These last few weeks seem to have made my fingers decide to go through a "teenager" phase & not listen to a single thing that I want them to do! It is so difficult to explain to people what it feels like, so I thought I would write about 10 everyday things that I am battling with during this miserable winter & the effect that the cold is having on my fingers. So here it goes.
10 Everyday Things I Can't Do (for now...)
1. Wash my face properly. My fingers don't close together so the water simply slips through my fingers salt salt through a sieve. I have made a plan with a facecloth & it just takes a bit longer than usual. This morning I noticed it was my pinkie in particular that just wouldn't lift up or come close to the others, then my ring finger also decided to play the fool & move away from the others.
2. Do up my pants. You would be amazed at how difficult it is to be able to do up your pants - especially the button on jeans. It is a lot trickier than you would think when your fingers have no strength & go off in every which what direction. My husband has had to dress me & after going to the loo at work I have had moments of having to ask someone to help me do my pants up again!
3. Carrying packets. My fingers don't have a lot of strength in them & I have dropped countless things before learning my lesson & using a trolley around the shops, & then asking someone for help to lift these into my car. I also have a fabric tote bag that I can put over my shoulder for any small trips to the shops - no more broken eggs to split packets for me!
4. Undoing lids. Again, it's the fine movements that I battle with. I can't get a good enough grip on the lid & my fingers splay off in all sorts of odd directions which makes it near impossible to open lids - I have learnt to make a plan with knives etc but more often than not I take it to my superman husband to do for me.
5. Unlocking a public toilet door. Being locked in a public loo is not fun - let me tell you that. And it is even worse when my talking isn't good so I can't shout for help because people think I am either a crazy person or a drunkard. It is a lot easier to lock the door than to unlock it & get out; & I have had quite a few close calls. I really have to concentrate, take a deep breath & sometimes make use of my shirt by bunching it up & putting it over the lock to try open in.
6. Tying my hair up/putting clips in. My fingers splay in odd directions, won't hold onto a hair elastic & more often than not my hair ends up in a knot around the elastic! Eventually I learnt my lesson & I now keep my hair short & easy to manage - although sometimes I still need a little assistance to get my clips in to keep my fringe off my face.
7. Doing my make-up. Small sponges, eyeliner, precision, & concentration. I love doing make-up & considered a career in this industry after studying beauty & spa therapy for 3 years. However on days like this I am rather glad I didn't follow my dreams & rather followed the practical route of something I can do even on my vrot days! I love numbers & I love making use of my brain, but I do really miss the creative aspect of beauty therapy & make-up.
8. Cutting up my dinner. I feel like a small child in the fact that there are many nights I have to ask husband dear to cut up my dinner for me as my hand slips around the knife & I can saw my food for ages to no avail. It is always worse at night when I am tired, the sun is down & it is freezing in our little house. We usually have soft foods that provide for easier eating & swallowing, but sometimes it is good to have some real meat - even if I do have to ask for help.
9. Crocheting/colouring in. These are 2 of my favourite hobbies & unfortunately they make use of my hands. Often I will be halfway through a pattern/picture & my hands will just give up. They will flop like wilting flowers & no matter how hard I concentrate I cannot get them to co-operate & do what I want them to.
10. Using my phone. Today for the first time I couldn't sms using my thumbs. I was a real geriatric using my one finger to tap each letter & it took me a couple of minutes to get the full message out. No more games on my phone or anything that requires extra unnecessary energy. I have also been taking quite a few breaks through this blog as I try find ways to warm my fingers up, turn on the heater & give my fingers a break.
This is nothing to worry about, & although most of the time I can laugh when my fingers go loopy, there are still times when I get terribly frustrated with myself. It is to be expected though. I never thought I would have to get someone to dress me or help get me out of a locked bathroom or even cut up my food.
Keep warm friendies & take care of yourself xxx
