Busy

Work, physical therapy, appointments, kid events, performances, shopping, volunteering, parties.  This time of year is notoriously busy.  I find I like to stay busy, and the Nov/Dec holiday rush makes that easy.  But, juggling that with chronic illness is becoming more difficult as my symptoms become more demanding.  I don't want to say, "no," but the risk of extreme physical fatigue made it important for me to learn.

Staying busy is a coping mechanism for me.  Having a schedule and knowing what I need to do gives me something to focus on besides the ever-present pain. I feel productive and useful.  Carefully balancing mental and physical activities allows me to rest my body and use my mind.  Some days I am better at this than others, so I take each day as a learning experience and use my successes and failures to improve my ability to stay busy.

I feel guilty when I say no to an invite or activity.  Yet, I feel worse when I say I'll do something then have to cancel because my body is too tired.  I see others my age and older able to be busier than me and feel I should be able to balance my activities that well, too.  But, I cannot.  Because EDS makes me different, unique.  Because my symptoms are not as predictable as I want them to be.

Thoughts for Thanksgiving

This morning I read an article, When Poor Health and the Holidays Collide, by Toni Bernhard, J.D., and it ignited a trail of thoughts about things for which I am thankful.

I am thankful:

• for my family's support when I need to rest.
• that I awoke this morning with minimal pain.
• for my children, who help me in the kitchen even when it is not a holiday.
• for the opportunities for health care and support I can access locally.
• for the woodpecker at the suet cake hanging outside my window, who always is nearby when I need to see a splash of color.
• for spontaneous happenings that make me laugh.
• for the warning signs my body gives before I sublux a joint.
• that I have learned to listen to my body's needs, and am learning to attend to those needs.
• that I can still type.

I wish everyone a warm, healthy, and happy Thanksgiving!

Rolfing Session 6 and Autumn Pain

As happens each fall, my body is reacting to the colder weather by stiffening and aching.  However, after a few months of rolfing sessions and my new, higher lift for my shoe I am noticing the pain is different.

Typically I would experience pain in my upper right back and neck.  There is a small amount of stiffness there, but no more than all summer.  Though that area has not become painful the lower left area of  my back has.  This is not an area where I typically have much pain, ever, so it has me concerned.  After my pre-session evaluation today I was reassured because, whereas the pain is unusual and uncomfortable, there is noticeable lengthening in my lower spine! 

My other area of pain at this time is still minimal compared to what it was last winter, but any hip bursitis is too much for me.  Last winter was the first time I experienced it, and I was hoping it was gone for good with all the therapy I am doing.  We worked with the hips today and, hopefully, I can lie on that side tonight without discomfort.

Today we did nothing "new."  Our focus was on correcting areas to minimize pain and on more with the center line.  Though I have not noticeably taller after sessions I am also no longer shrinking between them. 

I have 3 weeks to the next session.  Cold, wet fall weather is settling into the region and threatening to settle into my soft tissue, too.  My goal during this time is to stretch at least a little each night and try to minimize the fear of the pain.