CHRISTMAS ISN'T FOR SISSIES

[Blurry62]

WE HAVE TALKED OFTEN ABOUT GCA AND PMR FLARES. CHRISTMAS IS STRESSFUL AND FRAUGHT WITH EMOTIONAL LANDMINES. PLEASE WEIGH IN ON HOW TO AVOID, MANAGE, AND FIGHT FLARES DURING STRESSFUL TIMES SUCH AS THE HOLIDAYS. I HAVE GCA AND AM TAPERING DOWN TO 16 BUT AFTER ONLY TWO DAYS I'M STARTING TO HURT AND FEEL SAD. I'M THINKING I SHOULDN'T TAPER RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU.

[GOOD_GRIEF]

Tidings of comfort and joy...

No, don't be tapering until things get calmer. You might even think about going up 0.5 mg to get through it. I did, beginning today, as a pre-emptive strike. For a whole 5mg over the course of 10 days, I'll be comfortable and avoid the holiday flare syndrome. Might even avoid the DF's.

There's always next year to continue the march...

Happy and Merry....

[Blurry62 in reply to GOOD_GRIEF]

That's what I ended up doing.

Pardon the week long silence. First I had to process everything said here for a few days. Then my internet went down.

Thank you for the advice. I appreciate it.

[SheffieldJane]

Bless you Blurry. Christmas can be hard on the emotions , particularly if you are missing people far away or loved ones who have died. I hit a low just listening to old songs on the radio whilst doing my least favourite job, wrapping parcels. I agree with you, halt the taper, it’s only a few days, then you can start again. I had my daughter’s in-laws last year and I could scarcely hold it together at the dinner table 10 people and some I didn’t know very well. I was so exhausted, having been working with my hubby in the kitchen all day. The only bit I loved was my grandsons opening the sack of toys we’d got them each. Then it was off to work on dinner. When the children went to bed, I excused myself too and felt I had been a pretty dull host, quiet at dinner and ready for bed pretty soon after. I felt guilty but it was all I could manage. This year it is just my husband and I and our son home from Edinburgh Uni. My husband has shopped and will cook. Nothing to dread and yet I miss them all, especially the children.

I just think you have to forewarn people that you can’t do everything and disappear off for rests when you need them. Accept less than perfect, let things wash over you, leave old arguments aside. Encourage folk to help.

Expect to feel really sensitive and prone to hurt feelings. In spite of what telly tells us, nobody is having the perfect Christmas. I hope this helps, just know you are not alone in finding it trying. I hope you surprise yourself and have a nice time. At least you are not the Queen with her hubby in hospital and a scandal hanging over her favourite son. She won’t bat an eye I bet that anyone can see.

[Blurry62 in reply to SheffieldJane]

Having major internet trouble.

I did tell everyone what my limitations were. We had nachos for Christmas dinner! Everyone was great about it.

I'll write more later. I'm afraid ill get cut off again. How do you deal with the fact that you aren't able to show up and be part of what's going on? I always feel like I'm letting people down.

[Blearyeyed]

I wrote a post about a week ago with ' To Taper or not to Taper' in the title , it contained our usual medicine tips and my personal choice on Tapers during Christmas , you might find it useful in making your choice.

Christmas can be Stressful , an added burden on top of a body that is already at breaking point but one we believe we can't avoid. It's not true , if you aren't up to either your Taper or Christmas festivities at this point , don't do it.

Be honest with all the people around you of just how much distress you feel , hiding the truth of your Health , Physical and Mental , stops us getting to a solution to our problems and makes Pain worse as Anxiety and Pressure grows.

If you choose to celebrate , delegate all the jobs and any that can't be delegated don't do , no part of a Party is worth organising if it means you end up in bed unable to enjoy it .

Scale back your plans and rest as much as possible in the next few days , so that if you choose to return to your previous dose you have given all your Energy to your body to allow it to heal , and hopefully get you to a more comfortable point by Christmas Day.

Allow others to Give to you by looking after You and organising themselves over this Period .

Cancel any visitors or plans to visit others for Yourself , if you are struggling like you are , these things are definitely not going to be good for you.

And , if you end up having to spend most of Christmas Day in bed then that just needs to be done , I've been there before , it happens , there is nothing to feel guilty about in it.

Take care and keep posting over the Holidays if you need to talk , replies may be a little slower with the Holiday break , but there will always be someone looking in to check on our Forum Friends and try and help when you call.

Be kind to yourself , hugs xx

[miss-philosopher in reply to Blearyeyed]

Bee, you are so sweet and kind it makes me cry. Bless you ! I hope your health really gets better in 2020. Merry Christmas and a happy new year to you and your family.

xxx Stella

[Blearyeyed in reply to miss-philosopher]

Thank you so much , I just hope that we all get a little wish granted for better Health and a little sunshine this Christmas too. Take care ,,Bee xx

[Blurry62 in reply to Blearyeyed]

I need to print this and read it every day.

Thanks

[SnazzyD]

In the grand scheme of things it’ll matter little if one goes to a reasonable ‘safe’ dose I’m sure. It can be such a weird time of bitter sweet for many and days where the usual routine disappears. Better to look back on it thinking it was a tonic rather than something that pushed one too hard and one ends up going up anyway.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

To add to Bee's reply this is a link to her profile page where you will see a list of all her Advent Calendar suggestions for managing The Season

healthunlocked.com/user/ble...

But the first rule is: Don't reduce the dose when you are expecting a stressful time - in fact, even with one of the slow tapers, keeping life quiet is a help around the halfway mark where you are about at alternate days old and new.

[Blearyeyed in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks Pro , I really must get used to how to add a link on , maybe that can be my New Year Resolution!😋😂😂😂😘