I was wondering about how those of you with medical conditions deal with some of the challenges of dressing bodies that sometimes do not function "normally." I have read in passing that some of the ladies on the forum suffer from various chronic illnesses, and as a sufferer myself, I would love to hear your tips. I began having medical problems in 2007 (then I was a fairly stylish and fit young lady), since then I have given up. Most of my clothes were either given away because they were too small or uncomfortable or have literally worn out. I was down to some men's sub-casual clothes and a couple of pair of mom jeans. I have since bought a few women's fitted sweatshirts, a few women's t-shirts, and several skirts, and I still have a couple of dresses.

Along with the pain and fatigue, my illness can cause blood to pool in my abdomen and swell. It doesn't greatly distent it, but it can make the difference between a pant fitting at 8 a.m. and at noon. I don't really have a tummy, but for this reason I like a little extra breathing room in my shirts. However, that is not a good look for my hourglass shape. I also cannot find a pair of pants that i can wear comfortably when i am having bad spells. Even will no visible swelling, it can be painful, like when your feet swell after a long day. I also have to wear flats with lots of support, especially in the arch. I'm stuck in sneakers, which doesn't work with the only bottoms I have that fit now (skirts).

I would love advice and solutions from anyone and would love to hear from some of the other ladies with chronic illness about how they cope.

I totally understand. I have suffered from back problems for many years (sacro-illiac joint dysfuncion, periformis syndrome in my hips and a desicated disk in my lumbar region). I cannot wear heels due to these conditions. I have to wears flats - period. And trust me, I LOVE shoes - I have over 95 pairs. But how can I make all of these beautiful outfits work like Clinton and Stacy do without sexy high heels? And I'm only 5'4" so I really could use the extra 2-4 inches.

To quote Jed Clampett, "Woo, doggie!"
This is a tough one.
While I have medical issues in the form of the residual effects of a massive cerebral hemorrhage when I was 36, I can't say that I completely understand your problems, because they're not the same as mine.
I do have to congratulate you for trying to claw your way back from the "I give up!" frame of mind, because that requires considerable moxie.
Just caring about what you look like is 3/4 of the battle.
But that other 1/4 can be a real stinker!
Major confession: Because I'm in a wheelchair, with the use of only one hand, I now wear (whisper) elastic waist pants.
There, I said it.
I'm not suggesting that *you* need to go this far, but maybe it would be possible to find some stylish pants with just a touch of "give" in the waist. I wonder if a belt would do any good. Maybe it could be discreetly adjusted during the day as necessary.
A jacket might work sort of the same way; you could button and unbutton it as you need to.
Congratulations on your willingness to try!
Quite a few people whose health is perfectly normal don't make an effort with their appearance, and it's less difficult for them.
I hope you get lots of good advice here!

R006, Im so sorry to hear about your problems... I have several back issues, along with fibro and arthritis. Ive also had problems with extreme sweating, so I tend to dress in layers and almost always wear a cardi. DH likes it cool, and I freeze easily, so it helps. Ive taken to really loving maxi dresses, they are sooo comfy! I try and keep my hair cut regularly, and at least put foundation on in the morning- it seems if I do this, I tend to feel better during the day. Keep plugging away, in time it does get a little better....

I sympathize with the difficulties of some others, though I don't claim to have it as bad. I have osteopenia, fibromyalga, hyperlordosis and as of yesterday a pinched nerve leaving my right thigh numb! I can also sympathize with temperature difficulties. Genetically and through medication I also sweat, and have difficulty regulating my body temperature.

I always bring an extra pair of shoes - flats - runners, sandals or ballet flats. Layers are good, or sometimes a change of top in my bag. Today I tied my cane to my bag, not knowing how the numbness may progress through the day. (It was fine though. I even wore my high heel glads until I got home). As I have to carry a lot of stuff and it is both difficult and can ruin my outfit I have a folding cart/dolly that I can put my bag on.

Thank all of you ladies for replying. I really appreciate hearing about how you deal "fashionably" with some of the challenges that your conditions cause. It is great to know I am not the only one dealing with chronic illness and trying to look my best. Thank you all!

I'm dealing with bre@st cancer. Just yesterday I had my 11th round of Chemotherapy which means I've been taking Chemo every three weeks since December.

I've gained 30 pounds since December and of course lost my hair - including eyebrows and eyelashes.

The weight increase is a struggle for me. I have taken Stacy and Clinton's advice to heart and 'dress the body I have' but that body changes about every 6 weeks - to the larger! I'll admit to buying the odd elastic waist skirt now (but I try to conceal the elastic with an untucked top with a belt or simply adding a belt over the elastic - see the WIWT thread - I just posted what I wore today and it had a 'gasp' elastic waist).
I'm also buying clothes at a lower price point because I know I'll only be wearing them about six weeks. Once my weight stabilizes, I'll focus more on getting the perfect fit from each garment once again.

I do take more time to get ready in the morning. Getting the eyebrows drawn on and the false eyelashes on still takes some fiddling but I persevere!! I WILL NOT! leave for work without full make up and a wig and a decent looking outfit. If it takes me until 11am to get ready for the day then it takes until 11am! The morning is the only time of day I cut myself some slack. Other than that, I carry on as usual - maybe slower moving due to the effects of treatment but nothing really noticeable plus I'm a natural night owl so don't exactly pack it in at 10pm! (Thankfully, I own my business so if I'm 'late', it's forgiveable!)

R006, I too am glad to see you refuse to give up. It takes trial and error to find what will work for your specific condition but don't let yourself get defeated. What will work for you is out there, you just have to find it!

Maybe dresses would be a better solution if the waist band in your pants become too binding throughout the day. If you are wearing a top that covers the band of your pants, I see no problem with elastic waists. To make your current jeans work, would something like this maternity belt provide some relief?
http://www.target.com/Belly-Be...ernity%20belt&page=1
Zee, you have such a great attitude, and you have looked so wonderful no one would ever guess what you are going through. I'm praying for your recovery!

quote:

Originally posted by zebra1:
I'm dealing with bre@st cancer. Just yesterday I had my 11th round of Chemotherapy which means I've been taking Chemo every three weeks since December.

I've gained 30 pounds since December and of course lost my hair - including eyebrows and eyelashes.

CARRRAP!
Zebra, that is seriously rotten!
Unless you're really deft at applying false lashes and/or just love the way they look, you might try one of the eyelash growth serums currently on the market. I've been using Revitalash for a couple of years now, and it really does work.
I didn't lose my lashes; they're just naturally mediocre, and I wanted to see if they could be improved to the point where I could wear fewer coats of mascara.
That has happened; my lashes are longer, thicker and darker now, though they're still not spectacular. You might be able to regrow yours at least to the point where a few flicks of a good mascara could stand in for the false lashes,for daytime anyhow, making your life at least a little less complicated.
Revitalash is pretty expensive, about $150 for a tube that lasts from three to six months, but you can find (read the fine print)new, factory-sealed tubes on eBay for substantially less.
And you must be certain to apply it every night, or you won't get or maintain your results.
I wish you the best; you'll be in my thoughts and prayers.

Ah, good thread. I had nerve damage to my right leg when I was a kid and the muscles in that leg have weakened and atrophied, causing my right leg to be noticeably thinner than my left. So shorts and short skirts are out of the question. I might be able to cheat up to about mid-calf without looking too weird, but no shorter than that. I also can't walk in high heels - a one-inch wedge is about the best I can do. You can imagine where that leaves me with most of Stacy's fashion advice!

Oh well. It could be a lot worse, and I've come up with some creative solutions over the years. For instance I have an ankle-length skirt that falls in filmy layers of different lengths, giving me just enough coverage while still appearing fun and flirty. And of course I go for broke on my top half to compensate, heh.

Anyway, What Not To Wear may not address the specific issues some of us have, but it does show us that our less attractive attributes can be camouflaged in cute, creative ways.

I'm with Shoediva re: dresses. Dresses are much more forgiving than skirts or pants, IMO. You could try empire waist dresses, shifts and sheaths as well as wrap dresses. Have you tried pants or skirts that fit slightly below your waist? I find those to work better since I hit the magic postmenopausal middle years. When looking for shoes, try Clarks. Some of their flats have a fair amount of support and lots of the have room to possibly add supportive insoles.

I see your concerns include pooling blood. I've had circulation problems since about the 7th month of my pregnancy (and my son is going on 3). I am much more comfortable in over-the-knee and thigh-high socks (not stockings). They come in soft bamboo fabric and take the ache out of my legs as soon as they go on and I feel just as good when I get home. I can't sleep in them because they're meant to off-set gravity, so when you lay down in them, you stop the blood from getting to your legs. I know you said this happens in your abdomen not your legs, but there might be a garnment for that.

My ex-beau had kidney disease and had to have 6 pairs of shoes because his feet changed size so drastically through the course of the day, so I can imagine that is a real drag.

Good luck.

I had major frustration with my outfit yesterday. It seems to me that the curvature of my back is worsening, making my back length shorter than my front length. I've noticed it in tops, having a couple inches of bunched material but the dress I was wearing yesterday just made me want to cry. It was above my knees in front and below my knees in back, and the side seam did not hang straight. I'm trying to sit with "neutral spine" for several minutes every day as well as working on abdominal and back strength but it doesn't seem to be working. I don't know what to do. My family thinks I'm "fine" and it's all in my head but I know it's not. I could even bring out my old side profile pic and compare it to the current one and see that my angles are different. I don't think I have a side xray only facing forward showing the scoliosis (corrected now).

Sorry...End vent!

AJ, are you under a doctor's care for your back condition? I had surgery to correct for my scoliosis, so my spine is pretty much immobilized and can't worsen, but I've read a lot about physical therapy/yoga helping with mild curvatures. Are you doing the exercises on your own or under the guidance of a PT? If it's affecting how your clothes fit, you may need to have your back evaluated.

I too have a pretty much permanent swayback (posterior lordosis) from my scoliosis. It's not really that noticeable from the front, but it is from the side. I don't really wear skirts/dresses, so I'm not sure how noticeable it is under those circumstances.

Hi Elly, I see a chiropractor regularly. After my annual evaluation my scoliosis had been almost completely corrected. My neck still has a reverse curvature and I feel like we've never dealt with the front to back curvature (lordosis) - at least it's never been measured the way the scoliosis was. Why did I never have a side xray? grr. I will be bringing up my concern when I see him this week. I do not see a physical therapist, so the exercise is on my own. My chiro does recommend yoga though, and had said about my previous complaints that I should work on strengthening my abs. We shall see how things go Thursday.

I just watched a TV program that featured fashions from Izzy Camilleri, who designs "adaptable" clothing for people with mobility challenges. No idea what the cost of these clothes would be or where to buy them, but I thought it might give some of you ideas of how clothes can be adapted by a seamstress.

Here is the website for her wheelchair-friendly clothing:
http://www.izzycamilleri.com/a...eclothing/index.html


And here is a link to the show segment that I watched:
http://www.cityline.ca/video/?...01&bctid=32639504001

While I don't have exactly you same problem, I do understand tummy issues. I have to take shots that leave painful bruising and often have tummy swelling. I do buy clothes that have give and I do wear synthetic materials but I try to compensate with the over all look (I'm sure Stacey and clinton would have a heartattack at all the polyester in my closet, but I do not buy things that "look" polyester). I have found alot of stores recently that are carrying a knit blend that holds it's shape very well. They don't look like they are elastic banded waist but they are. They are structured in appearance but "give" alot. They are the most comfortable pants I have ever owned and they look great!

My sister who has the same problem as I do, swears by dresses and skirts. She very rarely wears pants or shorts because they aren't comfortable around her tummy. She tends to wear higher waisted tops and dresses so that the pressure won't be on the belly.

quote:

Originally posted by fionnah:


She tends to wear higher waisted tops and dresses so that the pressure won't be on the belly.

Yeah; the empire waisted top is hugely popular these days, and might be worth a try for those coping with abdominal swelling and/or pain.
I don't have pain or swelling, thank God, but I'm in a wheelchair whose design makes me sit in a position that makes my stomach look its largest.
I do have a nice "rack (not too big or too small)," so I favor tops that fit in that area but then float away from the abdomen. I also like to wear jewelry that helps direct the focus away from my abdomen, upward to the more attractive areas, particularly my face.

fionnah, what brand(s) of pants are these that are so comfortable? Please share

The ones I have are Lane Bryant's brand but for those who are smaller I have seen them at most major department stores such as JC Penney and Dillards. I know they are available in several different brand names but, at least around this area they tend to be gone quickly after they are put out.

WOW! I was really excited to see how much this thread has grown. I had to go out of town to visit an aunt in the hospital. There seems to be a lot of great advice here for me and also so good discussions among you ladies. THANK YOU SO MUCH! (Squealing with joy, not screaming!) I guess I will just rejoin the discussion now. CNo64, a belt is a good idea, and one I should revisit. I have one on order that I can try with a pair of jeans. I don't think it will probably be a hit, just because that is a lot of extra "hard stuff" setting or pushing on my tummy when I am sitting down. Shoediva and Anners, I think you both are right. I am going to have to start wearing more skirts and dresses. I have a couple of each right now, and they are VERY comfortable, but at the moment I can't wear them because I can't wear them with running shoes and have no shirts to wear with the skirts. They require more planning, more watching the weather, shaving my legs (which develop eczema if I nick them). So much more work than my jeans and t-shirts. I am just not used to it, because I used to live in the high country where I always had to be ready to walk across a field in the snow, so I was a jeans and boots girl. As far as the maternity belt, the idea is a good one. I have three pair of great jeans I can't fit in. However, they fit in the waist. I really am not swelling greatly throughout the day in my tummy, just a little, but my belly gets very tender to a normally fitting pants-waist from internal swelling. And the swelling I am getting is mostly affecting pants when I sit in them. I can barely keep them on when I am up and walking, and then sitting (with blood pooling) it is tight and hurts. Anners, I am definitely looking for below the waist pants. On me, an at the waist pant hit on my ribs, mid rise is at my natural waist, and a low to super low rise sits clear of the "exposure danger zone" but doesn't swallow my whole body. I must be short waisted, because I am otherwise 5'8" and wear a 35" inseam with flat shoes. My mother loves clarks, but they don't have enough arch for me. They are too wide to wear but not quite enough to add my supports. Thanks though! I have that problem with a lot of comfort shoes because I have an extremely high arch but a regular to narrow foot. Lipphysicist, do you have a name for your condition? I was just wondering because blood pooling in the legs is common for people with my condition too, I just don't have it, probably because my legs are really muscular. What brand are your socks? I have never heard of socks, only the hose, and the bamboo sounds much nicer. Fionnah, I have a polyester skirt that doesn't look cheap that I love for that reason. I don't think I could do a pair of pants or a dress though, becuase I already have problems with excess sweating and anything more that a small percentage of spandex in my pants and shirts can make me into a waterfall. Thank all of you ladies for your help! I guess I need to find some shoes and shirts to wear with my skirts and dresses. I just really wish I could find a pair of jeans or two and maybe a pair of light cargo pants that I could wear. I had a pair I loved, and could wear, because they were baggy, but the fabric was so light they didn't fall down all the time. I wore them out in the butt and now it seems they are less in style and harder to find. Maybe I should try leggings?

This is the former CNo64, who is now aka CNo713:
I don't know if this qualifies as a "tip," but here goes:
Since I have the use of only one hand, applying makeup is rather difficult and time-consuming for me (Not that for a moment I don't still do it!).
To spare myself at least a little fumbling when I'm getting ready in the morning, I do a little advance preparation.
I get out all of the products/brushes I'm going to use the next day, and ever so slightly loosen any screw-top containers, except in cases where there's potential for real disaster, such as the loss of a significant amount of a limited-edition MAC pigment, for example.
I also make sure that any flip-top compacts are closed only very lightly. Since these generally contain pressed-powder products, there's not much danger to the product if the container's not snapped tightly closed for a few hours.
I've even thought about employing palettes, like Carmindy uses, but that would take up SO much space on my small work area.

quote:

Originally posted by Amethyst_Jean:
I had major frustration with my outfit yesterday. It seems to me that the curvature of my back is worsening, making my back length shorter than my front length. I've noticed it in tops, having a couple inches of bunched material but the dress I was wearing yesterday just made me want to cry. It was above my knees in front and below my knees in back, and the side seam did not hang straight. I'm trying to sit with "neutral spine" for several minutes every day as well as working on abdominal and back strength but it doesn't seem to be working. I don't know what to do. My family thinks I'm "fine" and it's all in my head but I know it's not. I could even bring out my old side profile pic and compare it to the current one and see that my angles are different. I don't think I have a side xray only facing forward showing the scoliosis (corrected now).

Sorry...End vent!

Amethyst, if it's any consolation, that is one seriously cute dress, and you wear it well!
Not too many have the frame to allow for the successful wear of thin straps like that.
Applause to you for staying fashionable in spite of health "issues!"