I'm now that irritating lady driving the speed limit and muttering to herself at all the people tailgating her....."you should have left on time then you wouldn't have to rush.". I never noticed till I slowed down how rushed people are to get to the same red light as me!

I HATE folks being up my butt at a red light. As a professionally trained driver, you are supposed to see the wheels on the car in front of you TOUCH THE GROUND. If you can not see their tires touching the ground, then you are too close! If my car stalls, or I cant move, then, you are STUCK behind me! Plus you make me as nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rockers.

I too dont reach panic attack mode, but I reach that weird cartoonish level of presence. its like I am here, but not here, and my body simply cannot/willnot absorb any more information. I am flinching when folks talk, I am squinting at the lights, and I am just shy of the "im gonna pass out" level. I can still function, but my body makes it really clear to me that its NOT happy. Crowded places, hot places, busy places, or too many folks talking to me at once throw me right off the cliff.

Plus, you give yourself no room to ESCAPE should you need to! With all the whackos running around out there you never know. I leave enough room to be able to swerve around and get in the other lane.

I've noticed over time since being dx'd how S-L-O-W everything has become as well. It took me two days to just dust the living room and kitchen .

The days of completely cleaning the whole house and doing laundry in one day are gone which is unexceptable in my eyes . It is difficult to adjust and except these changes - I so hate this disease.

I know.....it takes a while to get used to not being able to be Super-Mom anymore. I used to be able to work all day, come home and cook dinner, clean most of the house and do several loads of laundry. Just thinking about it wears me out!

Since I'm no longer working I can do a little bit at a time even though I'd much rather get it all done at once. One thing I found helpful was my kitchen timer. I'd set it for twenty minutes and then start doing whatever it was I wanted to get done. When it went off I sat down and rested.....read a magazine or had a glass of tea. I made myself take breaks. I found I lasted longer and at the end of the day I wasn't exhausted or in so much pain I couldn't get comfortable.

It's not easy to get used to and I admit I still overdo it sometimes.

A couple nights ago I watched the Anne of Green Gables trilogy and when reading here, I can sense we're all "kindred spirits". We all seem to wish we were like we used to be, but realize we aren't and try to enjoy and make the best of things. Huh???? You guys probably know what I mean!!!!

Glad to know I'm not the only one that gets completely frazzled with too much noise, commotion, heat, etc. Most people would say today has been a beautiful day, sunny, in the upper 70's, not much humidity, but all I could do was sit here in the house and hurt!! I still hate this disease and what it's done to my life -- what's left of it! The rain must be coming tomorrow or else was in the vicinity today.....hence the pain.

Does anyone have any suggestions in this "department"??? I find it soooo difficult to make myself sit down and pay bills. It's not even a question of money, I just can't seem to concentrate for so long. My CPA has filed an extension for my income taxes.....still haven't gotten the info together. It all seems overwhelming and I used to be the organized, get it done today, kind of person. My adult kids don't live very close plus I really don't want them knowing all my business....is there any organization or something that helps people in this area??

It must be this non-stop pain today, I'm ready to pull my hair out!!!! Being a Christian, I know God is in control, but on a day like today, it sure is hard to understand WHY???? Does He really want us to live like this? Hopefully tomorrow will be better.

That elderly gentleman sounds like a real sweetie, Dej. With a good sense of humor too!

Here's to "kindred spirits"!!!

Oh Judy! I have walked a fair mile in your shoes.

My DH now does the bills, as the last time I was in charge of the bills I got a bouncy check. I paid a bill out of my play account instead of the household account, and didnt have enough to cover. I had bounce protection, but had not bounced a check since I was in my early 20s. That scared me, and I sat the rest of the month scared that more would follow. I simply couldnt focus long enough for it to all be done properly, and so I was allowing things to slide. My credit rating fell by several points by paying bills late, and we decided that enough was enough. I too wouldnt want my kids paying my bills. it would make them worry about me, and its none of their business what I pay for cable.


You can set up "bill pay" or ONLINE payments, that get charged to a single credit card, and that way at the end of the month you only have ONE bill to pay. The credit card. 99% of the business out there today offer online bill pay. Some even take it directly out of your checking account, so you wont have to worry about that credit card payment either if you can arrange it. You may have to hire on a trustworthy teenager who knows how these things work, but it would all be done, and you wouldnt have to count on someone coming twice a month to help you. Maybe one of your kids can help you get it set up in the name of "teaching mom to be current with technology." and that way you dont have to admit to the cog fog. Just want help to be hip.

I am having one of those "get away from me" days. I am expecting the DS today, and possibly the DD, so I am gonna have to find a way to either get above this, or hide it. They worry so.