posted
I am living in CHAOS and can't take it any longer.
CHAOS = Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome.
Translation: My lymie house is just too darned messy and I am too embarrased to have anyone see it.
For the last few months or so I have been getting more and more tired and I have NO energy to clean. My house is getting cluttered and I can barely keep up with just dishes and laundry. Today I did not answer the doorbell because the house was so messy I couldn't dare open the door to welcome someone in.
Lyme has made me a terrible housekeeper, and I HATE it! I used to keep a very clean and organized home. Somehow through this disease process I have lost my organizational skills and desire to clean.
Yesterday I spent 1.5 hrs. looking for an important paper because I couldn't remember where I put it. I did, however, find the missing remote control. I cannot tell you how many times I am late for appointments now because I can't find a kids' shoe, or the keys or whatever. Getting out the door is just complete chaos!
PLEASE - can anyone can give me some tips on how a sick lymie can keep a better house (with 2 kids at home)? Sadly, the will and energy is just not there.
I hate coming home to my home now because it just doesn't look inviting any more. Since lyme I have developed terrible habits. For example, I used to take off my clothes and put them immediately in either the whites or colored clothes hamper. Now I just throw them on the bedroom floor and when the laundry fairy doesn't come and I run out of clean clothes I have to do laundry. Another example is dirty dishes that sit on the counter..... way too long. Gross, I know.
Yikes. Help me find some get up and Go or my family will get up and be GONE!
I am overwhelmed!
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Carol B
Unregistered
posted
Gosh- wish I could give you some good tips-but I'm right there with you! It's truly embarassing and depressing how cluttered and even dirty our house has gotten. Every once in a while i will get a burst of energy and clean something.
And my "kids" are teenagers, perfectly able to help in some way, but they can barely do their own laundry and dishes.
In fact, instead of having compassion and inspiration to help, they openly declare that they HATE lyme disease , don't want me to talk about it, and I am just on a big pity party as far as they are concerned, so they just leave out and hang with their friends.
I get stuck, knowing what needs to be done, but don't have the energy to follow through, so I mostly wind up just thinking about what needs to be done.
I'm even too embarrassed (and poor) to have someone come in to clean for me. It sucks. So even though I can't give you any helpful hints- I can identify with how you are feeling.
I remember the days when all was well, and just pray that some day I get back to where I belong. This is not a place, in Lymeville, that I want to be.
This is an on-going problem for me. It's so hard to dig out after years of build-up. I get started but something always seems to interupt my getting very far.
Just read an article in the paper that said clutter=stress=diminshed health and risk of premature death so getting ahold of this would we wonderful for lots of reasons. Also wonderful for family relationships!
There is something called "Messy Anonymous" that publishes books and a newsletter and there are actually classes on de-cluttering offered at some adult-ed programs. Some places even have people who will come in to liberate you from your clutter but it often seems to be at a hefty fee.
The energy it takes, difficulty sorting into categories, difficulty avoiding distractions, tendonitis/carpal tunnel and other mobility issues make housekeeping a huge challenge for many Lyme patients!
There is a wonderful incentive right now though to plunge in to de-clutter. See Kay Mass's threads on the e-bay fund-raiser now taking place.
I started going through a couple of boxes and was rewarded by finding things I really like and forgotten all about as well as things to toss.
I try to remember to wear cotton gloves and a mask or kerchief over my nose since I'm sensitive to dust.
Maybe we should have a contest here to see who can throw out the most paper bags full of stuff? Maybe even post before and after pix of a desk or table or corner of a room, or closet. What do you think?
One tip that I can think of is to put on some energizing music to get you going.
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posted
I am right there with you. My house looks like the toy box and the closets threw up.
Totally relate the only thing I do try to keep up with is the dishes, and I am not always successful at that.
The only thing we can do is try our best. Carol you should kick your kids in the A**. Mine are only 8 & 3 and at least they try to help me.
Blessings, and wishes for a magic wand for all of us to wave our mess away.
Love & Light, Yemaya Posts: 188 | From NM | Registered: Feb 2006
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5dana8
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7935
posted
Hey Snowfake
Sorry about the house in chaos. I used to clean house's for a living , pre-lyme. There was this handicapped person who I would help clean, help organize his house,laundry ect..
If I had the funds I would definetly try to hire someone to come in and help. Maybe if the funds are low every 2 weeks. Best to ask around and also get as many personal recommendations/references as possible.
Or as yemma suggested try kicking your kids into helping. But if this is not possible than maybe try to find someone to help.
Take care
-------------------- 5dana8 Posts: 4432 | From some where over the rainbow | Registered: Sep 2005
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lymie tony z
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5130
posted
I really would like to talk to those teens who won't help and are repulsed by your illness...
with my foot!
Anyway...if hubby is not an option....
try your church....there sould be a number of good christian boys or girls or even adults who will lend a hand....FREE!
I know I know....but your pride won't get the work done!
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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Andie333
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7370
posted
Boy, can I related to this thread!
For about 18 months, I've stacked stuff on top of stuff along with even more stuff.
When I was at my sickest, I was just too sick to care about how it all looked and could have cared less about anyone coming over. In fact, I completely discouraged that.
But now that I've started getting better and rebuilding my life, I find all this chaos and disorganization completely embarrassing and overwhelming.
What's helped me a bit is taking very very small steps: so far this summer, I've donated four bags of clothes to purple heart. And I've tossed out several bags of mss papers and things I "meant" to read --- a year ago or longer.
What's made this important for me now is that my Mom really wants to come up and visit. I discouraged this for a year, because things were just too far out of control. Now, I don't really have any excuses. Plus, she's 80, so it seems downright disrespectful for me to say no.
The trouble is that she's a white-glove person, meticulous about clearning and completely intolerant of dust or (this especially) clutter. While she claims to understand how sick I've been and the general toll it's taken on my life, I don't think she would really be sympathetic to the state of things around here.
Not sure what to do and would welcome any suggestions. As Carol said, there's so much mess it's hard for me to even consider having someone come in to clean.
Sigh.
Andie
Posts: 2549 | From never never land | Registered: May 2005
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posted
Thanks for sharing your challenges as well.
My plan is to begin doing a major decluttering first before I can get to the deeper cleaning.
GARAGE SALE: August 5th
Let the fun begin!!!!!! I found this great website www.flylady.com that talks about decluttering and cleaning issues. I am going to be a flybaby and take baby steps. Won't you join me????
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5dana8
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7935
posted
Just a thought:
You may want to try and tackle just one stack at a time. Even if it's one stack a week at your own pace.
This way over time you can widdle down and get organized. Looking at everything at once can be overwhelming.
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mlkeen
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1260
posted
Having been there and am slowly sorting through the clutter, I agree with Dana, especially if your energy level is low.
I would clean out one draw, one pile, or stack each week. It was always the day before trash day. It did give me a feeling of having accomplished something at least between my naps.
Posts: 1572 | From Pa | Registered: Jun 2001
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char
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8315
posted
Hi Chaos,
I can relate to the mess. My teens are sick,too. So it is hard to even try to get them to help with their ups and downs.
Teenagers! Just now I was joking with my 15yr old. She is reading book on couch and I am cleaning the kitchen.
We are talking about how you never know which part of body will act up during herx. She says- my foot is killing me! It is hurting, but she is joking about it. I joke back- my BUTT is killing me!
She says, Look at you! You are there loading the dishwasher-you have all KINDS of energy.
posted
The book that Opti. mentioned above, "Home Comforts" really turns housekeeping into an aesthetic pursuit. It makes for inspiring reading even if you are not up to doing much at the time. I think it is at least 500 pages, but you can just dip into it and imagine yourself in such blissfully tranquil, cared-for ordered surroundings as is described.
-------------------- "Help Or Be Helpless" Please visit "Activism" board daily. See the threads regarding the IDSA Guidelines crisis and the threads about Dr. Charles Ray Jones and decide how best to help today! Posts: 1265 | From does not list | Registered: Jun 2004
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posted
One thing I would suggest about buying boxes, folders, etc.: Look for items that don't out-gas formaldehyde or plastic fumes. I am convinced that one of the reasons Lyme patients do worse in Dec. and Jan. is the formaldehyde from the holiday boxes. Being wintertime it is usually too cold to have the windows open to bring in more fresh air which would help to diminish the buildup. You may have to look in a store that sells archival materials to find something ok. Yes, they are more expensive.
Otherwise try letting the boxes air out for a while in the sun or finding some "gently used" ones. Sun the latter too to make sure you kill any bug eggs before you bring the boxes into the house.
-------------------- "Help Or Be Helpless" Please visit "Activism" board daily. See the threads regarding the IDSA Guidelines crisis and the threads about Dr. Charles Ray Jones and decide how best to help today! Posts: 1265 | From does not list | Registered: Jun 2004
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