People Helped and It Was Great

I had so much wonderful help to get through church today! Church is the hardest part of the week for me--working hard physically and mentally for three hours. I definitely do not work that hard at work. ;)

This morning was okay at first, as I slept in and then hung around on the couch. It took me a couple of hours to get ready for church, because I had to take breaks. Shower, whew, worn out... time for a break. Fifteen minutes later: blow dry my hair, ugh, need a break. You get the idea. I almost stayed home, but I really love going to church, and I am not as happy during the week when I have missed it. Thank goodness I had all that help.

My friend asked if I should maybe stop participating in choir. The choir practice is right before church, which turns a three-hour ordeal into four. But I love choir! I love music. I do not think that participating in choir wears me out a whole lot, because I sit the whole time (even when the director asks us to stand) and do not stress over breathing. I guess it does have an affect on me, because I was tired before the meeting began today. But brushing my hair tires me out, too. I feel like I should not have to give up everything I love and just live to work. Church is work. Music is love. I would like to have some help with the work, so I do not have to give up something that I love.

Today was the first Sunday in months that I did not come home and collapse for hours. Sometimes it takes me four or five hours to recover. Today I came home and changed my clothes right away (NOT normal) and after a brief rest was able to help get dinner started. I decided on the food. Nothing fancy, but usually my brain is fried. I provided input on fire design. Again, usually my brain is fried. If asked anything, I would have to parse words like "want" and "eat." This would usually lead to frustrations from others and tears from me. Being so functional after church... wow. I had forgotten how it felt.

Sensory:
-Pins and needles: 5
-Tingles: 1
-Dysesthetic pain: 6
-Paresthesias: 1
-Numbness: 5
-Vision: 3
-Nerve pain: 6, trigeminal nerve was acting up again--pain on the right side of my face above/on eyebrow and between eye and ear
-Hearing: 0

Motor:
-Walking: 3
-Sore muscles: 6
-Fine motor: 3
-Weak muscles: 6
-Spasticity: 7 this evening but was not terrible all day

Cognitive:
-Processing: 2
-Memory: 1
-Attention: 1, mostly okay except for a while when I kept forgetting that I should help feed someone who was helping me by interpreting
-Confusion: 1

General:
-Fatigue: 9, I dragged around church, although my body was begging to lie down. And see above about needing breaks.
-Balance: 1
-Sleep: 0
-Bladder: 2
-Proprioception: 2, I am hilarious trying to walk in dim light
-Swallowing: 1
-A: 0
-B: 8

Emotions: I was afraid I might cry during church. I was so worn out just from trying to fix my hair (which is so quick) and put on some makeup. I was feeling overwhelmed before we even got there. Thank goodness for the help I received. No tears!