Realise how much stress affects PMR

[Rosina1871]

Yesterday my broadband stopped working for a few hours so I spoke to my provider and I spent 45 minutes on the phone trying to sort it out. I had to undo the socket on the wall and mess about with plugs. Not a difficult task but at the end of the session I felt awful. It was my line dancing night and I debated whether to go or not. I went with a view that if I continued to feel unwell I would go home. By the end of the evening I felt tired but so much better. The exercise and laughing with my friends uplifted me. It made me realise that even a small amount of anxiety/stress can really throw me off balance now, whereas it wouldn’t have bothered me previously. Does this sound familiar?

[SheffieldJane]

Totally familiar, lucky you, having somewhere to build up the endorphins again - and it worked! Nowadays the loss of internet connection renders us pretty helpless, so it is a big issue. I am pretty stressed when I don’t understand fully how to even ask the right questions with IT.

[Daisyfield]

Yes...it seems to have a huge effect on me...I sometimes have to do meetings and presentations for work...which while I love makes me quite nervous about doing a good job of it. The emotional energy for one event threw me for a week. Whereas doing stuff from home, with friends and family doesn't have that stress pressure. Last week I couldn't walk 200 yards, yet last night had lovely slow 3 mile walk across fields and felt almost normal.

[Hidden in reply to Daisyfield]

I have found good and bad stress mess my body up. In good stress situations there are often things like laughter and physical movement that do help. Bad stress just closes my brain down and then my body. Part if how fibro and PMR function around stress hormones.

[Oxford8 in reply to Daisyfield]

Oooh. I like the sound of 'almost normal' Daisy field. 🌼🙂🙂

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Definitely - even a telephone conversation brought me out in a cold sweat. And a husband on at me to do a second thing while I'm doing something is very upsetting... Though that has been worse the last month or so while I've been ill too. And that is on 15mg pred so plenty of steroid available!

[GOOD_GRIEF]

When I feel stressed, I ask myself "Who's going to care in 100 years?"

Kind of puts a real perspective on things.

[Mindful3]

It’s so comforting to find other people have similar experiences. I’ve found taking my time to do things is a big help, and social events with good friends that I feel comfortable with, lifts my spirits. .

[fmkkm]

Part of the problem is our adrenal glands are responsible for releasing hormones to regulate our stress response. I don’t do well with any kind of stress these days, I try to avoid it, easier said than done!!

[Linny3]

Yes I have great difficulty dealing with the simplest of stressors. I keep telling my husband that I just don't have the capacity anymore to deal with the least of stresses. I had the patience of Job before pmr now I go off very easily. I try to be as kind as I can, It often takes great effort, where before that simply wasn't a problem. I have already walked out of the dentist office because they were running late and I just didn't have the patience to wait. They came running after me and brought me back to the office where the dr. saw me immediately.

PMR is a struggle to say the least.

[Cyclegirl54 in reply to Linny3]

Can relate to this! Got myself in a tizzy when waiting in Boots for the flu jab last year! Thought my head was going to burst! Horrible!

[Blearyeyed]

Yes we all often get more symptoms and Fatigue from stress than physical things.

It was good to hear that you did still get out and were able to take advantage of the stress relief of being with friends.

Those positive wellbeing activities that we do can really help keep up from sliding back and getting more PMR issues related to Mental symptoms when we have the physical energy to do them .

Keep dancing!!

[Mindful3 in reply to Blearyeyed]

Your final paragraph is VERY helpful.

I’ll copy it out and keep it in my bag.

[teesher]

Hi Rosina, sounds very familiar. I get a burning pain between my shoulders which is where my pmr started four years ago. It lifts after a little while. You learn to go with the flow. Line dancing sounds great fun.

[Rosina1871 in reply to teesher]

Yes line dancing is fun and you don’t have to join in if you don’t want to. Just sit and watch and have a cuppa! Thanks for all your responses x

[Snowy12]

I also find it really difficult to do what used to be the simplest of things. I tried to paint my toe nails and with the pred jitters and trying to concentrate. Sweating like a sumo wrestler and looking like one in the face theses days it was really not easy. I made a terrible job of it! I am still on 45mg pred so I know I need to be patient but still not easy. Glad you are still enjoying your line dancing 🕺 💃🏼 x

[whitefishbay]

I swear exercising (whatever that may be) and hanging with friends is a tonic. You might feel achy and tired but better emotionally/mentally. ALWAYS worth it (if you can get there).

[bunnymom]

I find there are many things I just can't tolerate anymore. And I say things I never would have said before.I really have to guard my tongue!