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Idiopathic Polyneuropathy: My endless journey to a near-diagnosis …
Neuropathy | Last Active: Mar 26 9:09am | Replies (126)Comment receiving replies
Do it!! I know how very inconvenient it is, how there’s a lot of gambling on the parking/walking/seating situation, and of course your safety and endurance. I know we have to pick our battles on what’s best to maintain friendship and any semblance of a social life, but I don’t think we should force them to always come to us if we’re able to meet them half way once in awhile. It helps show that we’re given to help sustain relationships and we know they just don’t understand how this disease makes it so hard on us. You know what’s best. For me, I absolutely had to give up shopping with my girlfriends; it was a timed sporting event for them and I was making the team lose. We also had to give up the pro football seats we owned for 20 years; the seats we owned were the absolute greatest for those with legs who could walk up & down the 20 rows required to get to our front row aisle seats on the 50 yard line. We were unable to get a trade for handicapped seating, and if we did, they would have not been good seats. So I’ve given things up, and my husband made sacrifices, so when I find opportunities to socialize that seem less taxing, I jump at the chance!! Actually, I’m unable to jump… but coffee, meals, movies, even bowling or things I can watch, I try hard to get out, and touch anything available if I need to get around that way. I hope you find you might be able to do this!
Replies to "Do it!! I know how very inconvenient it is, how there’s a lot of gambling on..."
Why do women in their 60’s still use shopping as a social event? I know my friends do. With Dysautonomia and pain, that is one of the least fun ways to spend a day. Plus I’ve gained weight from Tegretol, so clothes shopping isn’t a pleasure. I’ve given up many social activities because of unpredictable dizziness, fatigue and diarrhea. I don’t need a wardrobe of beautiful clothes. Don’t wear the necklaces and bracelets I have, because they irritate me.
My chosen activities these days are mostly volunteer work. I guess since I had to give up my career, and know what suffering feels like now, spending my time on things that are meaningful is very satisfying to me. I foster kittens in my home, drive special-needs adults to the nail salon, pack food bags for children at church ( sitting down if needed - the church staff understands). When my friends do an hour long power walk that I can no longer do (and no, they’re not interested in slowing down to match my pace), I show up for the coffee and visit after.
Life goes on. The future - even six weeks from now - is unpredictable. I don’t like it, but since I’m generally optimistic, and have a strong Christian faith, I just keep adapting and doing my best.
But shopping in boutiques fo hours to buy clothes and jewelry I don’t need? That was a pretty lame hobby even when I could do it!
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Hello, Debbie (@dbeshears1)
I subscribe wholeheartedly to the spirit of your message! I have never been the sort to decline invitations to do things –– from grand adventures to domestic chores around home. As I've gotten older, and now with considerations of my neuropathy, I have grown even more fervent in my belief in doing. Reading the paper only this morning, in an article about choreographer George Balanchine, I couldn't help but nod approval to read what he was known to say to his dancers: "Don't think. Do!" (Thinking is important, too, but so is doing, maybe more important, and overthinking can spell disaster.) I'm sorry my reply has to be short. I have a phone company technician here, and I'm told he needs to shut off my Internet wireless temporarily. I want to post this before he does. Thank you, thank you for your uplifting post!
Ray (@ray666)