Hi,
I agree, it’s a mixture of the stress, travel and carrying it all, so now I do 80% on line and it gets delivered to my kitchen, which is great, plus I don’t impulse buy as the website I use keeps my list on line so I can just check or add what I need. I do have to pay a small amount for delivery but its the same as a cab there and back.
For me it’s perfect and I couldn’t do it any other way now.
Xoxo
Tracy. I live alone. Kids are in college so I have no one to assist. I get through it but it sure is the one thing that wrecks my back - hips and knees!
I am also not a fan of going to the grocery store....the laundromat either just to add. Luckily, my local store is relatively small and easy to memorize. To help me live with the exhaustion and pain, I just sing along to the piped in music and dance up the aisles to it! LOL I really DO! You can ask my husband and my sister! It may not be for every one, but it helps me tremendously.
Gosh I agree with all these comment. I live on my own. I use my iPad to order my groceries here in OZ. However when I used to go to the shops a few years ago when I was still able to get out, now I’m housebound, I hated it. The pain of waiting at the checkout. The complete lack of seating arrangements inside these large supermarkets, so that once your inside the shop you can 't sit down even for a moment until you get out via the checkout. A nightmare. In the end I had to just give it up,and initially I did that by paying extra and getting the smaller local supermarket to deliver, and then the larger stores came on line, and now I just use my iPad,and they carry the goods to my kitchen table, no bending down. makes a huge difference. There must be lots of people out there who are similarly suffering.
Shopping of any kind makes me so dizzy that I can’t see straight. Then the headache comes piling itself onto the exhaustion. I am so tired of being tired and so angry at not being able to do the things I was able to before this fibro got so much worse and no one can see how miserable I really am. I’ve had cancer three times and it didn’t get me down as much as this is
HI KV,
No, you are not the only one who is wiped out with this! First it's getting ready, wears you out to get a bath, get dressed, then ride there, get the cart, get in. I even have help from my Mom when I go, we have learned to each get a cart and NOT use the bottom of the cart, that saves some bending and twisting.
You have to figure from first taking it off the shelf til you get it put away in your home, you have lifted it about 5 times in total. Walking the concrete floors in the super cold store just makes me thump!
There are large stores in some of the larger cities where you can order your food online, pay online, and it is delivered to your door. We do not have that here!
I agree this is just the worst!
Hope you have recovered!
SK
I understand the dizzy spells, I get those too and then my stomach starts to roll and I need to sit down, sometimes right in the middle of the isle, that is so embarrassing.
Ohhhh darn! How about delivery? Von’s here in San Diego delivers…i used that when my kids were babies and the other kids were not drivers yet. But it is nice to go yourself.
I try to avoid graocery shopping because of the pain it causes me. Thank God my hubby is always willing to help.
You are right. I have a boyfriend and won’t go unless he goes with me now. Thankfully, he is here to help me so I can buy more and go less. It wears me out anyway.
I break into a sweat halfway through. If the store has a mobile cart (like a scooter with a cart)- leave your pride home and use it. Instead of doing a big buy, plan on going a couple of times a week if necessary.
Go with a neighbor who can help carry things. When I lived alone I used the idea of "if I can't carry it I don't buy it" to keep on budget. You'd be surprised at home much we buy that is not necessary. Do you really need canned veggies or soups? You can buy other items and make them- yes I know it takes work but that is what a crock pot is for.
DOn't buy the large gallon of milk, buy quarts. Set up a buddy system with another neighbor who lives alone and go together. Pay for part of the gas if that makes you feel better.
Grocery stores that know you will help by having a clerk walk around with you and get things for you. Get to know the manager and see if he/she will help by letting you call with an order and have it ready for you to pick up. I like to pick my own veggies and fruit. You can do that if the manager has the rest of the order ready- time saver and they will pack lightly if they understand. My 2 store managers know me by first name as do most of the cashiers. It really makes a difference. One even saves me my light peach yogurt when they start to run low if I call and ask if they have some in stock.
Not just you. I try to do two small trips/week. After I bring in the groceries I only put away the frozen and refrigerated items. I leave the rest until after I rest. Sometimes I leave the fruit and veggies until after I rest. A few hours at room temperature won't hurt them. Actually, doing almost anything is the pits. Grocery shopping is a necessary evil. I do tip someone to put the bags into my car and the people at the market where I shop are always willing to put the groceries from my cart onto the conveyer belt. People are basically good if you explain that you have a health problem.
I agree 100%. My post follows.
I hear you for sure. I live alone and on the second floor of a condo complex, with really steep stairs. There are only two floors, so no elevator. My garage is not attached of course, so I never want to make more than one trip back down the awful stairs, out to the car, back in through the security door, up the stairs and back into my condo. So what do I do? I either make sure I go to a store where I bag my own stuff so I can pack the bags light, or I tell them to pack them light - but what difference does that make because I still attempt to carry six bags up the stairs at once! I wouldn't say that I pay for it for several days later because I do try to go more frequently so as to avoid having such big amounts to carry.
My only suggestions are to say that even though it is often hard to get out of the house, try getting to the grocery store more often, so that the grocery loads aren't as big. It also allows you to buy more fresh fruits and vegetables, which are healthier. The other thing that I almost always do is make the grocery store a stop on the way home from somewhere else so I am not making a special trip. If it's a day when I'm really tired I just use the electric scooter cart things the store has and I do it without shame. Even though we all get those looks from people that say "She doesn't look like she has anything wrong with her, why should she be using that?" I'm over that, just use the cart when you need it. I have a sister who has horrible back and hip problems due to bone issues and one day we were shopping together I suggested that she use one of those because I could tell that every step she took was hurting her and she looked at me horrified. She's so stubborn that way. Not me, I have learned to listen to my body and I do what I need to do.
Good luck KVH. Gentle hugs,
Judy
Yes, going to the grocery store is a tough one and it's hard on our bodies. I live alone and my garage is detached. By the time I get the groceries into the house I need to take a break. I make sure the milk and the frozen stuff is away where they belong and then my back needs a rest so I go to my computer for awhile.
Grocery shopping and doing laundry are becoming chores I must force myself to do. My washer and dryer are in the basement and that is down a flight of nine steps. Now that I have recently been diagnosed with osteoarthritis I understand more of the reasons that I have so much pain in joints that are used when doing the laundry.
But much as it pains us I think it is good as it forces us to get up and move!!
I pay my aunt once a week to come do laundry, and I need groceries she takes me and lifts heavy things in the cart. I, too, buy multiples. It kills me still.
Two questions- Does using a rolling cart that you can buy and keep help? My mother had one like that.
If I had a link to a company that delivers eco-friendly (low cost- lower than supermarket regular items like Tide) laundry, cleaning, vitamin, facial items, and even many of the non perishable items you use regularly- would you be interested? Send email to ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■. These are products that avoid items that most people are allergic to (scents, bleaches). Nationwide. Not sure if I want to tell about it yet, just found out and trying them myself.
Linda, I would not be interested because I live in a small town of 3700 people so I prefer to go to the grocery store and pick and choose for myself.
A better way to shop would be to buy only some at a time. That way you don't have so much to carry into the house and put away. But I know when winter comes I will have to do some strong convincing to get myself out in the cold.
It's all a matter of choice.
Gentle hugs
Rachel
one thing that kinda helps is using the motor cart in the store instead of walking. u can ask a bag boy to help load the groceries in the car. maybe call the store and tell them your struggles and see if they have any other options.
The walmart we shop at hve electric carts with baskets and boy do I enjoy shopping that way..but my husband is not a walmart shopper but when we need lots of groceries we go to wallymart..