When it comes to self-care, which is a valuable Fibromyalgia/pain management tool to have in you FM tool box, one has to be ready and willing to answer the question, “is taking away time and possible resources from your family in order to take care of yourself a realistic choice?” with a Big Fat YES!
Mr. Hamm continues, “you can start by making a list of people and things who will have to do something to help you in your goal. Are those people willing to give up their time for you? Their money use? Are things going to be okay if you cut back on their time or money use? Are you going to be happy trimming back on the time and money used for these things?”
For my goal, this means an action step I have to take is, I have to schedule time for physical therapy and exercise. Since my daughter works until 1 pm and my granddaughter is in school until 3 pm, I can go to PT without taking time away from family. Since Ochsner has a medical fitness center with a personal trainer who is knowledgeable in Fibromyalgia, AND, there is a physical therapy center operating in the fitness center, I can coordinate exercising with PT.
More importantly, I can continue PT type activities with a personal trainer once PT ends. This has always been a problem for me. I think that is why I’ve always attained my goals in the past during functional restoration [FR] programs but have never been able to sustain them, often relapsing within weeks of ending an FRP.
An additional action step is, I will have to take all the medication required to control my pain, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and other symptoms. This action does not require the input or sacrifice of family members, but I will have to get over my aversion to taking pills.
Is for Relevant/Realistic
So, what makes my goal relevant/realistic?
My goal of taking control of my Fibromyalgia is Relevant because it is in alignment with other health-related goals. It supports/is supported by goals of being able to perform physical therapy-based exercises on a regular basis. My goal is relevant because it is in alignment with my family’s goal of being a strong cohesive family unit. We have accepted that no one family member can contribute to the family if he/she is not first taking care of him/herself.
My goal of taking control of my Fibromyalgia via reducing my pain, fatigue and other symptoms back down to baseline of 5 is realistic because it does not require any of my family members to sacrifice any of their time, resources or money. I can attend Physical therapy while everyone is at work or at school. The medical fitness/physical therapy center is close enough to home in case my granddaughter has an emergency at school. The cost of physical therapy is covered by my insurance, and once I move to medical fitness - the cost of membership is 1/4 the cost of my copay for PT, and, I have enough disposable income, and the membership is so low, that I do not have to ask my children to help pay for dues once PT moves to medical fitness.
So, yes my goals are relevant and realistic.
Comments