Hello!
I know I have a problem with not updating my blog very often, I attribute that to being busy and forgetful! I have good intentions but when it comes down to it I falter.......I'm sorry for that, I really am!
So, it's been a year since I had my thyroid removed and I can tell you that I notice nothing different. My levels are still wacky, I'm losing hair by the handfuls, I still lack energy and god forbid I want to lose a little weight - it takes an enormous amount of effort and it always comes right back. So, having my thyroid removed didn't help me with any of my major issues. At least I don't have growths anymore but my levels still have not leveled out. I started on 150 mg of Synthroid last year and am now on 100 mg - I continue to be adjusted to lower levels without it helping.
So since it's been a bit since I've updated let's see what's been happening:
January-March 2016 - I started back to college at an online University - Ashford University. It's been 7 months and I'm doing great! I have straight "A" grades and just last week was invited to become a member of Alpha Sigma Lamda Honor Society. This is an honor society for exceptional adult learners. It was such a great surprise and honor. So being that I have such great grades should also tell you I spend a lot of time with my schooling. I haven't had time to be sick or tired or sore or anything other than focusing on school. My intention of going back is to complete the degree I started right out of high school - which was a long time ago.........I'm studying "Social and Criminal Justice" and will graduate with my BA in 7/2018.
Regarding my FMS and CFS I'm still holding steady. I haven't had any major flare up of either condition. I have learned to just listen to myself and if I'm tired, I go to bed. I still have issues with my hips being achy and locking up after sitting down for a bit but overall I can't complain. I have a lot of contact with people who have FMS really bad and I feel terrible for them but at the same time am grateful I have been able to reverse a good majority of my issues with FM and keep it under control.
April - July 2016 - I ended up in the ER on my birthday, April 5th - with what I thought was chest pain - it was bad, had me convinced I had a blockage - after a night stay and many tests that came back negative I was sent home and referred to a cardiologist. A few more tests and nothing. I still get these weird chest pains but haven't gone back to the cardiologist because he already determined it's not my heart but of course, as with most things they don't know why I'm having these pains. I thought maybe heartburn but I really don't think so since I never get it. So chalk it up to another strange thing related to FMS I guess.....
I was just talking with my mom about when I first got sick back in 2010 and took up juicing to get better. It definitely worked after a period of time - between juicing AND taking many supplements I brought my nutrition levels back to where they needed to be and was able to reverse a lot of my symptoms that had me bedridden for several months. Everyone also is different so what worked for me may or may not work for another - but it's all worth a try! In fact, coming back to my juicing information I've decided to juice a metabolism boosting juice and see if it helps me shed a few lbs like it says it does.
In other news, I've been off work since the first week in June and it's been great! Since I work in a school, I have the same schedule as the kids do and it's fantastic. We go back in just 3 wks from now......summer vacay goes way too fast! But it will be good to get back on a schedule. When I have no schedule not much gets done because I don't have to....it's bad.
My daughter is going into her senior year of high school - I can't believe in just a short year she will be going to college. My "baby" girl is grown into such a beautiful young woman. Makes me sad that she will be leaving but I know it's coming quickly. My son is starting his sophomore year - he is another one that I can't believe has grown so much both physically and mentally. The past several months have been big in the growth area for him. My daughter will be playing volleyball with the school over the next few weeks leading up to try outs - in fact next week we go to a big college camp with some girls who were invited from the school - should be fun!
I hope this update has found you all well! I would like to say that I will update in a month but, I've said that before and 7 months later I show up ...... I know I suck at this but I'm trying! I will be back soon, how is that???
Showing posts with label supplements. Show all posts
Showing posts with label supplements. Show all posts
Saturday, July 16, 2016
Monday, March 31, 2014
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
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
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!
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
I'm back and getting better!
So it's been 2wks now since my hysterectomy and I'm doing well with my recovery. No major problems at all other than a pesky bladder infection that I can't seem to get rid of. The first week + was rough, the pain after surgery was difficult to control but once the nurse was able to get me comfortable we just made sure I stayed that way. I have to wonder if my fibromyalgia had something to do with not being able to get the pain under control initially.
It's been 3wks now since I've gone to the treatment center for my weekly acupuncture and adjustment but I'm feeling like I'm holding up well even without it. I'm noticing a little pain in my hips starting to return but I think due to my laying around so much and not doing a whole lot probably has something to do with that. Each day I feel a little better and am doing a little more so hopefully I'll be able to get back to my treatments and get back on track with all that.
I really don't have a lot to report with this update, just wanted to report my progress and let you know all is well on my end.
I do need to get back on track with my supplements as well - I stopped taking them the week of surgery and haven't gone back - although I really need them so I need to just get back in the swing of taking them everyday since they are part of my treatment plan and healing process.
I go in tomorrow for my 2wk post op visit and I'm sure I'll be released to drive again. I am feeling like I'm on house arrest not being able to go out anywhere on my own which has be itching to go somewhere! Funny how that works.
Until next time......
It's been 3wks now since I've gone to the treatment center for my weekly acupuncture and adjustment but I'm feeling like I'm holding up well even without it. I'm noticing a little pain in my hips starting to return but I think due to my laying around so much and not doing a whole lot probably has something to do with that. Each day I feel a little better and am doing a little more so hopefully I'll be able to get back to my treatments and get back on track with all that.
I really don't have a lot to report with this update, just wanted to report my progress and let you know all is well on my end.
I do need to get back on track with my supplements as well - I stopped taking them the week of surgery and haven't gone back - although I really need them so I need to just get back in the swing of taking them everyday since they are part of my treatment plan and healing process.
I go in tomorrow for my 2wk post op visit and I'm sure I'll be released to drive again. I am feeling like I'm on house arrest not being able to go out anywhere on my own which has be itching to go somewhere! Funny how that works.
Until next time......
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Information overload! Where do I put it....here, that's where!
So much information is available out there on our "information highway" that it's become a bit of an overload on my brain! I can only focus on so much at one time and with all the research I've done over the past year I am finding that I am either reading the same things, just on different sites and/or finding one good bit of information on things then another site to contradict what I just read. I'm glad to be able to find information as well as information that challenges it but it starts to become blurry and confusing after a while.....frustration set in this past week as I've been looking at going "gluten-free" and dabbling with it - it's not as easy as I had thought it would be.
It turns out that really eating "gluten-free" requires the desire to cook, the desire to spend the extra money on the grocery bill and the need to know that it really does make a difference.......as of right now I don't want to cook, I don't have the desire to spend our money on these specialty products that may or may not help me feel better. I was shocked when I saw the prices of "gluten-free" bread......among other things it's not a cheap venture. So, with that, I guess it won't be a huge shock to anyone that I haven't given up gluten in my food although I am more aware of it and what I'm putting into my body.
On another note, it's now been 30 days since starting all the supplements I had talked about in July. So far I'm not really feeling a major impact from them, but I do know it takes a while to build them up in the body, so I'm not going to give up on it. I'm sure they are doing great things for me. I've made a little bit of an adjustment to what supplements I'm taking and currently. In addition to the supplements discussed back in my July posting I am taking the following on a daily basis as well:
*bee pollen (in the loose form) - if you have never heard about the benefits of bee pollen you really need to check it out! I just picked some up at the Vitamin Cottage yesterday and had my first dose today. I'm all about giving it a shot. Bee pollen has been called "natures perfect food" among other things. After reading about it I was eager to add it to my daily supplements. I believe the loose form is best as it can loose some of it's fundamental goodness through processing and manufacturing - make sure you read about it before you go out and buy a bottle of pills or something that could just be a waste of your money....know what you are looking for and getting!
*Adrenal Stress End - This supplement supports your adrenals and helps them function better - I believe part of all the madness is also adrenal stress so this addition is necessary in order to stop the cycle - this one supplement also includes 150mg Vit C, 50mg B6, 100mg Pantothenic Acid (AKA B5), 400mg Adrenal Polypeptide Fractions, 250mg Betaine (helps with digestion), 250mg L-Tyrosine (one of the 20 amino acids that are used by cells to synthesize proteins), 200mg Licorice (among it's many health benefits, licorice has gained a reputation for strengthening the body during times of stress) and 35 mg Adrenal cortex extract (helps to repair adrenal function).
*Metabolic Advantage - I added this one since I firmly believe I have thyroid problems even though my Endo Dr says otherwise - due to the nodules I have and the indicators/symptoms of hypothyroidism I'm certain this is going to be a beneficial supplement for me. This thyroid support supplement that also incorporates 100mg B12, 200mg Iodine, 200mg Magnesium, 6mg Zinc, 300mg cooper, 2.3mg manganese, 248mg L-Tyrosine...both link enclosures have great information for you to explore further.
*Turmeric - I just learned about this spice used as a supplement this week and it's another one that I was eager to get on board with. The benefits of taking this daily are great! Although nothing is scientifically "proven" the responses from people who have taken it are good. When I first went looking for this in the vitamin section I found that the entire row was gone, so people are definitely using it as supplement for health.
*DHEA - 25mg - my PCP had told me to take this a year or two ago for help with the, um, shall we say lowered libido, to which I did purchase it and take it temporarily - I found it in my cabinet so figured I would add it to the list since it does have benefits for people with FMS/CFS according to sources I've read - I can recall where I had seen it listed however, I did see it enough in my reading that I decided it was worth trying again.
So all in all I'm taking 10 pills in the morning, 2 in the afternoon and 2 in the evening - that's the ideal situation - in reality, I take my morning 10, my dose of bee pollen and usually forget the later day doses which are the additional NAC and L-glutamine doses I should take. I am working on remembering to take those though...it's all a process of getting use to taking so many pills throughout the day.
I'm still having a nice big glass of fresh juice every morning as well.
The past 2 weeks I have missed my treatments due to one thing or another - last week was because I was too sick to go and this week because I had to take the kids to the Dr which just so happened to be during my appt time. Due to the fact that my appointments take all day to and from I had to cancel and of course they were booked solid the rest of the week so I couldn't re-schedule. I do however, have my next one this coming up Monday that, as of now is a go.
The one question that is burning in everyone's mind and asked all the time is "Is all of this helping you feel better?" - usually my answer is "I don't know" because honestly, it's too soon to really say either way. I can say that I am not "SICK" in the sense of having a cold, respiratory illness or anything like that, however, each day is still unknown and each day is different - when I start having multiple days of feeling great, you'll know it because I'll be shouting about it anywhere I can! I anticipate that it will take a few more months of supplements and treatments to really get to a point where my body is functioning "normally" whatever that is.
We have to remember that it has taken many years to get to the point of bodily functions failing and falling apart so it's going to take time to fix the problems that are now labeled as "fibromyalgia", "Chronic Fatigue", "adrenal stress" - how much time is not known and is going to be different for each person...but each day we are closer to being better by the things we are learning and doing!
I hope you are doing well on your life journey and finding useful information from my journey. Everyday is a new opportunity to learn more and find the right combination of nutrients, rest and activities to help make all this work to our benefit.
It turns out that really eating "gluten-free" requires the desire to cook, the desire to spend the extra money on the grocery bill and the need to know that it really does make a difference.......as of right now I don't want to cook, I don't have the desire to spend our money on these specialty products that may or may not help me feel better. I was shocked when I saw the prices of "gluten-free" bread......among other things it's not a cheap venture. So, with that, I guess it won't be a huge shock to anyone that I haven't given up gluten in my food although I am more aware of it and what I'm putting into my body.
On another note, it's now been 30 days since starting all the supplements I had talked about in July. So far I'm not really feeling a major impact from them, but I do know it takes a while to build them up in the body, so I'm not going to give up on it. I'm sure they are doing great things for me. I've made a little bit of an adjustment to what supplements I'm taking and currently. In addition to the supplements discussed back in my July posting I am taking the following on a daily basis as well:
*bee pollen (in the loose form) - if you have never heard about the benefits of bee pollen you really need to check it out! I just picked some up at the Vitamin Cottage yesterday and had my first dose today. I'm all about giving it a shot. Bee pollen has been called "natures perfect food" among other things. After reading about it I was eager to add it to my daily supplements. I believe the loose form is best as it can loose some of it's fundamental goodness through processing and manufacturing - make sure you read about it before you go out and buy a bottle of pills or something that could just be a waste of your money....know what you are looking for and getting!
*Adrenal Stress End - This supplement supports your adrenals and helps them function better - I believe part of all the madness is also adrenal stress so this addition is necessary in order to stop the cycle - this one supplement also includes 150mg Vit C, 50mg B6, 100mg Pantothenic Acid (AKA B5), 400mg Adrenal Polypeptide Fractions, 250mg Betaine (helps with digestion), 250mg L-Tyrosine (one of the 20 amino acids that are used by cells to synthesize proteins), 200mg Licorice (among it's many health benefits, licorice has gained a reputation for strengthening the body during times of stress) and 35 mg Adrenal cortex extract (helps to repair adrenal function).
*Metabolic Advantage - I added this one since I firmly believe I have thyroid problems even though my Endo Dr says otherwise - due to the nodules I have and the indicators/symptoms of hypothyroidism I'm certain this is going to be a beneficial supplement for me. This thyroid support supplement that also incorporates 100mg B12, 200mg Iodine, 200mg Magnesium, 6mg Zinc, 300mg cooper, 2.3mg manganese, 248mg L-Tyrosine...both link enclosures have great information for you to explore further.
*Turmeric - I just learned about this spice used as a supplement this week and it's another one that I was eager to get on board with. The benefits of taking this daily are great! Although nothing is scientifically "proven" the responses from people who have taken it are good. When I first went looking for this in the vitamin section I found that the entire row was gone, so people are definitely using it as supplement for health.
*DHEA - 25mg - my PCP had told me to take this a year or two ago for help with the, um, shall we say lowered libido, to which I did purchase it and take it temporarily - I found it in my cabinet so figured I would add it to the list since it does have benefits for people with FMS/CFS according to sources I've read - I can recall where I had seen it listed however, I did see it enough in my reading that I decided it was worth trying again.
So all in all I'm taking 10 pills in the morning, 2 in the afternoon and 2 in the evening - that's the ideal situation - in reality, I take my morning 10, my dose of bee pollen and usually forget the later day doses which are the additional NAC and L-glutamine doses I should take. I am working on remembering to take those though...it's all a process of getting use to taking so many pills throughout the day.
I'm still having a nice big glass of fresh juice every morning as well.
The past 2 weeks I have missed my treatments due to one thing or another - last week was because I was too sick to go and this week because I had to take the kids to the Dr which just so happened to be during my appt time. Due to the fact that my appointments take all day to and from I had to cancel and of course they were booked solid the rest of the week so I couldn't re-schedule. I do however, have my next one this coming up Monday that, as of now is a go.
The one question that is burning in everyone's mind and asked all the time is "Is all of this helping you feel better?" - usually my answer is "I don't know" because honestly, it's too soon to really say either way. I can say that I am not "SICK" in the sense of having a cold, respiratory illness or anything like that, however, each day is still unknown and each day is different - when I start having multiple days of feeling great, you'll know it because I'll be shouting about it anywhere I can! I anticipate that it will take a few more months of supplements and treatments to really get to a point where my body is functioning "normally" whatever that is.
We have to remember that it has taken many years to get to the point of bodily functions failing and falling apart so it's going to take time to fix the problems that are now labeled as "fibromyalgia", "Chronic Fatigue", "adrenal stress" - how much time is not known and is going to be different for each person...but each day we are closer to being better by the things we are learning and doing!
I hope you are doing well on your life journey and finding useful information from my journey. Everyday is a new opportunity to learn more and find the right combination of nutrients, rest and activities to help make all this work to our benefit.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
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!
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!
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Vertigo - GOING, GOING - GONE!
So I woke up today and the vertigo seems to be getting less and less - today I feel so much better, in fact I am not nearly as dizzy as I've been. I have only had a couple times since waking that I felt slightly dizzy and that was when I moved too quickly. So I will continue to take it easy but am able to resume my normal activities including driving, cooking, cleaning - all that great stuff. I'm so glad it's not hanging around longer than this week - I was concerned I was going to be dealing with it for a while again.
When I saw the Dr on Wed I had asked him if this could be linked to the fibromyalgia - he did say that sometimes people with fibromyalgia will also have episodes of vertigo. Although I've never read anything to state this, I'll believe him, he is the one who specializes in all this. I also discussed with him the possibility of the vertigo being a sign that I could have MS. He stated that yes, vertigo is a sign of MS and that I should consult my Neurologist for further investigation of that possibility. I decided that if I get another sudden onset I will do just that. There are many factors in determining if someone has MS - so I think that is another battle and battery of testing that will be necessary to undergo should I decide it's something worth pursuing. The last time I discussed this with the neurologist she didn't feel that the changes in my brain lesions that showed on the MRI indicated possible MS. So we left it at that.
Today is day 2 of starting my new supplements and I even got my husband to join me in taking them. I was shocked actually that he drank the spirulina. If you have ever had it, you'll know what I mean when I say it's GREEN and smells horrid! Although, we mixed it with Orange Juice and it tasted like Orange juice - so as long as he can't taste the nastiness of it I know he'll drink it. He doesn't eat any vegetables so being able to get this into him is only going to help him. As I had posted in yesterday's entry, the spirulina is full of great things - everyone should use it to aid in their health and to make sure they are getting what the body needs to be healthy.
I had someone ask me just recently if all this juicing has made any difference - in all honesty I have only noticed my level of energy slightly increase AND I'm feeling less fatigued than I have in the past - but not a lot of major differences that I can pin point with precision. If you ask me, those two things are pretty major for someone with CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), so yes, it's helping. I think, as a friend of mine said, it's going to take some time for my body to reverse all the negative things that I've subject it to all my life. In particular, the bad foods and lack of good nutrients for so many years. The immediate benefits are not necessarily outward but inside, my body is certainly healing itself and loving all the goodness it's getting. It can be frustrating to not see immediate changes, but I think overall it's helping and expect it to take up to 2 months or more to really make a huge impact. Overall I do feel good if you compare how I feel today to 2, 3 or 4 months ago...so I think it's definitely helping, yes.
When I saw the Dr on Wed I had asked him if this could be linked to the fibromyalgia - he did say that sometimes people with fibromyalgia will also have episodes of vertigo. Although I've never read anything to state this, I'll believe him, he is the one who specializes in all this. I also discussed with him the possibility of the vertigo being a sign that I could have MS. He stated that yes, vertigo is a sign of MS and that I should consult my Neurologist for further investigation of that possibility. I decided that if I get another sudden onset I will do just that. There are many factors in determining if someone has MS - so I think that is another battle and battery of testing that will be necessary to undergo should I decide it's something worth pursuing. The last time I discussed this with the neurologist she didn't feel that the changes in my brain lesions that showed on the MRI indicated possible MS. So we left it at that.
Today is day 2 of starting my new supplements and I even got my husband to join me in taking them. I was shocked actually that he drank the spirulina. If you have ever had it, you'll know what I mean when I say it's GREEN and smells horrid! Although, we mixed it with Orange Juice and it tasted like Orange juice - so as long as he can't taste the nastiness of it I know he'll drink it. He doesn't eat any vegetables so being able to get this into him is only going to help him. As I had posted in yesterday's entry, the spirulina is full of great things - everyone should use it to aid in their health and to make sure they are getting what the body needs to be healthy.
I had someone ask me just recently if all this juicing has made any difference - in all honesty I have only noticed my level of energy slightly increase AND I'm feeling less fatigued than I have in the past - but not a lot of major differences that I can pin point with precision. If you ask me, those two things are pretty major for someone with CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), so yes, it's helping. I think, as a friend of mine said, it's going to take some time for my body to reverse all the negative things that I've subject it to all my life. In particular, the bad foods and lack of good nutrients for so many years. The immediate benefits are not necessarily outward but inside, my body is certainly healing itself and loving all the goodness it's getting. It can be frustrating to not see immediate changes, but I think overall it's helping and expect it to take up to 2 months or more to really make a huge impact. Overall I do feel good if you compare how I feel today to 2, 3 or 4 months ago...so I think it's definitely helping, yes.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Is it all really necessary?
I'm like a lot of people and often ask myself if all the "extras" are REALLY necessary in order to live a long healthy life. Juicing, eating a diet high in raw foods, extra supplements, exercise - when is it all TOO MUCH? I don't know the answers and can read all the same studies other people read but it really comes down to what YOU believe and to what extent YOU want to feel good and live what you consider a "healthy lifestyle". The definition of "healthy lifestyle" is going to greatly differ with each person you talk to about it.
Up until recently I never really gave a second thought to lunch or dinner at the local fast food place, Taco Bell was one of my favorite places to go late at night after a party.......extra vitamins and supplements, no way - they can be pricey and I figured we get enough of what is "recommended" in what we eat anyway so what's the point in spending the money on those things.
Well, slowly my feelings on all this are changing towards the line of thought that some of it, not all, but some of it is really necessary to add to what you put in your body. Reading various things has convinced me that some of it might just make sense.
Starting today I'm adding the following things to my diet in an effort to aid my body in fighting the chronic illnesses I have been suffering from (Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - commonly referred to as FMS and CFS - some physicians will say they are one in the same, others say they are two separate illnesses that commonly run together:
**Acidophilus Probiotic (liquid form) - this is to aid in healthy intestinal bacteria and help control immune response to inflammation especially if one suffers from Inflammatory Bowel disease
**Spirulina - this powder is packed with vitamins and minerals and is considered a complete protein. It is rich in essential fatty acids. The vitamins you'll get with this powder are B1, B2, B3, B6, B9, as well as vitamins C, D, E and A. There is some controversy to the availability of B12 in this product so taking additional B12 is a good idea. It is a rich source of potassium and also contains calcium, chromium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, selenium, sodium, and zinc. This one supplement strongly supports the immune system and a healthy inflammatory response. With my current condition those two things are very important to keep healthy.
**B3 (Niacin) and B12 - B vitamins help the body to convert food (carbohydrates) into fuel (glucose), which is "burned" to produce energy. These B vitamins, also help the body metabolize fats and protein. B complex vitamins are necessary for healthy skin, hair, eyes, and liver. They also help the nervous system function properly. Niacin also helps the body make various sex and stress-related hormones in the adrenal glands and other parts of the body.
**Sea Kelp - As a highly alkaline substance, sea kelp can help restore optimum pH levels in the body. It is an excellent source of iodine therefore sea kelp can improve thyroid function, potentially increasing metabolism, energy and decreasing weight gain. It is also known to provide improved function of the immune system and thyroid gland, improved mental abilities and concentration and provides anti-inflammatory and anti-viral properties.
All in all I think it can't hurt and if I find that I have an overall better feeling of wellness then it's a good thing. I can say that so far, with just one day into the supplements I can tell I have more energy, that fast. So I'm excited to see how I feel after several days of taking the extra supplements.
While I was at the natural grocery store purchasing my new supplements I was a little overwhelmed with all the options available and being that I don't know a lot about all those different options, felt really out of my element and very out of place. Eventually I will know more as I learn how to transform my habits and choose the better options when I can.
By the way, if you are considering adding Spirulina to your daily diet, be forewarned, that is some nasty stuff - it's horrid! There is no doubt on that! I mixed it with orange juice and just downed it as it is an ugly green color and the less you have to taste the better!
I'm gearing up to clean out our "medicine cabinet" that houses the numerous medications I've been prescribed over the past 6 months - most of which I am not taking now except two - Effexor and Adderall. The effexor was just recently doubled in dosage to help with the FMS pain and the adderall is something I've taken for years for my ADD. My immediate goal is to get off the adderall and eventually get off the Effexor, although it is being used to help me with my FMS I'm thinking that one won't be going away anytime soon.
Stay tuned for pictures of the pharmacy we have going on, before and after pictures of the cabinet as I rid it of the medications - I think even I will be surprised at how many things we have in there - I just opened it earlier and things are spilling out - 99% of the items in there are probably expired or just something I use to take and never removed.
Up until recently I never really gave a second thought to lunch or dinner at the local fast food place, Taco Bell was one of my favorite places to go late at night after a party.......extra vitamins and supplements, no way - they can be pricey and I figured we get enough of what is "recommended" in what we eat anyway so what's the point in spending the money on those things.
Well, slowly my feelings on all this are changing towards the line of thought that some of it, not all, but some of it is really necessary to add to what you put in your body. Reading various things has convinced me that some of it might just make sense.
Starting today I'm adding the following things to my diet in an effort to aid my body in fighting the chronic illnesses I have been suffering from (Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - commonly referred to as FMS and CFS - some physicians will say they are one in the same, others say they are two separate illnesses that commonly run together:
**Acidophilus Probiotic (liquid form) - this is to aid in healthy intestinal bacteria and help control immune response to inflammation especially if one suffers from Inflammatory Bowel disease
**Spirulina - this powder is packed with vitamins and minerals and is considered a complete protein. It is rich in essential fatty acids. The vitamins you'll get with this powder are B1, B2, B3, B6, B9, as well as vitamins C, D, E and A. There is some controversy to the availability of B12 in this product so taking additional B12 is a good idea. It is a rich source of potassium and also contains calcium, chromium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, selenium, sodium, and zinc. This one supplement strongly supports the immune system and a healthy inflammatory response. With my current condition those two things are very important to keep healthy.
**B3 (Niacin) and B12 - B vitamins help the body to convert food (carbohydrates) into fuel (glucose), which is "burned" to produce energy. These B vitamins, also help the body metabolize fats and protein. B complex vitamins are necessary for healthy skin, hair, eyes, and liver. They also help the nervous system function properly. Niacin also helps the body make various sex and stress-related hormones in the adrenal glands and other parts of the body.
**Sea Kelp - As a highly alkaline substance, sea kelp can help restore optimum pH levels in the body. It is an excellent source of iodine therefore sea kelp can improve thyroid function, potentially increasing metabolism, energy and decreasing weight gain. It is also known to provide improved function of the immune system and thyroid gland, improved mental abilities and concentration and provides anti-inflammatory and anti-viral properties.
All in all I think it can't hurt and if I find that I have an overall better feeling of wellness then it's a good thing. I can say that so far, with just one day into the supplements I can tell I have more energy, that fast. So I'm excited to see how I feel after several days of taking the extra supplements.
While I was at the natural grocery store purchasing my new supplements I was a little overwhelmed with all the options available and being that I don't know a lot about all those different options, felt really out of my element and very out of place. Eventually I will know more as I learn how to transform my habits and choose the better options when I can.
By the way, if you are considering adding Spirulina to your daily diet, be forewarned, that is some nasty stuff - it's horrid! There is no doubt on that! I mixed it with orange juice and just downed it as it is an ugly green color and the less you have to taste the better!
I'm gearing up to clean out our "medicine cabinet" that houses the numerous medications I've been prescribed over the past 6 months - most of which I am not taking now except two - Effexor and Adderall. The effexor was just recently doubled in dosage to help with the FMS pain and the adderall is something I've taken for years for my ADD. My immediate goal is to get off the adderall and eventually get off the Effexor, although it is being used to help me with my FMS I'm thinking that one won't be going away anytime soon.
Stay tuned for pictures of the pharmacy we have going on, before and after pictures of the cabinet as I rid it of the medications - I think even I will be surprised at how many things we have in there - I just opened it earlier and things are spilling out - 99% of the items in there are probably expired or just something I use to take and never removed.
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