My word of the week is – Adjusting. I think it is safe to say that due to the pandemic, everyone in the world has had to make some form of adjustments to their daily lives. These changes have been harder on some than others. But for the chronically ill, having to adapt to a new way of living is just par for the course. This week I am sharing a few changes I have had to adjust to and how my fibromyalgia, psoriatic arthritis, psoriasis, and endometriosis prepared me to do so.
Welcome to my Word of the Week submission. The host for this blogger linkup is Raisie Bay. Be sure to see the link at the end of this post to read her post and more.
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Adjusting to Current Events
Rarely a week goes by without another change to our lives being announced. As someone who has spent most of the past six months at home due to debilitating abdominal pain from endometriosis, being told to stay home didn’t change my current lifestyle. With that said, I have had to make some adjustments, such as give up visits to the beach and Disneyland.
Wearing a face mask out of the house has been a big adjustment for me. One that I should add that I do not like. It is uncomfortable, hard to breathe with it on, and hot! However, I understand the importance and never leave home without one. How often I will wear one after the orders expire will be determined by my current health status.
Everyone is currently experiencing some form of adjustment. For the #chronicallyill, it’s just part of everyday life. #WotW
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How I shop has changed. I may be an avid online shopper when it comes to health and wellness products, clothing, shoes, household products, etc., but I have never been a fan of having my food delivered. Believe it or not, but my being a control freak has nothing to do with it. Haha! As my husband has witnessed in the past 43 days, I am CURSED! Go ahead and laugh, but it is true.
Restaurant and fast food deliveries always forget one person’s meal or part of a meal. As for grocery delivery and curbside pick-up, they never have everything I ordered. Those items are usually ones I really needed or wanted. This results in my having to shop in person at another store. So much for making my life easier. For the time being, I am shopping highway farm produce stands and more expensive chains for other items where I won’t have to stand in long lines.
Not New, Just Normal
Every day is a new day. Not just with the changes from the pandemic, but in regards to my daily pain level. As I mentioned in past weeks, my abdominal wall has had a reprieve from having adhesions ripping away from them. This week I can feel the adhesions pulling tighter on my bowels and creating kinks throughout my intestinal tract. This has been my life for many years, but with reprieves. I have been without a reprieve from any abdominal adhesion pain for most of the past six months.
Each day begins with an assessment or damage report. I take inventory of the pains and symptoms each of my chronic illnesses is presenting. Then I rate their levels. Before addressing them, I look to my daily calendar to see what I had hoped to accomplish. I then choose which treatment will best reduce my symptoms, yet allow me to work. There are days when my body doesn’t allow for anything but rest, and that’s exactly what I do. The same goes for exercise. My only exception is that I do not hold myself to a weekly goal. I do what I can, when I can, and find satisfaction in what I was able to do.
How my #chronicillness taught me and can help you to roll with life’s uncomfortable changes! #WotW
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Life Lesson
Living with pain from multiple chronic illnesses has taught me to roll with the punches. I create a schedule of what I want to get done and which days I hope to tackle each task. But I also keep it flexible enough to accommodate the unknown. Most importantly, I have learned not to freak out when things don’t go my way.
If the past few months have taught us anything, it is that life as we know it can change drastically overnight. Twenty years of living with unpredictable chronic pain have taught me how to make adjustments when it all falls to pieces.
My word of the week is – Adjusting. What is yours?
See what others chose for their word of the week!
Read last week’s Word of the Week
It’s funny how shopping has become such a social outing for me these days. Myself and my wife hit three supermarkets yesterday, and even though we queued each time, it was still great to do it — and enjoy the results at meal and snack times! #WotW
It’s definitely been an opportunity to try new things 😊
You are wise to listen to your body and rest when it is telling you to rest. Thank you for sharing your experiences as a person who lives with chronic pain. It gives the rest of us a window into your everyday lives, which promotes more empathy. I grocery shop in person too and it IS because I’m a control freak! 🙂
Lol, I have to confess, I do not trust others to pick out my produce 🤣
I hate shopping for food online too, but it’s a necessity for me. I could send my husband but I don’t he would have the patience to wait in the long social distancing queues he’s bad enough at check outs! Do you think people really do get how life can change overnight? It would be nice if there was some understanding of what we chronic pain sufferers deal with, but for everyone else, I think they are just looking to it all being over. If only we could do that. Thanks for linking up and have a lovely weekend x
Thankfully I’ve heard from a few people saying that they’ve had friends and family express remorse for not understanding how difficult their lives with chronic illness is. If they’re the only ones, at least it’s a few more than before. And you nailed it, there’s no end for us hugs!! Hope you’re having a lovely weekend.
Shopping is definitely more challenging. I’ve found local, non-supermarket delivery companies, that are roughly the same price, but get my order almost perfect. End up buying more in bulk, but I’ll use it all over time. Hope you have a good weekend. #wotw
Not gonna lie, I’m so jealous that you found delivery companies that don’t let you down. Wishing you a good weekend too!