Commuting with a chronic illness

Every morning this week I've questioned whether or not I should be going to work.

I've felt ill, but not bed-bound 11/10 awful, and so each morning I've showered, got dressed, applied as much concealer as humanly possible, and gone to work.

But should I have?

I've been speaking to colleagues more openly about my health recently - some don't get it, and I don't really blame them - if I appear happy, smiling, helpful Sarah, then how could I be unwell?

A few understand completely - they acknowledge my symptoms and the impact they have on me, and know if I'm having a tough time from something as simple as me drinking peppermint tea (to help with the nausea) instead my my usual morning tea or coffee.

But work is becoming increasingly difficult for me, and my motivation is starting to dip.

I've come to realise that my biggest hurdle is in fact my commute - I take a bus and two trains to get to work. I catch the early bus and wait on platforms for quieter trains, all in the hopes of getting a rare seat on my journey. I allow for extra time in case I need to get off a train half-way through my trip if I'm feeling particularly faint or nauseous.

I'd been doing this for years, and it was only recently suggested to me that I might have POTS - Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. I'm still awaiting tests for an official diagnosis, but after suffering with symptoms for as long as I can remember, and for years of being told by doctors that feeling nauseous and faint all-the-time was just 'normal', I now know that it's not.

To help with my struggles, I applied for Transport for London's 'Please Offer Me A Seat' badge. This badge is now used by 44,000 Londoners who, like me, have "invisible disabilities".

The badge is a way of telling those around you that you may be struggling, without having to use your hard-saved energy to actually tell them!


These little badges are such a great idea, and although I've unfortunately never been given a seat when wearing mine, I'm hoping that the scheme continues to grow (and that my fellow commuters start to take note!).

Anyone in need of a badge for themselves can apply for one here. 

There are also schemes in the West Midlands, Manchester and Edinburgh.

If you're aware of any similar schemes, or have any handy commuting tips then please share below!

Photo by Ryan Tang on Unsplash