Second job

[cjsmith]

Yesterday afternoon I was trying to work out a schedule for applying all my lotions and oils, the PT exercises from each place, the visits to the PTs, the chiropractor, and the odd doctor's appointment or two. It doesn't leave much room for things like taking the cats to the vet or getting down to REI to look for better gloves.

Physical therapy and chiropractic alone are about seven hours a week. Exercises assigned by those folks are easily another hour a day if I do 'em all. I can skip exercises assigned by one PT place if I am visiting that one that day, though. Four times a day I should be applying some sort of goo, and I should ice (5mins to 15mins) as often as I think of it (up to once an hour). That doesn't count actual doctor visits or wheeling around the building or swimming.

No wonder I feel like I have a second, part-time job. I do. (Except I pay it.)

This is what I wanted to address when I said I was "giving up". I haven't cut any of these things yet, and I'm reluctant to let go of something that might be doing some good, but this can't continue.

Comments

[abenn.livejournal.com]

That's tough, and I understand. My regimen to stave of CFS relapses isn't as bad as yours, but is daunting enough on some days.

I don't know if it works for you to meditate or pray for guidance/clarity on what to let slide. I'll pray for that for you. You may not need to drop any one thing completely, just reduce the frequency on some of it. It's hard to know.

Have you talked to the chiropractor and PT on how much you can cut back and still get benefit?

Sometimes I've been moved to drop everything for about two weeks and take a break from all of it at once. I find that scary, but I generally come back from it knowing how I want to schedule things from there.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. They mean a lot to me.

I like the idea of meditating and simply watching what comes up around this. Skipping all of it for two weeks is looking mighty good right now too... I'd see what I miss (am drawn to) most.

[vito-excalibur.livejournal.com]

Oh, that is a good idea. That is a heavy second workload.