Grocery shopping wasn't fun when I was still pretty healthy. After fibromyalgia hit, it didn't just get harder -- it turned into a much-feared ordeal that was likely to leave me not just hurting and exhausted, but panicky and shaking.
A trip to the grocery store seems to require all the skills that those of us with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome lack. You've got to have the direction sense and focus to first drive yourself to the store, and then to find your way around inside; you've got to follow a list (if you remembered to bring it), which challenges the short-term memory; your brain's got to take in a lot of visual and audio signals, which can overwhelm us; you've got to multi-task and make a ton of decisions, which can cause anxiety and confusion. And as if that weren't enough, you've got to expend a big chunk of that day's energy and probably amp up your pain several notches at the same time.
Let's face it -- grocery shopping is never going to be a cake walk for us. We can, however, do some things to make it easier. I've made a list of the things that help me and the things I've heard from other people, and I hope some of the suggestions help you. You can see them here:
At the end, there's a Readers Respond link so you can share your own tips. If you'd like to share your grocery shopping horror stories, leave a comment below!
Learn more or join the conversation!
NEWSLETTER | FORUM | BIO | TWITTER | FACEBOOK
Photo © George Doyle/Getty Images
Go grocery shopping at Wal-Mart! They have nifty scooters you can zoom around in for rent. I am in a very bad fibro flare at the moment, and had to go out last night to get groceries (if I sent my hubby alone we’d be eating hamburger helper and potato chips for the week!)… I borrowed one of their scooters and zooming around was the most fun I’ve had in a while! Great post – such a coincidence! I was just twitting about this last night
I just read the suggestions at the above link and they’re all very good ones. What’s worked best for me is going to the store at an off-peak time (usually Sunday morning). I also finally got myself a handicapped parking permit a few years ago. It also helps so much to have someone at home to help you carry in the shopping bags. I shop at a large supermarket (Pathmark) which also has a pharmacy, so I pick up all my meds there. That saves a trip to another pharmacy. WalMart shoppers can do the same and make life easier!
It’s the Muzak that drives me crazy–especially around the holidays. I just can’t take it–all that wretched crooning that seems to be booming or whining or pulsating. And then you discover that they have again changed the aisle location of an item you want. But you don’t have to have fibro to be frustrated at that!
Unfortunately or may be not i wa wrongly diagnosed and what was really killing me was a tmor sitting on my nerves in the L4 vertebrae i already had surgery and i’m fine just getting better each day only the MRI HELPED!!!!!
Grocery shopping? Ugh… ordeal for me too. I definitely use handicap parking on “bad” days…. and shop on off hours…. early or late and rarely on weekends. The worst part for me is carrying in the groceries. I have stairs and they just kill me.
We put an extra refrigerator in the garage for pop and freezer items… that helps. The positive side is that i don’t pick up a lot of impulse items… lol… i know i’d have to lug them up stairs and put them away.
Good article.
I’m thankful for a spouse who does alot of the food shopping. Afterall, he DOES eat most of it!
Something that helps me is to do two or three SMALL trips/week, instead of one huge one.
My solution for grocery shopping? Delivery! Of course it depends on where you live what kind of service you get.
I live in an urban centre, and get a tub of organic (and fresh and tasty) vegetable delivered to my door every other week. And I use an online grocery store for most everything else, except the health food specialty items which either myself or my partner can pick up. It’s totally worth the $10 delivery charge, as I would spend that eating out for my lunch easily for those weeks that it’s too much to get to the grocery store.
A friend of mine gave me one of those fold up metal carts with wheels. Whenever my husband isn’t home to bring in the groceries I just pull Fred (yes, i named my cart) out of the closet, pile the groceries in it and wheel it inside, so much easier!
Also I make sure all the cold stuff and pantry stuff gets bagged separately. If I am worn out I can put refrigerated foods away right away, then put the pantry items away at my leisure.
I actually like to do the grocery shopping but it is exhausting, and on those days I always pick up something for dinner that doesn’t have to be cooked. Cooking is beyond my capability on those days. The hubby makes the grocery list and he and my grown son bring in the groceries and put them away. I simply get out of the car, walk into the house, and rest.
I only get to the grocery store once every 3 months — I hate/dread it that much. Mainly, what I can’t handle is the “hustle” pace, I seem to be in everyone’s way. Also, it’s just entirely too loud!! Why do employees have to ham it up over the mike and hype specials, ad nauseum?
If you are okay with the taste aspect, think about buying dried/powdered foods like milk powder, dry soup packets, instant mashed potatoes, and drink packets – they are much lighter than the fluid versions, and often faster and easier to make on bad days.
I do my shopping (at Wal-Mart) in the early morning hours when I can (less people). I ALWAYS park in the same two ailse so I can find my car. If I can’t go in the mornings I always take my 14 yr. old daughter with me so when I forget where I parked she can find the car. I ALWAYS make my list out the way the store is normally laid out.That has seamed to help.
Just got back, groceries are still in bags in the fridge.
It’s like someone who just ran a marathon for the first time.
I never remember my list and always forget something.
I swear my pocketbook is really a black hole.
I’m so glad I don’t have to face that trek for awhile.
What’s the next marathon? Ah! Drs. visit, now that one is an emotional marathon.
I try to have a healthy snack before I leave, to avoid blood sugar crashes as well as avoiding over-spending, and have a container of water or juice with me. I avoid the laundry product and cleaning aisles like the PLAGUE