A walk round my garden to cheer myself up . . .

Hi Sheila, firstly im sorry you have M.E. not a nice condition at all.
Secondly your garden looks lovely and tidy, but its nice to go out there take a deep breath and relax, enjoy what you have achieved.
I can get down to at times and a hug goes a long way sheila, so sending one over to you :o) x

A hug coming from me too! Your garden looks lovely Sheila :o)

((((((0)))))). and me xx

It's lovely and colourful...Where would we be without our gardens when a bit low.I often immerse myself in the garden to forget about things.
I have a similar problem.Mine has (sort of )been diagnosed as Fibro myalgia and/or CFS. I t certainly an be very debilitating and makes gardening difficult....not good when it's your living. but, over the past 4 or 5 years since I've realised what makes me feel so bad and completely exhausted/fatigued, I have managed to deal with it to a degree and, most of all live with it and realise my limitations.That said, I have finally found medication which helps to a degree.Npt ideal, aking regular medication, but it's not ideal giving in and not working, doing what you really lobe(in my case ...gardening) I hope things can get a little better for you..I know how it feels(as they say...whoever hey are!!!)

Oh dear Sheila you brought a tear to my eye, poor you, so sorry you are feeling down just now. Take a look at all your photos on here and remember that your garden is gorgeous and will probably look after itself for a while, just enjoy the newness of everything and sit with a cuppa and enjoy. x

Hope you feel a little better soon and sending you hugs your way :O)

Just take things nice and slow , a stroll around the garden is good for the soul , and yours is so nice so enjoy it then pop in for a nice cuppa :-)

Result! You have all done the trick for me . . . thank you so much for the comments, and particularly the very welcome hugs. I now feel a bit abashed, as I feel so much better (the potting-on in the greenhouse was very therapeutic, and I've even done the ironing!).

Paul - I send sympathy: I've heard of Fibromyalgia, and it is very similar to Chronic Fatigue. I hadn't realised that gardening is your living, but I'm glad that you've learnt (up to a point) to manage the condition. I find CoQ10 helps, and take a multivitamin every day; but the main thing is I have learnt to pace myself, and after 30 minutes gardening force myself to Sit Down for at least 10 minutes as a little rest helps a lot.

Hugs to you San, Annella, Pam, Paul, Gill, Oliveoil and Kidsgran. x

So sorry Sheila, but glad you are feeling a little better. A hug from me too. Your garden is lovely, and a garden is so thereapeutic, as the others have said. Chin up.

What would we do without our gardens Sheila, I think most of us find them therapeutic. Glad to hear your spirits have lifted a little with the help of the hugs and your delightful garden.

Have a hug from me too Sheila. I don't suffer from anything like you do but I do have anxiety and panic attacks, and I find the garden very therapeutic so I do know what you mean. Your garden is lovely and I particularly like your bonsai magnolia.

Your garden is beautiful Sheilabub, I hope you are feeling better now..

I too have to pace myself with the Ménière's disease I have, make myself sit down when I feel tired ( I find tiredness can make me feel worse), lovely photos what would we do without our gardens

Sorry you had a blip day, ME can be really cruel how it stops you doing the things you want to. Lovely to have some sun and see the plants coming into life though, and I'm glad that your garden and GoY could bring you a bit of cheer when you needed it :o)

Glad it was a blip and not a longer thing Sheila. You take care of yourself and remember to treat yourself very well every day! I love your gardening style....mostly small trees and ground level plants....like a woodland..it's so natural looking and not crowded. I'm glad you find your garden re-energises you, at least to some extent. Now, while you were away, I split my geranium phaeum 'Blauwvoet' and I'm just thinking that perhaps I had promised you a bit. I'll send a bit down to you soon! Sorry for forgetting!

Karen . . . no worries - I don't think it was me that you promised Blauwvoet to. (that tricky word reminds me of Maggie Smith's wonderful comment in the Exotic Marigold Hotel film, "if I can't pronounce it I'm not eating it!!").

Thank you Cinders, Stroller, Louisa, Michaella, Geranium and Karen for your lovely comments.

And thanks too to Sewingkilla - good to see you again :))

oh, ok! That's good then!

Yes, I take supplements Shielabub.I think they all help I. A small way! Although, I think a lot of it can be what u don't eat rather than what you do.I am certain that sugar harms me but I have such a sweet tooth...A real dilemma!!!!

Sorry you were feeling a bit under the weather Sheila. I'm sure that hug worked wonders :)
All looking very health and when that blossom appears it will be ever so uplifting.

Hope your "blip"has passed,and you're feeling much better Sheila. You garden looks so neat and tidy, and I'm sending you a big hug. A big hug can say a thousand words....I remember that saying from Maggie Smith, she's brilliant isn't she, love her character in Downton Abbey, and if she's not in an episode it doesn't seem the same.Take care try not to overdo it, and keep smiling. :-)

Paul I have that too, its so very frustrating!
I have to do a job and stop. At this stage nothing hurts, its later or the next day thst it starts (or waking and feeling that the bed is like brighton beach. :0(

I take a multivitamin and am careful what I eat as it affects tummy too. Could I ask ( pm if you wish) about medication?

Sheila I do sympathise and hugs really help. (((0)))
constant pain and exhaustion are debilitating, sometimes the weather affects us I think......a bit like baby bear we like it "just right"
Pam xxx

I have been tried on all the tricyclic (not sure of spelling) drugs Pam, Amitryptiline ,Nortrytiline etc but these really didn't work.I read about Anti Seizure(as the Americans call them) drugs being used to treat Fibro Myalgia.However, my doctor said that was what he'd try next but he put me on the old one 'Carbamezapine' .One of the main things was that I get some sleep.I spend hours awake(even some nights when I AM on the tablets) He put me on two x 200mg a day about three years ago but , although they helped my sleep, I was walking around like a zombie and felt awful. He then put me on just one at night and a strong dose of steroid in the day time(this worried me) but the steroid have virtually no effect so he stopped them.I hate to take tablets but I have to work so it's the lesser of two evils, I suppose.After a few months break in medication, I then started on just 1 Carbamezapine
At night.It does help me sleep and, although a little drowsy first thig, enables me to get through the day.However, I hate really hot days and can just feel the strength draining away. I do still have a lot of muscle and joint pain as well as an awful burning sensation(nerve end damage, I understand) but am able to cope most of the time.I also stopped using my PC as I was terribly ill after using it.That's why I didn't come on GOY or Internet at all for couple of years but now I have an I Pad and that's much better.Sorry, Sheila to 'take over ' thread. I must google CoQ10....thanks. paul

No problem at all Paul - and what you have said might just help Pam(?).

Oh Pam - that sounds dreadful for you - I'm so sorry :(
You need the hugs more than I do, because I don't have any pain: just weakness and lack of stamina, and feeling tired a lot of course, and sleeping badly!

Many thanks for your thoughts Scottish and Gralew.

Its just nice to know you are not alone I think.....I take amitrip at night 10mg, it helps, supposed to alter the brains perception of pain.....

Thanks Sheila.....I,m better since the doc stopped the stains, still have high cholesterol but I was truly living on painkillers, I still wonder as the statins came first if theywere the trigger....

Tiredness can be part of fms too, all linked with ME, arthritis etc it seems, so you both have my hugs and sympathy too xxx

Thanks Pam and Shiela! Nothing works 100%, and so many symptoms, so different things work for different people, I guess!! We'll keep plodding on!
Out of interest, do either of you have real sensitivity to certain foods( I do, to a huge range including Gluten, dairy, eggs, onion, Soya, alcohol etc etc)? And also, do you have sensitivity to electrical current nearby and other appliances(pc's phone masts etc) .It's so easy to group these all as symptoms of my FBS /CFS , as my doctor does, but guess I'll never know for sure!!

I am pleased you have been cheered up by your 'virtual friends' on GoY, Sheila ... I often smile to myself at the funny comments on pics and blogs, but don't always join the thread as I don't have the energy to keep up with them! I really think us gardeners don't relax often enough, just sit awhile and enjoy the fruits of our labours, as I did this afternoon and felt so much better for it. Mind you, it was very tempting not to dead-head/weed/ prune whatever! Sending a hug for you ... :o)

Thanks for the hug Shirley - and the comment! Yes indeed, for those of us who'd love more energy it is quite hard NOT to leap into action when we see things that need doing. I'm very glad you relaxed this afternoon, and I did the same for a while . . . OH even got my 'Granny chair' out of the shed, so I gave it a good testing!

Paul - I'm sorry to hear about all your sensitivities, but 'no', luckily I suffer from none of them.

I sat in the sunshine with the cat purring contentedly in the seat next to mine ... bliss!

Just me then..ha ha, I've always been a bit different!!!

Your garden is a picture and it must still give you a huge amount of pleasure even on those 'not so good days.'

I hope that you are feeling much brighter and less sad than when you wrote this. It has certainly given me a lot of pleaure seeing these beautiful photos. I am now off to Australia in the other blog I missed!

xx

Hi Sheila,sorry to hear you was a bit down,big hugs coming from me too.
I know that feeling only too well as I suffer from anxiety and I am a depressive,I think that is why I am a workaholic...its an outlet for me and it takes my mind of all the negative thoughts.

Love your garden by the way,so neat and colourful....how could that not cheer you up.

My thoughts also with Sandra,Pam,Paul,Louisa and Sewingkilla for their health issues...hugs to all!

xx

Hi Paul, I,ve been thinking about what you asked, its not easy trying to work it out but I know for a certainty that oil based paints, varnishes, creosote etc. upset my stomach, nausea etc. not using it myself even, just the fumes.I honestly don't know about electrical things, we are all surrounded everywhere......
As to food Soya certainly give me stomach ache as do citrus fruit, bread with fibre, in fact too much fibre, raw veg, raw onion but not cooked, too many tomatoes, grapes strawberries etc.....
I,m careful with alcohol too.....the list goes on.
What Does suit me is porage, made with oat milk ( cows milk thats another one, gives me sinus headaches if I have too much) I have a sprinkle of dried fruit every day winter and summer, I just cook it and eat it cooler in the summer
Sliced white bread is ok, two maybe three slices a day max.
Oh and not too much spicy food.......I just try to eat healthily but can't resist chocolate......just a couple of pieces a day and the odd toffee instead of puddings
Gosh you really have had me thinking Paul!

Thanks very much Wildrose, and you are right - my garden is my sanctuary, and as you say frequently makes me smile and feel better even when I'm a bit low (which is pretty rare for me).

Thanks Dick - we all have 'down' days, don't we, and keeping busy usually seems to help: glad it works for you.

What would we do without our gardens.....I hate to think. hope you are feeling more like your old self again, take care, you have a lovely garden, I would love to wander around it, it would certainly perk me up.....
a virtual hug from me too.....

Years Before I realised I had any condition , Pam, I went for an allergy test at a private clinic.Mainly because I had so much itching and regularly got rashes etc, but they gave me a huge list of things that I'm allergic to and he said you must have stomach problems and I said yes but I always just put that down to a dodgy stomach like my dd always had. Years later, I now understand that this may have been oe of the early symptoms of Fibro Myalgia.Well, hats what my doctor and lots of books etc see to reckon!!!!!!!

The garden looks lovely, Sheila! I hope you are feeling better now. Such conditions as ME and fibromyalgia are really horrible. OH has the latter, and it is relentless. Lack of sleep and lack of energy are as bad as the pain. But his craftwork helps him enormously and I certainly know what you mean about the garden. I always feel I've entered a different world when I go out there. I've been suffering from withdrawal symptoms while my daughter and grandson have been staying. I'm missing them like mad of course, but how lovely it is to be free to wander outside whenever I want!

Thank you Dotty for your lovely comment :))

Thanks Susanne: sorry to hear that your OH also suffers, and glad he has something to occupy him (what craftwork does he do?). We Skyped our 2-year old granddaughter this morning . . . don't think she knew who we were though it was lovely to see her!

Isn't Skyping great? I'm sure our grandson doesn't recognise me either, but having had him here for the last three weeks, he seemed to know my voice when my daughter put yesterday's phone call on loudspeaker. I like to think so, anyway!

OH designs and executes very intricate script/calligraphy posters and pictures. They are mostly connected to Christmas and use various quotations and literary extracts. Having totally run out of wall space (they are only displayed at Christmas) he is now mainly producing A4 sized ones which can be mounted into albums. He is at his happiest sitting outside in the garden on a warm sunny day writing about snow on the ground and earth hard as iron!

That sounds great - any chance of taking a pic or two of your OH's work?? I LOVE calligraphy . . . used to dabble myself, but you need to keep at it to be any good. We had a fantastic exhibition of international calligraphers in Cambridge last year: I went twice!

What age is your grandson?

I think OH would shrink from describing his work as calligraphy, it is more decorative script - lots of colours and very intricate mathematical patterns! He loves it, and says it keeps his head in the right place. I might put up a pic or two nearer the end of the year. Most of his best stuff is stored away until the festive season.

Grandson is 8 and a half months old. While he was here he learned to crawl forward, to sit up from lying down and to pull himself up to a standing position. All very exciting. He is a big lad - very tall, weighing in at 11 kilos. His clothes are 12-18 months size. It remains to be seen whether that will continue - there are tall men on both sides of the family. I am still waking up each morning thinking I can hear him, but that is fading! How much more energy I must have had when I was younger - doesn't it make you wonder however you managed? My boys were less than two years apart, but I took it all in my stride. I now understand why grandparents say it's good to give the grandchildren back at the end of the day!

Lovely photo's Sheila, rain stopped play so catching up on blogs, hope your feeling better now, I'm lucky as apart from a bit of arthritis in my hands I am relatively healthy even the asthma is not playing me up, however I really do sympathise.....

Many thanks Lincs: I'm now feeling a bit guilty about all the lovely sympathy I've had :( Am absolutely fine, just have to be sensible and not Do Too Much!!

Good news about your grandson Susanne - our granddaughter is also tall (wearing clothes for a 3-year old, and she's only just 2). Yes, the little ones are such fun, but tiring!

;-)))