Well last year I was so depressed that I played Scrooge and didn't do any decorating or buy a single Christmas gift. I didn't have money because of no job or money coming in and I just didn't feel like getting out and fighting the crowds.
This year I am still broke but I have made some psychological changes in my life. I still hurt all the time but I am learning to manage it. Yesterday I over did it quite a bit because I worked diligently most of the day putting lights on a bush in the front yard and putting out the air Snowman and tree in the front yard. I also spray painted 3 graduating sized grapevine wreathes to make Snowman hanging for the front door. I think it will be cute when I get it done...and relatively inexpensive. I used to be able to do so much more then spending a day on so little but I was happy with what I accomplished yesterday. It is all in the perspective isn't it!
I also am giving some Christmas gifts this year but they are gifts that I made with my own two hands. The grand babies are getting store bought toys but my children and their spouses will be getting a home made gift and a little check because I STILL can't handle shopping or being out in crowds. I become very agitated and my body starts to ache and hurt all over then I get headaches and my muscles stiffen up and I am done for the day...Not worth it for me. If anyone has a complaint then I guess next year I will go back to nothing for Christmas except a lump of coal that I can order online!
I love the holidays...always have. I love the memories of my childhood, the memories of what we did with our children. I hear from my children now that it wasn't the toys and gifts that they remember now but the times we made cookies and sang Christmas songs and did things as a family.
I am not stressing about Christmas cause I want to enjoy the holiday and conserving myself is the way to make it happen. I am glad in someways that this disorder has forced me to review my priorities and make what is really important the most important thing in the holiday...My family!
Hope everyone reading this post has a very Happy Holiday and/or a very Merry Christmas!
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Interesting read!
I received an email today from Blain Skrainka at Everyday Health asking me to share this link. I read the article and was surprised to read that these are strange and unusual symptoms of FM. I have them all. How about you are you blessed with these symptoms?
1. sensitivity to touch-there are days I can't stand anyone/thing to touch me and I constantly fight tight clothes, underwear, and shoes now days.
2. stimulation overload to smells, light, noise-one of the best things the doctor did was to start me on Requip of my leg spasms cause it also helped tone down my reaction to perfumes and light sensitivity.
3. fibrofog
4. tingling or numbness-legs, hands, feet, arms, random spots on my body!!
5. lipomas-got a big one on my r arm and another on my abdomen...
6. sweating-doctor started me back on estrogen cause we thought it was due to hormones but at 60 I don't really think so especially since it didn't stop the night sweats! Sometimes I flush for no reason too and I think that is caused by the same issue.
Click the link and read the article. Interesting read!!
Hi
Fibromyalgia affects millions of Americans, from pain and exhaustion to other lesser-known symptoms. Everyday Health encourages you to share this content piece with your readers. If you are able to make a post or provide a link to your readers, we would love to give you a Twitter Follow Friday shout out!
6 Strange Signs of Fibromyalgia
http://www.everydayhealth.com/fibromyalgia/strange-signs-of-fibromyalgia.aspx
Happy Holidays,
Blaine
Blaine Skrainka
Outreach Director
Everyday Health
blaine@everydayhealth.com
345 Hudson Street, 16th Floor
New York, New York 10014
1. sensitivity to touch-there are days I can't stand anyone/thing to touch me and I constantly fight tight clothes, underwear, and shoes now days.
2. stimulation overload to smells, light, noise-one of the best things the doctor did was to start me on Requip of my leg spasms cause it also helped tone down my reaction to perfumes and light sensitivity.
3. fibrofog
4. tingling or numbness-legs, hands, feet, arms, random spots on my body!!
5. lipomas-got a big one on my r arm and another on my abdomen...
6. sweating-doctor started me back on estrogen cause we thought it was due to hormones but at 60 I don't really think so especially since it didn't stop the night sweats! Sometimes I flush for no reason too and I think that is caused by the same issue.
Click the link and read the article. Interesting read!!
Hi
Fibromyalgia affects millions of Americans, from pain and exhaustion to other lesser-known symptoms. Everyday Health encourages you to share this content piece with your readers. If you are able to make a post or provide a link to your readers, we would love to give you a Twitter Follow Friday shout out!
6 Strange Signs of Fibromyalgia
http://www.everydayhealth.com/fibromyalgia/strange-signs-of-fibromyalgia.aspx
Happy Holidays,
Blaine
Blaine Skrainka
Outreach Director
Everyday Health
blaine@everydayhealth.com
345 Hudson Street, 16th Floor
New York, New York 10014
Don't believe everything you hear!! I am not dead!
JUST A JOKE!
I just haven't blogged in a long time because:
1. I took a couple of trips
1. to see my new granddaughter when she was born and 2. to Spain to sit in the sun and relax and chill out. With the onset of this cold weather I am wishing I was back in Spain in a major way!
I think I just got out of the habit of blogging!
Let me tell you about my travels with the Fibromyalgia and the ME/CFS. It wasn't bad!!
I was really anxious about both trips. The trip to Virginia Beach, Virginia is a 1400 mile, two day trip that frightened me more then the 12 hour flight to Spain. It wasn't bad because I really prepared myself both mentally and physically for the trips.
I made sure I got up and moved around and if the sitting was an issue I stopped and got out of the car and walked around or on the plane made a circuit of the seats. I drank a lot of water and kept hydrated. When I was tired I just stopped and slept. In the car, on the plane, in the hotels etc. I don't like pain pills cause I already have fibrofog and they just exacerbate the issue but these trips I made sure I took them at least every 6 hours when needed them for the arthritic and other pains. They don't really work well with the FM or ME/CFS pain but the Savella is contraindicated with a lot of non-narcotic pain meds because of increasing serotonin levels. Not a fun thing to do from what I have read. Another thing I did was take sleeping pills with me! Not a thing that I am happy with but everyone knows that sleep deprivation only exacerbates the disorders so I went prepared. A serendipity...in Spain I found a 4 ounce glass of red wine helped me sleep better then a sleeping pill. I also pushed myself and did a little more walking. I still had problems with the numbness in my toes and cold tingles in my legs but I did fine.
I guess what I am saying I didn't push myself too hard and I embraced the fact that I can't do things like I used to and did what I could. Everyone we were visiting knows I have the disorders and respects the fact that I can't do as I once did and didn't try to push the issue.
Don't give up on things you love to do, and I love to travel, just modify how you do them. There is no way I would take off on my own like I used to do because of the stress I get and the fear of getting lost because of the fibrofog but I can still go and do. Give it a try. I had a blast!
I just haven't blogged in a long time because:
1. I took a couple of trips
1. to see my new granddaughter when she was born and 2. to Spain to sit in the sun and relax and chill out. With the onset of this cold weather I am wishing I was back in Spain in a major way!
I think I just got out of the habit of blogging!
Let me tell you about my travels with the Fibromyalgia and the ME/CFS. It wasn't bad!!
I was really anxious about both trips. The trip to Virginia Beach, Virginia is a 1400 mile, two day trip that frightened me more then the 12 hour flight to Spain. It wasn't bad because I really prepared myself both mentally and physically for the trips.
I made sure I got up and moved around and if the sitting was an issue I stopped and got out of the car and walked around or on the plane made a circuit of the seats. I drank a lot of water and kept hydrated. When I was tired I just stopped and slept. In the car, on the plane, in the hotels etc. I don't like pain pills cause I already have fibrofog and they just exacerbate the issue but these trips I made sure I took them at least every 6 hours when needed them for the arthritic and other pains. They don't really work well with the FM or ME/CFS pain but the Savella is contraindicated with a lot of non-narcotic pain meds because of increasing serotonin levels. Not a fun thing to do from what I have read. Another thing I did was take sleeping pills with me! Not a thing that I am happy with but everyone knows that sleep deprivation only exacerbates the disorders so I went prepared. A serendipity...in Spain I found a 4 ounce glass of red wine helped me sleep better then a sleeping pill. I also pushed myself and did a little more walking. I still had problems with the numbness in my toes and cold tingles in my legs but I did fine.
I guess what I am saying I didn't push myself too hard and I embraced the fact that I can't do things like I used to and did what I could. Everyone we were visiting knows I have the disorders and respects the fact that I can't do as I once did and didn't try to push the issue.
Don't give up on things you love to do, and I love to travel, just modify how you do them. There is no way I would take off on my own like I used to do because of the stress I get and the fear of getting lost because of the fibrofog but I can still go and do. Give it a try. I had a blast!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)