Laundry Day

Helping the world understand MS fatigue

Today, in this very blog, I’m going to explain MS fatigue to the masses, ie. you, my loyal readers.

I’m finally going to really, really spell it out.

This is something no one else has ever been able to do.

Not scientists.

Not Neurologists.

Not care takers.

Not writers.

Not even my fellow MS sufferers have ever really, completely, fully exponentially (not sure what exponentially means but it sounds good here,) been able to explain it.  Though, Lupus patient and writer Christine Miseradino came close with her 2003 Spoon Theory.

(Did she make up her last name?  How ironic that someone who must endure the sufferingss of Lupus has most of the word misery in her last name.)

If you’re not familiar with the Spoon Theory it’s worth looking up.

And, not to brag, I’m going to be able to explain MS fatigue in just two words.

Are you ready?

Here we go.

Laundry Day. 

Yes, laundry day.

Laundry day perfectly describes MS fatigue.

Please go back in time with me to 2 days ago.

What are you going to do today Yvonne?

Laundry.

Well, yes, but that won’t take all day.  Do you have any plans this morning?

Gather the laundry.

Well, ok, but what about after you are done with the laundry?

I will put the laundry away- hopefully.  If I’m not too tired.

Well, you’ve got to do SOMETHING else.  A day is a whole 24 hours.

Sure.  Of course I’ll do something else.  I’ll probably be forced to use the bathroom once or twice.  And maybe while the wash is washing, and the dryer is drying I’ll be able to read an article or two in a magazine.  Maybe.  Luckily for me the complex I live in has a laundry room that includes an air conditioner, a sofa and a TV.  It also has a recliner but if I’m summoning up energy to do the laundry I probably should reserve the energy it requires to get out of a recliner. 

I remember going to Plymouth Plantation when I was a kid and they would always make a big deal out of how the Pilgrims had to take a whole day to do laundry.  Back then they called it washing day and had to use a river and fire and beat their clothes with rocks or something.  The people in the fake pilgrim hats at Plymouth Plantation made such a big deal about how it took the poor pilgrims all day to get their clothes clean.  But I can totally relate.  It takes all day for me to get my clothes clean too.  And I don’t even have the nice water view they did.

But alas, back to the present.  Now is the day and there’s no point in comparing hardships with people who lived almost 400 years ago.  And, I’m not sure, but they probably didn’t even have a rinse cycle.

I’ve prepared well.

I made sure to go to the bank to get the quarters I needed.  Then I had to open the rolls to make sure there wasn’t any foreign currency or arcade tokens snuck into the role.  I took care of the quarters 4 days ago.  I hauled the detergent and laundry basket out of the closet too, 3 days ago; less to stress about on the actual day.

Why is this such a project?  Do I have a whole army to do laundry for, or even a whole family?

No, it’s just me. 

But it’s piled up a bit as earlier in the week was “take my nephew to the beach day” (and I needed drugs and a whole lot of rest before and after that day.)

Another day was grocery shopping day.  I was feeling pretty good so on grocery shopping day I was also able to get some errands done-awesome!  I was able to cross several things off my list and combine 2 days!

(Except I had to rest a whole lot the next day so maybe not.)

Back to laundry.

I need to wash my sheets and towels and clothes and it’s going to take several loads.

Hopefully, if I’m lucky, I can get it all done today.  It will take a couple of trips to put all the dirty clothes in my car.  Then I will drive 100 feet away to the laundry room.

Next will be a couple of loads to haul into the building.  I’ll put the loads in (if all three washers are available.)  Then rest.

I’ll hope that if anyone else is in the laundry room and wants to chat they won’t be offended if I say that I would love to chat too, but I just need to sit down for a bit while I do.

When said laundry is done, a couple more trips to the car and a couple more trips into the house will be required.

Ideally, I’ll still have energy to put the now clean clothes away so I don’t dirty them up again before I have even gotten them out of the doorway.

In the old days, back when I was like 20, this was all something I did after work and before I met up with my friends for drinks.

Not anymore.

It’s the way of MS fatigue.

And it’s the way of having clean clothes and not stinking too bad so my friends still want to get together when it’s “meet friends for a drink” day.

Yes, 2 days ago was laundry day and I’m beyond thrilled to have that done.

So, if you meet anyone who doesn’t quite understand why you’re so tired and what you actually mean by MS fatigue and how it’s different from partying too hard fatigue or working too hard fatigue or not sleeping enough fatigue just explain it to them with these two words, laundry day.

You’re welcome.

And, if you’re curious, today is blog day.  I got up nice and early for it after resting yesterday from laundry day.

I think the time was about 2 PM.