As I'm trying to navigate the latest changes in my health, I look for patterns that help me manage my time and energy the best I can. So here's what I have figured out right now.
I have an energy window from about 10 am to 7 pm where I feel pretty good. 12 to 3 pm are my very best hours. I try to schedule most of my activities for this magic window of time.
In addition, I'm finding that I have an activity threshold. This is where I'm learning. I can tolerate an activity for a certain period of time. My body is very clear in warning me when I start to cross that threshold. The first thing I notice is that my cognition begins to wane. Next, my eyes begin to twitch, and the more stress, the more I twitch. Finally, if I've really pushed it, then I have muscle weakness and shaking.
My goal these days is to discover my activity threshold. In my excitement over my new-found energy, I have a tendency to try something and ignore my body's signals that I'm overdoing it. Although I bounce back and recuperate faster than I did before, I'm sure that the bouncing back and forth can't be good for me. I can only imagine that staying within my activity threshold would help me heal even faster.
2 weeks ago
7 comments:
It is so hard to learn to pace and stay within our energy envelopes....but I believe it is vital to do this from all I have read and observed over the years. It is said that CFS/ME is unforgiving in its boundaries.
That being shared, I am amazed at the amount of time you feel good. WOW! I feel best from 7-10 at night now...it switched on me and pretty shaky in the am. Worst time of day is 3-6 for symptoms increasing and energy decreasing.
I sure hope you are able to keep healing more and more and more...it is exciting, Shelli!!! So happy for you.
Shelli, I'm so happy to hear that you're able to experience some level of goodness and normalcy. I'm praying that it continues to improve for you. Take care.
Congratulations on working all of this out so far. I start shaking when I am too far gone too. Some days the amount I can do is less than others and I haven't figured out why except that the female cycles must have something to do with it too.
Cherrie
Thanks, Renee, I agree it's remarkable that I feel good that much of the day, but I do. That's definitely from the meds I'm taking. Even if I can't do much (low activity threshold), at least I feel good while I'm doing nothing!
Hi, Lori, good to hear from you! Thanks for the good wishes. :)
Cherrie -- Female cycles definitely have something to do with it. I usually clear my calender completely that week of the month, because I know my symptoms will flare up.
That is such great news! Praying it will hold for you and that you will continue to get better and better! It's a constant struggle to "know" what is going to set us off... Learning as we go!
Blessings,
Elaine
(((Shelli)))
I'm so happy to read that you are still holding strong, even making progress, in your recovery "experiment!"
Judy
So funny, Shelli - my good time is morning and 1-4 is the worst time of day for me! Strange how this illness affects each of us so differently.
It is SO hard to stay within limits. My problem is if I'm trying to get something productive done. I find it very, very hard to quit in the middle of something, even if the signs say I'm on my way to overdoing.
So glad you are doing better these days.
Sue
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