Chronically Complex: Living with Chronic & Invisible Illness

08/01/2026

I have found that wearing a device that measures my heart rate variability, calculates my energy expenditure, and helps me to identify variations/patterns in my symptoms has been such a valuable part of my journey!

I use the Visible band, my Apple Watch with Welltory premium, and my Oura ring.

What devices do you use?

Research: Wearable Heart Rate Variability Monitoring, Autonomic Dysfunction and Post-exertional Malaise in Long COVID: An Observational Study (Wüst et al, 2026)

Abstract

Objectives: Patients with long coronavirus disease (COVID) experience disabling fatigue, autonomic dysfunction, reduced exercise capacity and post-exertional malaise (PEM). Heart rate variability (HRV) can evaluate autonomic function and monitor overexertion, potentially helping to mitigate PEM. This study aimed to use continuous multi-day HRV recordings to monitor overexertion and study autonomic function in long COVID.

Conclusion: Heart rate variability, assessed by wearables, suggests autonomic dysfunction in patients with long COVID. The delayed recovery of the sympathovagal balance after exercise close to and above VT1, suggests that the risk of PEM rises above VT1.

Read more about the Methods and Results here:

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40279-026-02487-4

07/31/2026

I have been MIA for a while. I have found that trying to keep up with building content, reading and researching, and trying to comment and reply to everyone is tough to do on your own. Especially when you are struggling with multiple complex illnesses. I needed to prioritize my health and actively rest for a while.

So, what does that mean for you all? I will still create content 2-4 times a week, I will share research articles that I am following, share memes, quotes, and life stuff that has resonated with me. This page is about educating others, resonating with others, sharing ideas, treatments, building a community, and advocating for ourselves. I can't do any of that when I'm not taking care of myself.

Starting today, I will begin this new way of operating. I am a recovering people pleaser and a person that used to say yes to everything, so this has been an adjustment and I still can get caught up in it all.

Thanks,
Darcy Gillaspy

06/25/2026

Chronic illness doesn't just affect "other people." It affects our parents, grandparents, neighbors, friends—and one day, it may affect us.

More than 90% of adults ages 65 and older are living with at least one chronic health condition. Many are managing multiple conditions every single day while still showing up for the people they love.

Growing older doesn't automatically mean poor health, but it does remind us why compassion, accessibility, and support matter.

Behind every diagnosis is a person with a lifetime of memories, relationships, dreams, and wisdom. They deserve to be seen for who they are—not just the conditions they live with.

As our population ages, more families will become caregivers, advocates, and decision-makers. Learning about chronic illness today helps us better support the people we love tomorrow.

💚 Every diagnosis has a story.
💚 Every person deserves dignity.
💚 Every act of kindness can make a difference.

Have you cared for a parent, grandparent, spouse, or loved one with a chronic illness? What is something you wish more people understood about their experience?

06/22/2026

Among adults ages 35–64, more than 75% live with at least one chronic health condition.

Let that sink in for a moment.

Chronic illness is far more common than most people realize, yet many people still feel isolated, misunderstood, or invisible in their daily struggles.

Some conditions are easy to see.
Many are not.

Behind the smiles, work meetings, school events, grocery store trips, and social media posts are people managing pain, fatigue, brain fog, breathing difficulties, autoimmune diseases, mental health challenges, diabetes, heart conditions, and countless other health concerns.

If you're living with a chronic illness, you are not alone.

And if you love someone who is, your compassion matters more than you know.

At Chronically Complex, we believe awareness leads to understanding, understanding leads to empathy, and empathy helps create a world where people don't have to constantly prove they are sick enough to deserve support.

💚 Whether your condition is visible or invisible, your experience is real.
💚 Your limitations do not define your worth.
💚 You are not alone in this journey.

What chronic condition has impacted your life or the life of someone you love?

06/12/2026

Does anyone else feel like their life was "frozen" by chronic illness and others simply get to go on living their lives normally?

06/10/2026

💜 A reminder that chronic illness is often more complex than people realize.

Nearly 4 in 10 adults in the United States are living with two or more chronic health conditions.

For many, it's not just one diagnosis; it's a combination of symptoms, specialists, medications, limitations, and daily decisions that others may never see.

You never know what someone is carrying behind a smile.

💜

06/05/2026

An estimated 6 in 10 adults in the United States live with at least one chronic illness.

Many of these conditions are invisible, meaning the people living with them may look perfectly healthy on the outside while facing significant challenges behind the scenes.

Chronic illness is more common than most people realize, and chances are, someone you know is navigating it every day.

06/03/2026

💜 Many chronic illnesses are considered "invisible" because the symptoms often cannot be seen from the outside.

People may see someone smiling, attending an event, going to work, or spending time with family and assume they are doing well.

What they don't see is the pain.
The exhaustion.
The recovery time.
The limitations.
The countless decisions made to conserve energy.

Invisible does not mean imaginary.
Invisible does not mean insignificant.

If chronic illness were visible, I believe many people would have a much deeper understanding of the challenges millions of people navigate every day.

This is why awareness matters.
This is why compassion matters.
This is why understanding matters.

💬 What is something you wish people understood about invisible illness?

06/02/2026

After understanding how the respiratory system can become dysregulated, the next question is often: "What can I do to help?"

And the honest answer is: there usually isn't a quick fix.

It isn't about pushing harder.
It isn't about forcing your body to do more.
And it isn't about ignoring symptoms and hoping they'll go away.

For me, it has meant learning how to work with my body, instead of against it.

Pacing activities.
Taking breaks before I'm completely exhausted.
Paying attention to my breathing.
Creating environments that support my health.
Prioritizing rest and recovery.
Honoring my body's limits instead of constantly fighting them.

Some days that means doing less than I planned.
Some days it means choosing rest over productivity.
And sometimes it means accepting that recovery may take longer than I want it to.

Supporting the respiratory system isn't about fixing it overnight.
It's about creating conditions where the body feels less overwhelmed and more supported.

Small changes matter.
Consistency matters more than intensity.
Progress, not perfection.

👉 What has helped support your breathing or respiratory symptoms, even in small ways?

06/01/2026

Many people living with chronic illness know what it feels like when breathing becomes harder than it should be. But what many people don't realize is that there are often real physiological reasons behind it.

The respiratory system doesn't work alone.

It relies on the nervous system, cardiovascular system, muscles, immune system, and energy production systems; all working together.

When chronic illness affects one or more of those systems, it can create a ripple effect throughout the body.

Symptoms are often more than "just anxiety" or "being out of shape."

Many chronic illnesses involve complex interactions between body systems that affect how the body breathes, uses oxygen, and recovers.

This is one reason respiratory symptoms can feel so frustrating, exhausting, and unpredictable.