I will have internet access for only a short time then I'll have no reception for a while.
Before I go away again I would very much like to know how you feel when you wake up in the morning. Some people have a slow start to the day and some people deteriorate throughout the day.
With regards to myself my early mornings are very difficult. When I get up I have a lot of pain all throughout my body. There has been times I have needed help to get up out of bed. I'm currently taking 25 mg of Prednisone and trying hard to wean. Every time I get down to 10 mg I have an aggressive flare and often have to take 50 mg for a few days then slowly wean again.
Although I would prefer to exercise early in the morning the pain in my muscles prevents me from even walking down the stairs. I also take in the am Thyroxine, pain relief, a stimulant, Vitamin D & Calcium as well as a good Multi Vitamin. After about an hour I can start to move well enough to get dressed and go for a walk. I don't really come 'good' until lunch time, however lately it's taking longer to be able to function well enough to do something productive.
How is the start to your day? For those of you who are working it must be hard to face the day at times.
Is there anything you have found that makes the morning routine a little better to achieve?
This is a great discussion, thanks for posting this. Mornings are tough, for sure for me. Its much easier if I make my lunch the night before, and have my tote bag packed for work the night before. I get up at the same time every day, and this routine helps me too. I get up early enough that I have plenty of time to get ready and don't have to rush and stress. After my shower, I need to sit on the side of the tub to dry my hair. The heat from the shower really exhausts me at times. But, when I started doing this, my little dog seized the moment and brings her ball in for me to toss while I'm drying my hair. She stays with me all morning, until I'm ready to leave for work, then she puts herself in her crate and stays there all day until I return home, even though my husband is home.
I hate mornings! I have to get up early to get my kids ready to meet their buses. We pack some of their lunch stuff the night before but some stuff has to be made that morning. My kids have food allergies so eating cafeteria stuff is not an option. After kids and hubby are gone, I either take a shower. Lately though, I fall back into bed! An hour later I take my shower and go start my day. Obviously, I am a stay at home mom. I didn’t used to be. I am grateful I can be now and have flexibility in my day. After my body is warmed up and do house stuff.
Mornings are difficult for me as well. I get up and get my water and a snack and use the restroom, then take all my meds and lay in bed til they kick in enough for me to move easier. My other difficult time is around 3 or 4 in the afternoon. I have to lay down. It’s like someone flipped a switch on me or something. So my “good” time or functional time is from about 10 to 2 and occasionally 5-7 in the evening. I take my showers in the evening because they exhaust me. The only time this varies is if I’m taking prednisone…lol
I still work full time and it’s been tough because the mornings are horrendous and always have been for me. So the way that I deal with this is getting up two hours earlier than I normally would have to allow the morning meds to kick in and the warm shower to get my muscles and bones ready for the day. I am a nurse so my job is very physically demanding and I have other people depending on me to be my best. Even though I still hurt all day long I am so busy at work five days a week that I don’t think about it
Until I get home and then it’s time for my night meds and then time for kids and family and then bedtime. Lupus sucks but if you keep your mind strong it’s harder for lupus to beat you.
I have been in a flare for a while and work full-time. Mornings are currently very rough for me. After a full night's sleep, I often feel like I ran a marathon overnight and am so fatigued. I am often very dizzy and lightheaded going through my morning routine. It's very hard and exhausting just isn't a strong enough word to describe it. I took a vacation day just to rest and sleep. I'm sure you all relate..
God love you! That is pure dedication…I will pray for you!
shan said:
I still work full time and it’s been tough because the mornings are horrendous and always have been for me. So the way that I deal with this is getting up two hours earlier than I normally would have to allow the morning meds to kick in and the warm shower to get my muscles and bones ready for the day. I am a nurse so my job is very physically demanding and I have other people depending on me to be my best. Even though I still hurt all day long I am so busy at work five days a week that I don’t think about it Until I get home and then it’s time for my night meds and then time for kids and family and then bedtime. Lupus sucks but if you keep your mind strong it’s harder for lupus to beat you.
Thanks so much for the replies. Your stories have really helped me not feel such a failure. I have been really struggling in the mornings for a while which is the opposite to how I lived 'before'. How I wish I could love those early mornings again.
I really admire how you all just keep putting one foot in front of the other and work through it.
Waiting for respite from the pain can be frustrating. If you're experienced with Prednisone you'll know that it can take a while to relieve the symptoms. My Doctor advised me not to force my muscles too soon because we can tear tissue more easily than normal. Has anyone else been given that advice? I worry about aggravating Costochondritis which is no fun at all.So no lifting or using chest muscles too early.