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Post by Rennie Ellen on Jun 17, 2008 18:31:50 GMT -5
I'm still trying to figure that one out....my doctor wants me to do absolutely nothing until I'm over this colitis flareup (going into week 4  ). But doing absolutely nothing is driving me crazy!  I can only do nothing so much!  I'm doing 3 small things a day to try to keep my living room from going into a full-blown stage 1, but I feel it's like trying to empty the Pacific Ocean with a teaspoon. I can see it get worse every day. I can't get anyone to help me because it's the summer and everyone's doing their own thing. I can't afford help and I don't qualify for medicaid home health care because "I'm not disabled enough." So it's pretty much me, myself and I. (A motley crew!  ) The kitchen is OK while the bathroom is a mess for obvious reasons. 
Will doing 3 small things a day help maintain? I'm open to any and all suggestions from those who have been there, done that.
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Post by mouse on Jun 17, 2008 18:51:28 GMT -5
I haven't been where you are, but maybe you could just focus on not adding to the mess That is, whatever you pull out, you put right back the moment you're done, wash your plate as soon as you've finished eating, etc.
That way at least it won't get worse until you're able to get up and at 'em again.
Hope your flare un-flares soon!
~Mouse
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Post by messysue on Jun 17, 2008 20:54:15 GMT -5
I agree with mouse. ETE!! Can you do some pick up or sorting while sitting on the couch? Or at least group like things together until you're better? I haven't been where you are, but maybe you could just focus on not adding to the mess That is, whatever you pull out, you put right back the moment you're done, wash your plate as soon as you've finished eating, etc. That way at least it won't get worse until you're able to get up and at 'em again. Hope your flare un-flares soon! ~Mouse |
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Post by moggyfan on Jun 17, 2008 21:12:38 GMT -5
Just from curiosity (because I don't know the answer, not because I am questioning the treatment), why does bedrest help colitis?
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Post by Rennie Ellen on Jun 17, 2008 23:12:34 GMT -5
Moggyfan,Just from curiosity (because I don't know the answer, not because I am questioning the treatment), why does bedrest help colitis?
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Post by margarita on Jun 17, 2008 23:16:20 GMT -5
Ideas: (Projects) To help while you are in bed, so you won't get bored to death - Go through old magazines and catalogs, read and toss Read any unread books you've been meaning to get to Sort photographs Organize jewelry box Organize sock drawer Clean and organize your purse and wallet Go through filing a section at a time Go through grocery coupons and throw out expired ones Do any hand sewing or mending that is needed Brush Angel and curl up with her Defrag, run scan disk - virus scan, spyware scan PC Organize Bookmarks/Favorites on computer Do Windows Updates, update any older programs that may have newer versions, such as Firefox Maintenance: Just minimal, no major cleaning - only putting things away as you use them, and light straightening up of the bathroom, etc No heavy work at all if you are supposed to be on bed rest. You will need to let it go for now. I would just do minor straightening up, nothing major. And, just a little at a time. No scrubbing floors, etc. Working in threes should be very helpful right now. Pick light, easy to do projects such as the ones listed above. Hope you feel better soon  Margarita |
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Post by metamorpha on Jun 17, 2008 23:27:50 GMT -5
I think it's amazing that you're dealing with such a cruddy illness and still focused on maintaining your house, Rennie. Do you have anything like county health or Catholic/Lutheran charities in your area? They might have services to help.
Good luck.
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Post by Mystic Pegasus on Jun 18, 2008 1:31:04 GMT -5
This is the kind of time you wish we all lived near each other... or had one of those transporters like on Star Trek! Then we could all get stuck in and help in times of need.
We all know what it's like- we've lived it to some degree or other- so those who need help wouldn't need to be ashamed or concerned. Not that it sounds like you're at that stage Rennie Ellen, but every time someone is in panic mode or needs help I wish I could rush right out and help...
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Post by Rennie Ellen on Jun 18, 2008 10:24:54 GMT -5
Messysue,I agree with mouse. ETE!! Can you do some pick up or sorting while sitting on the couch? Or at least group like things together until you're better? 
I'm sorting while sitting in my recliner. That way if I get tired, I can take a nap when needed and I can start again when I wake up!
I've also cleaned out my purse, updated my checkbook, paid bills, sorted magazines, and loved on Angel a lot! Daytime TV is just awful so I'll watch a video, read a book, get on the computer, or just....sleep.
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Post by creativechaos on Jun 19, 2008 15:20:21 GMT -5
WTG, Rennie Ellen for getting lots of details done! I like all of Margarita's ideas too; there's still so much we can do even while resting, and the more we do of it, the more we reduce the stress!
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Post by mouse on Jun 19, 2008 17:19:44 GMT -5
RennieEllen,
ETE = Erase The Evidence
It's a Squalor Survivors term (if I recall correctly), which refers specifically to the act of maintaining by picking up immediately after oneself. That is, if I make a bowl of microwave popcorn and pour myself a drink, once I'm done I put away the box of popcorn, throw away the paper bag, put away the container from which I got my drink, and make sure that the two dishes I used are washed and put away. Thus, there is no evidence left behind that I ever had popcorn and a drink, even if the rest of my place is a shambles.
~Mouse
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Post by eaglesflight on Jun 20, 2008 11:16:09 GMT -5
One could make the argument that if being on bedrest prevents you from picking up after yourself causes more mental stress to you then actually doing the picking up, that it would be excusable to do the small things, as mouse suggests, to erase the evidence. I suppose that you are getting up often enough to feed yourself, dress yourself, etc? I think that just taking the small amount of time to ETE even without doing anything extra woulod at least keep the cleanliness level from backsliding.
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Post by Rennie Ellen on Jun 20, 2008 15:25:30 GMT -5
Mouse and Eagle,
Thanks for explaining about ETE. I have one plate, one bowl, one spoon, one fork, one glass, and one small saucepan in the dish drainer. Those are the things I use for meals (yogurt, canned soup, carrot, papaya and coconut juice) and I wash them immediately after use in the sink filled with hot soapy water.
And today I worked on the bathroom floor by just pushing a wet soapy rag around with my feet while seated on the "throne". It's not perfect, but it looks a lot better than it did (my accidents plus Angel's hairballs  ). When I feel better, I'll get the floor behind the toilet. And I'm Febrezing the bathroom every time I go. Unfortunately, one of the bad things about this is the smell.
And laundry! Ugh! I wash what gets messed up by my "accidents" immediately. It gets frustrating and embarrassing (yes, even home alone it's embarrassing) when I do this 6-10 times a day.  During flareups I wear my rattiest sweats and undies because wearing my nice stuff during a flareup is just inviting trouble. But so far I'm doing fine....I just hate having the bowel functions of a baby.
Sorry for complaining....I've had this for 30 years and I'm SO SO SO tired of it.
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