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The new strategy . . . kind of backfired on me!

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Posted 5/19/2009 4:45 AM (GMT 0)
So this new approach: I am going to be in pain anyway, so I might as well do what I want to do . . . didn't quite work out like I had hoped.   sad    Oh well, live and learn.  I live on an acre and it always needs work.  I pulled a huge amount of weeds, cleaned up the torn down duck and chicken pen, rototilled the old pen, transplanted a lot of plants from pots to the ground or to bigger plants, cleaned up a huge overgrown morning glory, and mowed a 3,000 sf patch of foxtails that hubby had killed for me and more things.  Did this over several days, in addition to my regular responsibilities. 

Now I am experiencing more pain, less stamina, less endurance, more edema (if that is related), less sleep. For example, today I went to the grocery store and got a few things and could barely walk by the time I was done and had to lie down for an hour. 

There is something to this pacing yourself approach!  My mother said I always had to learn things the hard way.   eyes     

Sue

Posted 5/19/2009 4:49 AM (GMT 0)
OK, I need a nap just reading about all that you accomplished.

It took me years and years to learn how to pace myself and just when I get the hang of it, everything changes.
Posted 5/19/2009 4:50 AM (GMT 0)
I am with you, girlfriend! I helped haul and stack more than a cord of firewood on Sunday and OMG I have been miserable today. Now, it's nothing compared to what you did but this old lady is miserable. I most often go by the same theory as you do and will most likely do it again...probably sooner than later... <sigh>

Chutzie
Posted 5/19/2009 5:59 AM (GMT 0)
Jeez, I'm exhausted and in pain just trying to fathom what the two of you did!!! I, too, often overdo on good days and sometimes not so good days. And I pay dearly for it and swear I'll never do it again! ....till next time.... But I am really working on my attitude and stubborn disposition, and I actually behave once in a while now. LOL...
Shash
Posted 5/19/2009 6:12 AM (GMT 0)
See, i told you I knew I could not do that. But nooooo, everybody said they pushed through no matter what. I was feeling like a real whimp when I admitted I could not do it.

Oh well, I guess I am in the club again.

Umm, teenage boys would be exhausted doing what you did on your acre. Get some rest.

Donnaeil
lol lol lol lol
Posted 5/19/2009 1:18 PM (GMT 0)

Me and my big mouth too!  The hubby has been so over worked and we have had so much rain here that mowing the lawn has been impossible.  So, with a slight break in the so called 'good weather' we rushed out and mowed yesterday.  It was  only fifty degrees.  We are on almost an acre too...but OMG...where are my legs today?  And right arm?  I had come to the conclusion that I will hurt no matter what I do so why not help out?  Owie and double Owie.

Huggies

Donna

Posted 5/19/2009 1:44 PM (GMT 0)

I'm with all of you! Overdid it with finishing spring clean-up out in the yard and watching GD's, and family festivities the last couple of weeks and boy did my body let me know it! Sunday- the bad fatigue hit along with the pain. I am behaving now!

Jill

Posted 5/19/2009 1:59 PM (GMT 0)
I feel like a wimp, all I got did yesterday was vacuum and mop all the hard surface floors in the house and was hurting and exhausted.

 

Ken mowed Sun morning and where there are some low spots I could see water spraying out of the mower. Central Illinois has turned into a swamp again.

 

It was a good theory Sue but we still have to pace ourselves as you have learned the hard way. We can't just decide one day to go back to the people we were before fibro, our bodies don't react the same now. I think we all have to find that point where we can push to but not go over or we will pay for it.

 

luv and hugs

Marlee

 

 

 

 

Posted 5/19/2009 3:09 PM (GMT 0)
Look on the bright side. The work is now done and you can sit back and enjoy it..LOL

I did the same thing. over worked myself, but my garden is planted. Yesterday I was so stiff.
Posted 5/19/2009 3:28 PM (GMT 0)
Sue, when I'm hurting I still prefer to get something accomplished. I'm hurting anyway so what the heck difference does it make? When I'm at my worse I feel better overall when I have something productive to work on instead of just focusing on the pain or stress. And with fibro it's very possible that you would be feeling this bad if you did nothing but sit on the couch. I am sorry that you are hurting right now but you got so much done I think you should be proud of yourself. I think we do need to work to the best of our abilities to get stuff done instead of allowing the pain to completely consume our lives. That's a bad road to go down. This fibro thing is as much mental attitude as physical. I do hope that you continue to "work through the pain." You know now that you can do it but maybe need to take it a little bit slower.   Lisa
Posted 5/19/2009 3:39 PM (GMT 0)
Fibro has inhabited my body for over 20 years and you think I'd have learned by now but nooooo. When I have a good day I take advantage of every single second, doing laundry, washing floors, taking a long walk, changing linens and the next day, I ALWAYS pay for it. Will I ever learn???
Miriam
Posted 5/19/2009 5:08 PM (GMT 0)
Sue, I think I may be glad I don't have any good days. I always look ahead when I have to do a lot of things, vacation, etc. and plan on a week or so to recover. If I don't think it's worth a week of recovery I don't do whatever it is. Diane
Posted 5/19/2009 6:48 PM (GMT 0)
Marlee making note to self to practice what you preach. I heard voices in the garage this morning and looked to see my DH had brought 4 young employees home to move some things in the garage for him. I seized the opportunity to finally get a couple of things moved in the house. At first DH said "we don't have time we will get it done another time". I gave him the evil eye as if to say, "I hope the backseat of your truck is comfy cause that is where your about to sleep tonight", and suddenly they had the time. I had them move a recliner out of our bedroom to the family room and move the TV stand to another wall, been trying to get this done for 6 mos. So of course as soon as they left I started rearranging furniture, hard surface floor so wouldn't take much effort to move loveseat, couch, tables everything but the TV. Plus I emptied a cabinet that I want taken down. OMG, my back and shoulders hurt so bad the muscles feel like they are burning. I picked Tiquey up outside and almost dropped her my hands wouldn't work right. I would have never forgiven myself if I had dropped her on the concrete.

 

I should have waited til DH got home to move the stuff shakehead Needless to say I'm done for the day, probably the week.

 

luv and hugs

Marlee

Posted 5/19/2009 9:53 PM (GMT 0)

Yep, pacing (doing some work, then taking a break) is much better than forcing myself to work like a fiend all day long.  with pacing, we can get stuff done without as much pain.  Now I am trying to rest some in the middle of the day because our vacation is coming up on Saturday and I want to have the energy for that.   My veggie garden is growing happily in the old duck/chicken pen.  Who knows, maybe there will be something ready to harvest when we return.  that will help make the work more worthwhile!

Sue

Posted 5/20/2009 10:27 PM (GMT 0)
Wow!!! I don't think I could have done all that....well maybe in a week or two. LOL. I am the  same way; when I feel good I try to get everything done that I can then I pay dearly the next day. Sometimes I even hit that brick wall while I'm working and the task has to wait.

Since I deal with constant pain every day I feel like I work through it but there come a point when my body says "no more". I have found that pacing helps the best but of course like the rest of us can be hard headed.

Take care!

Posted 5/21/2009 9:58 PM (GMT 0)
spring flowers,
welcome to the forum. Are you a gardening person? I wish I could work in the garden/yard all day long.

Yes, I am hard headed too!
Sue
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