The perils of feeling better but not *that* much better

[Louisepenygraig]

Over the last couple of weeks I've been a lot more active than I've been for a ages. I've actually been doing small amounts of housework. I've felt a bit as if I've woken up and noticed what needs doing and actually had the energy to do some of it albeit not very much. This morning however I felt I probably needed to have a rest day though. After I'd lit the fire though I saw a few bits that needed a quick going over with a dustpan and brush. This led to thinking I'd get the carpet sweeper out just to go over the carpet. 2 dogs, lots of cats, 4 adults and three children, and a woodburing stove means the floor ends up with a generous sprinkling of hair, fluff and sawdust.

Getting the carpet sweeper out from under the stairs resulted in a whole deluge of assorted detritus, including Christmas wrapping paper which really belongs in the loft. I thought I could just sort that out and then one thing led to another and now the cupboard is empty, my back hurts and I really do need to rest! I'm hoping it's not as bad as it looks but I think it might need to stay like that for a bit!

[SnazzyD]

Yup, sounds familiar.

[KellyInTexas]

Do you know the children’s book, If You Give Mouse a Cookie?

It’s absolutely delightful! It was a favourite when my children were small, and it really captures what happened to you !

P.S.- for all you lovely ladies reading this- I can’t recommend this children’s book enough . It’s funny, sweet, and upbeat and had me and my children giggling. Ages 4- 7 I’d say.

It’s time to think about Christmas, Hanukkah....

[Thelmarina in reply to KellyInTexas]

Ordered it. Thanks x

[Hidden]

Yes. Thats why I close my house as I walk around the house. 😊

[KellyInTexas in reply to Hidden]

You’re depriving some ADHD mouse somewhere in need of a trim!( and a cookie!)

[Hidden in reply to KellyInTexas]

Up to 2 years ago I shared my house with Lots of mice. I have managed to put steel wool in most of the entry points now but I had a little run in earlier I. The year when one ram over my legs. If they had been housetrained I would let them stay but they pee everywhere. My dog used to watch them playing. Now I have full time neighbours both sides it's not too bad. Fingers crossed. 🐀🐁

[KellyInTexas in reply to Hidden]

Oh! Yes we’ve had a few now and then when we were in New Mexico.

I’ll explain briefly the premise of the book - and why it reminded me of her- so Louise doesn’t think I’m implying she might have mice- she might not sleep!

In this cute story a little boy is sitting outside of his home on the front steps eating a cookie. Along walks a mouse and asks if he might have a cookie also.

The boy obliges, goes into the house, and returns with a cookie for his new mouse friend.

But then... the happy go lucky mouse remembers that cookies make him thirsty. So he asks for a glass of milk. So the boy invites him in and gives him a glass of milk.

Then the mouse needs to wash the milk moustache off his whiskers in the washroom, looks in the mirror, which reminds him he needs a trim....

And it just goes on and on like that... one thing triggers another until the house is in chaos!

“ If you give a mouse a cookie 🍪...”

“ if you give a patient pred, they might feel well enough to clean the kitchen cupboards. If they feel well enough to clean the kitchen cupboards, they might decide to replace the chipped plates before Christmas. If they decided that, they might decide they can squeeze a full shopping day in in only three hours AFTERN they have already tackled all the cupboards...”

And that’s the analogy of the mouse and the cookie... and the prednisone and the imaginary new dishes. Not so imaginary... this is exactly what almost happened to me last week ... I’m down several chipped plates.

But I decided to divide and conquer- it’s called amazon.

[Louisepenygraig in reply to KellyInTexas]

I'm not worried by mice, where we live we're used to sharing our house with nature 😁

[Blearyeyed]

That looks like the house of someone whom has been very productive.

It always looks worse just before it's finished.

A bit like me !!

Well done , glad you are feeling better xxx

[Louisepenygraig in reply to Blearyeyed]

Some of its gone back now and quite a bit thrown away. As my daughter pointed out its the downside of doing our best at trying to live in an eenvironmentally friendly way. If we didn't save envelopes, wrapping paper etc to reuse life might be that bit easier and tidier! We have decided to limit what we keep though and burnt the rest.

[Blearyeyed in reply to Louisepenygraig]

You could pretend you were getting ahead for Christmas by getting the wrapping paper out now , it would also mean one less thing to put away again!😁😂😂😋

[Arflane97G]

I know the feeling, at the end of 14 days on 10 mg of steroids I was feeling so much better decided to tackle some kitchen cupboards - way under estimates how much rubbish there was in there and way over estimated my capacity to deal with it. Lesson learnt , little bits every day !

[SheffieldJane]

I’ve been there. I end up feeling very cross like a hamster stuck on a wheel. Feet up for a good while now!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Obviously I've had PMR for far too long - I don't remember ever being like that!

[Meggsy in reply to PMRpro]

I’m with you PMRpro!

[Louisepenygraig]

I sensibly decided to retire to bed after lunch as the best way of stopping myself. I've somehow strained my back so I can barely walk anyway but that didn't stop me trying to potter.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

BTW - what exactly IS pottering? I'm very good at occupying myself - but I couldn't/wouldn't? ever say I pottered since it is a bit difficult to "move around is a desultory/unhurried way" doing the things I do. Handling the computer poses problems ...

[Louisepenygraig in reply to PMRpro]

Pottering is the word I use to describe doing bits and bobs that involve standing up and moving around, like putting a couple of books away or cleaning a light switch but not enough to qualify as tidying up or cleaning.

[Thelmarina]

Going to bed is my worst. I see so many little things that need tidying and sorting that I have to resolutely go past them or I’d be up to the small hours!

[Fireleigh]

Well done! It’s always nice to hear your descriptions of the stages of getting better. I hope you can stay at this stage even with a bad back. How many mg of Pred are you on now? I think I am at a similar stage after 22 months. I take 3.5 mg and I just don’t want to flare and go backwards despite the sciatica that’s plagued me fo the last seven months. I’m having treatment for the sciatica.

[Louisepenygraig in reply to Fireleigh]

Thank you for your reply. I'm very nearly at 9.5 now after 2 and a half years so I'm going much more slowly than you. I'm hoping I might be able to keep going at a reasonable, but slow pace until i reach the point where my adrenals need to start working again. I'll just have to see how it goes.

Unfortunately what ever I did to my back it's really bad now and I can barely walk around. I don't think I'll try to do any more housework for a while!

[Fireleigh in reply to Louisepenygraig]

Any idea when the adrenals start up again? I thought it was below 5mg; but the pharmacist said, during a medicine review that it was at 1mg. And that some people got stuck on 1mg indefinitely.

I’m sorry about your back. It’s tiresome just when your energy is coming back. That’s what has happened with this sciatica that I have.

[Louisepenygraig in reply to Fireleigh]

I thought it was around 7mg as that is the amount the body produces naturally. Yes the back thing is a real pain. I'm sorry to hear about your sciatica. The only time I've had it badly was towards the end of my pregnancy with my first daughter. Giving birth cured that!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Fireleigh]

A recent study by a London group of endocrinologists expressed the opinion that it was below 2-3mg - much lower than has previously been thought. However - some people struggle at much higher doses.

The pharmacist is being a bit optimistic - if your adrenal function is just slow then maybe you'd get to 1mg but endos might worry sooner than that. I have never heard 1mg quoted - so lord only knows where he got that from!

[Fireleigh in reply to PMRpro]

Yes. Regarding the level at which our own adrenals kick in I’m glad you have confirmed that. It must be some new initiative. Anyone in Uk who is on a handful of medicines is likely to be nabbed. I have never heard 1mg quoted either. They check through what you are taking, make comments on them and then get you to sign. I’m glad I researched my own illness!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Fireleigh]

1mg for someone who was on short-term pred is one thing. For us???? After years????

[teesher]

I thought you'd been burgled. Good on you!