Monday 29 November 2021
My four tasks of homemaking
Wednesday 24 November 2021
Fibromyalgia is a wicked ruler.
Friday 19 November 2021
Choppy waters ahead
Well our day is still in full swing. I have dishes to do and clean washing to fold up and put away. We went to the chemist and picked up prescriptions yesterday. Apparently there's a world wide shortage of one of my anti-depressants, Dothep 25 and I am on my last script. I have been waiting for 2 months for some. The Dothep anti-depressants help me with my fibromyalgia pain. I hate to be without them.
The practice of keeping extra meds in case of emergency has paid off for me. But I will be out soon. That's a worry as the sea gets very choppy when I mess with my anti-depressants. I think they are in a container somewhere on their trip to Australia.. Apart from those few tasks, and cooking, that will be all I can manage today.
I am praying that I get those anti-depressants before I run out or there will be very choppy waters ahead.
Thursday 18 November 2021
Coming to terms with it
If I can get down the steps today, I want to sit in the garden swing. I need the fresh air and relaxation that watching the birds brings. They are getting quite cheeky and tame now. I only have to open the door and they converge on the back porch/decking chirping at me to get them something to eat.
They stand there practically with their hands on their hips, feet tapping: why are we waiting? Quite funny. I know they case the house out- I see their shadows on the roof and carport. I will miss this place. Chris wants to move back into "civilisation" when we sell the fiver. With Covid, we haven't had any chance to get people here to see it.
As with coming to terms with the knowledge that my fibromyalgia and other issues will not get better, so I am trying to come to terms with missing out on country life.
Monday 15 November 2021
Keeping my wheels turning!
Good morning. It's a new week! We have to go out today, just some grocery shopping and a trip to the post office. That will be before I tackle last night's dishes.
I was so tired last night that I left them, hoping to wake up with some spoons (energy). That didn't happen so the grocery shop takes priority today.
Some lamb chops are defrosting for dinner tonight. I will do mashed potato, vegetables and gravy with them. A sandwich will suffice for lunch.
I use the frozen mashed potato, steam packs of vegetables and instant Gravox gravy. I am fortunate in that Chris loves meat of some sort with two veg and if one of them's mashed potato, he's a happy man.
Being able to go without peeling potatoes and shelling peas is a godsend for me. The arthritis in my hands, the torn knee caps and spinal problems make standing to cook to prepare a nightmare. I am too short to sit on a chair as I can't see over the benchtops properly.
When in a fibromyalgia flare like today, it is just the icing on the cake. It literally tips me over. The pain is incredible and never lets up. I do have a high pain threshold but when the pain is 24/7, it wears you down.
I think I will make myself a cup of tea and take some painkillers. That's the only way I will be able to function today. They can join my other ten tablets taken this morning. I swear I rattle when I walk. It is what it is! But hey, whatever keep my wheels turning!
Thursday 4 November 2021
My day is all stitched up
Saturday 16 October 2021
Comfort from my kitchen
Tuesday 12 October 2021
Tyrannical spoons
Saturday 2 October 2021
Sometimes you have to be your own doctor!
Friday 1 October 2021
Today was a washout.
We had an interesting day. On our way to the doctor and chemist, we found a roadblock because of the heavy flooding we've experienced these last few days. So we tried 3 other ways, only to find a police block on the third. The road has been washed away.
Our small township is cut off from travel at the moment, so we had to cancel. The receptionist got the doctor to ring us but it didn't do me much good as I was needing my blood pressure taken. More rain is forecast for the next 10 days.
My orthopaedic surgeon for my damaged knee was cancelled as well. We are quite happy to stay home with 1400 new Covid cases today in Victoria including 22 from our area. I may not reschedule as I am determined not to have surgery as hospitals are best to be avoided at the moment.
I have been shopping for extras in case of emergency, so it paid off today when we couldn't get out. I have plenty of medications in the house too. I am so glad I did some planning.
My only grumble was that we had to shower, dress and leave the house for nothing. My fibromyalgia pain is at a disabling level. I think the weather has caused a major flare.
After dinner I will be getting back in my PJ's and taking a Tramadol and curling up with my electric blanket. At least the night won't be a washout. Today certainly was.
This is what met us trying to get out of our township.
Sunday 26 September 2021
Of fresh air and cats
So today is freezing at the moment. (It's Sunday morning just before nine) Chris didn't sleep well, so I am keeping the house quiet. I am putting the oven on high and leaving the oven door down to warm the kitchen.
Soon I will take a cup of tea in to him and when he gets up I will cook an English breakfast for him. Bacon, eggs, tomatoes and baked beans with some toast.
I managed to plow through those dishes yesterday but I didn't get around to putting away the washing. It sits on the empty side of my bed calling my name. I hope to get it today as we aren't going out. The chemist can wait until tomorrow. I have enough meds for today and the morning.
Xena our cat hasn't made an appearance yet. She's sleeping in my side of the bed that's got the electric blanket on warm. Funny how cats always know how to look after themselves. But to be honest, she's helped me learn how to relax over the years. I love cats!
Monday 13 September 2021
Finding beauty in a horrid day
I had trouble waking up this morning. My fibromyalgia has made me feel like I have been run over by a truck. However the day has not been a total loss.
I did a load of washing and now have to put it all away. I am not sure if I have enough spoons left for that because I also washed a whole stack of dishes and I am not sure if I have enough energy left to cook.
I am still in my PJ's. I just might need to take a nana nap or rest at "the beach" so I can recharge. We will see...
The weather has been nice today and I left the back door open and listened to the birds and the stream running. The sun was shining on the water and the birds were calling and coming down to eat the seed and watermelon I left on the back porch for them.
It's important to try to find something lovely in every day, no matter how bad our fibromyalgia is to bring a balance of goodness and beauty in an otherwise horrid day.
Wednesday 1 September 2021
Life is good in spite of setbacks
I am trying to keep up with my home making duties. I have to do some dishes and clean my kitchen.. My knees are paining me so much today, that I won't be able to do much more.
Fibromyalgia is back again and spoons are scarce. I am also psyching myself up to take a shower. Lucky we have a shower chair now. Funny how you don't think twice about it until chronic illness comes a'callin!
With the brain fog, I get side tracked often too. Now I ask Siri to remind me to change the loads of washing over from washer to dryer. I need to find an app to tell me I have left stuff out that should go in the fridge or that I have nuked a night time snack and find it in the microwave in the morning hahaha
I am planning on using my slow cookers a lot today. I will be slow cooking the pork chops in a sweet curry sauce with the rice. I will be making some Jewish Penicillin in another slow cooker and I will make a chow mein in the other slow cooker for tomorrow.
After that, I plan to feed the birds and watch them eat... sitting out on the porch under the apple blossoms on the neighbour's tree... it's the first day of Spring here in Australia. Life is good in spite of setbacks..
Tuesday 24 August 2021
If I get those few things done
I didn't get some things done yesterday. My spoons disappeared and I ended up taking a nana nap to ward off another fibromyalgia flare.
Waking up after a disturbed night's sleep, I realised that fibro has found me again. I have severe pain in my arms and neck as well as a newly diagnosed urinary tract infection. Hence the disturbed night's sleep.
In spite of that, I have a few things I would like to do today. I need to fold washing which is easy as I can sit and do it.
As I promised, I will make some sultana muffins for Chris as I can reach it if I sit at our breakfast bar on the high stools. Same thing for dinner prep. Just a mixed grill for tonight.
Chris is going to change my bed and I will wash the sheets and anything else in the hamper. With my pain relief making me tired, that will be enough for today and if I get those few things done, I will be very happy.
Monday 23 August 2021
Living on a wing and a prayer
Tuesday 17 August 2021
Wheelchair bound
So, the MRI results are in. I have a meniscus tear, fabella, torn posterior crucius ligament, bursitis and osteo arthritis behind the patella. It needs surgery as it does not repair itself.
I am to see an orthopaedic surgeon and meanwhile I must rest the knee and use pain killers.
We have bought a shower chair and a wheelchair. I have had Chris push me on the seat of my walker, but it is a big strain on his heart and I worry about him.
It is difficult to focus enough to write at the moment and I spend a lot of time on the couch aka the beach, or in bed with my electric blanket.
I am just able to stand enough to wash some dishes, cook a meal and stack the washer and dryer. Chris helps sometimes and has been my legs.
I am making use of the slow cooker a lot, cooking the meals as I am able to stand.
As with all new health issues, I am trying to come to terms with this "new normal" and the constant struggles with fibromyalgia are now "normal" and this new challenge is calling for all my ability to accept my new lot in chronic illness.
I am disheartened that both my knees have now given way (I have a torn meniscus in my other knee), and am trying to feel grateful that I could afford a wheelchair. Thank goodness for afterpay.
However romantic a picture I can find really doesn't cut it for me as I struggle to accept that I am now wheelchair bound.
Thursday 5 August 2021
Tomorrow may be better
Monday 19 July 2021
More than enough to do
We are on a snap lockdown. I need to get some prescriptions filled. Also I have some mail to pick up at the post office.
Apart from essential services such as post and chemist, everything else is closed or people are working from home.
This is our fourth lockdown this year and is mainly because people are not following protocols when they have been interstate. Oh well, as the young ones say, it is what it is.
I have dishes to do, a load of washing to fold from the dryer and cook dinner. After the chemist and post office.
The way I feel today with my fibromylgia flaring and back pain, it will be more than enough to do...
Thursday 6 May 2021
Just keeping my head above water
No doubt this was caused by Chris's diagnosis of heart failure, my daughter's impending leukaemia specialist test results, my grandson going to prison and the pain this has caused to us as a family.
I am feeling extremely unwell and was hesitant to take the Prednisolone my doctor ordered, but after a phone consult with him today, we discussed the risks v advantages and decided the risk was worth it.
Although I am feeling exhausted, the Prednisolone has given me a high that precludes going to bed for a nana nap. I have just sat up in the loungeroom watching and feeding the birds.
I have a sink full of dishes to do but no energy to do them. The only reason I am blogging now is that I am sitting and it takes very little of my limited spoons.
Recently, adapting to our new normal, our dryer was placed on top of our front loader washer and this has helped me so much with not having to stoop too much with my sore back and hips.
If I was well, I would have hung the washing out to dry as the last few days have been lovely warm autumn days here in Australia. But I have to use the dryer as I can no longer peg the clothes out or stretch my arms above my head.
When I finish talking with you, I am going back to my couch aka "the beach". I will be doing steak, chips, eggs tomatoes and baked beans for dinner.
Spiritually I am doing fine, it's just the physical that pulls me down- and I am exhausted just keeping my head above water!