I made banana bread today. That might be the extent of my holiday baking. I hung an ornament on a kitchen cupboard and put the cards I receive on the piano, but that's it. I'll just enjoy the efforts of others this year.

When I read how you know your're stressing yourself out, I thought of this old Mad TV skit. Stop it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1g3ENYxg9k

Enjoy Christmas!

I have two small children and I didn't feel like putting up our big tree and all the decorations, so I went and got a small tree and a couple of packs of ornaments. Then I put a wreath on the door. That is it, nothing else, I feel so bad because my kids LOVE Christmas and I just couldn't do it this year. It really scares me because up until this year, I was willing to suffer through to make everything just perfect for the kids. This year, I just don't want to.

Thanks D&P "I needed that" LOL I think that will be my new saying for 2011 "STOP IT" Thanks for the laugh, I love it.

Kelbel, I have thought about getting a small tree. Hopefully I will feel more up to it this weekend. Thanks for understanding.

I think you right In having your doctor upping your meds. I think that's why you have no energy and why you are feeling about the holidays the way you are. The feet hurting sound like neuropathy. Which is associated with the nerves in your feet but your pain can also be FM......you mention legal battles could this be part of it?.......also I found The holidays are hard but I found that if I push myself which is very difficult, it ends up paying off...it will boost your everyday spirit and holiday spirit......

I bought all my baked goods, started my cards in October and just got them all out today, get freebies in the mail to use for the stockings (collect all year) and ended up splitting Christmas into two days due to my mom going on a trip for Christmas. It actually worked out having two smaller Christmas' instead of one large one.

Maybe just put out a few things, rather than everything, send a couple of cards and forget the rest.

Sore feet usually is a B12 deficiency. Have you had this and your intrinsic factor checked? D-Ribose powder, 5 hour energy, 5-HTP and getting enough sleep all help with energy. I have a sleep machine (CPAP) and I guess it's been helping.

CarrieinSK what are the things you list and what's the dossage

I agree with DrainedandPained.

We just have to stop it and

ENJOY CHRISTMAS!

Do and Enjoy what we can and Stop worring about the rest.

Hugs

Mary
Merry Christmas

I'm actually cooking a turkey today and having it early, take out Chinese food for Christmas that way I won't be to tired on Christmas.

I bought it on wed and It made a mess of my refrigerator bloody water everywhere. I took it out set it on the counter and went to clean the refrigerator. I move slowly by the time I got the fridge cleaned and went back to the turkey there was bloody water all over the counter. LOL Just one night Comedy of errors but I got my kitchen cleaned.

What ever I get done that's what I'm going to enjoy and I listen to alot of Christmas music.

Merry Christmas

oh i am the same way this year no tree and no baking or any of it ..makes me feel so awful but my pain has been close to a 10 these past few weeks......work for hubby has been slow the past mounth so we r broke on top of everything else ...i have a son married and 2 grandchildren ...but u know i am going to put our christmas get toghter off until jan the 8th ...sounds awful i know but when u have no money and r sick what can u dooo ...breaks my heart but something i cant help ...i think the kids will understand , i hope any way ....

but we will have christmas just a little late ....

hugs to u all ...and merry christmas

I haven't done anything traditional for Christmas for the past seven years.
But I still feel the Christmas spirit, because I have my husband and my mom.
I think if I didn't have any family it would be really really hard.
I definitely would listen to my body and soul. Every year doesn't have to be the same.
I'm pretty more focus on just remembering the Christ in Christmas.
He is the light of the world.

D-Ribose is a 5 carbon sugar, different than regular sugar. I take 5 grams (about a tsp) in the early morning, then later morning/noonish with 1/4 cup of pure grape juice. This site explains it better than I could but you can get it in any health food store or online. Vitacost.com usually has cheaper prices.

I take 100mgs in the morning and 100 to 200 mgs in the evening. Dr. Murphree (chiro in alabama that works with fibro patients) recommends 50mgs at first, then move up to 300mgs at night. Take the other mgs during the day.

I take 1cc (1,000 iu')? basically one small syringe full of B12 and inject it into my stomach (bottom, side) or I'll take 5,000 mcgs of a sublingual (dissolves under tonue) in the morning.

5-hour energy is one of the better energy drinks and SoBe Adrenaline Rush drinks contain D-Ribose but these also contain large amts of caffeine. You can make your own out of D-Ribose, liquid D3, Taurine, organic carrot juice (optional), liquid vitamin C, liquid B's, pure grape, pomegranite or blueberry juice. I take the store bought energy drinks only in "emergency" situations. :)

Wow, I just posted almost this same thing and then I saw your post! It's so hard to get excited about Christmas when you are in so much pain and so tired its tough just making it through the day.. you are so not alone in this.

I've been the Martha Stewart of the family for ages & this year, nothing... no cookies or decorating either. If my famiy hadn't put the tree up, there would be nothing Christmassy around here either.

I'll pray you feel encouraged just by being with your loved ones and that you can be released from that pressure to do things that you just can't, and don't have to, do.
Hugs,
Chris xoxo

This is the post I just put on the Christians Fighting Fibro board this today:
http://www.dailystrength.org/groups/christians-fighting-fibro/discussions/messages/11135951

Hope your day is turning around!
Hugs,
Chris xoxo

I am right there with you! This is the first year I have not put up a tree or decorations. Last year I had lights on the house and a new Christmas tree that I worked on for 2 weeks. This year - NOTHING. My kids are grown and I just don't see the point. I am perfectly happy without decorations because I know the price I will pay physically to try and drag everything down out of the attic. I live alone so I do everything myself. So cheer up. No decorations means you are putting your health first which is commendable!! Take care of yourself, first and foremost, because no one else can.

Usually I am all over Christmas, doing everything and anything!! I really downsized this year too. I have the tree up and thats about the extent of my decor. I have just been so sick, tired, and have too much family stuff going on right now that I just had to say to myself that I am only going to do so much and it will have to be good enough.

It's nice being Jewish for Xmas. We usually go to the zoo, where any other person there is Jewish, too. The town gets very quiet. We love the lights and decorations but feel badly for people working so hard for just a one day celebration. And then paying for it all year long.

I hope you get new meds, see a sleep specialist, and eat carefully, and take some exercise and feel a little bit better!! No one dies from not bathing and your skin prefers it. Doesn't dry out so much. Have a little pleasure, and some cookies.