This is my boyfriend's outlook too! IF i would go to the gym more often, for longer, i would feel better. IF i would do more "stuff" i would feel better. The problem is IF i do that stuff then I'm down for even longer.

Have you read the spoon theory? It really has helped me explain things to people.

moonangel12, so happy to have you recognize that you are not alone. That is such an awful feeling when you have no one to talk to or share experiences with, and start to doubt your own mind and body.
Jot down our names and PM anytime you need to talk. We all understand and have been and will be there many times. Take care, Linda

If you see that you are not going to get them done in time, have someone take a pic of you working on them. Wrap that up and send it. They will be waiting anxiously for the real thing when it is done.

my dear, you need to think of you too as you do these things; easier said than done, I know... I just finished shampooing my carpeting - have my bedroom left, but after Thanksgiving for that... but my right arm is about to break off right below the shoulder!!! The shampooer got heavier with each push and pull............. now on to your problem.

Send a very pretty Christmas card and an IOU decorated real pretty (maybe using another Christmas card as a cutout) and if they know they are getting a quilt from you - send a picture of it - so they know it is in progress! They will understand. I did one for my dgd one year and my dgs felt left out so I promised him one the next year, and he is such an understanding little man - just 8 years old, and when he got his he was so much more appreciative of it... and cuddled in it in my lap even though it was single bed sized!!! So, although things do not get done in time always and we feel bad, children do understand more than we give them credit for - and a Christmas IOU is such a cute idea to help solve the dilemma.

So, happy sewing, take breaks, (and medications) and enjoy the moment! Best wishes from another quilter...

Isn't it interesting how we forget our maladies when we are sewing/cutting/quilting?! I recently did the same thing. Wore myself out and had to take almost a week off. Tsk! Must remember I am not a spring chicken any more and I don't rebound like I used to! I had Lyme disease and, while I usually am just fine, I get overly tired easily and can't seem to bounce back. Woe is me! Tee Hee Hee. Seriously, I try to pace myself but sometimes I just get so into the project I forget. Tsk. :thumbdown:

Thanks everyone! Just an update. Managed to sew all the flying geese yesterday and "only" have pain in right hand. I don't know why because I'm a lefty! Anyhow, I'm going to assemble the stars (the quilt is called Dancing with the Stars) now. They should be a cake walk! Enjoyed all your wonderful thoughts and comments. I am also here is anyone needs to vent!

I have Rhemutoid A and Fibro...and other things to go along with it so i can tatally understand...today has bee a pain pill day for me !!!!!!

I KNOW ,I HAVE FIBRO TOO,SOME DAYS ARE SO BAD..........I FEEL FOR YOU.

I feel for you and every one else, too. I am also a fibro sufferer. Shape and pace, rest, medication and one of those bags that go in the microwave (I can't even feel the heat anymore on certain body parts) provide a bit of relief. Some days, all I want to do is cry. I wish I had more good days. Sorry for whining....thnx for listening

Huggggggs marmalade, it's ok, everyone needs a good cry now and then. And a good whine with cheese and crackers is our right as humans!! It's just so great to know that so many others on this awesome board understand. I love how quilting turns out to be the perfect hobby for those of us who share so many difficulties. We can always stop, whatever we are doing, and it will be right there waiting for us when we are able to come back to it. The paint doesn't dry up, the beads don't spill cuz the cat walked on them, the glue isn't full of furbaby hair. Our fabric is right where we left it, waiting. The worst thing that might happen is our iron might have shut itself off, LOL.
Quilting brings me so much joy and gives me back the ability to feel productive and making a useful contribution once again.

It's hard to stop sewing once you have started and then you can really feel the pain once you stop. I take a Tylenol before sewing and it helps keep my fingers from hurting so much. I know what you are going through and am sending you a smile and hug.

Thnx for the hug & kind words. You brought a smile to my face!

:) :) :)

I have fibro myself. Have you ever thought of trying neurofeedback? I was so bad that I was out of work for 3 years. I tried neurofeedback back in April and May and was able to return to work in June. I am also off all of my meds! Good luck with the quilting!
Suzy

Is this the same as biofeedback? I haven't heard of neurofeedback as such. I use biofeedback techniques with moderate success. If there's something new, we all wanna know about it. !!!

Have you ever tried drinking Cherry juice? It was recommended to me by a friend who swears by it. I have been drinking it since Friday and already feel less pain in my joints. I don't know alot about your Fibro but I think it is not in the joints but the muscles (right?) but Cherry juice might be worth trying.

Thinking of you! I also suffer from fibro, and it's been showing up a lot lately. I think the season change along with overdoing it during this busy time of the year adds to our pain and fatigue. I know when I feel good, I overdo it because I don't know when I'll feel good again, so the cycle starts over. Hope you feel better soon!

I also have fibromyalgia and know exactly what you have done to yourself. My arms, hands and feet are my worst enemy especially when I over use them. I can sew for a day then I have to take one off then sew a day, well you probably know the drill.
I feel your pain and hope you can take it a little slower. I find when I am feeling really good, I forget what the pain is like until it hits me like a mack truck. Hope you are able to finish your gifts. God bless.

If I understand correctly there are over 100 kinds of arthitis. Most of them have visited my poor joints. Good thing we have all of you to discuss the pain with each other. My doctor told me to walk to strenthen the muscles but he also said it must be difficult when you're in pain. He is so right ! We are a stubborn bunch, right ? So we won't give in to the pain. Meds help a lot although expensive but can't have everything. With a bad heart, arthritis, emphysema and a few other maladys. I am lucky to be here so.....Do miss knitting and can't crochet for long due to bad hands so I let the sewing machine create for me. Thank God for it. Sorry to complain so much, got carried away. Will try to restrain myself from now on and not be so negative. Makes me remember an old saying I once heard "I felt bad because I had no shoes until I saw a man who had no feet"

Do hope you are recovering quickly. Don't stress yourself out, if you don't get them done, take some pictures and give them with pieces of scraps - everyone understands an artist's "WIP". Seriously, rest yourself up and maybe pace yourself over the next few weeks so you don't end up in worse shape.

I have fibro and am bipolar. The Dr is taking me off the fibro med and I dread the constant pain. Will have to work with it.

Right there with ya girl. I have RA, AS, degenerative disc disease (im 39 and have a back of a 99 yo) and fibro, along with a few other autoimmune issues that come along with the package, not too mention the medications.

I work full-time and I push and push until I hit the wall and crash. Hopefully, I learn moderation one day, but it's so hard and I just try to manage it all and cope. Some days are harder than others and some don't happen at all. But you push until you can't because that's how you live!

*bighugs*

And if you've never read this story/theory...please take a moment it really helped me cope with my diagnoses and talk to others about them...it really is amazing: http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/ar...e-miserandino/

I do the same thing. I start something, get excited and push when I know I should not, but REALLY want to make progress and then I can barely move for the next several days. Have to clean or anything else in short spurts. I hate it that I can't get more done. My brain has all these wonderful ideas and fun things to do and try, but my body just will not get with the program. I'm sorry you are in pain. I understand. Big Hugs.

not the same but in the same "family". I do it thru my counselor who is trained to do it. She is a licensed clinical social worker. You sit in front of a laptop with pictures, hooked up to electrodes on your head. ALL OUTPUT!! no input. It basically trains your brain to work more efficiently. Those of us with fibro..our brains process pain differently than the average person. I knew with my first session that it was helping. I had 6 sessions in 2 months. Have had "tuneups" about 4 times since. I feel better than I have in 10 years. I do a job that requires a lot of lifting and it is no problem. Life is good. I know different things work for different people...but what do you have to lose? lol Good luck.
Suzy

You need a massage. Treat yourself. You will feel like a new woman in no time. Also a soak in a hot tub. Does wonders for sore muscles.

Feel better fast, and I am sending you a PM, evidently I cannot endorse a product as a reply. I have been completely pain free from my Fibro for over 6 months because of this stuff. Will get it pm's to you right away

heck, PM it to all of us. LOL.

I can so relate! I was up until 2 am finishing a quilt for a customer. I worked on it all day, starting about 8:30 am. Today my shoulders and hip are OUCH and I need to get the three quilts I'm doing for Christmas rocking...I don't want too...just want to sit in my non-existent hot tub!!!

I have fibro, degenerative disc disease, scoliosis and a deformed hip joint. I have found one good thing about ADD. It keeps me from sticking to one thing too long! lol. My fibro is worst in my neck and shoulders. My muscles have such a hard time relaxing. I try to limit myself to doing only 3 things per day, no matter how good I feel. I need to have something left over at the end of the day for my understanding and helpful dh and dd!

Here are some warm hugs for you too, farmquilter. I hope you have a bathtub to soak in at least. I would be lost without my hottub. If you lived closer I'd say come on over and hop in!!!

You know they are finally realizing how debilitating Fibro can be...the medical profession is finally working to help
us..have you noticed the new fibro meds they have come out with.....not that they help everyone...they didn't help me but they have helped some....new ones will be coming out in the future...at least someone is listening....thats more than they did when I first came down with it. I am thankful
for that.Hang in there everyone.I will pray for you all and you pray for me...and we'll make miracles happen.

You aren't the only one who when having a good day ( and having Fibromyalgia) do 10 different things and then hav eto pay for it the next day.. When I do realize what I am doing try to tae my meds and lay down for 30 minutes sure helps.. then I can get back up and do things at a slower pace...
Ladybug

I heard once "If you don't have pain how do you know you're alive ? "Boy , are we a "lively group" !!!! AMEN

Yeah, a much slower pace... It just so happened that I had an appt with the doc today. Got a cortozone shot for the hip. Everything else seems to be taking care of itself!

Just remember how good you felt while doing all that work...even if it did come back to haunt you. You had a great time and accomplished so much and felt great while doing so....!

Make use of every good day and rest with those warm memories while you wait to get back to it again.

I've got scleroderma and have worked through periods when the spot of gangreen on a finger should have had the brakes screaming. Men can take the time to sit and wait to feel better, we women can't. HA!
Do take care of yourself, take your medications and enjoy each day as it comes. If you manage to meet your Maimi dead line all the better, if not........every day is Christmas or a birthday or whatever you chose it to be. :thumbup:

Repeat after me....ouch! ouch! ouch!
I am having a bursitis attack from FMQ, with out my handy little gloves (which I HAVE). Stupid me too!

I think this is a great idea!

I had to take a break from organizing my sewing room and sew something. LOL. I couldn't stand it another day. So I made some of those fun and easy wine glass coasters. I posted them in pictures. I'm better now that I had my fix of sewing, so I can get back to sorting tomorrow. This afternoon, it was off to the pain clinic for 10, ugg, yes 10, trigger point injections. We counted something like 35+ TPs and picked the 10 worst. I'd been trying to do without them but was way overdue. I'll be feeling lots better in a day or two. yayyyyy me!! Hugs and smiles all. wildlinda

Yaay Wildyard! Somedays are seriously 'low spoon days' at my house too. I applaud your keeping you chin up. and your sense of humor. I enjoy your writings. Yesterday was one of those days for me. It was annual move the bed, (a queen, four poster) to clean under it, day! DH did most of the wrestling, but I was the counter balance to the operation. Gawd, youth is wasted on the young! :-D :thumbup:

Me either.

I agree with the idea about photos...