Good that there’s a little relief with the moving, here & there. I shd think that churches cd easily organize transport and people’d be thankful - all outside, & helping people. What about charity shops? (We have Red Cross & social ministry, connected to, but a little independent of churches.)
Interesting that you can put things out for ‘free’ where you are, I always thought it’s the standard of living here in Germany as well as a modern tendency to need less things that has brought this up since about 2005. COVID brought an upsurge too, due to people having time to clear up their homes… We write “to give away” on it.
Hello Grammy what a good post too many of us do try hide our feelings towards their physical and mental health and I have been inclined to be one of them recently I have had a few nights of severe depression and sleeplessness myself since coming home from the hospital after being admitted for the fourth time this time I had a heart attack and have been told my heartbeat is permanently beating too fast and it will be like ha now I am so weak I cannot do anything I am explaining this as my feelings were the same as yours these nights then I thought of my two lovely sons espically my Special needs son who loves me unconditionally.You go on and start writing your book and I cannot wait to get the honour of reading it .We all love you Grammy and I am happy to have you as a friend we will keep each other going.Lots of Love. Annette.
1 Like
Hi JayCS,
It is a bit of a relief to get a few things sorted out. The churches are not taking in anything at the moment due to the virus and don’t know when they will start to do that again and have jumble sales etc. Also, all our charity shops are closed-also due to the virus and doubtful they will reopen before March. We are moving at just the wrong time, but that’s how it worked out. Putting few more things out this morning as long as it doesn’t rain yet again.
SueT.
1 Like
*sigh * Hmm, before I’m completely stumped, one more try (I don’t even give up when all ideas drain up…): True, not being able to do jumble sales (esp. books here) stop churches etc. from taking things here too. What I was thinking more of is if they can act as an agent to find needy people with/and transport-possibilities. That’s what our churches are doing. Quite a few shops here are doing “to go”-services, if you call them, don’t know about charity shops. But since most needy will be more needy at the mo, it’d be fair for them to do so, collecting & bringing etc. c’d all be without any personal contact. Then eBay classifieds and neighbourhood-web-services are used for this now - just searched, yours might be called nextdoor.com, goneighbour.org, eNeighbors.com.
1 Like
Hi,
Well, just a week to go now before we move, and have got rid of more stuff, so not much left, thank goodness. I am hoping that a new doctor and surgery will have some ideas on anything I can do to help my back. It has been extremely painful all the time and my chest is tight, and stomach/sides etc very painful as well. I can’t move without pain, and it’s driving me crazy. Think I’m driving my husband crazy as well, he keeps saying it is all down to ‘stress’. I’m beginning to feel that I can’t keep putting up with it all, but don’t know what to do to help myself any more.
SueT.
Hi SueT and everyone. I’m in sooooooo much pain. But first, SueT, are you able to buy a back brace/ wrap that goes around your waist and has Velcro in the front to adjust for size and comfort? Are you moving to an area that will be better for your Fibro? It hit me in the middle of the night. Pain!!! I was on prednisone for 6 days to help lesson the chances of having a flare during my procedure. I had about 9 days of really, really minimal pain. But, ever so quietly, my Fibro was hiding around the corner waiting for just the right time to show it’s ugly face. Pain in my muscles and joints, throbbing pain. And the feeling a thousands of tiny knives piercing my hands, feet, arms and legs. Plus an all over, low level, of a burning sensation. Nothing can touch my wrists, hands, ankles or feet. The weight hurts too much. I’m sure there are many of us experiencing this today as well. This has been my life. This happens to me at least 3 out of 7 days in a week. Can I say I feel sad? Can I say I’m alone? Can I say I wish there was someone in my life to help me? I’m feeling sorry for myself right now. But when I’m finished with this, I will smile at my 7 pound dog who hasn’t left my side all day. I will smile because I have a big window to look out at the sunshine. And I will know how blessed I am to have all of my Fibro warriors, you, from all over the world, supporting me. 
2 Likes
Hey all. New to the group (though not new to the pain).
I was so glad to read through the post and see such thoughtful comments and support. Boy, do we all need that.
And it’s sure good to know that other people feel like this and I’m not just being a whiner or dramatic.
2 Likes
Hi, EnjoyLife! Welcome to our community!
No one here will ever call you a whiner or dramatic, no matter what you tell us. I think it is great that you chose such an optimistic Name! Isn’t that the secret? To try our best to “enjoy life,” even though we live in pain? When Freedom described her pain, but ended her post with how grateful she is for her precious little companion and her big window with the sunshine, we see her thankfulness for life’s blessings despite the constant suffering caused by FMS.
@Freedom, hang in there, my friend. Saying prayers and hoping you will have relief soon. 
I try. Lol…
Some days I force myself to be positive because I’m afraid if I give into it,it will run me over and I won’t get back up.
It stinks having to change what I can do these days. Tough on the psyche. But, I still want to experience so many things.
1 Like
I agree -EL! It is really difficult to know how much you can do! It’s kind of like walking a tight rope wondering if you are “overdoing” and will pay for it the next day. That has happened to me a LOT. Just a trip to the store can mean I’m going to be out of commission for much of the following day! 
Oh boy, is that truth. I had 15 years in the martial arts so I was very used to moving around. Now, I can’t run errands and hit Costco on the same day. Lol
I shifted to yoga, which I love. I do use CBD which helps on the lighter pain days (and I talked to rheumatologist about).
I guess its a shift in what you do rather than thinking too much about what’s lost.
1 Like
How true! I’m sure you have grieved over the loss of martial arts, since they were so much a part of your life. I can still type, so work full time, but I was also a pianist for most of my life and had to give that up. I had thumb joint replacements and neck surgery, but I’ve lost the cartilage between the bones in my wrist and playing piano (as my 2nd job) was just too painful. I lost something that gave me so much joy, and it was hard.
But, life goes on, and other blessings come into your life (such as my little granddaughter!), and we all do the best we can to work with what we have. 
Oh wow! You played piano? That’s pretty awesome and wonderful that you had it, too. Music really does reach where we don’t have words.
I’m a mental health counselor so as long as the mind works, I can work. Ya think I’d have this stuff down by now myself. LoL.
1 Like
Ah - A counselor! No wonder you give such good advice! 
You know, EL, pain does terrible things to people. Yes, you’re a counselor, and you understand that our mental health can be changed b/c of chronic pain, but you are also a human being, facing your own daily battle with FMS and other chronic ailments, and some days can be brutal. We are having freezing temps and blizzard conditions here in Oklahoma (I’m “AussieMom” b/c I own a toy Aussie - Most folks think I’m in Australia…LOL) -anyway, I’m waking up every day (for the last few days) with terrible hand, wrist, shoulder and foot pain, since drastic weather changes cause my arthritis to flare (one reason I haven’t posted in several days).
I don’t ski, but I think maybe it would be like, if you were a trained skier, and you knew the mountain like the back of your hand…except, that, every day you start to ski down it, you realize it is completely different and much more dangerous & difficult to maneuver than the day before. The challenge of that, day after day, would probably make you find a different place to ski! But, we have to deal with this same body, and its fluctuating pain, day after day, not knowing what tomorrow will bring. It changes us (body, mind & spirit), and some days it feels like it is trying to destroy us.
I’m glad you are here, EL. You have a positive spirit which is greatly needed on this site full of hurting people. I do my best to encourage others, but I’ve also found that, when I have a really bad day, my friends here are offering their support - It means so much coming from someone that understands what you are going through - This disorder that is invisible to everyone else. 
Also, thank you for your comments about music - I couldn’t have put it better myself! I still play sometimes - It puts me in better spirits! When I’m down, even my pain management doctor tells me to go home and play the piano!
1 Like
Hi EnjoyLife, I’m glad you’re on this site too. It’s hard to come to terms with your new life when you still long for your old life. I remember my “ old me” and I haven’t fully accepted that I can’t be that person anymore. I used to swim, water ski, downhill ski, mountain bike, road bike, climb and much much more. Today I went to the grocery store and picked up 6 items. It took about an hour. When waiting to check out, I had to put my head on the grocery card handle to rest. I was exhausted. On the positive side, now that I’ve had to dramatically slow down, I appreciate the tiny little things in life. Like when the trees and flowers start to bloom, watching the birds interact and fly in the air, watching hundreds of geese fly above In formation. If I’m lucky, some will fly very close to me and I hear the wooshing of their wings flapping. It’s a beautiful sound. Like AussieMom said, you are a counselor and have much to offer. But you are first a valued person with fibromyalgia. We are here for you. It’s a place where you don’t have to pretend. And you don’t have to have all the answers.
2 Likes
AussieMom, my day is getting better. My primary doctor apologized to me and ordered a topical medication that doesn’t cost $498.00! She realized that there was a computer delay and didn’t get my message that I wrote on Saturday until this morning. I have a lot of respect for her.
2 Likes
Freedom, I’m so glad your doctor is helping and prescribing something that costs less! I can’t imagine having to pay that much for one med!!!
Thank you so much for the kind words. (Both of you)
I love the analogy of being a skier. I am definitely going to use that. It describes things so well.
And being able to put down the whole thing for a few minutes and Not be strong for everyone else is so necessary to my spirit.
My husband really tries. So do other family members but they don’t really get it.
I have also found f happy in little things. I can’t wait for spring. We do a lot of porch sitting then… we have humming birds that come right up to us now. Its so cool.
2 Likes
I am SOO jealous! I love hummingbirds and feed them every year, but I have never gotten them to come up to me. Oh well, I’ll keep trying - maybe someday.
1 Like
Regarding the hummingbirds…Once, when my hubby and I were visiting his mom in Colorado, he hung a hummingbird feeder next to her kitchen window, where she could watch them. A hummingbird flew up to him trying to feed while he was still hanging the feeder! It is a sweet memory with his mom, as she passed away not long afterward.