Comments on: Honor Your Limits? Or Refuse to Accept Them? Some Thoughts on Chronic Pain and Personal Beliefs http://thetramadoldiaries.com/2009/04/honor-your-limits-or-refuse-to-accept-them-some-thoughts-on-chronic-pain-and-personal-beliefs/ for chronic pain medicine, those little white pills kick laughter's ass ... Sun, 18 Jul 2010 15:02:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Sarakastic http://thetramadoldiaries.com/2009/04/honor-your-limits-or-refuse-to-accept-them-some-thoughts-on-chronic-pain-and-personal-beliefs/comment-page-1/#comment-45 Sarakastic Tue, 05 May 2009 22:07:04 +0000 http://thetramadoldiaries.com/?p=105#comment-45 I was just thinking about this today. I usually almost always push past my limits and end up useless for days or even weeks. However, on the rare occasions that I actually honor them, the next day I'm better and can get back to my routine. So really I'd save days upon upon days if I didn't push myself so hard. On the other hand, I think you have to have the attitude that your going to fight/win/go past what you think you can just to get a shower everyday with this disease. I was just thinking about this today. I usually almost always push past my limits and end up useless for days or even weeks. However, on the rare occasions that I actually honor them, the next day I’m better and can get back to my routine. So really I’d save days upon upon days if I didn’t push myself so hard. On the other hand, I think you have to have the attitude that your going to fight/win/go past what you think you can just to get a shower everyday with this disease.

]]> By: Sherrie http://thetramadoldiaries.com/2009/04/honor-your-limits-or-refuse-to-accept-them-some-thoughts-on-chronic-pain-and-personal-beliefs/comment-page-1/#comment-37 Sherrie Sun, 03 May 2009 23:31:39 +0000 http://thetramadoldiaries.com/?p=105#comment-37 Hi <strong>Wealthy and Healthy!</strong> That's a foreseeable result of pushing beyond our limits, isn't it? Yet, we all do it. My advice would be not to add to your burden by compounding it with guilt. There was a post recently on another blog which I can't find right now (if anyone knows, PLEASE contact me or comment here and leave a link, 'cause it was awesome) suggesting that the way the author dealt with things was to basically build in and accept the blowback! In other words, she'd say to herself, "I need to go to my nephew's birthday party, but I know that will cause a flareup for two days. So I'll plan to go, knowing the next two days I can't schedule anything more taxing than bed rest." I thought that was kind of genius. A little stunning, too -- we talk about accepting limits, or ignoring them and then paying for them as if we'd forgotten what happens when we do too much, but hardly ever do we contemplate willingly and knowingly assuming the risk of the worsened pain and/or fatigue or other symptoms. Hi Wealthy and Healthy!

That’s a foreseeable result of pushing beyond our limits, isn’t it? Yet, we all do it.

My advice would be not to add to your burden by compounding it with guilt. There was a post recently on another blog which I can’t find right now (if anyone knows, PLEASE contact me or comment here and leave a link, ’cause it was awesome) suggesting that the way the author dealt with things was to basically build in and accept the blowback!

In other words, she’d say to herself, “I need to go to my nephew’s birthday party, but I know that will cause a flareup for two days. So I’ll plan to go, knowing the next two days I can’t schedule anything more taxing than bed rest.”

I thought that was kind of genius. A little stunning, too — we talk about accepting limits, or ignoring them and then paying for them as if we’d forgotten what happens when we do too much, but hardly ever do we contemplate willingly and knowingly assuming the risk of the worsened pain and/or fatigue or other symptoms.

]]> By: Wealthy and Healthy http://thetramadoldiaries.com/2009/04/honor-your-limits-or-refuse-to-accept-them-some-thoughts-on-chronic-pain-and-personal-beliefs/comment-page-1/#comment-35 Wealthy and Healthy Sat, 02 May 2009 18:32:24 +0000 http://thetramadoldiaries.com/?p=105#comment-35 I have to admit, I struggle with this. I say I'm going to pace, then try to push it and end up in bed for days! I have to admit, I struggle with this. I say I’m going to pace, then try to push it and end up in bed for days!

]]> By: Sherrie http://thetramadoldiaries.com/2009/04/honor-your-limits-or-refuse-to-accept-them-some-thoughts-on-chronic-pain-and-personal-beliefs/comment-page-1/#comment-30 Sherrie Tue, 28 Apr 2009 23:27:32 +0000 http://thetramadoldiaries.com/?p=105#comment-30 Hi Julie! Thanks so much for your incredibly honest and thoughtful comments. I appreciate so much the kind words. I feel you on "stubbornness" - I've always had a mile-wide "I wanna do it myself" streak probably from birth. Like most gifts, it's also a curse sometimes. Like you, too, I'm somewhat of an "old-timer" with this illness (10 yrs for me), and even so am always still feeling my way. It's not a path so much as a ride in a county-hopping tornado: there ARE no straight lines! For others w/ chronic pain who haven't embraced Twitter yet, I urge you to consider it. It's been an amazing place to connect with other fibromyalgia-dealing women and men for me, a constant and immediate support group whenever you need one. Hi Julie! Thanks so much for your incredibly honest and thoughtful comments. I appreciate so much the kind words.

I feel you on “stubbornness” – I’ve always had a mile-wide “I wanna do it myself” streak probably from birth. Like most gifts, it’s also a curse sometimes. Like you, too, I’m somewhat of an “old-timer” with this illness (10 yrs for me), and even so am always still feeling my way. It’s not a path so much as a ride in a county-hopping tornado: there ARE no straight lines!

For others w/ chronic pain who haven’t embraced Twitter yet, I urge you to consider it. It’s been an amazing place to connect with other fibromyalgia-dealing women and men for me, a constant and immediate support group whenever you need one.

]]> By: Julie Nichols http://thetramadoldiaries.com/2009/04/honor-your-limits-or-refuse-to-accept-them-some-thoughts-on-chronic-pain-and-personal-beliefs/comment-page-1/#comment-29 Julie Nichols Tue, 28 Apr 2009 22:37:18 +0000 http://thetramadoldiaries.com/?p=105#comment-29 Hi......this is HanHouse from Twitter. I just read your blog and I loved the honesty! I could have written those words. I can relate so much to what you said. I've had fibro for 27 years and you'd think after that long that I would have a pretty clear roadmap of how to live with chronic pain....where, in truth, I am still stumbling along, trying to retain my life and what I want out of it, instead of "co-operating" with my illness and remaining within it's boundaries. I am just stubborn enough not to want to do that. I do have to lay down for a nap most days, because the fatigue is just so incredibly strong. But for the most part, I push. I have my own antique business (online AND brick & mortar shop) which requires me to stay active to a point. It's my passion though, so I don't mind. Sometimes I think if it wasn't for my business I wouldn't have a reason to get up in the morning. Other times I feel overwhelmed and worry that I won't be able to continue. The nice thing about my business is that I can take a day off if I want to. :o) It's been an interesting journey, that's for sure. I have a good doctor (who also has chronic pain), a supportive husband, a mom & an aunt with fibro, and an online support system on Myspace....so I have the validation and the help that I need emotionally. But it all boils down to my own attitude...how I deal with what I have been dealt. Every day is different, yet every day is the same. I'm still learning.... ~ Julie Hi……this is HanHouse from Twitter. I just read your blog and I loved the honesty! I could have written those words. I can relate so much to what you said.

I’ve had fibro for 27 years and you’d think after that long that I would have a pretty clear roadmap of how to live with chronic pain….where, in truth, I am still stumbling along, trying to retain my life and what I want out of it, instead of “co-operating” with my illness and remaining within it’s boundaries. I am just stubborn enough not to want to do that. I do have to lay down for a nap most days, because the fatigue is just so incredibly strong. But for the most part, I push.

I have my own antique business (online AND brick & mortar shop) which requires me to stay active to a point. It’s my passion though, so I don’t mind. Sometimes I think if it wasn’t for my business I wouldn’t have a reason to get up in the morning. Other times I feel overwhelmed and worry that I won’t be able to continue. The nice thing about my business is that I can take a day off if I want to. :o )

It’s been an interesting journey, that’s for sure. I have a good doctor (who also has chronic pain), a supportive husband, a mom & an aunt with fibro, and an online support system on Myspace….so I have the validation and the help that I need emotionally. But it all boils down to my own attitude…how I deal with what I have been dealt. Every day is different, yet every day is the same. I’m still learning….

~ Julie

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