Fibromyalgia and Spring

Spring is in the air as evident by the date, weather, and my farm animals. Spring is a time for new growth and rebirth. I wonder what new changes I can make for myself and my Fibromyalgia Syndrome.

I'm looking into learning Tai Chi at home. I cannot do much in the way of exercise because of my degenerative disc disease with herniated bulging discs, so long distance walking is out, I tried Yoga but cannot do many of the poses. I would love aqua therapy, however, affording is one thing, plus I live out in the sticks so it would be alot of traveling for me.

If anyone has suggestions for my new Spring adventure, please let me know.

Prayer

A prayer in its simplest definition is merely a wish turned Godward.
Phillips Brooks (1835 - 1893)

When I went to church today I prayed for help. I asked for assistance to help me deal with whatever seemed to be happening with me lately and show me how to make it better for myself and my family.



Fortunatley, I did do better as they day went on. I didn't do anything different in my activities of daily living than I usually do, except get outside in the sun and fresh air for awhile. I closed my eyes to all the spring clean-up that needed done and just enjoyed being outside. Thank God for the blessings.

ABNORMALLY FATIGUED

For the past few days I have been feeling abnormally fatigued. One would think after 10 years of suffering from FMS/CFS I would know why. Nothing has changed in me or about me. The weather here in PA keeps fluctuating. Maybe that's the cause. I know I can't wait for spring to get here. Of course, if it is a rainy spring that would be worse for me. I've been following my usual regiment with no success. I guess I'll just lie low and wait for this to pass.

[Spring is] when life's alive in everything

Fibromyalgia/CFS, Degenerative Disc Disease

Ask questions from your heart and you will be answered from the heart.
Omaha Proverb

If any of my readers, or those new to my blog would like to ask questions regarding Fibromyalgia, CFS, or Degenerative Disc Disease, I will be happy to answer these based on my experience and research.

I have been a guinea pig for many medications and treatments. Some of these have worked for me and some have not. Each individual is different on how their body responds to different treatments. However, maybe I can help get someone else through the rough times of treatment decisions based on my experience.

I also may be able to help with questions concerning lifestyle, relationships, and handling the problems that exist in our daily lives. I have experienced Fibromyalgia syndrome for 10 years, along with CFS and Degenerative Disc Disease. My background as a Registered Nurse has helped me through the medical aspect of the illness, however, being a wife, mother, and grandmother I am also living through the personal problems.

Sincerely, CJ

THE FIBRO LIFE: Under the influence of illness

The refreshing pleasure from the first view of nature, after the pain of illness, and the confinement of a sick-chamber, is above the conceptions, as well as the descriptions, of those in health.
Ann Radcliffe, The Mysteries of Udolpho, 1764

Temporarily down for the count!

Nature has decided to adorn me with a sever head cold and cough to go with my fibromyalgia. Prior to this, I received my last Radiofrequency Nerve Ablation treatment to my back. Therefore, miserable is a mild term for how I truly feel physically.

This too shall pass!

I hope to be up and posting more information and helpful tips soon, but as most of the people suffering from fibromyalgia syndrome know, added stresses such as illness, physician visits, and treatments can cause fibromyalgia symptoms to worsen. Now is the time I will look into my repertoire of remedies to strengthen my mind, my body, and my soul.

CJ

SLEEP DEPRIVATION

[Sleep is] the golden chain that ties health and our bodies together.
Thomas Dekker (1572 - 1632

Sleep Deprivation

Cause and some suggestions for help.

Today I feel very tired, more than usual. Possibilities could be a change in the weather, since rain is predicted and the barometer is dropping, which does effect our symptoms.

Sleep deprivation is a real problem with Fibromyalgia Syndrome. Here is an excerpt from CFIDS/Fibromyalga Self Help by Bruce Campbell:

Sleep problems are one of the most common complaints among people with fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. With both conditions, poor sleep is a major source of intensified symptoms. Patients may spend a night in bed, but wake up as tired as when they went to bed. Other sleep problems are common as well, such as difficulty getting to sleep, waking in the middle of the night or early in the morning, and over sleeping.

It is widely believed that a major cause of sleep problems for people with FM and CFS is an insufficient amount of the deepest and most restorative type of sleep, called delta sleep. Patients with CFS and fibromyalgia often get less delta sleep than they need, and thus don't feel refreshed when they get up in the morning. When healthy volunteers in a research experiment were deprived of delta sleep, they developed symptoms of fibromyalgia in a few days.

Treating Sleep
Treating sleep is especially challenging because there is no single medication that has proven helpful in solving sleep problems for people with CFS and fibromyalgia. Also, many people taking sleep medications develop drug tolerance, so that a medication becomes less effective over time. For both these reasons, sleep problems can benefit from a flexible, experimental approach that utilizes a variety of strategies.

Most patients are prescribed an anti-depressant to help with seratonin and the sleep mechanism. I am currently taking Cymbalta after many years using Effexor. The switch was prescribed, when like most meds, Effexor was no longer effective for me. I have tried Ambien and Lunesta which will assist me some of the time, but not consistently, because this syndrome behaves like a virus and adapts itself to medications causing them to no longer be effective.

There are some natural therapies that can be applied. Products or herbal formulas containing Valerian and Melatonin could possibly be the answer for some. I have taken both and find them helpful along with herbal teas prior to sleep. Of course, I am a strong advocate for natural healing remedies along with prescribed medications that are very necessary for handling this syndrome. http://www.herbnet.com/

Another main issue is comfort. If you are like me and cannot be too hot or too cold, cannot wear restrictive clothing, or have the heavy weight of blankets piled on you, fight with your pillow and positioning of your limbs, then finding the comfort zone is similar to finding the solution to Fibromyalgia itself. The only remedy I know of for this is: RESEARCH AND EXPERIMENTATION!!!!!!!!!! In simple words; Trial and Error.

Of course, if you are in severe pain, that needs to be dealt with first and foremost. Refer to blog post: MY REMEDIES FOR PAIN