I think that this is something that we all struggle with a lot. I schedule my hair washing for days when I'm not going out. I use a shower chair, I let it air dry for awhile and then sit on a stool to dry it. In between hair washing, I rely on dry shampoo which does a very good job.

As far as make up goes, I might throw on some mascara and a lip gloss but that is about it. I don't squander what little energy that I do have on incidentals. I have to prioritize. Getting groceries or gas is more important than mucking around with foundation etc.

Have you tried using a sublingual B12 with folic acid for better absorption? It could give you an energy boost to get through basic tasks. You can use B12 during the day as it will be expelled in your urine. I find it very helpful.

I figure that if I'm showered and look half way decent that will have to do. No one else walks in my shoes. If they want to judge that is their problem and not mine. Take care.

I used to shower every day, put on makeup when I went out and did my hair. Now, I may or may not shower before I go to the grocery store on Saturdays, I wear a little makeup if I just look too tired that people will think I'm on drugs, and usually put my hair in a ponytail on the weekends. I agree, it's just too difficult to do all that stuff every day.

Susan

I shower daily, but I take short dang showers. My hair is long so it's usually in some updo-type thing with a hair tie anyway, especially in summer, so that's "normal", but for make-up... Tinted moisturizer, tinted lip balm, mascara, done, and not every day. That's always been the case, fo rme, however.

I tend to wear very "shlumpy" clothes, b/c my scars act up if irked by seams in something like blue jeans, but honestly, I go out so rarely other than therapy and medical stuff... Where I want them to see me looking as rotten as I feel!....

Another trick, from when I was bedridden and had to e held in the shower by Hubby, was to fill the sink with a small amoutn of very soapy water, soak it up with a washcloth, and rub down forehead to toes with that, then only *rinse* in the shower. As I've aged, my hair is less oiliy, so I can get away with washing twice a week *whew*.

Luck an dblessings.

Join the club. I'm in the club, that's for sure. Lately I've had to shower before bed because if I don't I won't go out at all the next day, because in the morning it seems too much to shower AND dress AND go out. And for the first time I've neglected to color my hair for several months. I hate seeing the gray, but I don't have the strength to stand or hold my arms up to color it, and I hate salons with all of the chemical odors. It's bad enough when I do it and have that one chemical odor, which lasts on my hair for a few washings. I also have a very persistent problem with one eye that my so-called doctor is not helping. A weird inflammation. He has tried everything one can think of, and the eye is still swollen. The eye doctor says he can't see it. Well, he needs HIS eyes examined. I saw a man the other day whom I haven't seen in months and he immediately asked, what's wrong with your eye? So if almost-strangers can tell, what the F is wrong with that eye doctor???? Needless to say, I haven't been wearing eye makeup at all. I'm in the feel ugly crowd.

Oh, and I forgot: I can't be the only one that finds wearing a BRA painful!

For the past few years since I no longer go to work I skip the makeup except for special occasions. I try to use the energy I do have wisely and doing my hair and makeup takes too much energy. I have extremely dry skin so I am only supposed to shower every other day. I sit on the pot and wash important areas the day I don't. I always have to rest at least an hour after a shower to do anything else. Pacing is so important. I also don't wear a bra when home. I wear it loose when I go out. and my clothes can no longer be fitting as it drives my nerves nuts. I still color my hair but make sure I have nothing else to do the rest of the day including cooking. Believe me when I say you are not alone.

So I still do the whole routine daily but my whole routine is minimal. When I am feeling really bad the first thing I do is have my hair bobbed because it will take it a year to reach my shoulders. This summer it's back to long and I am able to go out with a ponytail and second day hair as long as I don't have product in it. I always use mascara, sunscreen/moisturizer and lip balm if I leave the house and do full make-up for work the 2-3 days I am in the office. My full make-up routine is less than 3 minutes to do and that includes foundation! I use higher end products because I have super sensitive skin. For my birthday and Christmas family either buys me the products or gives me a gift card to the establishment and I get on their mailing list and wait for a sale. I don't chemically process my hair and only venture to the salon quarterly for trims, with two of them being bang only trims that take less than 5 minutes.

I have never been fashionable so my look hasn't suffered. I tend to buy one top I like in every color. In summer I wear long flowing skirts. I winter black dress pants or blue jeans both which are deliberately purchased a size or two too large. I live where it gets cold so I wear a lot of sweaters, men's sweaters! Paired with a ladies upsized tneck underneath and jewelry for a feminine touch when I want to be dressy. At home it's yoga pants and sweatshirts. I am all about comfortable!

definitely a struggle- I take a shower then rest 30 min to an hour, sit to put on very minimal makeup (especially on bad days- makes me feel better). I have a great hairstylist and she listens and gives me great wash and go hair cuts that way if having a bad day- I can get by with washing and brushing, sometimes a leave in conditioner is added. and this new mouse I found from Loreal Paris called Air Dry it, oh and in between dry shampoo is my friend. I must admit on really bad days I've had my husband wash and style my hair (after all I want to look good for him). Also best friend is a weekly Epsom Salt Bath, I also suggest getting a chair to sit for shower and if the heat and humidity causes you issues- leave the door open and take a cooler shower(doesn't take as much out of me when I do that)- but on the days I just don't have the strength, I wash off main areas with a washcloth.... Hope you can find away to pace yourself to find some confidence and strength to make it through each day. Join a local support group, if you don't have one in your area join an online one. I had the worse flare these past 3 years so I know it is way too hard some days but each day I find strength to do what I need to by pacing myself. Recently found encouragement in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10. prayers for you fellow warrior

Thanks for the replies. I'm considering getting a shorter hair cut because right now It looks like a mess LOL. I've been growing it out but not sure I want to anymore.

I don't take off my nightgown anymore, I just put a kaftan, long, on top of it. Quicker to get back in bed, and no need for a bra.! Showers, baths, exhausting, but I feel so much better, afterwards. Well, not afterwards, exactly, but the next day. I've given up make up, because of the sweating. Well, I'm 76, so expectations are not very high, anyhow.

I've kept my hair chopped off for many years now. Showering can take only 5 mins. I used to have a shower chair for when I'm flaring (sometimes I borrow my mom's). I do the bare minimum make-up (usually just some eye liner) when I go out. And if I have the option of staying in yoga pants / shorts then I make it work. Nothing fancy.

Gosh, how this resonates...I've forgotten what it used to be like to do the normal shower / hair / makeup routine, it's been so long. Nowadays I look like some bizarre scraggy creature and can be a tad on the skanky side when showering is just too exhausting. My hair's...well, not sure there's a word for it, but it's not good. I live in sloppy t-shirts and stretchy trousers (actually, I prefer that, I guess 'work-pumpkin' was just a coat in that respect) and pumps. I've given up on make-up, unless I go anywhere specific I don't want to scare anyone. My sister says I need re-socialising. She may be right.

I covet my old hair...short-ish, smooth, straight, nice colour...but way higher maintenance than my current mop, sadly.

And the bra! Instrument of torture is my view. The relief when it comes off!!! I wish I could get away without it ;-)

Apparently tomorrow is no bra day (according to Facebook, hmmm). We are officially released. Must have been invented for us fibro warriors. It amused me, sorry

Pumpkin31 I have a big bra size. I could never run outside with out a bra LOL. Nice to dream though.

CQ and Pumpkin, I dream of going braless too lol