After several years of battling with the vacuum cleaner I decided to get a hand held battery charged one. The charge wears off so there is no chance of overdoing it but also there is no need to recover. So I can vacuum the next day. I just do sections of the carpet off and on while I do other chores
I found out that more frequent and shorter trips to the grocery store helps. I can deal with 6-7 lightly packed bags. Then I have energy left over to do other errands. Large grocery trips tended to tax me cognitively and I was usually wiped before I got into the check out island.
Okedoke for all you city folk who have to use public transportation, I’ve gotta few good corner cutters… If you have a smartphone, get subway/bus app for your city. They are almost always free. There are apps that give you real time arrival and departure info. These apps have saved me many minutes and sore legs on waiting for mass transit as I plan ahead and allow myself walking time to get to the station or stop just in time to catch it. And for those days you simply can’t, won’t or don’t wanna take mass transit, there’s the Uber app. Uber is a transport service that is at least half as expensive as a cab! Happy travels, commuters.
One thing that I have started doing is whenever I am cooking or baking something, I actually use the timer on the oven. These days I find that I can be so forgetful, and that timer has saved many a dish from getting over cooked! We bought one of those Butterball indoor fryers this year and setting the timer sure keeps me on track for cooking the turkey enough without cooking it too much or burning it! HUGS from Deb
dozer said:
If you can find a small pull cart to put groceries in to get them from the car to the house this is a life saver. I was given a small square cart with 4 wheels. When I'm not pulling it it sits flat to avoid spilling or rolling off. When I get ready to move from place to place I just tilt and drag behing me. You can put everything in it and make one trip. Hope you all will try this.
I found out that more frequent and shorter trips to the grocery store helps. I can deal with 6-7 lightly packed bags. Then I have energy left over to do other errands. Large grocery trips tended to tax me cognitively and I was usually wiped before I got into the check out island.
Auburnm said:
How fun! I like this idea. For me, whenever I get up and walk into another room, I try to carry anything I can that needs to be put away in the other room, saves me steps later. If I just carry 1 or 2 things at a time thru the day eventually it gets to the right room. Now if I could only train my dogs to be more helpful this way . . . Hugs!
I wish my dog would pick her toys up and put them away every day.
I also love the washing down the shower while your in there. I thought of it but for some reason passed it over. Now I'll go back and pick it up and go. Thanks Singingtrees.
Singingtrees said:
I am loving all the tips you amazing people are sharing. I personally like to use technology to help me. I do almost all my xmas shopping on line and have it delivered to my house. Even shops that are in my city, I order on line, it saves me travel time, lots of energy and my sanity in not having to deal with crowds of people. I think we with fibro are more sensitive to all the busy chaotic energy. I also pace myself with activities. I put the tree up one day and then the next day we did the decorations, too much if I did it all at once. Same with baking we do bits at a time and freeze. For Xmas dinner I have everyone bringing something to share with the meal, and the food I will cook are all easy foods. I will also set the table a few days ahead, once again pacing myself. I intend to enjoy the time with family and friends, and I can only do that if I am gentle with myself.
I love the idea of washing down the tub and shower when you are in it. Brilliant, I am going to start that one today.
After reading so many great ideas from you all I realize not only are we survivors with Fibro but we are very clever survivors as well. We find ways to do things in time and energy saving ways, and are constantly finding new and better ways to do everyday things that aren’t so easy for us anymore. I am proud to be a Fibro survivor with you amazing people.
What tools and gadgets do people have and use to help them in their daily lives?
For example, I have a tool I use to pop the pressure on sealed jars so they are easy to open. I use extremely sharp knives so they cut easy. I even bought specially made pens that take some of the pressure off of my thumb joints when I am writing. I love to do puzzles but found I can’t pinch pieces anymore, but have discovered puzzles on a tablet, and it is so fun and I can click and drag saving my fingers and allowing me that peaceful activity again.
Please share your wonder gadgets and ideas. I am sure you have something that we could all benefit from. I would love to hear about them!
Hugs ST.
I too enjoy reading about what other creative ways we have of getting round problems. I have a really nice large salad fork and spoon one of my brothers made in a woodwork lesson as a kid, the fork is a fantastic back itching tool (or anywhere else I cant reach!). I have to cream my back as my skin can get very dry and the sponge on a stick washing up utensil is a great help if my partners not around to assist me. Often I have trouble turning the knobs in the car for the demisting fan, one in particular was very stiff. I got a friend who’s good with cars to remove the knob completely and I put a 3mm Allen key (short end) into the little hole and now have no trouble working the fan as I now have more leverage
Pookie, I love your ingenuity. I think it is awesome when we can take an everyday tool and find another wonderful use for it, such as your salad fork which I could so see being a great back itching tool. I think it helps us to cope and succeed when we can come to an obstacle that limits us in doing something and ask.... "What can I do different or is there someone who can help me?" The point is we can still DO but in a different way. Thanks for sharing. ST
Hi, ST!
I have a few, too! I cannot tolerate sitting on hard surfaces for long because of nerve pain, so I carry around an inflatable camping pillow for cushioning. As it is inflatable it is also deflatable and can fit in my purse. It is a lifesaver.
I have to commute to and from work on mass transit and cannot stand in one place for long and I used to have trouble finding seating… I now carry a folding cane with me, so I can signal to other riders on the train or bus that I am disabled. I usually don’t have to ask able bodied riders to give me their or priority seat. Before my cane, they wouldn’t acknowledge my disability even when I would attempt to explain I am disabled because they saw NO disability.
I’ll think more on what others I have.
Great idea, ST.
L.
Singingtrees said:
After reading so many great ideas from you all I realize not only are we survivors with Fibro but we are very clever survivors as well. We find ways to do things in time and energy saving ways, and are constantly finding new and better ways to do everyday things that aren’t so easy for us anymore. I am proud to be a Fibro survivor with you amazing people.
What tools and gadgets do people have and use to help them in their daily lives?
For example, I have a tool I use to pop the pressure on sealed jars so they are easy to open. I use extremely sharp knives so they cut easy. I even bought specially made pens that take some of the pressure off of my thumb joints when I am writing. I love to do puzzles but found I can’t pinch pieces anymore, but have discovered puzzles on a tablet, and it is so fun and I can click and drag saving my fingers and allowing me that peaceful activity again.
Please share your wonder gadgets and ideas. I am sure you have something that we could all benefit from. I would love to hear about them!
Hugs ST.
Hello everyone,
As a new member I am so enjoying this site. Thank you to people who contribute. I am in 12-step recovery as well and never know what chair will be available to sit on in a room so I carry a folding chair in my car that is comfy for me. I no longer apologize to people if I have to stand and sway. I am fortunate that I too have learned to modify my world for comfort. When I bought the motorized toothbrush I thought my world was amazing. I live in my house for comfort and leave piles and papers out where I can see them so I don't forget to take care of business. I have a TBI too with the fibro. I have to eat so carefully in order to reduce flares. Sugar and white flour are hard on my system. I also take magnesium. I also paid a fortune for me bed so it is so comfy for me. I find water class to be beneficial as well. I have also taken the time to educate my doctor and insurance pays for many of my services. I wish people a blessed day.
ruth
I have discovered a fabulous way to eliminate most errand running, which was exhausting and pain-provoking.
My secret is Amazon Prime membership! It’s $100 per year, which is way less than the gas I would spend running around to multiple stores. I’ve had the membership for two years and it is fabulous. I order everything from peanut butter to floss to pet food on Amazon and as a Prime member it all is delivered FREE right to my front door within 48 hours! I really don’t know how they do it, I live in a pretty rural area. I think they must use drones already! And as a Prime member, returns are very easy and customer service is superb. Amazon sends UPS right to my house to pick up packages and even brings the mailing labels with them.
No more trips to pet stores, grocery stores, hardware stores, post office, pharmacy, malls unless I really want to! No more lugging cases of cat food or huge bags of litter to and from the car. I only HAVE to go out once a week to get some milk, fresh bread and produce. Eliminating all the other errands and lugging bags about leaves me with more energy to do things that I LIKE and decreases my pain level.
Amazon Prime has been my best tool for fighting fibromyalgia and chronic pain!
Ruth I am so glad that you are enjoying our site. It’s great that you are taking good care of yourself. I think so many of us have to learn that skill. Your ideas are great, thanks for sharing.
Once again, thanks for sharing such awesome ideas. I especially like the idea of the portable cane. It is so true that people don’t recognize us as having a disability and a visible marker like a cane is a great way to encourage the support we need from the general public.
Hugs!! ST
I also have Amazon Prime and absolutely LOVE it! It is such a time and energy saver. And they have free movies / shows you can stream online as well or thru a consule (such as a Roku, Xbox, Blueray player) which is a nice bonus for those days you just need to rest.
Starr said:
I have discovered a fabulous way to eliminate most errand running, which was exhausting and pain-provoking.
My secret is Amazon Prime membership! It's $100 per year, which is way less than the gas I would spend running around to multiple stores. I've had the membership for two years and it is fabulous. I order everything from peanut butter to floss to pet food on Amazon and as a Prime member it all is delivered FREE right to my front door within 48 hours! I really don't know how they do it, I live in a pretty rural area. I think they must use drones already! And as a Prime member, returns are very easy and customer service is superb. Amazon sends UPS right to my house to pick up packages and even brings the mailing labels with them.
No more trips to pet stores, grocery stores, hardware stores, post office, pharmacy, malls unless I really want to! No more lugging cases of cat food or huge bags of litter to and from the car. I only HAVE to go out once a week to get some milk, fresh bread and produce. Eliminating all the other errands and lugging bags about leaves me with more energy to do things that I LIKE and decreases my pain level.
Amazon Prime has been my best tool for fighting fibromyalgia and chronic pain!
I can't remember now who memtioned vaccuuming (spell check again) sitting down, but I owe you a hug so here goes. HUGGGGGGG. This was fantastic. My husband (Bless Him) bought a Sharp Professional thinking it would be lighter for me to use.The word Professional should have given him a clue. Anyhow, that's not a problem not """I CAN SIT DOWN"""
Singingtrees said:
After reading so many great ideas from you all I realize not only are we survivors with Fibro but we are very clever survivors as well. We find ways to do things in time and energy saving ways, and are constantly finding new and better ways to do everyday things that aren't so easy for us anymore. I am proud to be a Fibro survivor with you amazing people.
What tools and gadgets do people have and use to help them in their daily lives?
For example, I have a tool I use to pop the pressure on sealed jars so they are easy to open. I use extremely sharp knives so they cut easy. I even bought specially made pens that take some of the pressure off of my thumb joints when I am writing. I love to do puzzles but found I can't pinch pieces anymore, but have discovered puzzles on a tablet, and it is so fun and I can click and drag saving my fingers and allowing me that peaceful activity again.
Please share your wonder gadgets and ideas. I am sure you have something that we could all benefit from. I would love to hear about them!
Hugs ST.