{"id":1970,"date":"2016-02-15T20:58:34","date_gmt":"2016-02-15T20:58:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/?p=1970"},"modified":"2016-02-14T21:10:11","modified_gmt":"2016-02-14T21:10:11","slug":"chronic-illness-and-accommodation-problems-solve-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/2016\/02\/chronic-illness-and-accommodation-problems-solve-them.html","title":{"rendered":"Chronic Illness and Accommodation: Problems? Solve Them!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Second<\/a>In a way, we who have seriouis health challenges are ambassadors for the patient population that still wants to be as active as possible, but not compromise health to do so. That is, we want to be part of the world, part of society, but cannot entertain environments or situations where we would set our health at risk of getting worse. For me, for example, being out in the sun or under glaring fluorescents is simply a non-starter when it comes to agreeing to events or activities during the day or extended periods indoors. I cannot risk a worsened flare or ill-effects from expsure to too much heat and UV rays.<\/p>\n

But instead of complaining about this constraint, I do try to solve the problem and offer creative solutions to do so. If the event is at a friend’s house, for example, might I enjoy the event indoors instead? Or, if it is at a park, is there a building with adequate protection? I cannot play tennis during the day at all, but if my pain is not flaring, I might be able to do so after dusk (or just before, when shadows on the courts make it easy to avoid the last rays of the sun.<\/p>\n

There are many\u00a0constraints in a life that revolves around symptoms, doc visits, tests, and back again to hem us in. And there are many times when not even an accommodation is enough to enable us to take part in something we’d otherwise jump into eagerly. But, if we get a little creative (healthfully so) about what we can, at least for a little while, we can feel less constrained – and more like what we dream of: a participant in this beautiful, vast world beyond the proverbial sickroom.<\/p>\n

Joy and peace,<\/p>\n

Maureen<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In a way, we who have seriouis health challenges are ambassadors for the patient population that still wants to be as active as possible, but not compromise health to do so. That is, we want to be part of the world, part of society, but cannot entertain environments or situations where we would set our…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":548,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,360,43,1242,379,1420,1245,1],"tags":[2037,2039,2038,2040],"class_list":["post-1970","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-chronic-pain-and-illness","category-determination","category-encouragement-in-life","category-food-for-thought","category-lupus-2","category-pain-2","category-positive","category-uncategorized","tag-accommodation-for-a-disability","tag-creativity-and-illness","tag-getting-creative","tag-illness-and-a-creative-spirit"],"yoast_head":"\nChronic Illness and Accommodation: Problems? 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A few years after her graduation, Maureen was diagnosed with a life-threatening case of organ-involved lupus. Her life turned upside down as she grappled with the effects of the illness and other health conditions that ensued. She was no stranger to serious health challenges; even as a child, Maureen had survived numerous bouts of pneumonia, flu, and other infections. But lupus made her take a fresh look at her life goals - and took herlifelong, strong Catholic Christian faith and writing in a direction she'd never imagined. Today, Maureen writes and speaks about walking with the Lord while living with chronic pain and illness. Her most recent book is \"Don't Panic!: How to Keep Going When the Going Gets Tough (Franciscan Media). She is also the author of, \"Peace in the Storm: Meditations on Chronic Pain & Illness\" (Image Books\/Randomhouse), \"Beyond Pain: Job, Jesus, and Joy\" (Twenty-Third Publications), \"The First Year: Hypothyroidism, Second Edition\" (Perseus) and \"Taking Charge of Lupus: How to Manage the Disease and Make the Most of Your LIfe.\" She writes the syndicated column, \"Living Well,\" for Catholic News Service, and has also written for Saint Anthony Messenger Magazine, Journey for Women Magazine, The Upper Room Magazine, LupusNow, and Arthritis Today. Maureen's health continues to be a challenge, however she feels honored to be able to bring her perspective, from experience and knowledge, to others. \"Good Days...Bad Days with Maureen Pratt\" is a new way for Maureen to reach people who carry the burden of illness and pain in their lives, or who care for someone who does. 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