Weekends and wonderings

Hello and welcome to my first ever Blog!

It's a typical Saturday night in. My husband (G) is sat on one sofa, I on the other, the dog between us and the cat resolutely staying upstairs in her comfy bed refusing to join us. (I can't blame her!) 

Unusually for me, it's nearly 8pm and I haven't had my afternoon nap today. Instead, I resisted in favour of cake and friendship. Always a winner in my eyes. However, it has meant that I am now unable to go out to the concert I planned on going to. I am too sore and tired to even contemplate it.

Welcome to my life! A life of invisible pain and sacrifice some may say, however, I try to fill my days with something challenging and good to take my mind off things.

About 9 years ago, I started with symptoms of RSI in my wrist and right arm. Within a couple of years I had gone from this to Hypermobility Syndrome, Mild scoliosis, lordosis, a bulging disc in my lower back and a 'dogs dinner' for a pelvic area (sacroiliac area). At one point every time I went to the specialists I was given yet another ism  or syndrome to explain my deteriorating health.

These days, I now have spinal degeneration, spinal stenosis, fibromyalgia and early onset osteoarthritis to deal with as well. It has been a hard couple of years both physically and mentally getting used to my body not working as well as I want to but I'm now at a stage where I'm getting into the groove of daily life dealing with it my own way, and slowly coming through the fog to the other side. 

I've come to realised with the help of a few very good friends and the HMSA (www.hypermobility.org) that pacing is the key. I can't do everything, so I concentrate on the stuff that I like and am good at. Unfortunately, this meant giving up a 12 year successful career as a secondary school music teacher last year in favour of private teaching from home. I teach the piano and the flute to a few very unlucky students limited to no more than 90 mins a day total at the moment. If I'm really lucky, I will be able to add to this and increase my hours over the next year but if not, then G and I will have to look at other ideas. I'm also a supply teacher,but I've only done one day so far and that was with no teaching!!

So, this blog is about how I cope, how I  deal with life and the things it throws at me and most importantly the things I love. Baking, Crafting, Cats and Dogs and Music :)

I hope you will join me on my new journey through blogging and I hope you will find it useful if not a bit of fun!

See you soon!

Fliss