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Rabbits and M.E.

Elena

Wise Old Thumper
Those of you with bunnies and M.E. how do you get on?

I wasn't feeling too bad when I took on Nutmeg and Smudge but things are getting harder and harder for me. Fortunately I have my parents to help me so I won't loose them but I would like to not burden them and do as much as I can.

What do you do to make things easier? I'm really struggling at the moment with joint pain and it's making it hard to bend down to clean out trays and enclosures and getting the hoover out to make the floor presentable really is doing my back in. I want to get lino down so I can sweep but that's an extra expense and a hassle to do as the lionheads enclosure does not fit through the door so it will have to be dismantled, lino laid and reassembled.

Just looking for some ideas really.

Edited as I am not planning on lying 'lion' on the floor :roll: :lol:
 
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i lift the cage up and put it on the desk when im cleaning it, or you could sit on the floor?
could you put something underneath the cage to make it easier to pick up mess?

just dont over do it :) its good your parents help
 
First of all, have a hug! M.E is such an evil thing to have to deal with. When I had my worst phase in 2008 I could hardly get out of bed at all. My mum looked after the rabbits, which were shed buns at the time, and brought them in for playtime in my room occassionally. She really looked after me emotionally and physically during that time - I don't know what I would have done without her.

What sort of percentage are you on the scale? How long have you had it? Do you work at all? What medication are you on for your joint pain? Do you see a specialist?

Sorry, too many questions... :oops:
 
i lift the cage up and put it on the desk when im cleaning it, or you could sit on the floor?
could you put something underneath the cage to make it easier to pick up mess?

just dont over do it :) its good your parents help

Not really, one is an enclosure 5 foot long and the other a heavy dog crate! They are very good and only really go in their boxes but we do get a smattering of poos escape from the boxes so I was wondering about getting a long fan brush so that I don't have to bend down all the time. I wish I could wave a magic wand and make the carpet lino! :lol:

First of all, have a hug! M.E is such an evil thing to have to deal with. When I had my worst phase in 2008 I could hardly get out of bed at all. My mum looked after the rabbits, which were shed buns at the time, and brought them in for playtime in my room occassionally. She really looked after me emotionally and physically during that time - I don't know what I would have done without her.

What sort of percentage are you on the scale? How long have you had it? Do you work at all? What medication are you on for your joint pain? Do you see a specialist?

Sorry, too many questions... :oops:

I was quite good in 2008 but gone downhill since! I was diagnosed in 2002 and have varied in on the scale from about 30-40% to about 60% in 08 and then back to 20-30% recently. I tried temp PT work in Xmas 08, that's what sent me back down again, I was doing ok until then, at college PT and having a bit of a life! Not on medication, no specialist, my doctor really doesn't do anything pro-active unfortunately!

How are you now? Have you recovered since 2008 very much?
 
I guess I am really stupid when it comes to my ME. I push myself too far everyday and work through all the pain. I say to myself that I wont let it beat me or control me but it always does as I end up hurting even more :roll:

But I refuse to sit down and rest :roll::lol: When I first had it I used a wheelchair for 4 years, when I had a good year in 2006 my muscles were so weak it took me months to build up the strength in them. Now I am on my feet a lot of the time with the bunnies, my legs are always hurting from joint pain and muscle knots but at least they aren't as weak as they were.

I spend all day every day looking after the bunnies but it is at the expense of the rest of my life. I no longer leave the house on my own and often only go out once a week or fortnight for half an hour with Steve. I can't travel in the car and I am so tired most days that I can't cook anything ( except bunny biscuits :lol: ) for us to eat.

But the way I look at it, you only get one chance in life and I want to do something worthwhile with it, even if it kills me :? I know I get frustrated that I can't do more but I guess I am lucky to be able to do what I can even if I have to sacrifice everything else for it :)
 
Not really, one is an enclosure 5 foot long and the other a heavy dog crate! They are very good and only really go in their boxes but we do get a smattering of poos escape from the boxes so I was wondering about getting a long fan brush so that I don't have to bend down all the time. I wish I could wave a magic wand and make the carpet lino! :lol:



I was quite good in 2008 but gone downhill since! I was diagnosed in 2002 and have varied in on the scale from about 30-40% to about 60% in 08 and then back to 20-30% recently. I tried temp PT work in Xmas 08, that's what sent me back down again, I was doing ok until then, at college PT and having a bit of a life! Not on medication, no specialist, my doctor really doesn't do anything pro-active unfortunately!

How are you now? Have you recovered since 2008 very much?

Yes thanks, quite a lot. It took around a year to get over my relapse (blinking norovirus!) but now I'm begining to feel vaguely human again! I even have a part-time job, and do some volunteer work too. It WILL get better for you too, so never lose hope. I think you should try and find a GP who understands - you have rights! You've had it so long now it's clearly not just PVFS, and you need to be referred to a specialist. They should definately give you something to help with the pain too. I could hardly turn my head during the worst phase, cuz my neck and shoulders were so stiff. They gave me Baclofen which was like oiling a rusty gate - it's fantastic! I'd definately ask about that one if I were you! A specialist might also find you an occupational therapist, if you want one. I didn't find mine very helpful but everybody's different, and it may really help you with pacing and that.

Loads and loads of GWS vibes heading your way.
 
Hello another bunny mum M.E'er here :wave:

All I can say is like you my Mum helps me out on very bad days, making sure Dylan is fed, watered, cleaned out & let out for exercise (he is in a cabin in the garden). Dad also likes giving him his brekkie at the weekend so that helps me too & Dylan likes seeing his 'grandad'. But like you I get a 'guilt trip' if I rely on them too much - I'd be a millionaire if I had a pound for everytime I said to them I don't want to be a burden to them!

I find that having lino on his cabin floor definately helps with cleaning & sweeping up easier. I also tend to sit on the floor & clean out his hutch (he has a large hutch within the cabin) making sure before I sit down everything I need is to hand (dustpan & brush, spray, bedding etc) so I don't have to keep getting up & down all the time).
Also with him being litter trained it is easier to clean him out.

All I can say is try & simplify anything you can & make sure you do it slowly & rest when you have finished sorting the buns out. I know very well how frustrating & painful M.E can be & some days Dylan is the only thing that makes me smile & that is priceless to me x
 
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