ups and downs.....

nearlybionic

Hi
I should be used to the unpredictability of athritis by now, but I still find it hard to get my head round the ups and down of this stuff!
I am waiting for a date for my 2nd THR and have OA in my hips, spine and and having pain in my knees too. I am trying to keep going with work, by using annual leave to shorten my week. But I am finding that my days off are when I would like to do things for `me` but these are the days when my body lets me down the most! It is so hard to make plans to do thins as I can never be sure I will be up to it.
So if anyone know where the cleaning up fairy is, please send her my way, as I could really do with the help today :roll:
It is a lovely day here, and I would love to go for a walk, but my legs aren`t playing the game today (or ever!!) so I will watch others having a nice walk instead.
I hope it is sunny where you are to 8)
NB

stickywicket

Sorry, NB. If I knew where the cleaning up fairy hung out I'd be hanging on to her myself

I agree, the unpredictability is annoying and disruptive but keep making your plans, even if you have to cancel last minute. Or just be a bit more flexible with them if possible.

Have you heard of the Shopmobility scheme? You can borrow a disability scooter. You'd need to google it and see what's on offer where you live as all places operate slightly differently. Also some garden centres and/or beauty spots have their own which can be borrowed.

nearlybionic

Hi Sticky
Thanks for the info about the shopmobility scheme. I have been pondering about a scooter (really not keen!) but....if I don`t have to buy one to try one, I may have a go if things are bad and I don`t want to miss out on an outing.
I have cleaned my kitchen and am feeling very proud of myself! Small achievement I know, but still.. Off to have my next painkiller before I tackle the living room
I am keeping an eye out for the postman in the hope he has news of my op.
Take care x
NB

mig

Hi NB sorry things are not so good hope they will improve soon.I could do with the cleaning fairy myself my oh doesn't know there are corners.Sun is shinning in nottm had a quick trip to shops,fortunately we are near the bus stops so not a lot of walking.Sending you some hugs (((()))) Mig

lululu

Good morning NB if you find you enjoy this cleaning lark you are welcome to come to mine
Think of the scooter as a way to preserve energy for what you really want or need to do, I know in Eastbourne yu can hire a scooter for £4 and keep it all day it would be a good way to try one and do't feel taht everyone is looking at you because on a scooter you become invisible, and you will spend all yor time avoiding people who seem to walk right into you. :roll:

Numptydumpty

Hi NB, it's a good idea to try a scooter, I hope you get on well with it.
A friend recently gave one to me. I'm not sure why he had it, he's a bit eccentric, and gets things on a whim. (He used to have a fire engine, our children had great fun when they were small, being driven around his field in it )
Anyway, this scooter is immaculate, I haven't used it much yet, but it means I can go with my OH to walk the dog.
I hope you hear soon about your op.
All the best,
Numpty

barbara12

Hi NB
Some time you think you are coming to terms with arthur...then he strikes that bit harder...like you say the sun is shinning today and I said to hubby I would love to go for one of my long walks before Arthur....I still haven't come to terms with this....I do have my wheelchair but I hate the thing...then I get out on a lovey day like today and its my friend for a while.
You take it day by day...((((((())))) xx

nearlybionic

Wow! Thanks everyone for your wise words xx
See what hapens when I nip off to clean the living room, all these lovely people drop by
I have decided to go out this afternoon, and have my crutches in the car, (not quite ready to try a scooter on my own, will need moral support for that!)
Barbara, you are spot on there. I sometiimes feel I have come to terms with my problems, and then arthur turns up the heat! It is good to find people here who understand though xx
Enjoy your day all xx
NB

elainebadknee

NB

Your'e having a tricky time but I got to admire you for keeping working when most would not do so....You know if I lived near you I would come and hoover your house and do an hour's worth of ironing..Also would make you a meal to halve and put in freezer....
Keep the pecker up bud, must be hard..

Elainexx

nearlybionic wrote:

Wow! Thanks everyone for your wise words xx
See what hapens when I nip off to clean the living room, all these lovely people drop by
I have decided to go out this afternoon, and have my crutches in the car, (not quite ready to try a scooter on my own, will need moral support for that!)
Barbara, you are spot on there. I sometiimes feel I have come to terms with my problems, and then arthur turns up the heat! It is good to find people here who understand though xx
Enjoy your day all xx
NB

nearlybionic

Hi Elaine
Thanks for the offers!! I have really struggled today and feel fed up that my body is lettng me down. I used the crutches when I went out, just to Argos to try to get a guitar stand, but my hip gave way painfully a couple of times, and I am scared of putting too much weight on my THR side (as it dislocated in past). So I came a way without my purchases!
I have been trying to keep managing to go to work, as I am not sure how much full pay sick pay I have, and want to make sure I have it for whe I have my THR. I have my 1:1 with my manager again next week, and might ask if she can find out for me. I had hoped to get my preop date soon so I can know my op is within 6 weeks. But no news yet
Feeling really down and fed up now, and in pain. I hope I get some sleep tonight.
NB

frogmorton

Hope that helps a little Nearly.

I have been there too taking a day off a week with A/L

I hope you are off now for the weekend and can rest

Love

Toni xxx

stickywicket

I hope you managed to sleep, NB, and that the 1 to 1 goes well. Bodies, eh? Total let down

salamander

Hi NB, sorry to hear you are struggling at the moment and can't add much to the wise words of everyone above. However, one thing struck me reading your posts and that was you were trying to do the kitchen and living room in one day and then go off to Argos. Seems a lot to do if you are in pain. Could you find a way to tackle one room a day rather than trying to do it all on your day off and then feeling worse? And Argos deliver of course, which might leave you a bit more energy for things you enjoy.

nearlybionic

Hi xx
Toni, Thanks for the virtual help!! Using the annual leave makes the week longer but has meant I don`t get a full week off until I get my next annual leave allowance. I am off this weekend, so will try to not do too much.

Sticky, I did sleep a bit last night thanks x My body lets me down all the time!! Physically and asthetically!! :roll:

Salamander, I am cutting back on the cleaning by only doing a couple of rooms at a time, as I used to be able to do all the house in a day!! I would use the delivery service at Argos but was only looking for something small really, so would probably have had to pay more for delivery, but good idea for future xx

I have had a lovely afternoon wit my daughter looking a prom dresses. I took my crutch, which I hate, but we still had fun. Quiet night tonight now though.
Take care
NB

frogmorton

NB

Going to PM you re prom dresses. 2 of mine had their prom 2 years ago.

Love

Toni xxx

nearlybionic

Hi Toni
Thanks for the PM I will have a look
I have been to watch my son play football this morning, with my crutches. I is a lovely sunny day here and although a bit cold I enjoyed getting out for a bit. I am paying for it now and have dosed up on Oromorph! My Mum has invited us over for tea, so no cooking!! Yay!!
Mr NB has said he will try to decorate our bedroom before my THR which is great! We haven`t decorated our room since we moved here nearly 2 years ago, and it will be good to have a nice room to recuperate in after my op. So we may nip to look at wall paper on the way to my Mum`s house.
At least I have a chauffeur today too.
Take care all xx
NB

dreamdaisy

Ah, my days of doing two rooms in one day are long gone. One room in a day or a day-and-a-bit is my limit and I employ a domestic slave for the stuff I can no longer manage - I reckon it's a sensible use of some money as it saves me a lot of grief (apart from the times she doesn't turn up!) DD

nearlybionic

Hi DD
I am fighting the scream of my bones to do less housework!! I will not give in.......well, maybe :roll:
I am too much of a control freak to let anyone come in to do my housework, so if not me then Mr NB will have to do it, under my expert supervision!!
I will find it hard this week to cope with the mess, as he is starting to decorate our bedroom. And he is not a tidy worker.
I have had a lovely meal at Mum`s house today, but my joints are punishing me now This is the sort of thing that really gets me down. I should be able to have an afternoon out, eg. car trip 7-8 miles, sit down meal with family, car trip back, (I am only 44!!) and not feel like I would like to saw my legs off with a rusty blade. Now if I had completed theGreat North Run, I would allow my joints to complain, but not from such little activity!!!
Flippin` arthur
NB

barbara12

Hi NB
I am glad to see you got out in the sun, so did I, but like you say when you get home you feel shattered....hopefully this THR will make such a difference to you.
Now housework...ask anyone that know me how I cleaned every day...and I mean cleaned :roll: but over the last couple of years I have learned its not the end of the world if I dont....I know its hard...anyway how nice of hubby to decorate your bedroom....wonder if mine will when I have my THR....
You take care ((((()))) xx

nearlybionic

Hi Barbara
I have a bit of a cleaning fetish!! I am going to have to get over it I guess!

I had an awful night, no sleep until my 2nd dose of Oromorph at 5.30, then alarm went off at 7 for work. I felt like I was walking through mud in slow motion all day! And to top it off it was my 1:1 today :roll: My boss was really nice today, kept asking if I should be there, but as I explained, I am trying to save my sick pay. She was very kind, which is not good when I am tired and emotional and I blubbed!! :oops:
Anyway, I have decided it is time to tell my GP how low I am feeling. I have an appointment tomorrow afternoon. I am really nervous about telling him though.
I am hoping for sleep tonight, please!!!!
NB

frogmorton

How lovely!! A newly decorated bedroom to lie-in whilst recuperating

What a sweetie.

Can I wish you all the best at the docs for tomorrow and I hope you are able to tell all.

Love and ((()))

Toni xxx

barbara12

Hi NB
I do hope you got some sleep last night....just leaving some more hugs...and you will get over the cleaning fetish ...I did...(((((()))) xx

villier

NB sorry don't know how I have missed your post, hope you are feeling a wee bit better today, as for the housework mine gets done on my better days, sending you some ((((())))) hope you feel a bit better soon .............Marie xx

MUM1

Hi nearly bionic hope things get a bit better for you soon as spring is on it's way. I have OA in my knees, right hip, lower and upper back and OA has brought on a re-occurence of carpal tunnel for me. I worked 42 1/2 hours a week up until 1 1/2 years ago but now only work 20. I know what you mean about arthur heating up you have reasonably good days with the help of pain dullers and then it can hit you for weeks and things are a bit harder as I am finding out with each passing year. I try to split up the chores over a few days even on reasonable days it can be a bit of a struggle. Take care x

hileena111

Hi NB
How are you today?
It was my daughter that talked me into getting a scooter.
Talk about role reversal
She said that when OH took me out he would probably look at a main street, think....can she manage this? I was holding him back.....think how much further the 2 of you could go with you on a scooter. I then started to feel a bit guilty and agreed. I was told by her I wasnt giving in ...it was a coping mechanism Its great for long walks or very hilly walks.
In between times i use my 4 wheel rollater.
Hope you are feeling a bit better and that you try the scooter.

Love
Hileena

stickywicket

I, too, hope things are a bit better, NB, but, as for the cleaning - I'm with Barbara. I used to have a relatively clean house but decided years ago that something had to give as two small boys and a very arthritic mother were a recipe for domestic mayhem.

Your health has to be your priority. If your house is a health hazard then it needs cleaning : otherwise your joints get first say.

I've just remembered what swung my opinion. My neighbour was one of the kindest people on earth. Everyone in distress beat a path to her door. Her house really, genuinely, was a health hazard but she had a heart of gold. I still can't manage the heart of gold but she taught me, without saying a word, that there were more important things in life than a clean house.