Time Keeps On Slipping Away

It's funny how things can just sneak up on you ... time, weight, gray hair ... all sorts of stuff and you never notice until someone brings it to your attention. Amazing. Since my issues becoming worse I found myself almost trapped in my own home. Not able to drive, constantly stumbling or falling, having to use a walker, not wanting to go anywhere because I didn't want people to see me at my worst and I damn sure didn't want to go anywhere that would require me needing that freaking rollator. So I would just sit in the house. This led to my next slip up ... my appearance. I broke the one rule I always stress to other 'fluffy' girls ... always look your best. This doesn't mean full drag, it simply means at least take the time to make yourself appealing. Clean body, fresh face and soft skin (so when your partner is rubbing your shoulders to make you feel better you won't start a fire). Ditch the torn, dingy t-shirts and old sweat pants around the house and invest in soft lounge wear, sundresses, cute t-shirts, clean sweats. Your hairstyle can be a cute ponytail or a nice short cut, try to stay away from the all day satin caps (WHY???) and hair rollers. If you're like me you're also not able to do your own hair. That's okay too. Bed hair is a thing now. I'm also thankful for a hubby that can use a ponytail holder. So even when you don't feel your best, trust me ... if you put on your best it will make all the difference in the world ... for him and YOU.

Pillow Talk aka Peripheral Neuropathy

So once again I've been 'a tossin an a turnin' and not because I'm a 'hunka, hunka burnin love' [insert delirious laughter here] :). My pain is its most intense at night and it seems nothing helps. In a way ... it's become part of my 'new normal', but it's those damn electric shocks, being stabbed with the double-edged sword and walking like I'm in a potato sack with a 50lb weighted sock on my feet that throw me for a loop.

For those unfamiliar with neuropathy I took the liberty of pulling some information from my support group's foundation. If you know anyone also interested in this information, feel free to share. Symptoms of Peripheral Neuropathy Peripheral Neuropathy symptoms usually start with numbness, prickling or tingling in the toes or fingers. It may spread up to the feet or hands and cause burning, freezing, throbbing and/or shooting pain that is often worse at night. The pain can be either constant or periodic, but usually the pain is felt equally on both sides of the body—in both hands or in both feet. Some types of peripheral neuropathy develop suddenly, while others progress more slowly over many years. The symptoms of peripheral neuropathy often include: A sensation of wearing an invisible “glove” or “sock” Burning sensation or freezing pain Sharp, jabbing, shooting, or electric-like pain Extreme sensitivity to touch Difficulty sleeping because of feet and leg pain Loss of balance and coordination Muscle weakness Muscle cramping/twitching Difficulty walking or moving the arms Unusual sweating Abnormalities in blood pressure or pulse Symptoms such as experiencing weakness or not being able to hold something, not knowing where your feet are, and experiencing pain that feels as if it is stabbing or burning in your limbs, can be common signs and symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. The symptoms of peripheral neuropathy may depend on the kind of peripheral nerves that have been damaged. There are three types of peripheral nerves: motor, sensory and autonomic. Some neuropathies affect all three types of nerves, while others involve only one or two. The majority of people, however, suffer from polyneuropathy, an umbrella term for damage involving many nerves at the same time. Three types of peripheral nerves: Motor Nerves Sensory Nerves Autonomic Nerves Motor nerves send impulses from the brain and spinal cord to all of the muscles in the body. This permits people to do activities like walking, catching a baseball, or moving the fingers to pick something up. Motor nerve damage can lead to muscle weakness, difficulty walking or moving the arms, cramps and spasms. Sensory nerves send messages in the other direction—from the muscles back to the spinal cord and the brain. Special sensors in the skin and deep inside the body help people identify if an object is sharp, rough, or smooth; if it’s hot or cold; or if it’s standing still or in motion. Sensory nerve damage often results in tingling, numbness, pain, and extreme sensitivity to touch. Autonomic nerves control involuntary or semi-voluntary functions, such as heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, and sweating. When the autonomic nerves are damaged, a person’s heart may beat faster or slower. They may get dizzy when standing up; sweat excessively; or have difficulty sweating at all. In addition, autonomic nerve damage may result in difficulty swallowing, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, problems with urination, abnormal pupil size, and sexual dysfunction. Article taken from The Foundation For Peripheral Neuropathy: https://www.foundationforpn.org URL to article: https://www.foundationforpn.org/what-is-peripheral-neuropathy/symptoms/ Copyright © 2016 The Foundation For Peripheral Neuropathy. All rights reserved.

They Say Tears Are Only Temporary

I know it could be so much worse ... I still have not adjusted to this damn walker. I'm still embarrassed to be seen using it, don't know how to properly get the thing in and out of the car without hurting my wrist and am sick and tired of crying every time I think about my situation. The funny thing is I really need a wheelchair or a scooter. The pressure on my feet is unbearable, along with the burning, stinging, swelling ... blah, blah, blah ... *sigh*. I know ... I just need to suck it up and deal with it.

Still Trying to Deal with this Neuropathy - How to Counter Depression

The Foundation For Peripheral Neuropathy - https://www.foundationforpn.org - Power of Attitude Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference. – Winston Churchill There’s a direct correlation between a positive attitude and better relationships, superior health, and greater success. Some studies show that personality traits like optimism and pessimism can affect many areas of your health and well-being. The positive thinking that typically comes with optimism is a key part of effective stress management. A positive attitude can boost your energy, heighten your inner strength, inspire others, and garner the fortitude to meet difficult challenges. According to research from the Mayo Clinic, positive thinking can increase your life span, decrease depression, reduce levels of distress, offer better psychological and physical well-being, and enable you to cope better during hardships and times of stress. And effective stress management is associated with many health benefits. Here are several ways to adopt a positive mental attitude: Positive thinking often starts with self-talk. Self-talk is the endless stream of unspoken thoughts that run through your head every day. These automatic thoughts can be positive or negative. Some of your self-talk comes from logic and reason. Other self-talk may arise from misconceptions that you create because of lack of information. Surround yourself with positive people. [1] Spend time with people who are positive, supportive, and who energize you. Remember, if you get too close to a drowning victim, he may take you down with him. Pick a positive person instead. Be positive yourself. If you don’t want to be surrounded by negative people, what makes you think others do? Learn to master your own thoughts. Control your negative thinking. This can be accomplished in the following ways: See the glass as half full rather than half empty. Anticipate the best outcome. Stay the middle ground. Don’t view everything in extremes — as either fantastic or a catastrophe. This will help you reduce your highs and lows. Consciously resist negative thinking. Be cognizant of and mentally avoid negative thinking. This will help you modify your behavior. Be nice to yourself. Unfortunately, some people say the meanest things to themselves. If you criticize yourself long enough, you’ll start to believe it. This negativity can drag you down over time. It may be time to fire the critic and hire the advocate. Set realistic, achievable goals. There’s nothing wrong with setting a high bar — unless you beat yourself up for not achieving your goals. The key is to build confidence by setting realistic goals and by hitting a lot of singles rather than swinging for the fences. Keep it in perspective. Life is all about prioritizing the things that matter most in your life and focusing your efforts in these areas. This means that trivial things that go wrong every day shouldn’t get you down. Learn to address or ignore small issues and move on. It’s time to sweat the big stuff. Turn challenges into opportunities. Instead of letting challenges overwhelm you, turn them into opportunities. (Rather than hitting the wall, climb over it or go around.) Count your blessings. Be grateful and give thanks for the special things in your life rather than taking them for granted. Some people do this by giving thanks around the dinner table, keeping a written journal, or posting one special item each day on Facebook. Remember, some of the greatest possessions in life aren’t material. Take every opportunity to make a wonderful new memory. It’s unclear why people who engage in positive thinking experience these health benefits. One theory is that having a positive outlook enables you to cope better with stressful situations, which reduces the harmful health effects of stress on your body. It’s also thought that positive and optimistic people tend to live healthier lifestyles — they get more physical activity, follow a healthier diet, and don’t smoke or drink alcohol in excess. Article taken from The Foundation For Peripheral Neuropathy: https://www.foundationforpn.org URL to article: https://www.foundationforpn.org/living-well/lifestyle/power-of-attitude/ URLs in this post: [1] positive people. : https://www.foundationforpn.org/living-well/support-groups/ [2] < Previous article: https://www.foundationforpn.org/caregiver-tips/ [3] Next article >: https://www.foundationforpn.org/exercise-and-physical-therapy/ Copyright © 2016 The Foundation For Peripheral Neuropathy. All rights reserved.

Wow ... Long Day

I'm still not used that darn rollator. I did join a support group to help me through the adjustment The Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy http://www.foundationforpn.org surro and I'm surrounding myself with friends and family who will offer me support & encouragement. Not being able to drive has me feeling trapped, so I'm grabbing every opportunity to get out of the house. Life is so extra some days.