Mmmm, I am bursting with energy, so I decide to jump directly into doing my household chores after finishing my coffee. I empty the dishwasher. I vacuum clean and mob all of the downstairs. Still full of energy, I decide to clean the bathroom floor to ceiling. I look at my watch and it is only 11 o'clock. Time for another cup of coffee.
At 12:30 I step into car to meet a friend for lunch at the mall. After having a satisfying meal, my girlfriend and I do some window shopping. Around 3 pm I say goodbye to my friend and go do some grocery shopping. I need to be home round 4 pm as my son returns from school. Once home, I unpack the groceries and start on the evening meal! I love to cook large dinners, today I am planning to make potatoes with meatloaf and gravy and fresh vegetables. My family loves chocolate mouse and I decide to make some fresh for dessert tonight. I prefer to beat the mouse by hand. After dinner, I clean the kitchen and place the dishes in the dishwasher. Time to watch some TV with the family. Satisfied I reflect on the fine day I had!
BEEP BEEP BEEEEEP BEEEEP BEEEEEEEP!
I suddenly realise I am in bed waking up to the most horrible set of sounds. My hand reaches toward the alarm clock, or at least tries to reach the alarm clock, but the shoulder is dislocated and the hand won't reach. In agony I try to support myself on my arm but my elbow bends the wrong way and two of my fingers dislocate. damn I forgot to put my splints back on after washing up last night.
BEEP BEEP BEEEEEP BEEEEP BEEEEEEEP
'O shut up!' I think by myself while I set my shoulder back on its place and finally shut the alarm clock off. I am groggy in my head and my body feels like a train ran over it. I crawl out of bed and stumble toward the stairs. As I reach the stairs, I realise that I must have dislocated my hip during the night and set it back on the right place before I start to descend Mount Everest. Very slowly, one step at a time while supporting myself on the banister. My right knee does not bend and I can't walk like a normal person down the stairs. My hip starts to dislocate and I try to keep my balance. 4 minutes later I finally reach the bottom, happy that I did not dislocate a shoulder. First thing, I put my silver splints back on my fingers and hand. They keep my fingers and thumb from dislocating. Secondly, I take my pain meds, not a paracetamol or an ibuprofen, they don't do the trick anymore, something heavier. My husband already made the coffee and I poor myself a cup, still trying to wake up! I did not sleep very well last night, lots of pain and several dislocating limbs and joints.
After waving everyone off to work or school, I secretly wish that I still could go to work. How I miss the social contact and the satisfaction of working, and not to forget the financial benefits from working. I decide after a while to try and do some chores. I decide to vacuum clean the living room. I have a cleaning person that comes once a week to help with the heavy work such as vacuum cleaning, but sometimes once a week vacuum cleaning is not enough. I get the vacuum out and while pulling it into the living room I hurt my other elbow. Ouch, another large bruise. I start vacuuming, but a pillow is in the way. I bend over to reach for it and I feel my spine slide around, I lose my balance and fall on the ground. While trying to catch myself I dislocate a wrist and some fingers while the hose of the vacuum hits my chin. Pfff I am full bruises, my body aches and I am soooooo tired. I haven't even been busy for 10 minutes and I need to take a rest. Around twelve I am finally finished vacuuming the living: vacuuming, resting, vacuuming. The rest for tomorrow.After eating something, I take a nap. I am exhausted! Around five I start to cook dinner. How I would love to have some simple boiled potatoes, but peeling potatoes is hell for me. I love cooking, but need to be very inventive to be able to cook. Stirring is difficult, beating by hand is exhausting and my joints won't allow it. Somehow I manage to prepare a well cooked meal.
The kids and husband clean the kitchen and put the dishes away for me.
Tomorrow I will do some grocery shopping. That will be my chore of the day! I try to do something everyday!
How I wish that I could do some window shopping with a friend. Too exhausting and too painful. My legs won't carry me very far. For longer distances I need to use an active custom made wheelchair. I usually go do the large shopping with my husband who will push me around. I can wheel myself for a bit, but very often my shoulders will dislocate and strangely my jaw dislocates as well if I push myself to the very outer limit!
I don't look sick and people judge me often very wrongly, but life is not simple and I need to be creative to get things done! Still I don't let it stop me and I get on!
