Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & OS

Penny-Wise_4

Kazonline wrote:

Penny wise - just a quick note to send you hugs and encourage you to try a slow cooker. Eating 'junk' aggravates ME - the more fresh healthy food you eat the better for you. Another great thing about the S/c is that you can easily make double portions and build a nice stockpile for the freezer.
It's the one and only thing I like about winter!
hugs,
Kaz x

I know junk makes me worse – I always try to eat my 5-a-day & snack on fresh fruit & carrots, etc. When I do cook its always really healthy, fresh food but I’ve just not been doing it. OH says “you’re too tired, sit down & have a rest, I’ll ‘make’ tea – Indian, Chinese or Pizza?” & its just too tempting & so I get stuck in a vicious circle – feel tired, eat junk, feel worse, eat more junk, etc etc etc.

I'll have to look into getting a slowcooker. I've just been paid so i think i'll be able to budget one in. I think i'll get an x-large one so i'm forced to make extra meals.

**purpleprincess**

That's very true, since I started homecooking I do feel better than when I was eating ready meals and takeouts

Gingham_Ribbon

Here's the yummy, quick and easy pasta dish.

lilmisskitkat

Not much to add to what the others have said really, just wanted to send you (((hugs))) as i know how you feel. I have suffered from Fibromyalgia since i was 12 and some days i find it really difficult to manage and i don't even work - i really admire you for holding down a job with your CFS.

I make meals in bulk, esp things like chilli, bolognese and stew so that on my bad days DD and I still have a homecooked meal. My mam only lives next door and i know that she would come and cook for us but i like to be as independant as possible. I have a list of household chores and do one room every week day so i keep on top of it. On my bad-ish days (not the worst when i can't get out of bed lol) i just do the bare minimum like washing up, making sure DD has clean clothes etc.

I try to eat as healthy as possible as i find it does make me feel better in myself so lots of fresh fruit and veg and proper homecooked meals. Takeaways are a weekend treat and i don't bother with ready meals anymore (i used to before i got my freezer organised!)

Most of all - Don't feel guilty when you can't do something, this is where i fall because i think that i'm a bad mother etc when i can't do my normal things round the house and with DD. Accept help where you can get it, do things and catch up when you're well and when your not then just let the housework go to pot lol

Take care

Kate xxx

Bargain_Rzl

Just wanted to say - there are LOADS of people on here with CFS and similar conditions, also folks with depressive illnesses which, like CFS, result in "good days" and "bad days". Hang on in there, and you'll get oodles of good advice from people in the same boat who do brilliantly at organising their time and money to their best advantage

catznine

Hi there!

I too have had CFS for some time and know how you feel but you have to give youself a break, we all fall off the os wagon at some time, this board is great though because everyone is fantastic at gently encouraging you back on board :A :T

My advice would be take baby steps:

Next time you do cook a meal try to make more than you need and then freeze the extra away for when you don't feel up to cooking.

Try to buy organic food if you can (better for you) and make it stretch as far as you can by reducing waste, the book Moggins is recommending "The New English Kitchen" by Rose Prince is full of great advice and is on offer at under £5 from The Book People at the moment. An organic chicken can be expensive but it is better for you, especially with CFS, and you can have from one chicken several meals e.g., roast, salad, sandwiches, soup etc.,

When you are pacing and it is time for a sit down, think about a meal plan, I keep a note pad (would really like a pukka pad now tho! like bgn Rzl, shez and the rest of the gang!:D ) by the bed and plan ahead as best I can the use of ingredients I have in.

I couldn't do any of this without freezer space though so keep on top of what you have in there, just check every now and then what is in there and what needs using up and then you can take advantage of any special offers that come up.

With regards to the cleaning I have found that programmes like Anthea Turner and Aggie and Kims How clean is your house are full of great tips which can save you a lot of work later, like using vinegar to clean up chrome taps and using baskets to organise necessary clutter. Never did get to grips with the AT t shirt folding tho! lol

I do understand that this is not so easy when you are tired from holding down a job. I found it much easier to be os and control my symptoms only after I gave up my job.

Lots of (((Hugs)))


Catz x

nabowla

Penny-Wise wrote:

I thought someone may ask that! He does his best but is completely disorganised & just doesn’t know how to do it! I have to ring him up every day to remind him to have some lunch.

Penny-Wise wrote:

He’s not lazy, in fact he works quite hard, but tends to make more mess than he tidies, gets distracted easily & can only concentrate on one thing at a time.

Do you think lists would help OH to get a bit more organised and a bit less distracted? I'm not talking about Nag Lists that you issue to him without any consultation! Something more along the lines of the two of you sitting down for 5 mins after dinner with a mug of coffee to discuss what needs doing the following day and who's doing it. Make two lists - His and Hers - and start by putting something down on your list first so he doesn't feel victimized! When something's added to his list, he can check with you how to do it/where to find the vacuum etc or you can drop subtle hints Put the lists on the fridge and encourage OH to tick things off his list during the day as he does them one at a time. It might take a friendly reminder to check the list when you ring him at lunchtime, but after a couple of weeks he should be in the habit of checking the list and will know how to do most of the jobs on the list.

Penny-Wise_4

Thanks to everyone for their kind words & encouragement – it’s really made me feel better about things.

I’ve decided to get a slowcooker – the Morphy Richards 6.5l one with a timer. The cheapest I can find it is £32.99 from electicshopping.com.

I’ve looked through the slow cooker thread & picked out 14 recipes which I think both me and DH will like.

I think DH has been reading this thread. He got some stewing beef out of the freezer this morning & is making dinner – first time in a long time - he asked about getting a slow cooker :eek: . He also told me he’s done some major tidying has done two loads of laundry. I’ve had to read back through my posts to make sure I didn’t say anything too derogatory about him.:eek: :eek:

((Just in case you are reading this - I love you!! :happyhear :kisses3:))

catznine

One of the easiest recipes I have that seems to also give me energy is a tuna and pasta meal:

Cook up enough pasta (wholemeal is best) for the 2 of you. Peel and chop a small onion and some garlic and saute in a little olive oil, Open a tin of chopped tomatoes and add to the onion. Add a dash of tobasco sauce or use fresh chilli if liked. Add a tin of drained tuna chunks and pour over the pasta.

I also like a recipe by Nigella Lawson from Nigella Bites called Vietnamese Chicken and mint salad - very restorative but not sure of the copyright rules re typing it up here.

For meals to cook and freeze I tend to do chicken stews/casseroles in the slow cooker, same as you would in the oven really. Also currys, chilli con carne are all good for cooking in bulk and freeze really well.

hth

Catz x

dorry_2

Penny-Wise wrote:

I thought someone may ask that! He does his best but is completely disorganised & just doesn’t know how to do it! I have to ring him up every day to remind him to have some lunch.

He was completely spoiled by his mother - she did absolutely everything for him – down to ironing his underpants & putting out his clothes for the day. She has apologised to me (several times) but she said that she wanted her lads to have a childhood & not have to worry about work.

He’s not lazy, in fact he works quite hard, but tends to make more mess than he tidies, gets distracted easily & can only concentrate on one thing at a time. He’s just starting to get better at it – he’s been trying to do housework for two years now while he was at uni, but he’s passed his HND now and is looking for a job. Hopefully his wage will be about the same as mine is now so I can work part time or be a housewife & will be able to cope better.

Keeping on top of the cleaning will be much easier when DH is working as he won’t be around to make a mess during the day & so there will be less to clean up. It was quite easy to do when he was working – but he was made redundant (on Valentines Day 2003, 5 months after we were married ).

hi penny wise :wave:

are u married to my husbands twin or something???

you have just described my oh, he really works hard (7 days a week) but he is exactly like yours, if i went out shopping, he would not make himself any lunch, he would sit there there watching tv till i got home, totally infuriating!! to say the least. grrrr