When you have fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, you're forced to make a lot of changes in your life, to accommodate your symptoms. It's also important for us to make changes to help alleviate our symptoms, but that leads to a whole new set of problems.
Right now, I'm facing an issue with self-discipline. About 6 weeks ago, I decided I absolutely had to loose a few pounds before traveling to my cousin's wedding. I ate mostly fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean meats. I stayed away from processed sugar. I tracked my food intake through About.com's Calorie Count to make sure I was getting the nutrients I need while sticking to a low-calorie regimen.
Not only did I lose 5.5 pounds in less than 2 weeks, I felt amazing. I had about double my normal energy and tons of motivation. I'd find myself smiling and humming for no particular reason. I had more patience with my kids. It was awesome! Then came vacation.
As I wrote about a few weeks ago, I really didn't take proper care of myself for those 5 days -- especially when it came to my diet. I had a worse flare than I expected when I got home, and as we all know, it's really hard to eat right during those times. I went back to my old habits of eating convenience foods and sugary snacks that make me feel better for a short time, and then worse.
I know exactly what I need to do to get myself feeling better: eat right. It seems so simple, and yet I haven't had the self-discipline for the last couple of weeks to do it. I keep telling myself I'll start tomorrow, but it doesn't happen.
That's one of the many problems with these conditions -- they stamp out your motivation. Part of it is the lack of energy, and part of it is that we often know we'll face consequences for the things we do. It's a constant balancing act, wondering whether you'll be able to do the dishes today and still make it to your doctor's appointment tomorrow. Another part of it -- the part that's the biggest stumbling block for me right now -- is mental. I've learned to fear change.
Why? Because when fibromyalgia became a part of my life, change became really hard. When you've got brain fog, it's easiest to operate on auto-pilot. I've done that with my diet for several years now, always eating and buying the same things because I don't have to think about it. When I was on the better diet, I kept forgetting what I should eat for breakfast. I'd get hungry for lunch and get feeling a little panicky because I didn't know what I should eat. I had to branch out when it came to dinners that were healthy and worked for my whole family, looking up recipes and trying new things.
I'm far enough into recovery to do those things physically (at least on most days), and I know that. Academically, I know that I can handle them mentally as well, but my brain is having trouble getting that point through to my emotions. When I think back a few years, I can see how much more difficult it would have been, but I wish I'd had the self-discipline to make the changes then -- who knows how much faster my recovery would have been?
As I continue to feel sluggish and achy, however, my desire to get back those good feelings is growing stronger. I'm trying not to lose faith in myself and being positive about getting back into the good habits that I know I need to stick with. I'm certain I'll get started soon ... maybe tomorrow.
Are you having problems with the self-discipline to make positive changes in your life? Have you made some good changes? How did you do it? Leave your comments below!
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you are so right. i’ve had fibro for more than 25 years and i have been getting better only the last four. that is because now i am sleeping again. i take xyrem twice a night to regulate my sleep, regained stage 4 restorative sleep. i do go to bed at the same time, i do go to exercise 5 times a week, i do take pilates, yoga, and feldenkrais classes. i am very disciplined with what i eat. i also have a massage, once a week when i can afford it. this is a very serious illness and i live my life around it. still, even with all the support and treatments and discipline, i need to rest every afternoon. i’m almost 70 and my life is very small. wish it weren’t so. but fibro is demanding.
I have to agree with you on how difficult it can be. I know that I feel much better when I take certain supplements at certain times of the day, and restrict my diet to a list of healthy foods. Its very difficult to maintain that out in the ‘real world’, where you may not have a say in the food prepared and delivered, although I’ve gotten much better in dragging a cooler of healthy food along with me when I go out – to work, on errands, etc.
The worst days are when I have a flare. Its just too difficult to remember what to take when and too much effort to prepare foods. Then of course, its a downhill slope until I can get back into the routine again… But I keep trying. One of these days the routine/auto-pilot will be set to the positive changes and I’ll be thankful I persevered.
I truly admire abotbensussen in her/his discipline and can only wish to have that much strength of mind and character at 70 years of age.
The issues of my case are…
At 54, I have had FM/CFS for 21+ years. Early in the illness, many valuable years were wasted trying to convince my family physician there REALLY was something wrong with my body. Years into the signs and symptoms of this illness, I finally got medical assistance with a Rheumatologist.
Throughout all the trials, FM/CSF bring to the table, I tried to continue working. In the end, ultimately this decision was detrimental both mentally and physically. I worked with a sibling, for twenty-eight years, who felt no desire or obligation to offer emotional support, understanding and accommodations for an illness they could not “see”. Eventually, this resulted in the loss of my job as my illness, depression and continuing lack of ability was perceived as an act of insubordination TOWARD the sibling and job instead of the progression of an illness that was happening TO me.
Now, without health insurance and dwindling Unemployment benefits there are no resources to afford the many healthy suggestions such as having a massage or acupuncture, going to work out or buying organic foods to eat and fuel the body’s engine. It is a struggle to survive day to day, afford needed medications, having enough money (after living expenses) to see a physician that even knows what my illness IS and HOW to treat it.
When Unemployment benefits end, I will finally have the chance to begin Disability procedures, which will take many months or years to accomplish. My self-employed husband is semi-retired so we will continue to live on a very limited income.
Since becoming unemployed, I lost more physical ability to work after a serious shoulder surgery from an injury and need another surgery on an elbow, which can result in permanent nerve damage if this surgery is not performed
I wish for others and myself, that someone on this FM/CFS site could address and write articles to help people in similar financial situations. I feel many of us know what we SHOULD do, desire to eat and sleep well, lose weight and become more functional. Yet…how can you accomplish this while you are in pain, depressed, have no financial security and lost your ability to make money IN THE PRIME OF YOUR LIFE?
People like us need more help than just a bandage…we need a cast!
Thank you for providing this forum and giving us the freedom to speak freely.
From Your Guide: I know the lack of financial resources is a huge problem for many of us. I wish I could offer a simple solution, but about all I can tell you is to go to social services and check on what local and state resources may be available for you. I think I will post something on this, though, and see what ideas other people can offer. Also, I wanted to mention that you don’t have to wait until your unemployment runs out to start the disability process. Get things going as soon as possible — if you are approved, they pay you retroactively to the date you filed. ~Adrienne
hey,Sherudi,thanks for bringing up the financial problems to light!!..i too have had surgery to my shoulder after a accident and have permanent damage…plus the newly diagnosed ‘fibro’…finding work is very hard…to be able to afford the ‘good’ things for you plus the meds is almost impossible…its either the right foods or the meds…i don’t have anything as back up either,finacially, and most days are really hard. it would be great if we could have some really cheap pointers as well as maybe places with financial help? Canadians included..lol..thanks for the place to ‘vent’..
That is so true!! I’ve been depressed about my weight for so long… over 10 years now. I am on Lyrica which adds the weight but I’m trying to wean off of it. I try to eat a healthy diet but keep going back to the ‘old habits’ as you mentioned. My husband has been working LONG hours and doesn’t come home until 7:30..8:30..9:30 or 10:30 at night so I’ve been having a LOT of trouble trying to find something quick and easy (and convenient..i.e. processed! ugh!) for myself and then by the time he gets home, I’m too tired to even move, let alone cook anything!
I’ve tried cooking with the ‘crock pot’ which has worked out well… I just need to find more recipes that are ‘quick and easy’ and still healthy.
I appreciate several of the tips you gave and I’m going to try them!
Thanks!
My favorite fall back is rotisserie chicken. It is already cooked, you can do anything with it. A couple of microwaved side dishes or a few slices in a sandwich is so easy. I usually have one in the fridge most of the time.
I am unemployed as well, but I just keep plugging away at the ol’ job hunt. Just trying to find something that will keep me off my feet is a challenge. But I stay as positive as I can. Its the only way to keep from going crazy!
Be well!
One thing that recently has been an unexpected help to me for eating well/better, is that at my new apartment I have a small plot of land outside my door and I decided to grown a little kitchen garden… a new (and learning) venture for me. I like to cook, but it’s been fun to work at using the various crops. Most recently I’ve focused on finding recipes for using my flourishing marjoram plant. So I made a zucchini frittata and also potato fritters. I have some other recipes in the works for marjoram too. But my Roma tomato plant is producing a 2nd crop now so I’m thinking about making a tomato tart. When I cook though, these things last for several meals, so I usually don’t have pressure to cook when I don’t have time. I also freeze meals. I don’t eat a lot of junk food, but sweets are my bugaboo. I make my own dried fruit, so I try to eat those for my sweet tooth, and lately I’ve made some sorbets, too, which aren’t too bad (although they do have sugar), health-wise. Anyway, having a kitchen garden I think has been good for me for healthy eating. I didn’t start it for that reason though, but for a stress diversion and because I like to cook.