Re-Learn, Release, Relax ...Living With Fibromyalgia

Description of Key Fibromyalgia Symptoms and What they Feel Like

2011-09-21T10:10:00.000-04:00

Description of Key Fibromyalgia Symptoms and What they Feel Like:

'via Blog this'

Trick or Treat reusable bag from Zazzle.com

2011-09-14T20:14:00.000-04:00

Trick or Treat reusable bag from Zazzle.com

Happy Halloween Baby Onsie from Zazzle.com

2011-09-14T16:03:00.000-04:00

Happy Halloween Baby Onsie from Zazzle.com

Forever!!!!

2011-09-14T13:55:00.003-04:00

It has been a long time since I have been here, seems like forever. It has been a crazy ride. My son started football. Practice at 7 am. REALLY!!! For those of us that have insomnia and don't get any sleep, 7 am is a horrible time. So for 3 weeks in a row, he had to be at football camp/practice and 7 am. then scrimmages on the weekend. Bring that along with little sleep, a whole lot more moving around, being stuck in the car, school shopping, open house at school and just in general trying to get the last bit of summer in, Pain levels were and still are through the roof. I have done very little on the computer for in those weeks. It simply just hurt to much to even type.
The one good thing that did happen in that time is my insurance company finally decided that they would approve my Cymbalta and I am back on it. Now, we are slowly working at getting it back to the right levels so it works the best the best for me. Of course it is a slow process, but I can tell you, if I was not on the Cymbalta, I would not be moving at all. I am still a bit worried about the cost since we have such a high deductible, but being able to get out of bed sometimes is worth it.
I am also still waiting to hear something, anything from disability. I have had to fill out two additional papers since my original form and they were obtaining my medical records. I am hoping to hear from them soon, at least with some tidbit of info. It truly is a shame that it takes so long for them to take care of all of this, especially since most of the time people truly need financial and medical assistance it will afford them. I have my fingers crossed and keep praying. I just keep doing what I can.
With the weather change and the humidity dropping, things have also been a bit easier on me. Outside is not quite as exhausting as it was. I can actually sit outside in the sun for a bit and not feel like I am drained because the humidity took all my energy. It has quieted down around my house as well. Living in a beach resort town, things are quite crazy from mid may to Labor Day. Weekends may be a bit crazy yet, especially this weekend since it is Delmarva Bike Weekend. This is the weekend where the area is invaded by every kind of motorcycle you can imagine. It is always a whole lot of fun to see all of the bikes, see them all cleaned up, decked out, and hear them roar down the road. It also means a bunch of my friends from up home in PA will be heading down to join the festivities. I hope I get to meet up with a couple of them to at least just say hi. Of course, I don't have a motorcycle, I don't have enough balance, or strength, but I do totally like the tricycle ones. Maybe someday, lol.
Well, that is all that has happened since the last time I posted. A whole lot of rest, and very little of anything else. Hoping to keep up the best I can. How have you been? I hope all is well for you.

WHFoods: What are nightshades and in which foods are they found?

2011-08-18T13:42:00.000-04:00

WHFoods: What are nightshades and in which foods are they found?

New Studies on Weight Loss May Reduce Pain

2011-08-10T16:17:00.000-04:00

New Studies on Weight Loss May Reduce Pain

Where is the time going?

2011-08-08T23:12:00.000-04:00

I was getting ready to go to bed after another whirl wind (ok, you know I am lying) weekend and I realize, it is actually Monday night. I totally lost track of time. I keep thinking that I am keep up with my blog and then I see it has been another 4 days since I made a post. Right now, All I can ask is that you please keep checking back and please forgive me. My pain levels are just out of control right now, and due to my inability to take pain meds, I am having a hard time getting the pain under control. I am hoping it will get better soon, if we finally get the rain that they have been calling for for the last week or so. It has been an incredibly long day so I am going to try and head to bed, and hope my body and brain decide to cooperate with me. Ten on Tuesday tomorrow! Til then, Gentle Hugs.

Rain Dance!

2011-08-05T15:42:00.000-04:00

I am in a severe struggle right now. The struggle between trying to keep my sense of humor and curling in a ball and crying from the pain. I just finished a run of steroids to help get the severe headaches I have been dealing with under control. Well, it did not really work, I am still having the headache. Now add in, some severe and overbearing pain in the rest of my body, and you will have how my week has been. I feel like I have been neglecting almost everything. But in all actuality, no matter what I do, it hurts. Sitting, standing, laying, typing, watching tv, cooking, walking, all of it results in some sort of pain, or is painful in some way. So I have avoided adding anything to my blog, typing is painful, but also the screen on the computer is to bright, adding to the headache. Watching tv is ok for a few minutes but then it starts to hurt my eyes, then the volume begins to annoy me and all adds to the headache. Both of these require you to either sit or lay. I can do both for just a few minutes before the pain, more like severe burning/stabbing pain begins in my hip area. I also have the same burning pain in my arms and legs all the time. This pain I am feeling is normal for me, but nothing this severe. I deal with all of this on a regular basis, to a lesser extent, but for some reason, either right now I am just much more susceptible to the pain, or it is just so much worse. I do know, that when there is a change in the barometric pressure or weather patterns my pain gets 300 times worse. The weathermen, which we all know we just can not trust, have told us that it should storm or rain every day this week. So far, no rain. I am thinking maybe this is the reason why my pain levels are so out of whack. The only problem I see, is beyond the fact that it really needs to rain, it has been really nice outside. Of course, I know you are asking, how would you know? Well, it would be from my wonderful family telling me how nice it is outside, while I am barely able to walk my butt to the bathroom! Sometimes they don't really think. So it is so awesome that is is beautiful out, and it would be awesome time to be over at the beach, not to hot, but no, I am stuck, getting my suntan from the inside since I am on fire from inside. I think mother nature is now screwing with me. Is it because I asked her to cool it down a bit and it is summer when it is supposed to be hot, or is it just my imagination? I am at the point where cutting off all my appendages including my head, would possibly lower my pain levels, but so would, hopefully an amazingly strong thunderstorm. Which would be easier, and probably a bit cleaner for me, the thunderstorm. So the only question left is who is available to perform the Rain Dance, because I am not sure I can do it myself, but I would be happy to give it a try. I am sure someone would at least get a good laugh out of it in the end!

Ten on Tuesday!!!! 8-2-2011 Back to School

2011-08-03T00:52:00.001-04:00

I am once again running to the end of the day. It is 11:32 pm and I am honestly feeling like crap and have no idea what I want to do for my ten on Tuesday, but I hate not getting it done. So as I sit here and type and ramble to try and figure out what to do, I ask myself what things can I write about? What lists or what groupings of things will make sense? Honestly, my brain is not functioning and my head is hurting so bad, I can't even begin to get my head around anything. But it hits me..... It is back to school time, and what makes this time of year so hard on people with chronic pain diseases, well let me tell you-----
1. Clothes Shopping- This is a disaster. I am not sure how it is for you, but I have a teenage boy, who hates to shop, especially with mom. So the stress of fighting to get him out, then finding stuff he likes, I can afford, and then getting it, well lets just say, by the time I am done, I am beyond exhausted
2. Sports- Yes, it is that time again, the crazy school sports schedules. Sports camp starts before school even begins. Football camp starts at 7 am, and of course we have to provide our own transportation, and my husband of course has to be at work at 6 am. Ya, so the insomnia that keeps me up til 4 or 5 am and then I have to be out by 6:20 or 6:30 to make sure my son arrives on time, then of course the pick up which I am still not sure what time that is. Ya, this should be good.
3. Money- Finding the money, money for the clothes shopping, the sports equipment, the physicals, the school supplies and god knows what ever else they decide we need to pay for now. Working on a close budget, that is one of the hardest and most stressful things for me. Added stress, added pain as we all know. Worse of all, It may come down to choosing between money for sports and money for my own meds, and of course the sports will be priority. My kids will not go without!
4. The List- We all know the list..... the list sent home from the school, if you are lucky, mailed prior to the beginning of school, but often sent home the first day of school, with all the supplies needed or requested by the teachers for the child or children to have for each class. Always specific items and nothing else will do. And of course then you have to hope and pray you get to it before the store is sold out.
5.The Routine- Getting everyone back onto a regular schedule, and out of the relaxation of summer. It will no longer be the days of when it happens it happens. Bedtime is bedtime, dinnertime is dinnertime, homework must be done, showers need done, you must wake up with the alarm and catch the school bus or walk to school and be there on time. Summer is when you can sleep til you wake, slowly fall asleep when you are tired, eat when it is done. Those days will have to wait again until next year, rigid time constraints will take their place. So now, when you feel like crap, you can't say, it can wait a few minutes, because it can not, there is a schedule that needs followed.
6. The Struggle- The struggle to shove all the last minute fun stuff into the few fading weeks of summer. The days at the park, pool or beach. The last minute vacation to see family or friends. The water park, the mini golf tournament you promised, the movies, or what ever fun family thing you always did that you have not yet completed for this summer.
7. The Closet- Yes, we all know it has to be done, and we all dread it. But seriously, if you don't clean out the closet, you won't be able to put the new clothes in, nor will you know what you have that still fits. The summer stuff that can still be worn. Of course, this will be a battle, and entering a child's room, especially a teen's room, could be in it's own right dangerous to your health, (lol), but it should be done, it will save your sanity, and hopefully a few dollar in the end.
8. The Company- I have to say back to school it bittersweet for me. I believe it is the same for many parents. Being an at home mom, especially one with limited abilities due to chronic illness, having someone home with me all the time is pretty nice. Yes, he is a 15 year old boy, he is often hiding in his teen cave aka bedroom, but if I need him or he is bored, we hang out. We do stuff together when I can. When he is back at school, I am all alone in my house. If I am in a totally incapacitated state, which happens often, I am stuck in my room with no human contact and I know he won't be popping in. I love that he is back with his friends, he is active again, but I will miss the company.
9. Early Mornings- I don't know about others, but I am horrible in the morning. Since I sleep like crap most nights don't fall asleep until the wee early hours of the morning, waking up at them is horrendous. Also, on the amount of meds I take, once I sleep, waking up, is horrible. I feel really drugged and not safe waking up and dealing with mornings. I hate that my son has to get up on his own and get ready, I know he is 15, I understand he is old enough and needs to be responsible, but he is my baby, and it eats at me. How do mom's with little one's deal with this?
10. The Yes I will Syndrome- and so it begins. The torture of the fact that I love to help, even when my body says there is no way in hell that I can. Yes I will help with the fundraiser, yes I will help at the football concession stand, yes I will make something for the bake sale. See, I have never ever been able to say no. I hate doing it. I know, physically I can not do the stuff I say I will. 5 years ago, I could, of course I was slowing down even then. 10 years ago, I was running the PTO, the soccer club, a basketball mom, helping with multiple fire company fundraisers, and bake sales, and I was also on the March for Dimes Committee for the Walk for Babies for the city I lived in and handled the food at the end of the walk for multiple years for over 1000 walkers. Can I do that now. Only if I wanted to be in bed for weeks afterward. See, I have to learn how to say no, but how. I want to help, and I want to be able to do it in the capacity I used to be able to. But I can't . The Yes Syndrome is the hardest for me. I have to learn to tell them what I can do, within my limits. It is the only way.
So the start of the school year, the end of summer is very hard on me, and I believe on all the other people with chronic pain, or chronic illness. I find it very hard to deal with, since I am a fighter. the only issue is I fought so long, that I am in severe pain all the time now. I fought against the pain, pushed myself no matter what pain I had, that my body was shutting down to the point I would pass out. I had for so long pushed the pain away, or fought it, the pain was so bad, my body was doing what it had to did to kill the pain. What it did was shut down and I would pass out. Now, I am not passing out as much, but I am feeling the pain. who knows. All I know, is once we get through back to school, all we will have to worry about is that wonderful time of year , CHRISTMAS!!!!! GOOD LUCK!

Study Offers Proof on Chronic Fatigue

2011-07-30T00:00:00.000-04:00

Study Offers Proof on Chronic Fatigue

New Therapy May Help With Unexplained Pain, Weakness and Fatigue

2011-07-29T23:56:00.000-04:00

New Therapy May Help With Unexplained Pain, Weakness and Fatigue

Can't Sleep Again!

2011-07-28T02:36:00.000-04:00

So it is 1:39 am on Thursday morning an I am still awake. My forearms are on fire. My hands are all cramped up and no, typing is probably not a smart idea. My legs are achy and also burning. I have this weird pain near my right should blade, almost feels like someone is grabbing and holding onto it for dear life. Now, the headache. I think for some reason I have upset the little people that live in my head and they are having a party with jack hammers and drums. I am not sure what will make them happy again, if any one has any suggestions, I will try just about anything. So once again, the guinea pig medicine test is starting. The doctors feel I have tried enough of the tricyclic antidepressants that my doctor feels my insurance should be ok with me going back on the cymbalta. This means that they should help pay for it rather than it being out of pocket. Only problem is that I know have to wait and see if they will, or if they will decided to make this old dog jump through more new hoops. Until then, they put me on steroids to see if they can get the recent attack of severe headaches under control. I am also hoping if that happens, some of the other pain starts to get under control as well. It has not helped that is has been a long week with week too. Sunday was the Ken Neidinger Memorial Motorcycle Ride. This was put together to raise money to help deter the cost of Ken's funeral and to start a college fund/grant for the police academy. Ken, a police officer, an Iraq war vet and a friend of mine, died from a massive heart attack at the age of 37. A total shock to all of us. Ken only passed away in March. Then yesterday was the one year anniversary of the death. of a girl I knew, who felt more like a daughter to me. She hung herself and even though we had no idea she was even in that frame of mind, we did know she was fighting some demons here. It was quite devastating, and even though we did find a note eventually, and got a little bit of information about why, we will never have all the answers and since she was only 27, we will miss seeing her complete many milestones in her life. She also left behind a little girl who is now 7, so it is very hard. It has just been a rough week. That stress, as you know, just adds to all the pain. So I am hoping I get a good nights sleep, or I finally get some sleep. I just keep trying to remember that I will eventually find medicine that works, I will get things under control and thank goodness I have a husband and son that are willing to help. The stress right now of applying for Social Security Disability and all the other stuff, will pass. God only gives you what you can handle. That is what they keep telling me. I just keep trying to remind myself. Until the next time, Gentle hugs.

Ken's motorcycle and boots at the Ride

Ken's Bike, helmet and Boots. Ken's Brother rode his Bike, but Ken's spirit was with all the riders.

Ten on Tuesday!!!! 7-26-2011

2011-07-26T14:22:00.000-04:00

I AM HOT!!! If you have not gotten that with the last post, I guess you have now, and I will say it again, I AM HOT!!!!. The major issue is, most of the medicine I am on, has a small print disclaimer, avoid sun exposure or extended heat. So my best friend is my air conditioner. However, there are times when even that is not enough. What else is there to help you cool down, well of course, today is Ten on Tuesday and here are my top ten ways to help cool down on an extra hot day.

1. Cool Shower--- remember, cool, not cold. Shocking your body is going to do nothing for you other than make it work to get it back up to it's "normal" temperature, so it will end up making you hotter.
2. Ice/cold compresses--- On the back of your neck or your forehead, especially if you tend to get headaches, it will help tremendously.
3. Dip in the pool--- I used to be a fish to water. I love to swim. I would be in the water constantly if I could, however it incredibly wears me out, but man just sitting in the pool, in the shade or under and umbrella is awesome.
4. A hammock under a tree--- Take a nap, read a book, or simply relax. It is awesome.
5. A snow cone--- brings back memories of going to a local open air market with my grandfather as a kid. I always got blue raspberry, always made a mess, but it always helped me cool off. I love it
6. Ice cream--- who does not love ice cream, have it for dinner on a hot day. The kids will think you lost your mind, but once in a while, it is ok, and you know what it is going to help cool everyone off and have fun!!!
7. Run through a hose--- ok, you can walk, or crawl or what ever you need to get through it. But remember as a kid how great it was to run through a hose shower, or get sprayed while mom or dad were washing the car. take a few minutes and throw yourself back in time, recruit your kids or friends and have a blast. Maybe even get your car washed in the process.
8. Drink Cold Water--- I drink all the time, side effect of the diabetes. However, when you are hot, drinking cold water will help cool you down. Make sure you are drinking more than you normally do. When it is hot, keeping yourself hydration is very important, might not keep you cool, but will keep you out of the hospital.
9. Have a cold dinner--- When it is hot, I hate to eat hot food. Here is a couple of ideas I use for dinner. One, a salad, summer is awesome for this. All the fresh veggies at less expensive prices a salad is quick, filling and good for you. Another option, a salad plate. Pick up a couple different salads at your local deli such as macaroni salad, potato salad, ham salad, egg salad, tuna salad, or you can make them yourself. Place 3 lettuce leafs on a plate, use a ice cream scoop and place a scoop of 3 different salads on each lettuce leaf and slice some tomatoes and serve on the plate with crackers.
10. Soak your feet in peppermint water. Mint is cooling and soothing. Your feet can really help regulate your body temperature. Place cool water in a old dish pan or container big enough for your feet, add a few drops of peppermint oil and relax.

There are many people that would say there are other ways to cool down. I can also think of many others, but since I am limited in my ability to do a lot of things that are taxing on the body, I have to do the easy stuff. Now if I was not dealing with the fibro and hemicrania continua I would definitely do some of the following:
1. Waterpark
2. Water Skiing
3 Swim in the Ocean
4. Tubing
5. Kayaking
I am sure I am missing some stuff, but you get the idea.
What do you do to stay cool?
What summer food brings back childhood memories?
Well, I hope you can find something to help cool you off. Take it easy and take care of yourself. Until the next time, Gentle hugs.

Way to hot!

2011-07-25T22:24:00.000-04:00

So, I have had enough of the heat. You will never find me complaining about the cold. Yes, sometimes it makes me hurt a bit, but honestly, I would rather have to add another layer of clothing or some thermal underwear than to deal with the 100 + degree weather and the 99 % humidity. It is horrible when even with air conditioning, you can sit inside your house and sweat. I can not imagine what it would be like to have no air conditioning, or heaven forbid, be that person having to work outside. I walk out my front door, and immediately I am soaking wet with sweat. I can not drink enough water to keep myself hydrated to make a difference. Before long my face is bright red and the sweat has stopped, apparently nothing left to sweat, hello, all of the water is just hanging in the air. All this occurred in the 25 steps from my front door to my car, lol. Thank goodness for air conditioned cars and that is actually works. I had to drive from Delaware at the beach where I live to visit my family in Pennsylvania, where I am from. Oh yeah, beach is not cool when it is that hot. Sand makes it about 100 times hotter, you can actually get blisters on your feet. You can not look cute, while trying to avoid burning your feet on the sand, to try and get to the water, which by now is also boiling. Ok, guess you have the picture, lol.
Ok, back to the car, I am now in my car, with the ac on at full blast. I am driving and in the first 20 minutes of my travels, my son and I notice even the cars are fighting back from the heat. One of them has caught fire and now, the volunteers of the local fire department are desperately trying to cool it off and kill the flames that are trying to take over. No one was hurt, and thank goodness for the brave men and women who give up their time to help others, and of course on this particular day, there ability to stay cool. I am thinking at this point screw the car, turn the hose on yourself and stay cool, only problem is since they have to use a special foam to put the fire out, so no water, just heat, man, we sure don't need that.
So, as we get through this disaster, traffic breaks and we start rolling. Music is going, conversation is good and we just keep trekking. My son is excited about going up "home" to visit his friends. He is telling me that they are thinking about walking downtown that night when we get there, hanging outside. I am thinking, you are completely off your rocker, but I always think in means of my disease, my meds, everything has changed because of that. When I was 15, I probably would have done the same thing. Then as we are driving a little while my son says, "mom, look at that" and points at my cars external thermometer. It is now reading 108 degrees. Yeah it is only getting better. It was the highest it reached, 108, but for a bit, I honestly thought I lived in Hell. We finally made it to PA, only stopping once at a roadside fruitstand to grab a watermelon fro my son's friends family, but just that few minutes out of the car was enough. I was now trying to derive a vision of how to make a air conditioned expandable and flexible hallway so I will not have to step our of the air conditioning again. Ok, yeah, I know, I can dream. Well, let me say, the entire weekend was primarily the same. To hot to breath, but I did what I could. Sunday, I did go to a Memorial Motorcycle ride for a friend of mine who past away in March. Over 394 motorcycles taking a ride to memorialize a wonderful man who past away at the age of 36, way before he should have. An awesome sight to see. Plus I got to take my grandson with me and he had a ball seeing all the motorcycles. I am incredibly tired and worn out. I am hoping the heat breaks, but all in all this weekend was good. Now, if I can get through this next week which will be difficult due to the loss of a very dear friend a year ago on Wednesday. I will be sharing pictures of the awesome memorial ride soon. And of course tomorrow is Ten on Tuesday. Thinking of the top ten ways to cool off!!!!. Til the next time people, gentle hugs!

Just Pain a 9 out of 10

2011-07-20T23:55:00.000-04:00

It has been a really rough week. I finally thought the new medicine was helping. I was not getting sick, I could stand on my own, without feeling like a weeble wobble, and I could actually get in the car and ride without having to pull over every 10 minutes or hold a bag or bucket in front of me because of motion sickness. Well, apparently, it is not doing enough. The first 3 or 4 days, it made me incredibly sleepy. This, for me, was a major plus. Since I was a severe insomniac and was barely sleeping, the extra sleep was a blessing. The only problem, it was lingering. I was dragging all day. I slept for numerous hours, but did not get restorative rest, then all day, I felt sleepy. So now it has been 10 days, still sleepy all the time, but the actual sleep assistance is gone. I just feel groggy all the time. I also have major pain. As anyone with fibromyalgia knows, you can have pain in varying degrees, in varying areas, t varying times, at any given moment. Well, let me tell you, the pain I have felt over the last 4 or 5 days would put a normal person in the fetal position, screaming for death. My arms are constantly on fire, and at times I have pins and needles in them and then occasionally it feels like someone is stabbing me in the hand and forearm. My hips are in so achy, and sore I look like someone with a double hip replacement when I try and walk. My calves and ankles are like my arms. Only difference is the stabbing in my legs is more profound, almost non stop and at night, it is horrible. I am having a difficult time being mobile and have been in my bed or bedroom almost all week. Over doing things, does wear you out. When you have decent meds, you won't end up in bed for weeks. But when the meds help put you in bed, it totally sucks. When you go to the doctors, and they ask you, on a scale of 1-10 what is your pain level, how do you answer? In all honesty, my pain level for a normal person would be a 100. For me this week it is definitely pushing a 9. My doctor said she sees a 10 as being in so much pain you are crying and curled up, well honestly if I cry and curl up, it just makes my pain worse, adds a bigger headache and curling up for me, well sometimes that is totally not an option. So, I am trying my best to keep going, but seriously, how much pain can one person handle? I can not take any pain meds, I have a horrible allergic reaction to them. So, I will be talking to the doctor on Tuesday, there has got to be a medicine out there to help lower the pain levels. I don't think a 9 out of 10 is fair to any living creature. I would be happy with a 5. I know they can't fix it, but what is out there to help?

How are your pain levels?
What meds do you take?
What alternative medicine practices help you?

Cheesy Mushroom Quesadillas - Blog Posts - Foodbuzz

2011-07-20T15:14:00.001-04:00

Another great treat from Foodbuzz

Cheesy Mushroom Quesadillas - Blog Posts - Foodbuzz,

No Bake Peach Tart - A Summertime Treat - Blog Posts - Foodbuzz

2011-07-20T15:11:00.001-04:00

I was looking through my email and saw this, thought it looked amazing and on top of it, it is no bake, how easy can it be. Had to share it with everyone, Love this email I get every week from www.foodbuzz.com check it out!

No Bake Peach Tart - A Summertime Treat - Blog Posts - Foodbuzz

Ten on Tuesday 7-19-2011

2011-07-19T18:18:00.000-04:00

What would be the exciting thing to talk about today on the Ten on Tuesday. I was thinking about the ten things I miss doing the most since I have hit rock bottom with my fibro, but, that , is
just sad. I still do all I can and have to concentrate on that, right!!! So I decided it was going to have to be a little bit more upbeat. Then I thought, how upbeat can being stuck in bed be, and yes, lately, I have had alot more stuck in bed time, then get up and go time. So here it is. When I am stuck in bed, what are my ten go to things to keep me busy, and these are the answers.

1. Facebook----my outlet to the real world. This is my connectivity to all that is going on with my friends and family. I have to tell you though, you must be careful Do not let it drag you into the drama that some people use it for. That will only add stress to you that you don't need.
2. Twitter--- I have found an amazing group of people on twitter, my fellow #spoonies, that I tweet with, ask questions of, reply to, and simply learn from.
3. Lifetime Movies----yes, you have to love them. On the weekend, when I am stuck, you can find me watching this channel, hour after hour and always being engrossed into the story line of the shows. If you have not participated in this, please make sure you do so, you won't regret it.
4. Reading---I love to read, and will as long as my eyes and hands cooperate, do this whenever I can. I sometimes have issues with holding the books, and other times, my vision. so this is not done as often as I would like, but i keep trying.
5. Law and Order---- Ok, I am addicted, I love it. I have to say, the old name sake and SVU are the ones I will watch, no matter how many times I have seen them, over and over again. The Law and Order marathon's on the USA channels are tops with me.
6. Criminal Minds--- Never watched this show when it first aired, but when I started having to be in bed and needed something to do, I got hooked. It is an amazing show, and how bad is it to watch Shemar Moore, really!
7. Sleep--- We all know any time we can get extra sleep, we should do it. So if I fall asleep, well, so be it.
8. Phone--- If you have read my blog before you know I live about 3 hours away from from my family and friends. I usually talk on my phone with someone in my family back home at least a couple of times a week. I would do it more often, but since my sleep schedule is so backwards from everyone else's we usually connect with facebook or text messages better. I miss them a whole lot.
9. My Blog--- you would not know it recently, but I try and do something with my blog as often as I can. Again, it is one of those things that has to be done if I have no headache, my eyes don't hurt and my pain levels, especially in my hands and arms are not real high. I know you all understand how hard it is to type and work on a computer when things are not feeling the best.
10. My Zazzle Store--- www.zazzle.com/designsbythesea I make things on my store when I am bored. I use it to make a few dollars occasionally to help out the family. Well, like I said a very few dollars. lol. It is still fun, It also lets me make items for awareness and support of those suffering from fibromyalgia.

Well, there is the Ten on Tuesday for this week. What are the things you do when you are stuck in your bed or on the couch? What keeps you sane? Please let us know and share with the rest of us. The only way to help each other is to talk about what we go through.

New Meds again!!!

2011-07-17T22:52:00.000-04:00

It has been almost one week since I started my amitriptyline, to replace the Cymbalta I had to relinquish since I could no longer afford to pay for it. Still not sure how I feel on it. I am trying to give it the "old college try". I can tell you one thing I have noticed. It sure does make me sleepy. My severe insomnia has become less severe, but it lingers and makes me very sluggish all day. So I guess it is a wash. I am getting more sleep, but I am not waking up feeling any more rested, actually I am feeling more tired. UUGGHH!
So here is the list of side effects for this particular medicine:

nausea
vomiting
drowsiness
weakness or tiredness
nightmares
headaches
dry mouth
constipation
difficulty urinating
blurred vision
pain, burning, or tingling in the hands or feet
changes in sex drive or ability
excessive sweating
changes in appetite or weight
confusion
unsteadiness.
Does it make sense that I am taking this medicine to help with headaches and pain and it has a major side effect of headache. I can never figure it out. Then, it messes with my blood sugar, so not fun since I have been diet controlled for so long I don't test and so now when I feel "off" I can't test because I don't have the equipment. So, I just keep pushing on and on. Why on earth is there not a medicine that can just fix it, without causing more problems. I mean for crying out loud, is taking some of the pain away worth getting so tired you can't enjoy it. It is frustrating. I try and keep thinking, maybe I need some time to get used to the medicine. Maybe once my body adjust to it, I won't feel like a walking zombie, but then the question arises, how long do you wait to see if your body adjusts to the medicine? I wondered aimlessly through the grocery store tonight, wobbling like someone that just had a dual hip replacement, so I could try and get a few items because my fridge and pantry were looking like a bachelors pad after a 3 week party binge. I needed my husband to drive me, just did not feel comfortable enough to do it myself, but once there, I was so tired, it took every ounce of energy to get me through the store to get the groceries. The worst of it all, I still have a pretty decent headache, it is not like it has made a huge dent in the pain. I so want to be back to my old self. I want a day without pain. I want to wake up, not have to take a handful of meds to function, to be able to get in the car and do whatever I want for as long as I want, without any help. I want to make dinner, and eat it, no matter what it is, and then run around with my family after dinner, doing, again, whatever I want. All in all, I will continue to fight to find the right medication. I will try and continue to give it the "old college" try. I try not to let it stick in my head that it won't work, or to let the side effects list blemish my opinion of the medicine. The only major problem I have is I was taking Cymbalta, did not realize how well it was working until I could not afford it and now have to try all these other medicines. Even though they had to increase my Cymbalta dosage, I did not feel like a zombie, I did not get dizzy, motion sick, it did not mess with my sugar levels, and I could go to the grocery store by myself, (well the last one, at least one at least occasionally). All I know, is I have to try and keep my spirits up, continue to be a guinea pig and hope it all works out in the end.. For now, I keep working with the amitriptyline and hoping it is the one, or that I can rule it out sooner than later! So for now, keep smiling and moving forward, nothing else you can do!!! Gentle hugs to you all.

What a week!

2011-07-15T21:26:00.000-04:00

So as you can see by looking at my posts, I have been neglecting my duties. I have not been on my blog this past week hardly at all. I missed my favorite day, Tuesday, thus missing my Ten on Tuesday entry, and only did a quick entry to let you all know I was still alive with pictures of what I was looking at while participating in a new adventure, crabbing, on Wednesday evening. So here is all that has been occurring If you are new to my blog, let me tell you quickly that I live in a summer resort town. Awesome huh, yeah, most of the time. Thus begins why this week started as a horrible week, got better and now, well I am just totally wiped out. Many of my friends from my hometown, about 3 hours away, come down to my area for summer vacation. For me, this is great. If they don't stay in my actual home town, they usually stay in an area either 12 miles north or 12 miles south of me. This week for some reason everyone seemed to be flocking for vacation at one time. I was so excited. Well then my bubble burst. No one was returning my calls, my text messages, my facebook posts, anything. I thought, what the heck did I do? If you would know me, you would understand, I am the person that always worries about everyone, that always put forth the extra effort, that worked the hardest to make things work. Now, I felt like since I was not around my hometown, still working my old job, since I got "sick", since I was not going out of my way to give, I was not good enough. So now, boy was I mad!!!! I decided I would just take a ride down to the area where everyone was staying and hope I would run into them. Of course I did not, so now I was sad too. Upon getting home, things got worse. My so called best friend forever, just posted on facebook, that he was at the house of a person who in the past has immensely hurt me, caused major financial stress to my family, added stress to me personally, which we all know as a fibro patient I did not need, then tried to lie to mutual friends and make my husband and I look bad. Thank goodness, my friends know me and knew she was lying, but still. So now, I have had enough. I post, on my facebook page that I have had enough, I have had it with fake friends, trying to keep friendships with people that don't have the time for me, that I will no longer be putting myself out on a limb if you can not meet me half way. At this point, I am giving you a chance to remove yourself from my friends list and my life with no hard feelings, before I do it myself. Well, of course, my so called BFF felt guilty and called me right away wondering if I was talking about him. He proceeded to try and explain himself and then when he could not, he tried to twist things around and cause problems, bring up past issues that he thought would make me upset. Guess what, it did not work. But, it was still stressful. So now, one of the most trusted person in my life, showed his true colors. Down another so called friend. Now, off goes a whole mess of "friends" who can not make the 2 minutes for me, and honestly, I am fine with it. It is the end of the week, and those friends that came down at the beginning of the week for vacation, yup, you guessed it, I still did not meet up with them. So guess what, apparently they are not friends either. The one good thing, one of my true friends did come down mid week, to stay at my house. Her and her family have been at my house and having the time of their lives. We have spent time together, they have done family things, we have laughed, talked, hung out and just had fun. Only problem I have, is I have pushed myself to far, trying to keep up. So now, I am totally wiped out, I have extremely high pain levels and feel like crap, but all in all it is so worth it. I did have another friend down I got to meet up with for a few minutes, which also was cool. Another friend, and her family, are down and we planned on meeting up. A family emergency interrupted those plans and things did work out. This is something that does happen. I am praying for her nephew and asking all that read this, do the same. He is only 6, almost drown at the age of 1, and has been in a wheelchair and had a tracheotomy since then, had a cardiac arrest while with them only 10 miles from my house on vacation and flown back to my hometown, to the children's hospital. He is still on life support and we are waiting to see if there is any further brain damage. See, so we are not the only ones suffering and some are much worse off. Something I try and remember every day. So, wow, what a week is an understatement!
The thing I have to say is this, friendship is a two way street. If your friend does not make the same effort to keep the friendship alive, is it really a friendship? Do not waste your energy on people like this, or stress yourself out. You need people that love you, and support you, the same way you do to them. With the illness that we have, most people don't believe us, treat us different, or simply walk away. You need to cherish the ones that are there for you, understand (or try to), believe in you, and treat you like they always did. If they don't, it is time for you to walk away. It is not easy, abut is anything we do? Do you need any more stress? Do you need a friend that only takes and does not give? I know my life has changed. I am no longer the constant giver, the over achiever, the perfectionist. Is this something that is easy for me, hell no!! Do I still push my self, of course I do! and I do it way more than I should and probably will til the day I die. I will always be the "mother". That is the job I believe I was programmed to be when I was born. But I will tell you, I now have chosen that I will do that only for those who care enough to care back, and even though it hurts sometimes, I know I am right to do it and all it all, it is better for me. I will always help people any way I can, but I won't hurt me in the process.

Hope this helps you Relax!

2011-07-14T12:28:00.000-04:00

It has been a couple of days since I have been on here. I am in the process of changing meds, AGAIN. So far so good, more on that later, but in the meantime have been not feeling great. On top of it, I have company and am really pushing myself. Pain levels are through the roof, but I am trying to just have fun. Saw this sunset while I was crabbing tonight, first time I have ever been crabbing. I love it, relaxing, and fun to just sit there and do nothing. I will be doing it again. But here is what I saw, have a good night!

Cognitive Memory Loss: Fibromyalgia Brain Fog

2011-07-10T03:00:00.000-04:00

Cognitive Memory Loss: Fibromyalgia Brain Fog

5 Misconceptions of Fibromyalgia

2011-07-10T02:52:00.001-04:00

5 Misconceptions of Fibromyalgia

Rock the Ribbon Fibromyalgia Support Stamp from Zazzle.com

2011-07-09T00:41:00.000-04:00

Rock the Ribbon Fibromyalgia Support Stamp from Zazzle.com

DesignsByTheSea: Home: Zazzle.com Store

2011-07-08T16:49:00.001-04:00

DesignsByTheSea: Home: Zazzle.com Store

Check out my store, it has a whole lot of items for Fibromyalgia awareness!!!!!