The pain I experience today may not be the same pain I have tomorrow, or what I had yesterday.
Depending on what I do will depend on how my pain will be. The funny part of this (sarcasm) is that even if I spent the day resting, it still causes pain. Getting up from a chair is like pulling myself out of wet cement, which seems to harden immediately, and then it is like it slowly falls off as I start to walk-looking zombie-like as I do.
Again, just sitting causes unbelievable pain.
Lupus and Fibromyalgia share similar symptoms, with Lupus taking the lead for long-term and internal organ, nerve and spinal-health issues. Specific blood tests ordered by a doctor will check to see if there are any auto-immune disorders you may be suffering from. As of this writing, Fibromyalgia hasn’t made it to the auto-immune category, but personally, I feel it should be.
What we do today directly affects each hour of every day and night and that pain can last for days.
Everyone’s home needs to be cleaned and maintained. Bills need to be paid, taxes done, and appointments need to be made. Bathrooms, kitchens, and other rooms need cleaned and/or vacuumed, beds (should be) made-For me, a made bed is soothing to my mind and makes the room not seem so messy. Then there the dogs and/or cats that need fed and watered, let out… let in, etc.
How about those dishes??? There are ALWAYS dishes to wash, or a dishwasher to load… and unload. There is ALWAYS laundry to be washed, dried and folded…and put away. These are all routine tasks, but for a Lupus and/or Fibro sufferer, these tasks are very challenging. Most of us cannot afford a housekeeper, so we must plan out our days to get these things done. Our mental state can hang in the balance just looking around at all that needs done, knowing how limited we really are physically to accomplish the tasks at hand.
Maybe we don’t want to admit we need help or we may feel we are complaining, so we just do it.
But we will pay for it 10x over with pain. Pain that no one understands. I think Lupus and Fibro and other CPD sufferers are the strongest people out there. We just do. We just smile. We just do our best, and a lot of times our best is better than a healthy person who we hear complaining about how tired they are from doing this or that-all while being healthy. (But that will have to be another post…)
Also, eating is kind of important. Of course, we want to eat healthy, so that means cooking. For some of us, this is a daunting task. It also means grocery shopping. Fortunately, we live in an age of grocery delivery, which helps, but sitting in front of a computer, tablet or phone to shop and purchase the items needed can ricochet our bodies into a flare within minutes.
Shopping of any kind is a horrible deal for Lupus and Fibro sufferers.
This week I have tried to rest often, pace myself and make an honest effort to put myself first. Heating pads on the recliner, comfortable walking shoes for the house to help with plantar fasciitis, short walks with deep breathing, not lifting anything heavy, being careful not to bend over too far or stretch too high, hot showers to help me sleep, you get the idea. I would LOVE to say that all that “pampering” has helped me…well, unfortunately, no. I still HURT. I always HURT. It also appears I always will HURT.
Yes, this post should be uplifting…
But these posts are real. These posts are from a real person with real pain issues, talking candidly.
If you suffer as I do, you know what I mean.
May the Lord bless you with comfort and strength. It is how I keep going.
God Bless-
~The Fibro-Lupus Momma
