What was that? (Sweating, short stories, squats …and oomph)

This is one of those ‘What was that?’ posts – a series on ‘what the crap is going on?’ and it contains affiliate links*

Dear friend,

How have you been?

I’ve let life get in the way of my blogging again. Sometimes, you know, when I cannot cope and my mood is low, triggering off a flare of fibromyalgia symptoms, with roll on effects, I retreat into my shell (my default position).

I felt like I didn’t have much to say, being so tired, but then I thought, that’s not quite true. I’ve been just about managing to get to work, but running on autopilot for a while now. Here’s a quick summary on what’s been on my mind.

Excessive sweating with fibromyalgia 

Like many of our friends with fibromyalgia I have trouble (still, and annoyingly) with regulating my body temperature. Particularly when seasons are changing. At day and night, I am constantly having to put on sweaters, socks…then take them off. Covers off then on. I’m hot (dripping of sweat) then cold (shivering). It gets worse when the weather changes, I rush about or get stressed. These days by the time I get to work I am drenched in sweat, even if I walk slowly, take my jacket off on the underground train, and sit down. We still don’t know a lot on this except that our sweat glands don’t work properly due to a nerve dysfunction. I’ve not found anything that can help yet but I now keep a mini anti perspirant in my bag on the go, and use Mitchum Ultimate Gel (anti perspirant deodorant), and when it’s bad Perspirex strong antiperspirant roll on (it burns a little so don’t use right after shaving). You can get them at your local chemist (drug store, supermarket) or on Amazon. I know it’s ridiculous, when when it gets warmer I’ll start packing a mini face cloth or hand kerchief too. How do you manage?

Coping with stress and chronic illness

I’m probably last person who should be giving you advice, honestly. But although I still freak out (and break out in cystic acne), my anxiety rages (full on with palpitations) I think I have been finding ways of managing a bit better sometimes. I talk about what’s bothering me with my closest friends (someone who understands, is non judgemental and empathetic), think practically about what I need to do to fix the situation, resolve to take it one day at a time, and then I stop talking about it unless a new aspect to the problem arises. This has been really helpful, rather than having the same conversations repeatedly, just riling myself up. Sometimes (often) I still spend much of my free time in bed, but I either take my meds and go to sleep, I read books, blogs, news stories, play Words with Friends 2, watch TV shows I like… Last weekend I went to cinema alone and that helped, and I’ve been trying to get out with friends a bit more too even if for a few hours.

Although it’s hard to push myself to write, I’ve found it satisfying. I’ve not been able to get back into the swing of longer fiction writing (so temporary pause on my project) and I decided to give short stories a try and they really help. It’s like a quick excursion to another place – not too long winded like writing a full on novel, and short enough to get a quick escape.

Mindful cooking normally helps me too so I do it at least once a week, even if I’m not in the mood. What helps you?

Squats

I am still stressing over losing the excess weight and self confidence is still suffering. Admittedly, with everything going on I’ve not been to swim classes in months, feeling very frustrated about my stalled progress. So I started doing squats at home everyday. It was hard, I’m not going to lie. I did ten, paused, then another ten. The first day I was in pain for a week with incredible soreness and a limp. By the next week it had gone away and I’ve kept it up everyday (I try to do at least 20 to 30 just before my shower) and it’s really been helping the weakness in my legs, knees and feet. It’s also been a little less tiring walking home from the train station.

Juicing, tiredness and overall oomph

Chronic fatigue is still the biggest problem I have with fibromyalgia. While I think the squats have been helping, it can’t take all the credit. I generally take vitamins and supplements but lately decided to try these B Active fizz vitamins from Tesco (a cheaper version to Berocca but with all the same vitamins) every morning. It’s cut down having to go through six different bottles of different vits. I just pop one in my glass of water and drink before heading off to work.

Every week, I still juice generous sized pieces of ginger, usually with a lemon and apples or I might switch it up, and like last week I did ginger, cucumbers, turmeric and apples. But always ginger and something else. I couldn’t tell if this was working at first but when I stop doing it I notice a drastic decline in my energy levels. All these bits boost my overall level of oomph, so as time consuming as they might be, they’re helping with everything including my pain. Worth a try!

Gentle hugs x

Cover photo by Clem Onojeghuo