this whole entire website lol. This company started from a family seeking a solution for their little girl’s allergies.  I didn’t see where the materials are sourced from but they are organic components handcrafted in an organic factory located in LaGrange, Illinois. If you’re consencious of buying American made, supporting our contry’s economy, and organic components, I’d recommend looking into this one!
• Layla Sleep – this is a reversible foam mattress that totally excites me! One side is a soft 4 out of 10 and the opposite side is a firmer 7 out of 10. There are times, depending on our activity level and all, we will sleep on the couches to have a little firmer rest for a night or two. I don’t know about you but I feel like sometimes my body just needs something a little different. This would definitely be cool to try out!
• Wink Beds LLC – I was reading on their website that they’re handmade in the USA with free shipping and a 120 night risk-free try. The mattress moves heat away from your body for a comfortable temperature sleeping experience and a “3-step” back-relief system to keep muscles relaxed and joints aligned. I personally haven’t tried this one but I think it’s worth reading more on and checking out yourself to see if it fits your needs.
• Serta Mattress – We’ve had a couple of these double pillow tops. They were good for a while but both started those ‘indents’ even though we rotated every couple of months. But, I also know a few people that didn’t have this issue as quickly as we did, so I’ll leave the experimenting up to you on this one. I’m not going to fully recommend it but I’m not going to knock it either.
• Waterbeds – I don’t remember the brand but I do remember it was a really good quality with ‘chambers’ or something like that to reduce the feelings of ‘waves’ and disturbing your sleeping partner. I loved this bed, it was probably the best we’ve ever had. When we finally got the heater at the right temp I was comfortable all night long and I think it reduced the amount of pressure on my joints becuase I didn’t wake up near as stiff. I was also a few years younger so that could’ve been a contributing factor lol.

Health & Fitness Resources

 

I’ve tried a ton of health and fitness supplements, exercise routines, clothing, exercise equipment, and more just looking ot make life a little easier, a little more comfortable, and stay as healthy and active as I possibly can.

A couple things I do to help suppress my conditions naturally are:

1.    Eat clean(ish)

Hubby and I removed *most* processed foods from our normal menu. Let’s be honest, living in a really small rural town and on-the-go, we stray every now and then. But for the most part we went through the elimination diet and we focus on a well balanced menu of protein, complex carbs, healthy fats, and a touch of simple carbs here and there.

This isn’t a site dedicated to your menu, I’ll leave that for other professionals, but I will say that just these foundational steps themselves helped dramatically over time, not necessarily over night.

 2.  Exercise

So, I know this is a touchy subject, but I’ve been there. I’ve been unable to walk for  3 months with hubby left to carry me to the bathroom and help me bathe while the doctors were telling me I would never walk correctly again. It took a lot of hard work, self-care, and natural healing resources, but 4 years later I was doing HIIT (low impact) and weight training daily. I don’t know your specific situation or health status but I will tell you that movement and being as active as I can are essential for us.

3.    Accupunture/Accupressure, Chiropractic, and Massage

I can’t tell you what Accupuncture has done for me in just the last 6 months alone. It’s funny, my doctors never recommeded I do it but when they asked what I was doing to have such improvements and I responded with “Accupuncture and Natural Healing” they praised on me for finding it and told me to keep it up.  So, I researched, I couldn’t find anything really online from major medical websites or organizations, until I looked in the scholarly articles. Bingo. And I even found this article on the Mayo Clinic website that I wasn’t able to find when looking directly there prior. Interesting right?

Here are the health and fitness resources I personally use, other chronically ill have recommended to me, and/or I’ve found during intesive research over the last 10 years:

• Yogadownload – I haven’t personally tried this one *yet*. But it really intrigues me to! I literally just stumbled across this membership and thought to myself what a great idea this is! For flexibility in you flexibility, lol, be sure to check this website out and see if it would meet your needs for your fitness goals!
• Le-vel’s supplements & skincare lines – I personally have used this line for over 2 years. I really enjoy the flavors and actually ‘feeling’ my vitamins ‘working’, I guess that’s what you’d call it lol. I definitely can feel the B Vitamins and the Lifestyle Mix has helped with some of my digestive issues. It’s a super simple system done in teh first 30 minutes I’m awake. For my favorite mix recipes just send me a message on Facebook or Instagram or email me. I love sharing all the  concocsions I’ve trid and love over the years lol
• BeachBody – a girlfriend of mine (actually quit a few of them) uses and loves BeachBody. Hubby and I went through the P90X program prior to my health conditions and we loved it! In fact, I still use a lot of the DVDs to piece together my own exercise system that works for my needs. One of my girlfriends was pursuing her health coach certification and decided to join BeachBody as a coach because of the overwhleming amount of women asking for her help with the system. I know there are Bootcamps, Programs, and a yearly On Demand System but I’m not sure of all the details.

I’d definitely recommend my friend, Angela, as your coach or just to ask any questions you might have. She’s very understanding when it comes to health challenges, as she’s had a few of her own (I’ll let her share that info with you) but also will push you to do your best, whatever level that might be.

Sidenote: She’s also not going to push you into any purchases, she’s a Charter Captain professionally and health and fitness coaching is just one of her passions to help people!