From the article: Surviving the Holidays with Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
The holiday season is particularly busy and stressful -- and that can get fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms in an uproar. Share the things that have helped you celebrate with fewer consequences, and also learn what's helped other people like you. Share What Works For You!
Easy Thanksgiving for me
- My partner owns a bar. Every year they have a big Thanksgiving there and they deep-fry turkeys and everyone brings something. I don't have to do a thing, unless I feel like cooking something.
- —Guest AnnieG123
Holiday Survival Plan - pacing
- Beckie P. Stop before you're ready to stop. If you go till you're too tired to do more then you'll crash. When you think "I'll just do that 1or 2 more things, or visit 1or 2 more shops, or go up 1 or 2 more aisles - don't!" Thinking this is your cue that you should stop - works for me. Keep it simple. Decorate - but not as much, celebrate - but not as much, cook if you can - but not as much - just 1 or 2 things. Choose 1 Christmas party to go to and stay a shorter time. Delegate - my husband, daughters, and 1 fiance do Christmas food shopping and meals, and clean up together - I rest and set the table. Husband does tree decorating - I do a little. Gifts - Ask what they want 1st. I use internet/catalogues for home delivery/shop through the year- buying if I see something when I'm out and put away - also means I can avoid Christmas crowds. I shop at times when there's less people - I am good in late afternoon and early evening. Everyone bring some of the food is good too.
- —Guest Lucy
Holidays?
- With fibro in the picture for the last few years, I have only one word of advice.... "SIMPLIFY!" I know, it's difficult to get over feeling guilty about not setting up three trees or spending weeks shopping or days planning meals... but i think my family would rather see me smiling and relaxed during a more simple celebration... than stressed out trying to do the elaborate ordeal that had been the tradition.
- —Guest Lea C.
Pacing, lists, and shopping from home
- This holiday I've sworn to make less hectic than previous ones. My fibromyalgia is much worse than it was a year ago and a year ago it was much worse than the year before. You get the point. I decided that this year I'm going to: #1 Pace myself by figuring out ahead of time who needs to get cards and presents. I'm also going to print address labels for Christmas cards because it hurts to write. #2 I'm going to make lists of everything I need, from baking and holiday dinners, to engagements for our family, to presents, to card lists. I'm going to practice planning ahead this year. #3 I'm going to do a lot of shopping online rather than in the stores during the holiday rushes. Long lines and being elbowed around sale items sound less appealing the more I think about it!
- —OzarksUSA
Holiday Survival
- For our celebrations, I poll the family to see what food traditions they prefer. I plan our menus around that. My special husband helps me since he retired. We do much ahead as is appropriate for the food. I decorate the house sparsely, using natural leaves, cones, boughs, tiny lights, and candles for a festive feel. Gift shopping I do beginning in Sept, as I bump into sales. The grandkids love to have me chase them out of my stash closet. Making cookies with them gives them fun and memories and also the house smells great. All these things help distract any attention to pain. 15 minute rests taken all through the day, at least every hour N half or two, also do me a world of good. The women in our family love to stay up til 2 AM to yak after men and children are asleep. I enlist their committment to handle breakfast for the house hold in my place the morning after our talk parties. I have on hand the ingredients and supplies they desire. I love the blessings of the holidays !
- —Guest Marta. FMS,CFS,arthritis,diabetes
Pacing Yourself
- Beckie P. I allow myself regular breaks. If I go to the mall, I will have a tea/coffee break in the am, lunch and if I last through the afternoon, I stop for a cold drink. I rarely last past lunch. That is why starting early is important. Also, gift certificates are easy. I like the VISA or MC as they can be spent anywhere. For the young ones, McDonalds has gift cards too. Internet or QVC shopping lets you avoid the commotion at malls.
- —Guest DebV
Electric small appliances are great help
- I get to make our Family's Thanksgiveing Dinner, and last year I used almost every crockpot,electric skillet and roster w/incerts I had, I baked the Turkey way eirly and deboned it and put it in a aluminim pan and put in oven to keep warm, I done my 8 pies a week before and froze them, my Ham I sliced and put in a warm electric skillet, I pre-chopped the week before for my stuffing and froze the vegy's, I try to plan about 2 months ahead for shopping if I can, I do a written time and date page for what needs done and when, I do like GFS ( Gordens Food Service) for my Mashed potatos( taste like homemade- potato pearls) just add hot water for 1 Gallon of mashed potatos! and anything else that is a easy fix or get your aluminim pans there too. I also have everyone bring there specialty so all I have to do is pies, stuffing,turkey,ham, gravy,Oh and Noodles, buy the good divided paper plates and plastic silverware and plastic cups, Not Fancy but a big help with cleanup.
- —FibroAngel2
Holiday Survival Plan
- Thank you for the great advice. I have FMS and CF. I have always dreaded the Holidays they make me feel so overwhelmed. Could you please tell me HOW to pace myself? I have never been able to do it. I have been in the go, go, go then crash mode for so long. I have never really learned how to pace. I guess that sounds silly...but could you break it down for me? Thank you so much! Beckie
- —Guest Beckie P
