Hi-
I too have severe chronic illness-lung disease, avascular necrosis, Adrenal failure, immune insufficiency, anorexia, and the list goes on.

I honestly feel that if i did not go to work I would surrender to illness and would probably die. My endocrinologist told me when I saw her earlier this month that when she met me in 2006 she did not think I would live the rest of the year. Her comment hit me like a brick. I never saw this in myself. I knew I was sick, and I am medically complex. But I cannot live my life as a "patient". I think that I would have just given up so many times if I didn't have something to live for-and for me that has been my career.

I joke and say that for me "my best prozac are the patients that I care for".

I have to admit that I cannot remember the last time that "i felt good". I just don't. I hurt all the time. I don't sleep. I can't breath. But you know what?-That all goes on if i lay on the couch on disability, or get out of the house and go to work.

I really feel that one cannot enable illness, or it will take them over.

Now, the thing that I am learning, is that while this is important, working 50 hours a week is defeating. So everything in moderation.

That is my two cents!

chloe