h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Hints for Dealing with Chronic Illness - A2028593
Author:   pedboy® - U200417

From AWW

I think this is a good subject for an entry.

However, in places it reads a bit like an entry that's just about depression rather than about other chronic illnesses or chronic illness in general. It's also worth offering a definition - chronic means ongoing or longstanding, and acute means sudden and short - some people think that chronic means "serious".

I'm also not sure about the importance of hugs. I'm sure that that's true for some people and for some illnesses, but speaking as someone who's been chronically ill (A771482), I don't think I would have taken very kindly to being hugged. I'm not that tactile a person anyway, but when I was ill I was even less so. Perhaps it's also a gender thing. What do you think?

Otto

Hello.

A good entry I suppose, but rather too close for comfort.

Technically, a reference to A1089263, that is A-1089263, is not allowed, so why not put it up for peer review as well, noting that the two are linked.

The morphine which removes pain and may make movement possible may also contribute to massive apathy, so the will to do evaporates as the ability to do returns.

The same morphine also profoundly affects the ability to think and organise and remember, which makes the advice about breaking large tasks into small ones fairly pointless.

I have found that my TRUE friends have rallied round. It seems to be better to do things like shopping in larger amounts than usual. This leaves a task which it is more worth the trouble - helping me once a fortnight is much easier to than helping every other day for many of my friends.

I visit a day hospice once a week. Another patient there tells me that many of his friends find it difficult to come to terms with his condition (an acute cancer of the spine), and now avoid him for that reason. He finds that very distressing. (I am not aware of this problem myself - perhaps I'm just lucky.)

Hope this helps.

Hi Pedboy, I remember this from the AWW but I don't think I got around to commenting.

Given the emphasis on depression over other types of chronic illness have you considered rewriting it to make it exclusively about depression?

I agree with Otto about the hugs. I have quite a lot of experience of depression and hugs do help, sometimes. And sometimes a hug is the last thing I want. I'd be wary of suggesting the hug as a panacea.

Made several minor tweaks, as per suggestions.

The title is very accurate, according to my thesaurus.

I know from a personal view, depression is a major side effect of my chronic illness.This article was written as "hints" and certainly is not attempting to cover all types of illnesses, but merely attempting to increase awareness to the problem.

Thanks for the constructive advice, keep it coming.




pedboy®

We all know the dificulty of facing our own guilt when faced by the loss, or illness of another, a couple whose child died talked of people crossing the road to avoid them - a guy with with cancer said he actually thought his phone was broken it didn't ring for so long.

I think Advice would be a better title than hints - but that's probably me.

One seems to meet a high proportion of people on H2G2 who suffer from some form of illmess or disability - us idiots are always here if you've got a connection - and I think that 'care in the online community' has become an important part of therapy for people with chronic or debilitating illnesses.

Lets face it - on here no-one knows what you're like, or how you feel. You can do as much or as little as you like - and its nice if you're away for a week and get messages asking if you're OK.

Maybe H2G2 should be available on presription.

What an excellent suggestion !!! I am certain manany people would benefit from h2g2 being on prescription !!! I I am one of the lucky one's and have no illness or disability,popping in here is a tonic for me,I'm certain it could be just what the doctor ordered for many more people !! No prescription charge either !! Pinky

I think I mentioned this the last time this entry was in Peer Review, but here it is anyway:

The title is "Hints for Dealing with Chronic Illness", which leads me to think that the entry is about coping strategies for people with chronic illnesses.

The first 2/3 of the entry isn't actually about dealing with chronic illness, it's about dealing with a person who is chronically ill -- i.e., it seems to be written for the outsider who's trying to learn how best to be a supportive friend of someone who is chronically ill.

The last third of the entry is what the title had led me to think the entire entry would be about -- coping strategies for dealing with chronic illness, i.e., this part seems to be written for people with chronic illnesses. However, this portion of the entry is so incredibly brief that I feel like it doesn't even begin to scratch the surface.

Since the two parts of the entry are aimed at completely different audiences, my suggestion would be to split them into two entries. The first part -- on how to be a supportive friend -- seems much closer to being finished than the other part, so I might focus on that one to begin with.

Oh, and for the benefit of people here in the PR thread, here are the links to the previous review threads:

F126715?thread=285402
F126715?thread=285260

Hello everyone.

The last words in the entry, very emphasised, are "Do not ever give up!! If You Do We may not have a reason to fight anymore!!".

I think you should not mention giving up in any way. (I'm seriously ill, with a condition quite soon to be lethal.)

A major problem for me, which you have not mentioned, is coping with the various misdiagnoses that I have received in the past, and the next largest is trying to maintain normal life. The main problem there is ceasing to be reliable, when formerly I was.

I'm sure the cheery words in this entry are well intended, but much less than sure that they would necessarily be well received. I've reverted to alcohol to be able to say this.

Anyway, that's my (second) ten pen'uth.

Thank You all, I have made some changes.




pedboy®

This is about as PC as I (someone who has a severe chronic illness, which prompted depression) can get.
The response is exactly what is needed, it is in need of help.
Thank You all, and tell me if I am smoothing it properly.




pedboy®