"7 Challenging Daily Decisions When You Live With Chronic Illness" https://themighty.com/topic/chronic-illness/challenging-daily-decisions-with-chronic-illness/ Here are the 7 headings. The article itself expands on these 1. Deciding if you’re going to take a shower. 2. Deciding where to spend and save your spoons. 3. Deciding how to answer “How are you?” 4. Deciding how to respond to “I hope you feel better soon!” 5. Deciding if you’re actually able to do ‘The Thing.’ 6. Deciding how much social interaction you can handle. 7. Deciding when to ask for help. Author info: "Before I was diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) —and fibromyalgia, and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) ..." Some extracts: --- "Now that I’m living with chronic illness, I have to put serious consideration into much of what I choose to do throughout the day because it will have an immediate effect on Current Leslie, as well as risk having an impact on Future Leslie." --- "On the days that I decide I don’t have the recovery time or overall energy to take a shower, I give myself a baby wipe bath (which is just wiping myself down with a bunch of baby wipes), apply dry shampoo to my hair, and throw a little cold water on my face." --- "Spoon delegation isn’t always about the things you have to get done on your task list. Sometimes it’s about making the decision to put those spoons toward an activity you enjoy for your mental health — even if it means you’re going to be a little smelly — that’s what deodorant and body sprays are for!" --- "But when those plans involve other people, the stress and guilt felt by having to tell them you don’t feel well enough to participate can be overwhelming."
For me 'showering' is important for my well-being. I feel awful if I feel dirty or smelly. I like feeling clean. Rather than messing about with wet wipes etc I find it just as 'easy' to step into the bath, sit down, soap my bits and then rinse off with the hand held shower attachment. Quick dry with a towel and then put a towelling robe on. In the winter in particular when it's cold or if I'm in pain, the hot water is also bliss. So to me, well worth the energy expenditure. (Just to clarify tho', I don't feel 'invigorated', just comfy and clean).
