Hi @KayC and everyone. It will be my first Christmas with ET. I was only diagnosed in October this year. I have decided to make things easier for myself this year. I usually make all the mince pies, mincemeat and sausage rolls etc, but this year I am buying it all in. I am suffering quite badly with fatigue, so a good decision I think. We are going out for a pub Xmas dinner on the Friday before Christmas, so on the day it will just be an easy dinner. No long hours in the kitchen for me. Merry Christmas to you all, and to those of you who find Christmas difficult my thoughts are with you. Take care everyone
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Oh @Chris1 I am so impressed with you making the festive period easier for you.
I am sure my supermarket does it better than me anyway.
I am not surprised that you are fatigued, just the hype around the festivities is enough to do it to me and who wants to spend the whole time stuck in the kitchen.
Be kind to yourself is what I say.
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Hi @KayC your post really wore me out just reading it, I think that we could all take a leaf out of @Chris1 book below and keep it simple and make it as easy as possible for ourselves.
You are also working Christmas Eve and it is worth keeping your fatigue to a minimum. I remember coming home and then cooking to midnight and then getting early on Christmas Day to carry on.
My fatigue is brought on by what personally stresses me and emotionally and practically overdoing it.
You also need to spend quality time with your family and grandchildren and not be stuck in the kitchen. They have come to spend time with you too.
Be kind to yourself, it is the season of goodwill to all, including yourself.
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Definitely @Erica. Itâs about giving ourselves permission to be and do what we want, and not getting caught up in all the hype of Christmas, and not feeling guilty because we arenât doing what other people might be expecting of us.
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I too have had Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), since 2007, and have been on and off the Flair trial but decided that I wasnât going to spend my life shielding away for ever, so Christmas will be the same as every previous year, with any family who can make it. Definitely no masks and no testing. All my family, except myself, have had Covid, even my sister who also has Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), and none were very ill, certainly nothing worse than a fluey cold. Two of my neighbours also got Covid, one fully vaccinated, one not at all, both were fine. I even had a lovely holiday in Madeira early on this year â fabulous! I never stopped having family from visiting at all. The government certainly ramped up the fear factor, wrongly in my opinion, but enough is enough!
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A great big welcome @Phoeebs and I think what has come out of our forum is that everyone has their own experiences and has to weigh things up and to make decisions that feel ring for them.
I have always wanted to go to Madeira and I am glad that you had a lovely holiday there.
Enjoy your festivities and take care of yourself.
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Hi Erica,
I was diagnosed with myeloma in June 2021 and due to my weakened immune system am still being really careful about the infection risk. At times like Xmas it is so restricting, but it has to be done. We always used to have our son and daughter and our grandchildren for one of the days over Xmas, but do not feel we can do that anymore. We still ask any visitors to the house to wear masks and always wear them in shops. We have decided to risk going for a pub xmas meal on boxing day but feel somewhat anxious about it. Need to take a few more risks as my wife is so missing seeing the family and friends like we used to!
Merry Xmas all
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Hi @petergreenfield yes, the feelings of loss, anxiety and sadness are there, arenât they.
Especially with grandchildren that grow up so fast.
Actually it is not just Covid it is all those bugs out there that I do not want to catch, thank you.
I have eaten out in a pub twice and I sit as far away from others that I can, usually with a window or corner behind me, but as a nosey person it gives me a good view of everyone.
Our son will come round for our family tradition of hot chocolate and shortbread in the morning, There might even be a Colin, the Caterpillar, pup there as well.
It will be my husband, I and a tin of Heroes after our meal
Enjoy.
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I had a bone marrow transplant in September so I am still really vulnerable to infections. My sister and family are really understanding but there are so many things frustrating me - missing my church Carol Service, wandering round the shops, having a mince pie in a local cafe. They sound like trivial things but these are the things that make up life.
However, how lucky I am to still be here and to have a wonderful caring husband who never complains about going through the same restrictions as me.
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Oh @Otterfield it is early days and it sounds that you are doing so well.
Perhaps this year is the year for spoiling yourselves and having treats at home and doing what you both want, when you want and being cosy indoors
Be kind to yourselves
Hi @petergreenfield. I always wear a mask when we go for a meal in the pub. I use a straw to drink through so that I only have to lift the mask up slightly, but it still covers my nose and most of my face. I only take it off to eat my dinner, and we always choose our table carefully, so as to avoid the majority of footfall. I hope these tips help you to feel a bit safer when you go out for your meal.
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Hi @helenfwallace I have been thinking about you and I just wondered how you are getting on?
Be kind to yourselves and take care
Hi @Erica
Thank you so much for thinking about me.
To be honest I have been struggling a bit.
I am getting somewhat fed up with medical appointments they seem to be consuming my life, is that a sign of getting older, I wonder?
Last weekend a dog ran into the side of my car. Fortunately it survived .
Xmas day dinner now looks like it is going to be postponed in our household Hubby, is rather ill in Germany, and I dont think he is in a fit state to travel back and my daughter has just rung to say she has tested positive for Covid. I said we can celebrate xmas some other day when they are both better. Most of the food is frozen, so I dont see why not.
Now I need to decide if I go ahead with my trip to Winchesterâs Xmas market. We were originally was going to go last weekend and go round with our daughter but postponed to tomorrow because Hubby was ill, the train strike and wrotten weather.
Anyway enough of negativity. I hope you have a lovely Xmas and New Year. Thank you once again for asking.
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Oh @helenfwallace what a catalogue of events
I had a month where it seemed to be one medical appointment after another, I was absolutely worn out and fatigued after it.
What a shock having a dog run into your car.
The Winchester Xmas market sounds good to me, transport permitting.
I hope that your hubby and daughter recover soon.
You are certainly not being negative and make sure you spoil yourself over the festivities and then have another special Christmas time with your hubby and daughter later on.
Spoil yourself and take care
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Things never go to plan do they! Iâm sure you will have a lovely day celebrating when everybody is better. I donât think youâre being negative at all and think all of your feelings are so valid!
The Christmas market sounds wonderful and might be just why you need?
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Thank you @Nicholsa75 for your kind words and thoughts.
Have a lovely Xmas and New Year
Helen
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HI @ERICA, thank you.
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