Oh just a little bit , ooh just a little bit more - please!

Referring to energy.....

Just beginning to realise that I can't do everything as well as I did, as quickly as I did and the real difficulty in learning to pace ones self . Just climbed into bed after cooking nearly all day, struggling to get all the girls presents downstairs ( without waking them!) - knowing that already, I can't keep my damn legs still and that sleep is a million miles away!

Really looking forward to tomorrow and it is so very much worth all the effort ( and pain) - just hope I've got the energy to enjoy it all.

How do others manage to pace themselves/ continue to manage Day to day stuff- work, kids, home etc? Any tips would be hugely appreciated!

14 Replies

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Multijo

2 years ago

I too struggle with pacing. I had gotten pretty good when it was just the MS. But when the RA and fibro diagnoses came in I could never longer do work and family life and I was driving myself into the ground. After trying for a couple of years I could no longer work. So.....

Even though I was sad to leave work. I liked the people, the job, and the salary. But I thought there would be a silver lining in that I would be able to become adept at pacing for my energy level and guess what? Sometimes I am not too bad at it and other times I am not very good at all. So be patient with yourself you will become the most expert at knowing your limits and what you need to do to guard yourself.

When I finally realized working within my limits was not giving in....if they are your limits they are you limits. It's an "is" for you.

Things that helped me were not expecting as much around the house needed to be done they I fought it should happen. I borrow, trade for and sometimes pay for help I need. Keep up with exercise; I am convinced it is as powerful as some of my drugs. Meditation and simple yoga are also helpful.

Good luck. You will learn to do this for yourself. Forgive yourself for what you cannot do. It's okay.

CaerylUSA

in reply to Multijo

2 years ago

That is an important point Multijo - "if they are your limits they are you limits. It's an "is" for you." That is true in so many venues of our lives.

My sister lost her wonderful husband a few months ago, and our mother (who lost her husband of 42 years back in 2012) keeps telling her it is "time to move on". I keep telling her that only she can decide that. I think that is especially true with this disease.

Your other point is excellent too. I used to clean house every week, top to bottom, while working full time, going to school, etc. etc. etc. Now I clean when I have to, and again when I can or want to. While the house is never really "dirty" my standards are not the same as before the RA.

And yes, we pay sometimes for help. We have 1/3 of an acre of land here and it is covered with leaves in the fall and winter. We just paid a man on Wednesday to rake and bag all 80 bags for us. It would have taken the two of us two days to do what he did in 6 hours (he had a very powerful leaf blower - big difference...).

Hope you are having a great Christmas holiday.