Sunday, March 31, 2013
Have a blessed March 31!
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Eureka!
Can't remember which fibromyalgia Facebook page I got this from, but it was written by one of the members. Most of us with chronic illness have heard this at least once:
I found the cure!
I have lost track of how many "cures" I've been promised, from noni juice to guaifenisen to colon cleanses to green foods to raw foods to a plethora of exotic supplements that have never been researched. And now thanks to TV advertisements, doctors as well as non-medical folks are convinced I can be cured by Lyrica, Savella or Cymbalta. Been there, already tried them or medications of a similar type - NO cure. What I've been able to accomplish is small increments of improvement with a combination of prescription medication, commonplace supplements, some alternative medicine and common sense.
I found the cure!
I have lost track of how many "cures" I've been promised, from noni juice to guaifenisen to colon cleanses to green foods to raw foods to a plethora of exotic supplements that have never been researched. And now thanks to TV advertisements, doctors as well as non-medical folks are convinced I can be cured by Lyrica, Savella or Cymbalta. Been there, already tried them or medications of a similar type - NO cure. What I've been able to accomplish is small increments of improvement with a combination of prescription medication, commonplace supplements, some alternative medicine and common sense.
Second-class patients....
This is an excellent article by the author of "Life Disrupted". Thanks to Stacy for sending it to me:
The Gender Gap in Pain
I have noticed this difference in my own life. Before I was diagnosed with any of my ailments, I found myself in the emergency room multiple times for severe unexplained pain. Each visit lasted around seven hours, all but a few minutes of it spent waiting to be seen by someone. The doctors were either rudely dismissive or patting me on the hand and talking to me as if I were a child. I never once received any form of pain relief, instead being sent home thinking I must be either crazy or a wimp. In contrast, when my husband went to the ER for pain, he was whisked right into a room and given Tramadol while various tests were run. I'm glad he got what he needed, but it did illustrate just how shabbily I had been treated by comparison.
The Gender Gap in Pain
I have noticed this difference in my own life. Before I was diagnosed with any of my ailments, I found myself in the emergency room multiple times for severe unexplained pain. Each visit lasted around seven hours, all but a few minutes of it spent waiting to be seen by someone. The doctors were either rudely dismissive or patting me on the hand and talking to me as if I were a child. I never once received any form of pain relief, instead being sent home thinking I must be either crazy or a wimp. In contrast, when my husband went to the ER for pain, he was whisked right into a room and given Tramadol while various tests were run. I'm glad he got what he needed, but it did illustrate just how shabbily I had been treated by comparison.
If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice....
Sorry about the title. I heard "Free Will" by Rush on the radio yesterday, heh heh. Here is another great Toni Bernhard article:
More: Tough Choices You Face When Chronically Ill or in Pain
I have to place strict limits on how much time I can spend out of the house. It would be nice to just go out and complete all my errands and doctor appointments in a single day to get it over with and free up more time on other days, but what happens is I wear myself out so badly that my "free" time is then consumed by recovering from the errands. In the end, limiting myself to one excursion per day, including my water therapy class, is the wiser choice because then I have recovery time each day. Sometimes this backfires, though, because I also need a couple of days a week where I don't leave the house at all in order to save up energy for the next errand or appointment.
More: Tough Choices You Face When Chronically Ill or in Pain
I have to place strict limits on how much time I can spend out of the house. It would be nice to just go out and complete all my errands and doctor appointments in a single day to get it over with and free up more time on other days, but what happens is I wear myself out so badly that my "free" time is then consumed by recovering from the errands. In the end, limiting myself to one excursion per day, including my water therapy class, is the wiser choice because then I have recovery time each day. Sometimes this backfires, though, because I also need a couple of days a week where I don't leave the house at all in order to save up energy for the next errand or appointment.
Friday, March 29, 2013
Powerful message on a subject few seem to know much about....
Inspiration for the Day, March 29, 2013:
"Were our government for the people, we would have the best education in the world, universal health insurance, a decent way of financing elections, and a massive commitment to sources of clean energy."
- excerpt from William Sloane Coffin's book "Credo"
- excerpt from William Sloane Coffin's book "Credo"
Monday, March 25, 2013
Coping with being an unhappy camper.....
My browser is getting all clogged up with articles again that I haven't had the energy to post. This is one of Toni Bernhard's; more to follow (I hope) soon:
When You're Down and Out: How to Get Through the Bad Days
I'm a big believer in the power of distraction. I am just now, after two weeks including a relapse, starting to get over my upper respiratory infection. But my fatigue hasn't lessened much yet, meaning I've been for the most part stuck in the house. That can get depressing. What has helped: watching a movie every day, listening to music, reading a book written by a friend, and laughing a lot.
When You're Down and Out: How to Get Through the Bad Days
I'm a big believer in the power of distraction. I am just now, after two weeks including a relapse, starting to get over my upper respiratory infection. But my fatigue hasn't lessened much yet, meaning I've been for the most part stuck in the house. That can get depressing. What has helped: watching a movie every day, listening to music, reading a book written by a friend, and laughing a lot.
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Overdoing it without knowing you're overdoing it....
Have had this item on my browser for awhile. Got it from one of the various fibromaylgia Facebook pages:
Post-Exertional Malaise: When The Other Shoe Drops
Recently, I've been experiencing a great deal of NON-exertional malaise. On Sunday night, I crashed big time on the couch for two hours, went to bed at the normal time and slept 11 more hours. Couldn't leave the house Monday, mostly stuck in bed or on the couch barely awake. Tuesday afternoon, I awoke to the worst sore throat in decades. Congestion followed that evening. Wednesday I called the doctor because the cough and fluid in my ears was getting bad. Started a z-pack and felt better Thursday. But the exhaustion has not yet let up one bit. Sigh.
Post-Exertional Malaise: When The Other Shoe Drops
Recently, I've been experiencing a great deal of NON-exertional malaise. On Sunday night, I crashed big time on the couch for two hours, went to bed at the normal time and slept 11 more hours. Couldn't leave the house Monday, mostly stuck in bed or on the couch barely awake. Tuesday afternoon, I awoke to the worst sore throat in decades. Congestion followed that evening. Wednesday I called the doctor because the cough and fluid in my ears was getting bad. Started a z-pack and felt better Thursday. But the exhaustion has not yet let up one bit. Sigh.
Monday, March 04, 2013
Another from the department of "WHAT NOW?"
Sunday, March 03, 2013
Inspiration for the Day, March 3, 2013:
