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Posted 12/10/2008 1:08 PM (GMT 0)
good morning everyone,

the past couple of days have brought me face to face with the glaring reality that i need to be more gentle and caring towards myself so i'm wondering: what kinds of things can i do to take better care of myself and my fibro? i already have the hot bath thing down, and i do stretches most days, even if it's just the sitting stretches listed here. i've also made myself a wonderful sock buddy and love it, but i'm at a loss for how to bring other gentle self care practices into my life.

so what sorts of things do you all do to take gentle care of yourselves? also, how do you all manage to know when to say "when". that is, when to tell others "sorry, can't do that." and how do you know when to push through and get things done, and when to back off and take it easy? (i'm still struggling with the overexertion balance)

also, what sorts of things bring you joy and happiness and pull you out of your fibro misery? i love to read, and try to do so at least for a little bit every night. i also love a good movie and am still a grey's anatomy addict, even though the show is getting more terrible with each passing week. (and george is leaving! i love george!!) but i would also love to hear what you all do to relax and get your minds off of things.

thank you!:)

{hugs}
~danielle
Posted 12/10/2008 1:38 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Danielle,

It's so hard to pace ourselves, especially when in a flare and there is so much to do.  Then, you might get a day of relief and try to seize the moment, do too much and pay for it for the next three weeks.  I have a hard time saying' no' to my friends also.  As we speak, I have a friend in Cincinatti that wants to pick me up (I live in NY) drive to the Outer Banks in NC to visit another friend, then stop in DC on the way back to spend a couple of days thrift shopping.  I thanked her but told her I couldn't sit in the car that long...too much pain plus I have RLS.  Her reply was..."You can be in pain anywhere so why not spend it with your friends?"  I feel guilty.  I have another friend who likes to 'power walk through malls'.  You have got to be joking!

I like to go to the casino once a week on Old Broad's Day with friends.  It's mindless entertainment and we have fun, even though I have to wear ear plugs from all the noise.  I like to play bridge with friends and we do that occasionally.  In the summer, we have some beautiful places to walk the dogs...I enjoy that but summer is only about three months long here.  I LOVE to write, but at the moment that is out of the question.  There always seems to be a I love to do this and that BUT....It really bites, doesn't it???

Just do what you can do, what you can do, what you can do...and enjoy the peace and comfort that slip in occasionally without thinking about how much you have to get done.  Enjoy it withut guilt!

donna

Posted 12/10/2008 7:11 PM (GMT 0)
Hi!  Don't "take care of yourself" too much!  LOL  You need to keep moving.  Walking is a gentle exercise and so good for you.  I have a walking-in-place video for when the weather is bad.  It's great to get outdoors and see all the beauty around you.

 

You will learn, by doing, what you can and cannot do without paying a price for it.  I take care of my home and do all the cleaning and even steam cleaning the carpeting BUT I now know how much I can do in a day.  Now, what I can do isn't necessarily what you can do.  That's why we really can't give you a definite answer.  You need to start out slowly.  If you do something and manage well, then  you can try to do a little more the next day.  Your body will tell you what you can handle.

 

I try to keep my mind active and not thinking about how I feel.  When I do that, I hurt less.  I enjoy working on genealogy, going to the beach, being in the pool, walking, grocery shopping, and going out to lunch with friends.  I haven't and will not let fibromyalgia control my life.  We only have one shot on this earth and I plan on making the most of it!  yeah

 

Sherrine

Posted 12/10/2008 10:26 PM (GMT 0)
oh, i know to keep moving-if i don't do at least something during the day the pain is worse. i walk my doggie and do yoga and if the weather's really bad out and i have to make hubby walk the doggie, i get on the treadmill. i refuse to let fibro control my life, too-i'm just trying to figure out to control my fibro! lol

i guess i am just having trouble with the balance, especially during stressful times like i am currently going through and was curious how others defused and chilled out and took care of themselves when they were going through rough patches.

donna,

i've never been to a casino even though i live in a state with a lot of them-are they fun? (aside from the noise-i'd definitely need ear plugs, too)

and power walking??!!! forget it! i hate malls as it is! lol

yeah, fibro is a big pain in the butt and i'd tell it to bite me, but i'm afraid it already has.. : /

{{hugs}}
~danielle
Posted 12/10/2008 10:47 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Danielle,

Just read your post and had been thinking similar thoughts today. Now I agree with those that said to keep moving, yes, we have to do that. BUT for me on a daily basis a simple thing has been helping me. Now I have been a major tennis player my whole life, on my college team. For me to slow down is major. But here's a little thing I do. I pretend as if I am a very graceful dancer and move throughout my daily chores in as graceful a manner as I can. Now this may sound dumb but for me anyway I am very tough on my body. I don't over extend my arms like I always did, instead move with thought. It is making a difference on my muscle groups.

I find walking the absolute best. I recently completed the I Village 6 week walking challenge with my pup and NEVER thought I would be able to. By the way I- Village is a great reference spot.

Now I am in more pain than normal and feel for me it is the stress of the holidays. They are exceptionally hard for me this year personally.

OK, my fun things. First and foremost for me it is taking care of my new pup. He is dear and the best companion. He gets me going when I would just rather not. I am a big gardener, don't miss a day w/o some garden work. You have to find a passion no matter how big or small it is.

Take good care, Patsie
Posted 12/10/2008 11:59 PM (GMT 0)

Hey Danielle...we have a few Indian owned casino's around here...the closest one is about 45 minutes away and to tell you the truth, the ride is beautiful and I enjoy that as much as the gambling.  I go once a week with a free comp and about twenty bucks.  I think the endorphines get going when you truly believe you might win something and I hardly ever feel in pain when I am there.  They have live entertainment in the lounge  and the hubby goes to hang out with the band because they let him sing on occassion, and I meet a few friends and we just sit and push the buttons...laugh, eat etc.  This casino is a metro plex beyond belief with shops. five star resturants and two five star hotels, A PGA golf course where the likes of Tiger Woods golf... a tennis dome...spas and massage services, some kind of huge mineral pool that is supposed to melt away pain...concerts nightly (I think Kelly Clarkson was there last week) so there are a number of things to do besides gamble.  And...because it's on an Indian reservation, everything you buy is tax free!

It's not for everyone but I enjoy the distraction...but holy moly, is it LOUD! (it is so big I have never been through the whole thing)

donna

Posted 12/11/2008 12:01 AM (GMT 0)
oooh..massage services! (i zeroed right in on that detail. lol) are you another one of the board's michiganders perchance?

patsie,

i love your tip about imagining yourself as a dancer-that's a lot like what i try to do on the days that i can manage a full yoga workout..try picture myself very zen and yogic and serene. it really does help the muscles a lot.
Posted 12/11/2008 8:12 AM (GMT 0)

danielle,  It is very hard for me to find that balance because each day is so different.  Some days I am full of energy & others I can bearly move.  I am always questioning myself to see if something I did caused me to be really tired.  Or was it the weather or the barametric pressure or something I ate or on & on.  I just take it one day at a time, as best I can. 

I try very hard to pace myself & have found little ways to help me.  I can unload & load the dishwasher during the commercial breaks in a TV show.  I sit & watch the show & head to whatever room I am working in for the 5-7 minute commercial breaks.  I can mop my kitchen floor during Judge Judy.  I also clean, organize & declutter my house with the Flylady method.  Email me if you would like website but if you put Flylady in any search engine you will find it.  It really helps me to keep ontop of things.

On days I am really down & fatigued, I do quiet things like sew on buttons & mend my clothes.  I am an avid reader so I read alot & study my Bible alot on those days.  

I got myself one of those exercise balls & a video to try.  I am hoping I will be able to do some good toning exercises & build up my legs.

Other times, I just sit & cuddle with my dog, Muffin.  She is such a sweet dog & doesn't care when I have to tell her "no, I can't do that". 

Hugs, Denise

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