I'm one of the few people on the planet whose doctors have advised to drink LESS water. I love water and drink enough to dissolve and flush the potassium in my system, resulting in some truly vicious muscle cramps (aka charley horses).

I, too, find it surprisingly difficult to keep up with self-care. It's a complex equation which changes continually and the only thing harder than finding a balance is keeping a balance.

Gentle support while you find your own balance, Marah.

since you say NOTHING of your age or gender, ill ASSUME your a middle age male, one thing i have seen mentioned on the internet medical forums was false pain, it may be heart related , could show up in your neck shoulder arms chest or stomach, dont believe me check for your self may save your life. i know what dehydration feels like, its a severe abdominal pain and then passing out falling on your face. it caused by a malfunction of the vegus nerve that controls the heart, dehydration can trigger that when you wake up the pain is gone but your sweating like crazy , and your hands are shaking, best test your blood pressure when your feel that pain again.

I echo arfie: "the only thing harder than finding a balance is keeping a balance"

With the heat interrupting your running routine and sleeping problems it's even harder. Gentle hugs and support.

Annie, thanks for the laugh. I think I’m slightly under middle age and I’m definitely a female....not sure why that matters lol Thsnks all for the support.

Do some research on magnesium, lack of this can cause muscle pain and sleep problems. The B vitamins are another idea towards this end. It concerns me that you feel so poorly and aren't sleeping. I don't know what your life is like but I would suggest. you improve your nutrition first. No junk food, green leafy salads, fruits, low on the carbs, fresh food. Every meal has to include fruits and veggies and not fried veggies. Avoid cookies, cakes, chocolate bars, sugary drinks. Do this for a month. If you don't start feeling better with improved nutrition, go to the doctor and have a thorough check up including your thyroid. You say your clothes aren't tight but you feel enormous. If you mean abdominal bloating or abdominal cramping or pain, get a pap smear and check up soon. Abdominal bloating is a feeling associated sometimes with female cancers.

Mara, you have a busy schedule with little ones to keep up with, as well as other big stressors. Stress can go into the body. Running kicked in those feel good endorphins, which isn't happening now. I found I have to schedule self care or it gets lost. Many time something else comes up at the scheduled time. Oh well. Healing hugs.

Just do what you can do. That's all any of us can.

oksorry , age and gender do play a lot in how i see things, should have looked closer at your name, but really girl, a blood test might help a lot, it will tell you if you lack vitamins or minerals or warn you of a pre diabetic condition that you can avoid, wont hurt, may save you grief. otherwise drink more water take a multi vitamin. what more could you do?

I think it’s probably just stress and lack of self care. We have an elliptical. I’ll move it to the living room tonight so I don’t melt while using it. I’m totaoguilt of snacking instead of eating lunch. And eating too many homemade granola bars. No white sugybut definitely carbs. It doesn’t help. Unfortunately, when I get this tired it’s hard to care about self care

Copy that. Actually, the Jenny Craig diet is based on grazing versus big meals. When my schedule was super busy, I often grazed, until I got underweight. You control what goes into those granola bars. Dried fruit can be a weight-gainer. Easy to hunt recipes up on the internet. Hugs and energy clouds surrounding you.

just be careful some dried fruit can have sugar, its really easy to get diabetic now days, its a epidemic in this country now days women far out number men. they put sugar in every thing now days even some things you would never suspect, if it runs in your family history , watch your diet carefully.

No dried fruits in mine, just oats, raw pb and honey. My kids rarely even get sugar. It’s basicslly in their bread and the occasional processed snack. We have so many allergies between the three of us that everything is homemade

Hi Mara,
There was a time when I was forgetting basic self care even hygiene because of my conditions and schedules. My therapist suggested I get a magnetic eraseable white board and put it on the fridge so I could list the things I needed but kept forgetting. Several times a day I would glance at it walking by or through the kitchen and it helped me start remembering to do more. Eventually I got back on track, but I still have the white board cause we’ll you never know when life will cause you to need a reminder again lol triple hugs