Great article BaltimoreBaby, thank you. This backs up what I learnt about pacing recently from a pain management course, and just to add that I have a major flare of PsA or Fibro or both 14 - 17 months apart. This year I stopped working after the first week of the flare rather than push on until collapse. Instead of being off work for 3-4 months I was able to go back after 2 months. And that’s a first!!
I always put this phenomenon down to adrenaline. I'm mostly homebound, but there are a few times a year when I'll be really active for a few days in a row (family visits, holidays, a local convention that I go to...) and I find that I can usually muster up the energy to be really active and for those few days and kinda push all the pain and fatigue aside to enjoy myself. Then I get home and crash. Hard. It's not something I could do on a daily basis, but my guess is that for those of you who do work regularly, your adrenaline gets pumping and helps you get through the work day but then when you get home, you find you've used up all of your resources in the meantime.
That’s terrific news, Pookie. Glad you’re developing additional coping and pacing skills. 
Hugs.
L.
Pookie said:
Great article BaltimoreBaby, thank you. This backs up what I learnt about pacing recently from a pain management course, and just to add that I have a major flare of PsA or Fibro or both 14 - 17 months apart. This year I stopped working after the first week of the flare rather than push on until collapse. Instead of being off work for 3-4 months I was able to go back after 2 months. And that’s a first!!
i just read through ALL the responses to this thread. I agree with lovepug - I am retired, lots of time to clean the house, do dishes and laundry, etc. but simply cannot get it done. I was diagnosed with fibro in 1980 and am POSITIVE it was caused by the red measles shot I was required to have. I was sick and ached for two weeks. have never been well since. after working 45 years, I hoped to ride bikes,, attend every sports event of grandkids, TRAVEL, etc., but I too, make my plans only to end up taking a "nap" or staring at the wall. I do have a little dog who is my salvation as far as walking. I was married to my second husband for 23 years, most of them wonderful, we created an extremely viable business, were together 24/7 and NEVER ran out of things to talk about. we traveled, made love, laughed, had friends, ate out often, and nibbled on toast when finances were tight. Then he began drinking after 18 years of being sober, and threatened to kill me
. I called 911 - he went to jail, and that ended the marriage. then I could no longer pay all the bills keep the business operating, etc. and 6 months ago,, had to move into a duplex. lots of anxiety. I am allergic to most/all fibro meds and rely on codeine and exercise (even though minimal) I am SO disappointed in myself. I logically know that it is beyond my control, but I look at all the years I kept going, like you nurses putting in 10-12 hour days... but I just feel like a failure most of the time. I do pray. I also find that when I am doing something like driving, going to sports, getting groceries, meeting friends, I push the pain to the back of my mind, and then collapse when I get home. sorry to ramble, but that's how it is.
Carolyn,
My heart goes out to you, you’ve coped with so much and lost so much, but please show yourself the compassion you would give to a friend. It’s not easy to do because one thing I’ve noticed about people living with chronic and painful conditions is that we are incredibly hard on ourselves. Also never apologise for letting out your feelings here, we all understand the need to vent our feelings every so often. Do you think part of the problem could possibly be due to depression? When I go through bouts of depression “staring at the wall” is one of my tells that I take notice of.
I hope you get to a better place soo,n and well done on keeping up some exercise with your dog x
Thanks so much for the concern that was evident in your response to my post on this discussion. Unfortunately, no, cutting back on my hours and hiring a part-time person is not an option. Our Board of Directors is not very forgiving or even emotionally invested of our office staff and their particular personal issues. It would only be hastening their insistence that I quit and they hire another person to do what I currently do. So, for better or worse, I will continue on until retirement - that should only be another 6 years and 3 months from now. Pfffft - piece of cake!
Mariposa said:
Oh yes, you put so much in your reply quite accurately. I know all about the plans to make one stop on my way home only to be disappointed because I simply cannot do one more thing. I recently fractured my foot and the healing is taking a long time (more than 3 months). I start physical therapy today and hopefully the PT therapist will have a knowledge of
Fibro so as not to hurt more but heal and strengthen more.My husband helps a lot and I am able to continue work part time - I have an office in my home and work as a family and individual therapist.
Some of the ideas shared by others do help - for me I need to go about it slowly at my own pace. However at times just the thought of trying something new feels overwhelming. I try to remind myself that if I can do one thing that will help me, though it may seem a very small step, I believe it will be helpful in the long run.
I hope you'll get hope as you see time getting you closer to retirement - a light at the end of the tunnel. Is cutting back your hours and hiring a part time person an option? I did this in the past, working with my employer for a win/win solution. I just couldn't handle working so many hours.
I will keep you in my thoughts and once again, thank you for being candid and expressing what you are going through. I so relate to your comments.
replying to Pookie... several years ago I was on a depression med and it worked well. recently, I have been TRIED on 3 different ones, EACH with really scarey hallucinations Doc says its because since I am 72, my metabolism has changed since 65. I just wont try another one, as I now live alone and before had a husband to "watch" me. ! am also fighting low back pain from osteoporosis and cant take the steroids that helped the fibro. I really try to remember that though the first few hours of the morning are unbearable, by mid-day I can do things and able to wash dishes do laundry, drive, etc. and then at night feel worse again. Grateful I am not in a wheelchair and that I have my cane. thanks for everyone's thoughts... even though we are all different, in ways, we are all the same. and yes, the dog is my life saver !
If I do anything for too long, it gets to me, so I work a while, sit a while, walk a while, cook a while, etc. Whatever I have to do, I break it up. I can do things for 10 hours, but not in a stretch - it is better 5, rest (sudoku, hot tea, read), 3, rest, 2 and so on... On bad days, I take a break and lay down flat on my back completely still with my arms laying comfortably straight at my sides, long enough for let my pain subside and my muscles chill out. I think relaxing and positive thoughts while I do this. It seems to help.
So far, I have managed my pain by taking breaks in activity, and restricting some activity. I haven't taken medications, yet. When I have accidentally done too much activity, my worst reactions have been icy-burning pain on arms - legs - chest, and total exhaustion. I don't move even a finger and just lay for a few hours waiting for some energy to return and for the pain to lessen. Questions:
1. What happens to you if you overdo?
2. Can it be dangerous?
3. What helps with the Pain part of this 'overdo' reaction? Any medications that help in that moment? Or natural things?
4. What helps with the Exhaustion part of this 'overdo' reaction? Any medications that help in that moment? Or natural things?
Help! My life is on hold, and I am being held hostage by this Fibro monster.
:-(
What I would like to know is: What happens if you overdo?
Hi, Marla.
Please try posting your questions as a separate discussion. I’d hate to see you limit your responses inadvertently. Hugs.
Laurie
I’m so glad I found you all. I thought my exhaustion was from being overweight and was so embarrassed. Yes, I’m so tired when I get home. I look forward to going to bed each night. Not that I’m sleepy but my body hurts. It takes everything in me to cook and clean afterwards. What do you do to manage pain and get energy?
Hi, I haven’t been on the site for quite a while but I would like to share something that has helped me so very much in the last few weeks. I was told about 4 years ago about my fibro. It definitely changed my life!
The pain was back enough but the fatigue dropped me to my knees.
Anyway, about a month ago I start the Ideal Protein Weight Loss Program. It has done wonders for me. I have been able to lose weight (which I tried everything), my energy level is gone crazy, my pain level has dropped and the pouts of fatigue are not taking days out of my life.
I highly recommend speaking to your doctors about this program as it has done wonders for me.
Just wanted to share. Have the best day possible, smile and chin up!
Its been a couple years since i posted on this thread. I am now off all meds that helped me, new doctor that GP sent me to. am taking LDN (look it up) lots of pain – i just now read my first post about the book saying its in your mind, and everyone else’s posts. I agree with all of you, when I am DISTRACTED I get along pretty well. Watching a movie with a friend, grocery shopping, driving, watching sports, all those things I can actually walk without my cane. But mornings are very bad and slow, I am retired and when home all day, I feel like crying, I accomplish very little and often take a nap. I know the disease is still active when I am distracted, but somehow I don’t notice the pain. Then I collapse when i get home.