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Retiring with a chronic illness: How can you prepare for this new chapter?
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smccann
smccann
Last activity on 11/20/2024 at 4:50 PM
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I'm stressed and scared
esobcz01
esobcz01
Last activity on 11/15/2024 at 7:28 PM
Joined in 2021
22 comments posted | 4 in the Good to know group
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I am currently semi -retired. On September 22, 2023, I suffered my fourth seizure and spent the night in the hospital. I also had to endure 6 months of not being able to drive. I was unable to work because I had no way to get there. The company I worked for let me go because I had not worked in a while. I called them to explain the situation but they said that is their policy. It is not easy not working. I was hoping to work till I was 67. I have spent the last year taking care of my mom as she is 90 years old and suffers from dementia. I promised my late father that I would always watch out for her. It hasn't been easy. But I do it because it is the right thing to do. I do the best that I can. If worse comes to worse I will just retire and collect social security. I also take care of myself as I have lived with type 2 diabetes , congestive heart failure, seizure disorder. For the last two years I have worked very hard to watch my portion sizes. I only eat breakfast lunch, and dinner. I also don't eat anything after dinner. Because of my hard work I am off insulin and only take 2 mg of Ozempic once a week. I now weigh 155, which is what I weighed when I was in college. The hard work has paid off because for the last 7 months my A1C has been 6.5. One of doctors asked me if I was trying to put them out of business. He said that it is good for me.
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Somya.P
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Somya.P
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Last activity on 11/20/2024 at 7:34 PM
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Hi @esobcz01,
It sounds like you’ve been through so much, both with your health and while caring for your mom. Balancing these responsibilities on top of managing your own conditions is no easy feat, so congratulations on getting your A1C under control! How are you feeling now that you're semi-retired? Do you find you’re able to manage your mom's care while also taking time for yourself?
Sending you strength,
Somya from the Carenity Team 🌼
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Somya from the Carenity team
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smccann
smccann
Last activity on 11/20/2024 at 4:50 PM
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It's hard for me to get around at times. I give out of breath so easily. It's hard to shower in the mornings because I'm so weak and breathless. I live by myself and I'm trying my best not to give up
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Somya.P
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Somya.P
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Last activity on 11/20/2024 at 7:34 PM
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@smccann Hi there,
I hear you, it sounds very difficult to manage day-to-day tasks, especially living on your own. It’s great that you’re pushing through despite feeling breathless, but I know how draining that must be. How do you usually get through those tough moments?
Hang in there,
Somya from the Carenity Team 🌼
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Somya from the Carenity team
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Breathmaster
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Breathmaster
Last activity on 11/17/2024 at 4:46 AM
Joined in 2024
Patient, COPD since 2024
Other conditions: Asthma, Respiratory allergies + 1 other condition
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Have a strong inner drive to want to play everyday in retirement. Focus on physical and mental health as priority one. Everything else can wait. Have a plan to get to retirement and make it happen. Be strong of will and body. Positive affirmations are good: Mind Over Matter; Suck it Up; Be strong; Be Happy; An object in motion will continue in motion until met by an opposite equal force;
Due to having such a challenging life at an early age, I adopted 5 constant feelings as my friends. I grew up around doctors, nurses, and machines. I had very little human contact for my first 4 years. No humans, just machines and myself behind plastic barriers sealed from the outside germs. I literally had no one. I turned my only constant companions into my friends. So my friends are: Coldness, Darkness, Loneliness, Pain, and Struggling. So anytime that I awaken is a cause for celebration.
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Mark S
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Somya.P
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Somya.P
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Last activity on 11/20/2024 at 7:34 PM
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384 comments posted | 148 in the Good to know group
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Hello @Breathmaster,
It is such a powerful mindset to celebrate each new day, after everything you’ve been through. I can't imagine how those first few years had been for you, and the deep impression that they can leave on the mind. Still being able to focus and prioritize your health in every way shows a strong willpower that many of us can learn from. What helps you maintain the balance?
Stay strong,
Somya from the Carenity Team 🌼
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Magdamaria2
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Magdamaria2
Last activity on 11/18/2024 at 12:36 PM
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i applied for disability after my open-heart surgery and pacemaker, also flat lining while I had pneumonia in the hospital in front of my family, besides that having copd, hocm, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, fibromyalgia spinal stenosis and degenerative disc and depression, I was a mess. I felt like a pharmaceutical junkie, I was a slave to medication, it took my sex drive away, at times made me ill. I was on so much prednisone I had a moon face, i woke up in pain and went to bed in pain, at 62 they put me on forced retirement which I don't understand and have reached out with my questions but never got answers, so I decided to get my own answers by researching everything on every level until I was satisfied that I was getting the truth, what has saved me a lot was helping others and showing others how I did the research, how I delt with excabations, how to do purse breathing and other breathing exercises, I even started a music group, because music is my medicine and my escapism from my depression, I then started to use my time continuing my animal rescue, educating people on spay neuter, how to select a breed and not to buy at pet shops, I also stared cooking twice a month for the homeless and stopped feeling sorry for myself because i had a roof over my head and clothing and they did not, those are some of the ways I have learned to deal with and inhale positive energy and exhale negative energy, I hope this helped a bit?
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"Save A life" Adopt A Pet" MagdaMaria2 aka Paws_4_Cause
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Somya.P
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Somya.P
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Last activity on 11/20/2024 at 7:34 PM
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Hi @Magdamaria2
You’ve really faced a level of hardship that’s hard for a lot of people to imagine. But what really stands out to me is how you’ve turned your pain into purpose. Researching on your own to help others through your findings, starting a music group, rescuing animals and cooking for the homeless, I cannot think of more wonderful ways of reclaiming your life and channeling your energy into positivity. It’s amazing how you’ve created meaning out of what could have easily been overwhelming despair.
I’m curious, how did you get started with your music group? And how has it helped you deal with your depression? Have you found that focusing on others has helped your own healing process?
Take care, and thank you for your grit,
Somya from the Carenity Team 🌼
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smccann
smccann
Last activity on 11/20/2024 at 4:50 PM
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Breathing exercises and prayers. It's really rough and I really think about giving up
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Somya.P
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Somya.P
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Last activity on 11/20/2024 at 7:34 PM
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384 comments posted | 148 in the Good to know group
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Hello everyone,
How are you doing? 😊
Retirement is a major life milestone, but it can become even more complicated when living with a chronic illness. Between managing daily symptoms, handling administrative tasks, and adjusting finances, preparing well is key to making this transition as smooth as possible. This period can also be an opportunity to reorganize your time to better prioritize your health while still enjoying life.
What advice or tips do you have for managing retirement with a chronic illness? What concerns you the most: managing your healthcare, daily organization, or keeping up with medical follow-ups?
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Your experiences and tips can be a great help to those preparing for this new stage!
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!
Somya from the Carenity Team 🌼