Stress and pain increase

Hi Patsie...I think that all of us on the forum would agree that stress certainly increases our pain level.  I know it does for me.  I used to love company but now I dread it.  It has been my turn for bridge for over a month.  Thankfully, the weather has been so horrible it has been cancelled.  Thankfully for bad weather??? Isn't that pitiful???

The hubby isn't the slightest bit embarrassed of how our house looks when I'm in a flare and will invite people to 'stop in' on their way home from work etc.  We don't live like pigs but I have two dogs and like to get the hair up before someone 'pops' in.

You aren't weak emotionally.  You are just in pain.  We are having some friends over for the super bowl also.  I am not going to worry about it.  I think our perceptions of what close friends expect from us are over-thought which only adds to the pain.

Go cardinals???

Huggies

donna

Awww Patsie Girl!!!  I know the feeling WAY too well.  Yes - Yes - Yes, stress always causes me increased pain.  I would be exactly like you are right now.  Geez, I like to see my friends, just  wish it didn't have to be such a PIA (pain in the *** & and every where else in my body) to have them over.  Do you have a deal with the friends to bring a dish??  That always helps me.  I don't have company very often in the winter, our house is very small, and I don't feel like cleaning top to bottom for them.   But I do like to have folks over in the summer, big back yard and very little cleaning needed.  (It would take a "normal person" 1/2 a day to clean this place.. it takes me about a week, because of pain and fatigue)

Anyway, I hope you can take it easy and enjoy your friends & the Super Bowl. ... hehehe, glad you didn't invite me, cause I can't stay interested or awake till half time !! (Not a big sports fan) 

Warm hugs,

Patsie, stress most definitely will cause pain with in turn causes more stress that causes more pain.  You will learn how to pace yourself. 

 

I had company last weekend and started getting the house ready a week and a half before they were to come!  I make lists as to what I will do each day...that I know won't cause me pain.  By doing it like this, it is pretty "stressless".  I keep on the schedule and have everything done and still have energy to enjoy myself.

 

Sherrine

I used to have get togethers at my house quite often yrs ago. I also would host Super Bowl parties at my house. Work all wk, clean each night after work, cook like crazy on Friday night and all day Saturday. Have ppl come early, stay late on Sunday, clean up the mess ( I was the dishwasher) b/f I could go to bed that night and get everything ready for me to go back to work early Mon morning. What the heck was I thinking, I don't even like football. Finally, I realized it was too much for me and I couldn't do it anymore. Several ppl called in mid-January to find out what time they should come over. I said I wasn't doing that anymore, I was greeted by stunned silence. They thought it was a joke!! Kept asking what time. I said I just couldn't do it anymore, too draining. I haven't been invited to anyone's S B party in the yrs that followed. My DH really doesn't follow football too much, loves the Giants, but couldn't tell you anyone on the team - WHAT?

I have brought the party thing down to Christmas Eve. I make dinner for my family, my DM, my sister and her children. We have them over but they never get here on time, usually several hrs after dinner is served. I'm not trying to be rude, but my DH and I need to eat  by a certain time, due to medical conditions, my children couldn't hold out that long - I would have to start throwing them raw meat.lol

I did it for many yrs, I will continue to do Christmas Eve for as long as I can, maybe catered from this wonderful Italian place or the like, but I'm thru w/ all that stuff. I just end up paying for it for wks after.

Marlee, doesn't your DIL have a home to use for the baby shower? I think that would be a great place for the party, or a friend's house. Did she drop from another planet, unaware of the health issues you and Ken are having? You should be going to the party as the grandmother/great grandmother guest, not as the maid in charge.   

God bless.  Alice.

I know what you mean, Patsy. Lately I feel as if I'm in a constant flare because my stress level is so high. This seems to have made me a bit antisocial. I have days when I just don't want to deal with the other people in my life for fear that they'll need me for something. I know this may seem selfish, but sometimes I just need to be left alone to deal with myself. As for routine, I have as much of a routine as a scatterbrained artist can have; but it is a necessary one. During the summer when I am not working, I do not flare as often and I seem to want to be more social. It is very hard for me to not get stressed out because I am a very high strung person to begin with and I cannot deal with change or disappointment very well. I can remember when I was in High School, I would get fever blisters every time there was a stressful event in my life. Even if it was something exciting like prom or graduation. Isn't it interesting how stress affects us? I'm trying to figure out ways to just chill and let life happen instead of trying to control it all. I think the control issue is a major factor in my stress. As far as entertaining goes, I love to throw parties but I do not dare invite people over now unless it is absolutely necessary. My kid's birthday parties have always been unique in theme and very elaborate for someone of my limited means. I even made the cakes up until the dreaded car accident that broke my hand (and the series of pains that came after). This was fine because I found a family friend that makes amazing cakes and gives me a discount. Thank You Fibro for getting me out of cake making for the rest of my life! I am finding now that I have to edit a little more. We always have food left over so I try to fix fewer options and focus on easy recipes that I can make a lot of. Also, since they have summer birthdays, I am usually feeling better anyway. It is very easy to get worked up about all of the extra's but I have to remind myself that with kids as long as there's cake they're happy! I guess the same goes for adults except maybe put beer and chips in the place of the cake...or not!

Hi Marlee,

You have such a good outlook!!! I love to read things from you.

I made it through the party and it turned out very well. Everyone pitched in and left the house just sparkling. They know I'm a fuss and really helped me. So much food leftover I feel guilty.

It is raining and dreary here today so I am just cuddled in starting a new book. My pain level is incredibly low for all the work I've done :):):)

Take care all,

Patsie