What are you up to today if you have chronic illness? Thread 4

[MewithME]

Link to last thread 🧵 https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5438353-what-are-you-up-to-today-if-you-have-chronic-illness-thread-3

This is the bumper Christmas issue with the added challenge of all the work Xmas brings and feelings it might bring up...but we're here. Highs and lows. 🌲🌲😴🤕🤗

Just watched a DVD of Fred and Ginger in Top Hat. Such silly fun.

I finished the latest Slough House novel yesterday. Rebus next in line. Nearly caught up with my pile of unread physical books! I can’t download any of the books in my Kindle due to no Wi-Fi.

Hope you get lots of things sold!

@Swanhilde that's so pretty!

Haven't done much here today. It was cold and bright (no sun) so discussed a walk with DH but then got all keen and cleaned the bathroom which took away my energy 😔I mentioned it in a message to a friend who encouraged me to walk in the sunshine even if it was just to the end of the street - so I did that, and was glad I had.

I am emotionally and physically all over the place this week. I'm hoping it's just post-christmas fatigue mixed with the joy of a nasty cold, and that things will improve.

Wishing you all a lovely, happy and gently productive weekend.

I've overdone it. Best friend of 30 years to stay for the last couple of days and it's been lovely. But I've used all available spoons and a whole lot more. Tomorrow I'll be on the sofa or in bed.
I cope with EDS most of the time but today I've been in more pain than usual and I'm hating it. Been in bed since 7 with a hwb so I'm going to take the painkillers and hope that tomorrow is an easier day.

Hope you perk up this week @VikingNorthUtsire having a rotten cold on top of the slog of doing Christmas and New Year would knock anybody back a bit. The brief walk was an excellent idea.

@Songlines hope you get some relief from the pain. It must have been lovely to see your friend despite the fatigue.

Morning all, we have snow here in Northern Ireland. DS has absolutely loved it, I helped him build a snowman last night, it was worth the pain!

Back to work for me tomorrow, so DH and I are off to the garden centre for breakfast shortly. Will inevitably mean I will buy a plant 🪴😊

Soup made from leftover Christmas veggies for tea and DH will make a loaf. We will also do a freezer inventory to see what lurking and meal plan from there for the week. We do this every so often when it's rammed, I quite enjoy it 🤣

Have a peaceful day everyone, enjoy the snow those that have it ⛄

Morning all! No snow here but very cold.

I am feeling the breeze with my new haircut. I asked for shoulder length so DH interpreted this as neck length. He removed 9 inches 😟 I am trying not to look into any mirrors! I’m glad to lose the long hair though, it was quite wispy and fluffy, and I shed like mad.

Morning! No snow here either. I’ve done some light tidying and sorting and now back to my beloved sofa. No walk today as people are all over the place and it seems icier. I’ll do some minutes on my exercise bike and do my physio exercises twice.

Morning all, well afternoon now! Not too bad here considering I went out for a couple of hours yesterday and had a brief walk.
The morning has disappeared by just having a shower and drying my hair for once. I also gave the bathroom a clean as it needed while I was in there. So that’s all worn me out and I’m on the sofa for the foreseeable.
DH has popped to the supermarket after dropping DD at her weekend job and by the time he’s back, had lunch and I’ve helped unpack he’ll be collecting her again!
So I’m not sure we’ll get the tree down today as planned but there’s always tomorrow. Most of our decs are down so just the tree to go.

Out for a short walk with dog this morning.

Took some decs down earlier- trying to be organised this year after several years of just throwing them in boxes. I do 10 mins and then have a break. We're planning to take tree down later - i will be directing operations from the sofa.

Love that this thread is so busy- so good to know that others have limits too (though sad to hear)

@BerfyTigot I think with having limited energy it’s the frustration at having to rest that makes it so disheartening. I have learned to delegate from my sofa! You have just reminded me we should take the cards down before the recycling bin day.

i was about done in by shower and hair wash. I’ve had a week of recovering from seeing family and I knew it would have repercussions.

I am being very tactful about my new haircut. DH did his best but he’s no Vidal Sassoon. I am avoiding mirrors because I want to even it up in places but that would probably make it worse.

still anything’s better than cricking my neck at the hairdresser, travel time there and back, all using spoons I just don’t have. I am told prices have gone up since Covid, I used to pay £40 plus tip but my DDs each pay over £100 for their trims (both long hair) So I tell myself I’ve saved a fortune!

@Songlines I really struggle with having anyone to stay. It's a rare occurrence but my bestie came a while ago and I found it so hard and she's the easiest person in the world to have over.

I had coffee with friend this morning which was really lovely. I did wonder if it's wise but I am back at work tomorrow (thankfully from home mostly this week) and I know I feel anxious about it so it was good distraction. Beautiful café. Haven't been before. Half way between where we both live. It's was absolutely freezing though this morning. I hate having to deice the car. I feel exhausted by the time I get to work on days like that.

Ds is home tomorrow so at least we can both just hunker down and I can ease back in.. hopefully! So so much waiting for me. Day at a time! 🧘🏻

My tree is still up. . Priorities! Couldn't be doing with it today. All other decorations are down. I'll do it in stages.

@TeaAndStrumpets I have a lovely hairdresser who comes to my house. If I am just getting it cut, I wash it before she arrives then she is done within about 20 minutes. She has an option on her booking menu to book a "quiet appointment" - I have never used it but it means I would feel OK to let her know if I wasn't feeling up to chit chat. Costs me £30ish for a proper haircut, and she does all the other stuff (colouring etc) when I need it.

Not sure if that is an option for you but it definitely makes it about 90% less exhausting than a visit to the actual hairdresser.

Got out for a walk this morning in the sun. Came back, feel asleep, woke up and my DH and kids have taken down about 75% of the decs - angels that they are. I am campaigning to leave the fairy lights up until the days start getting lighter - life is miserable enough right now.

@VikingNorthUtsire that is definitely an option. We are moving to a new area so will investigate once I get there.

I think fairy lights aren’t just for Christmas!

I used to have a mobile hairdresser which was good but she wasn't brilliant at my hair. A new one opened right next to my workplace. They do all organic products, super quiet and relaxing ambience and also do quiet appointments. They're v clever. Marketing to people with neurodivergence among other things but they're lovely and it's back to feeling like a treat and not a chore.

I love the idea of a quiet appointment if you’re not up to chatting, that’s such a good idea. My lovely hairdresser used to do my hair at home and she did the kids on the same visit so it was excellent but she’s opened her own salon and had a family since so just too busy for home visits. I perhaps make it in a couple of times a year but grew out my fringe as I kept hacking at it and making a bad job so at least now it looks okay if I don’t get there often.

Hope you get used to your hair in a few days @TeaAndStrumpets

Tree also still up here @MewithME but we’ll get there at some point!

Back on the subject of declutterring and New year resolutions, I decided to make a gentle goal of just sorting 5 items a week ( or more if the mood takes me!) from my room of doom! So I managed that today and have sorted into rubbish/ recycle/ sell. One item was a keep but DH sorted the garage last year so it can be put away in there. It literally took me 5 mins today so definitely doable! I may increase it to 10 but wanted it to be manageable!

I love the sound of a quiet appointment. On a bad day a half hour chat on the phone can tip me towards PEM. It’s quite remarkable what a small extra load can do.

we have been trying to declutter for months! I just told DD2 the piano would have to go. We can’t house it, nor can she, so it will be free to a good home. It’s been a nice piano, DD2 did all the grades and her diploma on it, so it will be good quality for someone I hope.

I am hoping we get some broadband magic tomorrow! It’s been a different pace of life. Our entertainment tonight was a DVD of Swing Time and even DH enjoyed it. I’m still humming Jerome Kern tunes!

Morning all!

I woke up with (I think) sciatica. I’ve had a numb/stiff hip on one side. Now tingly ankle. My lovely osteopath is usually booked up several weeks in advance but he has a cancellation at 2pm so that’s me sorted.

All this blooming resting! Seized up from neck to toes. I apparently can’t even rest without hurting myself.

Snow here but just a picturesque covering.

Oh heck @TeaAndStrumpets sorry to hear that but good you could get a cancellation and hope you get some relief.
No snow down here ( Dorset) but a heavy frost so looks pretty.
More resting for me today after a sleepless night and feeling pretty rubbish. Throat very sore and glands up which is a common ME symptom for me but given DD still unwell with cold/ flu symptoms including a raging sore throat, hoping I haven’t picked it up from her!
Hope everyone can have manageable days and those back at work today can cope.

Thanks @TodayIsatrickyone hopefully he can loosen up my back. I really should have gone when my neck got stiff before Christmas as I’m sure it is all connected!

Sorry you are gland- y. It is amazing how much goes on due to ME/CFS . I get sore eyes and random jaw pain which I think is general inflammation, not to mention IBS. DH has also got a cold, a bit sneezy and runny but not a patch on when he worked. He would soldier on, then get much worse. Much better being retired.

Morning all!

Today I have to return the house to its pre-christmas state. Cleaner is coming tomorrow for the first time in nearly a month, and I can't be bothered. There are still pots and pans out, decorations and things that just need to be returned to their usual places.

The house feels so bare without decorations. And I feel grumpy and don't know what to do with myself. Grrrrr 😠

@BerfyTigot I suppose you will enjoy the space once the cleaner has been? I have never had a cleaner but then I am very tolerant of dust! What I would really like is someone to do the windows inside. We have an outside one who whizzes round with a long pole and a water tank but doubt it would do the trick indoors!