Comments on: Is it just me? Fibromyalgia and Clutter http://mylifewithfibro.com/Blog/2008/10/07/is-it-just-me-fibromyalgia-and-clutter/ An online haven for people with fibromyalgia. We bring fibrofolks together and encourage members to learn from each other as the My Life with Fibro community strives to raise awareness and raise morale. Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:23:30 +0000 hourly 1 By: Jen http://mylifewithfibro.com/Blog/2008/10/07/is-it-just-me-fibromyalgia-and-clutter/#comment-934 Jen Tue, 23 Nov 2010 14:52:04 +0000 http://mylifewithfibro.com/Blog/?p=224#comment-934 I always try to do a little daily, but it is very hard to keep going at times. Just a little bit a day and eventually it will get better. I always try to do a little daily, but it is very hard to keep going at times. Just a little bit a day and eventually it will get better.

]]> By: Leah http://mylifewithfibro.com/Blog/2008/10/07/is-it-just-me-fibromyalgia-and-clutter/#comment-893 Leah Sat, 04 Sep 2010 23:58:00 +0000 http://mylifewithfibro.com/Blog/?p=224#comment-893 I believe I have had FMS since 1982;I was not diagnosed until 7 years ago. I have always had issues with clutter. But I was 12 when the pain in my knees started. Excuses, excuses, excuses!!!I seem to be able to do good for a while then I relax about it and it goes right back to the way it was, which is a cause of stress for me. I sit here now and look around, but can NOT make myself get started. I wish I knew an easy way to do that.I am so aggravated with it right now though, it won't be long because I will go into a frenzy mode.Which,by the way, doesn't help either.Sorry no advice just thought this was interesting and wanted to comment.Thank you I believe I have had FMS since 1982;I was not diagnosed until 7 years ago. I have always had issues with clutter. But I was 12 when the pain in my knees started. Excuses, excuses, excuses!!!I seem to be able to do good for a while then I relax about it and it goes right back to the way it was, which is a cause of stress for me. I sit here now and look around, but can NOT make myself get started. I wish I knew an easy way to do that.I am so aggravated with it right now though, it won’t be long because I will go into a frenzy mode.Which,by the way, doesn’t help either.Sorry no advice just thought this was interesting and wanted to comment.Thank you

]]> By: Emily http://mylifewithfibro.com/Blog/2008/10/07/is-it-just-me-fibromyalgia-and-clutter/#comment-613 Emily Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:42:11 +0000 http://mylifewithfibro.com/Blog/?p=224#comment-613 I'm actually to opposite! I've always been pretty neat anyway but, I find that in the past few years (I was diagnosed in 2006 but had symptoms since 1998), clutter drives me nuts! I live with my boyfriend, who is a messy roommate and I constantly wonder how to convince him to straighten things up a bit. I love everything to have its place and I feel uncomfy in my own space when stuff is messy. I DO, however, sometimes have flares of messy-ness and YES, it's definitely corollated to my fibro flares. When I'm feeling super gross, I don't care if my house is gross. Plus, I'm more wiped out from daily activities and way less motivated to put anything in its place. I've read that it's really helpful and healthy for fibrofolks to keep their home clutter free. It tends to allow for our aches and pains to fit in easier when everything else is orderly. Does that make any sense? PS- If anybody has hints on how to get a messy guy to put things where they go... I'll take 'em! I’m actually to opposite! I’ve always been pretty neat anyway but, I find that in the past few years (I was diagnosed in 2006 but had symptoms since 1998), clutter drives me nuts! I live with my boyfriend, who is a messy roommate and I constantly wonder how to convince him to straighten things up a bit. I love everything to have its place and I feel uncomfy in my own space when stuff is messy.
I DO, however, sometimes have flares of messy-ness and YES, it’s definitely corollated to my fibro flares. When I’m feeling super gross, I don’t care if my house is gross. Plus, I’m more wiped out from daily activities and way less motivated to put anything in its place.
I’ve read that it’s really helpful and healthy for fibrofolks to keep their home clutter free. It tends to allow for our aches and pains to fit in easier when everything else is orderly. Does that make any sense?
PS- If anybody has hints on how to get a messy guy to put things where they go… I’ll take ‘em!

]]> By: Julia http://mylifewithfibro.com/Blog/2008/10/07/is-it-just-me-fibromyalgia-and-clutter/#comment-328 Julia Wed, 20 May 2009 03:50:59 +0000 http://mylifewithfibro.com/Blog/?p=224#comment-328 Never thought about it. I've always been clutterful. I know as my symptoms have gotten worse, I am less motivated to clean. With my job went my cleaning lady. It was tough. Never thought about it. I’ve always been clutterful. I know as my symptoms have gotten worse, I am less motivated to clean. With my job went my cleaning lady. It was tough.

]]> By: perpetualspiral http://mylifewithfibro.com/Blog/2008/10/07/is-it-just-me-fibromyalgia-and-clutter/#comment-327 perpetualspiral Wed, 20 May 2009 03:50:52 +0000 http://mylifewithfibro.com/Blog/?p=224#comment-327 Oh I so have clutter. Cuz I like to have everything within reach so I don't have to get up, but then getting up is an obstacle course because everything is all around! LOL. And, tidying and cleaning take energy and a certain low pain level, don't they. Clutter makes me feel even more weighed down on top of the fibro, but sometimes we just have to live with it because our health is more important :) Oh I so have clutter. Cuz I like to have everything within reach so I don’t have to get up, but then getting up is an obstacle course because everything is all around! LOL. And, tidying and cleaning take energy and a certain low pain level, don’t they. Clutter makes me feel even more weighed down on top of the fibro, but sometimes we just have to live with it because our health is more important :)

]]> By: K8 http://mylifewithfibro.com/Blog/2008/10/07/is-it-just-me-fibromyalgia-and-clutter/#comment-316 K8 Wed, 13 May 2009 16:51:25 +0000 http://mylifewithfibro.com/Blog/?p=224#comment-316 Fibrowriter: The 15 minute rule is alive and well in our home. We'll set a timer or turn on a song and race to see how much we can get done before it's over. Lodge Girl: Touch it once is the way to go, though I struggle sticking with the rule. I'm working on a follow-up to address how I manage my clutter issues. Amy: If I'm honest with myself, I too have little tolerance for clutter. I believe it overwhelms me and worsens my symptoms. Every time I step foot in a bathroom I ponder hiring a cleaning lady. How do you like it? Cindy: So true. I've been on a donation rampage these past few weeks... getting rid of all sorts of items. It feels wonderful. Miranda: I understand your struggle find the strength and energy. I've scheduled my, what I call "Martha Stewart" or "MS" time... every Tuesday from 6-8. That's my time for household chores and organization. The routine has made it fun and doable. And if I don't get it all done it overflows to Saturday morning, when my husband and I will work on the list together. Maybe you and your sweetie can have a family meeting and setup a system for household chores? I bet your kids will understand you need their help and step up to help. And everyone craves a routine. Good luck! Let me know what you figure out works for your family. Fibrowriter: The 15 minute rule is alive and well in our home. We’ll set a timer or turn on a song and race to see how much we can get done before it’s over.

Lodge Girl: Touch it once is the way to go, though I struggle sticking with the rule. I’m working on a follow-up to address how I manage my clutter issues.

Amy: If I’m honest with myself, I too have little tolerance for clutter. I believe it overwhelms me and worsens my symptoms. Every time I step foot in a bathroom I ponder hiring a cleaning lady. How do you like it?

Cindy: So true. I’ve been on a donation rampage these past few weeks… getting rid of all sorts of items. It feels wonderful.

Miranda: I understand your struggle find the strength and energy. I’ve scheduled my, what I call “Martha Stewart” or “MS” time… every Tuesday from 6-8. That’s my time for household chores and organization. The routine has made it fun and doable. And if I don’t get it all done it overflows to Saturday morning, when my husband and I will work on the list together. Maybe you and your sweetie can have a family meeting and setup a system for household chores? I bet your kids will understand you need their help and step up to help. And everyone craves a routine. Good luck! Let me know what you figure out works for your family.

]]> By: Miranda http://mylifewithfibro.com/Blog/2008/10/07/is-it-just-me-fibromyalgia-and-clutter/#comment-307 Miranda Wed, 13 May 2009 04:50:04 +0000 http://mylifewithfibro.com/Blog/?p=224#comment-307 OMG! I'm glad to know it's NOT JUST ME!! I was starting to think I was crazy or something. I too have a terrible time with clutter. And I hate a messy house! But I have more bad days than good and most of the time I just don't have the strength or energy to clean it up. I hate it too because my husband just thinks I'm lazy or something and he gripes when he comes home to the same mess. If he only had a clue! (I wish I could get him to understand how debilitating FMS truly is!) But it's gotten to the point that when we have visitors show up unannounced, we will meet them outside because I am embarrassed to let them see the mess. I hate that because I want to be able to have friends and family come over for dinner or just to visit. I do have days when I have less pain and more energy and I do take advantage of them. But it seems those days are getting fewer and further between. I too was not was this way when I was a teenager living at home. I always tried to keep my room clean and neat. That's why it drives me nuts to see things laying around that should be in the trash or in it's proper place. There's some days when even if I'm hurting really bad, I just get disgusted and can't take it anymore and will find myself trying to get around the house picking up stuff, only to regret it later because it brings more pain on my body. What frustrates me the most about this is that I have 3 kids old enough to help out and I'm like "HELLO! I could use a little help here!" But I'm afraid it's teaching them to think that if Mom doesn't have to do it, they don't have to do it. So they attribute to the clutter because they just leave their things laying everywhere and they won't pick up after themselves! It is driving me crazy and I don't know what to do. OMG! I’m glad to know it’s NOT JUST ME!! I was starting to think I was crazy or something. I too have a terrible time with clutter. And I hate a messy house! But I have more bad days than good and most of the time I just don’t have the strength or energy to clean it up. I hate it too because my husband just thinks I’m lazy or something and he gripes when he comes home to the same mess. If he only had a clue! (I wish I could get him to understand how debilitating FMS truly is!) But it’s gotten to the point that when we have visitors show up unannounced, we will meet them outside because I am embarrassed to let them see the mess. I hate that because I want to be able to have friends and family come over for dinner or just to visit.

I do have days when I have less pain and more energy and I do take advantage of them. But it seems those days are getting fewer and further between. I too was not was this way when I was a teenager living at home. I always tried to keep my room clean and neat. That’s why it drives me nuts to see things laying around that should be in the trash or in it’s proper place. There’s some days when even if I’m hurting really bad, I just get disgusted and can’t take it anymore and will find myself trying to get around the house picking up stuff, only to regret it later because it brings more pain on my body.

What frustrates me the most about this is that I have 3 kids old enough to help out and I’m like “HELLO! I could use a little help here!” But I’m afraid it’s teaching them to think that if Mom doesn’t have to do it, they don’t have to do it. So they attribute to the clutter because they just leave their things laying everywhere and they won’t pick up after themselves! It is driving me crazy and I don’t know what to do.

]]> By: Cindy http://mylifewithfibro.com/Blog/2008/10/07/is-it-just-me-fibromyalgia-and-clutter/#comment-266 Cindy Sun, 05 Apr 2009 22:29:37 +0000 http://mylifewithfibro.com/Blog/?p=224#comment-266 Clutter sucks more energy from you. When you aren't flaring, it will help to get rid of clutter. If you haven't used it in 6 months-1 year.....get rid of it. You will be surprised how little you will miss. Clutter sucks more energy from you. When you aren’t flaring, it will help to get rid of clutter. If you haven’t used it in 6 months-1 year…..get rid of it. You will be surprised how little you will miss.

]]> By: Raven http://mylifewithfibro.com/Blog/2008/10/07/is-it-just-me-fibromyalgia-and-clutter/#comment-224 Raven Thu, 26 Feb 2009 22:04:46 +0000 http://mylifewithfibro.com/Blog/?p=224#comment-224 Cleaning definitely dropped on my priority list once I developed fibro. You couldn't make me make my bed these days even if I felt good. It's not dirty, it's messy and that's how I prioritize any cleaning that does get done. Messy doesn't count. And if I'm having a flare, my clothes don't seem to make it to the hamper. They stay in the bathroom where I took them off along with my shoes. I order out a lot or through some pre-prepared foods into the oven on those days too. Cleaning definitely dropped on my priority list once I developed fibro. You couldn’t make me make my bed these days even if I felt good. It’s not dirty, it’s messy and that’s how I prioritize any cleaning that does get done. Messy doesn’t count. And if I’m having a flare, my clothes don’t seem to make it to the hamper. They stay in the bathroom where I took them off along with my shoes. I order out a lot or through some pre-prepared foods into the oven on those days too.

]]> By: hagar's daughter http://mylifewithfibro.com/Blog/2008/10/07/is-it-just-me-fibromyalgia-and-clutter/#comment-223 hagar's daughter Thu, 26 Feb 2009 07:22:53 +0000 http://mylifewithfibro.com/Blog/?p=224#comment-223 I thought it was just me! I have a low tolerance for clutter, but can't seem to get a handle on it since fibro diagnosis 8 years ago. I thought it was just me! I have a low tolerance for clutter, but can’t seem to get a handle on it since fibro diagnosis 8 years ago.

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