Livin' with Fibromyalgia

Coping with Fibromyalgia/Chronic Pain   Background Information  This post is geared towards offering some tips to dealing with Fibromyalgia and other chronic pain disorders.  Fibromyalgia is the most common musculoskeletal condition. It often goes misdiagnosed and misunderstood. Fibromyalgia includes widespread joint pain and fatigue.  Fibromyalgia causes you to ache all over. You may also have tender points on the body that may be painful to touch. Fibromyalgia may cause you to have irregular sleep patterns as well as mood disturbances such as depression. Some patients may also have the following symptoms: headaches, stomach aches , inability to concentrate ( fibromyalgia fog) , numbness or tingling in the fingers and feet If you are having symptoms that you are unsure , I recommend you seeing your primary care doctor for a referral to a specialist ( commonly known as a rheumatologist) My Story  After many years of suffering ongoing pain and many test to rule out conditions ...

    The only thing I can say is that you have to keep fighting. Sometimes this is easier said than done. Over the past few weeks, I have been in a struggle because I had major surgery.  It has been a real struggle to keep my mind  straight and the strength to fight through all the physical pain. In this writing, I will briefly share my experiences and tools that helped me and just might help you. I am on my " Bounce Back" I had a surgery where I was supposed to be in the hospital for maybe two days. Well those two days turned into 10 days of round the clock care. I thank God for a good treatment team and support system. I had a condition that was called ovarian remnant that had developed  a cyst (benign mass) that had created a blood supply and caused my internal organs to be matted together and had to be corrected. Also during the procedure my colon was injured and to be repaired. Long Road to recovery, as I have been very sick and over there past few days, I h...

Many of us who struggle with Fibromyalgia and other Chronic Pain conditions also deal with always feeling drained and tired. In most cases no matter how much sleep you get, for some reason you still just feel Super Tired. I know I am not ridding on this train alone. In research, I have learned that the diet play a great role in how one feels. I was told that I was Vitamin D deficient and I know have to take Vitamin D twice a week. I must admit that with my busy schedule that I am not really good at taking all that medication and I have to do other things to supplement in that regard. So what I have found to be helpful to me is to make smoothies and other fruit drinks to help me to get the nutrients that my body so desperately needs. So I have decided to share at least once a week recipes that I have found to be beneficial to me or ones that I plan to try. I hope that you will enjoy this series and will add comments or share your own recipes and tips to help us all feel better. ...

There is Hope! Why art thou cast down, O my Soul and why art though disquieted in me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance . -   Psalms 42:5    Sometimes in life we are faced with challenges that are very hard to deal with.   Often times, you  may find  yourself, wondering  wh y is this happening to me?  Why am I suffering so much? Why all these trials? Lord, will I ever get a break?   As saints, we have to remember that are hope is in God.  He will leave your forsake you.   In any given situation that you are dealing with, you have to remember that God has not left you he is with you all the time!  When you are in the toughest times of your life, it may be very hard for to see passed what you are being faced with.   You have to keep the faith and trust God. One writer says,  “If  he bring you to it; He will carry you through it” Some of us may be dealing with the loss...

Often times we may find it difficult to see pass the pain....You and I may not have the same pain...I mostly deal with physical pain due to health issues but on today I refuse to focus on even though it is so real and present.  You may deal with the same type of pain or you may have emotional pain due to heart break....but today as this is the Season of Thanks....let us just take a few minutes to reflect on the good in our lives and all the many blessing that have been bestowed on us and our families. Now just take a few minutes to just Breathe.....GOD IS GOOD ALL BY HIMSELF....He gives us life....He supplies all our needs... When you go about your day today...Do not forget to take a moment to just look around and observe how the season is changing...The trees colors are so beautiful and a sign that the seasons are changing. Just as the trees are a sign of the changes, reflect over your life and your situation look for the signs and signals in your life that a change is coming to y...

Though the days have not always been easy....It is very important to keep up with the things that matter the most...I have been trying to get back to the normal hussel of life, but it has been a chore...With each day there are new challenges that I must over come but I am very thankful for each new day....I tell myself that even with the pain, I am still here to see my family and my children and that is a blessing in it's self....It could be worse....so still I smile....on thus past Sunday we out as a family after service and took a few pictures as Saturday was our Anniversary. Each day I activate my faith and trust God to get me through the tough times and trust him to get me to the Brighter Days as I know that Brighter Days are ahead !  My daughters' had to assist in getting the shots that I am about to share...Special Shout out girls! And still I Smile.....

It has been five weeks since my surgery and the recovery is sure but slow coming....I had my appointment on Thursday and my doctor stated that I was progressing as scheduled.  I asked him several questions to get a better understanding on the changes that my body may be going through as the result of the I cave procedure that I had (Full Abdominal Hysterectomy). I was advised to go ahead and give the Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).   I was kinda hesitant, but agreed to go ahead for a month to see how it works out for me.  So before leaving the doctor's office I was given some samples of the medication ( Minivelle) that am now to add to my daily regimen that is supposed to do what my body is no longer able to do on it own, which is hard for me to know as in the past everything was working in my words as "normal" so know I have to wait and see what changes I will be going through or not going through. MINIVELLE ®  (estradiol transdermal system) is a prescription med...

Been away for awhile, but not ever really gone...the Dream of one day not having any physical pain may seem far fetched and like that of something thing hat may not ever happen.  Well in the past three weeks I have had to continue to "Dream Big"  and  "Hope" for some long awaited relief.  September 6th, I entered the hospital room at about 5:15 am in the morning for a scheduled surgery.  Not really knowing the outcome, I went in with the belief that things would some how be different for me.  The unknown always brig about fear. So as I was preparing my mind for my surgery.  It was very apparent in the preparation room that I was experiencing  heighten anxiety and increased pain as my blood pressure was off the charts.....The doctors and the nurses were at odds on what to do and told me if  " we don't get your pressure down and stable, we will not be able to perform your surgery today.  It's just not safe.  I had to give it to G...

Today has been a day of reflection...A time to just think of all the things I have been through the good the bad and the ugly....If you can understand what I am thinking...I really do appreciate God for keeping me and my family. Even through the storm, I have to give him praise for where he has brought me. Even to this day in my life I can see that he has never left me. There are days that I wonder where he is, but he soon reminds me that he is near.  I can say he want leave you alone. I am determined to win. I will come out as the Victor and not the victim.  God has not given us the spirit of fear!  My new saying, " I seen him do it"  helps me to know if he did it then he will do it again...He will show himself string in my life. When the pain gets so Rough...seems to much to bear. I must remember that there is something good on the other side of the push.  "They wait on the Lord shall renew their strength....  Lord teach me how to wait.. I have Fibromy...

The past few days have been some rough few days.  As usual there are no true words to express how I really feel, but I must say that I am in the press.  I can not give in to how I feel because if I did then the "Fibro" wins.   But this is not how the story ends.  I have taken all the medication that has been prescribed and nothing seems to work. Pain, Pain every where.  I called one of my doctors to see what could be done like change my medications.  The nurse finally called back to tell me the doctor wanted me to increase the Meloxicam  from 7.5 mg to 15 mg.  So now there is a new medication instruction (we will see how it goes). In the past I have tried to do things that might  and have not been able to complete because to I find it very hard to be focused and stay on track as the "PAIN" tends to be my guide.  In the next few days, I plan to begin this 30 day challenge to take my life back.  I have to wait a few days to get the th...

One day at a time....everyday is a new opportunity for me to beat the "Fibro Madness" by just simply gettig up and taking  a step I am besting the odds that are against me. I pray to God to give me a release and I am trusting that he will.  I have no greater desire than to not feel pain over the my body.  I went to the doctor recently and reminded that I had Chronic Anemia and was informed that a I was going to need to have some iron due to the fact that my levels were LOW.  Well due to my condition, I can not take iron by mouth because of the side effects that make me ill.  So, I have to do Iron Infusions that usually last 3-4 hours.   On the past two Friday's I have had to spend my days at the hematology clinic getting iron infusions. Lot of think to think and pray and sleep....As I am thinking, I ask why I am I here....I see some very sick people while I sit and go through the process.  Some are like me others are dealing with the big "C" ...

I have been having one of the worst days with this Fibromyalgia....There are really no words to describe the way that I feel. I really did not have the strength today anything. On yesterday, I pressed my way to church. It was a struggle to sit through the service as I could only focus on the pain that I was feeling all over my body. I am glad that I was there as I did gain some strenght and was able to stay through the end of service. We had communion and both my daughter and husband ministered in music and both songs did my soul good. Especially the song that my husband sang. He really did sing that song. I found myself sobbing in tears as he sang "give it to the Lord".......It gave me a greater desire to be in the presence of the Lord as I know that is where my help comes from. I have to trust God to give me the healing that I so desperately desire. On yesterday, I could no see pass the pain that I was experiencing....The more I wanted it to go away it appeared the more pr...

Transitions:   We get what we expect! When you think of changes, what comes to mind?   You have to get your mindset right in order to be able to positively deal with the change process. On this week, I have been dealing with a lot and trying to deal with the changes that my body is going through as I am learning to deal with Fibromyalgia.   This is truly a process.   I have been dealing with aching and stiff joints, elevation in blood pressure and adaptation to new medications to help to deal with the widespread pain.   On yesterday, I spent the entire afternoon until 8 pm at the doctors getting a full work up getting tests run to see why my body was just haywire.   The doctor finally gave me an additional medication (Triamterene 37.5 mg) to assist leveling off the blood pressure and( Meloxicam 7.5 mg) also known as Mobic   for the pain that will not interfere with my high blood pressure.   I have been looking at the side effects that come along ...

I am awake now because I have been asleep for quite some time since returning home from a few hours out with my girls.    I took them to the fall festival at their school.   I think they enjoyed themselves.    I try to keep give them some opportunities to have fun.   On the other hand, I was dealing with the fact that my head was hurting due to the fact that I have been experiencing problems with my blood pressure being elevated.   It seems as nothing that I am doing is assisting.    I have informed by doctor of what is going on as well as taking my high blood pressure medicine.   I just took my pressure after working up and it is still off the chart.    In efforts to educate myself and other based off previous studies and research and what I have found out is that it not uncommon for person with fibromyalgia to have problems with elevated pressure due to increased pain and the side effects from prescribed pain medications tha...

Well, I have been away for a few days and these have been some tough days.   I have decided to take this by force.    I cannot let this FIBRO thing get the best of me.    The Lord has reminded me that he is bigger than any problem and he heals every disease.   I must admit that some days, I do let the pain get me down.    But who can blame me for feeling this way, when you hurt allover and your pressure has shot to the roof and your head hurts so bad that you feel sick to the stomach and week in the knees.     Yes, that about sums up how my last few days are.     I know when you see me you don’t see what I am feeling.   I do mask it very well.   I have to present well and look the part…. I remind myself when I look in the mirror that it want be this way forever and I must PRESS my way.    I have increased my education time on finding out more about Fibromyalgia and how to cope with this dreadful p...

Changes We do not have control over the fact time bring about change.    Season change, people change, days of the week change, and the scriptures says in   Ecclesiastes 3:1-8   To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven : 2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn , and a time to dance ; 5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. I must say today that I as sit her in a great deal of pain that my change will come. ...

This day has started how with a bang!   And of course I do feel pain, but I am going to press on this day to get the things done that I need to on this great day.   As I have stated before, God has not given us the spirit if fear.    I am an over comer through him.   Through him, I breathe and I move.    Get that I move….Through the pain, I move.    I had to get my children to school and to work I must go.    I have a lot of paperwork to do today as well as see one patient this afternoon.   I pray that I can get everything done that I need to before I crash this evening.    It takes everything out of me to get my job done.   I love my job as a Therapist, but I have had to cut done on all the work that I was accustomed to doing for the field.   I was once the go getter , seeing clients, starting new programs, overseeing staff and all that ……but things have really changed and I hope that the passion will retur...