posted
I think it's a time of year when most people have a lot of added demands on their time as well as their physical, financial, and emotional resources.
For the many of us who are already struggling to keep jobs, home, relationships, and finances together, I think it would be amazing if we didn't feel challenged by the added burdens of the holiday season.
Don't get me wrong, I love this time of year; I just find its demands especially hard on me.
monkeyshines
Posts: 343 | From Northern VA | Registered: Oct 2004
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treepatrol
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 4117
posted
The past 2 months have been horendous for me and still is Ya gotta luv minocin.
-------------------- Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Remember Iam not a Doctor Just someone struggling like you with Tick Borne Diseases.
lymeladyinNY
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 10235
posted
I hear ya, Byron. I spent Christmas 2003 alone on my Dad's couch unable to get up. He went to my sister's house for Christmas. Let's just say, I felt abandoned and hungry.
On Christmas day 2004 I was admitted to the hospital with very low white blood cell count from IV claforan.
Christmas 2005, after the kids opened their presents, my husband took them to his mother's. Again, I was alone because my mother-in-law and I don't get along and I wasn't invited.
Christmas 2006, I invited myself to my sister's house for Christmas day. I stayed too long and collapsed on her kitchen floor with full body spasms (from bartonella).
My niece, a physician's assistant who is, unfortunately, a duck, assumed I was withdrawing from narcotics and told me, once I'd recovered, that I'd better wean myself off them and I'd better give up my driver's license.
THIS year, I'm free of body spasms thanks to levaquin and my two other sisters both plan to have a Christmas party. I'm hoping that for the first time in years, I will have a good Christmas.
When I was a kid my mom made Christmas wonderful for us all. How I wish she were still here!!!
Merry Christmas to those of you who celebrate, and Peace on Earth to us all!!
-------------------- I want to be free Posts: 1170 | From Endicott, NY | Registered: Sep 2006
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merrygirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12041
posted
This is my first sick christmas.
Having a lot of pain.
I hope everyone feels better
MElissa
Posts: 3905 | From USA | Registered: May 2007
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treepatrol
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 4117
posted
Wouldnt be nice if people understood how lonely and painful this disease is? Besides us .
-------------------- Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Remember Iam not a Doctor Just someone struggling like you with Tick Borne Diseases.
posted
There is such untold suffering connected to Lyme, or any chronic illness, for the person and the person's family. It amazes me that the "medical literature" never touches on this subject. The human side is seldom told.
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map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022
posted
Yes, this month has been not been one of my best. I've been experiencing OCD sx in the last few weeks. I've not had these sx in months. I wear myself out just obsessing and trying to organize my life.
It is really hard because of the extra stuff that comes with the season. Mentally it reminds that my 28 yr employer corp America terminated me 4 days before Christmas '02. I suffered working myself for months just so I could get this company thru Christmas season (retailer)and then collapsed Dec 25th '01.
But like Lymetoo says...count your blessings. I am so blessed even though I'm going through lyme & company for the last 7+ yrs. So blessed because I've had/have the best docs and healers come into my life.
Blessed now that I know this is NOT going to kill me. Blessed to be able to do life sometimes now.
Write your blessings Bryan. Then write your wishes for the new year '08. I hope you get ahead of it soon young man. Don't give up.
Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6478 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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ByronSBell 2007
Unregistered
posted
quote:Originally posted by Lymetoo: Try to focus on the good things. You may have to search high and low for the good...but it's there.
My mother passed away 2 yrs ago this Christmas. Seems to be affecting me more this year than the last two.
I'm always thankful of what I have and my family, I guess I should have re-worded it saying, "I always seem to feel terrible around christmas time" Physically
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lymie tony z
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5130
posted
I know I have mentioned many times that the two worst months every year for me are June and December....
disease wise...
This has nothing to do with that fabled Christmas depression....and everything to do with our bug....
for some reason it does something just a little different every six months....and makes us feel lousey when it does.....
some day we may find out what that may be....for now....at least know that there are others that have this six month cycle as well as the monthly symptoms....
zman
-------------------- I am not a doctor...opinions expressed are from personal experiences only and should never be viewed as coming from a healthcare provider. zman Posts: 2527 | From safety harbor florida(origin Cleve., Ohio | Registered: Jan 2004
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map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022
posted
Interesting zman. I wonder if ticks themselves are more active during these 6 mths periods? My last tick attachment was in June '07 and I just removed tick a few days ago again.
Last known tick attachment was May 31st 05. Them nasty sob's.
Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6478 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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Geneal
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10375
posted
Maybe the stress of the holdidays or the family get togethers?
Try to focus on this being the Season of Miracles.
I actually felt pretty darn good last Christmas.
Definitely better than I do right now.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posts: 6250 | From Louisiana | Registered: Oct 2006
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minoucat
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5175
posted
Byron -- All his life, the hubby has not done well in December. It's a SADs (seasonal affective disorder) thing.
Lyme multiplied this effect tenfold. The problem is not the holiday spirit thing per se; the problem is that LD/Co vastly increased hormonal/light deprivation/whatever dysfunction he experiences in the winter months.
Christmas added to it because instead of hibernating, as he naturally would, he was forced into social situations or into expenditures of energy (travelling to family gatherings) that are very hard on him. Christmas became an exercise in misery.
So -- we just don't "do" Christmas any more. We have it quietly at home and communicate with family and friends by phone. It's much, much better this way for everyone.
Rather than trying to force yourself to do what's expected, I recommend accepting that you are currently "Christmas impaired" and adjust your life accordingly.
Let the people you love know you care by phone or mail, tell them you'd love to see them and do things with them but you're under the weather at the moment (no need to make a song and dance about it) and that you'll get together with them as soon as you can.
And don't worry about it too much. The hubby's never going to have a good time at Christmas, unless he moves to the other hemisphere, but as his health has improved his Christmases have gone back to being normally yucky, a vast improvement from being totally miserable.
Jingle jingle, happy holidays, best wishes, and all the rest of that happy horsepatootie --
-------------------- ********************* RECIDITE, PLEBES! Gero rem imperialem! (Stand aside plebians! I am on imperial business.)
AZURE WISH
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 804
posted
I tend to struggle more with the physical symptoms around christmas as well...
For me I know its because I have to overexert myself to the point I know I am asking for a crash to do any of the holiday stuff...
but there is no way around it for me... would help if i could drive... also I am considerably sicker this christmas than last christmas and I dont think people understand exactly how much more difficult the stupidest little things are for me MOST of the time.
Hopefully next year we will all be MUCH better than we are now.
disturbedme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12346
posted
This will be my first Christmas actually knowing I'm sick and being sicker than I was before. And I agree, I've been depressed moreso since the time change and the sun setting earlier.
-------------------- One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~ Helen Keller
My Lyme Story Posts: 2965 | From Land of Confusion (bitten in KS, moved to PA, now living in MD) | Registered: Jun 2007
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Try to focus on this being the Season of Miracles.
I love that!!
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96223 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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sparkle7
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10397
posted
I almost always get ill on my birthday in October. It's really freaky.
I heard somewhere that you are supposed to be physically weaker around the time of your birth.
If SAD is an issue - try to get more sunlight. I think the sun is way better than an electric lamp (if at all possible). I also heard it's good to take alittle more vit. D (since most caucasian types get it from sunlight).
I've been really ill for most of this year - so, it's not much of a difference for me now.
Posts: 7772 | From Northeast, again... | Registered: Oct 2006
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