List all the daily activities that need assistance.
List all the projects that can be broken into parts with assistance.
List what is a daily priority that must be done to keep activities on track.
Find and use the five minute limit ( I have two five minute sections) to doing laundry and trash pick up in all the rooms-and a roll cart to pull around so bending and lifting are not repetitive.
Once you have a plan that works for you, you will find the stress level is less on the weekend, and as much as you can set up small parts on a daily basis, the easier the weekend will be to do what is left.
Hope this helps.

I agree...everyone needs to do what little they can to help. Break everything down into small parts and rest in between!

I also have a lot of pain in my back anytime I'm up doing anything for any length of time. I've also noticed if I do alot around the house that at night my body aches terribly. It has really been hard for me to learn to slow down, never known how to do that. But FM will teach you to slow down.
I do what I can and then I sit down and rest and sometimes take a nap too. Then I get up and do some more. I'm probably like everyone else, always want to get it done and over with, but we just can't do that anymore. It's a learning process for sure. Hugs to all....

House work??? Oh, yeah, that's where you clean things, right? Really, I'm not astranger to it, just have had to learn that I can only do what I can do. Have you had a heart-to-heart with your sons? Since your situation has changed recently with your husband's disablement, and with your FM, there's nothing wrong with asking them to take responsibility for at least their stuff. My mom had RA, and all 4 of us kids, boys and girls, had chores around the house. She did as much as she could and we did the rest. Yeah, it cut into our free time as teenagers, but looking back at it now, I see it made us a closer family. Sometimes it helps to get kids working to benefit the whole family.

One thing I've learned to do is cook up quantities of food on Sunday afternoon to freeze for during the week. Even if you got the boys chopping veggies for an hour it would help a lot!

Housework has been a problem for me as well. I vacuumed the other day and my shoulder and back got all messed up. It took over a week just to get an appointment to get it put back in. I have two boys who are 15 and 20 and they are doing it from now on. My problem is getting it done when I want it done. They are busy as well. Things have to be done in short intervals.

I do what I can, which most of the time is not much because work takes pretty much all I got right now.
I do try to clean up after myself right away, if I make a mess. I force myself to vaccum once a week, but there are times when I just can't do it. I have to take frequent breaks when I vaccum because it kills my back and arms, I get so sweaty and clammy and out of breath, that I have to rest for an hour to recover.
I use paper plates, plastic silverware, so I don't have to do dishes. I really don't cook much and usualy eat sandwiches or microwavable stuff at home.
To clean shower, I use the stuff you just spray on after each shower, so the mess does not build up. Same with the toilet, I just use the gel that stays in.
I feel bad that using the paper plates, and plastic silverware, and other stuff that helps cut down on housework is not all that good on the environment, but I just cant help it at this time.
Laundry piles up, dust accumulates because I have to choose between being able to do housework or going to work and keeping my insurance and paying bills.
A couple of weeks ago, I was off for four days in a row, and I was able to do some cleaning in my bedroom, I cleaned out my closet and donated a whole bunch of stuff. Now, I can actually keep the clothes I wear in the closet.
I am single, so I only have myself to take care of, so if I neglect housework it only affects me.

I completely agree with a lot of the posts that since you have others in the household the ones that can should help out more. One person mentioned having a heart to heart with them. I have found it VERY difficult to have a heart to heart with any of my family as they don't seem to understand...Anyway that's a different subject. One of the treatments was b12 I use that for energy as well as my other medicines, when I clean on Sundays that seems to help a little

That is a tough one for me too. We don't have kids so no one to help us. Both my husband and I are young, chronically ill, and forced to work. Its the pits. The thing we do that helps alot is to keep things simple as much as possible. We live in a smaller apartment but it has all the convenient amenities I cannot do without. I much rather would love to have more space but I have to be reasonable with this stupid fibro. We have a dishwasher, washer/ dryer, garbage disposal in our apartment. Even then its too much for me load the dishwasher but it would be MUCH WORSE if I had to do the dishes.
Also using clorox wipes or natural cleaning wipes help.
paper plates instead of dishes sometimes.
buying clothes that dont require ironing...

Its so hard because those of us that are still forced to work have the tiny reserve of energy being used up for that and nothing else. Man I hate fibro.

I had a heart to heart with my partner, who would be willing to help but works so many hours really can't. I then had a heart to heart with my teenagers. I then hired a housekeeping service, and helped pay for it with the money I held back from my son's allowances. My partner and I agreed that if no one could help with the cleaning, then everyone could help pay for it. :-)

For $85 they come once a month and do all the heavy stuff - vacuuming, mopping, bathrooms, dusting, etc. My house isn't spotless at one cleaning a month, but it's at least not disgusting any more.

Then we made a "chore list" just for the cooking and dishes so that everyone takes two turns a week. It's made a huge difference not only in my exhaustion but in my resentment.

My mother told me that it's about priorities - and being able to "afford it" is mostly about how badly you want it. We eat out one night less per week (we used to eat out more because I was too tired to cook) and it pays for the housekeepers. It's worth it. Good luck!

I was definitely thinking that the teenage boys need to have their regular jobs to do. My husband and I (we're 58 and 60 now) had our son and daughter doing certain chores. I admit it's not easy, but with you working with fibro and your husband disabled, it's a necessity. Either that or do what tonirexx suggested and pay for a cleaning service with the boys chipping in on that.

By the way, I'm a retired schoolteacher, and I know how hard subbing is! Bless your heart! I hope you're able to work this out.

Take care.....Elizabeth