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Posted 1/27/2011 12:43 AM (GMT 0)
ok, I have been reading all the post to get educated. And trying to except this weird thing we have.

I noticed everyone talks about pacing yourself with fibro.  I just got over a really bad shoulder ache, so today I was excited to get out in the yard and do some work.  I am a nature girl, with a garden and tons of flower beds. I live at a lake so there are tons of things to do outside.

 And I also can't and don't want to be alone for very long.

So I racked 3 piles of leaves today and thought about what yall said about pacing yourself.  Well, it was hard, but I put my rack down after 3 piles.  It was kinda sad to me cause I used to rack for hours.

But don't want the pain.  I will find out tomorrow if I did to much.

Does anybody feel the same as I do!!!  

It is so hard to figure out when you have done to much!!!

Posted 1/27/2011 12:50 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Marilyn and welcome to the forum!! I don't know where you live but I sure wish I could go outside and rake leaves!! We just got about 5 more inches of snow.
Posted 1/27/2011 12:55 AM (GMT 0)
Denise, I live in Texas!!!!
Posted 1/27/2011 12:59 AM (GMT 0)
Marilyn, I love yard work too, but have to be careful. I bring a lawn chair, and water out to where I'm working...I force myself to take breaks often. Sometimes I will call one of my neighbor friends to come over while I'm working and we visit. My friends nake sure I take breaks.

Pacing does take time to get used to when you're used to working without all rhe breaks.

I hope you feel good tommorrow...keep us posted!

Hugs, Robin
Posted 1/27/2011 1:02 AM (GMT 0)
Marilyn,

I feel your frustration. You are 100% describing my life! It is ALL about trying not to overdo it. Sometimes, I can sweep the floor (gently) for 2 minutes and it's too much. Or I can carry an object weighing about one pound across the room and it's too much. It seems impossible, but it's true. And I hate it!

I did more pullups than any other girl in my class in the 6th grade, and once had biceps as big as my husbands'. I loved working out. Now, I'm skin and bones and NO muscle. From the side I look like a stick. It's just fibro!

I hope you "got away with it" today!!

Debbie
Posted 1/27/2011 2:01 AM (GMT 0)
Pacing yourself is the best way to accept this thing...just the next day plan that it may be a "rest day" R u on any meds for it like neurotin or lyrica?, great meds and non-narcotic!, they work well...I can not take because of allergy but they still helped alot! Wish I could still take thiem.
Posted 1/27/2011 2:08 AM (GMT 0)
ljb, I am not on those yet. I see Dc. Feb. 4th. But when I do take a pain releiver, I think I can do more than I thougt. Catch 22
Thats the confusing part.
Posted 1/27/2011 6:48 PM (GMT 0)
The more you live with fibro, the better you will know what you can or cannot do.  Your body will tell you.  I'm a gardener, also.  I usually can do light work for about an hour or so and then I stop.  Tomorrow is another day and I can be back outside enjoying the great outdoors and also my gardens. 

 

We live in such a "rush, rush" world.  Thing seem to need to be done "yesterday".  With fibro, things get done...eventually!  smilewinkgrin    Just really enjoy your time outside.  If you didn't hurt from raking three piles of leaves, try four piles next time.  (Raking kills me, by the way.  I usually let Mother Nature blow the leaves into my neighbor's yard!  devil )  It's trial and error until we really know our bodies. 

 

Sherrine

Posted 1/27/2011 9:20 PM (GMT 0)
Sherrine, Thanks for writing back. This morning my back starting acting like it was gonna give me a hard time. BUT it didn't spasam.
So I am learning. An hour in the yard, garden etc. is so so little time. I really hate this!!!!
I am not happy about something taking away the only thing that used to make me so happy. I am type A personality, and I am lost just killing time. I hate hate hate it.
For instance, my back is still hurting alittle, so I guess that means sitting around.
Sorry, I am a person that has to accomplish something big everyday.
It sucks.
sorry, Marilyn
Posted 1/27/2011 10:09 PM (GMT 0)
Marilyn, use moist heat and do some gentle stretching.  DO keep moving.  Sitting doesn't help.  You want to keep the muscles moving.  Sitting a little is fine but get up, do some stretching, and maybe go for a walk.

 

Just remember....there are many, many people would would LOVE to be able to spend an hour working in the yard.  Some never will and some don't even have a yard!  Looking at what you don't like just stresses you out and makes you miserable.  Instead, look at what you did do and what you could do!  That's great and you can do more tomorrow, too.  Pace yourself.  If your back is bothering you, then do things that you don't use your back muscles.  You can still work in your yard.  Raking is very hard on the back muscles...that a mopping.  Two of my unfavorites.  I don't have a choice when it comes to mopping but I do have a choice about raking and I won't do it.

 

I hope that back feels better tonight.  Just be mindful of it when moving around tonight.  You should be just fine.  Oh, by the way, nearly all fibromites are Type A personalities.  I am one, too.

 

Sherrine

Posted 1/27/2011 11:00 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Marilyn,

I use to split and stack firewood when I was younger. I would go out and load it on the truck in the woods. It was hard work but it was healthy work and good for a person. I could never do that now, but then I have to think, I am older now too. But yes we do have to pace ourselves if we don't want to be in severe pain. You will get use to this. You will learn your limitations. Make the most out of what you are doing. Stay mindful and you wont feel so bad about not being able to do an much as you use to.

Take care,

Hugs, Karen
Posted 1/28/2011 12:14 AM (GMT 0)
karen, thank you for writing me back. I have been thinking, I started having problems 16 years ago. I pushed very hard because I didn't want my family to think I was lazy. Now I gotta think different than the last 16 years. Duh
That was very interesting what Sherrine said that most of us were Type A.
Funny thing, since it has a name now, nobody in my house will bring it up.
Yes it kinda hurts. Cause I been taking care of everyone my whole life, and now I would like someone to give a darn. Maybe its because they are afraid I might not do enough for them.
Oh well, I guess that is what goes along with being a mother.
Thanks for letting me ventttttttt
Posted 1/28/2011 12:21 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Marilyn.  I have the same thing here although I am not a mother (not in the maternal sense anyway LOL) my husband rolls his eyes if I happen to mention something that was on the news to prove that it is real.  I also push myself unless I am so stressed that I am puking (it happens about every 3 months or so).  Just today he told me that I do not do enough to help him with his 3 businesses.........blec!!, I give up trying to please him.
Posted 1/28/2011 12:40 AM (GMT 0)
GSDgirl, oh my. My husband works at home, thats all I need to say. lol My husband is supported, but its the grown up kids I am talking about.
Tell your husband I said he is a JERK!!!!! lol
Posted 1/28/2011 4:19 AM (GMT 0)
My husband kind of gets it and kind of doesn't. Last week, I was telling him how our son said I have such an easy life (because I don't have a job) and he said, "Yeah, well - try working for 20 years." Uh - not the response I was looking for. I wonder what he thinks I do all day! I just said that I couldn't talk about it right then, I was too upset.

Debbie
Posted 1/28/2011 2:32 PM (GMT 0)
Debbie, I heard the samethings from my adult kids. I wish they could come up with an exact test that say Fibro. I feel gulity not working anymore. Feel like a looser. But what are we suppose to do?
When you figure this out about family, please post it to me.
Thank you
Marilyn
Posted 1/28/2011 8:52 PM (GMT 0)
I absolutely agree with you. Pacing is necessary, but it is so hard to do when you are accustomed to doing much more. You will figure it out eventually. Like Debbie and others said, it is tempting to overdo it when we feel good because we are sick and tired of doing less.
Sue
Posted 1/29/2011 3:15 AM (GMT 0)
Ok Marilyn, I will!  But I'm not holding my breath.  Actually, for me it's pretty much just my son (28).  My daughters get it (as much as normal people can) and my husband is reasonably understanding, but it hurts that my son thinks I just took the easy way out.  Haven't been able to tell that one a thing since he was - hmmm - born!

Debbie

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