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Posted 9/13/2010 1:54 AM (GMT 0)
Hi all, sorry to vent but I need to let it out.  I'm feeling horrible. The last 5 days have been pure pain. Tues. I REALLY wanted  to go out in my garden and do some pre-fall prep work.  cool So I did, and now I'm in tremendous pain.  Wed. I woke up at 2, 3:25 & then 4.  I took my pain meds and then grabbed my heat pack and layed down with my butt & feet up against the wall to stretch out my lower back.  As I layed there crying my 1 1/2 year old choc. lab, Maya, layed down next to me and (not kidding u) licked my tears away.  cry We then both fell asleep , with Maya resting her head on my shoulder.  What an angel she is. My husband and I truly believe she was sent from heaven to take care of us. So that one afternoon of pure bliss working in my garden has caused me 5 days of misery.  I knew I would pay for doing all that work but I didn't expect it to be this long.  shocked Anyone else take a while to recover?  Will I ever be able to normal chores without it costing me a weeks time to regroup? I could really use reassuring.

Thanks, Debbie

Post Edited (1flwrchild) : 9/12/2010 8:08:16 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/13/2010 2:17 AM (GMT 0)
Debbie,

I wish I could tell you yes, but it's not that simple. I usually don't have 5 really bad days in a row; but then, I don't try to be normal, either. I used to end up every night just as you described, well, flat on my back, knees bent, heat and/or ice, crying, husband and kids trying to make me feel better - my dogs were not quite as angelic as yours! :) This was before I was diagnosed and got on some meds, and realized that this was not going to go away. Now my really bad flares don't usually last longer than a day or two, at least extreme-pain-wise.

I was just thinking today, "listening to our bodies" doesn't really work for us. If we did that, we would a) not do anything when we felt tired and sore, which is pretty much all the time, and b) go ahead and make up for lost time, full-speed ahead, when we're feeling good....and either way, we end up paying. Seems that pacing is the only way. I used to LOVE gardening, too, but now there are many days when I have to get someone else to just move the stupid hose across the driveway for me. (Of course, there are days when I feel ok doing it, and it turns out - surprise! - I was wrong...shouldn't have.) It is VERY frustrating, when you love to work in the earth and make things grow, and yes, even clean up, and you can't. Having to be disconnected from an important part of life. It's hard!!

Anyway, I sure hope you feel better soon.

Debbie
Posted 9/13/2010 2:28 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Debbie. Wow, I can sure related to what you're saying. I have a small flower garden and after just 30 minutes of puttering in there, I can't stand up straight. My big issue is my crafting time. I am creating 3 different crafts that I'll sell at Christmas, and I already have orders starting to come in. I need to practice pacing myself.

I know that I am not very good about pacing. I tend to be a "get it done" person, and I hate waiting for action to be taken. You might be the same way, but pacing really is good for you. I find everything feels better if I've slept well the night before, and I usually have a better appetite. Hopefully you'll discover the same as you practice pacing yourself.

In regards to your job, could you approach your bosses and ask about part time work instead of full time? If you have a plan already worked out on how you would manage your workload, even better. Bosses may be sympathetic, but they also need solutions to problems, and if you already have solutions, then you've just become more valuable.

Good luck to you Debbie...I hope you start feeling better soon.

Hugs,
Pam
Posted 9/13/2010 2:44 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Debbie & Pam, It just feels good knowing that someone undestands how I'm feeling and doesn't question it like they don't understand me or don't believe me. Pam, I do have a tendency to go all out or not at all. I'm just learning the power of patience when it comes to this disease. Small interupted increments of doing things.
As far as work, I retired from hairstyling 2 yrs ago due to the pain & carpal tunnel. Didn't know at the time it was fibro or that I had RA too. Now trying to see if I can get any kind of disability. And yes, Debbie, if I listened to my body I don't know if I would get anything accomplished. :-0 I wonder, how long can a "FLARE" last? I feel like I've been in one since before I worked in the garden, like the last 2 weeks. hmmmm. Thank you for your input.
Hugs, Deb
Posted 9/13/2010 1:01 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Debbie,

I can sure relate. It is so easy to over do it. The best advice I can give you is to quit while you still feel good. Pace yourself. I know that it is hard, but it can be done. You get more of an even level and don't have the flares. There is not a determined length of time that a flare can last. I feel like when I first got fibro that I was in one for two years. Though I know I wasn't. It was just the beginning and I didn't know what was going on. That is the scariest. Your mind goes through all kinds of scenerios.

Keep haning in there. KNow that we do understand. Learn to pace yourself.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 9/13/2010 3:12 PM (GMT 0)
I'm so sorry you had a rough week. Fibro can be so unpredictable, and it is so easy to overdo it. Sometimes I will do a task and be fine, and others I will be in extreme pain afterward. I'm still trying to teach myself when to quit - before I've pushed myself to the point of severe pain. One of the problems is that often the pain doesn't show up until AFTER you've done the task, and then it is too late.

It's been really hard for me, too, to learn to pace myself or to even have to give up some things that I used to be able to do. We definitely DO understand around here.
I hope you are feeling better soon.


Soft hugs - Austen
Posted 9/13/2010 4:32 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, pace yourself.  I love to work in the yard but I know how long I can do it without causing a flare.  You will learn this too.  However long you spent, it obviously was too long.  Break things up in smaller "sections".  It will get done but not in the time frame you used to be able to do it.  Hope you feel better.

 

By the way, my dog licked my tears away when my husband passed on.  She is precious, too, and soooo special.  I'm glad you have your pup to be there for you.

 

Sherrine

Posted 9/14/2010 1:17 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks all, My motto now is "if you're ready, go slow & steady". I've also started using a timer when I do anything. So with whatever I might have on my mind to do, I set my timer for 15-20 min. and stop and rest for 15-20 and see how I feel. I know the pain doesn't hit me until later but I can get a feel for how I'm feeling at the time. Then I journal it so I can have something to refer back to. I'm hoping that over time I will see a pattern of"signs" that I need to pay attention too. It will be a long process but what else do I have to do with all this extra time on my hands. ;-)
Hugs, Deb
Posted 9/14/2010 9:44 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry you feel so bad. I hope that you feel better very soon. (((((gentle hug)))))
Posted 9/14/2010 10:06 PM (GMT 0)
Me too. And what a smart idea, all that journaling!

Debbie
Posted 9/14/2010 10:12 PM (GMT 0)
I hope you are feeling a bit better today. The timer and journaling is a great idea. I tend to think I have to hurry and get done b'cuz if I sat down I may not get back up again. That doesn't seem to work well for me either...lol. I love the journaling idea but I have so much pain in my hands it is hard to write. Typing is only done in limited doses too. I wish I understood the hand thing a little more...not sure if it is the fibro or what. Oh well...thanks for the great idea...maybe some day I can put it to good use.
Posted 9/14/2010 10:44 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Debbie, Welcome :) Gardening got you huh...it sure gets alot of us, There
are quite a few gardeners in this bunch, myself included. We have done posts
on the after effects of pulling weeds.

I do my housecleaning 15 minutes on 15 minutes rest also, it's the only way
I can do it. Hoping you are feeling better today!

Hugs, Robin
Posted 9/15/2010 9:22 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, I'm a gardening nut.  Of course right now it's still a little too hot to be out there in the middle of the day, so i have to do early am or late afternoon.  Which is hard cause early am I'm not always feeling well or limber.  And I too have alot of difficulty with my hands.  I can only write a few sentences before I have to rest. I do alot of shorthand. Typing is better but not for much longer.  The last few days have been really bad for me.  Not sure what's going on.  I haven't done anything to strain myself. My whole body is tight & sore, espc. my upper back.  My hands are REALLY bothering me.  Very stiff and the lump on my left wrist has gotten worse. I wish I could show you so u could see it.  Can I upload photos here?  hmmmm  Well, I hope everyone else is doing well. 

Stay positive, happy & healthy

Deb

 

Posted 9/16/2010 12:27 AM (GMT 0)
hi debbie,
im so sorry to hear how much youv been suffering. i can really understand what youv been going thro and isnt it just unbearable. its so hard to learn how we need to pace ourself each day.i still cant seem to do it but i am still learning, but i do find it very hard to do.
you seem to have a lovely dog so loving lucky you,id love to have a dog i am just a bit too scared incase i cant get it enough exercise.are you able to take you pup out for a walk ? or do you have someone else who can do it for you. this is a great place for fibro support iv think its great to find a place were everyone really can understand just how we feel.
i hope your starting to feel a little better and your pain goes down to a minimum.
best wishes
shana
Posted 9/16/2010 4:09 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks so much Shana,
Learning how to pace is definitely the key. Yes, I feel very blessed to have such a wonderful dog. She is the light of our life,(well, furry light of our life anyway). I am able to walk her, almost every day. Sometimes though it's literally just around the corner. Or I take her to the park and she runs around with the other dogs. I really feel that she has helped me to continue moving. Exercise is important with Fibro, so she motivates me to get going. I know my limits though, my husband will take her when I'm not feeling well. She really lifts my spirits when I'm down.
Yes, everyone here is awesome!! It's just so great that we can all compare and encourage each other from across the u.s. I've learned so much from all my friends here. I'm sure you will too.
Stay positive, happy & healthy,
Deb
Posted 9/16/2010 5:47 PM (GMT 0)
Sending you big hugs. :D
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