Getting Back to Normal by Doing Some Chores

A funny thing happens with Gastroparesis.  (Okay, you are right.  MANY funny things happen with Gastroparesis but today we will focus on just on.)  You actually get excited when you feel like doing chores!  Yes, you heard me correctly.  You are so happy to be scrubbing some dishes, vacuuming the floor, doing some laundry, or grooming your dog.  You are so happy that you think at any moment the cartoon birds will show up to hang your laundry on the clothes line.  The cartoon squirrels and rabbits will surely be coming to visit and scrub your floors.  So in my mind, I looked like the photo below even though I’m not a huge Disney fan.  In fact, instead of Disney I was singing along to some great 80s New Wave music!

(Photo Courtesy of Disney)

You have such limited energy with Gastroparesis that you try to get by completing as few chores as possible.  For me this is easy since I live with a “chore-a-holic”.  He loves chores and stays on top of them.  (Well, I don’t know if he loves chores or loves not having them turn into projects.  We took an informal vote of our friends and received inconclusive results.)  He also takes AMAZING care of me so that I am not spending my limited energy on chores.  This way I can still work, see friends once in awhile, and try to get some exercise in.  (Not being active really does a number on me mentally.  More on this in future blogs.)  I am so thankful for him because I really have no idea how I would get by without him (especially when I am going through a Gastroparesis flair!).

However, sometimes it’s nice to pick up the pre-GP routine of waking up on Saturday and cleaning up the house.  It’s nice to sleep in until my body decides it’s ready to roll out of bed, make some coffee, open the windows, put on some tunes, and get to work.  It feels like you have contributed to maintaining the home.  It feels like you are “normal”.  It feels like you aren’t a total bum “chore sponging” off your “chore-a-holic” fantastic boyfriend.  In short, it feels AMAZING!

Maybe the spring air is giving me an extra energy boost.  Maybe succeeding with “Gluten-Free April” is giving me an energy boost.  Maybe the acupuncture is giving me a boost.  Maybe listening to my dog have a blast with her squeaker toy is giving me a boost.  Maybe savoring my last month(s) of coffee is giving me a boost.  Or maybe it’s because my “chore-a-holic” boyfriend got up early to do errands at the store and there where actually chores left for me when I woke up!  No matter what the cause of the boost, I’ll take it and mark today as a win against Gastroparesis!

~Millie

(No wildlife was harmed or treated to unfair working conditions during my morning.  Although my dog did catch a squirrel last night, so she had to do double duty today!  POOR SQUIRREL!)