My Social Life Needs a Shot of Red Bull

Busy-ness is a relative word especially in the fibro world. What is warp-speed to me might be a sloth-fest to you. On a good day, I can tuck 3 or 4 errands under my belt. On a bad day I need a crow bar to get out of bed. Showering is my new aerobic activity. It isn't so much the pain of fibro that keeps me a shut-in - it's the unrelenting bone-weary fatigue. My energy isn't the only thing lagging: my social life has flat-lined since I developed fibromyalgia.

Since January I've been in a walking coma, dragging my tired arse through the days. I haven't had the energy to do much of anything. I've turned down social invitations and I've cancelled appointments. I've had no need for a scheduler. I think I saw a tumbleweed blow across my day-timer the other day.

I've been a stay-at-home mom and out of the (paid) work force for a long time. Presently, I'm not very employable! I am both introverted and extroverted but I prefer having my days to myself. I indulge any whim that crosses my mind - as long as I'm home by 3:00.  I rarely feel bored - not with Google at my finger tips. I play pointless computer games and justify it by telling myself I'm staving off Alzheimers. I read, garden on warm days and walk the diva dog. I work on art projects if that catches my fancy. If I feel especially adventurous, a casino run fits the bill. The day that I was too spent to spend at the slots, I knew something was seriously wrong. A few months later I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Snap.

I've recently made a bizarre discovery: going to bed earlier gives me more energy the next day. Go figure, huh? I realize it's not quite that simple for people with fibro as we struggle nightly with insomnia, pain and other impediments to a good night's rest. Typically, I wake up after 4 hours of sleep, slap the pillows around a bit and drift off again. Since hitting the sack earlier, the biggest difference I've noticed is that I'm conscious most days now. Good times!

Currently, where I live, spring-time exists on the calendar only. Nevertheless it's time for this fibro-bear to come out of hibernation. When it rains it pours. I've received some social invites and wouldn't you know it - they always fall on the same day. There is no way I can manage two outings on the same day - fibro comes with best before dates. Choices have to be made. The parcelling of energy into small, doable packets is a daily reality for fibromites. Going to the grocery store without assistance is big news. Cooking a meal for my family is cause for celebration. Well, I've dusted off  my day-timer now. Okay, so most of my outings are medical appointments but that still counts. There can be no argument that having your teeth cleaned is a social outing. Am I right?

I'm happy to be inviting friends into our home again. The weekly Scrabble scrummage with the neighbours is back on. I'm out and about doing errands solo. I have appointments, places to go, people to see.

Funny thing...getting more sleep turned out to be the Red Bull that I needed.

                                                                                                                                                               :