Hi,

I've been diagnosed fibromyalgia and myofascial pain for almost 10 years. I learned a long time ago to be good to myself. I take pride in the little things I can do. I try not to bemoan the things I can't do. I try to work a 40 hour week. I'm usually the only one who cooks and cleans. My husband may pitch in but he prefers not to.

My apartment looks like a pig sty most of the time. I hate it with a passion but the alternative is to work myself into more and more pain until I can't work at all. I do dishes maybe once a week or when my counter tops can no longer be seen or when we run out of coffee cups. When I do them I take frequent breaks to sit down and rest. Over all it takes about 2 hours to do my dishes but they get done. My laundry is piled up I wash what needs to be washed and if my husband doesn't like it he knows where the laundry room and laundromat is. I use a rolling cart to take the laundry to and from the laundry room in our apartment complex. I rest from the time I put them in until they come out. After I get them back to the apartment I lay them down neatly on the bed until I can find the energy to hang them up. I vacuum once a month at the most unless company is coming then my husband will pitch in. I had to realize that I'm only one person and I can only do so much. I clean up my side of the bed once a month or sooner if I can't walk. We can't afford cleaning help. My husband has learned that if he wants it done sooner or better than I can get it done then he can darn well do it himself.

Currently, I'm looking for an idea to make my laundry detergent and fabric softener lighter. Maybe by using a small container for the trips to the laundry room. So far I haven't been able to come up with anything workable.

My best advice to you is pace yourself. If you can do something without pain don't over do it. If it causes you pain take breaks to rest often. On the days when nothing is possible, just rest and relax. Everything will still be there tomorrow and you're the only you that you've got.