I never looked into transport for the disabled before...thanks for the tip. I keep hoping that we will find something that gets the blurry vision and dizziness under control enough that I can drive a car again. Car rides are not fun (that vibrating thing again) but the freedom to leave the house would be so wonderful again.

I do listen to audiobooks a lot and I do find them helpful in distracting me (you can only watch so much tv, you know?). Next time I'll try putting the headphones in and see if that helps.

Today we have crazy wind storms...I do not want to leave the couch and my nice warm set up. But I can hear the wind really whipping around out there. We haven't got plastic up on the windows yet so even in the house is a little breezy. Have I mentioned how much I love my space heater? The thing is such a blessing in times like this.

Hi Catra121,
I feel for you. I have just had the last 4 weeks of hammering and having our condos balconies replaced. They had to hammer at them to get them apart and then back together again. I thought I was going to die. It started at 8:00 am and went until 5 PM every day with only a half hour lunch break!!! My dog, cat, and myself would all climb into my bed once they started lunch and just crash for about 45 mins until they started again. It was horrible. Also, I live off a main road (that has been closed further down due to extensive bridge construction for a year) and I am soo happy it is closed. I wish it would stay closed forever! Normally, I get 5-6 times a day every day sirens screaming up and down the road as the police dept is about a mile away. Then, add the motorcycles and the bass from radios...sometimes I want to lose my mind. And oh I have condos above me and last week one of them had their 3 year old grandson running nonstop for three days. I love kids but I wanted to smack that kid. I like everyone else hate noise. Oh and I have a home aid that loves to talk nonstop when she gets here. I am going to talk to her about my needs and what I need her not to do tomorrow. SHould be fun. lol.I guess some aids feel a need to talk nonstop as to entertain me but after 6 plus years of being by myself most of it I enjoy peace and quiet not to mention the noise drives my rsd crazy. Ok my two cents...but I do feel for you. I have always said I wanted to move out in the middle of nowhere in the AZ desert by myself and now it sounds real good to me;.)
Take care.
Kathy d

OH MY, Kathy! Your post made me smile. My cleaning lady is hyper and wants too chat a mile a minute. I feel like I have to entertain her or she pouts. I know she thinks she's doing me a favor, due to my isolation. I've moved somewhere quiet and live alone because it's easier on me physically. The upside is she's fast and thorough, so I continue to put up with it, because she does make my life easier the rest of the week. Some days I just have to go hide from her though...

Another oddball tip...Entertainment based on pain level. If you're sympathetic system is hypersensitive, you might play around with more mellow forms of entertainment as your pain increases.

1. low to mid-level pain
I hate watching commercial tv. The sounds and flashing lights during the breaks exacerbate really bug me. There is so much incredible commercial free programming available via Netflix for $9 a month, so I just stream to my bluray player or to my laptop most of the time.

I read more difficult literature.

2. mid-level pain
I watch older movies or more sedate tv (think BBC mini series) that have fewer jump cuts (an editing device) which I find easier to watch when my pain is aggravated.

I switch to reading trashier fiction.

3. high-level pain
I take a hot bath with Epson Salts and read or listen to audio books, NPR, new age music (don't laugh, it IS soothing), or guided meditation. Luckily my tub is shallow enough to keep me from drowning when I fall asleep (well at least so far)...

Oh my...that would all drive me CRAZY! I guess I should count myself lucky that at least the roadwork won't last forever. I guess I never thought much about talkative people flaring up my RSD...but then I've always been sort of shy and when I've been in social situations with the RSD I just thought it was the energy of being around people in general that was screwing me up. My boyfriend and I are both pretty quiet people so I've never had to really deal with that on a regular basis. I hope you are able to make the home aid understand what you need/don't need from her. Good luck.

I think that might be something that I have done without really knowing it. I have days where tv in general is fine (though I am mostly sick of it now and only watch a handful of shows...greatly prefer the ones without commercials and try to watch them on Demand as much as possible if they are on networks with commercials).

But some days I prefer listening to music and just chilling out (hot bath is a must at those times). Most days are spent trying to do some stitching and listening to books though (at least when I am alone), with breaks throughout the day to check the internet when my hands just can't take the stitching anymore.

But I suppose I should try to look at it closer and get a better handle on why I do these things on certain days. Some days I just can't focus on a darned thing and since I am not very mobile just bounce from one thing to the next. Those are generally some of my worst days.

I have such a hard time reading anything these days and concentrating on what I am trying to read. I can do okay with stuff that I have read before in my pre-RSD days (mostly because I already know what's going on and what's going to happen)...but new things are much more difficult. But I think the stitching gives me sort of the same effect as reading, in that I have to concentrate on something (not to mention it is a good way to keep moving my hands...physical therapist said it is great exercise for me).

Thanks, everyone for all your help. I'm willing to try anything to help me get through these rough days, and every little thing I can add to my arsenal is a big win. Thanks.

This is a vent.
I went out for dinner today and the cold air was a killer. I have a 4 inch plate in my left wrist and it got cold and transferred it to my bones and the pain was intense. The cold seems to bother me more this year and the winter isn't even here yet. I'm really in for it this year. I agree with KathyD about the middle of the dessert is starting to sound good.
The RSD has spread to my left lower leg and foot and walking with my cane was a chore. Looks like until my motorized wheelchair arrives I'll be staying in...

Catra, now that I think about it, I get much greater enjoyment out of reading books series back to back, then when a new book is released every 6-12 months. And the same with tv series. In fact, I tend to wait till a series ends before starting it. And this is definately a quirk that's developed post RSD. It's as if one part of my brain needs something challenging, but another needs the comfort of familiarity. So I tend to reread Austen and then watch every variation ever made, and then when I'm beyond miserable--I'll listen to the audiobook. And so on.

I do think we tend to adapt naturally, but if you can reflect on the patterns that give you comfort, then you can maximize relief when you need it. Try taking your bath in candlelight with comforting music, or better yet an audiobook on breath work. It's so relaxing it's like getting a massage for me! Separately they all help, but together, the relief is compounded. But I might just be a freak...

jimbo,
I know the feeling, both ankles and left wrist. My rollabout is becoming more difficult to maneuver. (but I keep pressing in)
Trying to convince hubby we need to take a trip to arizona

If fmichael would just hurry up and get that grant for us to start an RSD colony in the South Pacific, you could be warm every day!

Kidding aside, property in Scottsdale is CHEAP right now. There are other spots as well. Having you and the wife considered becoming snowbirds? Think of all the jalapeños you could eat in AZ!