Question: I’m in my early 70s and starting to notice that some of the habits that helped me get through life aren’t serving me so well anymore. I tend to push through fatigue, downplay pain, and tell people that I am ‘fine.’ I could get away with that when I was younger, but now it just leaves me feeling wiped …
Shared peer advice from polio survivors about what works for them.
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Is Euthanasia a Valid Route When Faced with Severe and Chronic Pain with No Feasible Medical Solutions?
Question: I have been having a tremendous amount of pain over the past year or so. I’ve seen multiple physicians seeking a solution, but it has so far resulted in very little relief. The constant pain has greatly impacted my quality of life. I live in Oregon and have recently started looking into euthanasia laws. Is severe, chronic pain a …
Practical Tips and Insights to Help Deal with the Burden of Using a Scooter in Public and Feeling More at Ease
Question: I’ve been wrestling with some heavy emotional baggage lately. I’ve been experiencing a lot of anxiety. I wouldn’t say I’m isolated, but my post-polio issues have made it harder and harder to get out and about. Because of that, I have started using a scooter to get around. I’m not embarrassed, per se, to be seen using it, but …
Resources for Partners in Caregiver Roles
Question: While I feel like there are a lot of resources for polio survivors, I’m curious where spouses can turn to for help? My husband requires a lot of help around the house. I’m getting older, too, and it’s becoming more physically and mentally taxing. I want to be a good caregiver, but sometimes I feel burned out. Response from …
Attending Support Group Meetings without My Partner Present
Question: I often attend my local post-polio support group’s in-person meetings. My partner usually requests to come along in order to show his support. I really appreciate the fact that he wants to be supportive, but sometimes I’d rather go alone. There are times when I feel I can’t speak freely about certain things because he is there. I want …
Highlights from PHI’s May Town Hall
QUESTION: I’m in my 70s. My husband and I still aren’t retired. We both work in real estate. Are there services for polio survivors that are free, like exercise groups? Everything seems so expensive when it’s related to post-polio. Rhoda Olkin, PhD: That’s a really excellent question. There’s what I call the disability tax—things we have to pay for that …
“Find Joy in Your Pain,” But is it Wrong to be Okay with Not Being Okay Some Days?
Question: I was reading a column on a popular disability website recently that basically advised people with disabilities to “find joy in their pain.” I do mostly try to take an optimistic view of things, but there are days where I have a lot of physical pain, it’s hard to get around, and, well, I find it pretty hard to …
Is This Post-Polio?
Question: I had polio when I was a child, but for most of my life I could do pretty much anything I wanted. I traveled, had a career, raised children, visited friends. Now I’m approaching 70 years old, and starting a number of years ago, I’ve noticed that I’ve really slowed down. I can’t do many things I used to, …
Coping with Societal and Familial Stigma of Disabilities
Question: I’m a 58-year-old woman who contracted polio when I was three. My family was living at the time in Vietnam. A couple of years later, we emigrated to the United States. My parents told me not to mention to the other kids that I had had polio. (My case wasn’t severe. I recovered with few obvious physical effects, so …
Anxiety Regarding Returning to Normal Life Amidst a Pandemic
Question: I think I’m experiencing a bit of pandemic fatigue. I know that I don’t have many good years left to travel and be active, yet I realize it’s not very safe to do so right now. I’ve seen many of my friends return to normal life even though cases are still high. I don’t think I’m ready to do …