Hi Tori. It's good to hear that you are getting out.
In addition to the advice about parking your car farther away from your destination, which I do, my other piece of advice is to reclaim something that you love to do, even if you have to do it in smaller increments than you did in the past.
I like to garden, but I've accepted that I won't be spending all day on a Saturday or Sunday like I used to. I just went through Velcade treatments for a recurrence of myeloma, so my stamina is low. This morning, I went outside and cut back my neighbor's intruding ivy in one of my beds. I had to stop to catch my breath a couple of times but I got it done and feel like I'm reclaiming another piece of my life.
Good luck!
Dana A
Forums
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darnold - Name: Dana Arnold
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: May 2009
- Age at diagnosis: 52
Re: Motivation to get on with life - how to get it back?
Hi, I too am from STRAYA! 
And I too fell into a funk with this nasty disease. I needed the help of anti-depressants, they took a little while to work - but they brought me back to being me!
So if you find talking therapy doesn't work, don't be afraid to try anti-depressants. I used to love my garden, and I just let it go for over 18 months, and I couldn't care less. Now I am back out there making my garden lovely again (gosh there is a lot of work to do!). It took a few weeks for the medication to start working, and a few months before I was back to my normal self with my normal motivation.
So if you need to, take anti-depressants, don't let this disease rob you of your pleasures.
And I too fell into a funk with this nasty disease. I needed the help of anti-depressants, they took a little while to work - but they brought me back to being me! So if you find talking therapy doesn't work, don't be afraid to try anti-depressants. I used to love my garden, and I just let it go for over 18 months, and I couldn't care less. Now I am back out there making my garden lovely again (gosh there is a lot of work to do!). It took a few weeks for the medication to start working, and a few months before I was back to my normal self with my normal motivation.
So if you need to, take anti-depressants, don't let this disease rob you of your pleasures.
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Salzmav
Re: Motivation to get on with life - how to get it back?
Hi Salmaz,
How great to hear you are back in the garden!
It must feel good to see it all coming together, I understand how hard it is to take those first few steps on the to road to self motivation, but I am sure once you see every starting to grow beautifully again you won't want to stop.
Hi Dana,
Happy to know you are taking your first steps back to enjoying your garden!
Don't be discouraged if you have to stop to catch your breath, the first time I tried to cook dinner 3 months after my auto SCT I had to stop and sit down three times to peel one potato!
I think most people would say that's impossible but it is true, and whenever I think I am not improving I think of that day.
First day yoga Wednesday, although I don't think I will be trying the Lotus Position first off!
How great to hear you are back in the garden!
It must feel good to see it all coming together, I understand how hard it is to take those first few steps on the to road to self motivation, but I am sure once you see every starting to grow beautifully again you won't want to stop.
Hi Dana,
Happy to know you are taking your first steps back to enjoying your garden!
Don't be discouraged if you have to stop to catch your breath, the first time I tried to cook dinner 3 months after my auto SCT I had to stop and sit down three times to peel one potato!
I think most people would say that's impossible but it is true, and whenever I think I am not improving I think of that day.
First day yoga Wednesday, although I don't think I will be trying the Lotus Position first off!
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Tori - Name: Victoria
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: June 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 56
Re: Motivation to get on with life - how to get it back?
Hi Tori. How was the yoga class?
I've been building myself back up and even went into the office for the first time in 7 weeks. I could only handle one day -- more because my shoulder still hurts as I recover from shingles -- but I'm looking forwarding to going in again next week. It was wonderful seeing my colleagues and staff. Another step in my reclaiming my life!
Dana A
I've been building myself back up and even went into the office for the first time in 7 weeks. I could only handle one day -- more because my shoulder still hurts as I recover from shingles -- but I'm looking forwarding to going in again next week. It was wonderful seeing my colleagues and staff. Another step in my reclaiming my life!
Dana A
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darnold - Name: Dana Arnold
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: May 2009
- Age at diagnosis: 52
Re: Motivation to get on with life - how to get it back?
Hello All,
I know this topic has been covered before, but it feels desperate for me, I really have a complete lack of motivation.
I had an autologous stem cell transplant in March 2017 for kappa light chain multiple myeloma. It took months, but I reached what my doctors called remission, but I was soon out of remission. During all this time, and even before transplant, I have had no motivation. I used to love to do art, yoga, walk, bake, work, etc., just filling my days. I have a daughter who just entered college and needs me. I feel so much guilt but I can't move. I am being treated for depression.
Please, any advice would be appreciated.
Elise
I know this topic has been covered before, but it feels desperate for me, I really have a complete lack of motivation.
I had an autologous stem cell transplant in March 2017 for kappa light chain multiple myeloma. It took months, but I reached what my doctors called remission, but I was soon out of remission. During all this time, and even before transplant, I have had no motivation. I used to love to do art, yoga, walk, bake, work, etc., just filling my days. I have a daughter who just entered college and needs me. I feel so much guilt but I can't move. I am being treated for depression.
Please, any advice would be appreciated.
Elise
Re: Motivation to get on with life - how to get it back?
Hi Elise,
I posted this earlier, but it might be worth repeating, I try to take things one day at a time, and to look for the joy in that day, because it's there for us to see:
"Fatigue & The 'This, That and The Other' Principle" (Aug 8, 2018)
I was diagnosed over a year ago and started on Velcade, Revlimid and dexamethasone. The Velcade was discontinued due to neuropathy developing after five months of weekly injections. The myeloma is “stable,” but I have shortness of breath with any exertion, fatigue, neuropathy issues, but, truthfully, I can’t tell what’s the cancer, the myeloma treatments, COPD, coronary artery disease, arthritis, or just being 80 years old! I’ve always been an active person, and learning new limits doesn’t come easy to me, but I’m learning, so I developed the ‘This, That and the Other’ principle.
I make a plan. We live on a desert acre that is half oasis and takes a lot of upkeep. My plan yesterday was to do This, That and the Other. By the time I finished This, however, I was beat by the heat, so I decided to put That off, and to forget about the Other. This morning, with a cloudy sky and my beloved doing most of the watering, I managed to finish This, do a fair job on That, and even get some of the Other done. I rested numerous times along the way, drank plenty of water, and had a good nap before lunch.
This afternoon I’ll read and rest, then go to our community center for a meeting on some local issues, knowing that I no longer am the front person for that kind of activity, come home and eat, and early to bed, because there’s always This, That and the Other to do tomorrow. If I feel like it!
I posted this earlier, but it might be worth repeating, I try to take things one day at a time, and to look for the joy in that day, because it's there for us to see:
"Fatigue & The 'This, That and The Other' Principle" (Aug 8, 2018)
I was diagnosed over a year ago and started on Velcade, Revlimid and dexamethasone. The Velcade was discontinued due to neuropathy developing after five months of weekly injections. The myeloma is “stable,” but I have shortness of breath with any exertion, fatigue, neuropathy issues, but, truthfully, I can’t tell what’s the cancer, the myeloma treatments, COPD, coronary artery disease, arthritis, or just being 80 years old! I’ve always been an active person, and learning new limits doesn’t come easy to me, but I’m learning, so I developed the ‘This, That and the Other’ principle.
I make a plan. We live on a desert acre that is half oasis and takes a lot of upkeep. My plan yesterday was to do This, That and the Other. By the time I finished This, however, I was beat by the heat, so I decided to put That off, and to forget about the Other. This morning, with a cloudy sky and my beloved doing most of the watering, I managed to finish This, do a fair job on That, and even get some of the Other done. I rested numerous times along the way, drank plenty of water, and had a good nap before lunch.
This afternoon I’ll read and rest, then go to our community center for a meeting on some local issues, knowing that I no longer am the front person for that kind of activity, come home and eat, and early to bed, because there’s always This, That and the Other to do tomorrow. If I feel like it!
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albertlannon - Name: Albert Lannon
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: June, 2017
- Age at diagnosis: 79
Re: Motivation to get on with life - how to get it back?
Albert, your post brought me to tears. I never was any good at learning how to look positively at life. It's most apparent that you have, and I loved reading what you said. I know it's all about attitude, but I worry so much about my daughter that I am blinded. My mom died of cancer when I was five; my dad of heart disease when I was three months old. I lived so much of my life working to not let the same happen to my daughter, but lo and behold ... That's all my tearful face can let out for now.
Re: Motivation to get on with life - how to get it back?
Along with others, my diagnosis and treatment caused me to be depressed.
I tried to remain positive, but what got me was that I was stuck in bed all the time. Sick from the treatment and a spine that I broke in six places. Back is deformed, but nothing I can do. Doctors won't operate on it.
I started to get mad that I was stuck in bed. I mean, I had my salary rolling in through long-term disability insurance and I was not enjoying having money and time but not the ability to enjoy.
So I made it my mission to go camping. Which was my hobby.
That spurred me on to be mobile.
In April of 2017 I went for a stem cell transplant and by January I was able with help to get back out into the desert and camp.
That trip really opened the floodgates. Now I can go camp alone just like I used to.
Look for something that you want to do and plan a way to do it. Goals really helped me.
Best to you in getting back your life from this disease.
I tried to remain positive, but what got me was that I was stuck in bed all the time. Sick from the treatment and a spine that I broke in six places. Back is deformed, but nothing I can do. Doctors won't operate on it.
I started to get mad that I was stuck in bed. I mean, I had my salary rolling in through long-term disability insurance and I was not enjoying having money and time but not the ability to enjoy.
So I made it my mission to go camping. Which was my hobby.
That spurred me on to be mobile.
In April of 2017 I went for a stem cell transplant and by January I was able with help to get back out into the desert and camp.
That trip really opened the floodgates. Now I can go camp alone just like I used to.
Look for something that you want to do and plan a way to do it. Goals really helped me.
Best to you in getting back your life from this disease.
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goin camping - Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 10-16
- Age at diagnosis: 57
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