Smiling Clare

Well this week hasn’t exactly gone to plan, I had hoped to be able to start wrapping christmas presents and get organised but that hasn’t happened yet.

It seems as usually happens, my trip out at the weekend got me out in the open to welcome another virus into my body. So I have spent most of the past week under a duvet resting beating off a cold like virus. Today I am feeling a little better, on the road to recovery I hope!

As I’ve felt a little better today I finished writing my christmas cards, so now all I need to do is get them posted when I’m able. I’ve been writing them for about a month now taking my times only doing a couple each day so I don’t do too much. I’m so glad I’ve finished now. Next it’s the present wrapping!

The weather is getting colder and bleaker now, in fact they forecast wintery showers this weekend. Of course this isn’t helping me as my joints are getting worse in the cold weather but I am keeping a positive attitude and trying to makes sure I don’t dwell on it.

I’m looking into getting a book on living with chronic pain which gives you tips on mindfulness and meditation to help cope with it. I figure it’s worth a try, right now I’m open to anything which could help but doesn’t involve taking painkillers.

Well here’s hoping for a good weekend and a better week next week! Hope everyone reading this is as well as possible.

Well it’s been a week since I last posted, can’t quite believe that how time flies when your just about managing to go about everyday living!

This week has been spent resting, writing christmas cards, resting, knitting, resting, putting music to mp3 format, resting….I think you get the picture!

I’ve been a bit better this week and able to do a bit more, however still having to take things slow and rest quite a lot. I mean what I just listed sums up all I did Monday-Friday and for me that is busy at the moment, it takes a lot out of me to do all that. Whereas to most people that looks like a days work, possibly without so many rest periods though!

Yesterday was a brilliant day, I was up really early (well for me anyway 7:30am is early!) and in town in the wheelchair by 9am to get some christmas shopping done. I managed to get half my xmas shopping done, also treated myself to a new handbag but I think I’ve earned that treat!

On the way home we went up Moulsham Street where they were preparing for the Christmas Light switch on there. And saw the Coca-Cola Christmas Truck which was there as part of their tour of Britain. It was being washed ready for the Light Switch on later that day, but we stopped to take some pictures of it. Whilst doing that one of the lovely guys setting it up came over and said if I wanted my picture taken with the truck they’d be moving it into position and have it set up by 12pm. Unfortunately it was only 10:45am and I was freezing, quite tired and in a bit of pain. My Mum and I explained that I wouldn’t be able to wait around for that long because I suffered from M.E. which he took on board and called one of the other people helping him set up over, got them to get the plinth you stand on for the picture and put it next to the truck. He also got the signpost out and helped me up onto the plinth with my walking stick so he could take my picture of me with the Coca-Cola Christmas Truck, just like everyone else would get the chance to have later in the day! Here’s one of the lovely photos:

The reason for sharing that story is because it restores your faith in human kind, I don’t get out much so when I do I like to make the most of the opportunity, by doing what he did yesterday that guy made my trip out all the more special and I have an iconic photograph to remember it by and look at whenever I feel down or have been stuck in the house for weeks or months on end because my body will not allow me to get out and enjoy myself.

I don’t know the guys’ names who were setting up/running the Coca-Cola Christmas Truck in Moulsham Street Chelmsford, yesterday but if you’re reading this and know them or are those guys I would like to say a massive THANK YOU for making my first trip out in months that little bit more special. It made my day, and also makes dealing with the pain and exhaustion I am feeling today that little bit easier because looking at that photo I remember how good it felt to be out!

 

Well the past few days have involved much rest and frustration. I’ve rested for the majority of the day, attempted to do some small things like a children’s cross stitch…which I messed up and almost threw across the room in frustration! Also simple sudoku puzzles to try and keep my brain active…this also resulted in the book almost being thrown across the room when I’d spent 2 hours on it, and only done half of it! Oh well things can only get better right?!

Today has been a little better in a way, not feeling quite as sleepy (well not this morning) so decided to actually have a shower, BIG decision that was as although I have now got a shower stool I haven’t assembled it yet. Also knew my friend was coming round this afternoon so didn’t want to do too much in the morning. Anyway shower was a success-ish couldn’t brush my hair afterwards as I’d used all my strength washing it, so had to ask my lovely Dad to do so.

Also found I’ve developed a cough, think it’s the same cough I get every winter after I’ve had a cold/virus – they seem to irritate my airways and I get a lovely sounding barking cough! Normally speaking I end up going to the doctors to get something to settle it, which I might have to do in a few days if it hasn’t settled down itself. Really taking it out of me though.

This afternoon my amazing friend came round to visit, she’s stuck by me through all the tough times, visiting when I was at my worst. When I’m not too bad we go out or I go to her place but if not she comes to me. We had a good catch up as it’s been a few months since we last saw each other and had a great time!

Now however I am shattered, kinda want to sleep again and all my muscles are starting to hurt from coughing!! Can’t remember what I did last winter to ease the pain of that, around my ribs is the worst area. I’m sure I’ll work it out eventually!

Cold is really getting to my joints, and the cold air is making that cough all the worse – the front door only has to open a little and I end up having a coughing fit! Standard painkillers are actually pretty useless on this joint pain so might have to ask the doctor about some.

Think that’s about all that’s happened these past few days, resting is quite a boring activity it seems!!