What story could mask a long absence from the workforce?

I developed a serious health problem and had to stop working. It took me several years to fully recover and now I need to get back to work. But employers are suspicious of somone who hasn’t worked for so long. And because of the nature of my health problem I can’t be honest about the real reason I’ve been out of work. Besides, no one wants to hire someone who has a history of health problems that could cause them to have to quit their job again in the future. The ethics of this situation are very academic for me at this point because I may be in a very serious financial situation soon. And I have a family to support. So I am considering what story I could make up for the years I have not been working even though I hate to lie and am usually not very good at it. I realize that most people here have the luxury to suggest that lying is not the appropriate thing to do. But I really think if you were in my situation you would not think that way. My situation has changed my outlook on this a lot. If you could look beyond your ethical problems with this, I would appreciate if you could suggest a story that would believably account for why I have not been working.