I just never knew how to sit down

[Debw1]

I never listened to my body and kept going, burning out regularly, then go sick then back to the wheel again like I was superwoman , then bang! Fibro . I still struggle to rest and it catches me up more and more . Just how can I learn ? Any tips ?

[Babylons]

Sorry no tips as I’m exactly the same I keep going and going until I’m ready to drop, if you find any please share !!!!

[Austing2253 in reply to Babylons]

Good morning

I know this sounds ‘kind of’ basic, but sometimes we forget.

I try to always make some ‘ME’ time every day:

- Try hard to plan your week making sure that you don’t cram every day, knowing your body’s limits, then stick to the plan.

- Make sure you take a break every morning, lunchtime and afternoon. I know there are constraints when at work, but when not at work slow down and take it easier with extended breaks to wind down a little.

- With Fybromyalgia I had to learn to listen to my body. At the first signs of trouble STOP. We all have days when we can go all day as if Fybromyalgia is a thing of the past. I eventually learnt that these good days were always followed by a run of very bad days. Now I know it is tempting to keep going but learn to not keep going on good days but still pace yourself and keep to the plan.

- Don’t say yes to someone else’s demands when you already have a full schedule, learn to say ‘NO’.

- Be flexible. On bad days reschedule. It won’t be the end of the world if you don’t do what’s on the schedule for today.

Remember:

Our bodies are not machines.

Daily life has so many demands but how many must be done? What can you get other people to do, if possible delegate.

This life of ours is not a rehearsal for something else.

Life doesn’t go on for ever, old age arrives before you know it. Like the old joke, ‘Life is like the toilet roll, the closer you get to the end the faster it goes”. There is also a very crude version too, I won’t quote it for fear of offending someone.

Finally, good luck and take care of yourself.

[Debw1 in reply to Austing2253]

Thankyou that's great advice 🙏🏻

[Dinkie]

ahhh the dreaded art of learning to pace oneself. Difficult if not nearly impossible for me. I had to learn to say "no" when by saying "yes" it would leave me burned out and unable to function. Real friends understand that because you could do something yesterday doesn't mean you will be "up for it" today. I like to compete with my dogs but I know I will have to pay for it. I liken it to a nasty little sprite sitting on my shoulder who occasionally lets me have fun but the following day demands payback. So I arrange time off work before and after an event, that way I tend to avoid the flare. Yes it does limit the amount I can do as there isn't an infinite number of days holidays I can take but it is possible to have the odd pleasure and feel relatively normal Housework - forget it, I do it as and when I can and expect the other half to do his share (it's hard not to try and re-do his half hearted attempts but wouldn't dare as I know he would just give up so I just accept what he does with grace as any help is better than none). My dear old mum does my ironing so I am fortunate in that way.

I did reduce hours at work and that helped enormously. I thought that financially I wouldn't be able to cope but you do find ways and the positive impact has been amazing. I hated going through the reasonable adjustments meetings but to be honest it was the best thing that could have happened.

Cooking - good days I cook batches and freeze so there is always something to grab from the freezer if I can't cope with cooking on another day.

Trial and error will show you what works for you. Good luck and if you have any success please share as we could all do with some tips and advice as we all tend to think we are super heroes until the flare hits !

[Debw1 in reply to Dinkie]

Love this thanks so much x

[Mandypandy1969]

I did this all my life until I was diagnosed. now I know why I kept having burnouts/bad low/depressive episodes. I have bipolar anyway but could it all be due to fibro. I Think no have had fibro since I was in my late teens. 49 now. xx

[Debw1]

Thanks I found a wonderful acupuncture man this week I floated out. I'm trying so much I've been told to try the gaps diet but feel like I'm being deprived of so much already. I've cut out gluten , sugar caffeine and alcohol and all low fat stuff with aspartame. It's just a mine field, waiting to see how this goes and then might have to go full gaps diet. It's worth a read if anyone has linked depleted adrenal to fibro