I don't know what to call it | Arthritis Information

Since having the increase of Remicade and now knowing that nothing badly wrong with my hip. I have been making mental "to-do-lists" every nght before I go to sleep. Most has to do with cleaning the house. No one else in the house cleans it as "good" as I do and I just want it to feel CLEAN. Clean enough to eat off the floors!

I wake up start out washing a few dishes or cleaning up the living room and vacuuming, but by that time I start to feel a little overwhelmed. I sit around and cannot make up my mind of what I want to do next. And when I do, I kinda feel like what if I do mop all the floors and cannot finish it like I have done in the past?

In the past I have started cleaning one room, and after an hour into it, I had to give up because I started hurting or not feeling well.

To me that is kinda like failing at some thing. These are tasks I should be able to do when I am doing well and feeling up to it and not so tired and all that jazz.

It just depresses me when I start some thing I felt up to doing and then just to have to quit because my body will not allow me to continue on.

So... I guess what I am saying is that... I am afraid of being not being able to finish what I started. SO I just keep putting it off, in hopes that some time soon I will be able to complete the tasks at hand like I use to.

joonie2008-03-14 16:52:16I use to feel guilty too when I could not clean the house in

one day . I do what I can when I can now .

Dont push yourself it will get done sooner or later .

Your body will let you know .

and Joonie..what would the consequences be if you didn't finish in one day.

Try it this way...don't set a specific chore goal..set a time goal. Say today I will clean for 45 minutes. you can split that up however you want. When the 45 minutes is done so are you. Somedays i just do a little. Yes i like the days when i can get everything done all at once. But i call it exercise with a broom. I hit the spots that annoy me the most. Then the next time as it may not be the next day i do a little more. Some days i get the job finished and somedays not. Even a little at a time will still give you a sence of pride and accomplishment. I remember last time. I did everything on the higher dose pred days. Or on my good days. Well not having as much of that at the moment. So bathtub one day comode the next ect. Or just the corners of the floor one day and the middle the next. And somedays i find i did more than i thought i was cabable of as i just kept going. LOL Joonie i was just thinking i have to take this bra off it's getting to tight and uncomfortable, I am not waring one.hey i use to be real clean too, but i cant keep up anymore. the family members do not care. but i learned a few tricks just pick it up (that is the biggest thing) vaccuum if you can and wipe off any large surfaces. and every so often treat yourself to a maid service. it is worth it and it makes you feel so good. price around they are all different. maybe you know someone who will help you. no one cleans like you do but the feeling of everything being fresh is wonderful and somehow i do not feel as overwhelmed if it is all straight. helps my arthritis.Just plan on doing something and getting it done. Doesn't matter how much or how long. Give yourself a treat when you finish if you need a motivator. Joonie, I think you're just a bit out-of-shape after being held back so long by the uncontrolled RA. Now that you're feeling better, your muscles and endurance need to catch up with your ambitions!!! Like buckeye said... set a goal, do a bit each day. Gradually increase it. You'll build up endurance AND get the house in shape!!! On days I don't think I can get much done I try and choose one room a day. Then dare the kids to mess it up (until I can at least get the rest of the rooms done that week).

When I am up for it I find myself cleaning say the livingroom and I find one of ds socks in there, I take it to the bathroom and think well I will just start some laundry. Oh but the littler box needs cleaned. Then I need to take the trash out after the litter box but say well I will sit it by the door and go get some out of the kitchen. Then find something in there to do and so on and so on. So that I have been on my feet for hours but haven't really got a lot done. I have so tried to break this habit but gosh it's hard to just stick with the one room until it's done kinda thing.

Thanks for the replies, everyone!

I like your idea, Buckeye. I will follow that rule.

I am also going to try to do a little more exercise now. So... I will also apply Buckeye's idea to that area too.

But do not be so surprised if you come on here and see a post from me "whinning" because I over done it. I tend to over do, because once I start I cannot stop myself sometimes until I am crying from pain.

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