Fibromyalgia

poohbear59

bigzippy wrote: »

Thanks poohbear and beeka for your thoughts. I'm still paranoid about my breathing and watching how many words I can get out before I have to stop and breathe... they were worried about my fast heartrate in A&E too...so of course I've been watching that too..! :rolleyes: I am better now (though not fully) but still not risking doing much and been wrapped up in duvets or had the heating on full blast all the time.

My breathing physio has told me to talk as though I am reciting a nursery rhyme, no more than 6 words between breaths. He has said that breathing properly will also help with the FMS. I try to remember, but often forget!

welcome margaret and tightperson:hello:

poohbear59

281273, I hope you are feeling better soon. And DD too.

somebody_else

bigzippy wrote: »

I was considering paying my meagre DLA to a cleaner to come help me out with all the stuff that just *doesn't* get done otherwise (unless some kindly person does it for me.... yeah right!) but I'm too ashamed to have them in my house the way it is now!

Oh, bigzippy, how I recognise that one!

Do re-consider, if you can find a good agency in your area 'cos a decent cleaner is worth his/her weight in gold. I have a cleaner come in for 2 hours per fortnight, and she can do in that time what it would take me 2 or 3 weeks to do. She keeps my bedroom, the bathroom, hall, stairs, landing, sitting room and kitchen in a respectable state on a regular basis and periodically will spend that time doing a 'deep clean' of one or other of the rooms.

If you're anything like me, a) you'll feel ashamed 'cos you feel you should be doing it yourself, b) you'll feel guilty, 'cos you feel you should be doing it yourself, c) you will find it a bit invasive for a while, 'til you get used to it, but finally d) it'll be worth every penny to have a 'respectable' home again.

I suggest an agency, 'cos then if things aren't right, or the person they send doesn't suit, you've got some comeback and can ask for someone else. I've been using my current agency for about 4 years, and I'll admit they don't come cheap, but they do pay their staff more than the minimum wage + travel expenses. Unless you live in the westcountry though, they're not going to be much use to you.

Above all else, they've never judged or commented on the state of my home, just got on a cleaned it up for me. Bless 'em!

bigzippy

somebody_else wrote: »

Oh, bigzippy, how I recognise that one!

Do re-consider, if you can find a good agency in your area 'cos a decent cleaner is worth his/her weight in gold. I have a cleaner come in for 2 hours per fortnight, and she can do in that time what it would take me 2 or 3 weeks to do. She keeps my bedroom, the bathroom, hall, stairs, landing, sitting room and kitchen in a respectable state on a regular basis and periodically will spend that time doing a 'deep clean' of one or other of the rooms.

If you're anything like me, a) you'll feel ashamed 'cos you feel you should be doing it yourself, b) you'll feel guilty, 'cos you feel you should be doing it yourself, c) you will find it a bit invasive for a while, 'til you get used to it, but finally d) it'll be worth every penny to have a 'respectable' home again.

I suggest an agency, 'cos then if things aren't right, or the person they send doesn't suit, you've got some comeback and can ask for someone else. I've been using my current agency for about 4 years, and I'll admit they don't come cheap, but they do pay their staff more than the minimum wage + travel expenses. Unless you live in the westcountry though, they're not going to be much use to you.

Above all else, they've never judged or commented on the state of my home, just got on a cleaned it up for me. Bless 'em!

Good to see I'm not alone! I was hoping a couple of hours every fortnight would be enough, but then I'm worried what will happen in the meantime! How much do you pay em per hour? If you don't mind my asking I do feel guilty etc, but I also am stingy with money and hate paying someone else to do what I should be doing/able to do! I guess I'm more like my dad than I thought :rolleyes:

somebody_else

bigzippy wrote: »

Good to see I'm not alone! I was hoping a couple of hours every fortnight would be enough, but then I'm worried what will happen in the meantime! How much do you pay em per hour? If you don't mind my asking I do feel guilty etc, but I also am stingy with money and hate paying someone else to do what I should be doing/able to do! I guess I'm more like my dad than I thought :rolleyes:

What I did was pay for a couple of days' worth of 'blitzing', and now I pay for the equivalent of an hour a week, and now that I've got another good cleaner she keeps on top of everything (I'm afraid the last one was a lovely 'girl' but she hadn't a clue when it came to cleaning). This costs me £10.00 an hour. But this does mean that my cleaner gets sick pay, holidays, NI paid, etc, so to me is worth it. If my cleaner is sick, or on holiday when she's due to come to me, the agency will send a replacement. Having said that, by the time I've spent time explaining what needs doing, and where everything is, blah, blah, blah, I came to the conclusion that I was better off just waiting for my usual cleaner to come the following fortnight and she'd pretty much catch up. I don't have to pay if she can't come, or if I cancel with something like 48 hours' notice, or if I'm admitted to hospital or something as an emergency and I get billed once a month. So all being equal, at the moment it's costing me £40.00 per month.

It took me a long time to get over the feeling that I 'should' be able to do it myself - the reality is that I can't anymore, which is why my house had gradually turned into a total tip.

Oh, you'll also find that if you know that someone is coming in to clean and tidy up, you'll find it easier to keep things a bit tidier/cleaner in between visits. Yes, I do tidy up before she comes, but purely from the point of view of giving her a clear run through the house. The less clutter she has to shift, the more cleaning she can do.

Sorry, this has become a bit of a ramble - I hope it still makes sense.

Careful_with_that_Axe

Hi everyone,
Better day today so went to Theatre and had a wonderful time. Was on my own but a lovely couple near me spent quite some time chatting with me. That's what I like about doing things like that - someone always says hello and I get my daily "dose" of conversation!
Hugs to all who are feeling a bit under the weather at the moment.
Get thee a cleaner bigzippy! I had someone come in about 18 months ago to do a "how clean is your house" clean up and it was wonderful. It has slipped since then and I am just about to get someone in - perhaps once a month or once a fortnight to help me out.
I, too, struggled with the "But I should ...", but who said you should??!! Look from the outside and imagine what you would say made sense to someone in your position.
My Physio said it is the sensible thing to do as it alows you to use the little energy you have not spent in cleaning to do something you enjoy and something that enriches yoru life. We all have so little energy that what we do have should be treasured.
When I had my blitz done, it improved my state of mine immensly. No longer was I sitting there looking at things and letting guilt and frustration build up. It enabled me to feel relaxed in my own home. Truly, I think cleaners should be available on the NHS as they are terrific "therapy" for those of use with limitations. If you use an agency as recommended, you can always explain why you find housework difficult if you feel the need to justify yourself.
Believe me, you won't look back once you've started.
I'm tired now and my eyes are all scratchy, but I've had a good day and days like that should be treasured.
Am just wondering now if I sit here long enough will some food magically appear in front of me? I think that's a no, so toast it is
Gawd, I do go on don't I :rolleyes:

somebody_else

Another suggestion for those with limited energy, etc.

Dishwasher!

Assuming you've got room for one and can afford to buy one. I bought mine 2 years' ago and the difference it's made is unbelievable. The amount of energy I used up standing at the sink trying to wash dishes. The amount of pain I was in by the time I'd done it!

Now I load the dishwasher 2 or 3 times a week - unload it and reload it when I've got the energy and I'm not in too much pain and I no longer have piles of dirty dishes hanging around. And all my dishes come up clean with very little effort from me. It honestly makes a huge difference. Oh, and the breakages and injuries have plummeted as well. ;-)

Elmostreet

HELLO again.
sick of having fibro and feeling like i have been hit by a bus. Iwish the pain would goaway. sick of living like this..:j

bigzippy

Somebody_else: Thanks very much - as soon as you mentioned agency I got a bit antsy cos I thought it would be more! I've got my head round actually being willing to hire one now, I think, I just have to work up the energy and effort to get one now! Where do I start?

The dishwasher - funny you should mention that as me and my fiance(!) were talking about that recently - I said I'd already have one when we got married (him ) but he insists our bungalow will be having a dishwasher . I don't have room, plumbing or money for one atm, but it's yet another reason to look forward to married life!

Careful WTA: I will, I will... about the same time I appeal the DLA/Mobility decision I expect Glad you enjoyed the theatre - I struggle (mentally/confidence-wise) to go anywhere on my own, so kudos to you! :T I know exactly what you mean about food too... think I may have to be very un-MSE (again ) and order a takeaway :rolleyes:

Elmostreet: if you've not been welcomed :wave: I hope you feel better soon! I know exactly what you mean, as I'm sure all the others here do. Wrap up warm, with some chocolate and plonk yourself infront of the tele...maybe even add a glass of wine :beer:

bigzippy

Sorry Elmostreet - I've scanned back and now realised that you and Kati are one and the same!

Oops... blame the fibrofog? :rolleyes: