How do you spend your day?

[Munchies2012]

I am curious as to what everyone else does during  a typical day..

I lost my job two weeks ago... And find i just sat/lay on sofa and watch tv...
No job and now must be tight with what money i have left as the only income i have now is sick pay from government... The doctor signed me off as unable to work due to depression bla bla

I want to be able to go out! But hot lately i get dizzy and disoriented easy then panic sets in and just come home back to the safe sofa..

So how do you all spend your days? When you aren't suffering full hilt

[Viva001]

I wonder if we could find, or get someone to design, some purple ribboned fabric?

There are also bracelets (can't think what they're called--crystals of hope?) for various illnesses.   I admired one on a nurse a short time ago.  I would wear a purple one.

[The_Marine_Corp_Brat]

I'm with Rhea Ann! I would be willing to try and make the time for a group project in between, football, school, doctors appointments and stuff! It would be wonderful bonding time for all of us even though we may not be in the same room or same place! I'm all for it!

[RheaAnn]

That would be so cool!! I have so many things that I would like to try, but don't have time. If we had something to do together, I know I would make time!

[Viva001]

If anyone has the time, money, & health, there's a charity to make pillowcases for hospitalized children.  I'm not in a position to do so for charity right now (we've been donating to Haiti lately, because my DD does there), but I do like making them for gifts.  Just about everyone appreciates more pillow cases, esp custom made.

[selmaS]

  Love Pinterest and have tried a few recipes.....and love all the crafts ideas on there too. Mel made a headboard from one of the pins there....it is addicting....


  Soon Sept will be here and I will start the weekday threads, and mayb we can find some project to work on together?

[RheaAnn]

I want to recommend 2 things. One is a book called The Anatomy of Hope by Jerome Goodman. He was a doctor who wrote about patient accounts of cancer and how Hope gave patients a better chance at living. Great book!

Also, has anyone heard of Pinterest?! It's a virtual pin board for the internet. You pin something on your boards you make and can visit them later. They have anything from crafts to cooking to activities! Even if you never get around to doing them, it actually feels productive! They even have a section on humor to cheer up those bad days!

[The_Marine_Corp_Brat]

Hey sweetie, I know it's very hard not to go into depressed mode...but you have to kick yourself in the bootie and remind yourself that you are so much more than your CM and the limitations it tries to impose on you! I cannot stress to you enough to smile through the pain. I have had Dr. and nurses and there staff comment to me on occasions that I am the happiest patient to be in as much pain as I am always in. They can see it on my face and know how much pain I am in just by looking at me but I always try to put a smile on my face. I explained it to them one time like this, if I dwell on my pain and that's all I think about I am not doing myself or anyone else any good. Where if I smile, whether I feel like it or not, I get smiles in return and that helps brighten my day. I try to smile to brighten their days b/c I know they have patients that come in like me that are in a great amount of pain that are ugly to them, it's not their fault or anyone else's fault I am in the pain I am in so there is no reason for me to take out my pain and frustration on them. By smiling it helps to lift my spirits as well it's hard to be in a bad mood when your smiling! :) I also know that although I may not know the reason why God has reason and a plan for what I am going through, maybe it is to help someone else get through this and if I am depressed all the time I would not be much of an example. I know it's hard. I have multiple issues that compound my CM and still have a lot of questions regarding all of it, I am available to talk most of the time on here,if you need someone to listen. Sometimes my HA's get the better of me and I have to stay off during those but I will be back! lol! Just try and take a deep breath, relax, talk to some friends and try smiling even when it hurts. I am praying for you!

[Munchies2012]

I am beyond depressed now i think... I have done nothing but cry and sleep all day.... As soon as i wake up i cry.. Cry that i must endure life again...

[Crys86]

To be honest, I sit on my rocking chair on the porch all day with my sunglasses on (rain or shine) unless I'm sleeping (I'm 26 and I'm like the exact opposite of any 26 yo you will ever meet.). I read sometimes when my eyes don't hurt to move them. I try to play with my 4yo when I don't feel like death is breathing down my neck, but generally I feel too bad so I just sit here and watch her run all over the yard and talk to her. I mowed grass today (riding mower), currently have a massive headache and feel like I broke my neck after getting hit by a bus. Basically I'm just lethargic, I want to do things but I just don't have the energy to, and when I do I feel like someone beat the crap out of me afterwards. So I am too scared now to move. I do however work still, I work 9hrs a night 5-6 days a week. From 9pm-6am.. if you want to call it working, I generally make a fool out of myself from running into things or getting so tired I can't move, hurting, and then I just cry. I get off work sit in my rocking chair til I get sleepy and go to sleep.. wake up, rinse and repeat. That is how I spend my days. I think I'm getting extremely depressed.. I use to be an avid wakeboarder, bodyboarder, and fitness addict. My last time I went wakeboarding I passed out (drop attack) after falling down pretty hard and had a severe headache for days (was the week before I was diagnosed with Chiari). Now if I try to work out I generally hurt so badly I cry my eyes out. And all my friends are very outgoing people (going out wakeboarding, amusement Parks, and pretty much everything I can't do) so I can't keep up and I just get to read their Facebook statuses of how much fun they're all having.. and when I try to go I just hold them back because I'm sitting on a bench needing a walking break every few minutes or my head starts pounding and one of them feels bad and leaves early to take me home. Yay for being a gimp.

[tink_0427]

Thanks munch, I sure hope so...

[Munchies2012]

I have a jewelry making kit! I try ... But anxiety sets in and  i pack away and sit and worry some more... I think when i look down i get symptoms

[lynnbrook177]

The Marine Corp Brat had some good advice.  I know how hard it must be when you are younger because you don't have the same interests in the home as someone older would have.  I feel for you!  I have had many anxieties over this too, and I am 50, but I get some relief knowing that there is hope for this condition. This is not the case for other diseases so we have to look on the bright side, and keep faith!  Not sure if this interests you, but my daughter has mentioned getting old clothes and putting beads on them to make them your own, or how about those bracelets that are hand made? Just trying to give you some ideas.   H.

[Munchies2012]

They still walk around smiling and not squinting from Sun or pulling faces in pain :(  no worries on their faces ... So care free !!

I have no garden just a small yard no plants nor weeds :(

[Viva001]

Btw, those "healthy people" are really only temporarily able bodied.

[Viva001]

I pulled some weeds today.  There are 3,496,,264, 946, 294 more!

[Munchies2012]

I will try taking my earphones with me for music

I get irritated aswell... Looking at all the healthy people walk around lol feel jealous

[The_Marine_Corp_Brat]

I understand exactly where you are coming from! I am in constant pain and fall all the time! I walk with forearm crutches and it's really hard when both of your hands go totally numb and you can no longer feel if you are even holding on to them ne more! But the best way to deal with this is to think positively, and yes I know how hard it is to do just that! Instead of looking at everyday as a day to just "get by" you have to look at it as a gift. Think of it this way, you no longer have to go to work on days when you are so sick you can't think straight. R you having dizzy spells or vertigo? I understand that panic sets in when u go out because of your episodes, take a friend with you when you go, if you can't and r alone stop, find something to focus your attention on until the episode passes and then try to calm yourself and just do a little more shopping or whatever once you get that under control the first couple of times without going straight home you will find that you can do some things even when these episodes happen. You can't let them control you sweetie, you have to take control of them and find things your body will allow you to enjoy. Think of things you've always done that you still can do and do them and then think of things you've always wanted to do but never had the time to do that would be easy on you to start with and just do things as your body allows you. I have found this is the best for me. I still have severe vertigo and dizzy spells when I am out and anxiety attacks also but I find something to focus on till the vertigo or dizziness passes and breathe deeply and sometimes if I'm alone while out I call a friend to talk to me till the anxiety passes. Try different methods,take an ipod and listen to music if that helps. but try to work through it and find something that you can do and enjoy that will keep your mind busy and your body as active as you are able to during flares! I will be praying for you! Gotta go for a bit my eyes are going blurry again will post more of my suggestions if you like later!

[Munchies2012]

I should find some kind of activity to do even if one day out of the house just no confidence atm with worry of head. I shall fully accept the condition one day soon i hope and carry on life as normal. Just waiting to see ns for more tests to rule out related conditions... And waiting from sleep study referral also. Too much stress

[Munchies2012]

I have many jigsaws i keep buying ! But nothing big enough to do them on :( keep looking for a jigsaw mat... But never any on sale ill try ebay later!

[tink_0427]

Thanks munch, I am coming along...
I think it is just a matter of doin what u can as u can do it...start small so it's easy to accomplish and it gives u a sense of completion. How about a puzzle? I think I am gonna tart one of those myself. I have a 1000 and a 2000 piece puzzle...I'm starting on the 1000 piece first. Set little goals, achievable goals...like for me an this weekend my goal is to separate the edge pieces of the puzzle from th rest of the pieces. Sounds lame but it's a goal and an attainable one! I will have those pieces finished by Sunday....then I can set another goal to put the edge together.
Set small goals u will get there and start feeling better an accomplished...

[actressmouse]

I'm 7 weeks post op.....I've been watching the Olympics a lot and some great movies that I never had the time for before surgery....(I worked, or should I say, pushed myself, full time before surgery).  Lately, I began PT twice a week, so that gets me out of the house and. oh, I attend church every Sunday.  I am a section leader in the choir and I have a lot of friends who show up every Sunday to chat after Mass and "check in" on me.  I also belong to 2 online support groups....this is one of them, so I don't feel so "alone" in this journey.  I have been starting to do little things around the house....but at my own pace. This is particularly tough for me because I'm usually so active.  Great topic, by the way!!

[Munchies2012]

Hope you are recovering smoothly! More time for r&r once then kids are back to school :)

[Munchies2012]

Old!!!! I am 23 Haha i don't want that yet! And lol ocd dog and healthy weeds!!

[Munchies2012]

I am going to have to snap myself out of it and carry on with normal life ..