Chronic pain Christmas organisation thread!

[Akire]

I realised how much extra planning I’m doing already for Christmas, trying sort meds earlier, buying extra over counter things, having shop and wrap much further in advance, ways to disguise pain to family who don’t see me very much and have no idea…etc etc

Share your tips tricks and achievements and let’s try get Christmas in good enough shape and resources to enjoy

I've just ordered my first two presents. I know a body shop consultant who does £40 gift bags for £20 each so ordered a coconut one for my mum and a satsuma one for youngest DD who loves anything orange scented.

Have absolutely no idea what to get for DH. He is so bloody hard to buy for!! I'm letting him sort his own parents this year as I try and try and try yet there are still gifts I bought MIL 13 years ago sat on her shelves now. I give in lol.

I'm finished shopping for DD. Got most of DS2s, and half of DS1s.
Need to figure out when my meds will need topping up before Christmas and set a reminder in my phone to sort them

I’ve ordered 3 presents too, waiting for wrapping paper to appear in shops. I always wait until December to wrap thinking it feel more festive. But just happens be mad rush I do my neck and back in with marathon session in agony for days and swear not to do it next year!

I struggle to wrap presents due to pain in my fingers. I've always used paper gift bags and tissue paper. I've just found these and think they will be easier and cheaper, hopefully reusable too!

They look nice long as you can get them back once they open them!

Wrapping is something I enjoy doing but I do end up in pain because of it

Good point on the meds. I will need to do this too!

Also need to have a think about plans on Xmas day. Was easy last year as we had all agreed not to mix.

My mum, sister and Nan who we always see at Christmas all live on the first floor of flats and maisonettes so there is no way I can get up and down their stairs. And my house is so dishevelled right now I don't really think I can cope with them all here.

And it's the very first year that neither of the womb raiders believe in Santa (sob!)

Womb raiders

I already spent £30 on over counter emergency stuff as I can’t get out to any shops when I stay with family as small village and bloody steps everywhere. While they would do it in emergency for all those middling annoying sore throats dry eyes etc you need start a stock so you are covered for all eventualities.

Agree about wheelchair so many houses are not accessible. Family member has bungalow but it has steps on every door and hallway is so narrow wheelchair Doesn't fit down it! They are old buildings but still not well thought out for type people buy them
In first place. If you needed anyone’s arm to lean on you have to go side ways.

Nowwhat

You are a life saver thank you I've just ordered some for myself, my hands are horrendous most of the time

@HerRoyalRisesAgain

Womb raiders

Haha I started to call them the womb raiders when they both changed "mum" in their phones to "birth giver" 😂😂

I'm going to try to do a mostly independent Christmas ie buy from small Sellers. I have an etsy shop myself so I'd love to support small.

@cricketmum84 that's awesome

@doadeer what do you sell?

I sell fun yoga and workout tops - so quite niche!

I do yoga when I'm not in too much pain
I've just bought DD and DS2 Harry Potter build a bears with their hogwarts houses on the paw and matching scarf for each of them.

Aww yoga can be fab. I'm in a pickle as I can't do any forward folding and it's hard to sit up with my back pain so I'm rather limited.

Great about shop well done you.

Managed get few stocking fillers on line from Rex.com free delivery over £30 so good. I end up doing stocking for lots of family as it’s sort job need lots shop visits and looking around and others don’t have time. So keeps me busy up to Xmas. Have check check if what I’ve spent so get it back I still think on my head it’s £20 ends up being more £35 these days.

Found nice “to good to use” pretty notebook this will be my remember what you have bought for her list. I do lots shopping various relatives we are not good online so gets complicated!

Some of the beauty advent calendars are great value either as a gift or you can seperate the products out and put in stockings. If you're buying for people who like that kind of stuff!

Went to savers and got few more stocking bits, had friend with me to do all bending and reaching as I seem want nothing on middle shelves! Though have massive gulf at checkouts where huge baskets goods at front so even my friend struggled lean over and put basket on counter then reach card machine. In wheelchair I have throw the items at cashier so impossible to shop there on my own.

So many places are not wheelchair friendly. It's awful.
These got delivered yesterday. I'm having to stop myself from giving them to the kids early

They are cute can’t go wrong with HP!

After starting well here we are approaching start of Nov and arghhhh. Did manage to wrap up some so feeling good. But body not been the best so not been out few weeks and can’t see being up to it for while yet.

Any bargins from anyone ? How’s it all going?

Hello all 👋 I haven't been on the pain boards for a couple of months. Mainly because I've been doing exactly what the title suggests. My Mum used the bags that @nowwhat50 linked to 2 years ago. I gave her all the ones back that held mine and DDs presents, she carefully folded them and refused last year. So this year will be their third year. Worked out pretty good value for money.

I've got most of DDs stuff already. Also going with the gift bag idea. Bought rolls and rolls of gift wrap in the sales, but too hard on hands. Mind, I got some great scissors from OT which help as lot. I'll take a pic in case they might be of use to anyone.

Apart from that, I'm mainly keeping bang in top of prescription meds, couple extra boxes paracetamol every week in the online shop along with couple packs of pigs in blankets already in the freezer, bottle of something to stash away each week in the weekly shop too