What are you up to today if you have a chronic illness? Thread 🧵 9 Summer's Coming

[MewithME]

Link to last thread 🧵 https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5524497-what-are-you-up-to-today-if-you-have-a-chronic-illness-thread-8-plodding-on-gently

You know the rules...let's be tidy and fill number 8 up first 😁

Hugs to you @MewithME - I get it, it's so easy to dwell on things when you're on your own a lot. I feel like everyone else is carrying on living life without me.

I've had an email from an ex this morning (the one I had to leave during lockdown) which is frankly hilarious but has still given me a spike of anxiety seeing his name. Apparently he has claimed his pension early and is living on a tropical island - this may be complete fiction or could be true but unsure why I would need to know this. Well, except for his ego - I imagine I won't be the only person he's contacted with his nonsense wanting some sort of reaction. Oh and there was an apology for how he was the last time we met - not for the two years of abusive relationship before that though... if he is where he says he is, I hope he falls in the sea or gets bitten by a scorpion. Somewhere particularly painful.

I’m sorry you’re feeling this way @MewithME but totally understandable as all your energy is going into work and DS and just surviving. Survival mode! Nothing left in the pot for fun mode! A lot of us are probably similar. I definitely spend too much time alone and resting despite DH & DD especially in the last few months and it does take a toll on mental health but if you need to physically, its a difficult one.

I wish I knew the answer for you ( and all of us) I miss friends and socialising too. Not quite the same but it’s on my goal list to FaceTime a friend this week and it always lifts my spirits.

Think I had weird dreams last night, woke up feeling a bit discombobulated! I was organising bits for our holiday yesterday so think the anxiety is kicking in a bit. Will I cope etc? I always feel it to a degree but with recent health scare it’s amplified right now but logically, I know I’ll be okay! If any of that waffle makes any sense 🙄

@martha79 arent there sharks near some tropical islands and pirates, all viable options for pain.

@MewithME the loneliness can feel overwhelming. Do you have anywhere close enough that you can drive out to and just sit for half hour. Sometimes I find being amongst people but not necessarily socialising can be enough to take the edge off.

@martha79 I like @Oioiqueen suggestion of sharks and pirates 😂
Im also wishing him stinging jelly fish, prickly heat rash and a dodgy tum after eating something dodgy!

Sorry you are feeling a bit aimless, it's probably part weather/part illness. I think healthy people have a repertoire of things that we just can't do. They can go out for a mooch, paint a wall, bake a cake, whatever. They are available to socialise. I just said to DH "I wish we could go and do something nice", his response was "Sorry, you know you are supposed to be resting." That's it, really. I am trying to recharge my batteries but it's a damn slow business.

I am a great planner (although hampered by a shit memory!) so I make myself think about Christmas and birthdays far far in advance so it's all ready at the time. I do Christmas cards/presents in early November, and wrap a couple a day.

If I had any energy to spare I would do some batch baking to make life easier during the week, but if I were confined to the sofa I'd probably just make a plan for easy stuff to have in stock. Don't try and be virtuous and busy, your body is saying NO.

Is there anything you are interested in that could fill a few hours while you are physically resting? I get interested in all sorts of odd things which I research intensely so I look as if I'm resting on a sofa but actually I'm down a rabbit hole!

Hope you find something to cheer you up.

Well it's lovely here, 28.5 degrees in the sitting room, just nice. I hope everything cools down a bit now.

Oh yes happy to consider nasty scenarios for @martha79 's ex. If I ruled the world all abusers would be rounded up and shot, it would make society so much nicer ; but we are too civilised now, so women must live in fear.

@TeaAndStrumpets have you been watching too much handmaid's tale when the women fight back?

I cannot bear to watch it, but it sounds like the sort of things I think!

Probably not a good idea to watch at present. Some of the story lines are very relevant to current U.S.A at the moment I feel. It feels a bit too close to home at times.

Kettle is on @MewithME ☕

Finally feels cooler here, but I will be resting today after overdoing things on Thursday evening. All I did was stand but my HR went up to 180 and my watch thought I was running! All because I forgot my flipstick 😠

You aren't kidding.

180! That is quite alarming! Yes definitely rest and recuperate.

@Dozymoo42 I’m the same, can’t wait for cooler weather. I was struggling a lot yesterday and am today. Tea towel on the back of neck trick helps so I’ll be doing that shortly

I have been the same it’s horrible, I was the same last year when it was hot but now i understand why given my diagnosis.

the muslin cloth trick has helped me wet it then when it goes warm shake it and hey presto cool again - blew my DS mind when I told him to do it 🤣

A lot cooler today thankfully! My poor doggos have really been struggling so very happy to have a breeze today.

Just seen this lovely positive! Enjoy your pink toes 😊

im glad it’s cooler for the dogs @Dozymoo42 and for you. Not getting cooler for me until tomorrow unfortunately

Thinking of you @MewithME💐

It must be hard on you being alone when you are feeling this way, I am sure if we could we would all come round and have a coffee/ tea with you.

But keep posting on this thread we all understand the loneliness in varying degrees and like I’ve said before the best thing is someone is always pottering around on the thread to give support.

I would imagine him stuck there like Tom Hanks but with no Wilson for company and no chance of escape alone for eternity!

People like that get their commence in the end.

@JewelleryCat Roll on it cooling down tomorrow for you 🤞

I usually like the sun but this year has been a struggle. Both DD and I were saying yesterday it was funny as we suddenly felt cool at 26 degrees which we’d normally consider hot! There’s a breeze too, so that helps.

I think I overdid the organising yesterday. Managed a shower but back lying on the bed as just feeling a tad woozy and wiped out. Really struggling working out what I can manage right now. Well I do know I guess, not a lot but I don’t like that answer!

I think the heat is wiping everyone out so don’t worry about not doing too much @TodayIsatrickyone

Sometimes we have to postpone things until it’s cooler or if we ever get enough energy, that can be a tricky balance as well

Oh you've made me laugh re the ex, thank you 🤣 To be honest, if there were pirates he's the sort of person to make friends with them and do some dodgy deal with them, but bring on the sharks and jelly fish!

I might take a few to set on various letting agents too - the flat I applied for last week is now showing on the website as 'let agreed' and I've heard nothing. Do they think people won't ever check back on the listing or do they just not care about keeping people informed?

Take it easy in the heat everyone - it's frustrating but we're nearly through the worst of it.

Thanks @JewelleryCat just frustrating when you want/ need to do stuff and the body won’t play ball. Maybe tomorrow.

Oh no how frustrating re the flat @martha79

When I read this earlier...I thought you were on about nail varnish 🙈

Took your advice @Oioiqueen and I'm in my favourite garden centre café. Still lonely but at least out the house. I shall buy a plant to cheer myself up. Feeling very shaky so won't be out long. I shall pester you all properly later. Aircon in the café at least. Was going to sit out but it's like being blasted with a big hairdryer....hot breeze is horrible.

I’m counting down the hours when the heat will hopefully break. I’m finding it so unbearable again