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Posted 1/8/2015 8:23 PM (GMT -5)
I'm curious what y'all do to get "life" done? What helps you to do your daily activities? Do you follow any type of schedule? Does that help? Does eating or taking certain things seem to help?

I know it's different for everyone. No right or wrong here. I'm just curious.
Posted 1/8/2015 8:28 PM (GMT -5)
No schedule for me except for taking my meds/supplements - try to stick to my schedule for those.


I never know how I'm going to feel. I hang out a lot at home - can't work. I do meet friends for tea, and do the household shopping.
Trying to do a little more around the house - dinners/dishes/laundry.

Doing detox helps - the epsom salt baths - only a little helpful for me. The Pinella brain and nerve cleanse seems to work for me. Also doing light exercise in the morning helps with stiffness.
Posted 1/8/2015 9:00 PM (GMT -5)
I cannot live without a schedule, I think I am ocd about the schedule and time, LOL. Even if I don't have a watch, I know what time it is. Freaky right? Ha, well I just can't manage the day without a "plan". As long as I have everything figured out, it is SO much easier - especially when it comes to taking care of my kids. Routine is key - and when my kids know the routine, everything goes smoothly! It also helps me balance my meals throughout the day, and by planning them out ahead of time, I am not scraping for " unhealthy snacks" - bc that's what I do if I am in a rush!

When I was very sick, I still followed the routine, I just had to move a lot slower. And my mom had to come help me - because I was too weak. She would food shop with me because if I pushed the cart, I would be in agony when I got home. I took Epson salt baths everynight right before I went to bed, and I followed the lyme diet very strictly and planned my meals the day before.
Posted 1/9/2015 10:20 AM (GMT -5)
Everything in my life used to be carefully planned. Now, not so much! LOL! I'm tired of it all is why.

My life has slowed down so that it fits with me now. Right now the only critters I have to take care of are 3 dogs and a cat -and hubby (LOL!). While eating and pills/teas are still on a rather tight schedule, that's all.

I barely keep up with the housework, laundry, groceries and the cooking. I really felt down when I got reinfected. I've still got a long road ahead of me in treatments for different things that have occurred from having Lyme and company for so long.

But this Spring I'm hoping things will change - I'm going to allow myself to get super excited about planting a garden and I'm determined to be out there gardening this year!! I couldn't even drag myself out to the garden last year. This year will be different for me! :-)
Posted 1/9/2015 2:46 PM (GMT -5)
I would just try to take it one day at a time. Really, for me that was the only way I could do it. On the rough days I did nothing. On better days I pushed myself until I got a little bit more done then I probably should have so I could just be on the not so good days.

Granted I functioned pretty well overall. I do think it is really important to encourage yourself everyday. Like Traveler mentioned getting excited about a garden.

I knew I looked unhealthy when I was sick. It was a constant reminder when I saw sallow cheeks in the mirror. I stopped looking. I got down A LOT but the husband forced me to go out to eat, or just to go for a walk and it really truly helped.

I said I was going to go to school when I got better and I'm doing that now. You need something to look forward to, to get through life day by day even if it is something small or telling yourself how awesome you are because you managed to do 1 load of laundry today. (<- no really, that was one of mine)
Posted 1/9/2015 5:09 PM (GMT -5)
Depends on how bad my symptoms are - some days I just get out of bed and shower and feed myself and those are my accomplishments!

I think routines help, but schedules sometimes don't. My cognitive issues are the worst lately so anything that I can make a habit and not something I have to consciously think about helps tremendously...but a strict time schedule is nearly impossible and just creates a lot of stress. Giving myself ample time to get ready for what I do have to do really helps a lot.

Drinking lemon water and eating veggies all day seems to help a little with energy to get through the day - if I eat any of the typical sluggish foods I'm pretty much done for the day.

Keeping a regular sleep schedule has been really helpful lately as well - I'm not working so I kept getting caught in the trap of sleeping late (because obviously this disease leaves me both exhausted and with little desire to get up and face the pain of the day in any hurry!) but then I couldn't sleep at night...getting as close to the natural sunlight rhythms has helped a whole lot.

I'm not sure what your situation is with work or having things you have to do every day, but I think it's easiest to get through this thing with a good balance - having nothing to do and no structure (and no meaning) makes it a lot harder, but obviously having too much to do won't help any...
Posted 1/9/2015 7:23 PM (GMT -5)
These are great. :) I enjoyed reading them. I love the individuality of people.

I am working on embracing the journey. It encourages me to see others have, at least in some sense, already captured that. I know I will find harmony in my days.

The comments like, "Everything in my life used to be carefully planned. Now, not so much! LOL! I'm tired of it all is why." and "I would just try to take it one day at a time. Really, for me that was the only way I could do it.", make me smile in knowing the harmony will come.
Posted 1/10/2015 6:20 AM (GMT -5)
What helps me get things done is having a 2 hour rest every afternoon. I do what I can in the morning when I usually have the most energy. It usually involves making food, cleaning up, maybe go pick up a few things if I am up to going out. After lunch I go to bed. I might meditate, read, or play on my computer for a bit at first, and then I usually have a small nap too.
Posted 1/10/2015 11:17 AM (GMT -5)
I work, so the AM alarmclock gets me going after several snoozez. I have a mental list and post it notes for things to do in my free time - but I adjust this according to how I feel. No repeated routine for me but dont have kids either.

NAPS! - nothing like a weekend or even after work recharge as I'v done my whole adult life (near 50). there are periods when I have to do this, I'm a Pro-napper, can almost nap while standing (you need a corner! LOL).

Exercise is a must, without it I go down hill, too much I go down hill too. I only do light exercise, and tests myself a little when I feel up to it. As a past athlete, I cant believe what I used to accomplish with lyme the whole time, (how did I do that?) Its hard for me to remember how driven I once was, but I had competitive goals to reach, which were very rewarding in that phase of my life.

There is something to be said about the power of desire, It can be anything.!!

In the past I guess my ability to deal with lyme was guided by a passionate desire to achive in my sport. I had performance issues that were from Lyme, but I concentrated on my better areas. My dream came true one day as I won a National competition but missed the podium as I went to the hospital. I knew I could not repeat this, tried, failed and went down hill soon after.

I dont want to come off as some egotistical (past) athlete. I only mention this to show what the power of desire can do for us. But , I was lucky and have many interests, I do what I can per symptoms. Passions can be anything. Example:A hobbie turned into side money. I know a photographer that now sells cards part time.

You might have to modify your dreams, but follow them if you can, and it can be anything. Set goals (I hate that word) in small steps. Hobbies- whatever.

I better stop, as I'm sounding like one of those motivations speakers and I cant stand them!

(That said, after 25 years my whole body is realy tired of this, and couch time is part of my daily goals.)
Posted 1/10/2015 3:25 PM (GMT -5)
Writing things down helps a lot. Things that need to get done daily, weekly, and monthly. Brain fog, memory, concentration issues are some of my toughest symptoms, and the lists help things to not slip through the cracks.

I'm at my best in the morning, and I try to squeeze as much productivity as I can into those hours.

Something I've found helpful is clustering chores/tasks. Prepping food for dinner and prepping vegetables for smoothies, trying to get all the kitchen/food things done around the same time.
Posted 1/10/2015 7:33 PM (GMT -5)
realizing I went overboard in my previous post,

What has helped me:

-Post it notes on the fridge, bathroom cabinet and car dash!!
-realizing I wont get it all done when I want to
-take advatage of good days
-naps
-Red Bull when I was lethargic (cant now that I'm almost hyper)
-taking part in something I'm passionate about (and its not work)
-exercise when I can
-knowing what herbs I might need ahead of time
-myofacial meditation

thats it in a nutshell
Posted 1/11/2015 12:19 PM (GMT -5)
Astroman, I agree with you when you said this: "(That said, after 25 years my whole body is realy tired of this, and couch time is part of my daily goals.)" LOL! Change the time to 40 years and it fits me!! LOL!!! wink
Posted 1/11/2015 1:39 PM (GMT -5)
Trav - 40 years, wow. Nothing like being robbed from living. Jeez.

In my 25 years since the "symptom wall summer" hit me (with rash), I find this gets tougher every year. I had some bad episodes in my 20's and 30's, but I would partially rebound - youth can have that effect!
Posted 1/11/2015 2:30 PM (GMT -5)
Agreed! That's how I survived for a long time, but with age, I slowed way down - to the bed! I got really sick for a long while around the age of 37, but still didn't know what it was. No doctor had a clue, although they were happy to diagnose me with all kinds of other things! Even had one that yelled at me in his office because I wouldn't start MS treatments that day!

But there is healing out there - all we have to do is find what works with our body and find all the dysfunction and get it corrected or compensated for and we can heal. So keep on keeping on!! as they used to say years ago. I think I just showed my age again though!! LOL! blush
Posted 1/11/2015 2:56 PM (GMT -5)
I have a set amount of tasks that I go through each day in varying order that provides me with multiple sources of progression.
Posted 1/11/2015 6:15 PM (GMT -5)
Astro - "Pro- napper " - me too!

I have always enjoyed my naps.
I tell people that napping is a hobby of mine.
Coming home from work and lying down on the couch with a blanket and my kitty was heaven!!!

I don't enjoy them as much now - Lyme disease has ruined that. It doesn't feel good to lay down anymore and feel the "buzzing" and other bizarre stuff - plus now when I wake up from naps I'm greeted with a little anxiety and low mood. Looking forward to pleasurable naps again one day!!

I guess this is kinda OT - oops, sorry!
Posted 1/12/2015 11:13 AM (GMT -5)
Actually, it's not OT - napping is something we all should be doing - if we can!! I'm one who just can't sleep during the day right now - and boy do I wish I could!!!
Posted 1/12/2015 9:51 PM (GMT -5)
Yeah, I find it's nice to at least lay down for a few. Perhaps 30-90 minutes just to take it easy. If I fall asleep that's a plus, but any form of rest is nice to reduce symptoms of fatigue. A cup of tea and a group conversation on a land line telephone is a nice little relaxing getaway.
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