Fibromyalgia is a common condition characterized by long-term, body-wide pain and tender points in joints, muscles, tendons, and other soft tissues. Fibromyalgia has also been linked to fatigue, morning stiffness, sleep problems, headaches, numbness in hands and feet, depression, and anxiety.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Are You Having Trouble with Blogger?

This post has little to do with fibromyalgia but a lot to do with writing my blog on the subject.

I have been having trouble with Blogger for a few months now and wanted to know if any of you are having trouble spots? Mostly it has been with my "followers" showing up on any of my blogs (I have 3) but what upsets me is when I can't post to another blog. 

It keeps asking me to sign in and I do, then it goes through the motions and tries to get me to sign in again.  I finally get that straightened out and now I can't get into my comments. Sheesh!

I am not one of their paying customers so that may have something to do with it. Not sure.
I did have a guy named Tony who fixed my followers at one time, but they disappeared again so I have no idea who any of my followers are on any of my blogs.

I am just rambling in cyberspace at this point hoping to catch a break and be able to post or comment once in a while.

Let me know if you have had any trouble.

Until Next Time :)

Friday, June 24, 2011

It' Been A While

It's been a while since I lasted posted and wanted to catch up tonight.

I started swimming again because walking around the neighborhood in Florida at this time of year is just too darn hot.  I tried to go slow. Not sure what that even means.  I just started swimming around and using my legs and arms and it felt great. I probably swam for around 20 minutes or so.

After a few days I thought, Wow! this is going to be a piece of cake. Wrong!  I woke up in the middle of the night and my arms and legs were screaming with pain.  Sort of like when you had growing pains as a kid only much stronger and constant. The only relief is to walk around and keep moving my arms.

I finally just took my pain meds (tramadol) even though they keep me awake because I can't take anything else.  I can't take aspirin or advil because I break out in hives.

So the night was a short one, and now I am extremely careful to not overdo in the pool, but I will not quit!  I will not give into this as long as I can keep moving.

Today was a great day and my pain is manageable again. 

Until Next Time :)

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Things are Looking Up

I am so happy to say that my fibromyalgia has been better the last several months.  I still have the everyday aches and pains but nothing like when I was first diagnosed.  At that time my lower back and neck were giving me constant grief.

I truly believe it's been a combination of a good chiropractor, a massage once in a while, and keeping to my walking schedule.  I would like to be doing more than just the walking, but am not brave enough yet to venture into lifting weights or yoga.  Although, I do hear yoga does wonders for some.

Our pool will be warm enough in another few weeks to start swimming.  I just have to remember that I have to approach it slowly.  It's difficult to do as I don't have any pain at the time; just a day or two later.

After reading about people who suffer from CFS I don't feel like I have any room to complain but I know that each of us has our own situation and we need one another's support.  That is truly the reason I started this blog.  I hoped to reach others who suffer from chronic illness.

I am amazed at how many wonderful people I have met online from my blog.  They suffer considerably more than I do yet they always have something cheery to say and I so appreciate them.

Until Next Time :)

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

I May as Well Laugh

My husband is out of town this week on business so I decided I would do a few home projects while he was away.  That was my first mistake.lol

I painted the grout throughout all the tiled areas in our house about 4 years ago so I thought I would freshen it up this week.  Bending over and crouching down is not a good thing for fibro sufferers as you are probably using muscles you wouldn't normally use.

I knew when I started this project that I should go slowly (which is difficult for me as I used to charge through everything) so I worked on it about a half an hour or so.  I could feel the muscles running up the back of my thighs being used but I had no idea how much until I woke up the next morning practically crippled.

The muscles hurt so bad that even the Tramadol didn't completely numb the pain.  Fortunately it lessoned during the day as I walked around but the thought of continuing with my grout project wasn't looking too inviting.

So here it is Tuesday and I haven't finished the grout yet!  I did work on a small section yesterday but am paying for it today.  I will get it completed but it will take the entire week to do that.

This is the part of the fibromyalgia that frustrates me the most.  You don't know what you are doing to yourself until you wake up the next day and can barely move.

When I woke this morning (due to pain) I could feel all the muscles around my rib cage and my thighs.  I was so uncomfortable lying in bed that I was forced to get up even though I could have slept longer.  I can't figure out why my ribcage is so sore unless it's from sweeping out the garage.  Good grief!

It's almost comical really.  I try to have humor in it because it looks like it's here to stay so I may as well laugh about it.  It's so absurd to have this much pain that I can't help but laugh because it's like someone is playing a terrible practical joke on you all the time.

Until Next Time. :)

Monday, March 7, 2011

Once A Year

I went in for my lab work today so that it would be ready when I go in for my physical next week.  I almost hold my breath now when this is done because I am getting older and wonder if the tests will show something that wasn't there last year.

It seems like many of my friends have been diagnosed with some form of disease in the last few years, from heart trouble to diabetes to high blood sugar.  My neighbor is checking her sugar levels 3 times a day now because of her concern about a recent diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.

Is it me or does it seem like there are more people with something wrong with them?  I know the guideline levels of "normal" were recently changed to a much lower number so what would have been a normal blood sugar is now considered high.  I often wonder if the pharmaceutical companies are benefiting from these level changes as more people are now taking ongoing medications. Hmmmmmm.....

As far as the fibro this week I have to say things have been pretty good.  I had some problems with my left foot which started traveling to the back of my knee and went in several weeks ago for an x-ray.  I was told it was inflammation and put on Prednizone.  A few weeks later it was still giving me grief so I went to my chiropractor and he adjusted my foot and all my problems went away, including the back of the knee pain.  He said it was subluxation and that  it would cause inflammation.

I sure do wish the chiropractors and doctors would get together as this is the second time something like this has happened to me.

Years ago I experienced pain in my knee every time I walked.  I was getting ready to go on vacation so I rushed in to the Dr. to  figure out what was going on and was sent for an x-ray. I was informed I had a tear and that I should keep it wrapped.

I spent my entire vacation taking aspirin (I am allergic to ibupprofen)to keep the pain at bay so that I could enjoy all the history in Virginia as there was a great deal of walking involved.

When we got home I went to the chiropractor and told him about my knee. He adjusted it and it was gone instantly.  To think I could have spared myself all the misery while on vacation frustrates me.  Not to mention I was told I have a tear when I most certainly did not.

From now on I go to the chiropractor first before anyone else.

Until Next Time. :)

Saturday, February 12, 2011

It's Always Something, Isn't It?

I am not feeling well today.  I have been running a fever for the last couple of days but don't feel like I am sick or anything.  It's probably my allergies getting out of control again.  I was very tired and shaky this morning so I have tried to stay "put" as much as possible for me.

I am not one to sit for long periods of time because my lower back and upper thighs start to ache so, even with a fever, I just keep going. I made my husband's favorite cookies for Valentine's Day and a spaghetti sauce for dinner.  I am not boasting, it's just I'm a hyper person and can't seem to sit still for any length of time unless I am seriously occupied with something engrossing.

I truly believe when you feel unwell so much of the time it becomes part of your life.  Every day you wake up and you test the waters to see what kind of a day it will be .  Will I be in a lot of pain today or maybe just run a fever for no apparent reason.  Will my foot be bothering me today or will it be my allergies again.  Honestly, when you get one day free of all the trappings of having a human body that isn't 100% you feel like singing to the world.

I hope this fever goes away by tomorrow as my husband and I have plans to go out to eat.

Until Next Time. :)

Monday, February 7, 2011

So Far So Good

The wind is blowing like crazy outside and wreaking havoc on my allergies so I am ready for a nap.

I still felt good today, however, the pain was back when I first woke up. Generally it's either pain or too much water the night before that wakes me up.  I was up at 5:30 this morning and was slower getting around.

The cleanse is still going on even though I forgot to drink my tea last night.  I have also been testing my PH balance since I've been cleansing and I am happy to say I am on the alkaline side, which is a good thing.

I am going in for my annual physical in March and I am hoping to have my cholesterol down as well as my weight, but the latter could be a problem since I still can't walk for exercise.

I mentioned in a previous post that my left foot started to bother me when I began walking every night.  I am still recovering from a fracture in my right foot from last year about this time so I have only been walking my neighborhood since about October.  My husband and I added another neighborhood to our walk and I think I must have overdone it. So tired of worrying about that.

It's very difficult to tell whether it's a "true" pain or the enhanced version you get when you have fibromyalgia that's causing my foot to hurt so much.  The doctor said it was inflammation and I took Prednizone for 5 days (which did absolutely nothing). I also soaked my foot in ice water since I can't take ibuprofen.  The pain seems worse and has moved to the arch of my foot.

Doctors are still baffled by fibromyalgia in my opinion.  Many will nod their head like they're listening when you explain that you have this chronic illness, but I don't know that they really have any idea what to do with you.

Now I have to call my doctor back and see if he has any other ideas of what I can take for my foot.  My sister-in-law says I should ask for a Cortisone shot, but I have never had something like that before, so not sure.

I am just happy to feel better at this point so I can deal with the foot thing if I have to.

Until Next Time. :)