My chronic health journey has changed so rapidly over the past two years that my life would be unrecognizable to myself only two years ago. Like many with a chronic illness, I’ve experienced both highs and lows in regard to my health, but also developed methods to cope and regain functionality. The biggest change to occur during the past two years was a return to full-time employment with a new job. Such a drastic improvement from not being able to even sit upright without becoming dizzy and needing to lie down. However, I needed to attack my new work situation with expectations and methods vastly different from how I approached any job prior to developing Dysautonomia.
Humans are great. Our bodies compensate for internal and external changes except if you have dysautonomia. Rude. But it’s not all bad news, our minds can create plans to adapt as well. I am a firm believer of examining a situation and manipulating factors that can be changed in order to tolerate ones which we cannot. One of the most predicable areas of my life, which also poses the most challenges, happens to be my work environment.
These are my top 5 must have office items:
Heat
Whether it be in the form of heating pads, Thermacare Heat Wraps, or electric hand warmers, heat application is an integral part of my daily function. I experience classic shoulder and neck “coat hanger pain,” along with pain all over my body from various hypermobile joints. You can find me at my desk, decked out wearing hand warmers, a heating pad neck and shoulder wrap, and a lumbar heating wrap most days.
Sunglasses
A large trigger for me are bright lights, as I experience photophobia. Since I work in an office on my computer all day under florescent lighting, I am constantly exposed to brighter light than I find comfortable. In addition to turning my electronics to a warm display setting, I also sport a pair of sunglasses over my prescription glasses. Very fashion forward.
Headphones
When my work day permits, I will wear a pair of noise cancelling headphones and play either ASMR videos or calming nature sounds while performing administrative tasks. I find it very grounding because noise can exacerbate my symptoms. However, I can’t do that every day. So, I try to take advantage of those moments while I can. I generally wear a phone headset for work, which leaves one ear open, and on those days, I turn my earpiece down to a comfortable setting for my occupied ear and use an ear plug for my free ear.
Hand sanitizer
I’m a nurse and I can wholeheartedly tell you that PEOPLE DO NOT WASH THEIR HANDS. They do not wash them frequently enough. They do not wash them long enough after using the bathroom. And guess what, they also touch things. They will blow their nose and try to borrow a pen from you, or grab their food from the fridge. Then there are the worst people in the world, those whom do not wash after using the toilet. You could not offer me enough money to touch my face or food without washing my hands first. Between standard soap and water washings I will intermittently use hand sanitizer. You can find a 1 liter pump bottle of Purell on my desk.
Snacks, snacks, snacks
The largest drawer of my desk is reserved for snacks and only snacks. ONLY SNACKS. Having the ability to grab something you need when it’s right next to you, is especially important on days where it is hard to function. I currently have the following in stock at all times: various types of water (spring, seltzer, sparkling), salty snacks that do not require any preparation (dried seaweed, saltines, chips, Cheetos), minty candies (Life Savers, melt away peppermints), ginger chews, salty soup cups, and one million cans of Diet Coca-Cola. Yes, I always recycle.
What are your must have items to get you through the work week? I’d love to read about your advice in the comments.
Dysautonomia Daze 