Please encourage me.

[Ladyhawk]

Today I am suffering from the effects of hyperglycemia. I'd had my diabetes under control for awhile, but made some stupid meal choices yesterday evening and this morning. It always rears up to remind me it's still there. I was already feeling pretty low because of my recent diagnosis of fibromyalgia to go along with the diabetes, degenerative disc disease, depression, sleep apnea, PTSD, OCD and chronic fatigue syndrome. The CFS is an old diagnosis, but perhaps I haven't been taking it as seriously as I should.

Dammit, I am tired of feeling sick and/or in pain and/or depressed so much of the time. I try to be brave and confront all these issues, but today the hyperglycemia nearly did me in.

You see, I was supposed to give a recital for my grandmother and mother for mother's day. Every day something --usually health-related--interfered until time ran out this morning. This time the hyperglycemia triggered the irritable bowel syndrome that goes along with fibromyalgia. (The sleep apnea is also linked to the fibromyalgia.) I felt awful. I didn't get to sing and play for my grandmother. Who knows how much longer she has to live?

I'm just frustrated. That's all.

[blondeatlast]

1. My sister, I've been there and done that.

And today I'nm having a bit of it myself--I'm having a very bad neuropathy day.

I've taken insulin for 40 years and I wish people could understnad that control with it is fleeting at best. It's a constant battleagainst everything, stress, what I eat, how active I am--and I'm pretty healthy right now.

Hope for a good day tomorrow; until then, feel free to share your pain here--that's what it's for.

If nothing else, know this:

You aren't alone. Even if it's something different, in this group we all understand the wretcheness of living with chronic illness(es).

Love to you--:hug:

[Warpy]

2. Been there, done that, got the shirt

My alphabet soup is a little different from yours, but it's just as debilitating and frustrating to live with.

Add to that my recent corneal transplant that is restricting my already bad vision even more along with making my eye feel like it's got a rusty Brillo pad stuck in it, and you can see your misery has plenty of company.

On most days, I realize I can do what I can do and the world is just going to have to lump it if it wanted more. On other days, I beat myself up because I just can't cope the way healthy people can.

On my best days, I milk it for all it's worth and manage to duck out of social crap I have no interest in.

[mopinko]

3. milk it for all it's worth- i like that one warpy

i do that too, just say, sorry, i don't feel good. if only it worked on kids.

i don't know if it encourages you, lh, but i am feeling better. finally a dx that seems to be correct, and meds that actually work. it is so discouraging to try things that don't help. but it is great to have things actually work.
now i just have to make up for 4 years of sinking into the mud. i think the best way to do that is to just let go of it. i will let you know if i figure that one out.

[mopinko]

4. sleep

i also wanted to encourage you to do whatever it takes to improve your sleep. i have seen first hand what a difference sleep makes, both to physical and mental health.
my hubby has pretty bad apnea, and refuses to wear the cpap. but he has gotten a great deal of relief with some simple sleep measures. we have a bed wedge, and he has one of those snorer's contour pillows. he also uses those nose strips. i would say these measures have given him about 80% relief. he also just got his tonsils out, which added another 5% or so. he barely snores now, and his episodes of apnea are fewer and less severe. he is a MUCH happier, healthier person. and so am i. his snoring and tossing and turning were really having an impact on me.
and fibro-wise- what are you doing for that? i have been taking neurontin and a muscle relaxant, skelaxin, and they have made a major, major difference. pain meds made me so much worse.
i also took an "orthopedic" yoga class, taught by a physical therapist. it was really focused on rejuvenating type postures, and that also helped a lot. i was expecting to come out exhausted, but always walked out after and hour and a quarter class feeling very invigorated. i tried to get into yoga myself many, many times. but i always just wore myself out, and felt worse. but it helped a lot to get a dx, and find out that when i was feeling bad, i could do 5 minutes, and that's it. and that 5 minutes helped a lot.

and btw, i saw your pics of gabby in the lounge last night. what a beauty. is he a good bird? so many zons are handful.

[Pharaoh]

5. Geesh Ladyhawk!

I have just about everything you have except the diabetes,

But I feel for ya, I am sick and tired of being sick and tired!!:spank: