chronically resourced

#chronic illness research (there's also condition-specific tags like #fibromyalgia research, #covid research, and more coming soon)

#for the new spoonies

#get prepared resources (e.g. what to have in your hospital go-bag)

#housebound resources and #bedbound resources

#how to guides

#how to talk to your doctor

Masterlists: #chronic illness masterlists

#mobility aid resources

#printable resources

#video resource(s)

#book recommendations | #podcast recommendations | #app recommendations | #product recommendations

You can also search by condition: e.g. Fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, dysautonomia, migraine

Reblog posts will be tagged #reblogged resource

🦋 Also posting daily on BlueSky as spoonieresources

📙 And sporadically on Substack (for free!)

Please note: This blog is not run by a healthcare professional; I am just another chronically ill and disabled person who wants to help connect people in my community with resources. I do my best to make sure I am only sharing accurate information and trustworthy sources, backed by science wherever possible, but it is possible I have missed something or made a mistake. Please read the information shared on the blog skeptically and seek advice from a medical professional before changing your medications, starting to use a mobility aid, or making any major lifestyle changes.

I've been trying so hard to avoid this but my chronic illnesses are forcing me to pull back on a few things in my life. Unfortunately, this blog / CIRL as a whole is going to have to be one of the things I drop... at least for a while.

Thank you to everyone who has supported this endeavor. I hope to return to this again sometime in the future but I'm not sure when that will be. I'm sure y'all understand the awkward position of trying to balance chronic illness and life.

"...a selection of my favorite kitchen tools that work to improve independence, reduce fatigue and improve safety for individuals with reduced dexterity, strength, coordination and sensation caused by arthritis, carpal tunnel, MS, fibromyalgia, and a number of other conditions."

The Sjögren's Foundation have created this one-page downloadable PDF showing you how to massage your salivary glands, complete with diagrams:

It's best to read the whole article (link below) but here are the main 5 points:

If your period pain interferes with daily life ("severe or debilitating pain during your period is not normal")

If you get pelvic pain outside of your period ("people with endometriosis can experience pain while ovulating, having a bowel movement, or during urination")

If sex is painful ("Feeling pain during sex—known medically as dyspareunia—can be caused by a variety of things... It can also be a sign of endometriosis."

If you're having trouble getting pregnant ("Not everyone with endometriosis will have infertility... but the condition increases the risk and may be able to explain infertility without a known cause.")

If you're experiencing extreme fatigue (more research is needed but there does appear to be a link between endometriosis and fatigue)

➡️ https://www.health.com/period-pain-endometriosis-11684837 ⬅️

"Extreme diarrhea is a hallmark sign of the parasitic infection.

Health officials don’t yet know the source of the outbreak, but previous outbreaks have been linked to fresh produce.

...The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed 843 cases and 86 hospitalizations across dozens of states since May 1, but the true number is likely much higher...

While cyclosporiasis cases typically increase during the warmer months, the CDC said multiple states have seen more cases over the past two weeks than during the same period last year."

https://www.health.com/cyclosporiasis-outbeak-fresh-produce-12017111

"Frozen and canned fruit or veg generally retains its original nutritional value – sometimes better than fresh produce. For example, the nutritional value of most frozen and canned products is equivalent to fresh fruit and vegetables that have been in the fridge for a week. But the process of preserving certain foods may actually increase their nutrient content. Apricots are one example, with frozen apricots having a much higher vitamin C content than fresh apricots. This is because vitamin C is used to help preserve the fruit. Freezing uses low temperatures to delay food spoilage. Industrial freezing methods are effective at retaining the colour and textural qualities of fruit and vegetables, while also maintaining their nutritional content."

"However, freezing may damage the structure of food if it causes ice crystals to develop. This can reduce the nutrient content of fruits and vegetables and make them mushy, especially if you thaw and re-freeze them. Frozen fruits and vegetables are at risk of being contaminated with the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes, which can cause food poisoning. But cooking fruits or vegetables before eating them reduces this risk. The canning process involves sterilising foods at high temperatures so they can be safely stored at room temperature for long periods. However, being exposed to high temperatures causes some nutrients in the food to break down, especially water-soluble vitamins such as vitamin C."

Three videos from EquipMeOT on YouTube covering the basics of using an alternating pressure mattress overlay system, bed sore management pillows, and two products that can improve sleep comfort and prevention/treatment of pressure sores if you sleep in a recliner...

Here's the link to the playlist:

And here's the individual videos:

"Melatonin may provide modest benefits for pain in people with chronic [musculoskeletal] pain, while evidence in postoperative pain remains limited... Melatonin may be considered as a potential adjunct rather than a primary treatment, pending randomized controlled trials with standardised dosing and longer follow-ups."

A lot of us have heard that your urine should be clear (like water), but is this true?

"Clear urine can mean you're drinking more water than your body needs... Drinking more than these amounts often leads to clear urine. While staying hydrated is crucial, drinking too much water can upset your electrolyte balance..."

Source: https://www.verywellhealth.com/pee-color-chart-7979155

By Rachael Zimlich, BSN, RN | Medically reviewed by Steffini Stalos, DO | Updated on April 17, 2026

"Occasional clear urine isn’t a concern, but if it happens consistently, you may be over-hydrating. Sometimes, clear urine can signal a health problem like diabetes or kidney disease. If your clear urine isn't due to excess water intake, consult a healthcare provider.

This video is a demonstration of how to put on compression socks using both a compression sock tool (a piece of medical equipment) and a plastic bag as an option for those without access to the sock tool:

I’m not super new to being disabled, but I have no diagnosis bc every new provider I see blames all of my (very physical) symptoms on my depression. They don’t even change this when I mention that it’s well managed and that my psychiatrist thinks that’s bs.

It’s been two years of managing everything on my own, I’m unemployable, unable to receive benefits due to the above, have zero support network, and am basically bed bound at this point. I now also have a stomach ulcer bc I’ve been taking so many otc pain meds to be able to move at all, sleep, and eat. The only real advice I’ve gotten is to stop taking them, which isn’t an option for obvious reasons.

I’m just looking at everything (US based here) and unable to see a way forward where I don’t end up unhoused within six months. I don’t know what to do, bc from my perspective I’m trying everything and it’s just not working at all.

Hi,

I'm so sorry to hear you're dealing with all of that! And having no support from doctors just makes it so hard!

First, I want you to know that this is (unfortunately) not an uncommon experience. I say that so that you know that it's not *you*; it's 100% the doctors' fault.

As for resources, I'm not completely clear on what info you're looking for so if I miss the mark here, please let me know and I'll try again. But I can see a few points where I can maybe provide a bit of advice/resources...

You mention you're seeing a psychiatrist who has assured you that your physical symptoms are not caused by psychological factors. Can they write a letter stating that? Can they refer you to a doctor they know and trust?

You mentioned you're developing a stomach ulcer due to the pain relief meds you're taking. You've maybe already been told this but it's surprising how many people don't know... You should *always* take NSAIDs (e.g. ibuprofen) after eating food. I've been told by pharmacists and doctors that if you can't eat something substantial, something is better than nothing, even just some yoghurt will help.

For some of the rest of what you're dealing with, I think this resource might be helpful for you – it's a collection of guides that cover how to live a great disabled life (e.g. getting free transportation, food stamps, and more), a guide on what to say when denied for disability aid/accommodations, how to be poor, how to be homebound, a Master List of Disability Accommodation Letters For Housing, and a guide on dealing with debt & disability. Most of it is written for people in the USA.

If you have the energy for browsing, you could also check out #housebound resources, #bedbound resources, and the #USA🇺🇸 tags on this blog.

You're welcome to send another ask if I've missed what you were wanting help with, or if you just have more questions in the future. I'm always happy to try to help.

The study aims to explore how carers understand and identify with their caregiving role, and how this relates to both positive aspects of caregiving and caregiver burden.

It has received ethical approval from the University of Nottingham’s Ethics Committee.

Your contribution could help improve understanding of the experiences of informal stroke carers and inform future support for carers.

Survey link: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/whe0zKGzs4

I would be very grateful if you could also share this post with anyone who may be eligible to participate.

For any further information contact: [email protected]

Hi, I'm always happy to share surveys like this here.

@dustymonsoonloremaster, can you please provide an image description, though? You can add it as a reblog or a comment and I'll then copy it in here.

This resource is a long read but it's really thorough, covering why exercise is different when you're hypermobile, what the scientific literature says about exercise and hypermobility, proprioception, different joints, foot arches, what you should know about stretching, pilates and yoga, running and higher-impact activities, pacing, KT tape, and nutrition. There's also a section on exercising with POTS, and another on exercise for children with hypermobility.