Updating, Recommitting, Bracing, Documenting, Pampering – A Chronic Voice: July Prompts

I was delighted to see the return of A Chronic Voice’s monthly blogging prompts. Sheryl always seems to come up with themes that really resonate, and I love reading how differently everyone interprets them. It’s a lovely way of catching up with fellow bloggers and reflecting on what’s been happening in our own lives.

The July prompts were:

• Updating
• Recommitting
• Bracing
• Documenting
• Pampering

Updating

Part of the reason I’ve been rather quiet on the blogging front over the past nine months is that I’ve been pouring my energy into writing a book about navigating life with fibromyalgia.  I knew it would be a big project, but I don’t think I appreciated quite how much time and energy it would take. The bulk of the writing is now complete, and I’m currently updating and polishing the manuscript. It’s been a much bigger undertaking than I ever imagined, but I’m really pleased with how it’s coming together.  All being well, I’m hoping to self-publish later this year or early next year.

Recommitting

One thing I would like to recommit to is blogging as I have only written one post since last November.  I’ve always enjoyed having somewhere to share my thoughts, document my journey, and hopefully help other people living with chronic illness feel a little less alone.Life and health don’t always cooperate with my plans, but I’m hoping to find my way back to writing here more regularly over the coming months and I’m sure that these prompt will help with that.

Bracing

I’m currently bracing myself for what feels like an endless heatwave here in the UK.  I’ve never been someone who enjoys very hot weather, and fibromyalgia certainly doesn’t make it any easier. Everything seems harder for me in the heat. I have to walk the dog first thing in the morning before the temperature climbs, and I’m finding it much more difficult than usual to keep up with my normal exercise routine.  As often happens with fibromyalgia and many other chronic illnesses, one thing quickly affects another. Less activity means more pain, more pain affects my sleep, poor sleep increases my fatigue… and before long I’m caught in that familiar vicious cycle.

I’ll admit it – I’m counting down the days until autumn (or at least some cooler weather) arrives.

Documenting

On top of everything else, I’ve recently been diagnosed with vertiginous migraine, which I’ll probably do a post about at some stage.

 As of last week, I have started trying new medication.  As part of that process, my doctor has asked me to keep a detailed migraine diary, so that I can document when attacks happen, my symptoms, possible triggers, and any medication I’ve taken. My GP recommended I capture attacks on this template from the British Association for the Study of Headache.

Strangely, it’s taken me right back to the early days after my fibromyalgia diagnosis, when I tracked almost everything. My symptoms, activities, medications, sleep, flare-ups… it all went into a notebook while I slowly learned how my body responded.

It’s funny how life sometimes comes full circle.

Although keeping records can sometimes feel like a chore, I do think symptom tracking is one of the most useful tools when you’re trying something new. Whether it’s medication, a therapy, or a lifestyle change, it’s so much easier to judge whether something is genuinely helping when you have something objective to look back on, rather than relying on memory alone.

Pampering

Pampering isn’t really something I’m very good at.

I’m much more likely to spend money on practical things or my dog than on myself, but this week I decided to treat myself to an expensive (well, expensive for me!) night cream.

Perimenopause has left my skin much drier than it used to be, particularly first thing in the morning, so I’m hoping it might make a difference. Whether it works or not remains to be seen, but sometimes even small acts of looking after ourselves are worthwhile.