u/MatterPrize5432

I had a doctor's appointment today and as part of it she asked how I'm doing at university. I told her I am doing OK in my degreee because I eliminated everything outside of it and pour all my limited windows of functioning into it.

She then proceeds to lecture me about how having other stuff is essential to wellbeing and how I need to join societies etc.

Like damn! Wow of course I never thought that doing things I enjoy will make me happier! It's not as if being in constant pain forced me to actively make that tradeoff. Silly me just needed more small talk!

Trying to figure out if this might be also a fibro thing or if I should ask for further investigations but I get those sudden bursts of extreme pressure pain in the pads of my fingers and the balls of my feet. The best way to describe it is it's almost as if they're being filled and are about to burst. It's very different from the more dull aches I get everywhere else. They come randomly, are extremely extremely painful but also only last for 5-10 minutes at a time. DAE get this - whether from fibro or something else? I've not been able to find any similar descriptions of this. It's not tingling or burning - it's an intense internal pressure.

so I was that girl with the elaborate shower routine who'd always iron my clothes before every outing etc

then I developed a couple of disabling chronic illnesses!

the issue is that like say if I need food then I won't go get it because the showering, changing etc are the biggest barrier physically.

BUT I also just am not capable mentally of just going out not looking presentable. I know this isn't entirely logical and eating matters more than smelling good but like genuinely it was such a big part of who I was like I was known as the girl who smelled good and would dress up to the grocery store. also being at uni does not help haha

so I ask my elder disabled girls what are your hygiene hacks or products that have made your life easier? bonus points if they also smell good! thank you!!