Summer Tips Chronic Illness Style

With summer officially here, it only means one thing; fun in the sun, vacations and leisurely activities. It's a chance to enjoy the sunshine, ride some waves, cool off with a bahama mama or ice cold lemonade without a worry in the world.

But for those of us dealing with chronic pain disorders, we sometimes find ourselves slowly easing into the season with caution or completely avoiding the topic at all costs.
However, there is certainly no reason to boycott it all together because we all deserve to have a little fun once in awhile; to have that chance or opportunity to kick back in the hammock and feel like life is 'brighter than the sun.'

So i'm encouraging you to take advantage of this time! Thus, i've come up with a few tips & strategies to help you enjoy the summer a little better hopefully.

1. Plan ahead. I know that for most of us, prior to a vacation, we find ourselves making all kinds of lists, from what to pack to grocery lists.

So with that said, whose to say you can't plan out your fun to ensure that you can thoroughly enjoy it. Whether you believe it or not, party planning 'chronic illness,' style can be a lot of fun because even though you may have to leave out certain elements, you can add bits and pieces of detail that are personalized. You can have friends help you put together diet friendly menu of goodies to enjoy. And if your friends/family wish to bring cocktails and foods they like, make invites BYOF/BYOB. Sometimes we have to learn to set our foot down in these sort of situations and chances are, those who love you will understand.

If you're planning a weekend getaway or vacation. Make sure to pack all your necessities, which I like to call my 'medical arsenal.' I always keep my medications all together and anything I could possibly need while I am away (which secretly in my mind means everything). Call me an 'over-packer,' but what girl isn't? But really, make a list of all the things that would make you more comfortable on your trip, especially if you're flying or driving cross country to hit the beaches. Who cares if you're packing a little on the heavy side, at least you'll be prepared for just about anything that comes you way, including a rough night in pain.

2. Who says you can't keep fun low key?

Often we set high expectations for get togethers, but who are we trying to Plan a laid back movie night with the girls. This doesn't have to be anything fancy or expensive, plus it gives you a chance to relax without any sort of obligation to entertain. I mean whose not happy with a good 'chick flick,' popcorn and contagious laughter? If you aren't, then I guess you better start living!

3. Use the weather as an excuse to catch good 'ole Vitamin D.

Now I don't mean slap on some baby oil and bake in the sun for hours, but rather sit outside for 15-20 minutes 3 times a week.

Vitamin D is absorbed into the skin through the sun and actually has health benefits in moderation.

This is actually recommended by consumer health, for more info check out this article.Vitamin D & the Sun. Another benefit of the sun coincidentally is that Vitamin D is linked with pelvic floor disorders. Studies have shown that a deficiency in D can actually raise a woman's chance of developing a pelvic floor disorder. The study can be found here Pelvic Floor & Vitamin D.

4. Improvise. Most of the time when we think of summer, the first thing that comes to mind is BBQ's, pool parties and concerts. All of these venues certainly sound wonderful, but if you're suffering from one of the many chronic pelvic pain disorders, your energy level may not allow you to enjoy yourself or participate comfortably with all the activities. So what does a girl do when she's found herself in this sort of situation? Yep, you guessed it, improvise. Just because you can't swim in a chlorinated pool, doesn't mean you can't sit back and relax in the shade, while conversing with friends.

And for the BBQ, you can always bring your own food/drinks if you're on a 'special' diet. 

As for concerts or outings that involve all sorts of obstacles, it's always important to keep in mind your limitations. Everyone deals with their own individual drawbacks and planning ahead of time on how to approach them is up to you. I could list so many, but i''ll save you the novel. My only hope is that you have a handful of friends that are supportive of your illness and will understand if you have to pass up certain plans or altar them.

5. Embrace your limitations and don't be too hard on yourself. It's all about being realistic, but also learning to 'live in the moment,' because there is no reason that you can't enjoy yourself with a chronic illness. It may hold you back in some instances, but don't let it define your entire life. It's essentially about outlining your own set of boundaries and running with the rest of it.

If you have any tips or advice that you would like to add feel free to share below in the comment section.

Happy Summer 2013, Enjoy!

Don't let your illness rob you from living your life, this is something that Tucker, the confident gal up in the photo above has taught me :)

*Disclaimer: All discussed above should not double as medical advice, thus treatments and medications/supplements should be discussed with your medical doctor.*