Happy New Year!

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!

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.

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 1^st 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

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

Let's visit this FMS and Herpes connection again shall we?

So if you recall in my last post I included an article I had found that shows a potential link between FMS and HSV.  If you need to refresh yourself on that article, you can do so by clicking HERE - then let's dig a little deeper into this connection and see what we find.

Naturally, I've been doing some research of my own and think that this article has a lot to it and that this .  I have EBV (Epstein Barr Virus) which is also known as human Herpesvirus 4.  EBV is also linked to Chronic Fatigue - hmmmm interesting, I have that too.  EBV can also cause infectious mononucleosis - another interesting thing, I was diagnosed with Mono when I was 16 - seeing the dots connect yet? Mono and EBV, the two seem to go hand in hand.  Funny thing though, once you have it, you NEVER ever get rid of it.  It lurks and can cause havoc on your body at any given time.  Sound familiar?  Boy it sure does to me!

So we know there is a link between EBV, HSV, CFS and Mono.....where does FMS come into play?  I wonder if because of all the other things, FMS and the pain we experience is just another part of the Herpes virus boring away at our nerve ganglia which in turn causes our unexplained pain all over our bodies....something to consider as a real possibility.

See what happens when I have too much time on my hands?  I start posting to my blog and researching things which leads me in all kinds of directions!

On a side note, please, please look at this product I've talked about PowerStrips - it works and the results are incredible!  I've been enjoying pain free living since finding it and hope to help others who suffer from pain with this simple system.

Until next time - to your health!!!

Gerri

Interesting study on FMS and HSV (Herpes Simplex Virus)

My entire purpose of starting this blog is to keep my own research someplace that I can refer back to and reflect on.  Another reason was to hopefully touch the lives of others who may find themselves in a similar situation as I did about 4 yrs ago - sick with no answers!  It's not a fun place to be and actually a very desperate place to find yourself.

Over the course of time as I started to feel better and become more active in my own life I slowly stopped posting things to my blog - this was not intentional, just an oversight as life gets busy.

My goal right now is to keep up on this blog, continuing to add beneficial information that I have found online myself or that was sent to me.  I hope to be a source of information to those out there who seek it and to keep those who wish to be kept up to date on how I'm doing with my own struggles.

Today I read an article that I found quite interesting.  As anyone who suffers from FMS, CFS, and other chronic issues we don't really have any answers but all these studies being done touch on the POSSIBLE - they still have a long way to go to be proven or to even have a remedy that will work.  It's a sad place to be, looking in on these things with the hope that someday in our lifetime they will find something to help us - until then, we carry on, trying new things until we find something that works well enough.

You can read the article HERE

Until next time - to your health!

Gerri

Unbelievable!!! You have GOT TO READ this!

I'm going to get right to the point - I've stumbled on a product that is nothing short of amazing!  If you are like me, you have heard this before, been approached by people who claim to have what you need to make you feel better - only to be disappointed when it didn't work - well, from one chronic pain sufferer to another - I am not pulling your chain and I would NEVER vouch for something that didn't work on me!

If you are like me and live with pain all the time day in and day out then you have got to continue reading this and be prepared to share with everyone you love and know that lives with pain.

I for one don't take medication to relieve my pain.  I try all natural ways to control it and most of the time am just dealing with the pain as I go through my daily life.  I visit my chiropractor about every 2 wks to keep my body in line and working good.  I have found that these regular visits help more than anything else.

Long story short, a friend of mine told me about this product that relieves pain. She explained that it's all natural and there is nothing like it anywhere.  Like everything else my initial thought is "yeah right" - so she sent me a sample of this product to try.  It's basically a patch you put on where you experience pain.  You can check it out here!

For me, at the moment, my daily pain is located in my shoulder joint.  It's a deep aching pain that just won't give.  So I slapped this patch on my shoulder as instructed.  She said to let her know how it feels in the morning.  So I went about my business for the rest of the night and went to bed wearing this patch.  I didn't notice anything spectacular that night after applying the patch.  She had told me that some people may experience warmth where it's placed  but I did not have this sensation.

When I woke in the morning I moved my shoulder expecting to have my normal aches and pain - much to my surprise there was NO PAIN.....I moved my arm in all directions to try to find the pain and at the very most I could feel where the pain should be but it was so minor I wasn't sure if it was really even pain.

The patch is worn for 24-48 hrs with most of the relief happening around the 24 hr point.   This was just about 12 hrs of wearing the patch overnight and I was pain free for the first time in a good year!  You read this right - PAIN FREE!  In my world, that isn't something that you hear or get to experience!

AHHHHH, PAIN FREE....yes it's true!  A real product, an ALL NATURAL product that REALLY takes away pain where ever you have it!  This patch is brand new and only available through individuals who sell it.  I can tell you right now, I jumped at the opportunity to get my hands on more of these patches!  I have friends all over who will appreciate the pain free living that is awaiting them in this patch!  I want to make this a readily available product to anyone and everyone I know who suffers from chronic pain!  I know first hand how getting even a little relief from chronic pain is - to have something that is able to keep the pain away - PRICELESS!

For about $80/mo you get 15 patches - those patches can be cut to any size so you can actually make them last a full month or two if you cut them in half and wear one for 48 hrs at a time.

$80 might seem like a high price but whats worse?  Paying that much or more for a chemical RX to treat your pain or paying that much for an all natural pain remedy?  I would say the later of the two.  I look at it this way, I pay my chiropractor $45 a visit, per week, to relieve my pain.  I can take my $80 and purchase a package of patches and see my chiropractor every other week to keep everything in alignment.....no more money than I already spend and getting full time pain relief - WINNING!

If you are interested in more information about this amazing discovery please don't hesitate to contact me - I'm telling you it's going to be a game changer for people who live with Chronic Pain - it's new and powerful!

With excitement I look forward to hearing from those of you who are serious about living pain free!

For the first 6 people who contact me, I will send you a free sample of this amazing product - I believe in it 100%!

To your health (and living pain free!)

Gerri

Spring Break time, family time, VOLLEYBALL and me.......

So here I thought it's been a few weeks since I've posted and when I looked I realize it's been a month already - sheesh.  Things are "Status quo" with nothing really "new" to report.  Well, one thing is new, my sister had her 2nd baby!  So we have a new family member, Ms Audrey Rose Gordon.  She is precious of course!

As most of you know I'm always on the look out for new and great things that will help with CFS/ME, Lupus and FMS symptoms.  Well I have recently found a product and I want to tell you about it because I'm excited about it's potential. It's called "Aloha" - basically it's a dried green juice powder!  SHUT UP!  I literally was just thinking about how I wish there was a product that would give the benefits of juicing in a much easier form such as a powder or pre-made but good drink that was affordable....I know, I know, in my dreams!  Or at least I thought! Then I see an ad on Facebook pop up one day that caught my eye - it was EXACTLY what I had been thinking about - weird I know!

They appear to be a relatively new company and the product is exactly what I've been looking for.  I was able to get a sample of it and so far have found it to be just as good as it seems.  I mix the powder into my daily protein smoothie because on it's own it's quite harsh tasting!  I made the mistake of mixing it with just water when I first got it - ACK - I drank it but man, I won't make that mistake again!  If you have ever had spirulina straight, that is exactly what it reminds me of - but I find mixing it with my smoothie drowns out the strong taste and it's palatable.  I'm always looking for ways to easily incorporate lots of vegetables and goodness into my daily diet and this seems like a great way to do just that without the time/money/mess it takes to juice all the same things (and then some). Don't get me wrong, I love juicing and all the amazing health benefits but it is just too time consuming for me to do it on a regular basis anymore.  For the same cost, if not less, I can get the same benefits out of a package of dried juice - easy, fast and most of all convenient.  Check it out here Aloha - The Daily Good.  As anyone who is dealing with the affliction of a chronic illness knows, the more good stuff we can put into our bodies, the better off we are all around.  I really encourage you to check it out if you are like me and want to put the good things in but just don't have the time and energy to juice 3x or more a day.  With this, you take it once a day and you are good to go. There are 14 organic ingredients that promise to help detoxify, energize, hydrate and best of all BOOST IMMUNE SYSTEM function!  The process they use to dry the ingredients doesn't take away the nutrients or fiber which a lot of the time juicing does - so there is another bonus!  I've been using it just for a few days now so I can't honestly report anything over the top with it but I do plan on continuing to use it for the internal benefits I believe it will deliver.  A strong immune system is a huge plus for me.  I can also say I have noticed a temporary increase in my energy when I take it so that is always of course a huge plus!

In other news, it's spring break for myself and my kids - very much needed I might add!  I was thoroughly exhausted by the time it came along.  Last Friday was the first day and honestly I haven't done a whole lot since.  We did have an all day volleyball tournament on Sunday, but aside from that I've pretty much been a lazy lounger......of course I'm still keeping my normal schedule of going to be around 8 or 9pm but I'm able to sleep in past 5:30 am which has been nice.  I'm finding myself getting up around 8am, still tired but unable to sleep any longer.  I also have been noticing I wake up a lot at night, which isn't uncommon and surely part of why I'm always so tired, I'm not getting restful sleep.

So I wonder how many of you feel like I do - lazy.  I often feel like my illness has made me very "lazy" for lack of a better term - I feel lazy because I just don't want to do ANYTHING most of the time.  It makes me feel bad because I know I "should" be outside enjoying the nice weather, exercising, taking the kids out to do things etc.......so I start to get on myself and negative thinking hits.  I can sit here all day in my PJ's - easy.  So I wonder, is it just me being LAZY or is it truly because it's not often that I get to do it and when the opportunity shows itself I'm all over it?  Am I lazy?  Some would say YES.  I on the other hand am not sure at this point.  While I know I'm chronically sick, it's hard to convince even myself at times.

Volleyball is coming to an end soon - this has kept us very busy and on the go most of the time.  With 3-4 practices a week and an all day "power" each Sunday we find very little time to do much else.  Early mornings and late nights tend to be our M.O. during the club season.  As of May there will be a little break in the action before the summer camps start up with the school.  My daughter loves the sport and we are so blessed to be able to give her the opportunity to play for a club and in school as well as the countless other things she gets invited to do.  My husband and I love watching her too.  Our son on the other hand, not so much.  He isn't a big fan of noises so volleyball is really something that stresses him out.  With his sensory issues it's not the most accommodating sport for him.

Now I have a question for those of you with CFS/ME and/or FMS.  What strategies have you found work for you to keep you in a good place with your illness and struggles that come with it?  I feel like I do all the "right" things most of the time but still find myself very tired - some days more than others.  Some days it's very hard to get myself through and I can't wait to get home and collapse in my rocking chair/recliner.  I'm just curious what methods or things you do that keep you on top of your illness and what things you find make you crash and burn??  Thanks in advance for sharing as I know it can be a very personal thing.

Personally, I find that every day is so different from the last, especially dependent on what I did or didn't do for myself.  Things we put into our bodies will effect how we feel in the near and sometimes not so near future.  I find it hard to stay away from sugary things though, which for me is a downfall as I'm sure that lends to a lot of my symptoms of being extra tired. I also have a very hard time managing my weight NO MATTER WHAT I DO....Since being on the Body By Vi challenge I have found it easier to maintain my weight and I enjoy the fact that I'm getting great nutrients from the protein shakes but I wish I could LOSE weight as effortlessly as it seems others do.

At any rate, I hope this finds you well and enjoying spring!  Please send me comments if you have anything to share or say about anything I've put in my blog.  Let me know you are out there!  I am beginning to feel like I'm writing to a black hole!  I'm off to get some laundry done (the never ending pile seems to get bigger by the day) and then spend the evening in the volleyball gym - it is our life for now!

To your health!

Gerri

Wow, time sure does fly!

Hello!

I'm still here! I can't believe it's been a few months since I last posted.  With the holidays things got crazy and they just haven't slowed down yet.  I hope everyone had an incredible Christmas and New Year Celebration!

I'm doing just fine these days.  Of course with Fibro, everyday is different and we have "those days" but all in all I am doing great.  I really can't complain about the minor set backs because they seem to be few and far between anymore.  My chronic fatigue seems to be bothering me more than anything else but I think I've grown accustomed to it and just deal with it.  I'm always tired, I always have been as long as I can remember so it's just something I have learned to deal with.  On the rare occasion that I don't feel like I haven't slept I feel like what I imagine everyone feels like after a good nights rest.  On average I get somewhere between 8-9 hrs of sleep but feel like I have only had 2-3.

I'm still seeing my chiropractor pretty regularly, usually once a week sometimes once every 2 weeks.  It's the one thing that keeps me going and I really believe it's the regular adjustments that are keeping my Fibro under control.  Now if we could just figure out this Chronic Fatigue I might just feel normal again!  Heck, I don't even know what "normal" is.

Speaking of Chronic Fatigue, here is a great article about it - What is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?  For anyone reading this, it should shed some light on the disorder for you.  For those of you who might have it - I think you'll agree with what the article says.

When it comes to symptoms, I tend to have them all most of the time.  Below are a set of common symptoms, I've highlighted the ones I have almost constantly:
Symptoms include sore throat, flu like symptoms, problems with balance, sleep problems, dizziness, sweating, muscle and joint pain, un-refreshing sleep, cognitive difficulties, physical and mental exhaustion, tender lymph nodes and headaches.  With time the condition gets severe and you could become depressed or have mood swings.  I often get dizziness and headaches as well but the ones I highlighted are pretty much a constant in my daily life.

That's about all I have for today - one of my goals this year is to post a little more than I have been and keep you all constantly informed about Fibro and CFS.  It took me a really long time to get answers and if you or someone who knows someone who could benefit from it then I've done what I originally set out to do.

I hope this finds you well, happy and enjoying life as much as possible.

Gerri

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 have an appointment

at the Colorado Fibromyalgia Clinic tomorrow morning. I'm nervous, excited and hopeful for what will come from this appointment. I'm sitting here with a 16 page "questionnaire" that I need to fill out for them too....they certainly cover all the bases but some of the questions are very vague. I will do my best to answer everything as best I can and give as much information as I'm able to give.....there is so much to what's been going on.

Update from my last post: I'm feeling better from the cold/sinus infection - I guess the meds took care of that! I got worried during the course of antibiotics as my chest was really tight for a couple days but that went away thank goodness. My primary Dr contacted the Mayo Clinic as he had said he would and apparently they needed him to fill out some forms then I received a call this week from the Dr office telling me the Mayo Clinic wants me to have a physical with my primary......I'm not sure if this is a pre-screening type thing or what is going on really. My Dr has me coming in for this physical on Friday of this week so hopefully I'll find out more information from him during that appointment. He seems to be really on top of it and helping me out so I do appreciate that! In the meantime I'm also going to this other clinic just in case the Mayo Clinic doesn't accept me or has a really long wait to see me.......seems like between all the appointments and exams someone will figure something out. There are so many possibilities of what is going on I really hope I am on the right path to getting it figured out.

Today I was out for a few hours doing some much needed grocery shopping - I'm wiped out from that! Crazy how going to 2 stores over a 3 hr period just takes everything out of me. I hate it.

It's so hard to explain to someone who has never had to deal with this type of chronic illness just how tired I always am or how ill I feel most of the time. Over the past several days I've also had some pretty bad headaches which has just added to everything else. On a good note, my medication is keeping most of my pain at bay so I'm mainly dealing with the headaches and extreme fatigue constantly. Honestly I just don't understand really why I can sleep 10+ hrs a night and still wake up so tired.....it takes me a good hour or longer to really fully wake up and then after a few hours I'm just spent even if I haven't done anything. It really takes all I have to spend the day out and about with the family or just doing things that need to get done. I really want my life back! I'm too young to be so tired and lacking energy all the time!

On another note and something interesting I found today on one of the many Fibromyalgia support group sites I belong to. I read some information from someone who was bedridden for 4 yrs with CFS/fibro.....this person wrote a book about it but also shared a list of supplements that she claims helped her to get her life and health back. They are supplements that can be purchased anywhere that sells vitamins so I'm going to take the list to the Dr to see if it's something I should be doing.......some I already have been taking off and on, some I would need to go get but before I do that I want to ask the Dr. what she thinks. If you remember, earlier in the year I had started taking some supplements that I had read about but, because I didn't see any change in my condition I stopped taking them.......I'm really bad about that when I don't see an improvement.

For those of you who might be interested, the recommended supplements and amounts are:

Co-Q-10 - 100mg This is essential for every cell in the body for energy. The new form of Co-Q-10 called Ubiaquinol helps by adding more energy because it is already broken down and goes right to work by attaching to the cells in the body to produce energy.

B-12 sublingual 500 mcg twice daily, this is dissolved under the tongue and is more effective and helps with energy and the nervous system.

Calcium 1000mg, magnesium 400mg and zinc 25 mg.
Calcium for bones; magnesium for inflammation; zinc for immune system health.

Vitamin C 500mg once daily for immune system

Vitamin E 400 Iu once daily Immune system and energy

Vitamin D-3 1,000 Iu twice daily. Helps with vision problems and long bone pain (if you are deficient of Vitamin D, your doctor will have you take a larger dose). Most people with CFS/ME or FM are so difficient that they need larger doses, so it’s a good idea to have it checked by a Vitamin D 3 blood test.

Ginkgo Biloba 60 mg once daily helps memory and brain fog.

Garlic 500 mg once daily (oderless). Good for immune system and is a natural antibiotic.

Omega 3 Salmon Oil 500mg twice daily. Good for immune system and heart health and helps to balance hormones. Many fish oils contain shellfish to which some people are allergic. For this reason, Salmon Oil might be the better choice.

Milk Thistle 175mg twice daily for 3 months, then 1 per day for liver health. To be taken with Probiotic Acidophilus twice daily for 3 months, then 1 per day for intestine well-being.
Milk Thistle and Acidophilus remove toxins from the body and help retard yeast build up

Wish me luck! I'll definitely post an update tomorrow from my appointment at this Fibromyalgia clinic. It's about 2 hrs away so I'll be gone all day but will get an update out as soon as I can once I return. Hopefully there will be some good news and hope for this journey to finally take a turn towards a healthier me!

Still here......still in the thick of things

Hello friends and followers! I'm still here, I haven't been much into posting an update since my last one, although there is plenty to update....... Health status is pretty much status quo although I can say the withdrawl from the Effexor is gone and I'm settling in with the new medication, Savella - although now that I look back I think the Effexor was the best medication to be on for both depression, mood and pain - as I was getting off the Effexor I noticed a considerable increase in leg pain especially at my hips after getting up from sitting down....my ankles and my knees as well - this pain wasn't really noticable while I was on the Effexor, it was only after I stopped that medication that I really noticed it and had trouble with walking most of the time.

SO what to do what to do - one reason I went off the effexor was due to it's high cost - and my son going on medications I just couldn't afford both - so I did what any parent would do and sacraficed my own health needs for that of my son's well being.

It's been about 2 months now since the medication switch and I'm just not sure what to do. The Savella has started to work as the pain in my hips, knees and ankles isn't as prominent as it was while the going through the switch over, however I definitely notice a difference in my general mood. I have an appointment today with my Dr so we'll see what he thinks. I would really hate to go through yet another change in the meds, it's so hard to go through that and I really just want to be at the point of being able to resume my regular activities with little to no pain and discomfort. Wishful thinking? Maybe.......probably.....

Research, Research and more research!

I've been looking into different options and places both nationally and locally to go to in order to get some good treatment and on the right path - locally there are a few places that treat Fibromyalgia, one of them being The Fibromyalgia and Pain Centers - however upon looking at them I was told they are not taking on new patients - so moving on from there I found the Colorado Fibromyalgia Center in Lafayette, CO - I have an appointment with them for the end of the month.

I'm also looking into getting in at the Rochester, MN Mayo Clinic for an exam and treatment. I think if anyone is going to get me on the right path to wellness they can. They have a specialized Fibromyalgia Clinic there that only takes patients on referral, so that's one thing I'll be asking for today at my appointment. I'm really hoping they can not only get me in ASAP but also give me a great head to toe exam and either confirm the diagnosis of Fibromyalgia/CFS or find anything else that could be going on and causing me all the symptoms I've been dealing with and continue to have. So keeping fingers crossed. If I can get into the Mayo Clinic then I'll be canceling my appointment at the Lafayette clinic for now. I'm sure at some point I'll have to take up care here locally as I don't foresee me being able to travel to MN every few weeks for follow up appointments. It's a starting point anyway.

If you have ever done any kind of research into this disease you will know that there is all kinds of information to be found, most of which will say that the cause is unknown and that there are many potential types of ways to treat it, some conventional, some not so conventional. Because of this, it can be tricky to find providers who treat the disease. Research has come a long way on it and is continuing to carve a trail for the treatment of Fibromyalgia. In fact, I spoke to the medical director at the University of Colorado Executive Health Program yesterday as I was looking at going to see them - he pretty much reminded me that this disease is SO hard to treat and said that his particular program was not for me. This sent me for a full day of tears..........only because it was just another brick wall put up in front of me, and I'm so tired....so stressed.....so sick of being sick! I couldn't help it and I just broke down. My poor kids and husband are enduring a lot with all of this as well. My son sat with me at one point last night and said to me "Mom, you are so strong, and you can beat this thing........I know it's hard but you just have to believe! Believe that you will get through this and get better and you will! Remember, there are people out there who beat cancer, because they believe they will" - what an amazing child - he's only 9 and has such a grasp on life.

One thing that is of a concern too is that there are other diseases that cam mimick Fibromyalgia and CFS - such as Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis, Lyme Disease, Candida infections...and the list goes on - I'm at the point that I just don't know if I truly have fibromyalgia/CFS or if something else is lurking in my body that just hasn't been discovered as of yet. Being that I am in a constant stage of feeling sick...not so much pain at this point, just like I'm coming down with the flu all the time........feeling crappy day in and day out definitely takes a toll on you....if you have this terrible disease then you know exactly what I'm referring to...if not...you just have to take my word for it and know that when I say I don't feel good....I REALLY DON'T...........

Even though you might see me out at the pool with the kids, out at the grocery store......out at a fabulous fun Slumber Party for a client.....you might see me at the Park or walking my dogs with my husband.........you might see me and think to yourself "well she doesn't look like she is suffering".....but inside and all the time I am just not what I use to be. I honestly feel, deep down, that what I have could very well be Fibromyalgia - but I also feel there is more to it than JUST that......and that's what I'm on the search for. I am on a mission and will go to the end of the world to find out what is going on and how to fix it. This is a fight that I'm not giving up on...although there are many times I just want to say "I GIVE UP" and go crawl under a rock.....it's easy for people to forget...I see it happen all the time....I've lost some friends because I can't be out and about with them....I decline going out with them because I just don't have the energy to do it. I hate it...I hate this disease....I HATE THAT I'VE BEEN PUT TO THIS CHALLENGE! But regardless of how I feel about it, it is what it is and I have to find a way to get through it, learn to live with it and find a way to be here for my family for many more years.

One more thing - I had a few people ask me if I've been juicing and sadly the answer is no - if you recall, my juicer broke, I ordered a replacement part which I still don't have as the company said it's on backorder - so I stopped juicing for that reason and the fact that I didn't notice it making much of a real difference overall.......I may take it back up if I ever get this replacement part to my juicer.....the replacement juicer I purchased wasn't cutting it so between all that, I just kind of fell off the juicing wagon.....I might just have to get back on it though - it takes a lot of will power to keep at it that I'm just not sure I have in me right now with everything else going on......plus, if I'll be traveling then that will cut right back into my efforts - so I might hold off until I get a handle on what the immediate future holds for me......

I'll post an update later after my appointment - hopefully it'll be a great update with a referral to the Mayo Clinic!

Do you even understand?? Maybe this will help

My post today is all about bringing awareness to everyone who reads this blog that doesn't understand or for those of you who are like me, sick......all the time and do understand but need help trying to get others to understand you.

FIBROMYALGIA - it's not the "catch all" diagnosis I've heard so many people say it is.....believe me, if you lived even one day with it, you would "GET IT" real quick! It's so very frustrating not being able to really talk to people who don't have it and trust that they understand......understand why you couldn't get out of bed today, understand why you couldn't do the dishes, laundry or clean your house....understand that you are not lazy....but that YOU ARE SICK......it's easy for anyone not living with it to say things like "oh just exercise more, you'll be fine" or "go to bed earlier and you won't be so tired".....and the list of "comments" you make to people who suffer with this disease goes on and on.....I've heard you, I know what you say and think about people like me....people who appear to be just fine on the outside - we are suffering on the inside.

I've compiled a few videos for you to help you possibly see inside the life of someone who suffers from Fibromyalgia and/or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome....if you love someone who has been given one or both of these chronic pain diagnoses - please take the time to watch these videos, take the time to try to understand what they are going through....take the time to know that when they say they hurt, they REALLY hurt........don't be another person in their life who just brushes them off as lazy or think they are faking it.......living with this is hard, frustrating and at times feels hopeless.....give us hope and just try to understand..........

Fibromyalgia Hurts

But you don't LOOK sick

Just offer some compassion and understanding

Anyone who doubts this condition should take this challenge. We will both go for a walk but first lets get on an even footing.

As you can't see or feel my daily aches and pains then I suggest we should wrap ourselves in barbed wire before we set off. Oh and have NO SLEEP the night before.

Then we walk today, tomorrow and every day thereafter until one of us gives up and takes the barbed wire off our bodies. I can tell you now that it won't be me because you see this barbed wire that I wear does not come off! It's called Fibromyalgia and I just have to learn how to deal with it, no matter what!

Thank you for taking the time to read this blog, watch the videos and think differently about this condition that effects so many ......it's sad to know that there are still many Dr's out there who don't believe in this, many people out there who don't understand and many people that are close to people who suffer who just don't want to take the time to even TRY to understand what someone is going through.

Now let me remind you that I haven't always had to deal with this illness. I was only just diagnosed late last year after a bout of illness, after illness, after illness that finally landed me in a Dr's office and with this diagnosis after tests among tests among tests that came back NEGATIVE.........ask my family, I was SICK....I was in bed for 4 months SICK........now I have to deal with the after effects of that illness that started out as bronchitis, then pneumonia that turned into walking pneumonia......then a sudden onset of uncontrollable migraines, then constant dizziness to the point that I couldn't stand up and on and on...........it just was never ending until I ended up at the right Dr's office...........

I don't say these things to get your sympathy, but rather to encourage your compassion for anyone who has to deal with this day in and day out...for life. Fibromyalgia is triggered by various things, usually a tramatic incident or event.....mine was triggered by my prolonged sickness that landed me in the ER being tested for anything and everything to try to find out why I was so dizzy, with a migraine that couldn't be banished.

Please, feel free to share this blog with anyone who may benefit from reading my stories...that's why it's here!