Tuesday 31 May 2011

Keep Taking The Tablets

Well, it's been another interesting week. Electrical acupuncture is proving to be my new high. I am so lucky to co-own a therapy centre and make the most of freebies from my business partner (well, it is in her best interest to keep me going!). During my last treatment with her we discussed how I can better manage my pain, which strikes me most at night time and disturbs my sleep by upto three hours, and at worst can carry over into the following day. So under strict instructions from said business partner, I telephoned my GP and asked for another prescription of Amitriptyline. I am not a massive fan of this drug and had hoped to cope with this purely through complementary therapy means, however, needs must, etc. And the whole point of complementary therapies is that they can often best effectively run alongside conventional medicine (as I so often tell my clients). So, I have promised my GP I will take the 10mg of this drug for one month and report any improvements, or not, as the case may be. We shall see how that pans out. Since I last posted, I have managed to see another birthday in and enjoyed a lunch with partner, parents and dog at the local pub. Then to really treat myself, I visited a reclamation yard (I know how to party) and bought a cabinet for my soon to be overhauled kitchen. On the bank holiday Sunday I had the traditional birthday gathering. Ordinarily I will spend three hours cooking and preparing food. This year I did one ovenful and Tesco kindly provided. Also, we lacked silly games but we did have six dogs present instead; five Cavalier King Charles' varying in age from 11 weeks to 6 years, and a lovely wolf-cross-horse dog (breed unknown), and they provided plenty of entertainment for all. It was a rather more subdued day but enjoyable all the same. People very politely left earlier than usual, which made me a little sad, but I appreciate their kind thoughts and consideration. However, the next day, after a two hour lie in, I felt fairly well. I was glad of the day long drizzle which prevented me being tempted to leave the house until I had to go to work that evening, and instead I tidied gradually and read with my feet up, while my long-suffering partner, man-maid and domestic God did a mountain of washing up!

Sunday 22 May 2011

Pet likes

Another week with its measure of frustrations - at one point I threw the remote control across the room in a tantrum! - but moreso its high points. I have decided to get the kitchen revamped and spoken to a nice man who will help me. I am going shabby chic, and a good friend is going to do some stripping and waxing for me (of wood I hasten to add). The same great mate and her lovely hubby took me to some diy stores and looked at tiles and paint with me today and gave some very helpful comments. An antique pine sink unit with brass taps I took a fancy to on ebay has become mine after a deal with its owner. After two awful night's sleep plagued with leg and foot pain, I treated myself to a curry and a bath last night and slept like a baby til wrested from my sleep by my dog Oscar whining his lonely bark, who waited for two hours for me to manage to get myself up and downstairs where he was waiting excitedly on a clean, dry puppy pad. He joined us for lunch today in a local pub and we took a slow stroll down the cycle track. Partnerless last night, both cats cuddled up on the bed with me. Every day I am grateful for my pets. Oscar is practically a constant companion and makes me smile many times a day. Without him I don't think I'd cope half as well.

Sunday 15 May 2011

Rollercoaster ride

I'm not a fan of rollercoasters. I don't like the sudden unexpected dips. I'm not terribly adventurous being a more feet-on-the-ground sort of person. And, I am a fan of predicatable. CFS is annoyingly unpredictable. I can wake up feeling like I am soaring towards an average - dare I think it - above par day and then by lunchtime find I am sadly mistaken. Two unexpected things happened this week that gave me little highs. I had some electrical acupuncture by my colleague to deal with dysesthesia (unpleasant sensation) in my lower legs and feet; a feeling like stinging nettle rash. It had been keeping me awake and was present by that point for most of the day. About an hour after the acupuncture I hit a little dip in mood and energy, which was odd because formerly acupunture had given me a lift, but only for that day. However, I discovered the nasty sensation had been alleviated and has remained absent for the past four days, returning slightly this morning. By the evening my energy levels had also improved and I taught my two classes with very little fatigue. I have also saved a bee this week. It was a truly fascinating experience and one I have bored nearly everyone with. I fed it honey and watched it feed for half an hour, then guided it out of the window and watched it fly away. I then ordered a bee house and have bought a bee plant. The whole thing, simple and silly though it might seem, really lifted my mood - and conversly, my energy. Sometimes, it's the simple, unpredictable things in life that make it worth living. I even got out last night!! We went to a pub for a friend's birthday. I managed to drive. We left early but I didn't feel I missed out. I got there, that's the main thing. Make that three highs!

Friday 13 May 2011

Another one bites the dust

I relinquished yet another activity this week. I have driven to a Pilates instructor in Horfield to attend a class for several years. I now attend on a Tues morning. However, these past few months have become a struggle, largely because of the driving. So, with reluctance, I have decided to cease attending this class. However, I had a really good chat with my teacher, who is also a colleague and friend, and she has said to drop in an out if I have a better day. In the meantime I am going to have a go a swimming. It is closer to me and I can do it later in the day or a different day as the feeling of 'having' to get up for something was also a problem. So, I guess it's not all bad.

Sunday 8 May 2011

Pacing

This week I have managed to plant some plants. An action that should've taken me about an hour and a half but took me two days. Not two full days, just had to be spread over two days to be manageable. Still, it is done, and other than accidently planting my purse in the bottom of an old jug I'd bought, it was good and the garden looks pretty. Plants are in pots which make them more manageable. Friday my partner and I went out to the Brassmill for a meal to celebrate a year together. We went early and were home by 8.30pm. Still, we did it, which is the main thing and it was nice. Saturday I made it to my friends' wedding. A friend picked me up and dropped me back before the evening do got under way. I used my stick once and had several arms offered my by helpful friends to get me up and down steps and stop me falling over. I am very blessed to have such lovely friends. I am pleased I was able to attend and enjoy the day. It was a super day. Last night I woke up with leg pain and this morning I am sore, so I am on a go slow. Still, I have had a lovely long chat with a friend who rang from NZ and have sent the dog out on the green with the cat to supervise him while I made my breakfast smoothie. Now I feel human I will shower and go to supervision this afternoon (which I am required to do to keep up my registration as a clinical hypnotherapist). A friend has a birthday party, but while I keep an open mind, I doubt I shall make it. This makes me sad, but such is life, currently. There will be other parties and celebrations I will and won't be able to go to. But once the CFS has burned out, I fully intend to dance the soles of my shoes off.

Tuesday 3 May 2011

Best laid plans of mice and mand

Last week I planned to go the Bluebell woods with friends, my partner and dog, and have a picnic. It was lovely. I also planned to do some cleaning. That didn't go so well. Perhaps some gardening? Nope. A friend had a hen night last Saturday. I planned to join them part way through, as I thought I could cope with that. Didn't get there. Plans lead to disappointment. So, I have to plan to do less. Or not plan at all. Except I'm a tiny bit of a control freak, so that's not likely. This Friday my partner and I have been together a year. We plan to go out for a meal. We shall have to go early, since I plan to attend a wedding the next day and want to make it. I also plan to leave early as a coping strategy. In between that, I'm not planning much. Perhaps some reading and resting. Lets see how that pans out...

Sunday 1 May 2011

Below par

Today is possibly not the best day to start this, or perhaps it is. I don't have good or bad days, I prefer below par, above par and average. Today is a sustantially below par day. I have had little sleep, I have been in a constant fog all day and I feel low. However, I spent some very healing time with a friend who visited. We chatted gently - unusually no raucous laughter - and she advised I start a blog. So I have. Here I am. I am here, today, in this state as I have so far failed to learn the 'pace yourself or pay for it' lesson. As a daoist friend says, life will keep presenting you lessons until you learn from them. I am ready to learn. I understand it will involve sacrifice and I may not always like it, but the what I gain ultimately will outweigh what I stand to lose.I am stopping now as I am tired. See, I am already learning!