How do you keep your head up in light of a chronic health condition?

Hi all,

I had previously posted a few months back dealing with a health issue called pericarditis which they think was caused by a viral chest infection. It causes sharp chest pains, heart palpitations, chest tightness, shortness of breath and fatigue. Since I was diagnosed 5 months ago, I've had multiple trips to ER, regular trips to doctors and specialists and medication changes. I've had a few weeks of improvement here and there but they are short-lived. Right now, I'm pretty much resigned to a sedentary lifestyle and my life is pretty much 20% (at best) of what it was. Any physical or mental stress causes a flare and knocks me down for at least a week. Feeling short of breath and in pain has left me feeling so fatigued I can't enjoy anything.

Unfortunately, I am in the aftermath of my Father's sudden passing and there's a lot of stress currently going around in my family. This is largely unavoidable for the foreseeable future as my sisters are making sorting out my Father's affairs as painful as possible and I can't not deal with them. I've let them know that their behaviours are impacting on my physical (and mental health) but they don't really seem to care.

What is making it particularly difficult for me to deal with is the lack of solid information. They can't know for sure what is causing it. They don't know how to treat it - it isn't like there is a definite cure. They don't know how long I am going to have it for. It's just guesses and "wait and see". In fact, my last stay in hospital, despite doing pretty much every test, came up with no evidence that I still have pericarditis. The diagnosis is based on ruling out other possibilities and the fact that my symptoms are the same as when I did have evidence of pericarditis.

Any advice on how to cope with this? I feel like my life is limited now and the uncertainty around how long this will persist for is beginning to demoralise me.

Thanks.

Heya, sorry to hear you're suffering with chronic pain. I can emphasize, I suffer with constant ear infections. A lady I work for has fibromyalgia, all we can do is battle through. No cures for either issues. I think getting some support to come to terms with the illness can help, knowing your not alone and what works for others with the same illness.

I have 3 chronic severe pain conditions as well. One that will eventually require brain surgery. There is nothing to do but go on.

Do at least one "work-like" task everyday. Even small tasks like cleaning the kitchen count. (365 really starts to add up!)

Help someone everyday.

Study something new. Here's a fun place to start: (https://www.pbs.org/video/einsteins-quantum-riddle-ykvwhm/) 52:09 *

Stop trying to control others. Accept them as they are.

Laugh.

Forgive everyone who is/has offended you.

Pray.

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Sorry you're going through all this. Take it easy, follow up with the symptoms and treatment. Sorry to hear about your father. That adds a lot of stress/grief. Consider unpacking all this stress with some short term therapy. Feel better.

Feeling short of breath and in pain has left me feeling so fatigued I can't enjoy anything. Unfortunately, I am in the aftermath of my Father's sudden passing and there's a lot of stress currently going around in my family.