8:00am I wake up. For a few seconds I might not register any pain- usually that goes away as soon as I gain consciousness. I first feel a tingly stinging in my vulvar area, and a sensitivity in my hip sockets. The pain can often be a burning sensation, too. After getting my bearings, I get up to prepare for a doctor’s appointment.

9:00am I meet with one of many professionals. Today it’s my physical therapist. We work on yoga positions to stretch out my pelvis, vaginal dilation, and external/internal massage of the pelvic floor and vaginal area. It sounds a lot stranger than it has become for me- now having my doctor put pressure on my perineum and inner vaginal muscles is a normal and painful process. This process is even more delicate due to the sensitivity I have with my vulvar tissues.

11am I am back home from the doctor’s and getting ready for work while squeezing in any self-care activities that I can. This usually includes eating a low-inflammatory breakfast (usually a meat and vegetable), showering, and doing yoga/meditation/theracane. With showering, I only use scent free products so as not to agitate my skin. After showering, I put on loose skirts or pants and avoid tight clothing that could make my symptoms worse. My cats like to help out with my self-care routine, too. It’s a race everyday to get as much done as I can!

12pm I drive and walk to work. I work at an airport, so it takes about 30 minutes to drive there and 30 minutes to walk from my car, through TSA, to my business’ office. This process affects me more when I feel more tense and more pain. I sometimes use elevators to ease the strain on my body- but that also means it takes more time to get to work

1pm-9pm I am at work. I work at a clothing store at the airport. Luckily that means the work is low-intensity in terms of walking and lifting things. On top of that, my work lets me use a chair so I can rest sometimes. I make sure to sit in a way where there is little restriction on my vulva. During breaks I can sometimes squeeze in meditation or pelvic floor stretches- but the airport is very busy and there isn’t often a quiet place to do this. Consequently, I go to the back closet or the changing room if no one is trying on clothing.

9pm I drive and walk back home.

10pm I am home and able to eat some dinner, change out of work clothes, and maybe fit in a couple things before bed. Some days I take a sitz bath, where I use epsom salt, apple cider vinegar, and baking soda to reduce the inflammation of my body. It usually helps a bit with my vulvar pain, too. If I am feeling high energy, I sometimes hang out with friends during this time. Then I organize my things for the next day, do some last minute cleaning, and head to bed.

11:30pm Bedtime. It is important that I sleep for around 8 hours, since many of my pelvic floor muscles only truly relax and stop clenching when I am asleep. It also gives time for my body to recover from the hard day.

Let me know what your day is like with chronic pain! I’d be happy to collaborate and share your post if you want, or just commiserate.