Hi, I’m Helen. Welcome to ChronicAndChill, support for the spoonie community.
My story
In 2020 I was diagnosed with panhypopituitarism after more than ten years of trying to get a diagnosis. By the time I found the right doctor, I was sleeping 16 to 20 hours a day and was a shell of my former self.
For years I was told my blood tests looked normal while I felt like I was dying every day. After so many doctors telling me the same thing, I started to doubt my own experience. I thought I was going mad, and my family thought I was the laziest person on the planet. Finding the right doctor literally saved my life at the last minute.
Because my pituitary gland doesn’t produce much by way of hormones, I was also diagnosed with adrenal insufficiency, which explained why I was sleeping so much. That means steroid replacement medication several times a day, every day, for the rest of my life. Add in thyroid issues, dysautonomia and a host of other nonsense, and most days there is very little energy and a body that doesn’t play by the usual rules. In short, I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired.
Why this blog
Over the years I’ve worked out, out of necessity, how to feed myself and my family on the days when my body has other plans. I never wrote any of it down until I joined online support groups and kept reading the same questions from people newly diagnosed and unsure where to even begin.
So this is where I share what I’ve put in place: pacing, kitchen systems, freezer meals and honest recommendations for tools that actually save energy. It didn’t all come to me overnight, and I’m still finding new ways to make life easier.
If you’re newly diagnosed, don’t force yourself to be ready. The shock is its own thing and it took me over two years to get past mine. Take what’s useful here and leave the rest. Your limitations aren’t mine, and you don’t owe anyone a system that isn’t yours.
If you’re navigating a pituitary or adrenal condition and want reliable information beyond this blog, these two organisations helped me rebuild: the Addison’s Disease Self-Help Group and the Pituitary Foundation.
What I make
I also make things for the community. You’ll find sarcastic and supportive spoonie slogan products in my Etsy shop, and energy-aware planners and templates in my Payhip store. Some of the artwork and product designs on this site and in my shops are AI-assisted and created by me.
Please read the Disclaimer (this blog is not medical advice) and the Affiliate Disclosure.
Much love,
Helen