I am experiencing yet another flare and I’m afraid that this one isn’t going to go away anytime soon. I have had CFS long enough to know that this flare is a pretty bad one and it will take me a while to come back from it. Two weeks ago I was experiencing a pretty bad flare where I wasn’t able to do anything but lie on the couch and in bed for three days. Last week I was feeling really good and yes – I did overdo it a little bit. I was feeling so good I couldn’t help myself. Saturday I started feeling bad again and I wasn’t on my computer for two days. My husband says he knows I’m feeling bad when I don’t get on the computer for a couple of days. He’s in shock when I only miss one day!
I spent most of Easter Sunday trying to sleep. I haven’t been sleeping well since Friday, only a few hours a night, and that is making the flare worse. On Sunday after church I came home and rested until it was time to go out to eat for lunch. My parents took the family out to a local restaurant instead of all of us doing the cooking. I didn’t sleep after church, however, and by the time we went for lunch at 2:00 p.m. I was miserable. Everyone could tell just by looking at me that I was not doing well.
Then yesterday I had to go to work and on the way I prayed that it wouldn’t be busy, but no such luck. I guess no one had any leftovers from Easter dinner because we were super busy, I was super miserable and I didn’t even care that I wasn’t as friendly or talkative as I usually try to be with my customers. When I feel this bad I just don’t give a crap. I wasn’t rude to anyone, I just wasn’t smiling much or as chatty as I normally try to be.
It’s days like that where someone with CFS and FM should not be allowed to work with the public! We should have a “caution” or “beware” sign to wear. I can be really grouchy when I am having a flare and all I could think about was going home. I kept watching the clock wanting my shift to end so badly. The last half hour of my four-hour shift I had to work on the self-scan registers and I felt like I was going to pass out. I had to sit down for a few minutes to get myself under control.
I couldn’t wait until it was time to go home so I could lie down and try to sleep. How pathetic does that sound? I actually look forward to going home and sleeping after work. That’s how the mind of a PWC works! Even as I write this all I want to do is sleep. These flares don’t get any easier the older I get.
I’m off today, work tomorrow and then I don’t have to go back in until Saturday. I am taking it easy this week regardless of what needs done around the house. I don’t want to end up laid up for months as I have in the past.
I am so sorry to hear you’re feeling so bad. I hope the flare calms down soon. This time of year is terrible for me with such frequent and drastic temperature changes on a daily basis. Take care — sending you virtual hugs and good thoughts!!
Thanks, Sherlock! Typically I start to feel better this time of year but the way the weather has been must have me messed up. Thanks for the hugs!
Hang in there and good luck! I hope you can get that sleep turned around. Irritability just seems like a natural by-product of being in a flare. Don’t work too hard – I love your blog – and I hope you ‘recover’ quickly.
Thanks, Cort! I enjoy reading your site also. I am feeling better today. I slept good last night and I had a good day today at work.