Fibromyalgia Community

I do 2 of them! What do I win?

Jim

Thank you Caprice! I really appreciate you posting this. It's very timely for me to help someone understand this part of me.

Of the 12 I do 8 on a daily basis: De-stress (and I would add De-Clutter), Jot it down, Me time, Work changes (I'll explain this one more), Talk about it, Saying NO (It may be a toddlers favorite word but it's never been mine but now I can say it with gusto!), Journal, Support Group.

I also sort of have the Sleep Sancutary but sometimes I fight my bed and my room. I have removed the tv and I keep my space clean and if I have more than two nights of bad sleep I change the sheets. For some reason, clean sheets relax me.

I know I need to exercise but that's as far as that goes. I hate, hate, hate walking and always have and there's no option for warm water exercise. I do yoga when I think about it

I don't soak either because I HATE our bathtub. It's narrow and shallow and there's really no point in wasting that much water.

But the one I will never conqueor is the caffiene. If it's good for me to give up then God better inspire the researchers to come up with a drug that has a similar effect

Now about the work changes. I have just decided I don't care what anyone else says I know my limits and I respect them and working in the "real" world everyday just ain't on my dance card anymore. To some that may be stressful but to me letting go of the notion that I "have" to be out there working to feel productive, alive or whatever has been the most liberating thing I have done. We're poorer than dirt! But I am happy and I don't have that stress of showing up to a job that I know I can't give my 1000% to. So instead I have put a lot of mental and spiritual energy into planning what I can do. God blessed me with the talent to write and so that's what I am going to do. I already have a client wanting me to take of his blog (he's a realtor) and a statewide newspaper wants me to do a recreation blog for them. I also am developing some ideas for a large project. None of these things will bring immediate rewards but I can't let that be my focus and so it isn't.

I've just decided that if God has given me this then He's already given me what I need to navigate through it and for the moments I get stuck He's there ready to help.

Thanks again for posting it!

Tanya

Caprice, of the 12 I probably do 8,

Its easier to tell you what I don't do than what I do.

I don't soak... the tub we have is deep and with out help I cannot get in or out.

I don't meditate... but If I am to stressed I will put on mozart,

I don't have work issues, and that is a blessing, I use to but I no longer work.

With the grand kids in the house there is suppose to be a time out area for grammy but seems like every time I take my time out in the bedroom one or the other or all of them will knock on the door

Ali

I counted Ten

Now don't ask me what they were.

Naw

I meditate almost daily(more like nightly but sometimes get some in during the day), exersize daily(walking to court, physical therapy and yoga), take me time by taking a long soak each night, our bedroom was redesigned to promote sleep(black out blinds, soothing colors and aromatherapy and low lights) and i have a therapist and i am on here and um thinking oh yeah. WOrk. Well That is still (pun intended) a work in progress!!!!

I do several of them, the problem is that I don't do them consistently. So, I am always back tracking.

I've really picked up the excercise. It took a loooong time but I'm doing an hour on the treadmill 5 days a week. This one thing has helped me more than I could have ever imagined. Yep, some days when I start out, my knee feels like it's broken or dislocated. Some times my back hurts. My hands feel weak. But after I've finished, I feel so much better!!! Please consider adding this to your self care program. Start at only 5 minutes and work your way up.

The next 5 years will pass. What do you want for yourself at the end of those 5 years? Me? I want mobility! I want vacations! I want to do more than just get through the day.

MrsGart (Fibro 14 years)

I have a full time stressful job in which I have no choice to work because my husband is out of work. 2 small children 3 and 6, one has mild autism. A large house - in which we will probably loose, a dog and a pool I keep up. When in the world do I have time to do these things? I do not have time to "soak", reducing my stress level is a joke, my son still does not like to sleep - so even getting 7-8 hrs of sleep at night is not feesible. If I take any "me" time, I feel as if I am neglecting time my children need because I work. The diet does absolutley no good and excersizing is a joke. I literally can not walk after I excersize, and get to the point I can not take care of my kids at night if I do.
Any advise for me?????????

I know this may sound cheesy, but forgive yourself. The emotional rollercoaster will keep you trapped to where you can do nothing. Allow the clothes to be on the floor. The kids will survive on chicken nuggets and corn dogs. And vegging on the couch watching Disney one more time with the kids is quality time.

I have a 5 year old and 3 1/2 year old. We do "movie night" in mom and dad's bed once a week or so. They watch a movie we have seen a hundred times and we rest (aka snooze a little) while cuddled up with the covers, two cuddlebugs, and a bucket of homemade popcorn. They LOVE it. Also we do squirrels nests (all their blankets, pillows, and baby dolls) next to our beds for bedtime every now and then. They are "spending" time with us. Another favorite. The laundry gets done on the weekends. The house stays a mess through the week, mostly because I make a point to go to bed shortly after the kids most nights. I have to in order to control my sleep habits and flare ups.

So forgive yourself, say it is ok, and tell people no. Clique, but worth it. Good luck. Boy do I understand....

Dear Caprice, hi there
I thank you very much for the informtionial quiz on things to do, I can do two out of 12 completely, two that I don't do, and eight that I can do but only half of tthe job. As of being disabled it is hard to follow through with most day duties, but I try my best at things.
I gave much credit for people with Fibromyalgia that try to do or could do.
God bless and have a great day
cane1

I would have an art day with all the grandkids and have them make you a "Do Not Disturb" sign. Explain to them just what that means, including what is a real emergency worthy of bothering you for. They can draw pictures on the sign to help them remember.

Tell them that in the future, you will not answer your door to a knock as long as the sign is up, and there is another big person in the house to look after them.

Next time you go for a time out, tell the other grown-up, put up the sign, lock your door, and do not answer it at all. The other adult can have a special knock to check on you if you feel that is necessary. It may take a time or two, but those grandkids will learn that you are entitled to some quiet time.

Take care, Annette

You're very welcome, Cane. Good to see you back on the board again.

I prob do at least 2 or 3 a day, more would be nice but too busy getting things done but not working due to other disabilities. DVD broke so yoga is out of question, too hot here in the heart of Texas, won't give up my 2 serving daily Pepsi's and a few others. I try to take a bath at least one day a week. My bedrooms has no tv nor puter so that is covered right there. I can adopt a few others for better control of my illnesses. This is a really good list to choose from to get as much in as possible. Thank you for sharing that with us.

1. I do try meditation,it calms me down.
2. fibro fog- even when I write lists down I either forget it completely or forget where I put the list.
3.exercise- i do stretches when ever possible, take extremely hot showers let the water hit my back & neck. Pools though make my legs cramp horriblely.
4.havent tried soaking in hot tub,
5. caffeine- i have to have soda, cant live without it, or i may hurt someone
6. Me Time?? Dont know how to get that.
7. work life better- i supose you can say its good, cause i lost my job due to too many absences
8.Talk about it- cant find anyone to acually listen to me, or even pretend to listen to me
9. just say no- i can do that
10.
11.journal-i have been keeping a journal when i can remember to write in it.
12.Support Group- this one i really need to check in my area for one, i think that would help me emotionally.
I am not trying to be a smart a-- , but i went through all these & really not that much help to me.

Good advice from the slide show. It's always good to have reminders of "what" we need to do.

I try to do most of the 12, but the stress one I think is the hardest. When stress hits, I start to breath shallow, then the pain starts in, way more than normal pain. Then my body is a locked up mess of pain, and it takes days to recover.

The one I have learned to be most beneficial: just say "NO" and I do! Just like going out tonight for New Years Eve, I said "NO"

Very helpful thanks........