Do you find restaurants exhausting?

[Alvin2]

I don't know what it is, the time sitting, the inability to lay down, the necessity to eat a full meal continuously till finished, the necessity to socialize, the background noise, the stimulation of being outside the house, not having fully recovered from the last PEM, poltergeists (all of the above)?

Your experiences?

 

[Sushi]

the background noise

Is what bothers me the most.

 

[Diwi9]

Feeling like I'm captive. I can do fine at first, but too long a wait and/or too much conversation. I just feel zapped of energy. I used to love eating out and when I get better...I will be wasting money on it again!

 

[Murph]

I'm mild and I'm okay with ones with comfortable chairs. I had a big crash once after going to a fancy place where the tables were high and the chairs were basically stools. For me another big risk factor is not getting enough water. I drink liquid compulsively for my OI and a few hours without at least a litre is a risk.

 

[hellytheelephant]

Is what bothers me the most.

Totally agree- trying to talk whilst being drowned out by background noise. Sitting upright is also a problem for POTS and pain. An outside cafe is better for noise, fresh air and being able to walk about as needed for me.

 

[Valentijn]

I find a way to sit with at least one foot up, usually propped up on another chair.

Background noise generally doesn't bother me, except for when there was a toddler literally running around the hotel restaurant and screaming, sometimes stopping to do it at our table. Staff at the hotel didn't care until we asked for a refund for our upcoming prepaid dinners so we could eat somewhere with basic standards But that one had me on the verge of a breakdown, and I refused to eat there again if the child was still allowed to do that. I couldn't think at all while it was going on, and it was incredibly stressful.

 

[adreno]

I find everything exhausting.

 

[Alvin2]

@Sushi i agree background noise is tiring (something i noticed yesterday), but to me its more then that, even in quiet restaurants i have the same problem

@Diwi9 I agree, though i find its the having to keep going which is essentially what your saying

@adreno I think thats the requisite reply for any PR thread that involves doing something

 

[arewenearlythereyet]

I enjoy eating out , but not the careful planning of when to eat, where, what menu options, how to get there and back etc.

I now eat out when it's less busy (6-7pm). That way I avoid the tail end of shoppers and avoid the noisy packed evening meal people. Comfy chairs and adequate leg room are a prerequisite booths are a pain to get into but you can sit at an angle providing my wife and son sit opposite. Now my son is a bit older it's a relief to be able to eat out somewhere decent without other people's children screaming, dubious stickiness everywhere etc.

 

[Hugo]

Background noise if its a noisy place or even worse music playing. Also eating since theres a lot I cant eat, but I have some places where I know I can eat. If im out with my partner or a close friend socialize is not a big issue, since I know I can relax if I want to.

 

[dangermouse]

Sensory overload is tough for me. Difficulty following conversation with distractions. Word finding is sluggish and often food has to be ordered for me. I'd love to have a meal out but currently that ain't happening as PEM is tough. Socialising is very draining.

 

[hedgehog]

Earplugs help me a lot when there's sensory overstimulation. I feel some immediate relief. I bring them everywhere. Even plugging just one ear, so I can still talk and listen with the other ear, is better than nothing for me.

I try to sit where it's quietest and least busy visually. So, facing a wall and not next to a vending machine or door.

 

[Seven7]

Not since I use earplugs, I use them in all busy places, the noise crashes me more than anything else.

 

[Shoshana]

@Alvin2

I cannot do it anymore, but in answer to your original question,
in your first post on this thread,

I would answer, definitely "ALL of the above! "


Although..... I am not at all certain about the poltergeists. :thumbdown:

 

[me/cfs 27931]

I can often manage restaurants close by, where I can quickly get home to lie down if I get symptoms mid meal. Sitting upright, as is often required in restaurants, can quickly become exhausting.

Fortunately, there a number of decent restaurants within a 10 min (slow) walk or bus ride. And Lyft has also become a real lifesaver for me.

Noise really isn't much of an issue for me, fortunately.

 

[mirshine]

Definitely all of the above! On a goodnday I might manage an hour to an hour and a half. But it has to be quiet and have no stairs.

 

[kiwigirl29]

Yes, especially if I am inside and it is busy!
There is a nice rural cafe, near where i live, with a big outdoor dining area on a grass field, I find that a lot better than a busy cafe/restaurant.

 

[rosie26]

I sit outside. I can stay longer then and leave in better shape. Noise crashes me very quickly, my words become slurred, I feel strain in the eyes and I notice that I also rub my hand over my forehead constantly because I am struggling to function at all. When I get to this stage I need to get home quickly.

 

[Undisclosed]

For me it's excessive background noise which most non-patients don't even notice. I can't even describe what it does to me. I can't even filter out quiet sounds. I do enjoy a meal out in a relatively quiet restaurant though.

 

[justy]

Sitting upright for a long period of time - at home I lay down after eating (or semi-recline). I sit in my wheelchair in restaurants and at home as I cant sit on normal chairs.

The next issue is noise - most restaurants are very noisy - to avoid this we eat out around 6pm. Pizza Express is a favourite of my family, but all of their restaurants, without exception are the noisiest places on earth!

Socialising - always makes me very ill. Im ok if just with close family - but even thern, sitting for longer means talking more.

Lighting and movement - lots of people walking around and sometimes the lighting is an issue.

Getting there and back - I don't go out often so the travel, even in a car being driven is draining in itself before we even get there.

Temperature - In Wales it is usually cold in all public places at all times of the year - eating outside is only possible a couple of weeks of the year - and then you are plagued by wasps and cigarette smokers. I usually always opt to eat in to avoid smokers.

What to eat - being low carb low histamine vegetarian is not easy - often there is nothing for me to eat so all the effort feels pointless - of course I usually manage something, or have to ditch the low carb for the evening, but then I am kept awake all night with stomach pain and reflux, or itching if I eat high histamine.