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Those of you with long-term/chronic illness
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<blockquote data-quote="Marguerite" data-source="post: 131088" data-attributes="member: 1991"><p>I've had decades of this and learned a few tricks over the years.</p><p></p><p>You need to work a lot out for yourself, but here are some guidelines:</p><p></p><p>1) If you find you get a little more energy as you start doing things, then try to measure how much you can do in one go, before you're too tired to continue. Then while you are physically resting, plan your next activity session.</p><p></p><p>2) Avoid sitting down AT ALL during your activity session. Keep busy, even if it's only a series of very small tasks. For example, while the kettle is boiling, instead of sitting, you put the coffee in the cup, then take a cloth and wipe down the stove. Stop as soon as the kettle boils and make the coffee.</p><p></p><p>3) Do not try to do too much. If you recognise the fatigue signs and know the consequences if you push yourself too hard, do make sure you take your next rest break when you know you need to.</p><p></p><p>4) Ease back on your expectations for yourself. </p><p></p><p>5) Give yourself more time to get to where you have to go, because getting anxious about running late or not getting all your tasks done, actually increases the fatigue.</p><p></p><p>6) Plan more complex activities well ahead, with rest breaks planned in as well. For example, meal preparation - work ahead, as best as you can. Cook twice as much at a time, and freeze half, in small containers. Do not leave things until the last minute.</p><p></p><p>7) VERY IMPORTANT - find other, more efficient ways of doing certain jobs. For example, I have changed how I do the washing. I get very tired from holding my arms up to the clothes line, so I do get help where I can. But I can ease the load by using coat-hangers for shirts, trousers (folded along the crease lines, waist button undone but zip d one up), dresses. I peg t-shirts at the armpit, folded over the line. All garments are smoothed carefully, spread out flat so there are no creases or wrinkles. They should dry with no need for ironing. BUT - you MUST put them away immediately, neatly folded.</p><p>So when I get clothes off the line, I take them in carefully. As I need to pace myself to avoid my arms getting tired, I take off one person's clothes at a time, folding as I go. I then put that person's clothes either away, or in their room for them to put away. By the time I get back to the clothes line, I can raise my arms again, so I do the next person's. All clothes on hangers can go immediately into the wardrobe.</p><p>People who grab clothes off the line and toss it all into the clothes basket - asking for trouble. It will ALL need ironing, assuming you can get to it before the cat uses it to sleep in, or the kids dump their dirty football clothes into it by mistake.</p><p></p><p>8) Find ways to do tasks which do not require you to raise arms above shoulder height, or reach arms away from waist. To do so is VERY tiring, will exhaust you fast.</p><p></p><p>9) Do try to go for a short walk each day, maybe at the end of the day, with a rest before and after.</p><p></p><p>10) Manage your symptoms. Take what medications you need (and ones that work) and be kind to yourself.</p><p></p><p>Do what you can with what you've got. You can't do any better than this. Do not feel guilty -just BE.</p><p></p><p>Marg</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Marguerite, post: 131088, member: 1991"] I've had decades of this and learned a few tricks over the years. You need to work a lot out for yourself, but here are some guidelines: 1) If you find you get a little more energy as you start doing things, then try to measure how much you can do in one go, before you're too tired to continue. Then while you are physically resting, plan your next activity session. 2) Avoid sitting down AT ALL during your activity session. Keep busy, even if it's only a series of very small tasks. For example, while the kettle is boiling, instead of sitting, you put the coffee in the cup, then take a cloth and wipe down the stove. Stop as soon as the kettle boils and make the coffee. 3) Do not try to do too much. If you recognise the fatigue signs and know the consequences if you push yourself too hard, do make sure you take your next rest break when you know you need to. 4) Ease back on your expectations for yourself. 5) Give yourself more time to get to where you have to go, because getting anxious about running late or not getting all your tasks done, actually increases the fatigue. 6) Plan more complex activities well ahead, with rest breaks planned in as well. For example, meal preparation - work ahead, as best as you can. Cook twice as much at a time, and freeze half, in small containers. Do not leave things until the last minute. 7) VERY IMPORTANT - find other, more efficient ways of doing certain jobs. For example, I have changed how I do the washing. I get very tired from holding my arms up to the clothes line, so I do get help where I can. But I can ease the load by using coat-hangers for shirts, trousers (folded along the crease lines, waist button undone but zip d one up), dresses. I peg t-shirts at the armpit, folded over the line. All garments are smoothed carefully, spread out flat so there are no creases or wrinkles. They should dry with no need for ironing. BUT - you MUST put them away immediately, neatly folded. So when I get clothes off the line, I take them in carefully. As I need to pace myself to avoid my arms getting tired, I take off one person's clothes at a time, folding as I go. I then put that person's clothes either away, or in their room for them to put away. By the time I get back to the clothes line, I can raise my arms again, so I do the next person's. All clothes on hangers can go immediately into the wardrobe. People who grab clothes off the line and toss it all into the clothes basket - asking for trouble. It will ALL need ironing, assuming you can get to it before the cat uses it to sleep in, or the kids dump their dirty football clothes into it by mistake. 8) Find ways to do tasks which do not require you to raise arms above shoulder height, or reach arms away from waist. To do so is VERY tiring, will exhaust you fast. 9) Do try to go for a short walk each day, maybe at the end of the day, with a rest before and after. 10) Manage your symptoms. Take what medications you need (and ones that work) and be kind to yourself. Do what you can with what you've got. You can't do any better than this. Do not feel guilty -just BE. Marg [/QUOTE]
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