CONSERVING YOUR ENERGY WITH FIBROMYALGIA
Current mood: determined
Category: Life

----------------- Bulletin Message -----------------
From: ProjectFMS.org
Date: Oct 8, 2008 9:26 PM

Conserve Your Energy


Each of us is given 24 hours to spend as we choose—every day, rain or shine, flare or not. How do you spend your time? How can you make the most of it? Following are some of the top tips we received from people with fibromyalgia who have discovered the best ways to manage their time and conserve their energy.



Just Say No!
This can be a hard skill for anyone to develop.
What helps? Practice!

"It's okay to have made plans and then not feel well and not go. It does not make you a bad person if you don't go or don't do something because it's a bad day," says Dianna Johnson.


When you do have to cancel plans, be sure to explain that it's because of a health situation—not because you changed your mind. A cancellation can turn into an educational opportunity for your loved ones; it will be easier for them to understand what you're going through if they learn more about fibromyalgia and your experience with it.



Choose Your Top Task
What are the most important tasks you need to accomplish today? This week? This month?

Make a list of all the tasks you would like to complete. Then rank them in order of most important to least important. You can't be sure when your energy level will dip, so attack the most important tasks first.


Roxie, an FM patient in Oregon, plans to complete one chore each day; it might be as big as mopping several rooms and shampooing the carpet or as small as washing a few dishes, depending on how she's feeling that day.



Delegate
If you are in a group situation—in an office or at home—make sure you take advantage of teampower to accomplish what you need to get done.


"My kids always wanted to help do the chores, so I let them, and slowly progressed into more detailed duties," says Marci Kelly. "They sort and match their socks. They put their laundry away (including hanging shirts up). They can load and unload the dishwasher—with supervision—to put the dishes away that they cannot reach. The two of them can also wrap presents, use tape correctly, sort their laundry, put it in into the washer, add the soap, and start the washer.


"Right now it's still for fun—it's not a chore yet. With all their help I don't have to do as much, and it cuts down on my fatigue.
"


Consider Geography
Whether you are driving around town doing errands or taking care of chores around the house, give some thought to where you need to go, and what you need to do there. Try to plan a route that leads logically from the closest location to the next closest location and so on.
Why waste extra time en route?

Try to make it easy for yourself to do the chores you need to do. For instance, Johnson keeps a container of Lysol wipes in the bathroom and in the kitchen. When she's in those rooms, she periodically grabs a wipe and wipes down counters, faucets, the sink, drawer pulls, etc. Cleaning a few times a week just takes a few minutes—and it prevents big build-up that will require lengthy cleaning sessions.



Check Out Resources
You're already one step ahead by reading this story! You can find additional tips on the National Fibromyalgia Association website; click on Topics A-Z, then Household Tips.


Ask people in your support group what they do to manage their time and energy. Ask your healthcare providers for suggestions.
Check out other websites, too, like flylady'>http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vZmx5bGFkeS5uZXQ=">flylady. net.


Jennifer C. Wyatt is a full-time student who also works full-time. She has budgeted $40 per week for a housecleaning service that helps her keep her home in order—and allows her to keep some of her precious free time free of time-consuming chores.


Don't forget to check out resources within yourself, too. "Find another way, take another tack, adapt, be resourceful, look for more options, more possibilities than you originally dreamed," says Rev. Janet Ewing.


"I can't go to church without having an asthma attack, but I am involved in ever Sunday service. I put together the PowerPoint announcements.
"


One Day at a Time
"I learned that planning certain things in advance just isn't realistic for those with fibromyalgia," writes Jodie Gannetto in her Fibro Friends Forever newsletter. "We just don't know what each day is going to bring us.
Will it be a good day or a bad day? Will I be able to drive? Get out of bed? Or even get out of the house?"

You can break this suggestion down into smaller time increments, too. For instance, try setting a timer or a stopwatch when you start an activity. When the timer goes off, take a break and rest. Bonnie Ewing does this when she's going for a walk; she walks for five minutes and rests for five minutes. "You will be able to walk further and not feel exhausted if you set your watch to alert you when you need to stop and rest," she says.


Kristen Jo Gonzalez developed a schedule that fits her needs: she works for several hours in the morning, takes a lunch break and rests for several hours, and then resumes activity in the evening. Kat Foote schedules just two things each day, which helps keep her from undertaking impulsive chores or additions to her schedule.


Shelley Echtle, who leads the North Texas Fibromyalgia Meet-Up and Support Group, recommends following the 20/30 rule: work for 20 mintues, then rest for 30.


"We also use points like Weight Watchers does for food," she says. "We decide to start with that we have 10 points to use each day. We then decide how normal activities filter away our points. When 10 are gone, that's it for the day. This might include a shower, a trip to the doctor, grocery shopping, and cooking dinner. Maybe it's as simple as two loads of laundry and getting dressed for a dinner out with friends, which means putting on our makeup.  Whatever the activities, we manage to use our points wisely.


"I suggest they write in one fun activity a week and give it up to three points for self-appreciation!"

Do you know when your high- and low-energy levels fall during the day? Try keeping an activity journal for a week. Write down each task you accomplish, the amount of time it required, and when you did it; also write down when you took a break—or when you felt like you needed one. After a week's worth of entries, you will have a good idea of when you have more energy during a typical day, and when a good time to schedule a break would be.



Prepare
Making plans can be tough on people with FM—but that doesn't mean you can't prepare a little bit. For instance, do you ensure that you're taking your medications at the right intervals? That can help you maintain a steady flow of energy—or reduced pain—throughout the day.


Do you practice good sleep hygiene? Experts recommend going to bed and arising at the same time every day; this helps your body get accustomed to a sleep schedule, which should make it easier to fall and stay asleep. It can also be helpful in maintaining consistent energy.


Do you incorporate exercise into your schedule? You don't need to take a high-impact aerobics class to get the relaxation—and increased energy—that benefits people who do regular exercise. Try an adaptive yoga class, or go for a walk around the block. Work your way up to longer bouts of exercise several times a week—perhaps walking a mile three to five times a week. It will help you feel better physically and will help you maintain a steady energy level.


When you're having a very good day, resist the temptation to take on too much.
Successfully managing your energy means not draining it completely—even when there's lots of it!


Don't Sideline Yourself
This may be the toughest tip yet. How can you save your energy, but stay involved in your favorite activities? How can you accomplish all the things you want to do without putting yourself into a flare? That's an answer each person has to decide for himself—and we hope the tips provided here will be helpful along those lines.


Cynthia Mittel looks at it this way: "The biggest tip I have for anyone dealing with the pain and exhaustion of FM is to not wait until you feel better to 'have a life.' You will miss so much by passing up the things you enjoy and staying in bed or on the couch so you can 'save your energy.
'


"Don't let FM win by robbing you of enjoying the world around you!"

3:18 PM - 2 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

NOT SURE HOW I FEEL
Current mood: blank
Category: Life

TODAY IS A BLA DAY FOR ME! MY DISEASE FIBROMYALGIA IS PAINFUL AND MY LEGS AND ARMS AND WEAK!  THE SIDE OF MY LEGS ARE REALLY NUMB....

I'M FEELING THE LOSS OF MY DAD..... IT'S FRIDAY AND I DON'T GIVE A SHIT!  I'M HOME ALONE AND DON'T FEEL LIKE DOING ANYTHING!  I KEEP A SMILE WHEN I SEE PEOLPE BUT IT'S FAKE. IT'S HARD TRYING TO KEEP MY MOM FROM CRYING.  SHE CALLS EVERY NIGHT UPSET AND I CAN'T DO ANYTHING TO HELP HER... I FEEL LIKE I HAVE TO BE THIS ROCK, BUT I FEEL MORE LIKE A SPUNG! 

I GUESS I'M JUST BLABBING ON, AND NOT SURE WHAT TO DO...I'M MISSING SOME GOOD FRIENDS AND WISH THEY WAS HERE.  I WANT TO GET OUT OF THIS HOUSE BUT I DON'T WANT TO EITHER.  I HAVE TWICHING IN MY FINGERS IT'S FUNNY HOW THEY JUST MOVE... I HAVE BEEN DOING THAT AT NIGHT WHEN YOUR BOBY JUSTS JUMPS FOR NO REASON.

WELL THAT HOW I FEEL PURTY MUCH NOTHING!

ALL MY FRIENDS HAVE BEEN GREAT ABOUT SENDING ME COMMENTS THEY DO BRING A REAL SMILE TO MY FACE WHEN I SEE THEM THANKS VERY MUCH FOR THAT!!!!

~TAMMY~

Currently listening : Upon A Shamrock Shore: Songs of Ireland and the Irish By Irish Rovers Release date: 2000-02-01

4:55 PM - 2 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

IN LOVING MEMORY OF MY DAD JAMES ROGER McGOLDRICK
Current mood: blessed
Category: Life

JAMES ROGER McGOLDRICK HAS ROAD OFF INTO THE HEAVENS ON HIS HORSE PACER, TO MEET HIS PARENTS AND FAMILY AND FRIENDS, TO GO TO HEAVEN TO MEET JESUS AND HIS LORD.

I WILL MISS HIS PHONE CALLS ON SAT MORNING ABOUT 5 AM TELLING ME THE WORLD IS ON FIRE GET UP AND PEE. OR CALLING THERE HOUSE AND HEARING MURRPHYS MULE BARN NO ASSES ALOUD! MY DAD WAS BORN IN GLEENWOOD MO. ALMOST 70 YEARS AGO.

HE HAS HAD A VERY HARD LIVE THE LAST FEW MONTHS, DYALISIS WAS VERY HARD ON HIM. SPENT MORE TIME IN THE HOST. THEN AT HIS RANCH HOME.

HE WAS TOLD WHEN HE WAS ABOUT 20 HE COULD NEVER RIDE A HORSE BARLEY WALK. MY DAD WAS DRAG RACIN WITH A FRIEND AND HIT A CAR HEAD ON. BROKE HIS BACK IN 2 PLACES, BUT HE DID EVERTHING THEY SAID HE WOULD NEVER DO PLUS MORE, BRONC RIDDING BULL RIDDING, THE WHOLE RODEO THING.

MY DAD NEVER HAD ANY BOYS BUT HE HAS 3 STONG TOMBOY GIRLS ME, DEBBY AND TONYA. WE WAS TOUGHT EVERYTHING HE WOULD HAVE DONE WITH A BOY. SHOOT A GUN, RIDE HORSES, BUTCHER AN ANIMAL, CUT IT AND RAP IT, CASTERATE AND ANIMAL AND EVEN EAT ROCKY MOUNTAIN OYSTER. ASK ALEX HE EVER TOLD HER HOW TO DO IT.

JUST A FEW LITTLE THINGS THAT STICK IN MY MIND ABOUT HIM I WILL TRULLEY MISS HIM. HE WILL BE MIST BY HIS GRANDCHILDREN AND HIS 2 GREAT GRANDCHILDREN WITCH ARE MY 2 MITCHELL AND JOCELYN.

THANKS FOR READING

AND ALL THE PRAYER FROM AOT OF YOU

~TAMMY~

Currently listening : Classic Country Gold By Various Artists Release date: 2005-07-26

3:17 PM - 5 Comments - 8 Kudos - Add Comment

THE THOUGHT OF LOOSING A PARENT! MY DAD
Current mood: frustrated
Category: Life

MY DAD HAD BEEN FIGHTING FOR 10 YEARS, THEY GAVE HIM 5 YEARS WHEN HE WAS 60 IN NOVEMBER HE WILL BE 70. THEY TOLD HIM HE ONLY HAD ONE KIDNEY AND THE OTHER WAS ONLY WORKING 23%.  KNOW HE GOES TO DYALISIS 3 TIMES A WEEK, AND HAS BECOME VERY WEEK FROM IT. THEY SAY YOU CAN LIVE ON IT FOR MANY YEAR, BUT THEY DON'T TELL YOU   EVERYTHING!  IF YOUR OLDER IT DON'T WORK THAT WAY, AND THATS NOT THE WAY IT WORKS FOR EVERYONE. 

CURRENTLY HE'S IN THE HOSTP. DELL WEB IN SUN CITY WEST THEY KEEP SAYING HE HAS NEMONIA BUT HE DON'T IT'S A BLOOD INFECTION THIS TIME.  NOT SURE WHAT KIND. NOW THEY SAY HE HAS A BLOODCLOT IN IS LEFT LUNG, SO HERE WE GO ON THE BLOOD THINNERS MEDS,  THEY ARE NOW CHECKING HIM FOR VALLEY FEVER WELL SHIT HE HAD HIS OWN BUSINESS DOING YARDS FOR MANY YEARS NOW HE MIGHT HAVE VALLEY FEVER. 

HE LOOKS TIRED AND HES VERY WEAK. HE HAS DESIDED AFTER WE HAVE BEGGED HIM TO SALE THE FARM, AND GET RID OF THE HORSES, ONLY ONE LEFT HE WON'T SALE, BLAZE!  THEY HAVE 2 1/2 ACERS WITH A DOUBLEWIDE TRAILER BOUGHT IN 1971 WHEN WE FIRST MOVED OUT THERE.  I WILL TELL YOU ONE THING THAT TRAILER IS IN GREAT CONDITION, BUILT A BACK ROOM WITH A HUGE REAL FIREPLACE IF ANYONE REMEBER THOSE.  THEY WILL BE MOVING IN WITH MY BABY SISTER AND FAMILY SHE JUST TURNED 30.  NOT SURE WHAT WILL HAPPEN MY MOM IS EXAUSTED SHE STILL HAS HER MOM ALIVE IN A HOUSE WITH OTHER PEOPLE WITH A CARE TAKER, SHE JUST TURNED 86 MONDAY.

SO THIS IS MY LIFE LATLEY GOING BACK TO HOSPT. TONIGHT WHEN SYD GETS HOME.

THANKS FOR THE EXTRA PRAYERS FORM YOU ALL IT ALL HELPS!

~TAMMY~

Currently listening : Peace in the Valley: The Complete Gospel Recordings By Elvis Presley Release date: 2000-09-12

8:15 AM - 6 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

HELLO I’M FIBROMYALGIA
Current mood: aggravated
Category: Life

For those who have not seen this, a more perfect description I have not seen.



I AM FIBROMYALGIA
MY NAME IS FIBROMYALGIA 05/26/08


MY NAME IS FIBROMYALGIA


Hi....My Name is Fibromyalgia, and I'm an Invisible Chronic Illness.



I
am now velcroed to you for life.



Others around you can't see me or hear me,
but YOUR body feels me. I can attack you anywhere and anyhow I please.




I can cause severe pain or, if I'm in a good mood, I can just cause you to
ache all over.





Remember when you and Energy ran around together and had fun?
I took Energy from you, and gave you Exhaustion.



Try to have fun now! I
also took Good Sleep from you and, in its place, gave you Brain Fog.



I can
make you tremble internally or make you feel cold or hot when everyone else
feels normal. Oh, yeah, I can make you feel anxious or depressed, too.



If you
have something planned, or are looking forward to a great day, I can take
that away, too. You didn't ask for me.



I chose you for various reasons:
That virus you had that you never recovered from, or that car accident,
or maybe it was the years of abuse and trauma.



Well, anyway, I'm here to stay!

I hear you're going to see a doctor who can get rid of me.



I'm rolling
on the floor, laughing. Just try.



You will have to go to many, many doctors
until you find one who can help you effectively.



You will be put on pain pills,
sleeping pills, energy pills, told you are suffering from anxiety or depression,
given a TENs unit, get massaged, told if you just sleep and exercise properly I
will go away, told to think positively, poked, prodded, and MOST OF ALL, not
taken as seriously as you feel when you cry to the doctor how debilitating life
is every day.





Your family, friends and coworkers will all listen to you until they
just get tired of hearing about how I make you feel, and that I'm a debilitating
disease.



Some of them will say things like "Oh, you are just having a bad day" or
"Well, remember, you can't do the things you use to do 20 YEARS ago", not
hearing that you said 20 DAYS ago.



Some will just start talking behind your
back, while you slowly feel that you are losing your dignity trying to make them
understand, especially when you are in the middle of a conversation with a
"Normal" person, and can't remember what you were going to say next!

In closing, (I was hoping that I kept this part a secret), but I guess you already
found out...the ONLY place you will get any support and understanding in dealing
with me is with Other People With Fibromyalgia.

8:26 AM - 3 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment