Oh my gosh how time gets away from me! I'm sorry to have just up and left you here without an update or anything! So much has been going on so let's get started with this update!
Since my last update I've had a couple more Dr appointments and continue to have a lower dose of Synthroid. I'm now on 112 mg/day. Honestly, I can't tell any difference from 150 mg to now but apparently my TSH is still not in the right range.
In other news, I decided around the holidays to go back to school this year. I started on Jan 5th and am almost done with my first class. I'm doing an online program to get my Bachelors degree in Social and Criminal Justice. I've always been interested in this field so I figured why not! It seemed like a good time to get started with most all of my health issues "under control" at this point, or should I say for now.
My FMS has been relatively "laying low" if you will. Now I say this only because I can compare what I previously had to deal with to now. Don't get me wrong, I still have my good days and bad days, but they are nothing compared to what I use to deal with. I still have a pretty high level of fatigue which I don't think I'll ever not have to deal with. Aches and pains, they come and go but are at a level that is manageable on a day to day basis. My hips tend to give me the most trouble with consistent pain and my guts are often "upset". I'm sure a lot of this sounds all too familiar to many who deal with the curse of chronic illness(es).
The most recent flare I've had to deal with is the tendon in my right arm flared up. Literally I was fine the night before and woke up with this pain that was pretty intense going from my hand to my elbow and especially worse with certain movements. This was terrible as I'm right handed and couldn't do anything that required lifting or twisting. Even lifting just a bottle of Gatorade was impossible for weeks. I had my chiropractor treat me using a technique called "Graston" - if you have never heard of it, click HERE to read about it. It's a strange kind of therapy but it works every time! I've had it done several times for different issues and each time it's solved the problem. With my arm, I had 2 sessions and the pain was noticeably less. Today, I have no pain in that area.
Speaking about chiropractors, I need to mention that at the end of the year I realized I had not been into my primary physician's office in an entire year! That was something to celebrate as it's just unheard of with all the health issues I've had to deal with. Other than my Endocrinologist dealing with my thyroid, I didn't need to see an MD for any kind of illness for an entire year .... and still going! I did however, see my chiropractor anywhere from 2x a week to 1x a month just depending on my needs and what was going on. I firmly believe in and highly recommend alternative treatments for people like us with chronic conditions. From the research I've done, alternative therapy is the way to go for managing these chronic illnesses that aren't necessarily seen as true illness. Those of us who deal with them day in and day out know otherwise.
When asked what I've done to "make yourself better" I can't really pinpoint just one thing. It's been a long road of recovery to get to the point I'm at today. Feeling good with occasional flares. listening to my body, taking time to do nothing when I need to, the right mixture of nutrients, protein, and therapy all play a role in healing the body and getting you to a good functioning state of being. I spent a lot of time researching and trying different methods until I started seeing good results. It's a hard long road but at the end of it the results are better health and an overall better quality of life. I know that at any moment I could crumple to the floor in pain and deal with that for an undetermined amount of time, but for the time being I will enjoy where I am with my health.
Like many people who deal with chronic illness, I belong to several online support groups. It gets hard to read everyone's postings about how terrible they are doing. In more cases than not, it's usually money that stops people from getting the help and treatment they need to feel better and be a contributing member of their community. So the cycle just continues, day in and day out so many people are suffering. My hope is still what it was when I first started this blog, that if I can help even just one person find a path to getting themselves to a better state of health, then I've succeeded in my mission.
I hope the New Year has found you well and that you are finding ways to manage in your day to day life. Whether you suffer from chronic illness or a loved one does, I encourage you to look back through my postings and try new things in an effort to feel better.
My vow to you today is that I will try to do better with my updates - I just get so busy in life that I forget to come post updates. I will make a conscious effort to update at least 1x a month if not more!
Until next time....to your health!
Showing posts with label chiropractic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chiropractic. Show all posts
Thursday, January 21, 2016
Sunday, December 7, 2014
Seems like nothing has changed but when you look back, everything has changed updates for June, July, August, Sept, Oct, Nov.....
Greetings friends! Has it REALLY been since MAY that I've updated my blog?? UGH I'm terrible I know! So here comes a big update on what's been going on........
June, July and August proved to be busy with the kids and their variety of events. School was out for the summer and that meant daily volleyball practice, camps and games. That in itself keeps me on my toes. We spent nearly everyday at the school for volleyball and a couple times went on trips related to the school volleyball program. My daughter has such amazing dedication to the sport.
In July I tried to start exercising again- I was doing great for the first week, walking 3 miles a day on the treadmill at the gym. I set out to try and be more active, try to drop a few pounds, if nothing else, just walking a bit. After a week of doing this I was in so much pain and I couldn't walk! I ended up at my chiropractor, IN TEARS because of the pain in my hips. My right hip was the worst, with burning pain and literally every time I took a step it felt like it was locked up - it was terrible! I had some acupuncture, some cold laser therapy and an incredibly painful adjustment on the first visit. It felt so much better after that, I could actually walk out on my own with much less pain. After two days of this treatment I was so much better but you better bet I wasn't getting back on that treadmill!! FORGET THAT SHIT! I continued with this course of treatment for 3 days and the pain was finally gone. The Dr said it was my bursis in my hip flaring up from lack of use to sudden over use - whatever, I wasn't doing it again!
August 12th school started up again which also meant I went back to work with the kids going back to school. I love having the same schedule as the kids during the year and the summer off to be with them. Even though the pay working at a school is crappy, it's better than nothing and gives me a schedule to follow, otherwise I would literally not do much of anything day in and day out - that I know! It's hard sometimes to get up and go to work, really hard, but I do it because I know it's what I need, not only for the income I do get but for the schedule to follow.
September was a non-eventful month just getting back into the swing of a normal schedule everyday. I was extra tired trying to get back to waking up early and working all day but that's nothing new really, I don't think I ever really get use to it. Still not exercising - can't take the chance of having a major flare like I did in August - oh god that was awful! We are looking forward to a trip in October for fall break.
October we took a trip over fall break to California. We've been really looking forward to this. We planned to see family. We went and saw my husbands mom for a few days and then went to visit my dad as well as my sister and her family in Palm Springs. It was so great to see everyone and the kids. We all live in different areas so we don't get to see each other but maybe once a year. That's the drawback of living so far away from family. I am in Colorado with my family, my sister is in California with her family, my husbands family is in California (1 brother in Colorado but 8 hrs away) and my dad is in Oklahoma. So as you can see we are all spread out.
We were able to get some family pictures done while we were all together and that was wonderful.
Pretty good looking group if I do say so myself! I'm in the yellow shirt next to my handsome hubby in the blue - my son is in the light yellow shirt and my beautiful daughter is holding her baby cousin.
November to current
Thanksgiving was great, I cooked a nice meal with the help of my daughter. It was just us 4 but we had a feast and enough to feed us for another week to come!! I need to learn to cook a little less on holidays! Now it's that time of year again, the holidays are upon us. For some of us this is a time of great fun, visiting with friends and family and going to party after party......... and for others it's a reminder that we aren't what we use to be.
I use to go shopping, now I shop online for 99% of the gifts I give....I can't physically go to the store and be on my feet for hours on end walking around browsing and picking out that perfect item....I use to attend many parties during the months of November and December...now I simply have to RSVP a NO because I really don't have the energy to smile and be "merry" for several hours at a time...Trust me when I say it's not because I don't want to or that I don't enjoy the company, it's not even close to that.....it's because my body just won't handle it and I'll end up paying for it for days to follow with pain and exhaustion. It's just who I am now and I have to accept this as my reality. As I like to say "It is what it is"...........it's been and has, more than ever, become my life motto.
I know I've been terrible at keeping my entries current and for that I am truly sorry - I really need to figure out how to just get it done......honestly after I am done working each day I am just so exhausted to do much of anything. I'm sure the words "I'm tired" are over used in my home by me and my family is sick of hearing it, but it's true. I'm always tired, exhausted actually. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) has ruined me. I've dealt with the CFS longer than I have the Fibromyalgia (FMS) but the two combined is a doozy as you may know or can just imagine.
I have yet to find anything, natural or otherwise, that gives me any kind of good, long lasting energy or the feeling that I can take on my days without the lingering feeling of pure exhaustion. I did take Adderall XR for many years but it took a toll on me and my goal is to be off all RX medications and only treat my conditions as naturally as possible. It's really turning out to be difficult. I've tried everything I'm aware of that's out there. Maybe I'm missing something or maybe my body is just not "normal" and doesn't respond to traditional things. Vitamin B12 does nothing for me - I've tried regular injections with no luck. My chiropractor couldn't believe that I really had no luck with the weekly injections over a course of 5 weeks. Nope, nada.......abnormal response for most people
If anyone out there knows of something that could be helpful, I'm always willing to try if I haven't already. I really feel desperate at times. Along with the lack of energy comes a little weight gain because of the lack of motion. I could, if life with 2 teens allowed, sit in my recliner day in and day out, only getting up to eat, visit the bathroom and maybe get a drink. It's really sad for a 44 y/o to feel and act like a 94 y/o day in and out. I do my best with the cards I've been dealt.
As for my pain related to FMS....it's always been primarily in my hips, That's where it started and that's where it pops up the most. As I shared from August, I had a terrible flare from exercising and it was in my hips. My lower back and shoulders also have flares. The most common thing I'm dealing with now is numbness and tingling in my right arm and hand. At times the nerve that runs down the arm feels like it's on fire and that is just miserable. Aside from those things I'm doing ok, the exhaustion from CFS seems to be worse now than the FMS but both are ever present, every day.
I still see my chiropractor every week when possible, in reality though it's more like every 2 weeks when I'm feeling well enough. Without those treatments I don't think I would be in very good shape. Adjustments really help so much. More than anything else I've tried, keeping my body "straight" with regular adjustments seems to be the best treatment for ME. I highly recommend you give it a try if you aren't having any relief of your FMS pain. Find a good Chiropractor who is familiar with FMS and can effectively treat you. It's worth it!
I'm looking forward to a 2 week break coming up. December 19th - January 3rd is our "winter break" - we will of course be celebrating Christmas and New Years during that time. I'm most likely going to cook a nice meal for Christmas - probably just a ham, mac and cheese and salad. Nothing too terribly extravagant. My family will go to The Outback Steak House on Christmas Eve - it's a tradition we started a few years ago instead of cooking a big meal at home. I like having someone else do all the work and clean up! Since it's just the 4 of us, it really makes sense.
I hope this update finds you well and coping well. I know some might be having a hard time and I sincerely hope you find relief for yourself. If there is any advice I could give it would be to not give up on finding what helps you! Since FMS effects everyone so differently, you need to find what helps you - I know that what I suggest might not be your thing, I just know it's helped me get as much of my life back as possible and I will continue to search for more until I feel that I've exhausted every avenue.
I am going to leave you with a recent article I found - To your health and until next time!
FMS linked with Coronary Heart Disease
I find the above article interesting. I have heart palpitations pretty regularly but my Dr has never been too concerned about it. I also have family history of heart disease so I suspect as I get older I will start having regular heart check-ups to make sure my heart is not misbehaving.
June, July and August proved to be busy with the kids and their variety of events. School was out for the summer and that meant daily volleyball practice, camps and games. That in itself keeps me on my toes. We spent nearly everyday at the school for volleyball and a couple times went on trips related to the school volleyball program. My daughter has such amazing dedication to the sport.
In July I tried to start exercising again- I was doing great for the first week, walking 3 miles a day on the treadmill at the gym. I set out to try and be more active, try to drop a few pounds, if nothing else, just walking a bit. After a week of doing this I was in so much pain and I couldn't walk! I ended up at my chiropractor, IN TEARS because of the pain in my hips. My right hip was the worst, with burning pain and literally every time I took a step it felt like it was locked up - it was terrible! I had some acupuncture, some cold laser therapy and an incredibly painful adjustment on the first visit. It felt so much better after that, I could actually walk out on my own with much less pain. After two days of this treatment I was so much better but you better bet I wasn't getting back on that treadmill!! FORGET THAT SHIT! I continued with this course of treatment for 3 days and the pain was finally gone. The Dr said it was my bursis in my hip flaring up from lack of use to sudden over use - whatever, I wasn't doing it again!
August 12th school started up again which also meant I went back to work with the kids going back to school. I love having the same schedule as the kids during the year and the summer off to be with them. Even though the pay working at a school is crappy, it's better than nothing and gives me a schedule to follow, otherwise I would literally not do much of anything day in and day out - that I know! It's hard sometimes to get up and go to work, really hard, but I do it because I know it's what I need, not only for the income I do get but for the schedule to follow.
September was a non-eventful month just getting back into the swing of a normal schedule everyday. I was extra tired trying to get back to waking up early and working all day but that's nothing new really, I don't think I ever really get use to it. Still not exercising - can't take the chance of having a major flare like I did in August - oh god that was awful! We are looking forward to a trip in October for fall break.
October we took a trip over fall break to California. We've been really looking forward to this. We planned to see family. We went and saw my husbands mom for a few days and then went to visit my dad as well as my sister and her family in Palm Springs. It was so great to see everyone and the kids. We all live in different areas so we don't get to see each other but maybe once a year. That's the drawback of living so far away from family. I am in Colorado with my family, my sister is in California with her family, my husbands family is in California (1 brother in Colorado but 8 hrs away) and my dad is in Oklahoma. So as you can see we are all spread out.
We were able to get some family pictures done while we were all together and that was wonderful.
Pretty good looking group if I do say so myself! I'm in the yellow shirt next to my handsome hubby in the blue - my son is in the light yellow shirt and my beautiful daughter is holding her baby cousin.
November to current
Thanksgiving was great, I cooked a nice meal with the help of my daughter. It was just us 4 but we had a feast and enough to feed us for another week to come!! I need to learn to cook a little less on holidays! Now it's that time of year again, the holidays are upon us. For some of us this is a time of great fun, visiting with friends and family and going to party after party......... and for others it's a reminder that we aren't what we use to be.
I use to go shopping, now I shop online for 99% of the gifts I give....I can't physically go to the store and be on my feet for hours on end walking around browsing and picking out that perfect item....I use to attend many parties during the months of November and December...now I simply have to RSVP a NO because I really don't have the energy to smile and be "merry" for several hours at a time...Trust me when I say it's not because I don't want to or that I don't enjoy the company, it's not even close to that.....it's because my body just won't handle it and I'll end up paying for it for days to follow with pain and exhaustion. It's just who I am now and I have to accept this as my reality. As I like to say "It is what it is"...........it's been and has, more than ever, become my life motto.
I know I've been terrible at keeping my entries current and for that I am truly sorry - I really need to figure out how to just get it done......honestly after I am done working each day I am just so exhausted to do much of anything. I'm sure the words "I'm tired" are over used in my home by me and my family is sick of hearing it, but it's true. I'm always tired, exhausted actually. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) has ruined me. I've dealt with the CFS longer than I have the Fibromyalgia (FMS) but the two combined is a doozy as you may know or can just imagine.
I have yet to find anything, natural or otherwise, that gives me any kind of good, long lasting energy or the feeling that I can take on my days without the lingering feeling of pure exhaustion. I did take Adderall XR for many years but it took a toll on me and my goal is to be off all RX medications and only treat my conditions as naturally as possible. It's really turning out to be difficult. I've tried everything I'm aware of that's out there. Maybe I'm missing something or maybe my body is just not "normal" and doesn't respond to traditional things. Vitamin B12 does nothing for me - I've tried regular injections with no luck. My chiropractor couldn't believe that I really had no luck with the weekly injections over a course of 5 weeks. Nope, nada.......abnormal response for most people
If anyone out there knows of something that could be helpful, I'm always willing to try if I haven't already. I really feel desperate at times. Along with the lack of energy comes a little weight gain because of the lack of motion. I could, if life with 2 teens allowed, sit in my recliner day in and day out, only getting up to eat, visit the bathroom and maybe get a drink. It's really sad for a 44 y/o to feel and act like a 94 y/o day in and out. I do my best with the cards I've been dealt.
As for my pain related to FMS....it's always been primarily in my hips, That's where it started and that's where it pops up the most. As I shared from August, I had a terrible flare from exercising and it was in my hips. My lower back and shoulders also have flares. The most common thing I'm dealing with now is numbness and tingling in my right arm and hand. At times the nerve that runs down the arm feels like it's on fire and that is just miserable. Aside from those things I'm doing ok, the exhaustion from CFS seems to be worse now than the FMS but both are ever present, every day.
I still see my chiropractor every week when possible, in reality though it's more like every 2 weeks when I'm feeling well enough. Without those treatments I don't think I would be in very good shape. Adjustments really help so much. More than anything else I've tried, keeping my body "straight" with regular adjustments seems to be the best treatment for ME. I highly recommend you give it a try if you aren't having any relief of your FMS pain. Find a good Chiropractor who is familiar with FMS and can effectively treat you. It's worth it!
I'm looking forward to a 2 week break coming up. December 19th - January 3rd is our "winter break" - we will of course be celebrating Christmas and New Years during that time. I'm most likely going to cook a nice meal for Christmas - probably just a ham, mac and cheese and salad. Nothing too terribly extravagant. My family will go to The Outback Steak House on Christmas Eve - it's a tradition we started a few years ago instead of cooking a big meal at home. I like having someone else do all the work and clean up! Since it's just the 4 of us, it really makes sense.
I hope this update finds you well and coping well. I know some might be having a hard time and I sincerely hope you find relief for yourself. If there is any advice I could give it would be to not give up on finding what helps you! Since FMS effects everyone so differently, you need to find what helps you - I know that what I suggest might not be your thing, I just know it's helped me get as much of my life back as possible and I will continue to search for more until I feel that I've exhausted every avenue.
I am going to leave you with a recent article I found - To your health and until next time!
FMS linked with Coronary Heart Disease
I find the above article interesting. I have heart palpitations pretty regularly but my Dr has never been too concerned about it. I also have family history of heart disease so I suspect as I get older I will start having regular heart check-ups to make sure my heart is not misbehaving.
Saturday, April 19, 2014
I knew this would happen, was just a matter of time...
Since my last entry on April 7th things have been crazy…..just crazy………….and I'm certainly paying for it with a major flare.......god I hate fibro, I hate chronic fatigue - I HATE IT!
So our insurance called to let us know they totaled the van as the crash had done some damage to the frame. With that they sent us a settlement letter requesting the title be signed over to them and offering us some money to replace the car. They offered us a little more than we expected so we were happy with their offer and just wanted to get it done. Of course the amount is not enough to get the same vehicle or even anything close. It’s a shame, I went from no car payment and a car that still had plenty of life in it to looking to replace it with something that was similar – good luck right? Not exactly what I was looking for but it is what it is.
Let the stress begin – all I can hope is that I don’t end up going into a major flare over this entire process…….fingers crossed as we embark on the car search…financial worries and all that comes with it…fun times!
So I stared off by doing a lot of research online and looked at a lot of different cars. We knew we wanted something 4WD or AWD to start. Nissan, Subaru, Dodge, Jeep, Ford……the list I’m sure goes on, honestly I have really forgotten all the different brands and styles, at this point it's all just a blur.
I was initially set on a Jeep Patriot – however, after looking at the reviews and sitting in it decided it was not the right car for us. Too boxy for starters…..although I do love the way it looks on the outside, it’s just not the right fit on the inside. In fact, every time I see one I take a double look, I just like the way they look.
We sat in many cars over the past 2 weeks – the Murano and Rogue were nice – I really liked them both – it’s hard to get use to going from a mini van to a much smaller car but it’s time ……nothing really struck our fancy much……so the search continued…….
At one dealer we were introduced to the Dodge Journey – this car was one that did strike us as something we liked. It is very similar to what we had in both color and options but yet different enough – it was a 2013 and had 28k miles. We drove it – enjoyed it’s power and comfort. We left that dealer with the Dodge Journey as our top pick from the day. But we still wanted to check out some other cars so we weren’t quite ready just yet to make a commitment on it.
As the week went on we continued to search – looking for used vehicles between 2010 and 2014 that weren’t priced too high or with too much mileage – that really narrowed down the field for us. I looked at a Ford Escape – BLEH – the 2010 model I sat in felt so cheap – the 2013 had bad reviews. It felt like it was very cheap plastic inside – while it was the size I was looking for and the price – I couldn’t get over how cheap it felt and I knew I wouldn't be happy with it. Probably because I’m use to the nice interior that generally comes with Dodge vehicles.
So needless to say, the Ford Escape was now off our list. At this point our options were getting much more narrow and I was getting really tired of looking – literally tired. All the walking around, talking with people and internet research was catching up to me – we weren’t getting home until late every night and our entire “normal” schedule has been off really since the crash on April 3rd. I’m now feeling the effects of it all in full force – my fatigue is off the charts this week.
Wednesday this past week we decided to go check the Dodge Journey again. After several days of going around looking, dealing with pushy sales people and not finding anything we liked, I wanted to see the Dodge one more time before I made a decision. We went, we looked, we still loved – so the choice was obvious – let’s talk numbers! We also really liked the sales person we dealt with.
We ended up staying at the dealership for HOURS – we had to come to grips with several things before we could feel comfortable with our decision. For a variety of reasons, our credit scores aren't that great. That right there put us in a bad situation for our APR on a loan…….the dealer worked with what they had and ended up getting us as good a deal as they could considering. I was leaning towards continuing on looking as I really wanted a lower payment, however, with our credit, we were unlikely to find a lower payment even if we found a less expensive /older car. My husband reminded me too that if we left we would put to chance that the car we want would be gone, and that we might not find another like it. So after thinking and thinking and thinking we said yes to the car! I’m now driving a nice black 2013 Dodge Journey, AWD with 28k miles. We were able to negotiate a lot of things so we ended up getting some good deals attached to the car. Our 1st 4 oil changes are free with the dealer, the entire car is covered on any problems it could have pretty much for the life of the car. That makes us feel good about the purchase and comfortable that we won’t have to shell out even more money should something bad go wrong with anything on the car – lots of electronics so that is a great peace of mind for us. At most we would have to pay a $100 deductible to get anything fixed - sounds great to me!
Here it is Friday as I’m writing this update and I can barely keep my eyes open. I’m so exhausted from everything this week. My chronic fatigue tends to flare out of control when my “normal” schedule gets upheaved like it has this past couple weeks. Between driving my husbands older truck, which is difficult for me to even get into most of the time, the stress of trying to find the right car, finding the right car and the stress involved with that purchase – it all adds up and ends up leaving me dealing with excess pain and fatigue that I haven’t had in a while. My normal aches and pains are in overdrive and like I said before, my fatigue is just off the charts. Of course life goes on so I have to push myself through and get things done - but believe me, as soon as I can, I'm down for the count!
This weekend my plans are to rest if I can. That is of course after I grocery shop, plan Easter dinner and get things ready for the kids – but after all that, rest!......is there even time to rest?
I saw my Chiropractor on Friday and he gave me a shot of B12 - historically B12 does nothing for me at all - I'm one of those who just doesn't metabolize it - but we thought to give it a try and see if anything changes - maybe my body has changed since the last I tried it.
Coming into this next week I work M-W and then my daughter and I are off to MN for the Northern Lights Volleyball Tournament. She will play with the 17’s team from her club as they invited her to join them for this tournament. It’s a great opportunity for her and we are very excited. Of course this trip will most likely not help my fatigue as traveling tends to take it out of me so I don’t suspect won’t feel much better until well into May when things finally start to settle down in my world and I can get the rest break I so much need in order to get back on track.
Through all this I’ve been continuing to see my chiropractor and getting adjustments. That’s been helping a lot – I have also had some acupuncture, which helped my ribs finally stop hurting. They were hurting so bad, I am sure from the accident. After the acupuncture they finally stopped hurting.
Today (Saturday) as I'm finishing up this post I wanted to add that I am not as tired as I was yesterday - so maybe that B12 did help a little. I went to bed early last night too. On the other hand, my entire body hurts - I think it's just par for the course with having Fibro and Chronic Fatigue - I just hope this flare leaves sooner rather than later.
Whew, that was a lot to share this week! If you made it this far, I applaud you and thank you for your continued interest in my story.
Until next time - to your health!
Gerri
Monday, April 7, 2014
All in 5 days - what a crazy week to say the least!
Well last week was quite eventful in my world! Settle in and let me tell you all about the craziness!
First, in case you missed my update earlier in the week, I was introduced to an absolutely fabulous product that helps people manage pain - of course I had to try it and I'm amazed at the results, no.....I'm in love, absolutely in love, with this product. It's a product you can get from a company called FGXpress - the product is "Powerstrips". These thin adhesive strips are nothing less than a gift sent from above. You can check it out here, or send me a message with any questions you might have. I've been using these on my chronic pain and have been enjoying NO PAIN since! Check it out! Seriously, do yourself a favor and check it out!
So as I'm enjoying my new pain free living I went along with my week and on Thursday my world was turned upside down. It was a snowy morning - typically in March and April we get lots of heavy wet snow between our bouts of warm spring weather. Thursday was no different than years past, heavy wet snow falling. I took my kids to school and noticed as we were driving that the snow was really heavy and wet - really slick in places on the roads. I dropped my kids off at school and headed home. On my way down the road to my house I had the foresight to put the van into a lower gear as the road was slick and I was getting ready to go down a pretty precarious hill that turns to the right towards the end. Before I knew it....whoosh.....I caught some slush and my van took off sliding sideways......I couldn't get it back in line or pull out of the slide and ended up plowing down a pole with a reflector on it and barreling into a large boulder right off the road - it was loud, it was scary......my van bounced from one large boulder to another with a thud and boom......when everything stopped I was fine for the most part, my coffee had flown down to the floor, many things that were in the center console were now at my feet.........I was shocked I'm sure........my airbags did not deploy so I got out the car to survey the damage - not looking good at all.......I got back in and called my husband and lost it - I started crying uncontrollably. I've never been in an accident and I was scared and didn't know what to do!
My husband assured me he would be on his way. Meanwhile, a neighbor in the area came running down to me to check to see if anyone was hurt and to inform me she had called the fire department - she said that I hit a boulder and moved it several feet from where it originally was so she was sure someone was hurt - thankfully that wasn't the case. I've included some pictures of the damage. It was about an hour of action from the time of the crash, fire truck, police, neighbors - and me......in tears and hysterical.
By the time my husband arrived it was just me and the van. He got me home and we called the insurance and set up a tow truck to come haul the van away. We also made an appointment to see the chiropractor that afternoon as I was already starting to feel the pain in my neck and back from the accident. I was concerned how my body would react to being jolted around....with fibro you just never know. We still don't know what the story is for the van - we kind of think it could be totaled as it's only worth about $5000 at this point (before the wreck)
As of now I'm seeing my chiropractor every other day to work on my body and healing. I'm pretty sore in my lower back, ribs and shoulders/neck. I keep getting more sore so it's a good thing I was able to get into see him. As soon as my inflammation goes down I will begin putting the pain strips on my pain to help with that. Until then I need to just use ice and biofreeze to help. It's really more stiff and sore than it is painful.
Saturday was my birthday. Considering everything it was a good day. I got my hair cut and the family took me out to a nice dinner at the Cheesecake Factory. That is my favorite place - mostly because they have the best cheesecake ever! I had my favorite dish, Alfredo Pasta with Chicken and sun dried tomatoes and for dessert I took home a red velvet cheesecake slice - it was DELICIOUS!
Today I went back to work after having a 2wk Spring break. It was tough to get up and going this morning as I woke up sick. Of course I didn't get sick all the time I was off work, had to get sick the day we go back. I managed to get my butt out of the house and stay at work all day even though all I wanted to do was come home and crawl in bed. Now I'm just on the couch, my entire body aches and it's all I can do to not go crawl into bed now - I think I will be doing that soon though.
So that's about it for this update - quite a bit to digest. The past 5 days have been a little on the crazy side - probably why I'm getting sick now. It always seems that if it's not one thing it's definitely always another!
Until next time, to your health! And NO PAIN!
Gerri
First, in case you missed my update earlier in the week, I was introduced to an absolutely fabulous product that helps people manage pain - of course I had to try it and I'm amazed at the results, no.....I'm in love, absolutely in love, with this product. It's a product you can get from a company called FGXpress - the product is "Powerstrips". These thin adhesive strips are nothing less than a gift sent from above. You can check it out here, or send me a message with any questions you might have. I've been using these on my chronic pain and have been enjoying NO PAIN since! Check it out! Seriously, do yourself a favor and check it out!
So as I'm enjoying my new pain free living I went along with my week and on Thursday my world was turned upside down. It was a snowy morning - typically in March and April we get lots of heavy wet snow between our bouts of warm spring weather. Thursday was no different than years past, heavy wet snow falling. I took my kids to school and noticed as we were driving that the snow was really heavy and wet - really slick in places on the roads. I dropped my kids off at school and headed home. On my way down the road to my house I had the foresight to put the van into a lower gear as the road was slick and I was getting ready to go down a pretty precarious hill that turns to the right towards the end. Before I knew it....whoosh.....I caught some slush and my van took off sliding sideways......I couldn't get it back in line or pull out of the slide and ended up plowing down a pole with a reflector on it and barreling into a large boulder right off the road - it was loud, it was scary......my van bounced from one large boulder to another with a thud and boom......when everything stopped I was fine for the most part, my coffee had flown down to the floor, many things that were in the center console were now at my feet.........I was shocked I'm sure........my airbags did not deploy so I got out the car to survey the damage - not looking good at all.......I got back in and called my husband and lost it - I started crying uncontrollably. I've never been in an accident and I was scared and didn't know what to do!
My husband assured me he would be on his way. Meanwhile, a neighbor in the area came running down to me to check to see if anyone was hurt and to inform me she had called the fire department - she said that I hit a boulder and moved it several feet from where it originally was so she was sure someone was hurt - thankfully that wasn't the case. I've included some pictures of the damage. It was about an hour of action from the time of the crash, fire truck, police, neighbors - and me......in tears and hysterical.
By the time my husband arrived it was just me and the van. He got me home and we called the insurance and set up a tow truck to come haul the van away. We also made an appointment to see the chiropractor that afternoon as I was already starting to feel the pain in my neck and back from the accident. I was concerned how my body would react to being jolted around....with fibro you just never know. We still don't know what the story is for the van - we kind of think it could be totaled as it's only worth about $5000 at this point (before the wreck)
As of now I'm seeing my chiropractor every other day to work on my body and healing. I'm pretty sore in my lower back, ribs and shoulders/neck. I keep getting more sore so it's a good thing I was able to get into see him. As soon as my inflammation goes down I will begin putting the pain strips on my pain to help with that. Until then I need to just use ice and biofreeze to help. It's really more stiff and sore than it is painful.
Saturday was my birthday. Considering everything it was a good day. I got my hair cut and the family took me out to a nice dinner at the Cheesecake Factory. That is my favorite place - mostly because they have the best cheesecake ever! I had my favorite dish, Alfredo Pasta with Chicken and sun dried tomatoes and for dessert I took home a red velvet cheesecake slice - it was DELICIOUS!
Today I went back to work after having a 2wk Spring break. It was tough to get up and going this morning as I woke up sick. Of course I didn't get sick all the time I was off work, had to get sick the day we go back. I managed to get my butt out of the house and stay at work all day even though all I wanted to do was come home and crawl in bed. Now I'm just on the couch, my entire body aches and it's all I can do to not go crawl into bed now - I think I will be doing that soon though.
So that's about it for this update - quite a bit to digest. The past 5 days have been a little on the crazy side - probably why I'm getting sick now. It always seems that if it's not one thing it's definitely always another!
Until next time, to your health! And NO PAIN!
Gerri
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
I'm still here!! So much going on, so much happening and the best part of it all..........
I'm feeling GREAT!!
I have a new position at the school I work at that has me very busy - I'm in the literacy department and just love it!
Outside of that, I'm still maintaining my weekly chiropractic appointments to maintain myself and to keep my body in optimal health. I firmly believe that with the weekly adjustments my body has put my FMS down and has helped me stay feeling good. I still get minor aches and pains in the same areas (hips and shoulders) but nothing even close to what I use to experience. When I feel overly tired, I go to bed. I've learned through all of this that listening to my body is the most important thing I can do. And when I feel tired, I make sure to handle it instead of ignoring it.
Over the past 3 months I did a weight loss challenge with 3 of my friends using a program called Body By Vi (Vi is short for Visalus). It's a 90 day challenge and it's simply, amazing. Since getting sick back in 2010 I have gained 55+lbs - I finally got sick of the weight, sick of putting on my clothes that were too tight and finally just had it when I had to purchase a size that I swore I would never be in again (after losing weight in the past) Depression was setting in again and I knew I had to take a stand before things got worse.
The 90 day challenge consists of replacing 2 meals a day with a healthy protein shake meal replacement. It's packed with vitamins, has less than a gram sugar and tastes like cake mix - NO JOKE! A lot of people say "once you start eating again you are going to gain the weight back" to which I have to laugh. Don't think I'm not eating - in fact, I'm eating quite well. I have a shake for breakfast, and every two hours another small meal consisting of a protein and vegetable - I eat all day to the point that I'm stuffed when it's time to eat again! It's not a "fad diet" - it's a way of life - re-training yourself to keep your body fueled so it burns fat while maintaining lean muscle mass. It takes a little getting use to but now, it's just the way I do things - I eat small meals every 2 hours. Think portions too - portion control is where it's at. Once you get use to measuring out your portions you get pretty good at knowing how much you can have at any given time. I think a huge part of America's problem with Obesity is the fact that our portions are double and triple what they should be all the time - that means we are taking in double and triple the calories we should be on a daily basis - which in turn is going to be weight gain. It's pretty simple really.
Exercise is suggested but not something you have to do too strenuously or even at all if you don't want to. As we all know, exercise is another thing that those of us with FMS need to do so it should be incorporated anyway.
So after 3 months I am down 26 lbs and over 27 inches!! I feel great, am wearing my clothes much better and am actually going to be entering to win the team challenge on a national level!! Between myself and my team mates we have lost over 200lbs combined! It's inspiring really.
Currently I'm doing another challenge to drop the rest of the weight I gained. It's really just a way of life, eating clean and making smart choices. Through all the struggles over the past few years, my weight shouldn't be a reason I'm feeling sick. I've slowly come around full circle and can honestly say that I'm feeling like myself again - feeling healthy, happy and full of life again! I never thought I would be able to say that! I really thought my life would be full of pain and suffering and never again be the same. It's been 3 yrs and while the road has been a tough one, it's taught me so much about myself and others.
I hope my journey so far has made an impact on others and I hope my continued journey will as well - I am living proof that you can go from literally wanting to die to enjoying life again! Please, if you have anyone in your life who is like me, share my blog with them, encourage them to follow me, encourage them to NEVER GIVE UP, NEVER GIVE IN and do what it takes to find the right mixture that will help them get back into the game of life! Remember back when I first started this journey to find my health? I was a research freak - researching and researching until I was blue in the face - but it was all worth it - I have found what works for me, what makes me feel good and what keeps me going - you too can find it if you haven't yet - just keep on looking! I promise it's out there!
To your health and until next time!
I have a new position at the school I work at that has me very busy - I'm in the literacy department and just love it!
Outside of that, I'm still maintaining my weekly chiropractic appointments to maintain myself and to keep my body in optimal health. I firmly believe that with the weekly adjustments my body has put my FMS down and has helped me stay feeling good. I still get minor aches and pains in the same areas (hips and shoulders) but nothing even close to what I use to experience. When I feel overly tired, I go to bed. I've learned through all of this that listening to my body is the most important thing I can do. And when I feel tired, I make sure to handle it instead of ignoring it.
Over the past 3 months I did a weight loss challenge with 3 of my friends using a program called Body By Vi (Vi is short for Visalus). It's a 90 day challenge and it's simply, amazing. Since getting sick back in 2010 I have gained 55+lbs - I finally got sick of the weight, sick of putting on my clothes that were too tight and finally just had it when I had to purchase a size that I swore I would never be in again (after losing weight in the past) Depression was setting in again and I knew I had to take a stand before things got worse.
The 90 day challenge consists of replacing 2 meals a day with a healthy protein shake meal replacement. It's packed with vitamins, has less than a gram sugar and tastes like cake mix - NO JOKE! A lot of people say "once you start eating again you are going to gain the weight back" to which I have to laugh. Don't think I'm not eating - in fact, I'm eating quite well. I have a shake for breakfast, and every two hours another small meal consisting of a protein and vegetable - I eat all day to the point that I'm stuffed when it's time to eat again! It's not a "fad diet" - it's a way of life - re-training yourself to keep your body fueled so it burns fat while maintaining lean muscle mass. It takes a little getting use to but now, it's just the way I do things - I eat small meals every 2 hours. Think portions too - portion control is where it's at. Once you get use to measuring out your portions you get pretty good at knowing how much you can have at any given time. I think a huge part of America's problem with Obesity is the fact that our portions are double and triple what they should be all the time - that means we are taking in double and triple the calories we should be on a daily basis - which in turn is going to be weight gain. It's pretty simple really.
Exercise is suggested but not something you have to do too strenuously or even at all if you don't want to. As we all know, exercise is another thing that those of us with FMS need to do so it should be incorporated anyway.
So after 3 months I am down 26 lbs and over 27 inches!! I feel great, am wearing my clothes much better and am actually going to be entering to win the team challenge on a national level!! Between myself and my team mates we have lost over 200lbs combined! It's inspiring really.
Currently I'm doing another challenge to drop the rest of the weight I gained. It's really just a way of life, eating clean and making smart choices. Through all the struggles over the past few years, my weight shouldn't be a reason I'm feeling sick. I've slowly come around full circle and can honestly say that I'm feeling like myself again - feeling healthy, happy and full of life again! I never thought I would be able to say that! I really thought my life would be full of pain and suffering and never again be the same. It's been 3 yrs and while the road has been a tough one, it's taught me so much about myself and others.
I hope my journey so far has made an impact on others and I hope my continued journey will as well - I am living proof that you can go from literally wanting to die to enjoying life again! Please, if you have anyone in your life who is like me, share my blog with them, encourage them to follow me, encourage them to NEVER GIVE UP, NEVER GIVE IN and do what it takes to find the right mixture that will help them get back into the game of life! Remember back when I first started this journey to find my health? I was a research freak - researching and researching until I was blue in the face - but it was all worth it - I have found what works for me, what makes me feel good and what keeps me going - you too can find it if you haven't yet - just keep on looking! I promise it's out there!
To your health and until next time!
Friday, April 27, 2012
It's been a while - I'm still here though!
I know it's been a while since I last posted so it's time for an update! First, I hope you are all doing fantastic and enjoying everyday that you are given.
I am happy to report that I'm continuing to feel more and more like the old me again and it feels great! Of course I have my moments and my days where I feel like crud but more and more I have better days which is really great!
I've got my "spunk" back and I can't tell you how great it really feels. Anyone who has gone from very ill, bedridden, feeling like there is no hope etc., to living life again can understand what it feels like to be back! Anyone who is still on the journey to find themselves again, keep it up, it's worth it in the end! And YOU WILL find yourself again if you do the things you need to do in order for that to happen. This condition is not going to fix itself without a fight from you! If you can go as natural as possible, that is the best way to go, it might be harder but it's better at the end of the day, no doubt!
So let me backtrack to January real quick - I finished my treatments with the Fibromyalgia Center just after the first of the year. My intentions and as the program is, I was to go on a maintenance schedule with them having an adjustment 1x a month, however they did some re-arranging of the practice and I wasn't able to get into see them as easily as I could before when I was in the program. I really honestly feel that they dropped the ball on my "after care" and I have yet to hear from them, not even a "how are you doing, do you need to come see us" call or anything. I tried to get an appointment with the Dr and the acupuncturist 4x but they put it on me to call each one to schedule since they weren't all in the same office anymore - same building just different offices....I was completely put off by that considering prior to them reorganizing I could call and schedule with both very easily. I'm a bit disappointed in that fact so about two weeks ago I set out to find myself a closer chiropractor who could help me with my fibromyalgia and keeping me on the right path to better health.
After having gone through the 1x a week program and combining Chiropractic care, acupuncture, massage and specific nutrients into my life it is obvious that this mixture REALLY WORKS to help people with this condition. It isn't an overnight fix by any means and will be an ongoing thing in order to stay on top of the condition and symptoms. And of course, most insurance companies don't cover those things which is so unfortunate because I think more people could get help if they could use their insurance for that help. It's sad to know that there are so many people out there who suffer and take heavy medications that either cover up the symptoms or in some cases make them worse off when natural and holistic care is truly the course to take in the long run. I 100% believe this for anyone who deals with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue as well as many other chronic health conditions. Heck, if more people would use chiropractic care, they would be healthier all around.
After visiting with several local Dr's I did go see one that my mom has seen. It turns out that he also has a massage therapist in the office and the Dr himself does acupuncture - SCORE! As I was sitting in his office waiting I also noticed he offers the Nutrient blood test that I had taken back in July with the other place - DOUBLE SCORE! I'm a beyond THRILLED that I went to see him because essentially I will be getting the exact same care I was getting at the other place and will be able to save a lot of time doing it! The new place I'm going is literally 10 minutes from my house vs an hour drive.......so you can see why I'm so happy!
Yesterday I had my first adjustment with my new Dr - Dr Hatch and it was obvious I needed it bad! My hips up to my neck were way out and I'm off about 3/4 inch on the right side which is where I get my major hip pain. I'm confident that his care will be exactly what I need to stay on the right track. I'm scheduled to have an hour and a half massage on Monday with the massage therapist which makes me a happy camper - primarily because he couldn't adjust my neck it was so stiff and because I'm having such pain in my right shoulder and numbness in my hands again. So the massage will work on that and I'll also be getting the acupuncture work on that shoulder to work on eliminating those issues again.
Since I haven't had any of it since January I knew and could feel in my body that I was starting to backslide so I'm really thankful that it all worked out so good and that I took the initiative to go see him...in my town there are literally about 20 or so chiropractors in the general area - but I don't think any of the others combine all these services in one place.
For now I'll be going to see him 1x a week just to get my body/mind/spirit back into a good place, then we'll go down to 1x every other week then eventually 1x a month.
Since I've been feeling so much better I've also been able to get my business up and going again. It's taken a few months to get the momentum going but it's going now and I'm thrilled I actually have the energy and desire to get out and do the parties.
My daughter has been playing volleyball since late last year and that has been keeping us busy as well. It's just really nice to be able to enjoy my kids, husband and friends again. It had been a long time since I could really say that I was excited about anything in my life because I felt so crappy all the time, morning, day, night, it just didn't matter - and when I did have business to tend to, more than not I had to give it away to someone else because I just didn't have it in me. All of that is behind me now though!
Someone recently asked me what would happen or what I would do if I got sick again - my response to them was "that isn't an option and it's not going to happen" - I think my response surprised them but I was/am very serious when I say that. I've learned how to listen to my body and know that as long as I do that and do the things I need to take care of myself that I won't be laid out like I was when this all first started back at the mid of 2010. And, if I have any power to avoid being THAT SICK again, I will avoid it with all I've got!
For anyone who is reading this who is in the thick of being ill with this or any other chronic condition, please feel free to contact me if you like. My blog has always been dedicated to helping others find a way to feel better - please browse my past postings and the links I've provided for you - for an entire year, all I did was research and find information - and I believe that is why I'm where I am today - because I was determined to get my life back....it took a little time but again, I am living proof that if you want it bad enough, you'll get there!
To your health and happiness friends! And please remember, if you don't take your health into your own hands and do something about it, nobody else will!
I am happy to report that I'm continuing to feel more and more like the old me again and it feels great! Of course I have my moments and my days where I feel like crud but more and more I have better days which is really great!
I've got my "spunk" back and I can't tell you how great it really feels. Anyone who has gone from very ill, bedridden, feeling like there is no hope etc., to living life again can understand what it feels like to be back! Anyone who is still on the journey to find themselves again, keep it up, it's worth it in the end! And YOU WILL find yourself again if you do the things you need to do in order for that to happen. This condition is not going to fix itself without a fight from you! If you can go as natural as possible, that is the best way to go, it might be harder but it's better at the end of the day, no doubt!
So let me backtrack to January real quick - I finished my treatments with the Fibromyalgia Center just after the first of the year. My intentions and as the program is, I was to go on a maintenance schedule with them having an adjustment 1x a month, however they did some re-arranging of the practice and I wasn't able to get into see them as easily as I could before when I was in the program. I really honestly feel that they dropped the ball on my "after care" and I have yet to hear from them, not even a "how are you doing, do you need to come see us" call or anything. I tried to get an appointment with the Dr and the acupuncturist 4x but they put it on me to call each one to schedule since they weren't all in the same office anymore - same building just different offices....I was completely put off by that considering prior to them reorganizing I could call and schedule with both very easily. I'm a bit disappointed in that fact so about two weeks ago I set out to find myself a closer chiropractor who could help me with my fibromyalgia and keeping me on the right path to better health.
After having gone through the 1x a week program and combining Chiropractic care, acupuncture, massage and specific nutrients into my life it is obvious that this mixture REALLY WORKS to help people with this condition. It isn't an overnight fix by any means and will be an ongoing thing in order to stay on top of the condition and symptoms. And of course, most insurance companies don't cover those things which is so unfortunate because I think more people could get help if they could use their insurance for that help. It's sad to know that there are so many people out there who suffer and take heavy medications that either cover up the symptoms or in some cases make them worse off when natural and holistic care is truly the course to take in the long run. I 100% believe this for anyone who deals with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue as well as many other chronic health conditions. Heck, if more people would use chiropractic care, they would be healthier all around.
After visiting with several local Dr's I did go see one that my mom has seen. It turns out that he also has a massage therapist in the office and the Dr himself does acupuncture - SCORE! As I was sitting in his office waiting I also noticed he offers the Nutrient blood test that I had taken back in July with the other place - DOUBLE SCORE! I'm a beyond THRILLED that I went to see him because essentially I will be getting the exact same care I was getting at the other place and will be able to save a lot of time doing it! The new place I'm going is literally 10 minutes from my house vs an hour drive.......so you can see why I'm so happy!
Yesterday I had my first adjustment with my new Dr - Dr Hatch and it was obvious I needed it bad! My hips up to my neck were way out and I'm off about 3/4 inch on the right side which is where I get my major hip pain. I'm confident that his care will be exactly what I need to stay on the right track. I'm scheduled to have an hour and a half massage on Monday with the massage therapist which makes me a happy camper - primarily because he couldn't adjust my neck it was so stiff and because I'm having such pain in my right shoulder and numbness in my hands again. So the massage will work on that and I'll also be getting the acupuncture work on that shoulder to work on eliminating those issues again.
Since I haven't had any of it since January I knew and could feel in my body that I was starting to backslide so I'm really thankful that it all worked out so good and that I took the initiative to go see him...in my town there are literally about 20 or so chiropractors in the general area - but I don't think any of the others combine all these services in one place.
For now I'll be going to see him 1x a week just to get my body/mind/spirit back into a good place, then we'll go down to 1x every other week then eventually 1x a month.
Since I've been feeling so much better I've also been able to get my business up and going again. It's taken a few months to get the momentum going but it's going now and I'm thrilled I actually have the energy and desire to get out and do the parties.
My daughter has been playing volleyball since late last year and that has been keeping us busy as well. It's just really nice to be able to enjoy my kids, husband and friends again. It had been a long time since I could really say that I was excited about anything in my life because I felt so crappy all the time, morning, day, night, it just didn't matter - and when I did have business to tend to, more than not I had to give it away to someone else because I just didn't have it in me. All of that is behind me now though!
Someone recently asked me what would happen or what I would do if I got sick again - my response to them was "that isn't an option and it's not going to happen" - I think my response surprised them but I was/am very serious when I say that. I've learned how to listen to my body and know that as long as I do that and do the things I need to take care of myself that I won't be laid out like I was when this all first started back at the mid of 2010. And, if I have any power to avoid being THAT SICK again, I will avoid it with all I've got!
For anyone who is reading this who is in the thick of being ill with this or any other chronic condition, please feel free to contact me if you like. My blog has always been dedicated to helping others find a way to feel better - please browse my past postings and the links I've provided for you - for an entire year, all I did was research and find information - and I believe that is why I'm where I am today - because I was determined to get my life back....it took a little time but again, I am living proof that if you want it bad enough, you'll get there!
To your health and happiness friends! And please remember, if you don't take your health into your own hands and do something about it, nobody else will!
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
New Year........New Diagnosis
Well it's been about 6 weeks since I've updated and I do apologize - I can say that the holidays were crazy busy here and that I made it through without any major problems!
I am feeling good as I come on the end of my treatments. The acupuncture really has made a difference over time as has the Chiropractic care. I highly recommend those of you with Fibromyalgia investigate your options for Chiropractic adjustments and acupuncture treatments, it has made a huge difference in how I feel overall. I do believe with regular adjustments your body can function optimally.
Last week I had another ANA profile done (this is the blood test they use to determine if you have Lupus) and it came back positive. I asked to have it done again because one symptom that I have is the classic facial rash. It's been a year since the last one was done that came back negative. I do know that test can be negative once then positive another time and I think it has to do with the remission status of the illness.
Funny thing, Lupus has many if not all of the same symptoms as Fibromyalgia - the biggest difference is it also can effect your skin and other organs as it progresses. The treatment in most cases is along the same lines of what I've already been doing so I'm not anticipating any changes in that area. There are a few medications that can also be used but I'm not looking to add more medications to my body. So at this point we just watch and see what happens.
Other than that, I'm doing quite well. I've started exercising using Zumba and do enjoy it because I can go as mild or as intense as I feel I can. Starting off slow is key to not overdoing it so it's perfect for me. I figure as long as I'm moving and grooving it can't hurt and can only help me in the long run. You know everyone says exercise will make you feel better.
I also have started the year off doing a kidney and liver cleanse....my main goal with this cleanse is to clean out the heavy medications I had taken and been given for my surgery in November. It's a mild 2 day cleanse that doesn't make you stay close to the bathroom which is nice.
I'm looking forward to a super successful year this year all around - business, health and personal. I'm definitely on the right path and am looking forward to how things unfold for our family. As long as my health stays on the up and up there is no reason we can't get back to normal around here with my getting back to my parties and back on top of life in general.
Happy New Year to you all and as usual, as things continue to unfold with my newest diagnosis, I will fill you in here!
Gerri
I am feeling good as I come on the end of my treatments. The acupuncture really has made a difference over time as has the Chiropractic care. I highly recommend those of you with Fibromyalgia investigate your options for Chiropractic adjustments and acupuncture treatments, it has made a huge difference in how I feel overall. I do believe with regular adjustments your body can function optimally.
Last week I had another ANA profile done (this is the blood test they use to determine if you have Lupus) and it came back positive. I asked to have it done again because one symptom that I have is the classic facial rash. It's been a year since the last one was done that came back negative. I do know that test can be negative once then positive another time and I think it has to do with the remission status of the illness.
Funny thing, Lupus has many if not all of the same symptoms as Fibromyalgia - the biggest difference is it also can effect your skin and other organs as it progresses. The treatment in most cases is along the same lines of what I've already been doing so I'm not anticipating any changes in that area. There are a few medications that can also be used but I'm not looking to add more medications to my body. So at this point we just watch and see what happens.
Other than that, I'm doing quite well. I've started exercising using Zumba and do enjoy it because I can go as mild or as intense as I feel I can. Starting off slow is key to not overdoing it so it's perfect for me. I figure as long as I'm moving and grooving it can't hurt and can only help me in the long run. You know everyone says exercise will make you feel better.
I also have started the year off doing a kidney and liver cleanse....my main goal with this cleanse is to clean out the heavy medications I had taken and been given for my surgery in November. It's a mild 2 day cleanse that doesn't make you stay close to the bathroom which is nice.
I'm looking forward to a super successful year this year all around - business, health and personal. I'm definitely on the right path and am looking forward to how things unfold for our family. As long as my health stays on the up and up there is no reason we can't get back to normal around here with my getting back to my parties and back on top of life in general.
Happy New Year to you all and as usual, as things continue to unfold with my newest diagnosis, I will fill you in here!
Gerri
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