Is It Just Me.... Or...

[barb dwyer]

...does the anticipation of pain change your 'going out'?

I don't mean the necessary going out stuff - grocery store, paying bills whatever - I mean, do you find you're 'packing' a lot more stuff 'just in case'?

I was recently invited to spend the day with two very nice ladies - and I declined, becuse I know that right now... I'm simply not as ACTIVE as they are - and I felt I'd become a burden after a few hours.

So I told them that.

I see on tv all these 'talk' shows where the speaker person
(whatEVER you call those people other than out - of- work- actors)
is talking so SOME doctor and the doctor says 'get out and exercise' ...

obviously NOT a doctor in pain.

I just wondered if other people have to judge their activity level and the length of time they can BE OUT like this.
I know that once the thyroid medication is 'up to my speed' so to speak a LOT of this will be in the past for me. Right now - I have to calculate how long it's been since i took the medication in order to know how long I've got before it 'wears off''. But that's only because I've just started on this little adventure.

DOes it eventually become second nature?

Right now, I'm also counting ibuprophen ... to have enough for the 'duration'; and then one dose for 'just in case'.

Just curious.

[kj3880]

It's hard to be in pain a lot of the time. I hope you are feeling somewhat better this evening. After my last surgery, it was quite some time before I could be out for more than about 2 hours without severe tiredness/pain. But gradually it did improve. And yes, gentle excercise did help me to get stronger.(I hate to admit it, because I hate to excercise). It's hard to realize that I can never take opiates to control my migraine pain that I still get, but I really can't. I've started packing a lot of stuff, too. I have heat packs, ibuprofen, excedrin, imitrex, and whatnot in my gigantic suitcase of a purse at all times. And I could actually live in my car for a week with all the stuff in there, more over-the-counter stuff, changes of clothes, sweaters for achy arms and shoulders, leg warmers for achy legs, glucosamine juice, etc...
Maybe we're gettin' old....nah, couldn't be that, could it???
kj

[ksos]

I definitely agree that if I was invited to New Jersey and there is a long ride ahead, that I have either brought pillows or "rice" socks with me--but I mostly have declined so many invites, Barb, that I am extremely afraid that soemthing horrific would happen e.g. having an acute attack of pancreatitis in another state...My family knows that I'll probably need to nap a bit before any social event--sometimes I just do not deal with those things...

I am not sure if this is what you meant, so if I am wrong, please let me know!

[barb dwyer]

nah, Ksos - that's kinda 'it'.

There was a roundup this weekend - and it 'worked out' that I could go - since I arranged the hotel rooms for everyone using my employee's discount ....

... but I chose not to go.

I knew I'd 'give out' way before the meetings were done - and to expend myself past the capacity of the thyroid meds right now is devastating. It takes me a couple of DAYS to get back 'under the umbrella'. Not a medical term, that's just how it feels.
I LITERALLY have to 'lay around' and let the medication build up again.
But it's also stuff like 'timing' the trips to the grocery so that I don't get stuck standing on a cement floor in line for very long.

And if I'm not under that time thing - the joint pain - quadruples.


SO it *is* kinda what I meant - taking the accoutrements, the meds, the pads... yeah.
I thought about all that and just ... bagged the idea.

[ksos]

Barb,

When you mentioned "timing" of doing activities of Daily Life--absolutely, I alter my schedule to fit what I think will be the easiest "time" for me to venture forth, or when is the best "time" to use the bus, as the rowdy teens coming home from school practically initiates a panic attack, etc...

It is truly strange when one examines his or hers methods of preparing themselves for an event, and then, not go--I've done this so many times in my work life that people looked at me like I was an alien--which, in fact, was the feeling I carried with me.

It is exhausting, to say the least, to live this way, and I am with ya, Barb. It makes me sad, actually. I hope that my procedure will help me feel more secure but that is an unknown.

[Freedom1990]

Originally Posted by barb dwyer

But it's also stuff like 'timing' the trips to the grocery so that I don't get stuck standing on a cement floor in line for very long.

I can completely identify with that! Three times now I have gotten stuck in a loooong line at Walmart waiting to pick up meds for my old dog (she has congestive heart failure) and ended up standing on that hard concrete floor and really hurting by the time I got out of there.

Unfortunately it's a crap shoot on whether that will happen, and it doesn't seem to matter day of week/time of day as to whether there will be a line or not!

Also, last year I met my folks at the state fair and ended up really hurting badly from walking most of the day. That is an activity I will simply have to decline from now on.

[barb dwyer]

ksos - I'm praying it does help.

it's so different now than back when the guys I knew got it - they had this whole thing -looked like an electric can opener under their skin - NOW ...it's just a little thingy ... can't even feel it.

for that - we can thank computer technology roaring forward like it is.

[Dee74]

nah it's just you.
(can't believe I missed this...)

seriously tho...everyday...I have to judge what I need to do, then prioritise that list according to what I think I reasonably can do...then gather together various pills potions and accoutrements I need to do that...

and those are the good days

having said all that - having a very slight tendency to being hard headed - I sometimes just *go* and do whatever anyway.

not dead yet, and all that, doncha know....
D

[barb dwyer]

nah it's just you.

Why, I oughta ......

[jazpoppy]

Yes, pain does limit what I can and cannot do. A simple walk is sometimes out of the question on a "bad" day. I am saddened by this. I am trying to work with my doctor for the best pain relief methods (including holistics and total body therapy) so that I can get back out and enjoy life again.

Love

Jaz

[barb dwyer]

some days are better than others, that's for sure.

And I know what you mean - doctors all the time saying 'get out and walk' well, hell, it HURTS to walk. I do try, though. And I pay for it as well.

[nandm]

I suffer from damaged discs in my back. I spent about 2 years limiting my activity around the pain. I found I was still in pain so I finally decided that I if I was going to be in pain anyway then I needed to be able to live life. So I started pushing myself. I started with taking over yard work at a friends house. I hurt for weeks after taking it over but I have found that each time I do it now it hurts for a shorter period of time. I think that the exercise has actually been beneficial in the long run. Maybe just because it has strengthened the muscles around the discs, I don't know for sure. But whatever the reason I am pleased with the results. I now am looking into picking up some yards in my neighborhood as well as my friends neighborhood. I could use the cash right now and really would like to stop having to fight with the pain so much. I have actually had a few nights this week where I was not in enough pain to warrent sleeping on a heating pad. That is huge as that has been going on for several years. I even burned my back really bad once doing it. Hope my experience can help someone else here. I do recommend speaking with your doctor before starting exercise although with my hard head I did not... :rof

[Alera]

I always keep a bunch of extra stuff with me. I have my lidocaine patch. I carry my portable video game system so I can play it if I'm in a long line and keep my mind off the pain. Games such as Pokemon are great since I can save it at almost any time or look up as the line in the store is moving. I throw the Gameboy SP into my pocket as I get up to the cashier.

I carry a John Grisham or Robin Cook novel on me so when I need to I can sit down, get involved in the characters and get my mind off the pain.

If I'm with others, like at a fair, I tell them I may need to leave them for a bit if my pain gets too bad and sit on the bench. That way they understand and I don't have to get whinny on them. If they are the type that don't understand I simply say I'm in the mood to people watch. I will not let my pain get the best of me if I can help it. Once I spent most of the day at Disneyland sitting in New Orleans Square enjoying the jazz, watching all the people traveling to and from Tom Sawyers Island and having fun getting spooked by all the sounds at the Haunted Mansion.

I judge the time I'll be able to be out almost everywhere I go. For me, that's normal. If I'm not able to leave for hours, I plan my 'bench breaks' which is what I call the breaks I wrote about earlier in this post. And I never go out with someone who doesn't understand my pain anymore if I can help it.

[barb dwyer]

I appreciate the comments.
It's always good to hear I'm not the 'only' one.

I just finished reading a book on leving with hypothyroidism...
and apparently "PACE YOURSELF' is the mantra.

Alera - I LIKE that idea of the carrying patches with ya.

My example is my yesterday -

I got a lot accomplished, during the time that my new
(and soon to be adjusted) medication is WORKING.
With thyroid meds it takes a very long time to get to a 'working' level of hormone.
I'm learning.
Anyhow - I went out for the morning because the medication definitely QUITS
about four hours into my day.
Then it's back to 'same as it ever was'.

I got some bills paid - errands done that needed doing ...
things that wouldn't have raised an eyebrow with me a couple of years ago.
Except for being drunk and trying to do them...

Well today -
I'm paying for so much activity.

Because of the book, though -
I know it's okay and that others with the same condition
deal with this .. well, forever, I suppose.

Meaning I'll have to pick my battles

I have to priortize what's really important
and get to that first.
Because I may or may not
have a chance the next day to do the rest
depending on the pain.

[jazpoppy]

Timing is essential for chronic pain sufferers. I am very stiff and I hurt a lot when I first wake up, I need at least an hour to an hour and a half to get moving. I have to take medicine on a schedule, so I take my meds, sit down and watch the news for 45 minutes, then I get showered, dressed, and I can go for a few hours. Then I take my mid-afternoon "wind-down time" and sometimes even a nap, if I can lay down without my back hurting too much. I at least sit up and use heat or ice and watch TV for a couple hours. Evenings is when I do my exercise (lately its just been walking, no sit-ups or other calestenics due to pain). I love walking at night. Its cooler, and I'm usually stretched out and feeling a bit better than first thing in the morning. I hope you are doing well Barb. Take care.

Sincerely;

Jaz

[scaredykat]

Pain does limit what i do too. It's that time of year almost were i have to avoid certain restaurants because of the air conditioning. I hate that too. I know which ones to avoid and which ones I'll be all right with a sweater where they're air conditioning isn't as bad.

[barb dwyer]

I am so GRATEFUL for this book 'Living Well With Hypothyroidism'....

and I'm SOOOOOO grateful for each of you taking to me about this.

It's such a comfort to know I'm not alone.

Thanks jazpoppy - I'd been wondering how you're doing!
Scaredy - you're sounding like hypothyroid - we're always cold, ya know.

[Justme57]

Oh! Barb !

And I thought it was "only me "!

I have had to curtail much of my activity , due to my Fibro, I tend to do stuff, like walk the dog, ect alone, so that I dont "hold up" my friends
I only go to cerytain shopping centres, where I dont have to walk far, and notice that I am tailoring my activity to "fit" my pain

it's a PIA LOL

HUGX
leigh

[barb dwyer]

{{{{{{Justme!! }}}}}}}}

Good to see ya over here!!!

Wel, fibro... that's the next leg (pun intended) of the journey. I'm on hold right now, waiting on the thyroid to come to some kind of balance.

So I'm reading up on it, and a couple of other chronic conditions as well.
The most common thing I notice with my 'fibro' friends - is their talking about 'paying for' activity of the day before.

They never know wehn that tab is due.

For example -
one day, they can exercise and get yardwork done.
For the next two days... they will have twice the pain as usual.
or maybe not.

They never know when it's going to really 'hit'.

[ksos]

Hi Barb and everyone else ((((Hugs))))

I think I know why I feel a bit depressed today...I had the chance to see my first cousin yesterday for the first time in 8 years, as she and her fiance' visited my folks in New Jersey. She just graduated medical school with honors and met this young man, and is en route to what hopefully, will be a wonderful life.

I wasn't even invited because my folks know how difficult it is for me to move around these days, and, despite my cousin's and my age difference of 15 years, she still remembers me as a vibrant, healthy person who used to take care of her when she and her sister were toddlers...

I called my house yesterday to speak with her, and she was so happy to hear from me, from what I heard afterwards! She invited me to her wedding, which is in November of this year, and I told her that I would definitely be there. I suddenly thought that I probably should have not said "definitely" but she seemed so happy...

Today, I cannot even imagine traveling to Long Island and withstanding a grueling wedding! Where are my "breaks"? I need an escape route, too! Where can I lay down?

I hope that my thoughts will change very soon and be centered on her, for she led a horrific life, but stayed clear of drugs and alcohol, and went to medical school to be a pediatrician. Man, I wish I had that intestinal fortitude! Her sister, by the way, went to Harvard and is an attorney...

Just stay clear of my pity party today...