What does it feel like to you?

[Bb1878]

Hi All, hope your all doing well 😀. Well ive just hit this weeks slump after a couple of good days, I did too much yesterday due to my car being off the road so ended up doing too much walking and went over my limit. Im now on strict rest days until I can rise again.🙄.. Anyway. It got me thinking - what does a slump/crash feel like to you? Do u know as soon as u awake your "going down" or does it creep up on u? For me it usually starts in my legs, they start going shaky, then the breathing becomes laboured followed usually by headach/nausea/ brain fog and just "that feeling". I've had them all this morning, so know what I need to do now & hopefully i can start the climb again in few days..Id be interested to hear your stories!

Have a great day and best wishes 😀 Bb.

[paxo05]

Hi. For me if its physical it's a though I seize up. I also find knowing where my left leg is becomes more of a problem. If I don't stop I seem to crash.If its mental tiredness then the dreaded brain fog increases and concentration is a problem. Same again if I try and battle through I just crash and burn and take longer to recover.

Taking rest breaks and forward planning seems to work to some extent but life sometimes gets in the way as usual.

Pax

[Bb1878 in reply to paxo05]

Hi, thanks for your reply. Yes life does get in the way doesn't it! I've taken a conscious decision recently to enjoy the good days and try and get stuff done, rather than try and conserve and preserve the energy to keep the run going longer. I know the crashes this way are harder than if I'd done less but I just love feeling 'normal' again on the good days so am enmbracing that feeling while I can and enjoying it while it lasts! Thanks and best wishes, Bb.

[paxo05 in reply to Bb1878]

I know what you mean. I try and do the same unless I'm planning on wanting to do something. As for normal....I gave up on that years ago.Pax

[Catx1978]

I've never really taken much notice. I know that I get ill easily, I was sick the last two times. I get really really tired and feel emotional all the time. Thinking about it , my legs seize up completely and I struggled to concentrate. I used to be able to go out at the drop of a hat and now I have to plan everything and think of every issue there could be. That in itself is tiring. Life does get in the way and you can't always navigate through things

[Horrorfan in reply to Catx1978]

I can relate to your comment my emotions can feel overwhelming . I too find going out hard and I plan my every move mostly associated around toilets as anxiety seems to hit my gut bad. Every day Can be so mentally draining .

[Catx1978 in reply to Horrorfan]

I'm scared of going out anywhere because of the effort needed to plan everything around the effects of the injury, how tiring even the planning can be and how tiring the actual day can be and how tired I am afterwards. It overwhelms me and frustrates

[Horrorfan in reply to Catx1978]

Yes I can imagine a very exhausting day for you. Sometimes makes you think what is the point going out when it's so tireing and challenging to do so. I'm my own worst enemy for my negative thinking and my constant what if..

[Catx1978 in reply to Horrorfan]

It actually puts me off going out. I've mentioned this to my rehab assistants and occupational therapist to see if they can help

[Horrorfan in reply to Catx1978]

Do you mind me asking do you have trouble walking etc or is it more of a psychological thing .

[Catx1978 in reply to Horrorfan]

I can walk but not very fast and not for long, I can stand but not for long. I can just about climb stairs but my main impairments are cognitive. I've also have low moods, get frustrated and snappy. I don't mind anyone asking, I'm happy to talk about it.

[Horrorfan in reply to Catx1978]

I seem to drain myself with my up and down feelings. Anxiety seems to make me tired I have fibromyalgia too so I get flare ups of feeling pretty weak. This is a good place to vent all feelings etc isn't it where noone judges anyway. 🙂

[Percylovesbees]

I think I’m beginning one as trying to reply and really tired, lost what I had originally written and struggling to concentrate. Very tired. Got up early and my job was cancelled due to sickness. So then I have to kind of recalibrate and work out what to do. Things that were second nature once just aren’t now. When plans change it takes a stupidly long while for me to move to a different task. Kind of reset the day

I just have to think of all the things that I have that make me feel happy, rest and not beat myself up about this as it’s getting hard to think today now. Will need sleep. But I still am thankful. It’sa lovely day and I hope you all enjoy it whichever energy/mental space you’re in.

It’s just one foot in front of the other sometimes is enough. Keep looking up

[Horrorfan in reply to Percylovesbees]

Yes a change in the day can throw you on times. When something goes out of plan I'm then very overwhelmed by it and become extremely fatigued and often leads to a big melt down

[Catx1978 in reply to Percylovesbees]

I get this when things change for me. I was tidying up in the kitchen and my son came in asking for ice cream and it took me a while to work out what he was asking for and what I needed to do to deal with it

[Teazymaid]

just done the same myself … cooked a meal for 13 people on Sunday and felt exhausted since then .. very irritable , very hungry , difficult to process to much information , headaches and more aches in limbs then normal aches… mine just hits me .. when I’ve done to much but in my head I keep positive thoughts as I never thought I’d be able to do what I am doing now … I just slow down until I’m ready to go again . It’s a strange world we live in 😁 sue x

[skydivesurvivor]

am lucky, no emotions anymore!! The first 10 years were very trying for those around me, had n desire to do anything which infuriated family, took another decade to grow another neuron?!! Then spent 10years looking after my mum/ dad. Pension or whatever as they became household. Was wrapped up in carting for then to realise my own improvement? Had counciling, therapy through bro. Becoming my cater. Meeting other more physically disabled friends supported me greatly. Made me realise how lucky I was!! Life is a challenge. smile to spite it!!

[Painting-girl]

Hi Bb - a bad one feels like having 'flu to me, you know, the one where if a fifty pound note fell in the front garden, you wouldn't be able to go and get it. I did mention to my consultant that I couldn't tell the difference between a bad virus and fatigue, and he said that it was because it was the same mechanism (which is interesting, as well as a little puzzling). I think when I've had a decent night's sleep, but wake up feeling like I've got a flat battery, it's probably a good sign I'm heading for trouble, and I need to cancel something, or be more careful with breaks.

Weirdly, it's also a warning I've overdone things when my insomnia kicks in (wide awake and not falling asleep at night) I was busier than usual today, so I'm not asleep yet ....

Hope you're starting to feel better again now?

[Bb1878 in reply to Painting-girl]

Hi Jen, I'm good thanks, my wipeout day was Thursday,just couldnt function at all. Thankfully yesterday and today have been considerably better however im staying in "safe mode" for a few more days to try and avoid another crash. It's really interesting what u say about fatigue and virus being from the same mechanism - wouldnt have linked them together but I guess it makes sense when u think about it! I hope u are doing ok?

Best Wishes,Bb

[Painting-girl]

The other thing that happens, when I'm taking chances on doing too much for whatever reason, is (like just now) I easily lose a few hours, when I'm not moving, and I don't go and get myself food and drinks - even if I'm really thirsty - basically I just stop, like a musical box that's run down. Does anyone else get this? Basically obviously the best thing to do at that point would be either to take a proper nap, or get food/ drink straight away, but I don't - am only just realising how weird it is.

[Bb1878 in reply to Painting-girl]

Kind of similar for me. At its worst I just cannot function at all, and everything just slows down - movement,breathing, thinking all go into go-slow mode -brain and body overload I guess. I usually try and put things down in writing for example tasks for the day, but after a crash I just cant write anything - and when i try it's like drunk slurred writing - very odd. I hope your feeling better soon anyway 😀. Best Wishes, Bb

[Painting-girl in reply to Bb1878]

Thanks Bb, that's interesting, I found typing anything really hard originally. I can't form any plan of action when I've keeled over, that's when the problems with working memory show up. Had an effective week getting flower arrangements done for a garden show today (lost unfortunately!) and I've apparently done 8,000 steps today getting the entries from home and unloaded at the hall, plus a load of chatting. Doesn't seem exactly quite so worthwhile being at this end of things at the moment, but I had lots of help from the family on previous days like this, and today I was solo, so can at least chalk up some decent improvement on that front. Plus it turns out I can make prize winning marmalade - which I'm afraid I found myself spooning directly out of the jar when I got home 🤣 Best wishes J

[Bb1878 in reply to Painting-girl]

Wow, sounds like you had a really productive (if not tiring) day 8000 steps is fantastic - well done! I hope you enjoyed the marmalade sounds yummy 😀. Take care & best wishes, Bb.