For and against recovery whats your experience

I love being in the garden.  before getting ill I also had an allotment and would spend hours digging and planting, always having fresh veg.

After 3 years of not being able to do much at all,  I do like to spend a little time in the garden.  But I do mean a "little" time doing anything.  At first I just got carried away, and ended up exhausted for a week or more.  Because I can do the work at the time, it is easy to do to much. I set an alarm on my mobile and although the temptation is often to ignore it, I know that if I did, I would not be able to do anything for a while.

My limit is only 20-30 minutes at the moment. 

So enjoy your garden Lynne, but just do a little, it might be that in doing that you will gradually be able to more.  But little steps, (I have to keep reminding myself) 

lve always loved a garden, and did have an allotment at one time, even c couple of hens, loved the heavy rugged lifting stones, rockeries, ponds made.My husband said he,d have to get me flood lights for summer evenings. l think with our weather as it is, we tend to rush at it on fine days, and yes do too much, be it much less than before, just light moderate work for an hour or two with breaks, but seems still too much. 

l think probably about 20 min a day of moderate work in garden is probably enough. One thing you can get pleasure  in a garden just sitting and enjoying the greenery and nature,  but need blinkered vision, to resist doing this that and the other.  thanks for info and advice, a battle for all of us to resist, must try to though.  Enjoy your garden also.

I wonder whether to try that, getting desperate. Does it cost a lot?

Is that the Perrin Technique?

how much does it cost per session?

and how often do you go?

thank you!

The Perrin technique is practised by specially trained osteopaths. Originally north west of England but may have spread now. I hope your research finds a therapist for you. The treatment has been clinically verified over several years. I think Raymond Perrin started early 90's.

Well  cut the grass and so far no adverse problems. Today doing nothing lets see how this works. Only downside today is the cold,

Well it got me in the end. Two very bad days, can't get warm. Once again exercise does't work for me, will I ever learn.

 

Well i obviously didn't learn, I have just walked the dog again, not so far this time. Stand by for effect. If I sit in this chair any longer I will never get out of it again

Well no adverse effect today so I cut the grass and did some strimming. Walked round to vote, didn't  know any name on the list. Now back in the chair but more content I have done something.

When you good people say you can only walk so far do you actually get immediate fatigue or is it something that comes the next day. I can walk as far as I like, my legs do not function as well as they did because they have not been used. I am concerned as to whether I am putting my own restrictions on what I can do frightened of doing to much. I am reaching the point of just giving it a go and living with the consequencies. My days before this illness after retirement was to get the jobs done in the morning and then rest in the afternoon. This is what I have done today. Watch this space. 

Hi retriever, interesting comment. I think everyone is different in this respect and has to adapt to what their body tells them. Personally, I'm rubbish in the morning. I'm more active afternoon/early evening. But I was a bit of a night owl before I got the illness in 1999. I know that I will pay the price for whatever activity I do but I tend to look at recovery times to guide my pacing and to set and reset my routine.

warm regards,

jk

Thanks Jk, Interesting I have always been an early bird so I guess nothing has changed. I would still love to know if peoples fatique is immediate.

Thanks for your reply

 

When I've had a set back, like now, the fatigue is immediate. If I'm relatively stable in a good routine it takes til the next day to realise that I overdid it. At the moment I'm gently and gradually trying to get back into my routine. I stay positive like everyone else on this site. This site really helps me to feel less isolated.

Thanks for your immediate reply. If the problem is mental mine is immediate but if it is anything else it can be over the next two days. My problem is. is it because I am expecting it. Like all of us this illness is in our head all the time, how do you think of something else. I will get the bottom of this some how.

I'm in agreement with what others have said about this. Relaxation CDs to listen to, including breathing exercises and mindfulness techniques. Helps to maintain positivity and keeps your mind off things- gives you a break.

Well still cutting the grass. Had to fit a new pipe to the washing machine the job didn't go well must have spent two hours messing about. I had to ask for help in the end. Cleared out the flower boxes. So probably the most active day for ages. This morning I am cold and ache in places I didn't know I had. But I did it right or wrong. I have booked an appointment with a new doctor a week today don't know what to expect but he is young so maybe he has some different ideas, I have come to the conclussion I am not sleeping in a relaxed way. So I guess that will be what I will discuss with the him. We have a family get together on Sunday. I know it will be difficult but I am going. I have decided to try and learn to live with this thing and duck nothing. Daft maybe but I have go to try. 

Well so far so good havn't done much today but feel quite good

Been shopping today not my favourite job but tired this afternoon. May go for a lie down although I have been trying to cut them out. So the weekend get together went quite well it would have been easier not to go but I went.The one thing which has improved is my sleeping three or four good nights must make a difference. I think its because I am not beating myself up all the time.I will beat this thing one way or another.

 

I am back walking the dog this morning, tough going. Yet another conversation with the wife so we decided to give it a go. I am going to continue with this for two weeks and see what the outcome is.

Second dog walk today. Did the vacuuming now had enough.Doesn't seem much but it is more than I had been doing. One thing I have never mentioned, my skin never seems clean. I shower every morning but my skin never seems clean. Does anyone else have this problem.  

Thats odd you mention that, as my skin has become strange over last few month along with the more typical severe symptoms, l noticed a fine rash on my forhead, cant see it but feel it like sandpaper, then down the side of my face bit like blemishes but quite a few and a bit scaly feeling with it, doc as usual casual dismissal as just blemishes, but new one for me after years, But yes l get the feeling as if l rub it loose skin comes away and feels dirty and at times l can see the rubbed off skin looking dirty, and does feel a bit sore with it, a very strange thing symptom whatever, l jdont even mentiion it to doc out of concern as compared with rest its nosstd t, but t try educate them about asstd affects,

Amazing. again you think these things only effect you. Scaly dirty skin all the time. I do treat with TCP. The cotton wool does show dirt coming off the skin where the hell can it come from when you continually keep yourself clean. Only thought is I am feverish or at least I feel I am so could this be where it comes from. I will keep doing the dog walk and see where it leads. There has got to be an answer to all these problems even without the help of the medical people. I don't bother them I read enough on this forum to know I would be wasting my time. Sorry you are going through the same as me but there is some comfort in knowing you are not on your own.

Good luck we will win

Third dog walk today. walk went ok but had to goto bed after breakfast.I still intend to contnue with the walking need to see where it will go.

 

Four times I have walked the dog. Not getting any easier. legs cold when I sat down

Two weeks been walking the dog. Quite pleased with the outcome, no pain when I walked her. I don.t go back to bed unless I have had a bad night like today. This close weather doesn't suit me anyway so I can't say what effect this has. I intend to continue with the plan 

Walking still going ok. The weather doesn't help, too humid. Even the dog is struggling but she has more sense, she eats walks and then spends the best part of the day sleeping. Debating with myself to make another visit to the docs. Thinking about my symptoms, I am lucky not to have a lot of the problems you all have. If this started with nasal virus as I suspect that is the area which I have the most problem with. Yes I have fatigue but I did not sleep properly for weeks. Fortunately if I go to bed early I sleep right through. The rest is the congestion in my ears nose. Some muscle pain, especially lifting shopping bags but this goes in a short time. I have not noticed any muscle weekness. So too sum up the worst thing I have to suffer is the congestion in my head. When I  think back  perhaps my teacher was right when he told me I was dead from the neck up.  

Well I won't be walking the dog any more she died this morning. I really didn't need this she was such a big part of my life. Something else to cope with. I really don't know how I feel I think I am just numb.

I'm very sorry to learn about death of your dog - it sounds like a major loss. Be well.

So sorry to hear your bad news. Maybe you can still walk the same route you used to go with your dog? Just so you keep your routine going and it'll be nice to remember your little walks. X

l,m really sorry, its so sad when you lose your dog after being part of your family and lifestyle for many years, they are wonderful friends company motivators and make us laugh, l,d be lost without mine, she,s only 5yrs so should be ok, but l lost my l4yr old a few months ago, so know how bad it feels.  Elaine lost her l4yr old retriever about 2 wks ago, and still struggling with her loss and change to her lifestyle, on top of cfs Really sad time, hope you feel a bit better soon. x

Thanks lynne I really don't know what to do at the moment. I buried her in the garden. The wife and I have agreed we couldn't have done anything about it but it doesn't stop you thinking. Good Luck.

 

Good point but I have got to let it sink in first.

 

Yes it is a major loss she was with me all the time. Something else to get over. I suppose time will help.

Hi, really sorry to hear about the loss of your dog. I lost my golden retriever suddenly 3 weeks ago. He was 14 and a half and collapsed suddenly and died a couple of hours later before vet could come to house. They think he had a stroke. It's really horrible without them. The house seems so empty and you have so many routines with them you don't know what to do with yourself. Hopefully it will get easier through time. I think I was in shock for about a week and couldn't stop crying but am slowing starting to come to terms with it. I've framed a nice photo of him and am trying to think that he had a long happy life and I always did my best for him rather than thinking about him at the end. Took me a week to make myself lift his water dish and have managed to move his bed and toys but still have his collar and lead sitting where it usually is. Totally understand how you are feeling. Just take a day at a time and do what feels right for you. You could maybe get a nice plant or memorial to put in the garden in her memory. Take care. Elaine

Thanks Elaine we get to close to them. I feel better this morning thinking of the life she had. I can only say she was the best friend I have ever had. My wife and I agree we could not have done more for her and we got the love in return. What is it about retrievers the way they look at you it breaks your heart. All of her stuff has gone to the dogs home. Something else for us to get over. You take care.

 

I feel like that too with mine - he was my best friend for such a long time and such a lovely cuddly looking dog it's so hard without him. Think it's worse when you have CFS as you are at home so much you end up spending

even more time with them so get an even closer bond with them. The house seems so quiet and empty without him. I'm finding it a comfort looking at old photos of him in happy times and talking about happy memories of him with my husband. Talking to other people who have lost dogs can help too. You could try reading the Rainbow Bridge poem online. If you look up Petloss there is also  a website where you can leave a message and light a virtual candle for them. Still automatically reach for his cupboard to get him a biscuit out but hopefully time will heal. One day at a time...