"Quality of life"......a gift that just keeps on giving.

Teresa, I tried the heating pad, got a large one for bed and/or recliner. It's helpful for a short time, gets too hot too soon and I'm roasting! Also, only can use that kind of thing in cold weather! I don't do well with heat or hot weather....then why do I live in Florida????Don't do well in cold weather, either. Both are painful for me, so Northern Florida is pretty good, I guess. I stay indoors in AC most of the time.

I'm thrilled the heavy blanket/quilt is a good thing for me. I sleep much better and w/less pain.

Blessings, Elizabeth

Teresa, what's really funny is the kitty....she truly loves this new addition to the bed. She has some fun, too, so far with no damage to the cover! She seems to realize something is under the cloth, they must move around a bit or whatever. She suddenly perks up, begins chasing the 'beads' in the patches! It's play or hunting or something she's having a ball! I love it so long as no damage.

I'm still fighting this crazy infection. Feeling like mush right now. Think I'll 'crawl' to the recliner, put my poor feet up and have some hot tea. Sounds goos. Catch you later. Blessings. Elizabeth

@ess77 I just love your description of sitting in the recliner and the cats watching you and the birds. Sounds very soothing. I’ve tried sitting in a recliner chair but my small dog insists that he must sit there, too, and there just isn’t room! I’m sitting on the sort of comfortable sofa now with the dog squished up next to me. Luckily he’s only 15 pounds, but a very heavy 15 pounds!

Good afternoon I have a question. How do I get out of these forums? The reason I ask is I am getting emails all day long to much to deal with. Any help would be appreciated

I agree you have to start undubscibing from each thread, like depression, skin, and so on.

Hi there, @ess77. Elizabeth, I like the way you jump right in to a discussion as if your had been part of the discussion for months and knew everyone. Now you are tackling a crazy infection and I am nursing two very itchy arms. Let's check-in later and see if they are gone. Let me know.....as soon as the healing begins.

May you be safe and protected. Chris

Whew! What a long list of irritations along with some high pain levels and no respite. I am surprised that your shoulder pain hasn't been addressed. You are deserving of so much more. Did you request something so that pain will sit up and take notice. Perhaps your "quality of life" gift is yet to be unwrapped.

May you be free of suffering and the causes of suffering.
Chris

What a wonderful post, @artscaping! So happy to read the three "quality of life" gifts you've given yourself and your courage in taking them on! Way to go!

What you wrote about: "It’s never too late to think of and thank yourself for your endurance, generosity, and kindness to yourself." is such a timely statement because these uncertain times have required personal changes and adjustments that really can and have challenged our coping skills. Your statement brought this home to me the other day during a conversation with my daughter.

I was telling her how stunned and happy I was in asking my doc to refill some daily meds and doc replied she'd just put me on the Covid vaccine list. Hadn't even considered asking for that! Two days later, I was given 1st Moderna!

My daughter, who is much less effusive than I, (sometimes I have to remind her to "gush more" ...laughing, replied: "I am glad because you are so deserving! You've taken great precautions, remained upbeat with sense of humor in place, and encouraged our family through some scary times this past year" Pure Gold those comments!!!!!

With my little family out-of-state and 15 mos since we last visited person-to-person, Zoom visits with them made a huge quality of life improvement for me.

Another real biggie for me was setting the self-challenge for 2020 of taking 3 walks/week and specifying which days. Accomplishing this deeply bolstered my self-discipline feathers because I'd stopped regular walks after the loss of my dog and there were days when I had to push myself out the door.

By far, the single best and happiest occurrence this past year for my little family and myself was their adoption of two hypo allergenic kittens. Imagine waiting 60 yrs as my hyperallergic sil did to finally be able to have 4-legged furry babies! The photos and Zoom times of him and family with Oscar and Ivan
are beyond fetching!

My self-challenge for 2021 needed a back-up in case I couldn't do the primary one of reteaching myself to knit. With arthritis in my hand, I wasn't sure if I could manipulate the needles so thot' a "no added sugar or salt" day/week would be good. Happily after at least 25 yrs I've begun my first new knitting project. While I've restricted sugar and salt consumption for some time, I found the first day of "no added sugar" much, much harder than that of salt.

Perhaps the single most important quality of life effect of this past year was realizing that due to my contentment in being at home more than most and not suffering the anger and anxiety expressed by others I know about city mandates restricting/closing facilities, I do not feel the stress or dismay so many voice.

Thanks, Chris, for prompting an opportunity to take stock of quality of life impacts and to the forum for having a safe place to recount them. Wishing all continued strength and hope in this brand new year!

Hi, @lacy2, One of the best things about first discovering these great Mayo Connect forums for me was truly realizing I wasn't alone and that many were dealing with far more serious chronic health issues than my own.

Kidney disease prompted my joining but the comfort, encouragement and new knowledge shared by others in numerous groups make this one of the best things I could have done for myself. Adding another welcome to you and hope you'll explore other forums and post regularly.

@hopeful33250, So glad your new adjustable bed is providing you with better sleep! I also bought a diff. brand a few yrs ago and it has greatly improved my quality of sleep as well! No more leg cramps and improved breathing, yes!

Teresa, hope you'll keep us posted on how the new Zentangle craft works for you. I was able to re-teach myself the basic knitting stitches after a 25 yr hiatus and like you do not consider myself very crafty.