I was unable to accomplish anything for the past couple of months. I felt so angry and upset with myself and with my family. Like they should know, right? Finally, I sent a hysterical message to my sister. Guess what? She flew to my city and state that night! She got me moving again. Vacuumed. Cooked. And got me laughing again. We tried to find someone who could come in after she left. We weren't successful but I am still going to try and find someone to come in twice a week. I don't meet the guidelines for a home aide. I need someone to help me to do more than get dressed and out of bed, so I am still trying to figure out how to get a "sister" twice a week. I also discovered something amazing to me. I was very tired after I dropped my sister off at the airport. It was hard to drive home. While I was driving, I felt awful. I got more and more depressed as I drove. I mean I was playing the "I can't take this anymore." tape. When I got home and rested, the tape stopped. I was upbeat again. I realized that when I get exhausted, I get depressed. I knew that my MS exhaustion was affecting my cognitive abilities but I never connected my exhaustion to feeling depressed. Now, I am determined to rest BEFORE I feel exhausted. I realize that it is important to rest every hour for about 10 minutes. My OT therapist had told me to do that two years ago but I wasn't doing it. I was waiting until I felt exhausted. Now, I know that to avoid that hopeless feeling, I am going to need to rest frequently during the day. And now I'm going to rest. Then do my exercises!
This sounds like such good news! So wonderful of your sister to come get you moving again, not only with household duties but with lifting your spirits. Very interesting observation on the exhaustion/depression connection. That happens to me too somewhat in addition to simply experiencing depression on its own.
Wonderful reminder for the rest 10 minutes out of every hour! I remember one time when my aunt was visiting that she was helping to get me caught up on some chores (similar to how your sister has done) and I was telling her that I could do an activity for 10 minutes and then needed to rest for the remaining 50 of that hour. It was a very difficult time for fatigue for me then. I had not thought of that story in a while. :)
Hope you begin to feel better and stay feeling better with the regular pre-emptive rest. Also, now I'm connecting the dots and realize that your sister asked a question about finding available assistance in Dallas. I haven't researched that yet, but perhaps Vicki would know more easily as this is her neck of the woods.
Well I didn't know my sister was even on the website.
I'll mention your post to her. Nice to know she asked for me.