Work Your Plan

I moved to this city 4 months ago and have been in a fog ever since. Alright I've been a fog since Fibro diagnosis but since the move I've really been in another world. The stress literally knocked me off my feet. I had been working up until the Christmas time. I supposed I was one of the blessed ones who could still work since fibromyalgia. With each year I lost more and more mobility and the stress and pain built up so badly that I really thought I was just going to die. But I had to keep my job because hubby had lost his job and we couldn't find another job in our area. Thankfully he did find one but it was 70 miles in another city and so we began to plan to move. FINALLY I could quit my job. I really though that I would feel so much better right from the start of not having to go to a job, but guess what? That hasn't happened 4 months later. You've heard of broken or burn out? I supposed I'm a combination of both. So as day by day has went by and hubby has worked longed hours, I've lots of alone time and thinking time. Oh and I had a long list, (very long list) of all the wonderful hobbies and crafts and organizing I was going to do! But even hobbies require energy. Even reading requires energy. Have you every felt so weak or tired or your hands hurt so bad that you couldn't hold up the book or Kindle?? If you have Fibro then you probably can relate. And then the computer......it too requires energy to type or use you arms, shoulders, neck, and hands. It is so sad that some days those of us with Fibro can't even play on the computer. Let alone focus on some of the computer activities we do! So all my hobbies and crafts I was going to start on have been put to the side. Then I became down and depressed about it all. Stupid Fibro! Then I feel bitter again and a vicious cycle of grief, anger, and resentment appear along with feeling sorry for myself. No life! Well to top it all off it hasn't helped me any either that I haven't been to church in a long time. I've used the Fibro as excuse. I mean do I really want to meet new people in a new place when I look and walk like death? So I was spiraling downward and I knew I had to do something. With all my free time I had time to think. Somedays are easier than others. I mean my thoughts just drift off or disappear at times. I rigged my laptop up on the arm of the couch where I didn't have to reach and I pulled up reading material and articles. AND my dear old Dad's voice popped in my head...(Daddy's been gone 7 years now) and his words were "Plan your work and then work your plan Karen".


Daddy was a salesman of sorts and he knew how to grow his business and when I started selling Tupperware for a few years he helped me some with that by showing me how he made his plans then worked them. Now I'm sure he read that in Dale Carnegie or something similar, but the point is I remembered it and it was what I needed to hear! Along with some of the articles and stories I had read about others with Fibro and how they were living well inspired me to work up a plan of action and then put it in use as to help myself have better quality of life. Even if I can't do most "normal" things anymore I can certainly feel better about myself and my illness and even maybe do some of the things I had longed to do after I quit working.


So I'm sharing my list here and if you are a reader of this blog, then please hold me to it! I do have a few friends and my family that support me. My hubby is wonderful. He grows weary of me here and there and I don't blame him at all but for the most part I am one of few who have an amazing supportive hubby. I may even add to my list from time to time or take away but as of right now I think the following will help me some physically and mentally where I can get to the place of peace with Fibro and the new life that I feel is going to be with quite a long time. So I might as well settle in and snuggle up with this Fibro, right?

• 1. find a team of doctors here that I like and trust...a regular PCP, a Pain Specialist and maybe even Neurologist....and start going back to Chiropractor. I've read other's stories that use a team who all work together and there are Pain Specialist here that I've read great reviews about from those with Fibro. And the Chiropractor here uses Acupuncture and I would like to try and see if that and Massage will help any.And with the current lower back problem I am having now, that I feel is a pinched nerve, I thought maybe one or all of the above could help me there.
• 2. Get back on my Cpap machine. A new study and my doctor working with me there especially on the night time medications until we can find one that works. Sleep is so important and I haven't been sleeping well at all.

• Back on my supplements. Either through Prohealth which has 2 particular mixed supplements for Fibro or individually. But I know need Magnesium, and back on B12 shots, and Omega 3.
• My bath soaks. I had already tried these for helping me sleep but sometimes I do not take time to soak in hot bath. I mean we all know what a work out either a bath or shower is, so the quicker I shower and get out the quicker I can lay down. But I want to try the hot baths for pain. My muscles are screaming in pain and stiffness. 

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• Daily meditation and prayer. I've gotten so far off track. No motivation, no desire to do anything. I know God hasn't left me though and getting in the habit again is hard, but I'm doing it one step at a time, little by little. This is one of the most important steps to recovery and living well.

• Setting my alarm (again) for mornings and getting  up whether I have slept or not. To establish that routine again, instead of lingering and laying in bed from lack of sleep.
• Working on at least one of my projects throughout the week, if not more, but steadily crossing off those projects on my list. Getting my mind off this illness and pain.
• Stretching daily. I am not moving as much as when I worked and so my muscles are more stiff than ever. If I could find some senior (lol) yoga classes I would like to try and go. Checking into the YMCA here and water therapy or aerobics. 
• Beginning to walk again....starting small.....taking Lilly (my dog) to the mailbox and back and build up to walking down the street. This will be major for me because I have tremendous leg pain and horrible arthritic knees. My legs usually freeze up after walking a short distance and my knees lock up and I simply can't go anywhere. So this may prove to be interesting but I'm going to try. Getting outside and doing this will be good for me mentally too.
• Diet....not starving...but eating healthier food. I've been eating junk and sugar and sugar makes my body hurt worse. It's a quick hunger fix and a lazy way of eating. When I low carb I feel fetter physically and have some energy. I have got to get back in that habit.
• CHURCH.....get in there and stay in there. I need my church family. Fibro is a lonely illness, isn't it? It wouldn't be if everyone was as understanding and compassionate as we with Fibro are to one another. Sadly sometimes there are even church people that are not caring toward others with Chronic pain but that's another subject for another time. I need God and want to worship him!

So that' my plan. I planned my work of living a better life with Fibro and now I'm going to work this plan!