Anyone else have this issue? I am a mom of a nine year old and I have a v supportive husband so I don’t need to get all gussied up but I do know I need to get out if my pj/sweats. I’m sitting here on Sunday afternoon, after sleeping most of the day away because my husband took DS to Sunday School and then a play. I need to get dressed so I can go out to get dinner for them (least I could do, right?) and I just can’t face the cold of the shower and then the discomfort of putting on clothes! I’m also having a really bad side effect from a med: bad water weight gain-12 lbs in 4 days-so not really feeling excited to squeeze into something else.
Really just feeling sorry for myself today even thought l know I’m v lucky in many ways.
So sorry to here you are having problems with a med. We suffer enough without additional issues. I live in either yoga pants, fleece pants in the winter and sweatshirts or zippered sport jackets. No tight jeans or tight fitted clothes for me.
It sounds like you've got some great support at home! I do too, but I feel the same as you about not looking my best everyday. My husband and i have talked about this and he'd rather I not use all my strength putting makeup on and uncomfortable clothes if it's going to cause more pain. I do have days where I go all out, but its usually for special occasions.
Getting some much needed rest was better for you so that you can spend quality time with your family. My hubby has grown to love bacon and eggs for dinner! It's our go-to meal on bad days. Take care of yourself - you may want to call your doctor and make him or her aware of the side affects you're experiencing.
YES amen YES! I have both fibro and lupus, and especially since the lupus set in, my skin has gotten SO sensitive, I only want to wear soft, non-binding, "gentle" clothing - preferably natural fibers, because I am almost always hot and sweaty, especially if I move around (except for my perpetually cold feet and hands!) But like you say, it's more than just the discomfort of the clothes themselves (OMG, don't get me started on bras! Argh!) - it's the process! By the time I get cleaned up - even worse if I have to shower first - and find clothes and struggle into them, I am WIPED! Who cares about going out, I'm ready to go back to bed! *lol* If I have to go out during the day, I have learned to get dressed for it a couple of hours early so I can sit or even lie down for a while AFTER getting dressed to recover and rest up again, before I venture out into the world. I swear, I look back at all those years I was working, when I used to hit the ground running at 7 a,m., dress from head to toe - hose, heels, hair, makeup, the whole nine yards, get the kid ready, make coffee, make my lunch, and leave the house before 7:45 --- it seems surreal. Was that really me? THEN work all day, and THEN, in the evening, deal with dinner, spend time with my daughter, even go on dates or hang out with my friends..... And I even kept my house clean? That couldn't possibly have been me! It must have been some superwoman in a body that looked like me... LOL (I'd say I want that body back, but we all know time only goes one way, unfortunately, as much as we might wish it otherwise!)
And don't even get me started on the weight thing..... I was always heavy (really - 10.5 lb baby!), but in the 15 years since the old me went AWOL, I gained 130 lbs, Then 3 yrs ago I had a horrible health scare, worked my behind off (literally) by counting every calorie and forcing myself to ride my exercise bike, and lost that 130 and 20 more besides. I was so chuffed! For once, something went right, an accomplishment! Yeah, right. Then I got pneumonia/bronchitis last winter so bad that it actually damaged my heart, and also this year my back chose to gain more herniations in both my neck and lumbar (I see the neurosurgeon tomorrow) - but between the fatigue from the year-long flare the pneumonia triggered and the pain and weakness from the lumbar and c-spine issues, I haven't been able to do diddly all year, haven't been able to cook the healthy low-calorie, low-carb food, and have gained back 45 of the lbs. I worked SO SO SO hard to lose. *cries* And those last 45 were the hardest ones, too - I sweated bullets to lose every single one, darn it. And of course, I gave away all my "fat clothes!" So now I have a bunch of clothes in my closet that are too snug, taunting me for my failure (and making me uncomfortable if I do try to squeeze in to them!)
This is my life-
Mom: what do you want for your birthday and Christmas this year?
Me: money
Mom: for what? what do you need?
Me: sweatpants, lots of sweatpants. Underwear, warm socks, some soft bras. Slippers...maybe some footie jammies, if I really splurge....
Mom: oh..... uh, ok.
*******
Ah, the glamorous exciting life of living with fibro! Happy Sunday,Girlcab and everyone else (and happy birthday to me, at least for the next 85 minutes. LOL) Even fat and sloppy, any day we're still breathing and have people that love us and listen to us is a good one. <3
Girlcab, how well I relate. I long ago gave up fashion for comfort. My penchant for stilettos has been replaced with joint friendly walking shoes, slip on flats, or comfy sandals. A one piece dress I can slip into is my usual choice of wear, as waist bands make my back hurt. No mom jeans for me! My husband isn't a fan of makeup, and thinks bed head is sexy, so I have mine cut where I can run a handful of mouse through it then scrunch and go sans hairdryer.
That's a lot of water gain from a med - was it expected, or do you need to put a call into your doc in the morning? Perhaps another line of treatment would be a better fit for your body.
Keep doing what you are, realizing how fortunate you are, it's good for us! And cut yourself a little slack because we all can get a bit blue when transitioning from who we once were to what is our new normal. You will find your balance, and learn how to pace doing and resting in between.
hugs, Perplexed
You are not alone. What fits one day feels like it's a size or two small another day and sometimes clothes rub where they never did last time you had them on.
After I've been shopping I come home and change back into my nightgown before I can even think of relaxing.
Sigh
Happy Birthday too you!! Hope it was as enjoyable as possible!!
Gentle, warm hugs!!
Butterflydragon
I'm right there with you! I've gained like 20+ lbs and very little of what I have actually fits. =/ And I have plenty of days I'm wearing the same thing I slept in. I shower when I have the energy and time - a 2 year-old limits that. And I'm totally dreading showers during the winter. Our heater uses the hot water somehow - thus stealing it from my showers - so, so painful. I've become increasing more sensitive to what feels cold. =( And I've come to HATE bras - they can hurt so bad and to get them loose enough makes them useless. I wear them when I go out, but even then I've started wearing darker clothes and jackets, etc. just not worth it! I too am very lucky in many ways! Still makes things better, but the "hard/frustrating/depressing" things are still hard/frustrating/depressing!!
Sending gentle, warm hugs,
Butterflydragon
I hear ya sister!
It's okay, Girlcab, I'll bet that most of us feel the same way as you do. Like you, I especially hate the first cold blast of water from the shower and try to avoid it like crazy now that I'm ill. And putting on clothes IS a nightmare! Somehow or other, my foot just doesn't want to get into the pant leg, and when it finally does, it gets stuck in there, causing me to bend over and tug and pull and tug and growl at the cloth. It's a dance/comedy that can last several minutes. And I'm sleepy much of the time. Sleeping sounds like a much better plan than anything else. But then there are such necessities as eating. So yeah, that entails getting up and dressed and out. And who wants to do that? It interrupts our snuggling under the warm blanket time.
A lot of the fibro meds cause weight gain. Again, it IS terrible and, like you, I hate it! It's not one bit fair, yet there it is.
You're entitled to feel sorry for yourself. You're stuck with a nasty illness and we all have those days from it. Try to settle down and rest and hopefully you'll feel a bit better later.
Gentle hugs and shared yawns,
Petunia Girl
Those are great tips! Thank you!
Suzanne, those are some very good ideas, very practical. Thanks for posting them.
Hi Girlcab,
When I read your post I felt it was me who wrote it. Getting dressed is something I often find very difficult. I have this gross habit of going to sleep in my jeans so I dont have to put all my clothes for work on in the morning. I also sometimes wear my PJs top underneath a baggy sweater as raising my arms really hurts. If I really have to do something that requires dressing up I give myself about two hours for a shower and basic makeup and dressing. It seems excesive but I have to lay down in between phases.
Try to look forward to the fun of going oit with your hubby.
Hugs
I, too have the issue with clothes. We are allowed to wear jeans to work but I seldom do. My newest savior in clothing is soft leggings and a silky tunic top. I am constantly on Macy’s site looking for tunics. I put them in My Cart and keep checking for them to go on sale and for coupons. Slap on a pair of soft furry boots and people think you are all dressed up. Washing the hair is every other day and I just let it dry naturally and pull it back on the side with a couple of tiny clips. For the most part I use powder on my face as one of the newer symptoms is my checks hurting to touch. Oh and lip liner as my lipstick as it stays on longer. Occasionally I will swipe gloss over the liner. Main thing is that I always mentally prepare two outfits in my mind the night before. One if I am having a good day and the other for the bad day. Hope you find something from all of the replys that will work for you. Sending you the gentlest hug, Scarlett
Yes! My skin is so sensative, my bras drive me crazy, and Ive gained 10 pounds since last winter and all my jeans are tight. I end up changing two or three times a day to get comfortable. Dont feel like fixing up.... I also have a supportive husband. Starting to feel sorry for him. They go through a lot for us.