[lizardlady]

Originally Posted by buffieann

It's definitely not easy. I spent hrs cleaning my sons room and within two hrs there was stuff all over the floor. I got him to pick up but he didn't put things away the way I had them. I know it doesn't work to just leave it until they can't stand it anymore because I tried that and they just started sleeping in the guest room. Lol and plus it took me hrs to clean it up. If I find something that works I promise to let you know. Next I have to tackle my daughters room. That will probably take days. Ugh.

Buffieann, don't do the cleaning yourself. Make him do it. Hand him a stack of trash bags and have him empty his room. Leave him one change of clothes, a pillow and sheet for the bed and that's it! He has to earn all of his other stuff back day by day keeping his room clean. If you clean up for him, there's no reason for him to clean.

[lizardlady]

Day two of the flare.... my body aches, my brain is mush, worst of all I feel fibro based depression creeping in. Man this sucks!

[buffieann]

Lizardlady I agree but it was so bad that I couldn't do that to him. Its my fault I've always done everything for them. I had to do everything growing up and it's just followed me into adulthood. Not to mention the guilt I feel if anyone cleans my house, but that's a whole other issue. My big mistake but thankfully I realized I wasn't teaching them anything by doing it for them. But it's not to late. Now that it's clean I've made sure he knows it's his responsibility to keep it that way. Same with my daughters room once I finish hers. They're still kids and will need to be reminded but I'll keep on them to clean up after themselves and eventually it will just become a habit. I hope! Lol.

[sabby]

Speaking of cleaning bedrooms....

In the past two weeks, my room mate and I started cleaning my room. It had gotten dark and dingy and I needed to have the walls washed because I'm a smoker and for the 1st year we lived in this apartment, we burned oily, waxy candles that did a number on our walls and everything. It was gross. We had (well, mostly my roomy) washed all the walls in the other rooms last year but waited on my room. Finally one day last week we just dove into it unexpectedly.

Most of the walls were washed last week, just one more wall and a small portion of another had to be done. In my room is the big wall unit a/c and it was replaced today with a brand new one (not at my expense!). So, we wanted the walls to be done and ready for it so she finished washing them yesterday. She is such a peach!

In between all the washing is the moving of the queen bed, the dresser, the hope chest, the computer desk, the lounge chair, a bookcase the tv and dvd players and all the crap I had everywhere. Since this was the 2nd day in 2 weeks of doing this, I think every muscle in my body and every joint is screaming at me right now, but truth is, I'm soooooooo glad it's done and I would do it again tomorrow if I had to, no matter how sore I was.

I know my room mate is hurting as well. I'm so grateful to here for helping me with this gigantic chore and making it so much more enjoyable and easy for me.....I don't deserve what she did, but I know how lucky I am to have a friend like her.

Okay, off my soapbox for now...just needed to get that out. It's a pleasure to be in my room again....I'm breathing more calmly and feeling like this is my place of refuge again.

[buffieann]

Sabby, it's the best feeling after you accomplish a big chore like that! You're roommate sounds like a great friend to have. My best friend of 20 yrs was always helping me clean. We accomplish a lot together. Not to mention the emotional support. Now take care of yourself and relax!

[lizardlady]

Have any of you read Duma Key by Stephen King? The main character is a man who lost an arm, sustained a head injury and other major injuries in an accident. King does an awesome job of portraying the character's struggles with pain and memory loss.

I actually learned a memory trick reading the book. The character "thinks sideways" when his memory goes wonky on him. He thinks of things that associate with other things to bring him to the word or idea he is trying to remember.

King was severely injured back in 1999. I wonder how much of what he portrays in the book comes from personal experience and how much from research.

[~Christina]

My Fibro is 24/7 pain head to toe ..Im always at a pain level of a 7 .. 7 I can handle ..when it inches up to a 8and 9 ..ugh thats when i get suicidal .. I have tried all the "meds" nothing helps ..

Sorry had to have a whine fest for a minute .

Fibro just really sucks

[lizardlady]

Christina, I believe we all need a whine fest once in awhile. It helps us cope with this dastardly illness. I had my own whine fest with a friend here via PM last night.

[buffieann]

Christina, I know exactly how you feel. If you can't whine here where can you!?!

[sabby]

(((((((((((( ~Christina )))))))))))))

So sorry you are feeling like that. Yes it sucks to the high heavens! Yes you do have to have a whine or two now and again and deservedly so! We are here to support you and whine right along with ya.

Liz, I haven't read a good Stephen King novel in a long time. He's one of my fav writers though, I just haven't been able to concentrate on his kind of writing in years. Maybe I should try again, yeah, I think I will do that. Maybe tomorrow I'll get my haircut for the ungodly price of $6.99 cuz I'm so cheap and then I'll pick up that book....sounds good to me!

[lizardlady]

Sabby, Duma Key is one of King's l-o-n-g books. If you can't focus long enough to reaad it, what about an audio version? I'm actually listening to the book rather than reading it. Try your local library, then you don't have to spend any money!

[lizardlady]

someone please make it stop!!!!!!!!!!!!

[sabby]

Awww (((((((((((( Liz ))))))))))))))

Breathe hon....concentrate on your breathing to help bring the stress/anxiety from the pain down a notch or two. This in turn should help make it a bit easier to deal with the pain.

Would a warm soaking bath help right now? Maybe a cool shower? How about a heating pad or an ice pack on the worst painful spots?

I'm physically hurting right now myself, but it's my own fault this time. I took an air conditioner out of a window and put it in a plastic tub, then pushed them from the bedroom into the den on carpeting. Yeah, not smart but it had to be done and I can't wait for others to help, it needed to get done. I will find someone stronger and more healthy than myself to bring it outside to the dumpster though....lol.

Hang in there Liz.....don't forget to breathe.

[Travelinglady]

A big, but gentle hug to you all!

Cymbalta is actually helping me. Have any of you had success with it?

[lizardlady]

Thanks ladies. Last night topped off a rough week. I was exhausted, but unable to sleep I hurt so badly. I was actually whimpering laying in bed. Today is a little better. I slept most of the day wrapped in a fuzzy wrap.

Sabby, a warm bath would have been a good idea last night. I was so lost in the pain I couldn't think of solutions.

Trav, I can't take Cymbalta because of the anti-depressants I'm on.

[sabby]

Trav, I've been on Cymbalta for a number of years. It worked well up until about 2 years ago and the doc included neurontin. I had taken neurontin many years ago and it worked wonderfully for me (I was being tested at that time for MS and had neurological issues). This time though, I was not able to tolerate the neurontin as well and had to go off it.

This year, the doc started me on Lyrica because I was getting almost no relief from just the Cymbalta. I'm on both meds and together they seem to be working very well for me for the most part. I still have my breakthrough pain and fog and sometimes I get hit really hard, but those times are few and far between from what they used to be. Daily, I'm feeling much better.

I'm on 60mgs of Cymbalta and 100mgs x2 of Lyrica. I'm glad you are finding relief with the Cymbalta. YAY!

Liz, I'm sorry you weren't able to think about taking a warm bath when you really needed it. I am glad you are feeling better today and got some sleep. Hoping the rest of the weekend only gets better for you!

[Twilightsky]

I am going through a rough time with my MS. Please do not delete me if I am not here often. I have all I can handle right now but ALL of you are so thought of and loved. My Spinal Stenosis and cervical myopathy have soared through the roof as well. Alls I am being is pressured into surgery. Have lots on my mind and decisions to follow through. Much love N hugs to ALL.

[sabby]

(((((((((( Twilight ))))))))))

It's good to see you here, but I'm so sorry you are going through such difficulties. Gentle 's to you m'dear.

Spinal stenosis is such a rotten thing. I have a dear friend with it and she's already had 2 back surgeries (also had a slipped disk as well) for the stenosis. She's going to need surgery every now and again to clean out the stenosis and she's not happy about that either. It's a tough decision to make, especially when dealing with MS as well.

Your account would never be deleted because you couldn't be here often hon or at all for any length of time. Please don't worry about that okay? You just do your best self care and know you are in my thoughts and prayers.

[Travelinglady]

I am also taking Trazodone and Wellbutrin, which are antidepressants. And Tramadol, Norco, Klonopin, and Tegretol. But since I went on the Cymbalta, I have less pain and more energy. I hope it lasts a long time!

[sabby]

So Trav, is the Cymbalta still working for you? Just curious if you had to go up in dose or not and how you have been feeling.

Since I started on the Lyrica, I've had more good days than before I started it. I'm really happy with that, but today, ugggh, not so happy.

Weather is not helping with the big differences in temperature and between sun and rain. I'm feeling "swollen". All my joints are aching a bit and I feel like from the swelling, I can't move very well. Brain isn't as sharp today either. Hoping that the cooler weather coming in, I'll get back to feeling better.

Been kind of stressed out lately as well and I know that stress plays into my pain levels. Not to mention I have a bad tooth that is giving me issues.

[lizardlady]

Sabby, ironic that you mention weather. There's a cold front moving through my state. They trigger my pain and fog something fierce. I hurt like bloody blue blazes today and have no brain my fog is so bad. Temps don't seem to bother me, but changes in barometric pressure kill me. I am not looking forward to winter. The cold front go through like trolley cars in the winter. It's non-stop pain when they do.

I'm trying something new this year. I find as the days get shorter I feel worse both physically and emotionally. I've never been diagnosed with SAD, but I bought a natural light lamp I'm going to sit under. If it works - great! If it doesn't - well the lamp itself is attractive.

[sabby]

So sorry Liz.....I completely understand about the pressure as opposed to the temps. Today, my knees have felt so swollen, a few other joints too but not as bad as my knees. This whole week is pretty crappy weather here, so I expect I'll continue to feel blechhhy for a few days.

Let me know how that natural light works for you. I've heard many say it does them a lot of good. I have a touch of SAD as well, it usually hits me in Jan/Feb and lasts until April. YAY! Something else to look forward to!

[~Christina]

All I can really say about Fibro today is ..... Ugh

[sabby]

((((((((((( ~Christina ))))))))))))

I am so with you my dear!!! Let's all "ugh" in unison!!! A show of solidarity and understanding and compassion for one another!

UGH

[angelene]

I'm new here. I was diagnosed in 2002 and fortunately I am blessed with doctors that are a lot more understanding than most. (Although I do have extensive issues with my Rheumatologist's staff, but I can't get into that right now.)
Actually, I can't really get into anything right now because I'm having a bad day. Pain, fatigue and a touch of brain fog. I'd like to share in the collective "UGH!"

Originally Posted by sabby

UGH