Fibromyalgia Chronicles

Stress Free Is The Way to Be

2010-05-18T09:59:00.000-07:00

I can't express enough how important it is to be as stress free in your life if your dealing with these medical conditions: Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Stress affects our health in numerous ways. It makes us tired, it contributes to weight gain, it messes with our mental abilities and physical capabilities. If your dealing with alot of stress in your personal life I recommend you do what it takes to get rid of it. Whether that is marriage counseling if your marital life is suffering, personal counseling if your just not coping with anything, and if it is a family issue the family should all be there to give support, their time and their love to the one's who need it. If it is more serious, and the people you live with are not supportive or abusive I recommend at least a minimum of one year counseling for all people involved and if there is no change in attitude or behavior and no support then I recommend you seperate yourself from these people...I know thats not what most of you may want to hear but after living with it in my own life and dealing with some of these same issues...either counseling will improve things or if not, get out!!!! Your health and your life are what is important...not what this other person wants to control in your life.

If your not sure where to start in relieving stress I recommend some things to get you started:

1)Lock yourself in the bathroom, turn on the radio and soak in a hot bubble bath for an hour, or two.
2)Don't let your own family consume your every waking minute of each day...you also need your "Me" time...get out of that house and go for a walk by yourself or take your pet with you.
3)Exercise..ya, I know I said the dreaded word. But it truly does help with reducing the stress hormone Cortisol which adds to your ever increasing weight problem....so get outdoors for a walk even if you can only do 5-10 minutes a day. It's a start, don't push yourself hard...but take it easy for the first few weeks and listen to what your body tells you...you know those muscles and ligaments and tendons and organs really do talk to our brain.
4)Now a word to those who are unable to get out of bed or have problems with it...I was there once...I know what that pain is like, I've been curled up in a ball of pain crying my eyes out because it hurt so bad...something that helped me is I got myself an electric blanket and wrapped up in it before bedtime and kept it on all night on a low enough setting yet warm enough to keep my muscles smooth and limber in the morning. Heat really does help!!! So try this for a few days and once your up and about...keep moving, because the more you move the more limber and flexible those muscles will become.
5)Have a friend over and watch a movie and have healthy munchies on hand, like fruit, raw vegetables (no dip), and water with lemon or lime in it to substitute for that buttery popcorn and sodapop.
6)Plant some flowers in your yard, amazing what some beautiful color does to the mind.
7)If your not in school, or don't have the money for it...check out books at the library that will teach you new things...whether its "how to plant flowers, shrubs and trees" or "how to make candles, soaps, perfumes" or "how to make curtains, drapes, tablecloths, etc" or "how to start your own business" or "how to publish your book" or "100 things you can do with your kids"..and so much more. Read, Read and Read some more!!!
8)Sunshine...can't express enough that you must get at least 20 minutes a day of straight sunshine...good old Vitamin D. It not only lifts your mood, it keeps your bones strong and strong bones help support those muscles and body of ours.
9)Get out of debt...try Dave Ramsey...amazingly good. There are a few programs out there but each of you will have to find what works for you but once your on that road to getting out of debt you will be amazed at how the stress load lightens up and your moods are brighter.
10)Pray...I know some of you might not know what you believe in, or who GOD is, or just don't believe in GOD but I can share my walk of faith with you....and let you know that GOD has been there more times for me and lifted me out of those deep dark pits of despair more times than I care to admit even to myself. So pray every day...you just might be surprised at the outcome.

Ok, hoping someone out there who also struggles with their health has found some comfort in these blog messages of mine and on the road to recovery...may you each find blessings in your life daily and remember that each day has its own worries so leave tomorrows worries for the next day and focus only on this day, today, and rejoice for what you have been given.

Feelin' Like I'm 20 Something Again

2009-03-28T17:09:00.000-07:00

Hmmm...sittin' here thinking about the past month since I started my new medication. Can't believe how much energy I've had and have been able to work full-time again and even doing some overtime at work...hopefully this will continue so can get caught up on stuff.

Some of you asked me to let you know how I did on the new medication...so here it is. I really do feel like I'm in my 20's again....amazing how much I've gotten done this month and have even been doing some spring cleaning in the house, going for long walks around the town (small quiet neighborhood) with my daughter at least 3 times a week now and doing a little bit of aerobics at the house.

And I also believe as it has turned warmer with the spring weather it has helped out too as I can soak up some much needed sunshine and get out and stretch my legs and work my muscles. I've been taking it slow and just building up to going a little further each time I walk and adding another stretch or aerobic move to my workout each week and yes I do still feel some pain after I've walked or exercised and use my heating pad and electric blanket at nights faithfully as heat really helps the aches and pains and when it is too much I do take my Flexeril and Mobic at nights...but it is not every night.

Oh Ya, and before I forget (lol...memory still foggy sometimes) I have started losing the weight...nearly 8 pounds total now....wonder what I will weigh next month on my checkup?!! The new medication is working and helping my metabolism swing back into gear...slowly but nonetheless it is starting. This won't be something I will take permanently for several years but a few months this year to revv up my metabolism and give me the energy needed and then will see how things go.

Even though I am using medication to help me out now I am a believer also in doing all natural if at all possible and I did do that for a couple of years (still eat as all organic as possible and try to use as many natural products as possible) but there are also times you just have to take that step and tell your doctor you need help because your a mom, a wife, a career woman, and you can't spend every day in bed trying to fight off the bone draining exhaustion and the deep muscle ache and burn - so thankfully after much prayer about it I chose to ask my doctor for help with getting my metabolism kickstarted and having enough energy to do my job, take care of my kids and husband and sleep well during the night.

I don't regret any of the decisions I've chosen so far about regaining my health and will keep you posted on my progress.

God Bless to All.

Medication's

2009-02-28T09:59:00.000-08:00

Well, I can say I honestly don't like taking medications, though I do. I'm on three medications right now for my Fibromyalgia.

Mobic (to help relieve the inflammation this disease brings into my joints and muscles)
Flexiril (to help my muscles relax enough so i am not in so much pain all the time)
Phentermin (this is my newest med, to help me lose weight and speed my metabolism back up)

My goal is to lose the nearly 50 pounds I've put on since my hysterectomy seven years ago with the help of the newest medication, Phentermin. It is only a temporary medication to speed up my metabolism and help me get started in losing the weight..not something I am taking for a long period of time. Right now, my doctor is prescribing it for 30 days...I am hoping and praying it gives me the energy needed to get through my days better and to speed up my metabolism enough that I can actually see the weight loss.

The exercise and diet changes I have done the past two years have done absolutely nothing to help me lose weight...in fact, the opposite occurred...i gained about 8 pounds. It is really frustrating to me too...as I never had an issue with weight or weight problems growing up or even after I had my children. Only after my hysterectomy and a serious 3 car wreck I was in which brought out the Fibromyalgia did I see my weight increase each year.

Of course I am over 40 and all our metabolism's slow down considerably as we age..it is a part of life. My concern is though with so much heart disease in my family I am at more of a risk now due to the weight gain not only for heart problems but diabetes as well. So I've got to lose this weight and be more energetic like I was in my late 20's and early 30's!!!

Wish me luck and pray all works...not only does my health depend on it but my career and family too.

The Cost

2009-01-20T05:21:00.000-08:00

I was checking online at some of the different doctors who claim they can cure Fibromyalgia to see what all was involved and how much it cost. Below is a copy of an email I was sent by one of the representatives for The Fibromyalgia Relief Center. It is expensive so I would definitely check further and make sure that this place is legit and there are alot of reports of people you can speak with who have gone through this treatment and either cured now or at least living a more normal life before flying out there.

Copy of Email Below:

Dear Cindy, it was great visiting with you today. I've attached the treatment cost information for you and Shaun to go over. I have some great news for you, the doctor is offering $1000 off the treatment cost. You can apply that towards your lodging. Look over the information and I will get back with you. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Gentle Hugs,

Sharon Bach
Fibromyalgia Relief Center

Costs for Treatment, Travel and Stay in Lake Tahoe California at the Treatment Center Below:
FIBROMYALGIA RELIEF CENTER
*TREATMENT COST INFORMATION*

Cost for 8 Weeks of Treatment: $300/initial consult $7000 pd in full or
$65/treatment x 15/wk x 8 wks

Airfare: Cost varies

Lodging: Selected hotels start at around $700/month. You may rent a cabin or condo prices will vary depending on location, size and season.

Transportation: A rental car is recommended if you do not already have your own vehicle. The approximate cost for a vehicle is around ($600-700+/Month). The city of So. Lake Tahoe does however have a transit bus system for a minimum amount.

Massage: Most patients start massage on their 3-4th week of treatment. You will have two (2) l hr. massages a week. Cost is $75/hr. (massage is highly recommended, but not mandatory).

After-Care: Pronex or adjusting tool for $320. You will need one of the two devices when you complete treatment for the at home care.

Financing: Care Credit is a medical/dental credit card company. The financing application is processed through our office and only takes a few minutes to complete. (Excluding: Canada)

Insurance: (we are not an insurance provider)

We do not file with insurance. Once treatment is completed we will provide a statement of treatment and claim form. You can submit the claim forms to your insurance carrier for reimbursement. Each insurance company is different, so check with them to find out what they will pay for chiropractic care.

The doctor's name is Dr. Whitcomb and his website is: www.stopfibro.com. For your own research and info. I would look up this website and check directly with them on costs, time, and treatment. I personally can not afford this amount as I am a young mom, working, raising kids and just don't have 8 to 10 weeks I can take away from work...though a stay in California would be wonderful : )

Tis the Season'

2009-01-13T16:25:00.000-08:00

Winter time is the worst!! This illness is running through the house, no sooner does one of us get better than the next one is coming down with something..uggg!

I went to the doctor today as Sunday night I started coughing and sneezing and just feeling miserable and by Monday I could barely talk, my throat hurt, ears stuffed up and nose all stuffed up and feeling like my head is going to explode.

My strep test came back negative thankfully but I do have the flu so was told to rest in bed alot, drink lots of fluids and could think about going back to work Thursday. So am putting a call into work tonight as know I may not have a voice come morning as scratchy as my throat is.

The time away from work taking care of my daughter, then son and now myself has really hurt financially but I know God will provide for us, I have faith He is always there taking care of our needs. But as soon as I am better and up I am seriously going to look for a part-time second job on top of my first job for some evening hours and possible weekends to make up financially what all the down sick time has done over the past few weeks.

Well, I'm off to bed and drinking some hot tea.

A New Year Has Arrived

2009-01-08T12:44:00.000-08:00

Well Christmas time came and went in my household...it was for the most part a good holiday. We spent it at home this year, just us, so nice and quiet. I did work Christmas Day..ugg, right? It wasn't too bad as I was home in the morning so we got to watch the kids open their gifts and they watched us open ours.

December and January are for the most part pretty bad months health wise in our home. Our daughter Kim caught Strep again and the flu bug, then developed Bronchitis. It took her a couple weeks to recover from it but is now back to her bouncy self. She however spread the illness to the rest of us in the house. I got Strep and a touch of the stomach flu, then my husband caught it along with a bad case of Bronchitis. All of us have finished our medication and doing a little better....then our son Ky, gets some strange rash all over his body. His Pediatrician has given him over the last couple of months several different antibiotics and cream which none of these have worked or cured this rash. It took 4 trips to the Pediatrician and several different diagnosis's with his pediatrician finally telling me to take him to a specialist.

So this week, on Monday, I took him to an Allergy Specialist. This doctor is an older man, and checked Ky out, and also took 2 tubes of blood from him to send to the lab to be tested for a few different types of allergies. We go back next Tuesday for the actual skin allergy testing. In the meantime we are giving Ky a steroid (Prednisilone) daily to help with the rash on his entire body. He also has to take a bath daily with the Aveeno bath soak and soap. For now we have to take out of his diet: ripe bananas, red apples, strawberries, raspberries, mushrooms, hard cheeses, vinegar/salad dressings, olives, any fermented foods as these foods have a natural mold which helps them ripen and ferment.

I've also spent the last couple of days doing mounds of laundry to kill any dust mites that are lingering in the bedding and house. So all of Ky's clothes, bedding, blankets, pillows have been washed in hot water and dried in a hot dryer along with all the bath towels and wash clothes. I've also gotten the Febreze Allergy Reducer Spray and have put it on the carpets and furniture.
All of this seems to be helping as I've noticed today he is not itching as often. (now even though I have fibromyalgia and hypoglycemia and I am pouring all of my time and energy into caring for my family right now...I am sleeping when they sleep during the day and night and I am keeping my thoughts positive about things in general and reading my bible and praying daily and all of this is helping me to stay upbeat and positive and healthy)

Ky has run a fever off and on for the last few days and now has missed 4 days of school. I feel sorry for him that this weekend he will be at the table catching up on all that school work. I am hoping tonight he sleeps the night through without waking up so he can go back to school tomorrow and I can return to work.

So far my New Year is not promising to be better in the health department...we are hoping this is the last of the illness's for the year and that with warmer weather on its way that our spring and summer and fall will be full of health, laughter, love, warm hugs and not missing any work or school.

Did You Ever Have One Of Those Days?

2008-12-23T17:32:00.000-08:00

Today I had one of those days! You know the kind where you wished you had stayed in bed under the warm blankets, eyes still closed to the world outside.

I've tried very hard to be positive, but the tears are slipping through the cracks in my emotional state right now. It all started this morning, kind of that straw that broke the camel's back syndrome. My first call of the day at work was not fun, all 20 minutes of it! Somehow my simple greeting and trying to get information turned my customer into a real complainer...seems like all I did was apologize, empathize and sympathize throughout the call only to be told she was an employee of ours too and I wasn't good enough at my job. (I've only worked for this company nearly 11 years now!)

So the rest of my day was spent trying to get my talk time on the phone down to the required status...it just didn't happen for me, again. Seems like I have more and more days like this anymore-which my doctor tells me is unfortunately, part of my illness.

You see, with Fibromyalgia, I have this "brain fog" - a term used to mean that our brains do not think clearly anymore. It seems like I experience this alot. That is one of the reasons I started to take the Gotu Kola, hoping it would help me. I took it for two weeks straight and yes it did help some, but it also caused me to be jittery feeling especially at night while I was trying to sleep. So I stopped taking it until I can meet with my doctor and talk about this.

The past couple of months have been rough (due to the strep virus I caught a month ago and also the severe cold weather we have been getting lately here). The electric blanket my husband got me last winter on sale has been a tremendous help most days in keeping my muscles warm and flexible enough for me to get out of bed in the mornings and make it to work.

This illness has caused me to miss alot of work the past year and a half, though I have fought against it everyday. I hate being sick. I hate missing work because I've made some great friends there and I love getting out of the house, being around people and talking. I hate it when I am so sick I can't move out of bed. Sometimes I feel like I am only half here anymore...like a part of me is gone.

Well back to my day today...I came home from work and cleaned my kitchen, made my bed, took care of my cats, put salt out on the driveway and sidewalk as we are getting a slight sleet rain mix and the temperature is dipping lower. Then I started dinner, chicken and dumplings..warm comfort food. I took over a Christmas gift to my neighbor and her two boys and came home and relaxed a little waiting for my husband to get home.

After dinner and our Tuesday night family movie, my husband and I chatted a little because he wants to take the trucks in and get the oil changed. Cool, I thought. Then he asked why I parked my truck in the garage if I have so much of a problem getting it out of there and up the drive. (Oh boy, I thought, as the tears just automatically start coming...what is wrong with me?)
(Our driveway slopes down towards the garage so when the drive ices up it is impossible to get the truck up out of there...my only thought though was I can park it in the garage overnight, and not have to deal with scraping ice off the windows and wait until it warms up mid day and then take it out of the garage)

So, after that I just headed for the bedroom and my computer here because writing helps me get out all these emotional feelings that are weighing me down. Later I think I am going to read some Psalms or Proverbs. I love those two books in the bible.

Well, for those of you who read this, say a prayer for me. Pray that this new year brings renewed health for me, and not so many tears.

A Good Day Yesterday

2008-12-06T08:31:00.000-08:00

Friday, yesterday, was a good day for me. I felt really good, energetic, alert, refreshed like I had slept really well the night before. It showed in my work performance Friday as I kept my Stats where they should have been, and it helped that the calls were easier than they have been in the past few weeks.

I'm still taking the new nutrients I added recently to my diet, Gotu Kola and Acai Berry Splash Drink, and it really seems to help with the energy level and concentration/alertness. I will continue to take them as it is a 30 day supply and will record how it helped or not.

Today (Saturday) I am going to do some exercise with the resistance band my physical therapist gave me and do some laps up and down my stairs inside the house for cardio. I am exercising every other day as I give a day for my muscles to rest and adjust after exercising.

The weather is alot colder these past few days so I am using my electric blanket every night and the heating pad as needed to keep my muscles warm. And for blood circulation I use a soft bristle brush and rub it across my skin on my legs, arms, hips and back as this also helps keep me warm. My daughter, bless her, also massages my shoulders and back on the days I don't exercise to keep the muscles loose and relaxed, of course, I return the favor and rub her back also at bedtime as it helps her relax to go to sleep.

Not much new lately so will check back in and post in a few days. Have a good week.

November 2008 Journal Notes

2008-11-29T06:02:00.001-08:00

It is that time of year outdoors now where the weather is really cold and damp. Today we have snow coming down. I am not a winter person at all...give me sunshine and flowers anyday.

This time of year is rough for me health wise as the cold air and temperatures are not good for the Fibromyalgia. My muscles and joints ache daily, some days it is mild, some days it really hurts alot. I'm learning to adjust and live with this though my prayers always include for my Lord to take it all away and heal my body so I can be out doing what He wants me to.

I get reprieves or remission from this illness, mostly in the spring and summer months. It is these months I do all I possibly can to work hard at my job, take care of my family, and help others as I know God would want me to. I find it a blessing though that those months during the winter that I do not get around as well and only work a part-time shift at my job that I have more time with my children to talk with them, watch a movie on tv with them and munch on popcorn, to talk about school and church, and also to enjoy some of the simple pleasures of life, like reading a really good book, soaking in long hot baths, reading my bible and studying it more, and time to actually cook new things for my husband and children.

I have vowed to remain positive throughout my illness and to always be thankful to God for all the blessings He does provide me, whether I ask for them or not. These last few days I have felt very sore, though I am staying happy in spirit, so off to GNC I went as I just felt this urge to go.

I picked up Gotu Kola which is reported to help with tissue swelling, rheumatoid arthritis, depression, memory and concentration improvement, boosting memory and easing anxiety. My doctor gives me Mobic for inflammation (painful swelling) of the tissues around my muscles and also Flexeril, for a muscle relaxant, as my muscles get very tight and hard like rocks with the Fibromyalgia. I don't take these on a daily basis though this is how it is prescribed as I try very hard to rely on hot baths, massage, heating pads, my electric blanket, warm clothes, stretching exercises and walking a little to relieve the pain and soreness and also my daily vitamins and supplements to help too.

Today is my second day on Gotu Kola, so I will keep you all posted on the effects of this and whether I see any improvement in my tissue swelling, painful joints, and memory/concentration issues. I've also added Acai Berry drink to my diet as it states it helps with energy levels and supplies 100 mg of Anthocyanins and 3,800 ORAC per serving to do away with free radicals in the body that can damage healthy cells. It is said to be drank by the South American Indians as a honey sweetened drink and also combining it with granola and bananas as a meal. They have been taking this for hundreds and hundreds of years and use it for the health benefits it provides so I am trying it to see how I feel.

I will keep you all posted monthly on how I am doing, what works and doesn't work for me, and to let you know that I am writing a book (just started) so hopefully someday this will help others with their own Fibromyalgia.

Detoxification-Journal Notes 2007

2008-11-06T12:51:00.000-08:00

I'm just getting over a sinus head cold and strep, so haven't spent time working on these posts here. Below are some of my notes and things I did in 2007 to help me feel better.
My doctor gave me an antibiotic and a B12 shot yesterday, and I went to bed at 830pm (early for me) and slept till about 930am, so I am feeling better today and going on back to work tomorrow.

Last year when I detoxified myself I did a few different things with my diet:
1) I drank only water (tried to get in at least 70 to 75 ounces a day)
2) I ate more organic grown vegetables and fruits and meats, did away with canned goods.
3) I would soak in a tub of Salts (combo of Epsom salt, Baking Soda, Hydrogen Peroxide)
once a week (always shower off after the 20-30 minute soak)
4) I would exercise 30 minutes a day
5) I would sit in a sauna once to twice a week for as long as I could stand it to sweat out toxins
then would shower off afterwards.
6) I would make sure I got 8 to 9 hours a sleep a night.
7) I cut out of my diet all processed foods, fast foods, coffees/teas, and all sugarery foods
8) I had a massage once a week for the first 3 months, then every other week after.

Some other ways you can detoxify your body:
Liver Detoxify: to flush toxins out of your liver and cleanse you can get the juice of a lemon or lime enough to make 1 cup and add it to the same amount of Spring Water and drink it--do not add sugar!! (i've tried this...it does seem to help you go to the bathroom more)

Lymphatic Drainage: Bounce for 5-15 min. a day on a mini trampoline...if you don't have this just jump up and down, wearing good rubber soled tennis shoes. (the only thing i think i got from this was a goofy grin upon my husbands face!)

Skin Brushing: Before your shower, take a soft natural bristle brush and lightly rub it in circles upon your body to stimulate blood circulation. (this feels really good and really does seem to stimulate blood circulation and makes your skin feel tingly and have a healthy color)

Bath Soaks:
1 pd. Rock Salt or Sea Salt plus 1 pd. Baking Soda into your hot bath water - this is good for fatigue, dizziness, headaches and muscle aches.
2 pds Baking Soda in Hot Bath and soak until water is cool - this is good for sore mouth-throats and indigestion
2 cups Apple cider vinegar to hot bath and stay until cooled - this is good for muscle aches, pains and fatigue.
(i've tried all but the apple cider vinegar and yes, it really does help achy muscles!!)

Intestine Cleansing: Blend of 80% insoluble fiber plus 20% soluble fiber from Flaxseed and Fruit Pectin mixed with Vitamin C powder and fruit juices. (this concoction i have not tried as of yet) (i did try a few over the counter stuff from my local walgreens pharmacy as well that said it was for detoxification...the drink thing was horrible tasting..uuggg!! with this i really did not see any improvement)

With whatever you may try to help detoxify your body, keep a positive attitude, and good luck.

Today is a Bad Day

2008-10-31T17:11:00.000-07:00

I slept until nearly 9:00 AM after going to bed at 9:00 PM, yet it doesn't feel like I've slept at all hardly. I've cried about a half dozen times today..uugg! Just not feeling so well today.

My kids are home today. They have been very good, quiet, and cleaned their rooms and did their own laundry and helped out by vacuuming the house and making beds.

My hands are ok, but my shoulders, upper back, neck, legs and arms ache. It is some sharp pain, some burning, some throbbing kind of all rolled into one feeling. I forced myself to move about the house today, swept the kitchen floor, made my bed and cooked dinner and washed a few dishes.

I sat down for awhile and picked up my copy of the book "From Fatigued to Fantastic" by Jacob Teitelbaum, MD. I was reading bits and pieces of it sort of flipping through the pages. It is very informative, interesting, and makes me want to talk with my doctor about implementing some of the stuff in my own life and see if I don't start feeling even better than I did earlier this year.

I'm tired so going to sign off here and go lay down a bit and rub some cream into my sore leg muscles, maybe it will help a bit.
Goodnight.

My Journal Notes -2007 Continued

2008-10-29T08:28:00.001-07:00

The year is almost over. Last year I spent at least half of the year home, ill and in bed. This year, however, after the diet changes, detoxification, adding nutrients my body was deficient in, and physical therapy, massage therapy, and water therapy my body did respond and improved overall health had me back on my feet, back to work, loving life.

I did good from late Feb. 08 to late Sept. 08 - no illnesses in our house. I was healthy and it showed. I do believe the steps I took last year to detoxify my body and adding the much needed nutrients, which we sorely lack in all of today's processed foods, back into my system definitely improved my quality of life.

There are, I believe, 3 steps to regaining your health back:
(1) Take antibiotics for whatever bacteria/virus's or pathogens you may have.
(2) Detoxify your body to help repair your cellular and systemic damage
(3) Don't do the same lifestyle and emotional patterns in the future.

I spent last year working on these steps. There are still some tests I believe my doctor needs to do, there are still some vitamin/nutrient/supplements I should add to my diet and I still am reading everything I can get my hands on about Fibromyalgia and searching the internet for information so I can help myself, to be more informed, know what questions to ask my doctor, what tests she might recommend we do and what tests I feel might be necessary, and mostly taking it one day at a time, asking for help when I need it and relying more on my family members or friends to help me out during those days when I am not feeling so well.

Some of the tests I have already had done are: Hormone Testing, CBC Blood Test, Urine Test, Heavy Metal Toxicity Screening, Allergy Testing, and Adrenal Tests.

Some of the tests I still need are: Anti-Candida Antibodies Panel, Stool Analysis, and Enzyme/Nutrional Deficiencies tests.

I've listed on the right a Vitamin/Supplement List of what I take regularly with my diet. I still need to add a few things as money allows like:
* N-Acetyl-Cysteine, 500 mg twice a day (this helps reduce radical damage to dna and prevents depletion of antioxidants.
* Olive Leaf Extract, which is said to allow our bodies immune system to attack virus's.

My diet now is mostly: Raw vegetables and fruits, some chicken and eggs from a local farm, some fish that my husband catches locally for us, occasionally beef if we have a mexican or italian theme for dinner. Lunches are mostly salads, soups, or half a sandwich w/soup.
I occasionally partake: Dairy products once or twice a week, mostly milk and ice cream and cheese. Fast Food is mostly a No-No for us, but as it is how we use to eat all the time we do about once or twice a month have either a pizza, which I add a homemade salad too., and occasionally a burger.
Things I've Deleted Out of My Diet: Soda's, Starbucks, Cakes & Cookies, except at the kid's birthdays, and most candies.

Exchanges you can make with your food:
Throw out the White Bread and replace it with Whole Grain Breads
Throw our White Sugar and replace it with Stevia or Honey
Throw out White Potatoes and replace it with Sweet Potatoes/Yams
Throw out the Soda and replace it with Iced Lemon Water/Decaffienated Tea/Herbal Teas
Throw out Starbucks Mixed Coffee Drinks and replace it with Small Cup Black Coffee/Hot Tea
Throw out Canned Vegetables and replace with Garden Fresh Vegetables/or Frozen Vegetables
Throw out Canned Fruits and replace with Fresh Fruit (use organic dried fruit in winter)

Just these few small changes in my diet really helped my body to feel better. Now, true, I occasionally backslide and pick up a Starbucks Coffee but only when I am feeling 100% good.
Try these changes and see if you don't start feeling better.

My next post will be about Detoxifying Your Body, until then, have a great day.

My Journal Notes -2007

2008-10-28T10:39:00.000-07:00

Last year, 2007, was a very rough year for me. I was home more, sleeping 16 to 18 hours a day, and most days hurting alot as my muscles screamed out in pain.

A few of my notes from last year's journal are notated below, and will include my weight loss and gain, prescription medications I took, herbal and vitamin supplements I took, exercise and therapy I did.

In May 07 I weighed about 164, the heaviest I have ever been in my life. I use to be skinny, much like my own daughter is today. Even after giving birth to my two kids I regained my pre-pregnancy weight of 124. The 30 to 40 pounds extra not only came on due to my illness but also because I had a hysterectomy in early 2000. 30 of those pounds alone came from the hysterectomy and the drastic shift in my hormones not being there anymore.

Over the next few months I lost down to 158. Not much, but anything is better than nothing. Though by that winter I had put it all back on and ugg, felt miserable. My weight was never a issue in my childhood where the doctors always told my parents I was severly underweight for my age and height, then in my teen years through high school graduation I never topped more than 92 pounds. College came and went and I did add a little bit of weight and topped off at 110 pds. My first marriage and some of that stress, loss of my baby through miscarriage, and finally a divorce added another 8 pds and by the time I met and fell in love with my 2nd husband I weighed just under 120 pds. And I would continue to weigh this from 1993 through 2000, when after the hysterectomy each year I added about 10 or so pounds to my frame.

No matter how much I watched what I ate, or the exercise I did, I kept putting on weight slowly. Talk about depressing. I don't consider myself obese, though the doctor's chart says otherwise, for I am 5'5", average for a woman in height, wear a size 12 to 14 in jeans depending on the brand and a large in shirts. So for being underweight all my life and actually having curves now, it is something new for me and sometimes I think back to when I did weigh less and miss it, but all in all, for my age, what I have been through, my illness, the hysterectomy, I consider myself fortunate that I don't topple the scales over 200 pds. I now consider my weight more in the terms of health issues, not beauty issues like I did years ago...I use to think 120 pds was too much, Hmphh!!

My appetite ranged from not eating at all and nauseated most of the day, to somewhat eating light foods, to eating everything in sight some days. I know some of this is due to the Hypoglycemia I have as to regulate my blood sugar I have to eat about every 2 to 3 hours around the clock so it doesn't crash and I become so nauseous that I am running to the bathroom becoming ill. And those days where I ate mostly all day also helped pack on the pounds. Anyone have a magic wand out there to fix this? Let me know.

Between May 07 through Dec 07, I worked off and on, worked part time hours, was home alot sleeping, taking my medications (Flexeril, Mobic, and vitamins/supplements) as well as going through massage therapy, physical therapy, and water therapy. I still do most of this to this day as it is what gives quality back to my life by striving to be as healthy as I can possibly be.

A book I was reading then was titled, " Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia & Lyme Disease" by Burton Goldberg & Larry Trivieri Jr. It really opened my eyes to all the toxins we put in our bodies and how it affects our health. It made me become more conscious of what I eat, and drink and what products I put on my body. It also gave me the courage to talk with my wonderful doctor and have her run a battery of tests on me to determine that I definitely did not have certain things so we could rule out those. Several blood tests later we had checked for heavy metals and found a small trace of Arsenic in my blood...Hmphh! Wonder where that came from? Did you know this can come from canned tuna, and certain fish and seafood as well as your own drinking water? Of course my first thought was ...who is poisoning me? I strongly recommend you ask your doctor for a thorough blood test screening for all heavy metals as well as tests for other auto immune diseases.

I took the time to follow my doctors orders as well as took some of the advice from this book and changed my diet even more drastically and put more organic grown foods in my system doing away with processed foods. I took the time to detoxify my system (more on this in a upcoming post) and I opted to add in vitamins and supplements that my body was deficient in, Vit. D being the big one I seriously lacked. No wonder my bones ached!!
Until next time, have a great day. In Christs Love, Cindy

My Past & Diagnosis

2008-10-28T08:47:00.000-07:00

To many of you just diagnosed with Fibromyalgia I can empathize with you. For I too have Fibromyalgia.

I remember only twice that I was very ill as a child, so my health nowadays really just exasperates me at times. I hate being sick. I hate not being able to do the things I love most. I hate not being there in whole for my family and friends. Why? Because I love life, and enjoy being with those I love and having the energy to do it all!!!

The first time I was in the hospital was when I was very young at about the age of 5 or 6 because I had become dehydrated. This was not from my parents lack of taking care of me at all but from my own self, who absolutely hated to drink water. I still don't like it to this day as most times I can taste the chlorine that the city puts in it to purify it...Uggg!! So nowadays I add lemons and limes to it so that it doesnt taste so bad going down. Wish I had thought of that as a child.

The next time I was hospitalized was when I was about 10 or 11 years of age. My mom had been fixing my hair that morning while I stood in front of the mirror watching her. The next thing I remember is waking up in the hospital. My parents say I fainted. I can remember a little bit about that time, like the room going darker and darker and feeling very warm. It is all I remember though. I know I had to stay in the hospital and I know they did alot of tests but after I was released from the hospital there was no diagnosis of what was wrong with me. The doctor told my parents it was a virus and had to run its course. Little did doctors know then what is known now.

The next time I became ill like that was in my early 20's when at work I blacked out again. One of my co-workers caught me before I hit the floor and carried me to the break room while my dad was called to come pick me up. Dad took me home and I slept for nearly two days. I did not go to the hospital this time as being young, not living at home with my parents, a minimum income job I could not afford a hospital bill. So I slept, and slept some more.

It would be many years later before my next collapse. I had given birth to my son in Aug. 1995 and was a stay at home mom as had a toddler daughter who was born the previous year in Feb. 1994, so yes, I had my hands full. I was not sleeping good, usually managing about 3 to 4 hours a night, as I was nursing my son who liked to think it was time to eat every hour around the clock. He was nearly 6 months old and I had put him in his crib and walked out my front door to stand on the porch and just get a breath of fresh air when suddenly out of nowhere I get very dizzy and feel myself falling. I was able to catch the door as I went down and a neighbor was there to see it and helped me back into my home onto the couch. He called my husband at work who flew home in about 8 minutes on a 15 minute drive. Yes, I was back in the hospital.
The doctors did another round of tests. I was sent home and told I was Hypoglycemic and would begin a new diet and consultation with a Nutritionist. As Diabetes runs very strongly in my dad's side of the family, I was cautioned very strongly on what to eat and not eat. So began the months of changing recipes, buying more fruits and vegetables and adding fish into my diet. I hate most fish and most seafood!! Over the next few years I would get these funky dizzy spells that left me very tired and disoriented and unable to walk on my own.

That year, in 2000, due to some female problems, I had a hysterectomy. I was only 35 years old. That is another long story in itself, lets just say Hot Flashes, Mood Swings, Dry Skin and Hair, Crying, Not Sleeping, Exhaustion, Eating Everything in Sight, Gaining 30 Pds., My Sex Life Totally Ruined, & My Marriage Falling Apart.

The year after that I was in a 3 car wreck and only had a minor concussion. Went to the emergency room but was released after they had done their tests. I spent a couple days at home resting and taking it easy.

In 2003 our home was hit by a tornado and did alot of damage but the stress it brought out in my husband only made things worse. He could barely cope himself so how could he cope with a ill wife and two kids. The stress it caused me just made me more susceptible to illness of any kind. I came down with an upper respitory infection which developed into bronchitis and then caught the flu on top of that. It took me nearly 3 months to feel somewhat normal again.

My health kept deteriorating...just had those days where I didn't feel quite right. I felt tired all the time now. Cryed alot too. There were those days my whole body felt like it had been beaten on with a sledge hammer. Dark circles under my eyes. Hair dry and lacked any shine to it. My skin was a pale grey color. I looked sick!! Even people who knew me well could tell.

All the doctor visits, different medications, different theories...never made any bit of difference until early 2007. I decided to find a female doctor...had way enough of male doctors to last me a life time. They were always so sure they were right, that they knew best, and they were definitely not caring to any degree. Jeez, why become a doctor if you can not care a little bit about those who you are trying to treat and to save??? Can any one answer that one?

I have a wonderful doctor who does take good care of me now. She is caring, attentive, talks to me where I can understand her, asks me questions and actually gives me the time to respond. We need more like her. It is this doctor who diagnosed me with Fibromyalgia and who is taking care of me now. She prescribes to me Flexeril and Mobic to help with the pain and inflammation and Amitiza for that nasty IBS side effect that goes hand in hand with Fibromyalgia. She also prescribes periods of rest and physical therapy, massage therapy and water therapy. All which have helped my quality of life.

I am still fighting this disease (for that is how I think of it, though most doctors call it a syndrome of symptoms). I am not going to let it win! I may have to take periods of rest and time off from work to recuperate but I am not going to let that deter me from regaining my health. From March of 2008 through Late September of 2008 I felt great, on top of the world, full of energy, working full time, taking care of my family, helping at church, helping my friends and neighbors, and felt like my old self when I was in my mid 20's. Felt Great!!

Recently I caught a virus of some kind which caused a sore throat and ear aches and body aches. It took me a week of antibiotics and a couple weeks of taking it easy but started to feel a little better. Then I overdid it by traveling for the long holiday weekend and have spent the last two weeks in bed mostly. The sleep is helping me. I had been sleeping about 14 hours a day, but now am down to about 9 hours a day. I'm starting to get up a little bit earlier each morning. I'm able to be up and moving about by 10:00 am and usually make it to about 2 or 3pm before I become tired again. I am doing a little bit of house cleaning, not much, mostly making beds and fluffing the pillows on the couch and fixing dinner for my family. Then by 8pm I am ready for bed.

I will keep posting here, and provide some ways that have benefitted my own health. If you have not gotten a copy of the book "Fatigued to Fantastic" by Jacob Tietelbaum, MD, I recommend you pick up a copy of it. It has alot of interesting information and helpful things to improve the quality of your life.
Until next time, have a wonderful day and take care of yourself. Sincerely, Cindy

Fibromyalgia Facts

2008-10-26T14:38:00.000-07:00

Fibromyalgia. You just found out from your doctor you have it. I also have this, diagnosed in early 2007, and I have been determined to win the battle against this illness that most times leaves me bedridden, in pain, and worst of all, feeling like I've lost parts of my memory.

Here are the facts on Fibromyalgia:
(1) Fibromyalgia is a musculoskeletal pain and fatigue disorder for which the exact cause of it is still not known, though there are several theories on what might be the culprit.

(2) There are many triggers that set off Fibromyalgia: Bacterial and Viral Infections, A car accident or some other severe life event, like a hysterectomy or other surgery, Lupus, Rheumatioid Arthritis, Hypothryoidism, Severe Depression.

(3) This is a list of symptoms that we have with Fibromyalgia:
*Pain in nearly all of our muscles, tendons and joints and sometimes this pain can vary from excruciating to throbbing to a dull ache, even a burning sensation.
*Trouble Sleeping. Sometimes it is hard to fall asleep, other times you toss and turn half the night, and most days you wake up feeling like you have not slept at all or like you have just been hit by a big truck. We do not get a deep healing sleep like normal healthy people.
*Fatigue like you have been working a week straight with no sleep at all. You almost feel like a walking zombie most days. It is also a feeling like your brain just is not functioning right and you forget alot of stuff do to this exhaustion.
*IBS (irritable bowel syndrome): frequent constipation and diarrhea, abdominal gas and nausea, and abdominal discomfort to pain, a feeling like what you eat is sitting high in your stomach and not being digested at all.
*Chest Pain where you feel like your having a heart attack with the pain in your heart area and the pain radiating down your left arm, up into your neck and back. This is enough to cause you serious concern and panic. The first time it happened to me I was near hysteria thinking I am too young to die and all I could think of was my children being left behind.
*Irritable Bladder, feeling like you have to pee constantly, yet can't. This can be real aggravating when your trying to work or to sleep.
*Numbness of your feet and hands where your nails are a bluish color and cold to the touch.
*Swollen Hands and Feet at times and you can see the blood vessels popping out and it is painful.
*Dry eyes and mouth alot, feeling like your drinking enough to float a ship at times.
*Stiff joints and muscles in the morning after not moving all night. Very uncomfortable!
*Dizziness, light-headed
*Memory impairment, feeling like your losing your mind and slowing going insane or that you are getting alztheimer's.
*Painful periods
*Shortness of breath at the least bit of activity, like walking from one room of the house to the other.
*Sensitivities to loud noises, bright lights, cold/drafty rooms, changes in the weather, hormonal changes.
*Depression, marked by the increasing lack of physical exercise, stress, pains, fatigue, ibs, headaches, and other symptoms of this illness.
*Teeth grinding
*Spasms of legs and arms during sleep
*Difficulty in sitting for long periods of time in one spot due to the pain in your joints, tendons and muscles.
*Sleep Apnea-some snoring.
*Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction - feeling pain in your jaw when you yawn or open your mouth too wide.
*Elevated levels of Substance P in the spinal fluid and an increased nerve growth factor in the cerebrospinal fluid.

Today this is called a syndrome though there are studies out there that tell us that Fibromyalgia is a disease of the central nervous system where it shows accelerated loss of gray matter in patients with low levels of dopamine (helps control pain and sleep) and the major area affected is the hippocampus, where our short term memory is.

Join me here as I blog my experiences, my doctor appointments, my medications, diet, exercise, stress relieving techniques, and my bad and good days, along with some websites with helpful information for you.