Helpful hints for living daily with fibromyalgia.

Hi all.....

I had an idea the other day and hope it will help us all. Let's start a list of the small things in our daily lives that we can do to make life easier and hopefully less painful. These aren't anything earthshaking, but can be ways to do a chore easier, shortcuts in cooking meals, or ways to interact with children and not raise your pain level.

My goal is to build a list of hints that we can eventually add to the Fibro 101 post. I'll start with a couple and then feel free to add ideas from your life that will help make other fibro friends live more easily and with less pain. I'll start with a couple and you'll see where we're going with this.

Daily Tips for Living Better with Fibromyalgia~~

1) Instead of scrubbing pots and pans that have food stuck on them I add hot water and a few drops of either dish soap or ammonia and top with a lid. Let sit over night and most often the stuck food comes off without hard scrubbing.

2) When peeling potatoes or preparing vegetables for supper, I put them on a tray along with a paper towel, knife or other utensil I need and a bowl. Then I sit in my recliner and get them ready for dinner. Keeps my neck and shoulders from hurting by standing over the kitchen sink or counter.

3) Another idea for soaking to lesses hard scrubbing. I pour bleach full strength into the toilets, let sit for an hour or over night then a quick brushing and you're done.

4) Use kitchen wipes with bleach to wipe the toilet seat and the remaining areas that need wiping/disinfecting. Especially helpful when potty training little ones, or even some big boys...lol...

5)



Let's see how long we can make the list...
Chutz

I forgot to mention:
8) Prep your meals throughout the day. Things like cooking up some ground beef or chopping fruits and veggies can be done any time the morning before you are going to use them in a recipe. You don't have to do it all at once.
9) Keep things that are easy/quick to make around. My freezer has healthy frozen meals so that if I really don't feel up to cooking, I can just pop something in the microwave. You can also cook a large pot of chili or soup or a huge batch of waffles or pancakes and freeze for later consumption.

13) Amuse your husband by using the shopping buggy as a kind of walker and yell at him when he tries to take it from you.

17) When you get groceries, have all your perishable things put into one or two bags. When you get home, then you only need to get those out of your car immediately. Then you can rest a while before you go back for the canned and bottled goods.

18) Get your clothes dryer elevated. Most manufacturer's sell stands that will do this. That way you don't have to bend over as far when you are taking clothes out of the dryer. It's a real back saver!

19) If you have to get dressed up to go somewhere, start very early. Get your shower, take a rest, do your hair, take a rest....

20) If you live in a home with multiple levels unless you need something urgently from another floor, start a list of things you need from another level before you go up or down.

21) For any one who has nerve damage and/or falls as frequently as I do... keep your cell phone clipped to your pants at all times. Since you're already paying a bill for it, no need to get one of those "Help I've fallen and can't get up" contraptions when the phone will do the same thing.

22) Vacuuming is the hardest chore on your body. If you have a multi level home, have a vacuum for each floor. This is one chore that definitely needs to be divided with rest periods between. Vacuum one room, rest, then do another.

17b) Or until you need them!

23) If you take over the counter medications for your pain... Aspirin and Advil (Ibuprofen) are better anti-inflammatories than Tylenol. Just make sure you are not taking any blood thinners or anything else that would be a problem. The best thing to do is ask your doc about them before you start, or a pharmacist. You should eat a couple crackers or something with them because they are harder on your stomach than Tylenol. I usually take 4 at a time (of the 200mg ones) about 3 times a day when I am really hurting. But ASK YOUR DOC about the recommended dose for you!!!

26) Don't be a hero - have hubby or a friend carry your laundry up and down the stairs. I've fallen twice in trying to do this myself.

(28) Prioritize and get the most urgent things done in the mornings while you still have energy.

 

(29) You don't have to shampoo your hair everyday. I put up with an itchy scalp for a long time before I realized it was from shampooing everyday so now I do it every couple of days.

 

(30) Get a cheap little adjustable office chair at Walmart to use when your cleaning things like baseboards or cleaning off tables so you don't have to bend over so much.

32) Before getting out of the shower, clean the stall with a squeegee; helps keep the shower clean and you get some gentle stretching exercise in.

Robin

Post Edited (crazykitty) : 10/14/2009 12:20:03 PM (GMT-6)

34) If you have difficulty with stairs and one leg is stronger than the other; use the good leg first when going up steps and put both feet on the same step. Going down, put the bad leg down first and then bring the good leg down to the same step. (Easy way to remember; good go to heaven - up; bad go to hell - down). If this doesn't help at all, use your butt to scoot up and down the stairs. You may feel a bit foolish doing that at first, but it sure beats a fall anyday!

35) Use gadgets to help make life easier when you don't feel strong: electric can openers, clamp-type jar openers, plastic clip on "handles" that help lift multiple grocery bags; easy electric choppers; etc. Helps me not rely on my BF so much and when he's not here.

36) Carry a wrap, a couple paper towels, and a bottle of water with you everywhere. A wrap for when you get cold, and paper towels and water to help any perspiring issues.

37) If you work, keep a wall calendar and a Monday-thru-Friday collection of shelves or baskets by the front door. Throughout the week, as you know you will need something for a certain day, write it down on the calendar and then out it in your daily basket. Saves a lot of running-around stress mornings.

38) Carry a small notebook and pen with you everywhere. That way when you think of something you won't have to wrack your brain trying to remember - just write it down.

39) When you're feeling good, run out to Costco, Sam's club, etc. and go grocery shopping in bulk. Get all your staples, toilet paper, paper towel, canned goods, pet food, etc. while you can and then you won't have to worry when you run low. Use your strength while it's there, then don't worry when it's not.

40) Laundry detergent and dishwashing soap can be broken down into smaller containers which aren't so heavy. I also cut my dish soap with water to make it last longer.

38a) Use post-it notes, stick them to anything.

43) I am new to this but I have found that a warm shower really helps my aches and pains. I just cant stay in the shower all day!! LOL