Most of us have had to make radical changes since Fibro. Perhaps adjusting to not working, scaling down what we do or how we live, dealing with pain, Fibro fog impairment... you know, the difficult and life altering stuff.
Though we may not be able to do all things, we can do some things.
Questions: What CAN you do? Have you started doing different things you enjoy since your Fibro diagnosis? What accomplishments make you happy/proud/excited?
Hmmm, what can I do? Less than a few years ago but more than 2 years ago. I have to pace myself but I can do most anything unless it requires lifting or lifting my arms over my head or turning my head back & forth. My hands are quite shaky at times so I can no longer draw up insulin like I did for my patients. I can take photos some times but not all the time...same old shaky hands related to my neck. I can do light housekeeping but not vacuum. I can paint things that are low, but not high. I cannot look up for long. I can walk, better than 2 yrs ago but if I do too much, my achilles flares up. I can read a book, on the days I can concentrate but not on others. I cannot read in bed. I can drive most days as compared to few days a couple of years ago. I can't drive too long or too far due to fatigue and sometimes confusion. I still forget the way to get where & back. I can talk online better than in person due to word finding issues. I cannot hold a pen....my handwriting has gotten awful but I can type. I can put on makeup but my eyeliner is quite uneven and I frequently poke myself in the eye. I can get dressed but can only tolerate a bra for about 2 hrs tops. I can wear flat shoes but not heels. I can walk in a straight line most days but not all days. I can have fun but am better on an impromtu basis depending on my tolerance that day. I can now say "No" and mean it. Say "I can't today" and not feel too bad. Can tolerate people rolling their eyes at me and not get totally pissed. I can have an orgasm now & then but not all the time. I don't need diapers but don't make me laugh too hard. I can appreciate what I have without envy about what others have. I am a better person and happier than I was 2 yrs ago when I was diagnosed. I do not have to work so I can use my good moments to do what I want to do and not what I have to do. Good question, Marcia. I guess I can't remember what day it is or I wouldn't have made you name the topic again this week........sorry sweetie. My accomplishments: losing some weight, getting more exercise, being more tolerant.
I have truly been fortunate this year - the good days have outnumbered the bad. My worst pain centers around my bra line. Unfortunately, at my age gravity has taken over so things aren't looking up in that area! Some days are worst then others when it come to the foggy-brain thing. It is much easier to concentrate on numbers at my computer than it is to put together a name and face so I leave that to the girls that work for me. Is it brain fog because I am having a hard time recalling an orgasm? I don't own a pair of heels and that's tough because I am shrinking and have to hem everything! I wish I could stay awake long enough to continue this list; but, that's another story.
Ok good question Nana. I can type but handwriting is terrible Havent worn heels in years, wedding for son. Afterwards took them off and put on tennies. I can rid my house of hand me downs, they were from Mama and Grandmama but I am understanding they are just things, not them. Much more tolerant of folks who are young and have dissablities Dress myself most days. Can do light housekeeping and dont feel bad asking for help Can fix supper most nights Can drive most familar places. Getting harder due to foot Do have orgasms, most times Showering is somedays a trial, have a hard time with back brush Learning that downsizing is a good thing Do a great job packing up boxes as long as I sit when I get too tired
I can go without a bra! Oh yeah! I can wear pjs all day. (Even shopping) I can cook a LOT faster! (We like our food charred....really) I can read OR watch tv OR talk on the phone. I can keep my house just this side of condemed. I can wear bedroom shoes everywhere I go. I can shower twice a week... if I want to. I can go without shaving my legs or underarms. I can think of the spanish, german or tagalog word for something if I can't remember what it is in english... Fat lot of good that does! Lol! I can drive by a help wanted sign without wanting to apply for the job. I can sleep for 14 hours if I'm sick. (That makes me proud/happy/excited) I can walk around with no make-up on. I can make LISTS of things I need to do. I can get rid of a lot of things in the house. (So I won't have to clean them.) I enjoy staying home now. I enjoy learning a new language. I enjoy reading the bible. I enjoy watching HGTV. I enjoy facebook and moderating on my fav eons group. I enjoy writing and receiving letters from my on-line friends. I get really excited at the end of the month b/c the light bill comes and I get to see how much more money we have left to send to my adopted child May. The one thing I'm most happy about is, I got to know God. Good thing too, now if I can't do something, He does it for me. Oh yeah! Loving God!
I loved everyone's messages. Makes me think that with God's grace WE CAN DO IT! I can still walk on my treadmill. I can still cook for myself most days. I make big pots of soup and freeze some for later, so I don't have to cook so often. I can wake up at the crack of dawn or sleep in till noon. I can still have the "Big" O multi-times if I want to. No headaches lately, yahoo! I can still work in the garden and watch everything grow. I can still clean my apartment, just takes a little longer because I get sidetracked easily. (Watch tv, play on the computer, talk on the phone, visit neighbors, etc.) I still have my sanity and can make up my mind to do whatever strikes my fancy.
I can read a book, see a movie more than once because I can't remember the end. I can spend the day on the couch if I need to, because no job/on disability I can keep on going because I have the support of my wonderful suppportive friends on this website. I can thank God for giving this disease ???? to get me to slow down and smell the roses.
I can still do pretty much what I did before, but I pay for it, so I've learned to back off a bit, sometimes, and have no problem declaring a "down day" and lay about and read or something. What really makes me despair at times is how I feel I come off so dumb to people when I have word loss, or a simple thought just disappears into the ether in mid sentence. The pain at time is distressing and makes me overwhelmingly tired, along with lack of sleep issues, but I have to be thankful, because so many of you have such intense pain and are forced to take drugs that may rob you of feeling normal. Normal is subjective in our world, so I just put Prep H under my eyes to try and reduce the bags which I could pack for Europe with, and try to do the best I can.
I can stay positive. I can be thankful for what I do have. I can cook now my standards have relaxed and I accept soup and a sandwich is a meal. I can ask for help. (That was a hard one!) I can take a nap instead of staying in bed ALL day. I can make lists and often find them and sometimes take them with me. I can accept that even though I go slow, I can still go. I can travel and see new things and meet new people. I can drive and accept that I need lots of breaks and it takes a loooong time to get anywhere. I can communicate even if parts of it seem like playing Charades. When I lose a word, I can find another. Often the words are unrelated. I can keep my sense of humor and laugh at myself. I can be patient, even with myself. I can be empathetic without trying to "fix" everyone and everything. I can be frugal without feeling deprived. I can be a good friend but I can also set boundaries. I can say "NO!" I can try to help others even when I'm feeling low. I can live my life to the best of my ability one day at a time.
I can walk. I can talk. I can hear. I can go to the bathroom on my own. I can laugh. I can make people laugh. I can drive. I can spend money! I can clean if I want to. I can watch all the TV I want to. I can write. Type. I can eat candy! I can have sex. And have a big O every now and then! I can call anyone I want to on the phone. I can make decisions. I can practice chair yoga. I can iron. I can be on the internet. I can love my children and grandchildren. My list actually can go on and on and I can go without a bra!
