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Posted 4/28/2013 4:12 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone, hope you are all doing well. I haven't posted in along time becase there has been so much going on.

We finally moved away from Garnett ks to Lawrence ks and I have to say it is the best decision that I have made it along time.

We were living with my husbands dad to try and take care of him and needless to say, it became a miserable situation and only got worse.

We have lived in lawrence before and loved it, there is alot to offer here and we were able to move back to our old house that we had lived in years ago it was perfect timing I would say.

So since we have moved most things have improved. My stress levels have gone down as well as my husbands. we are all sleeping so much better. We are finally home!

I got a job working for Cascade Health services which send you out wherever you are needed. I do enjoy it quite a bit, but with everything going so well the one thing that hasn't and I would say has gotten much worse is my fibro.

I worked 4 days in a row last week had a day off and then worked 2 more days and it has taken 4 days just to recover. I have no Idea what I am going to have to do. The job that I have is mostly CNA work and there is alot of travel involved. It takes me an hour or more to get there and more than an hour to get back home.

I work day shifts weekends and evenings, whatever they need me for. We have been moved in for  a month now and it took long enough to recover from that. Now I am going through the same thing again only with work. I have no Idea what to do and I have to be honest I am really scared. The pain I am in has gotten to the point of being unbearable most of the time.

If any of you have any advice I would apprichiate some so much!

I am at a complete loss of what to do from here shakehead

Posted 4/28/2013 4:43 PM (GMT 0)
Lisa, congratulations on your move.  I'm glad you are happy about it, too.  Getting your old house is amazing and I bet there are good memories there, too.

 

Well, I bet the driving back and forth isn't helping because you are sitting so much.  I would get a lumbar support pillow for your back in the car.  I have one that blows up, but when it's deflated it fits in my purse nicely.  Also, I have one of those Forever Comfy cushions that I use in my computer chair and that helps too.  These things could help with your drive.

 

Also, leave a little early so you can stop halfway and get out of the car and walk around for a few minutes.  That helps loosen the muscles and keeps them oxygenated. 

 

Maybe these things could help you.  I'm sure members will have other suggestions for you, too. 

 

Sherrine

Posted 4/28/2013 6:46 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Lisa,

I know sitting in a car, and driving is hard. I like Sherrine's suggestions. I don't really have anything to add. Except that I am happy that you are so happy. And pretty much stress free. That is wonderful.

I hope that you have a good day today.

Hugs, Karen...

Stretch!!!
Posted 4/28/2013 8:35 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Lisa,

Glad you are doing better as far as stress levels. I am sorry you are in a rough patch with your Fibro right now. Sherrine's suggestions are wonderful and I know they help me. We are Military and have long drives to go back home to visit family, and having a good supportive pillow under your bottom really makes a H_U_G_H differences. But the Most helpful is taking the stretching breaks.

I know when I am in a rough patch with my fibro or RA I try to make it to a water exercise class or a good stretching class like beginning yoga. I know sometimes I just hurt to much to even think about going but after I do I am GLAD I did. Hope you get to feeling better soon!

(((HUGS))) Shannon
Posted 4/28/2013 8:48 PM (GMT 0)
Lisa, What kinds of pain meds are you taking?

I couldn't handle a full-time job when I was working. It was a chore just being out of work for 1/2 a day. I'd work 4 days straight and collapsed for 3 days. I'd just start to get my energy back before it was time to go back to work. My evenings were spent resting in my recliner until bedtime then in bed and start the work day over again.
Posted 4/28/2013 11:48 PM (GMT 0)
Right now I am not on any pain meds, just muscle relaxer. It really doesn't seem to help much but my heating pad is wonderful. Thanks Sherrine for your advice about a lumbar support pillow that sounds like it would be very helpful! Joy I have the same thing that you described i work 4 or 5 days and then I can't do anything for 3 to 4 days afterward. It seems like a vicious circle. That is why I get so frustrated it is hard to take care of your family when you can barely take care of yourself. thanks again to all of you for your advice!!!
Posted 4/29/2013 1:54 AM (GMT 0)
Lisa, I just thought of something else. In Fibro 101 there are gentle stretching exercises that can be done sitting down. You could do these at stop lights and even if you have a desk job. Maybe these could help, too. Put a copy of these in your car.

Sherrine
Posted 4/29/2013 3:42 AM (GMT 0)
Lisa,

Congrats on the move.. It sounds like you are so much happier in the new place!

Wow, as for CNA work, I can totally relate to that! It is not only tiring you out physically...but mentally it is a BIG OUCH!!!!! Before I even got really sick, I was caring for only 1 client.. but it was an hour drive each way, and a 40 hour job. Some days if he didn't feel well, I would just sit in a chair and read for 3 or 4 hours until HE felt good enough to handle HIS care... exhausting! (Doesn't that sound horrible...but the rest of the time it WAS mentally exhausting.) He was born with a disease that left him without about 45% of his skin... so my job entailed cutting out and putting medicine on 36 foam pads, then taking about 45 minutes to cut off his old bandages, and help him into shower, where he cleaned himself up...but then I had to remember the order of how to put on new foams and then wrap him in 36+ gauze bandages...sorry, didn't mean to be soo detailed...
That wasn't my point... the point is, that work is rewarding, but if you aren't careful it will consume you physically/mentally/emotionally... It can be stressful to make sure you are handling THEIR needs, while not putting your health at risk..
Please be careful! honestly, there is no way I could work full time right now.
Even when I was just doing taxes and worked 2 or 3 days in a row.. It would wipe me out for a week..
Be careful and paace yourself!!!
Good luck! Keep the chin up :)
Posted 4/29/2013 4:37 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you Sherrine for that I will definately make copies and keep them close by. Mrsbugzy I thank you for your total understanding it isn't just a physical job like many think, it is emotinal as well as mental. I thank you sooooo much for sharing your story with me. It sounds like you went through alot. I do agree the work is definately rewarding, just not to your body and mind. I can work a double sometimes and be so happy that I helped in so many ways during all those hours, but by the time I get home I hurt so bad that I can't even sleep! I do try to pace myself but I do love what I do I just don't enjoy the consequenses of it. That is what I am trying so hard to deal with : )
Posted 4/29/2013 5:03 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, Lisa.

I'm afraid I don't really have anything helpful to add...but it's good to hear from you again, and I'm glad you're happier where you are!

My daughter did CNA work for a short time, and she'd tell me stories about how physically hard it was, and heartrending, too. She worked in a nursing home, and there was never time to actually talk to the residents or give them anything more than the most cursory care. (It sounds like maybe your situation is not quite like that - that you at least have more time with your patients?)

I would love to just regularly go and talk to people who need contact with other people - I can't help them physically....someday, when I don't have to worry about money, that is....maybe even be a music practitioner...but here I am, going off on a tangent ;) ...sorry! This doesn't help you, right now, with your pain...

Is there any way you could cut back on your hours? I know there's a certain amount of movement and using my muscles that's good for me, but if I overdo it, I will pay the price, no ifs, ands, or buts. It sounds like something's gotta give, either a medication or less work, or - something.

I hope you can do whatever it takes to feel better!

Debbie
Posted 4/29/2013 1:28 PM (GMT 0)
Currently, I drive a lot, and it can be very draining. My partner lives 200 miles away, and we alternate weekends. we have beendoing this for 6years.

Here are my driving pointers.

Keep the car comfortable. Arrange mirrors properly.
No cells!
Have lots of water.
Stop every hour if you need to! I usually don't, because of traffic.
Arrange to be early, so you can have a little quiet time before work.

Since I am driving through DC, I monitor the traffic and have several routes to choose from. It depends on where the back-ups are. The trip can take as little as three hours, and one awful day was five and a half.
Posted 4/30/2013 8:28 AM (GMT 0)
Lisa- my heart feels for you because I know how hard that work is. I remember coming home only to climb in the bed to the next shift. It was no life. CNA work is gruely for fibro. Do they have any Dr's office you can work at in your town? I know in my town, they use CNA's a lot to get vitals, weights and etc. I glad to see the magnesium oil works for you. I have never tried that before. Like to hear more about it after you used it for a length of time.

I know you must work to survive in this world, but I hope something comes your way much easier.
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