Let's make this life a little easier for ourselves!

Today was such a beautiful day, I couldn't believe it was almost 70 degrees! I would love to have been able to be outside enjoying the day but we were busy trying to get things ready for the kids sleepover and cookout. Of course all of this is a struggle for me, but I do my best to hide it...except for the asthma attack that hits while I'm drying my hair. I was able to get it under control, but then my head began to hurt so badly, I felt that I wasn't going to win no matter what I did today.

My neck feels like it has a pinched nerve. However, rather than effecting one side, it catches on both my left and right sides; causing excruciating pain in my head, neck, shoulders, and down both arms and into my hands. Along with this wonderful new symptom that prevents me from raising my arms, my arms fall asleep all of the time; not just when I raise them, but when I use them. Period.

So I have been doing some reading this week on the World Arnold Chiari Malformation Association website, I found some information that I wanted to share about ways that have been found to help around the house. I don't know about any of you, but when it comes to chores, I pay for anything that I do with several days of misery. I hope that you can find something helpful, If you have found ways to do things that make your life easier, please feel free to share it in the comments, I'd love to hear from you!

http://community.pressenter.net/~wacma/pamshints.htmenjoy

I know that I have to set limits for myself. I can only do one "house chore" per day. Sometimes that chore is my shower, if it's a bad day...The old me would do everything in one day, get it over with, and have the rest of the week to enjoy a clean house, my new normal, means picking and choosing new priorities. If I don't feel good enough to hand in a spoon and do something around the house, then I don't.

I am writing as much as possible. My mind never stops creating! I'm constantly thinking about what my characters should be doing, new characters, new story ideas, new ideas for poems, and it is rare to find me without a notebook in hand :) I'm excited for my book to release in June. Nothing makes me feel more like "me" than when I am writing. Have you found your souls happiness? That "something" that makes you feel whole. It certainly doesn't erase my pain, but for just awhile, It's not the first thing on my mind.
Although we live in pain, each of us still have so much to offer this world, YOU ARE UNLIMITED!

I always try to give myself the choice of having a better day than my body may be willing to provide. But I wasn't able to do this until I found some level of acceptance for the illnesses that I have, the pain that I endure, and the future that is unknown.

I wish you plenty...love, understanding, comfort, and dreams come true!


(((Gentle Hugs)))


Monica Reents








 

Take Time to Dance 🎶

I just love this image and the saying, it couldn't be more accurate!  No matter what life hands you, listen for the beat and make it yours 🎶🎵🎶

I wish you plenty...of support, patience, love, & spoons.

((((Gentle Hugs))))

Monica

I've cashed in all my spoons...

Happy Thursday! I hope that everyone is having a good week and is looking forward to the weekend. It has been a really busy week for me. My son turned 18 on the 21st...which has been one of the hardest things for me to deal with, I cried from both pride (of the person he is growing into) and sadness (of the baby that I miss). It was a day of celebration and hugs :) 

All of this celebrating has left my body needing rest. I turned in a lot of spoons to get through the last few days. I believe that I may have had to borrow spoons...I run out so quickly. (This 'spoons' metaphor will only make sense to you if you have read the Spoon Theory. I posted the link to this amazing story, written by Christine Miserandino, in my last blog post). My body doesn't handle being busy or doing anything strenuous. I become very tired, very quickly...and at the same time, my stubbornness will push me beyond my 'normal' limits. I know, on those days, that I will need a few days of R&R  to heal. My nerves will feel as if they have been badly bruised and stretched out. My joints will be extremely stiff and sore. My head, neck, and upper back will become so sensitive to touch, that lying down is a challenge that I refuse to take on right away. I don't walk downstairs because I know that my left side is further weakened from all of the extra chores and will not be strong enough to carry me back up the stairs. These are the things that I have become accustomed to over the last four years. I know that I still have much to learn and can learn a better way to care for myself. But for now, I'm doing my best...even if that means, lying around in pain and paying for the past few days of activity.

No matter what form(s) of treatment you choose for your chronic pain...prescription medication, surgery, physical therapy, natural therapies, nothing, exercises, essential oils, foods, etc...you need to make sure that it is right for you and makes you feel good mentally as well. I take prescription medications, that includes narcotics for pain. I don't have a plan to change that, but I do have a plan to maybe lessen the number of pills and add other things to (hopefully) improve my health, my lifestyle, and the way I feel. I have been playing with different foods, natural vitamins, stretches, and am researching essential oils. I have met others online that find relief with some of these options, so I figure that the only thing that will hurt, is not trying.

Having syringomyelia, Chiari Malformation, fibromyalgia, hypothyroidism, asthma, arthritis, kyphosis, and Cervical Degenerative Osteoarthritis, has taught me that terrible things can happen to you when you're not looking and when you've set you're life on cruise and just go from day to day, believing that nothing can happen to you, or will happen to you. I have learned that you have to live your life the way you want. Take control of it. Live the dreams you want to see come true. Make others happy by helping them. Dance, sing, laugh, smile, experience this life to YOUR fullest, rest when YOU need to, but don't sit back in idle mode and let the disease have you...your life is a gift!

Thank you for reading my blog. It really means a lot to me!

Happy days to all, I wish you many spoons, happiness, laughter, and dreams come true :)

Monica 

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