Friday, February 23, 2007

Where The Spoons At?

Are you wondering why I’m hurting your eyes with Queen Latifah’s slightly-modified Pizza Hut slogan?  It’s because I am once again exhausted.  This happened to me a week ago too, after we went out to lunch with my parents.  Today, I woke up, did a couple of things (fed the dogs, ate, read the newspaper), and literally passed out on the bed when I came back upstairs.  I was so exhausted that I couldn’t function.  I read something that someone posted a link to on Leigh-Ann’s blog, trying to explain Lupus, but it works for any chronic illness.  Normally, I loathe just about anything people write about their chronic illnesses, from stories to poems to songs.  Usually, they’re grotesquely hokey and the people are often quite untalented.  Remember, just because you’re sick, it doesn’t mean you have talent.  It doesn’t mean that you don’t have talent either, but usually those people aren’t writing poems or giving each other “fibro-hugs”.  Gah.  Anyway, this woman was trying to explain to her friend what it feels like to have Lupus…or frankly, how it feels to be sore and tired.  Except for using the word less, instead of fewer (hey, blame my mom, she’s the one who made me picky about the difference ), the Spoon Theory is something I wholeheartedly approve of having everyone read.

The Spoon Theory will explain how I (and Leigh-Ann) can seem perfectly normal when you see us, but why it’s so difficult for us to go anywhere these days.  We’ve both gotten worse; or rather, Leigh-Ann’s gotten worse, and I’ve developed fibromyalgia.  On Wednesday, we went to the Western Veterinary Conference at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center for about five hours.  We walked and walked, talked and talked, walked some more.  We learned about neat new products, met lots of really nice people (Leigh-Ann swooned when she met Dr. Harrison of Harrison’s bird foods/exotic bird books fame), and got a whole bunch of free stuff.  I’m especially fond of my stuffed heartworm from one of the major pharmaceutical companies.  And damn, you should’ve seen some of the booths - there were a couple of two story ones, and one that had circular stairs going up to their second floor.

So, we had a really good time at the conference; however, we used up all of our “spoons” for that day, and for me, perhaps most of my spoons for the next day.  It’s even why I don’t shower every single day anymore, even though I’m generally obsessive about smelling good and having good hair days.  When I shower, it uses up spoons that could be used for something like, oh, work.  Or going grocery shopping.  Or walking up and down the stairs a few times.  I really would like to stop moaning & groaning about feeling like crap, but it seems so ever-present these days.  I know it’s boring for you guys though.  Hell, it’s boring for me.

Next entry: Oh, I Miss My Blog Previous entry: Ooooh, I feel old!

1. Friends complan that I’m not willing to go visit them by taking a several hour car trip (or a flight) and staying in unsafe for me locations. Can you imagine me on a plane next to anyone perfumed? I’d die right after take off. I’m not afraid of flying- I’m afraid of my fellow passengers.

   I frankly never have enough spoons to go visit. I run out of spoons when they come to visit me. So oh yeah, I understand. I hope you feel better soon.

   georg  on  02/23  at  06:20 AM

2. Nancy - Everything you write is either educational, fun, sometimes sad, sometimes exciting (especially when you write about conventions and food) to read.  Oh, and I love when you are disgusted with someone that’s super fun to read.  So both you and Leigh-Ann - I LOVE TO READ YOUR BLOGS - even if I don’t comment.

   Later - favorite bloggers

   Ilona  on  02/23  at  02:30 PM

3. Man, Flippy, that sucks big time. But thanks for using a couple of spoons for blogging. The fibro-hugs thing made me laugh SO HARD. GAH indeed.

   roro  on  02/23  at  03:39 PM

4. Ummm, no, it’s not boring.  It makes me feel less alone in this.  Because, you know, I LOOK normal.  However, I use up all my spoons working during the week, then a trip to the store on a Saturday involves a wheelchair, which makes my daughter cry because “I think of wheelchairs for old people and you aren’t old”.

   I hate this.  I have little acceptance and peacefulness about it.  So, I really appreciate you talking about it.

   moonandsun03  on  02/23  at  05:02 PM

5. Sorry to hear you’re feeling so crappy, but glad to hear you both had such a nice day at the conference.

   I went to a big dog show a couple years ago and thought I’d died and gone to heaven!  I know what you mean about the booths!  Aren’t they crazy?  I’m not allowed to attend such events anymore…. I damn near drained the bank account on stuff the dog couldn’t have cared less about!

   Kai  on  02/24  at  01:14 AM

6. I have to say that the spoon story was great.  Ugh, so much of how I feel these days.  Depression may not be a physical illness but the spoon theory definitely fits. My Lyme Disease does not help my cause either.  I love reading your blog.  There are some times that I do not post, but I like reading what you have to say.  I wish I could be more helpful in your health issues, but I will say that I think of you often. 

   Keep writing your stories…  I love when people tell their stories, and can laugh about the tough times.  Truly.

   Kristine  on  02/25  at  01:46 PM

7. Georg - I can’t even imagine having your sensitivity problem.  Okay, yes, I can because I do get a headache from strong scents and can’t handle being in the laundry detergent aisle too long at the grocery store.  I know it would be horrible.  Tell your friends that if they can figure out a way to make you feel like they do, you would be ecstatic to hop on a plane and go visit them.

   Ilona - we hated missing Zac’s birthday.  It’s bad when we can’t go out and do things like we used to, but we really hate it when we can’t do family things.  In case everyone hasn’t noticed, it’s been super jumbo extra bad since we started working for other people.  I didn’t realize how much I needed my cushy schedule just to feel only semi-crappy.  Without it, I’m super crappy.

   MoonandSun - Awww, your poor kid…and poor you.  Remember when you didn’t want to try the meds we were talking about?  Now that I’ve been on a fairly decent-sized dose myself, I can tell you that it definitely will help, and it definitely WON’T turn you into a zombie.  I’m currently taking way more than you would start on, and I don’t even feel woozy.  No one would be able to tell that I’m medicated at all.  You know how Paula Abdul sometimes acts?  Well, I don’t act like that, ever.  So, please, try it and see if it helps you feel better.

   Roro - I’m saving all my fibro-hugs for yooooou.

   Kai - No, keep going to the shows, but try to get samples.  Don’t take much cash with you, and go on the last day and see if you can get some stuff that booth owners don’t want to take home.

   Kristine - I’m sorry that you’re lacking in spoons too.  It sucks that there are so many of us.  I remember just a few years ago and thinking I felt kind of crappy, but now realizing that THAT was nothing.

   Flippy  on  02/26  at  05:20 AM

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