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Post by suchamess on Jun 11, 2008 7:35:59 GMT -5
I don't know what is going on with me (I'm chalking it up to hormones due to my recent hysterectomy) but I'm SO unmotivated. I just want to sit on the couch all day, or sleep in.
I haven't touched very much of the house and it really needs it. Where did the motivation I had during recovery go? I thought I'd be all energized ready to take on anything. Instead, I'm feeling blah and tired. I'm also experiencing insomnia.
I'm growing frustrated with myself, but I just don't have the energy. My husband has even expressed his concern over this. He keeps asking if I'm feeling ok.
Ugh. I don't know, how do you make yourself get with it and clean when there's just no energy?
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Post by ramatama on Jun 11, 2008 8:37:41 GMT -5
well i use my silly tricks/ games. Maybe you read them before, as several of us do this: I put on some really good music and tell myself: " tidy up, but when song is over, you stop!" (sometimes i do, sometimes i keep going cause next song is so great.) I trick myself into imagining someone will stop by unannounced in 10 minutes and i do a mad dash. I write a list of 6 things i MUST do, really must, roll a die and let chance decide which job gets done first ....sometimes, which job i really can let slide but all other 5 must be done. I used to do this when DD was small: write tasks on to slips of paper, put those in bowl and pick them out one by one until all got done. Sometimes she and i would trade jobs, if i wasn't feeling like being "meany-mum".  some go to chat and edge (and cajole?) and encourage each other to go do something for 15 min and then get back and say what it was. Incidentally, the low energy you have after operation is NOT uncommon! and yes, hormones do play a role. Are you drinking enough water?  |
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Post by Script on Jun 11, 2008 8:38:46 GMT -5
I don't know, how do you make yourself get with it and clean when there's just no energy? I drift around the house at a snail's pace ("the survival shuffle"). I move one thing at a time. I promise myself a treat (snack, compy, book, telephone, tv) if I just finish 'one more thing'. And I remember these words of wisdom, often quoted here: "Motivation follows action". I have found this to be true, especially when I had to cook/clean or do laundry after surgical procedures (dental, women's problems). Start small: you may be surprised what you can do with a whole series of small things linked together over the course of a day. |
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Post by CourageouslyLion SeeksSerenity on Jun 11, 2008 8:39:18 GMT -5
- 1) "Motivation follows action". I kept reading that on Squalor Survivors and read it here, but it was hard to believe at first. But it's actually true. Pick up one piece of trash. Take a break, then pick up another. Somehow, the motivation follows, even if it is delayed. I don't know why it works, but it does. 2) Try the daily "working in threes" threads on ListZilla. I know the word "list" is scary, but never mind that. Just read the INTRO to any of the working in threes threads, and you'll understand.  |
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Post by puppybox on Jun 11, 2008 13:01:11 GMT -5
I used to go see a movie in the theater by myself. I hightly reccommend this.
now that I'm alsway broke I go for a long walk. Both methods are big mood changers.
Allows me to get out of my head for a while.Then when I come back I feel refreshed and (sometimes) ready to act.
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Post by suchamess on Jun 11, 2008 13:27:05 GMT -5
Hmmm I may not be drinking enough water. In the early stages of recovery, I made sure to drink plenty. Now I'm just ho-hum about it and drink when I feel like it. I'll give the lists a try. Anything is better than nothing...right? |
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Post by moggyfan on Jun 11, 2008 17:09:40 GMT -5
I don't know just how recent your surgery was, but I think you should consider that you may not really be 100% yet. (I know when I had my gall bladder out 10+ years ago, I "recovered" & went back to work in less than a week, but I felt pretty droopy long after that--and of course the gall bladder surgery did not have the added attraction of the hormonal changes). If you are not sleeping well, that is no doubt taking its toll as well.
There's nothing wrong with trying some "tricks" to get yourself moving again on cleaning up a bit, but there may indeed still be a physical reason you are not feeling very energetic. Be kinder to yourself :-)
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Post by sunshineshouse on Jun 12, 2008 9:53:04 GMT -5
I'm sorry that you are not feeling up to par yet. I agree with the others - be kind to yourself. Your body is still healing and the lack of energy could be its signal that you need to take it slow. Do you have a barstool or stepstool kind of chair that you can put in the kitchen so that you can sit at the counter to wash dishes or clean things off the counter? I found that standing was very tiring, but I could sit and do task for a short while. Then rest and go put your feet up for a while. Here's hoping you are feeling better soon. We'll still be here when you are ready for action!
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Post by heylady1 on Jun 12, 2008 14:05:13 GMT -5
I think you're being a little hard on yourself too!! You've recently had surgery, you're not sleeping well, hormones are out of whack......not a good time to beat yourself up about anything! (I am facing the same surgery myself soon so any heads up about it would be appreciated!) How to clean when you have no energy? Best I can think of is to do something really simple. Just put a few dirty clothes in the laundry basket, or put a couple pieces of trash in the garbage can. Make whatever you decide to do fun! Using music like Ramatama suggested is a great idea! Something I like to use is my computer chair. I can scoot around in it and it makes simple chores kinda fun! Like in the kitchen I can scoot over to the table to wipe it down then scoot back to the sink....that kind of thing. Do take care of yourself !! |
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catk102
New Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 11 
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Post by catk102 on Jun 12, 2008 14:17:16 GMT -5
I hvae been reading on the old board for many years but never posted much but I can so relate having myself had a hysterectomy last december.I don't know how long ago yours was but it can take up to a year before you are fully recovered (much like child birth). A website I wanted to share with you is www.hystersisters.com/ it has wonderfull women that are in various stages of recovedry from their hysters and are warm and caring. Trust me they can relate to wanting to sleep all day after all you had MAJOR abdominal surgery. So be kind to yourself |
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Lochmess
New Member
Joined: June 2008
Posts: 55
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Post by Lochmess on Jun 12, 2008 16:12:04 GMT -5
Same for me. In March last year I had a radical hysterectomy, due to cervical cancer. After more than a year since the surgery I'm still very very tired - exhausted - and need to sleep all day. The lack of hormones can play havoc with your mood (let alone motivation), as well as causing insomnia at night. I'm on HRT (Livial - tibolone), and it helps with insomnia, night sweats and hot flashes. Still waiting for a motivation to clean... Not that I had much of that even prior to the surgery, though.  |
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Post by suchamess on Jun 12, 2008 23:23:38 GMT -5
Thanks for the wonderful comments. I suppose I am being too hard on myself. Surgery was the second week of April. I feel good, so I think I should be back to 'normal' even though I know it can take 6 months - 1 year. I'm on Vivelle Dot, so hopefully things will even out soon. My Mom is on her way here tomorrow....so it motivated me today to clean. So far, I've gotten 1 bedroom desqualored, the living room squeaky clean (my kids gasped when they saw it today "Mom it looks brand new!") And have started on my kitchen. 1 load of dishes down, 2 more to go. Countertops are wiped down, and my table and floors need cleaning. It feels good SO good to have my living room so clean. There is nothing in here that shouldn't be. I can see reflections in my hardwood floor. Heck, I forgot I even had hardwoods  . I'm sure I'll pay for this tomorrow, but if I'm stuck on the couch, at least I can admire my hard work. |
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Post by heylady1 on Jun 13, 2008 18:38:09 GMT -5
What an awesome accomplishment!!!  You rock!!!  So how are you feeling today??  |
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Post by suchamess on Jun 13, 2008 19:26:34 GMT -5
I feel really good today I haven't done much in the house today, but what is done looks so good. I may jump back in tomorrow. I dunno. I just don't think I can do anymore today. |
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