Dear Fibromyalgia

Tag: fibromyalgia symptoms

A detailed guide to understanding Fibromyalgia symptoms, early warning signs, and how they are diagnosed.

  • The Weight of Fibromyalgia on My Body and Soul

    The Weight of Fibromyalgia on My Body and Soul

    Fibromyalgia is such a complex condition. It affects you physically, cognitively and emotionally. Sometimes, if forces us to change who we are or suffer the consequences. This is where I have a hard time because I have dreams and goals and I’m not ready to give them up. Today I woke up feeling the weight of fibromyalgia on my body and my soul.

    Click Here to Visit the Store and find Much More….

    Getting Out Of Bed

    Most people hate getting up in the morning. I know very few people that just jump right up and seize the day. It is a process, am I right? Most days are hard to get going for me, as I’m usually stiff and hurting as soon as my eyes open. I try to do some stretches in bed to help ease it but some days are harder than others on that front. So I pull myself up from lying down and sit there for a bit, trying to gain strength to move my body. The weight of myself feels unbearable.

    On days like this deciding to take a shower or not is a major decision. I think on one hand it could help loosen my muscles and relax me. On the other hand, it could take so much of my energy I might be done for the day.  I try to get up two hours before I have to leave for work so I have time to adjust to the whole mess. Then there is the catch 22 of if I’m having a really hard day it is almost impossible to get myself up that early.

    Trying To Think Through The Weight Of The Fog

    It isn’t just the weight of my body that is causing me trouble. It is my mind as well. I can’t seem to think to make a decision as simple as taking a shower or not. It is like a weight is being put on my brain and I just can’t lift it no matter what. It is days like this that I fear driving myself to work. Will I be able to react as quickly as I need to? Will I remember where I am or where I’m going? These are valid concerns that I’m sure any fibromyalgia warrior can relate with.

    This weight continues on throughout the day making finding words difficult. Sometimes I feel like an idiot as I try to stammer through a conversation where I know I sound stupid. But I am NOT stupid and you are NOT either. This is what fibromyalgia does to us though. Being cognitively impaired is a result of the weight of fibromyalgia.

    The Weight Of Fibromyalgia On My Emotions

    The impact fibromyalgia has on my emotions is sometimes greater than all others, especially on days where I have been struggling consecutively. As I have explained in my article Fibromyalgia and Mental Health, I have been battling depression my whole life. Fibromyalgia can take that depression and increase it ten fold sometimes.  The weight of fibromyalgia on my emotions plunges me into darkness and it takes a lot of strength to pull myself out. The anxiety and worry over everything gets to be too much and makes me more exhausted. All the while, I have to push through and go to work each day because I have to, not necessarily because I am able to.

    Click Here to Visit the Store and find Much More….

    In the end, the weight of fibromyalgia hurts my soul. I tend to be a pessimist however, I work really hard to stay positive or at least re-direct my thoughts. My soul captures all this pain, agony and fatigue and I have to decide what to do with it. Do I let it drag me down further? Or do I give up? Do I call out sick and lie around and feel sorry for myself? For me personally, the answer is NO!

    Breaking Free From The Weight Of Fibromyalgia

    I know I’ve painted a pretty grim picture, but it is my truth and probably for some of you reading this as well. The above is how I feel almost every day at some point during the day. How do I get through it? Well, one foot in front of the other my friend, one foot in front of the other! I feel I have no choice but to keep fighting, keep re-directing my thoughts and keep finding ways to take the weight off of me. Here are some steps I take to pull myself out:

    • Exercise: I know with all I said, you might wonder how. Believe me, sometimes I wonder as well. I modify my exercise to the daily ability I have. If it is a tough day, maybe I just walk in place a few times throughout the day and add in some stretches. I give some ideas on how fibromyalgia warriors can exercise in The Spoonie Exercise Challenge.
    • Healthy Eating: I have found that I overall feel much better when I put whole, real foods into my body. This may seem like a no-brainer, but when you are addicted to sugar it can really be a hard challenge. In a couple articles I have given some ideas on Healthy Breakfast Ideas and also How To Start An Elimination Diet if you want to check those out.
    • Planning: This is a tough one, because you can’t always plan for a flare or know you aren’t going to feel well. I plan my meals out each Sunday and try to prep as much as I can. I enlist the help of my family in all areas they are willing. This is also often where I have a hard time as asking for help in the right way can be a challenge for me. I use my planner and write out all my responsibilities for the week. This helps with the brain fog and just keeping myself as organized as possible.
    • Meditation: Admittedly, I don’t use this one as much as I should. But, it has helped calm and center me. I like to do breathing exercises to calm myself and take my mind off my anxiety at the moment. Sometimes, when I am at work and the weight of everything feels too much, I just close my eyes and focus on my breath for a few minutes. It doesn’t fix everything but it does help get me through the moment.

    https://fibromyalgia-6.creator-spring.com/
    https://www.teepublic.com/stores/fibromyalgia-store

    Click Here to Visit the Store and find Much More….

    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • Secret Weapons For Fighting Fibromyalgia

    Secret Weapons For Fighting Fibromyalgia

    You don’t live with chronic symptoms such as pain, fatigue, brain fog, insomnia and the like for over 15 years and not develop any tricks. For my teenage and early adult years my symptoms were ignored by medical professionals and there was very little information about fibromyalgia out there. I had to come up with my own secret weapons for fighting fibromyalgia.

    After pushing myself through about four years of trying to work full time and be “normal” I realised I couldn’t keep going that way. I was miserable, at 25 years old I felt more like a grandmother. So I began a whole life change. 

    Click Here to Visit the Store and find Much More….

    Fast forward nine years: I have tried a multitude of things, some very big things like reducing my work hours and moving to a warmer climate, and lots of small things like trying many supplements and medicines and treatments. 

    I experience half the pain and fatigue levels I did back then. I sleep much better (I still have trouble, but it is a lot better!). My central nervous system has calmed right down and anxiety is mostly a thing of the past. I have three healthy boys aged 5, 3 and 1. And I am grateful every single day. 

    Of all of the things I have tried, what do I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone and everyone? What has the least side effects and most benefits and applications? 

    Yoga and meditation.      

    I use these to help me get to sleep; when I am stuck in that place in the middle of the night (you know the one- too sore to sleep, too exhausted to get up?); in the morning; during the day; in a car or plane; on the floor with a toddler or two next to me. Almost anywhere anytime.  

    There are many tools on offer under the umbrella term of “yoga”.

    Click Here to Visit the Store and find Much More….

    The three key ones for me:

    • Breathing
    • meditation and
    • asana (poses)

    It’s great to see that research is catching up with what practitioners have known for years. I have certainly experienced these myself. 

    Yoga helps with:

    Here’s the thing – I don’t do long classes (most of my practices are under 20 minutes), my body doesn’t speak pretzel (I don’t do advanced poses) and I pilfer the tools and use them when and how I need. 

    But no one really teaches us in this way. Early in 2019 I was trying to rebuild my practice and physical strength after a particularly trying pregnancy and modifying heavily around severe pelvis issues, but I could never seem to find the right class for me. Some of those “for chronic pain” classes on YouTube were way out of reach, even as a long time practitioner. Some of those “for chronic fatigue” classes were way too long for me. I was always having to make it up myself.  

    Then I noticed people who follow my blog and social media saying they couldn’t even try yoga because they wouldn’t even know where to start. And I thought that was a real waste as the tools are really useful. 

    So, being the pragmatic person I am, I took on the challenge of training to be a yoga teacher with three small children and a chronic illness. It sounds so crazy to say that, but I did it! 

    I made yoga and meditation my weapons but they are not secret.

    In Foundations of Yoga for Chronic Pain and Fatigue course I have made a beginner’s toolkit especially for those with chronic pain and fatigue so that they can “do” yoga and make their own toolkit to manage going forward. The goal is to end the course with tools they can use every day, forever.

    It isn’t about the perfect pose, it’s about using the pose and where we are on the journey with that pose to help us. It isn’t about meditation but using meditation as a tool for rest. 

    This has strengthened my resolve and I am on a mission to reclaim mindful movement so that we can use it to improve our quality of life and I’d be so delighted if you would join me. I hope my secret weapons for fighting fibromyalgia help you as well.

    https://fibromyalgia-6.creator-spring.com/
    https://www.teepublic.com/stores/fibromyalgia-store

    Click Here to Visit the Store and find Much More….

    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • Suffering From Fibromyalgia Or Fighting It: The Choice Is Yours

    Suffering From Fibromyalgia Or Fighting It: The Choice Is Yours

    Having Fibromyalgia is like a roller coaster ride. Most days I just don’t know how I am going to feel. I try to have a positive mindset and I find it helps when I’m around others with a positive mindset as well. However, I realized that not everyone wants to hear or see positivity right now. Frankly, I can understand that – I use to feel that way too. I started to realize I have a choice in either suffering from fibromyalgia or fighting it.

    Click Here to Visit the Store and find Much More….

    My Suffering Journey

    I was not always positive about my attitude towards my illness. In fact, you can read my first article on admitting I was sick publicly, Coming Out With An Invisible Illness. In addition to not being positive, I didn’t want anyone to know I was sick. It was like my dirty secret.

    Why didn’t I want people to know?

    • If people knew, they might want to talk about it.
    • Telling people I was sick was admitting it to them and myself.
    • Admitting I was sick might mean I wasn’t able to fulfill my goals.
    • If I admitted I was sick I might have to slow down and put myself first.
    • How can I put myself first, when for so long I have put others first?
    • If I put myself over others, I would feel selfish.
    • I said a main reason was I didn’t want people to feel sorry for me. I said that because really, I felt sorry for myself and was ashamed of that feeling.
    • If people knew, they might think I was weak.
    • Staying in denial meant I didn’t need to make any changes.
    • My self-esteem was too caught up in how others viewed me (still is). If they thought differently of me, like I was less than I used to be…. maybe I was less than.

    This way of thinking only made my illness scream louder at me that I needed to stop. Fibromyalgia is hardly ever on its own. On the contrary, it has a web of other illnesses that usually come with it. So pushing my mind, body and soul beyond its limits is something Fibromyalgia does not like. When my body finally gave out on me, I had to face my illness and myself. Doing something like this makes a person go through the stages of grief.  So, one of those stages is finally acceptance, right? That is what happened, I accepted I was sick.

    Click Here to Visit the Store and find Much More….

    Negative Self-talk

    In doing so I became very depressed. I did what I had been dreading, I felt sorry for myself. The negative self-talk was going like crazy at this point.

    • “I don’t know how I’m going to do my job anymore”
    • “I’m a horrible mother, I can’t even take my son outside for a walk”
    • “How can I finish school? I can’t! I’m going to have to quit”
    • “Why me?”
    • “I’m not strong enough”
    • “When will this end”

    I know you can relate to some of these. Honestly, this way of thinking and living can take a person down a dark path. You might be asking, “Why are you telling me all of this?” Well friend, I am telling you to show you how deeply negative my thinking can get. So, how do I pull myself from the negative to the positive you so often see from me?

    Path To Positivity: It Is A Choice!

    Yes, I make a choice each and every time. I choose to find some light in the darkness and so can you. It takes practice and a little effort, but I’m confident you can do it. Here are some steps to help you through.

    1. Write down all the positive qualities about yourself and save this for later.
      1. Mine would be: sense of humor, kindness, wit, intelligence, & empathy.
    2. When a negative thought appears, pull out your list (if you need to).
    3. This is where you remind yourself of the positives from your list.
    1. Yes, I have fibromyalgia and I’m in pain. However, I am also funny and can laugh at myself. I got this!
    2. Yes, I am feeling depressed right now. It seems to be pulling me farther into the darkness and all seems hopeless. However, you have pulled yourself out of darkness like this before! You are strong-willed and determined and you got this!
    3. Put this on repeat (believe me it takes practice).

    Click Here to Visit the Store and find Much More….

    How To Make Changes

    Now you may be saying this is great, but this alone can’t change my negativity. This is true. There are more tools you can use to keep yourself positive.

    1. Mindfulness – yes, meditation can help keep you focused. There are many different types of meditation available. I encourage you to pursue one and make it a daily ritual.
    2. Gratitude – I learned in my positivity psychology class, that one of the ways to pursue happiness is to show gratitude. Give it a try by writing a letter to someone you know that did something nice for you. Simply put, let them know how much that gesture meant to you and thank them. Trust me on this- it will feel good.
    3. Goal setting – You might be thinking this is where I lose you. This one will be different for everyone. Some of us are really very sick and can barely function. I know there is a goal you can set for yourself though. I recently set a goal of walking for 5 minutes every day. To those who can easily walk longer, that might not seem like much. However, to those who can’t even walk 5 minutes you know how big that can be. Making your goal small and obtainable will leave you feeling positive when you accomplish it.

    Fighting vs. Suffering

    So, are you fighting your chronic illness? Or, are you suffering from your chronic illness? This is a choice only you can make. It is personal and individual and there really isn’t a right or wrong answer. You can even do both sometimes I know I do.

    Fighting your chronic illness means that every day you choose to keep going, even when you think you can’t anymore. It means that you consciously turn your negative thoughts about yourself and your illness into something positive. Lastly, fighting your chronic illness means that you will not be its victim.

    Suffering from your chronic illness means that you let your illness control you. Don’t get me wrong, our illness always controls us in some aspect whether we like it or not. However, when we suffer, we have no choices, we are the victim.

    As you can see, in both these scenarios we have the same illness. In one we feel more in control than we do in the other. As I said before, there are days I am fighting fibromyalgia and days I am suffering from it. The difference is the way I choose to look at it, with positivity or negativity. We can’t control that we have a chronic illness, but we can control how we handle it from here.

    https://fibromyalgia-6.creator-spring.com/
    https://www.teepublic.com/stores/fibromyalgia-store

    Click Here to Visit the Store and find Much More….

    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • How I Let A Pandemic & Fibromyalgia Break Me and How I Fixed It

    How I Let A Pandemic & Fibromyalgia Break Me and How I Fixed It

    It has been awhile since I sat down to write. Life has been overwhelming, wouldn’t you agree? I’ve been contemplating my place in the world and what I want that place to look like. I’ve shed most of my responsibilities and stayed away from social media, so you might be wondering why now am I deciding to write? Well, to be honest I feel broken and I need to put myself back together. So, let’s find out how I let a pandemic and fibromyalgia break me.

    Too Much On My Plate

    It started with putting too much on my plate. I love this analogy! What happens when you go to an all you can eat buffet? You eat too much, don’t you? You sit there with too much on your plate and not only that but you have several different plates sitting in front of you. I don’t even eat everything, so what does that mean? It means things get wasted. That is what I have been doing. Trying to accomplish too many things at once has led me to wasting certain things in my life.

    Click Here to Visit the Store and find Much More….

    I had to admit I couldn’t do it all anymore. So it became necessary to not only put less on my plate but to make my plate smaller.

    Fibromyalgia and Depression

    If you have fibromyalgia then you have probably battled with depression. For some reason they tend to go hand in hand. It could be due to what fibromyalgia does to your body and soul. For me, depression came first and I easily fall into it and I’m not talking about just feeling sad. This is full blown, can’t move, paralyzed with darkness depression. I talk a lot about fighting depression. Honestly though, it is an illness on its own and I don’t control it. If I use my tools I can manage it, but I can’t seem to do anything to make it go away.

    Staying home for months has made it clear to me that I am an introvert, no doubt about that. However, there is an extroverted part of me that thrives on spending time with other (select) people. In fact, I now believe that being social in some way is what has helped me keep my depression in check. Without that interaction, I have fallen into the abyss. Really, I had let a pandemic and fibromyalgia break me.

    Fibromyalgia and Anxiety

    My anxiety is deeply rooted for many reasons and I tend to let my mind go on the worry trail until I’m so worked up I can’t cope. This, my friends, takes practice to control. Lucky me, I also have IBS and that alone has created an anxiety in me that is hard to beat. So you throw in a pandemic and worry over my health and my loved ones and you have a recipe for disaster. If you are someone who is not worried about getting the Coronavirus, then I am happy for you. I am not one of those people. I worry about my family, my friends and myself.

    For my friends that have anxiety like I do, lets talk about how we can take a little control back. First of all, have you heard of the expression, “don’t worry about what you cannot control?” This is a hard one, but it is necessary. Can you control getting the virus? Yes and No. You can wash your hands, not touch your face, wear a mask and social distance. You must weigh the cost versus benefit when it comes to any activity outside the house. We can’t control other people, so all we can do is control our own actions. Sadly, anyone not following safe behavior is not someone I am going to be around right now. All of these steps help calm my anxiety as I take control of what I can do.

    Putting myself back together

    To be honest, I started writing this article a month or so ago. I was feeling completely broken. Now, I wouldn’t say I’m back to normal yet, but I’m getting there. I take as many steps toward wellness as I can take and forgive myself when I falter. An example of this is that I force myself to do things like ride my bike, go for a walk and stretch. I find my center while meditating. I am part of two clubs at my university and on the board of one. This has reminded me how important it is to be a part of something bigger than myself.

    I try to remain in the present with a hopeful eye to the future. This is hard with so many horrible atrocities happening all around us. Now more than ever, I am controlling who and what is around me. I deleted all my social media apps to prevent myself from going on there and I try to keep as much positivity as possible. I’m not saying that I’m not paying attention, I’m just weeding out the unnecessary. For anyone having a hard time like I am, I want to remind you of the available resources out there for you. There is the crisis text line, just text 741741. In addition, there is always the suicide hotline 800-273-8255. Sometimes it helps to speak to someone outside your life. If you feel comfortable it also helps to confide in a friend or loved one. You may find that they are also having a hard time right now. We will get through this together.

    https://fibromyalgia-6.creator-spring.com/
    https://www.teepublic.com/stores/fibromyalgia-store

    Click Here to Visit the Store and find Much More….

    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • College Student With Fibromyalgia? Here Is How To Stay Organized.

    College Student With Fibromyalgia? Here Is How To Stay Organized.

    At the age of thirty-nine I decided to go back to college and finish my degree that I had started over 20 years prior. If I thought college was hard at eighteen, I had no idea what was in store for me. At this time, I was married with three kids and a full-time job. I wondered how I was going to fulfill all my responsibilities. I didn’t know at first what my end goal was going to be other than just getting my AA. It wasn’t until a couple years in that I finally decided on Psychology.

    Not Your Everyday Challenges

    About a year into taking 2 classes per semester and working full-time I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. I always ran myself ragged as an adult, so I was used to feeling tired all the time. This time though the tired came with pain, a lot of pain. My first reaction was that I wasn’t going to let anything stop me, not even fibromyalgia. I pretty much didn’t until 2018. This was the year that fibromyalgia stopped my whole life. I had to take time off from work and school for a few months. Even when I went back to both I still wasn’t at full capacity.

    Click Here to Visit the Store and find Much More….

    I seemed to have developed a tenacity in my old age though and I still wasn’t going to quit. I kept on taking 2 classes per semester and working full-time. Let’s not forget still raising a family at the same time. This has not been easy, but nothing worth doing is.

    Staying Organized

    I often hear, “I don’t know how you do it” from people. I always tell people my two secrets are that (1) I have a planner that I use for everything and (2) my house is a mess (don’t judge). When you are working towards a goal sometimes sacrifices have to be made. Sadly, what I sacrificed a lot of was taking better care of myself (see above flare). The other part that has been hard is the fact that I am a Virgo and I LOVE organization. But loving being organized and having the energy to clean and organize your house are separate. I can’t do it all, so I have to choose.

    This is exactly how I organize my college career down to the semester level. I do not claim that what has worked for me will work for you. The key is you have to take your own life circumstances into account and do what is best for you.

    It helps if you define your goal completely. This means knowing what you are working towards and how to get there. If you were like me and couldn’t see that far ahead then I broke down my goals.

    1. Finish my AA
      1. Use your college advisor to help determine what classes you need.
    2. Find my passion and/or interests while working on my AA
      1. Take classes that sound interesting, not just requirements. If it meets both even better!
    3. Decided major is psychology
      1. Map out the reality of what it will take to choose that major and what jobs are available with each progressive degree.
    4. Transferred to University to complete my BA
      1. Make sure the university you choose has proper accreditation (regional, etc)
    5. Choose what to do with BA                                             
    6. PhD or Masters?
    7. Decided on Masters….choose graduate school/program

    I’m still working on this, but this is my basic guide on decisions I need to make and breaking the big goal down to smaller ones.

    Semester Goals

    The first step I take at the beginning of each semester is to map out my semester. I am addicted to Erin Condren planners, but you can use any that you want. I write out each week’s readings and assignments, making special note of bigger projects or exams. This really helps me plan out my energy to make sure I complete everything when I have the most energy. I recommend planners and even wall calendars so you can easily visualize what is to come. You can even use technology and utilize apps on your phone for assignment reminders.

    Speaking of technology if you are using Word or Google Drive make sure to break down courses into corresponding folders to keep all your documents organized and easy to find.

    Each week I look at what is expected of me in my classes and then I fill in other responsibilities outside of school. Each Sunday, I review the week ahead and see where I can fit each item in the best. I have learned to give myself plenty of leeway for those days I don’t feel well. This has served me well over the last seven years. Granted there have been times I had to really struggle and push through pain and exhaustion, but that is also just part of living with fibromyalgia.

    Click Here to Visit the Store and find Much More….

    More Tips and Tricks

    1. When I was working on my AA, I had to take classes at the college physically. This was a challenge since I worked all day. My secret to getting through these days was to not just pack lunch for work, but dinner as well. I went straight to school after work and sat in my car. This was my free time and I could either eat my dinner and do some homework or take a nap (which I often did). I recommend only a 20-minute nap at the most, otherwise you will feel too tired to go on with your night.
    2. Since enrolling in Penn State World Campus all my classes have been online. Still I feel drained after work and so I often lay down for a quick nap before starting any homework. Sometimes this ends up that I cannot function the rest of the night. This is where the planning and allowing leeway from above comes in. This is why I plan for earlier deadlines to give myself more time if I need it.
    3. Join clubs! You are not too old, and this is a great way to establish social support. In addition, if you do want to go to graduate school having some extra-curricular activities is good for your application.
    4. Wellness is so important to maintain while completing college. This is the one area I struggle with the most and need this reminder myself.

    Ways to maintain wellness

    • Find nutritious snacks to keep at your desk while you study.
    • Read while on the treadmill or bike.
    • Get enough sleep.
    • Drink plenty of water.
    • Use meditation to clear your mind.
    • Sometimes you have to just put it all down and go for a walk outside!

    These are just some of the ways I have gotten through college as an adult-student with fibromyalgia. I think being a college student with fibromyalgia is possible and I hope these tips help you! Feel free to reach out if you are in the same situation. I would love to hear any tips and tricks you may have as well.

    https://fibromyalgia-6.creator-spring.com/
    https://www.teepublic.com/stores/fibromyalgia-store

    Click Here to Visit the Store and find Much More….

    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • Joint Health And Fibromyalgia

    Joint Health And Fibromyalgia

    Joint health concerns are not uncommon for those with fibromyalgia and many have joint involvement of some kind. 

    More people with fibro are exhibiting joint or bone density issues and a tendency towards any of the various forms of arthritis.

    Effectively treating joint issues requires addressing all areas, including diet, movement, lifestyle, and better sleep strategies. 

    Joint involvement or joint disease can vary in degree depending on history, ongoing deficiency and active TRP’s (trigger points) that can ‘pull’ on and exacerbate the integrity of joints.

    In fact, many of the fibromyalgia TRP’s are located in close proximity to joints used within daily range of motion such as knee, hip and shoulder joints.

    FEELING ALL FLARED UP ?

    Although various aspects of fibromyalgia are not inflammatory in nature, any form of arthritis that often accompanies fibro is an inflammatory condition as well as a perpetuating factor within fibromyalgia.

    And, inflammation often coincides with many co-conditions and/or digestive illness. 

    When working to strengthen joints, we are also working on the surrounding areas including tendons, ligaments and muscle.

    For instance, in osteoarthritis, the joints can become out of alignment through wear, injury, active TRP’s (trigger points) or inadequate muscle strength.

    In the case of rheumatoid arthritis, the inflammation is more active due to the body attacking itself as an ‘auto immune’ response.

    Yet, In all cases of arthritis, the inflammation, TRP’s, myofascial constriction and any deficiency need to be addressed.

    ADL’s (Activities of Daily Living) can be more challenging for people with joint related pain. We talk often about the differences between these activities of daily living that can sometimes be detrimental and the focused exercises that strengthen and create greater agility within the body.

    This is essential to understand and remember. For example, while leaning down to clean a bathtub may be nearly impossible with painful joints, participating in focused exercises can be done by most people.

    Safe and effective exercise 

    As a practitioner and trainer living with and specializing in fibromyalgia, I get it, I will never tell you to just “go exercise” I want you to have the best tools. 

    Because joint pain can be debilitating, we need to be sure we are keeping our activity safe and effective.

    I always recommend using variety in your activities to avoid repetition and stress on joints.

    Click Here to Visit the Store and find Much More….

    For instance, we use the bike for increasing strength around the knee, but only in short increments, like 3-5 minutes. We also want just enough intensity to get the blood flowing around those joints. Blood flow will help to decrease pain.

    For joint health, it is essential to focus on increasing muscle strength whenever possible. Joints and muscle support each other.

    Joints are strengthened through daily strength applications, starting with body weight exercises and progressing to light to moderate weight training.

    Using weights that strap around the ankle/lower leg area can be very effective when working to strengthen knees and ankles.

    Exercises such as leg lifts or lying on a raised platform using ankle weights can be done safely even for those who cannot get down on the floor. A bed can also be used. 

    We also use light compression wear around vulnerable areas like the knees, feet (nerve pain) and shoulders. We find Copper Wear helpful.

    Experiment with different compression wear until you find brands that help you and feel comfortable for every day wear. Compression is essential for increasing blood flow while protecting joints and muscles.

    What about nutritional support for joints?

    We have experimented with various remedies for joint health over the years. We have found a few that seem to be more effective over long term use. 

    • Hyaluronic acid, Strontium, Collagen (Great Lakes brand) Fish oils, CLO (Green Pastures Cod Liver Oil), Glucosamine, Biosil liquid, and FG’s Joint Jello as shown below. 
    • I also like MSM for joints, hair and skin. Although I am not linking one here, as I have found many good brands out there, including Jarrow for MSM. 
    • Additionally, I use and recommend Boswelia for natural anti-inflammation and respiratory support. The Savesta brand is a good potency. 
    • Anti-inflammatories such as curcumin, ginger, black cumin oil ..
    • And I especially like the Krill Healthy Joint Formula shown below:
      Be sure whatever brand you take is of good quality. 

    Krill Healthy Joint Formula, a patented combination of krill oil, hyaluronic acid and astaxanthin.
    Research has shown krill oil to be especially effective for joint health.

    Hyaluronic acid (found naturally in joints) lubricates and cushions joints, supports cartilage and soft tissue.
    This form of HA combined with krill oil has been found to be better absorbed as well.

    Krill oil, a natural source of astaxanthin, suppresses free radicals, can reduce inflammation and enhances mitochondrial function, making this a perfect supplement for fibromyalgia and joint health alike.

    Fibro-Girl’s Joint Jello For Joint Health

    Do you want an easy and fun way to get heal-thy collagen into your diet? How about a healthy jello that tastes good and helps to nourish not only your joints, but skin, hair and nails as well..

    This jello recipe can be made as low glycemic as needed OR with full strength juice, depending on your dietary needs.

    My recipe is a lower glycemic version to keep the natural sugar content low.

    Lisa’s Joint Jello Recipe:

    • -Simmer one cup of juice liquid (1/2 tart cherry OR cranberry juice,1/2 water) on stove in small pot.
    • -Add one Tbsp. of Great Lakes gelatin and stir until dissolved.
    • -Add one more cup of cold juice liquid.
    • -Add up to 1/4 cup diced or grated organic orange peel or carrot. 
    • -Stir again and pour into glass pan or ice cube trays and put into refrigerator for at least three hours to gel.

    Enjoy and share with other family members.. we can all benefit from healthier joints and better sleep as well!!

    The Oska for cellular healing 

    We have been using the Oska for just over a year now, and it has become another tool in our toolbox. 

    Check out the Oska if you haven’t yet. Top of this article right under navigation bar. The Oska Wellness company is giving our followers 55.00 off and a 60 day money back guarantee.

    Oska works at the cellular level on joints, muscle pain, tendons, ligaments. It is not a cure, and it is also not a tens unit which does not heal on a cellular level

    What about the power of butter oil and fermented cod liver oil?

    Green Pastures Fermented Cod liver oil with butter oil is a powerful combination for the body and joints. Check out the link and read more about this product we have been using for years. If it is not in the budget right now, make a note for later. It is worth trying. >>

    Our skeletal system is the ‘foundation‘ of our bodies. 
    Everything we put into our bodies must go through the process of digestion and this can affect bone and joint nourishment.  How and when we sleep also affects the integrity of our bones and joints; create a lifestyle that supports this foundation while supporting a more functional life with fibromyalgia at the same time.

    https://fibromyalgia-6.creator-spring.com/
    https://www.teepublic.com/stores/fibromyalgia-store

    Click Here to Visit the Store and find Much More….

    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • I’m a Marshmallow – it’s called fibromyalgia, “Something always wrong”

    I’m a Marshmallow – it’s called fibromyalgia, “Something always wrong”

    By: Dr Alexa James

    I like being like a marshmallow compared to me. On the inside and outside I’m gooey and squidgy –pretty much the same thing. I have no thick skin, so my outside is just a bit resistant to the inside of the marshmallow. Oh, I go quite pink in the sun.

    I was a delicate soul always, I take things to the heart. I totally disdain even the things I dismiss from people. I have to develop a thicker skin, thicker than most people, when I am young with an invisible disease. People can judge others quickly, in particular if you don’t “look” disabled.

    The truth is that most of us are quite good liars with invisible diseases. From the outside world, we hide pain. Like Elsa we “hide not feel” (whenever I have had a flare up, only I have been undergoing a glamorous transformation.) It is not easy to hide pain, most of it to others. People do not like to see other people in pain.

    Being not visibly sorrowful however, causes others to doubt my credibility. I’m a Hypochondrian, “Something is always wrong.” People feed on my plans or cannot do anything a person with a capacity can do. Yes, “something’s always wrong” is Fibromyalgia, always there and always there. Also, imagine how irritating it is for me, if my condition is distressing to you.

    I’m going to be the first one to admit that I am very susceptible to accident. You can guarantee that I will walk into it or trip across it if there is an object near me. In addition to the fibromyalgia symptoms, I’m usually covered with blemishes and may limp. It’s a fibroid symptom, but I think it’s only the symptom of being to me. I was always tormented.

    A black eye, a cast arm or a missing limb cannot argue. You can argue against widespread pain, anxiety, nausea, tiredness, headaches and all kind of fibromyalgia. It doesn’t mean you ought to just because you can.

    For the first time in a supermarket, I have recently used a mobility scooter. My body was tired, my feet went inside and I began waddling like a duck, a tale of sign that my body was sufficient. My body was too tired to propel. I thought of using a wheelchair. I know the mobility scooter user stereotype well. You’re either lazy or fat to walk or both. You’re assumed. You think of people flying around in Wall-E, who remember a mobile scooter with futuristic vehicles.

    I knew what people were going to think as someone who is more a Michelin man than Barbie’s girl. Although I have nothing to say that is unreasonable, I can feel their opinions. I thought people were leaving their way to make it hard to get around. Much of it probably was paranoia, I was aware of myself with a scooter, so I had analyzed other shoppers ‘ body language. But at least some of it didn’t improve my anxiety.

    I love the sentence, “those who do not mind and those who do not care,”

    And I’m surrounded most of the time by people who “mindlessly don’t.” But what the stranger I’ve passed on the street thinks I’m still very caring. My marshmallow mind constantly muses with the thought of other people, but why should I really take care of it? Are your doubts less legitimate for my pain? No, why are they so important to me, then?

    https://fibromyalgia-6.creator-spring.com/
    https://www.teepublic.com/stores/fibromyalgia-store

    Click Here to Visit the Store and find Much More….

    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • 5 Patients Share Tips for Reducing Fibromyalgia Symptoms

    5 Patients Share Tips for Reducing Fibromyalgia Symptoms

    1st Patient

    I am a by-nature problem-solver, so I obsessively investigated the best strategies for reducing fibromyalgia two years ago when I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. There are no easy answers, I found out. Some medicines work, not for others, for some. Some are relieved by massage, others howl by pain when they think of it. Most of us have medical offices full of supplements to make our pain or exhaustion easier. Some of them helped, some of them did not. Some of us find exercise useful and some of us shout silently every time somebody talks about it.

    Patients with Fibromyalgia are a complicated bunch but I believe we can learn from what others have done. So, I asked a group of fibromyalgia bloggers how to respond to this question: What has helped to reduce the symptoms of fibromyalgia the most?

    I believe your answers are interesting, and some of them are even a bit unexpected. I would love to leave your own tip in the comments after reading these!

    2nd Patient

    “The fibromyalgia patients have no clear plan of treatment and we are all so different that our solutions often come from hours of personal testing and failure. But the heat, heat, and more heat are the only thing I would highly recommend to every spoonie.

    “When I get out, I have two bottles of hot water at home, two herbal heat packs, an electric blanket and a bottle of hot drinking water at work in my desk drawer, and a few stick-on heat pads. I’ve got thermal babysitting–which I wear in the summer–and my wardrobe is securely layers. My scarves double as blankets, my fingerless gloves of arthritis keep my arms hot as I blog, and during a migraine, we have been aware that I am sleeping in a beanie hat.

    “For me, heat is relaxing and soothing. It’s comfortable, too. My heat packs are like safety clothes, and without them, I don’t go away. That’s not groundbreaking news, I know, but so many of us have gotten cold, and worsening our symptoms. Heat is straightforward, easy, and cheap. It’s nonsense.

    3rd Patient

    “One of the most important things was just to stop pushing myself day after day beyond my limitations. Actually, I didn’t choose, but when my body crashed, I had to do something.

    “I learned a lot about my health from that time on. Fortunately, I have made some important changes, and I’m not in terrible pain anymore. This was not easy, of course; it took a certain amount of discipline, patience, and an endless capacity to accept changes, but I got there.

    Click here to Get these Products or Visit Fibromyalgia Store

    “Indubitably Dr. [William] Rawls was met by the improvement catalyst and his recovery protocol–the Vital Plan Restoration Programmed–changed my perspective and fibromyalgia approach. I now think of the underlying causes rather than treating symptoms. Examples of such problems as poor sugar function, mitochondrial dysfunction, nutritional deficiencies, and poor immune function have seen my body cure to such an extent I did not believe possible. Herbal therapies were key for me and I managed stress, changed diets, paced, and finally listened to my body.

    “Although this sounds very regimented, every day has been essential in my recovery to take an undressed approach and make time for rest and relaxation. My point of view is to make daily decisions that help me feel as good as possible. If you persist patiently, small changes gradually occur over time, leading to healthier conditions.

    4th Patient

    “When I took many small steps, I have been able to lower my fibro symptoms. First, I found a doctor who knows the underlying causes of fibromyalgia and tries to treat them in an attempt to cover up the symptoms (a strategy that often doesn’t work).

    “The high doses of melatonin, 5Htp, and Adrenal Calm cream were suggested in my doctor’s proposal in order to improve my sleep. Furthermore, my urologist has tweaked my blood medication to ensure that I do not wake up to urinate every two hours. It is incredible to be able to sleep 6-7 hours at a time!

    “I use supplements for SAMe and DLPA to improve my mood. I found that my surrender glasses weren’t working correctly through testing, and I could stabilize them with more supplements.

    “The cleanup of my diet has translated life. (Doing this helped with sleep too!) Now I’ve cut out processed sugar, gluten, starches, and other bad-for-me junk foods, which makes me less pain and tired. I learned that gluten triggers boring nerve pain and tiredness through an elimination diet so that my pain can be controlled.

    “I am not my normal self, but when I started this journey, I’m much better than I was.”

    5th Patient

    “Missing sleep is one of us who live with fibromyalgia’s biggest foes. Sadly, with FMS, sleep deprivation goes hand in hand with sleeping disorders. Eight hours ‘ sleep is like a proverbial’ slumbering carrot,’ whether it is restless leg syndrome, broken sleep due to the pain on your hip and back, or the refusal of the central nervous system to allow a restful state in mind.

    “It was a great reduction in my fibro–symptoms to discover methods that allowed me to sleep for at least 4-5 hours without interruption. Some of these include: taking long/hot soaking baths prior to bed, heavy/weighted blankets, and relaxing ‘ White Noise. ‘ “It is also good to eat healthy and soothing foods to prevent any reflux of nightly acid in the digestive system. Naturally, it always helps you to get a warm, furry partner in close proximity!”

    https://fibromyalgia-6.creator-spring.com/
    https://www.teepublic.com/stores/fibromyalgia-store

    Click Here to Visit the Store and find Much More….

    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • Here I Got 3 New Treatments to Improve my Symptoms of Lyme & Fibromyalgia

    Here I Got 3 New Treatments to Improve my Symptoms of Lyme & Fibromyalgia

    In the hope of finding something that works better and provides relief, I constantly tweak my treatment protocol for fibromyalgia and chronic Lyme. I just added a couple of new things I found helpful and wanted to share, so that goes here… Three new (for me) therapies that improve my fibromyalgia and persistent symptoms of Lyme Fed up with exhaustion.

    1st is Topical Use of CBD Oil

    As a cure for discomfort, I have started adding CBD oil to my lotion. I recently stopped long-term antibiotics for Lyme chronic because after taking them for more than one year, I only saw minimum improvements in my health. My symptoms are still stable until now except when my shin pain returns, due to Bartonella, a popular Lyme coinfection.

    Shiny and horrible Bartonella is shin pain! It feels like it’s dulling within the bone, and I haven’t really found a good cure for it–up to now.

    For more than a year, I’ve been using body hemp lotions. I find it helpful to relieve mild anxiety and discomfort, but it does not suit the intense light I experience. I had a small bottle of CBD oil I did not use, but I mixed my hemp lotion with a half dropper of CBD oil in one night’s desperation, rubberized it and slatted it over my boring shins, feet and thighs. And what do you guess? It was running! The pain was numbed up to a tolerable level by the CBD oil within a few minutes.

    Click here to Get these Products or Visit Fibromyalgia Store

    Over the last couple of weeks, I have continued to use the lotion / oil mix, and it has always been nice. Unfortunately, there is no permanent pain relief— it lasts about an hour— but even a temporary pain reduction is welcome.

    Up until now I have been using cannabis-based CBD oil from my local pharmacy since that’s what I’ve had in store, but I’ll check hemp-based CBD (whom you can shop online).

    2nd is Sun-and-Earth Cure Therapy

    A few weeks ago, I watched and was inspired to try a documentary on earthing. Several experiments have shown that earth can reduce stress, pain, and inflammation and sleep because the body can bind to the surface electrons of the Earth.

    A couple of days a week I take a beach chair out of my yard and sit down in the sun for about 15-20 minutes on the lawn. It serves two purposes: I get the advantages of soil, and sunlight enhances the normal vitamin D cycle of my body.

    Sure, I know dermatologists will tell me that I’m growing my skin cancer risk, but I’m wary of not overdoing it. I wear sunscreen, I’m not healthy, I want to stop wrinkles, but I keep my arms and legs blind to sun. I have no facial skin.

    I cannot assume that earth and sunshine therapy have dramatically lowered my symptoms–I don’t believe I have been spending enough time out for maximum benefit-but on the days that I spend that few minutes outside, I find that I have more stamina and mental clarity.

    And I have a bit of a tan on my ghostly white legs for the first time in my life. I plan to purchase a piece of landing to see if I could feel better.

    3rd is Coffee Enemas

    When my new Lyme doctor suggested that my treatment protocol should include coffee enemas twice or three times a week, I am not happy. Throughout my life I never had an enema, so it really felt awesome and a little terrified and only… yucky! But if you’re in pain every day and it doesn’t help much, you come to a point when you’re going to try most.

    For about three weeks now, I have been making coffee enemas every other day. I would tell coffee enemas are already a game change for me, and I’m not saying that lightly. I will shortly make a complete article on coffee enemas, but I will suggest that for now they’re perfect for increased energy, clarity of mind and also for pain relief. I am grateful that I have overcome my shame and repulsion and have received advice from my doctor because coffee enemas are the best therapies I have ever used for Fibro / Lyme.

    https://fibromyalgia-6.creator-spring.com/
    https://www.teepublic.com/stores/fibromyalgia-store

    Click Here to Visit the Store and find Much More….

    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • Top 6 Researcher Share Tips for Reducing Fibromyalgia Symptoms

    Top 6 Researcher Share Tips for Reducing Fibromyalgia Symptoms

    1st is Researcher

    “Fibromyalgia, I was diagnosed as a teenager, and I received no mainstream therapies. Without a single pain treatment and without anybody in my life who could relate to what I was going through, I spent almost five years.

    “When I met other patients online, my world changed for the better. Through a bit of luck, my symptoms were shared by the right patients. I already started experimenting with natural treatments, but it was incredibly eye-opening and helpful to learn what worked for my medical matches!

    “I started trying new treatments and tracking my progress shortly after meeting all these new friends. I went home to a full-time student within six months. Of course, I’ve been trying loads of things I didn’t do. However, I have also found some tremendously helpful treatments for my pain. I have found strange herbs that have helped me to sleep, diets that all (including pain) have helped and medicine that has not made me feel fool. And I have found a place in which I belong.

    2nd Researcher

    “My stress has been greatly reduced by one thing which helped to reduce my symptoms. I’ve been in a very stressful job and I’m getting away from my career after years of trying to manage stress.

    “I have a personality of type A and have always wanted to do things in specific ways. To embrace a healthier life, I had to learn to accept imperfection. I have developed different systems to minimize the daily stress-from repeated meal plans to my wardrobe.

    “I have recognized that I have to sometimes ask for help and sometimes say no – these things have greatly stressed me. Once I controlled stress, I was able to work on other things such as food changes, stretching techniques, supplements, etc.”

    Click here to Get these Products or Visit Fibromyalgia Store

    3rd Researcher

    “The most significant improvement in my symptoms of fibromyalgia is the modification of my diet. I would just say that my diet was taking gluten, but I believe it was much more. Now, I’m trying my best and avoid clean foods.

    “For me, the change of my diet has all changed. I took my life to get my energy back from a life of constant pain and fatigue. I’m not 100% of what I used to be and I doubt I’ll ever be, but I can live again and that is something I’m good about.

    4th Researcher

    “Maybe it is amusing tactics to help others and to pursue creativity, but it helped me more than any so-called therapies. I’ve not only been working on my blog to assist fibromites and my creative juices, but it also gives me some insight, which can help me and others in some ways.

    “My other distraction, which I find to be very therapeutic, is knitting–particularly if the end product helps someone in need. I have knitted for different charities over the past few years, making babies ‘ and small children’s hats, Kenya’s blankets for orphanages, Remembrance Day poppies, leg chauds for pets at the vets, and small hats for top juice bottles made from innocent beverages. The latter gained me a lot of advertising in regional journals and in the Facebook page of innocent drinks, which also produce funds for Age UK.

    5th Researcher

    “Gluten-free and Lyrica are the two biggest things I’ve done to deal with my fibro symptoms. I have had an inconclusive celiac test run, but I do know my body cannot simply process gluten. I get upset with both GI and fibrous symptoms like allodynia when I have some.

    “I know Lyrica doesn’t work for all, but for me it was a saver. Every two weeks I have gone from 1-2 days of work missing to very few full days missing. My main problem was allodynia and I couldn’t deal with clothing. Sadly, many careers don’t let you work without clothing. It takes several years for Lyrica to manage my pain properly, but now it’s perfect.

    6th Researcher

    “I saw my body as the enemy most of my life. I was frustrated with daily headaches at high school. I prayed often,’ God, if my body were to be a car, it’d qualify now for the Lemon Law! It was just another evidence that my body was defective to be diagnosed with fibromyalgia.

    “I heard my husband complain after my diagnosis that I was broken. He stopped me and said,’ You put ME down when you say stuff like this. I just chose you. I chose you. I just married you. I married you. Talk about stopping a girl on her tracks! I think you’re gorgeous.

    “I realized that my body isn’t the enemy, my sickness is when I think about the things Scott said. My body is in the same team and I are fighting the same fight. We want to feel better, that same thing. My flesh is quite stunning; even with the right resources she can heal herself!

    “When I learned to love my body as it is, fibromyalgia and all, everything has changed. As I provided my body with what it needed, my symptoms began to improve: more sleep, better nutrition, less stress. I started treating myself in the manner that I treated someone I loved. I have changed my decisions and actions because my position has changed.

    “The self-care doesn’t really mean actions; it literally loves you. You make different choices when you love someone. Display the same type of care you would give to a beloved. From this all will grow.”

    https://fibromyalgia-6.creator-spring.com/
    https://www.teepublic.com/stores/fibromyalgia-store

    Click Here to Visit the Store and find Much More….

    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store