Best Of

Life is a terminal condition. The only question is when.

Talking about rationing activity, is anybody else considering the "Visible" activity monitor? It is "like Fitbit," but is made for people with stamina-limiting conditions.

The other day I got all my ingredients for loading my breadmaker on the table, then loaded it from there. At times, I have put ingredients together while sitting. And if all else fails, buy pre-prepared food from frozen or the deli, or get a home health care aide through insurance. Or coach husband towards intelligent cooking.

Chris, I have mild CP and have had many episodes of what is called Post Impairment Syndrome. Not as severe as what you are going through but certainly debilitating and depressing. Chronic pain, like arthritis, is a common trigger, as well as psychological stress,

@illinoislady Thank you for the kind response. I have been going to oncology PT for 7 months now. It is something new in this area. I worked on stability, stamina, and flexibility. My last one was last week. I did improve quite a bit but my therapist and I both feel like I won't gain much more with appointments. I can do all of the exercises at home and that should maintain what I have or even improve until my body decides against it. My oncologist told me I can always go back if I feel like I need it. I just need to discipline myself to exercise more at home. It is tough for me to walk atound the block as I am on oxygen, but I take my walker just to hold the eight pound canister and in case for some reason I need to sit. I can lfix dinner etc. at 15 minute intervals before I have to sit. I do my best.

Christine, some of us do a lot and do it all the time, but some (thinking of myself now) pace. I use to try and do tons of things, but I just don't have the stamina I once did. It is not that I have anything THAT wrong, but I'm just older and slower and don't feel any need to push myself. Also Dh is 86 and very slow and I tend to nearly run him down even on my relaxed pace.

I do think I'm going to have to exercise more though because I feel like I'm losing some of my flexibility and I'm not happy with that. As we have cats we always have a bit of hair. Thankfully, Lil' Red is a non-shed dog so not much from him.

We do what we can, as we can and we keep going. All anyone really can do. I will try to be a bit better though because I want lots of flexibility even if I use it slowly.

I just got back from taking Tippy for a bike/walk. 77 deg. I did not want to put on my ankle-brace, it seems like I can't walk very far now at all without it.

Yes, Chris, I find being unable to use my hands without pain to be a burden. But Jesus bore his own. Yesterday I groomed Tippy and cooked. Napped in the afternoon. But last night my Fitbit recorded minimal sleep. So I haven't done much more than this with my hands. I have been reading and taking Tippy out. Early this afternoon I took him to the fairgrounds, but he was scaring the chickens, so I guess he won't be over there again for a week or so.

Betrayal, thanks. I do think I am going to get just bang trims for a while and see how it behaves when long again.

A new charging cable for my TENS arrived!!

@cindyny and @betrayal I use an iRobot too. My DH manages it on his phone so he bought the kind that docks and empties itself. It self-charges, then goes again until it is finished. I like that it will do only whichever rooms we tell it to do so it won't bother us. My only pet doesn't shed (we got her breed for that purpose) but I have dark wood floors (here when we bought it) so it shows everything. Most of the carpets are not a problem. The ones it struggles with (only two small throws) we just pick up ahead of time. It goes well between area rugs, carpet bedrooms, and wood floors. This model doesn't mop but I don't really want it to. It is worth it for me. But yes, there are areas where I do need to use a regular vacuum but I have also learned to live with a little more dust than before I was ill. When I lived in San Diego I had a house keeper, but they want double the cost here for less work and I refuse to pay someone as much per hour than I earned with a PhD. I always used a reputable firm with legal employees and it worked well before we moved. I have no idea what the situation is in San Diego now that ICE is more involved.

I like the ladies on this thread, but I am Stage IV and seem sicker than most of you. At least I cannot do as much. Maybe I am wrong…

cindyny, thanks for the plug for robot vacuums. I do not have an open concept house (and don't want one) and all rugs are area rugs not wall to wall so not sure how they would work here. Plus I have animals who insist on shedding or moulting, lol, so there are always going to be hair or feathers on floor even as soon as I finish sweeping.

Very humid so debating about going out into it. But I think I will go even if for only 30 minutes.