Just because it’s such a big part of pain management, I want to reflect a bit more on pacing.
Saturday morning when I got up, we had the pressure of the garage sale starting so I skipped breakfast. That threw my day off right from the start. Even though my activity and rest was alternated fairly well. Missing breakfast, messed up my stomach and then lunch was delayed. Consistency is important especially in the daily meals.
I really felt bad that I was setting myself up for a poor Monday.
Then Sunday night, I wasn’t paying attention and forgot to take my Ambien and Cymbalta. I had a fitful night of sleep. I woke about 2:00 and ate a small breakfast, watched a little TV and started feeling like I could sleep at about 3:00. That’s when it hit me about the medicine. No wonder I couldn’t sleep. It was too late to take the Ambien but I took the Cymbalta. Then I had four more hours of restlessness. I really felt bad that I was setting myself up for a poor Monday. So the moral of the story is that there is more than exercise and relaxation to consider in pacing.
Today, we had a good lesson on Exercise and the brain. There was a lot of good information about how exercise creates chemicals that make you think and feel better. The most compelling information was that compared to Cognitive Behavior Therapy or Medicine, exercise is equal in its results. With no side effects!
I’ll have to be careful to not fall into the same patterns of workaholic-ism that exacerbates the pain, fatigue and all of the other symptoms of fibromyalgia
The second lesson for the day was about affecting change and resisting relapse. One of the issues I’ve been dealing with is that I am addicted to stress. Working my way back into the workforce, I’ll have to be careful to not fall into the same patterns of workaholic-ism that exacerbates the pain, fatigue and all of the other symptoms of fibromyalgia. I’m hoping that by the end of the week I have a much more clear plan on what I’ll be doing for the next few weeks as I take the plan into life.
Monday’s end up with a session in the Therapy pool and relaxation. I was really happy that today I completed a stretch where I stand against the side of the pool and lift one leg toward the opposite hand. I was able to make my foot touch my hands on both sides fairly easily. I’m not sure how that happened. I had felt stiff and sore all day from the poor night of sleep. I need to remember that pain is not equal to flexibility.
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https://www.the-jacobsens.com/2013/09/pain-management-program-day-22.html