SEEKING EQUILIBRIUM

ANOTHER MILE IN MY SHOES

2013-05-13T21:01:00.002-07:00

When people say,

"I know how you feel"

"I get tired too"

Give them my shoes for awhile.

How does your day start out? If it's anything like mine you're hobbling to the kitchen feeling like the tin man in bad need of an oil can.

I'm on a search for caffeine.

I need coffee and as bad as it is I have a diet coke chaser. I've tried giving it up cold turkey but I don't like plain water. I will say that I've cut the diet cokes WAAAAY DOWN but first thing in the morning....well, so far it ain't happenin'.

Then I slug down the medications that start the day. I take my thyroid medication, supplements and pain medication. This will get me through until noon. Fibromyalgia combined with hypothyroidism and a dose of autoimmune thyroiditis keeps you feeling like you're running on empty. Energy is at a minimum and you're just bone tired.

Tired isn't the right word and I can't think of one that adequately describes it.

As time goes on my patience level with this "syndrome" has dropped to a new low. We went to Hawaii and the beach is the place where I find my peace. I usually don't like to sit around doing nothing but put me on a beach and I'm one happy camper. Going there and dealing with the plane trip and the headaches of travel was something new to me. By the time I got to the beach the pain was horrible but I was determined to put it aside and feel the peace of the water. No matter what I did or how I distracted myself finding peace was difficult.

I still felt like crapola that washed ashore.

People tell me how fortunate I am that I don't work anymore. I wish I felt fortunate. It really is tough to be in management mode on a continual basis. At times, there is frustration but along with it comes the realization that life could be a lot worse. We can smile but that smile sometimes masks a great deal of pain. The smile also conveys a sense of well-being. Funny, isn't it? Well-being; that isn't even close to the real meaning of the word.

We manage a myriad of symptoms that change on a daily basis.

There are so many symptoms that plague us. We even ask ourselves.....is this the fibromyalgia or something else? I get tired of explaining that another ugly symptom has reared its ugly head. I am lucky in one respect. I've got an incredible doctor that describes himself as "nosy." He doesn't brush me off and he sincerely cares about how I feel. We try to rein in the beast but there is a tiny place that houses the fear that every twinge and twitch brings.

Trust me, it costs a lot to be sick.

Insurance or not....fibromyalgia is expensive. The management isn't cheap and it seems like something is always out of whack. Now, it's my thyroid that is dealing me fits. The thyroiditis is flaring up and my internal thermostat is fluctuating like crazy. I can't sleep, my skin is dry and I get hot and cold. They found a nodule on my thyroid and I have to have that checked out. What comes next?

The days of running around like I don't have a care are history.

Everything that used to be precious to me has faded into the background. I had boundless energy, thrived on stress that came with my job, working in sales and I had a memory that bordered on eidetic. There was a sense of pride in myself and my abilities that are a vague recollection. Sometimes I don't recognize the person I've become......the person that can't remember why she walked into the room. The fibro fog......it burns off but when it hits it's thick and it envelops your world in a cold and thick blanket.

Back to the symptoms.

Pain, fatigue, muscle spasms, insomnia, stiffness when you stay in one position too long, difficulty remembering or concentrating and numbness and tingling. Then there's the sensitivity to odors, light, chemicals, noise, medications and heat or cold. They symptoms that I mentioned are just the top ones. There are MANY MORE. These symptoms can intensify due to time of day, exertion, hormonal fluctuations or even the weather. Is it any wonder they can't get a handle on this?

So here's what we feel like

and

here's what we were.

and here's what we will be

It's Fibromyalgia awareness month.

Try to look past our smile.

We're trying our best.

There is no cure.

Sometimes we're not believed.

And that's just the good stuff.

PLANES AND PARADISE DON'T MIX

2013-05-01T20:28:00.000-07:00

I tried.

I really tried.

I can tell you it didn't work.

But I tried real hard.

Have you just ever felt so lousy that thinking hurt? I was getting ready to go on vacation and I was stressed.

Very stressed.

When did packing a couple of suitcases become so stressful? I couldn't decide what to take and it wasn't the clothes. It was taking the crap that I use to manage pain and I was terrified that I'd be curled up in bed in paradise.

Unfrickingbelievable.

Forget the medication. I had to take a tens unit with extra pads for the electrodes. I took aromatherapy bottles. Did you know you had to advise the TSA that all these items you put in a Ziploc bag are medically necessary? Just as a shout out to the TSA, they were wonderful and took a look at me and offered to help me through the screening when it looked like I was going to fall over.

When I got on the airplane I was prepared. I had taken pain medication and half a muscle relaxer. I was concerned because I can't sit longer than 20 minutes and even that is a stretch. I had my iPad and, mentally, I was ready. I really appreciated the bulkhead because I could stretch my legs straight out and put them on the wall in front of me. I plugged in my earphones and turned on the tens unit and, Hawaii, here I come!

Not so fast.

I was good for about 2 hours. That's when I had to start popping the medication. I stood up. I walked down the aisle. I meditated. I can honestly say that I was in a good frame of mind but my body was in another picture altogether.

Let's say I made one tiny mistake.

We live in a society that is a tad paranoid.....and rightfully so. There are some crazy people out there right now. We do have to become more aware and speak up if something doesn't look right, however, I didn't take into account what electrodes fastened to my body might look like with a small device that looks like a remote detonator.

More than one head looked at the wires sticking out of my pockets and one motioned to the flight attendant. I was waiting for the lavatory and she came over to me and told me the story. We kind of got a kick out of it but, one the other hand, I thought it was admirable. This is a very good thing......watch and speak up.....no matter what.

Anyway, by the time I landed I was ready to hit the beach. No matter what frame of mind I was in the pain was shooting down my legs. I tried to ignore it and think myself out of it but to no avail.

Pain is pain.

I couldn't even sing Leaving on a Jet Plane to get myself out of it.

But there is a good side to this.

I didn't get arrested when we landed.

HERE'S MY NUMBER SO I'LL CALL YOU MAYBE

2013-04-12T20:35:00.001-07:00

The stress of chronic illness.

Where do I begin?

Chronic illness: the invisible shackles that bind us. It's been said that we "acquire" Fibromyalgia due to stress. What they fail to acknowledge is the stress that chronic pain brings along with it.

One of my favorites is agreeing to something social. Now, in the back of my mind I'm thinking, "should I put several caveats in the agreement so I don't look like a no-show again?"

It seems that everything is a fight. Not a physical or verbal fight but a fight of circumstances. You feel like you are fighting against the immovable object. I was driven, competitive and work obsessed. Then I got slammed and it all went out the window. When you have to redefine yourself....well, it isn't pretty. We go from mach 2 to ZERO and that takes its toll. That alone brings all kinds of stressors. Most of the people I know define themselves by their work and I was no different.

I was in New Home Sales and loved it. It took a long time to get over the fact that I would never man a sales office again. There is a lot of climbing stairs, movement and memory involved. There are days that I still have a tough time dealing with it, not only because of the income, but I loved what I did.

So, back to feeling like cow plop.

When I have something I want to do it's kind of a crap shoot whether I'll go. If the pain level is manageable...of course I go....but on any given day....well, that's up for grabs too. Weather seems to bother me and it's been haywire lately.

We want to go away and the stress of traveling is just one more thing. When you can't sit for more than 20 minutes and it's a five hour flight......what do you do? I don't love flying on the best of days let alone the worst of them. Just to get the bulkhead seats I had to get a doctor's note and show medical records for a reason that I have to sit there. Then the humidity levels are much higher than they are where I live......I'm just hoping that I can sit my fanny on a beach and not care how much pain I'm in.

Did we say stress? It seems that everything has stress attached to it. It may not be overt but it's still there. Why? Because we cannot fly by the seat of our pants anymore. Every little thing has to be planned out and accounted for......and even then it may not work out. I get so tired of being tired and in pain. I want to shake it off and have pain-free fun.

I want to get out and call people and enjoy life. Now, I'm afraid that I'll be a big drag because I just can't do what I used to do. Pain, fatigue and nerve damage.....did I say stress?

Gee............

Everything revolves around me.

That used to be a good thing,

Now, it's a pain in the fanny.

Notice I said fanny.

THE BASEBALL BAT REACTION

2013-04-05T15:35:00.000-07:00

Here we go again.

Is our pain all in our head?

If it is, what word would I use?

I found one.

I was reading a study on Pub Med.gov (I've included the link here) and there was a word for people that have a tendency to respond to illness and psychosocial stress with pain, fatigue and an increase in symptoms.

The word was Fibromyalgi-ness.

Interesting. I've never heard that word before and in the context I wasn't sure I liked it. If I get the connotation behind the definition, it's basically saying that if life gets too icky or we get sick we play Camille.

I can see me now. I'm going to place my hand on my head and faint dead away when life gets tough. If that was the case I'd be dead. I do believe that some people tend to be a little more dramatic when they are sick or hurt. Every man I've ever been with falls into this category! I've always said if men had to go through the pain of childbirth the human race would have died out. Like everything else, there are those that magnify their symptoms and there are those that try to suck it up and hide them.

What I think is Fibromyalgia is being shoved to the somatic disorder wastebasket.

I think I'll become Jeff Foxworthy........

If you have one or more that are distressing or disrupt your daily life......

You might be SSD.

If you spend excessive time and energy to these symptoms and your health.....

You might be SSD.

If you have a high level of anxiety about your health or symptoms.....

Well, you might be SSD.

BUT.......

If you have a predominate pain complaint....

well, you might be categorized in other psychiatric diagnoses.

I don't know about anyone else but I think this is a step back to the Stone Age....

Like I always say, I want to beat the crap out of someone with a baseball bat and let them live that way for weeks, months and years and then TELL ME THIS IS A SOMATIC DISORDER.

(and just for the record, I'm not depressed, I haven't been abused, I haven't had tons of surgeries and I'm not overly dramatic about my health and don't sit wringing my hands about the pain)

IT ONLY HURTS WHEN I'M BREATHING

2013-03-20T22:23:00.001-07:00

All pain is tolerable

as long as its somebody else's.

Pain, even by definition, is subjective. "It is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage," or "an unpleasant sensation occurring in varying degrees of severity as a consequence of injury, disease or emotional disorder."

How can we adequately describe pain?

Well, we can try to describe it using medical jargon. Let's see....there is allodynia. That's pain due to a stimulus that normally doesn't cause pain. I can't see going to the doctor and telling him my allodynia is off the charts.......

Hyperalgesia.....this is like turning up the volume on stimulus that does cause pain. Basically, pain in hyper drive.

Again, I can't see going to the doctor and using medical jargon. They may understand the meaning but they'd look at me like I was a wackadoo. My doctor would tell me to get my nose out of the medical books and just talk to him. My feeling, and this is just MY opinion, is that if we use too many medical terms the doctor may feel like we're looking for something to justify something that he will qualify as an imaginary illness.

Then there's the pain chart. The smiley faces and the words don't go together. If 10 is the worst possible pain then should I be standing there or should I be rolling around and screaming in pain? If that's the worst then is 8 that far behind and, if so, what does it mean? I think childbirth was a 10 but would that make the pain I experience every day a 5? I don't know how to go from a 5 to 10 and really make sense of what I feel.

I've become pretty good at management but having said that am I sabotaging myself? I can take a lot of pain; I'm used to it, unfortunately. How do I accurately convey the level of pain? They don't know me so they have to take my word for it. Sometimes I underplay it because I don't want to be thought of as a baby. I also think there is a credibility issue, not just with me, but with anyone who has chronic pain.

There are so many people that fake the pain so they can get medication. I was at the pain management doctor a couple of weeks ago and I was waiting for the nurse to bring the prescriptions and my appointment card. I could hear the doctor in the next room and he was telling the person that he wouldn't be refilling the medications that another doctor had given. Basically, they were doctor shopping. The list was extensive and I was shocked that a doctor would prescribed sleeping pills, anti-anxiety medication and two STRONG pain pills. I would think you'd go to sleep and not wake up. If I asked for that I'd get locked up......how does someone walk out with that kind of narcotic protocol? Of course, the voices were getting pretty loud and the patient was escorted off the premises.

This is why we walk such a fine line. If we are in too much pain and mention it we run the risk of being denied medication because doctors are just plain afraid of liability. If we underplay the pain then they figure we don't need anything. If we say we need it for breakthrough pain they think we're recreational users.

What will it take to get adequate multi-dimensional care?

I have my own pain scale.

There's OW. There's OW squared. Then there's the pain I call voodoo pain. Remember in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom the pain that he had when the pins in the voodoo doll was more then he could bear?

That's the pain.....Voodoo.

It's the old joke.......

Does this hurt?

Yes.

Then don't do it anymore.........

THE IT'S FIVE O'CLOCK SOMEWHERE EXPERIMENTATION

2013-03-16T19:30:00.002-07:00

So..........

moderate drinking eases Fibromyalgia.

Gee, ya think???

They needed a study for this??

I guess it's been shown that people that drink have less trouble with the symptoms of Fibromyalgia and a better quality of life. Now, I'm not Einstein but I don't think you have to be a Mensa candidate to figure this one out.

Moderate drinking is categorized as more than three but less than seven drinks a week. Okay, so if I knock down a few after dinner I guess I'll be able to handle the pain in a more ladylike fashion. Here's the trouble......

I have NO tolerance for alcohol.

If I have a drink or a glass of wine I have been known to start drunk dialing. I just can't tolerate alcohol. This started after I had my daughter. In college my girlfriend and I used to win shot contests and still be standing straight. Something happened to my body after I had Danielle. I get buzzed really, really fast.

It doesn't help that I really don't like the taste of liquor. I have to hide it in fru-fru drinks like Mudslides or Pina Coladas or, if I was back in the old college days, Everclear 151 and fruit punch. If I can't taste it and the rest of the drink tastes good I'm in trouble. I forget the stuff is in there.

So, back to the study.

Who wastes time with this??

Of course, if you're half lit you're going to be able to tolerate the pain that bombards our bodies. It's interesting that some of the patients reported that they also cannot tolerate alcohol so that is why they abstain. Also, there are medications that absolutely should NOT be taken while drinking.

If you're in a lot of pain and take opioids, you should DEFINITELY NOT resort to moderate drinking to relieve symptoms. People with Fibromyalgia have low GABA levels (gamma-aminobutyric acid). GABA slows down the activity of the nerve cells in the brain. Alcohol increases the action of the GABA receptor. This may be a reason that the pain volume is turned way up in people with Fibromyalgia. Low GABA, high pain, huh?

Like I said.....if you're half lit......who cares??

Of the 946 people who participated in the study it was founds that they had lower BMI (I guess if you drink you don't eat) lower unemployment and higher education. (You can tell that from a margarita?

There is a caveat from the study......

They urged people not to start drinking to relieve pain.

They couldn't figure out why the alcohol helped with the pain.

They actually studied this???

I have to stop writing....

my margarita is waiting for me.

After one of them I won't even be able to spell margarita.

Update: Too much reverses the effect!

Here's the link......you've got to read it.......Moderate drinking may ease symptoms.

THE FIBROMYALGIA TESTING THEOREM

2013-03-11T11:39:00.004-07:00

Has it finally arrived?

Is there really a test?

We shall see.

We've waited and waited for research to come up with something that will give Fibromyalgia the legitimacy we crave. No more doctors looking at us with disdain or patting us on the head telling us to take a couple of pills and call them in the morning. Having this "syndrome" has cemented what we've learned through life experience.

Dismissal and rejection hurts.

So, now the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago and EpicGenetics has revealed a test that will diagnose Fibromyalgia. Other research has shown for quite some time that pro-inflammatory cytokines are elevated in patients with Fibromyalgia. They have tried to eliminate BMI and response to exercise as a stressor for the increased elevation as well as dismissing a cytokine connection in its entirety because that tends to lead to an impaired immune system and a connection to autoimmune diseases.

Back to the test, however.....

The test identifies specific biomarkers and is stated to be 93% sensitive. Currently, insurance does not cover the test and it's only being done through EpicGenetic. The cost is also $744. Patients are required to fill out a questionnaire for qualification and it can be arranged through their doctor.

Are they saying that Fibromyalgia is genetic? Are we predisposed to this and then a stressor sets it off?

Also, cytokine elevation can occur with other autoimmune illnesses. Sleep deprivation can induce elevated levels as well. Given the fact that Fibromyalgia has so many other symptoms and overlays of other illnesses, can this accurately diagnose Fibromyalgia or just the fact that cytokines are elevated could we be dealing with more than one pain condition?

The APA Assay test has been around for awhile. This test measures the IgG anti-polymer antibodies in human serum. Published studies have shown that different levels of these antibodies show the severity of the symptoms in Fibromyalgia patients. Basically, this test seeks to confirm that Fibromyalgia is an immune disorder because a positive result means that your immune system is producing these antibodies.

There are a lot of tests out there but none specific for Fibromyalgia, until this one. I think it has promise but is there more research to be done so that it is truly specific to Fibromyalgia and not just a pain disorder? I need to do more research on this test. It's very interesting. The very fact that most of us have to go through doctor after doctor, year after year to finally get a diagnosis this test could be a real step forward saving us money and heartache.

I'm hoping it isn't one more thing that I'll spend money on.

Right down the drain.

All those on board take one step forward.

Not so fast.

PEEK A BOO, I DON'T SEE YOU

2013-03-07T18:46:00.001-08:00

We know we have pain.

We know others have pain.

How do we really feel?

I was reading a study about the effects of looking at others in pain when you have a chronic pain condition like Fibromyalgia.

It was fascinating.

It wasn't a real involved study but it showed a side that we don't want to acknowledge. Maybe "side" isn't the right word.....it's more of a fear. When I starting thinking about it I have to say that I've done this.

So, what was this study?

The researchers wanted to see if people with Fibromyalgia had an abnormal neural response while observing pain in others. Yep, you guessed it. There was an abnormal response. It seems that the Fibromyalgia brain showed a smaller neural response.

What does this all mean?

We empathize with other peoples pain but we also fear it. That smaller neural response may very well be a shield. Smaller response may be our way of not catching someone else's pain. I know that sounds silly when you first hear it, but think about it. Is it possible in the hidden pathway of our brain there is a place where we steel ourselves against our pain when we see it in others?

Can we be empathetic and yet keep that wall in place against feeling more pain? Or, are we afraid that we're too empathetic and those mirror-neurons will kick in and we will literally feel their pain?

Either way,

we have some weird goings on in the old brain.

I've been saying it.

They can say it's all in our heads....

They are exactly right.

THE INFLUENZA SMACKDOWN

2013-02-24T12:46:00.002-08:00

Sick as a dog.

That's what I've been.

Where in the world did that come from?

I was doing a little better pain-wise. It had been rough lately and I was hoping for a little reprieve.

Not so fast.

It started as a couple of sneezes and a some sniffles. It didn't take long for me to start feeling like crapola and thus I entered the whiny stage of the past few weeks. Oh, who am I kidding? I hate feeling weak and sick. I can handle the pain business but when you put the flu on top of Fibromyalgia....well......it isn't pretty.

We have enough trouble with muscle aches and spasms.

Like I always say.....

Let's add a tiara.

Anyway, I was in a curled-up-in-a-ball-go-away-world-and-leave-me-alone frame of mind so I haven't wanted to do anything...even write. I'm not well yet and I'm on the second round of antibiotics. One of the fun things about the flu is the secondary infections. I hate taking antibiotics because they have a weird effect on me. The only way I can describe it is that I feel kind of other-worldly. It's not truly dizzy because I'm not actually swirling but it's weird.

By the way, where did the phrase "sick as a dog" come from? Why use the pups?

I think the dogs get a bum rap.

Let's see......

Sick as a dog.....

Dog tired......

Every dog has its day....

Go to the dogs......

Wait.....that's actually a comforting thought.

Buster-Boo-Boo, I'm coming back to bed.

PARSLEY, SAGE OREGANO AND THYME

2013-02-06T21:14:00.003-08:00

I love oregano.

I'm finding out some interesting things.

It's just not for cooking anymore.

I saw a post of Facebook about the healing properties of Oregano. I like to look at alternative methods and it sounded interesting.

It's also about safety.

I've always known that natural doesn't always mean it's safe. It also doesn't mean that it won't interact with medications that we may take. It's always good to look up the medication or supplement to make sure about the dosage and if any foods taken with it can cause any problems.

Just look at what grapefruit can do.

Anyway, some research has been done on oregano oil. Dr. Harry Preuss, MD and professor of physiology at Georgetown tested oregano oil on the staphylococcus bacteria and found that the oil inhibited the growth as effectively as the antibiotics did. British researchers have also found it to be effective for about 25 different bacteria.

It's touted to be anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, an anti-allergan and a natural pain killer.

Another article had to do with the bacteria that is responsible for food poisoning due to inadequate cooling in the retail food service. Oregano oil was found to inhibit the bacteria and reduces the risk of growth in ground turkey.

If this can be used to inhibit bacterial growth it could be very useful to strains that are becoming resistant to antibiotics.

Sage, on the other hand, can be toxic.

Is that what Simon and Garfunkel sang??

Oh yeah......

Rosemary....

The title sounds good though.......

Just be careful what you use.

THE WARM BATH EXPERIMENTATION

2013-02-02T13:01:00.000-08:00

I like to keep up on the latest research.

I found a neat article about...

wait for it.....

warm water exercise.

That got my attention. Warm water exercise improves Fibromyalgia symptoms and quality of life. I'm in for that. I didn't get the exercise part unless it was jumping up and down in the spa but....I kept reading.

The study involved about sixty female patients that had Fibromyalgia.

Right after the study concluded they had improved in areas like pain intensity, fatigue and morning tiredness. They concluded that hydrotherapy improved "sleep quality, physical function, professional status, psychological disorders and physical symptoms in patients with Fibromyalgia."

Oh really??

Can you tell me what professional status has to do with it? Also, it just happened to sneak in there psychological disorders. It is really, really annoying how persistent this psychological, excuse the expression, bull-crapola keeps rearing its ugly little head. Is it basically saying that unresolved childhood issues manifest itself in physical pain??

Science is proving that the pain pathways are altered.

However, some studies still want to imply that it's all in our heads.

I just love the words.

Hydrotherapy.

Warm water exercise.

Basically what there saying is.....

it's not that bad.....

go take a bath and call me in the morning.

FRUSTRATION STATION

2013-01-31T20:04:00.001-08:00

Sometimes you get real tired.

Tired of being tired.

Tired of pain.

I think it's just been one of those times where everything just seems to get on your nerves. It's as if I'm down to the last nerve and everything seems to get on it.

It's as if I'm back living in my pain world. It's the world where pain takes front and center. My day revolves around the level of pain that I feel. I know my limitations and I don't like them. I've never liked limitations and as I've gotten older I like them even less.

Limitations suck.

I don't care if it's mental, physical or speed limits.

I get tired of saying, "I'm tired" or "I hurt." It gets old to my ears let alone to anyone else's. I know that those around me don't mind. That isn't the issue. They love me enough to be here with me through all of this.

All of this just gets real old to me.

It seems that the magnitude of all of this has crept up and smacked me in the face. How do you say all of this without sounding like a whimpering little baby? Just because your body hurts and every bone and muscle in your body has turned on you.....you have the audacity to bring your life to a halt?

It sounds ridiculous even to me.

I've got a life of slow motion.

That has run head on into the reality of pain.

Dandy.

THE MEDICATION CONUNDRUM

2013-01-29T10:31:00.000-08:00

I was looking through papers.

One in particular stood out.

It was the flyer about medication.

I've been looking at the medications that are currently used for the treatment of Fibromyalgia. Pain relievers, muscle relaxants, antidepressants and even anti-epileptic drugs. The approved drugs like Lyrica have side effects that can be serious.

So what are some of those medications?

I tried Lyrica and I still haven't lost all the weight I gained when I took that stuff. Not only do I hate the commercials but Lyrica made me squirrely. I gained weight (a lot), wondered if life was worth it and I couldn't trust my own mind. Even if it promised to take the pain away forever, I still wouldn't take it ever again.

See, I will aways believe that Fibromyalgia has sub-groups. I have pain but not depression. I still feel that if depression accompanies the pain then Cymbalta or Savella may help and work for people in this group. It doesn't help me AT ALL.

I have pain and terrible muscle spasms. I always say I'd take a baseball bat to my legs and beat the crap out of them because it would feel better than those stupid spasms. I take Zanaflex (tizanidine) and it does help. It helps normalize the amount of Substance P in the spinal fluid. Substance P is a neurotransmitter and it has been found that people with Fibromyalgia have an excess of Substance P in the spinal fluid. For me, it helps.

Back to the flyer.

It states that Zanaflex is ranked in the "poor" category.

I'll get back to that.

In the "excellent" category is Cymbalta, Lyrica, Savella and, funnily enough, Hydrocodone. Again, if you have pain and depression it's quite possible that these medications will help. The thing about hydrocodone, in my humble opinion, is that it isn't good for the long term. It is usually combined with acetaminophen and there is a possibility of liver damage with long term use. The drugs in the excellent category in the flyer have weight gain as a side effect. I don't know about anyone else but pain is difficult enough to deal with.....

Weight gain?

Let's just add a tiara.

While I think the flyer gives good information about the approved medications that are used for Fibromyalgia, I think it's a mistake to rank them. The problem with Fibromyalgia is that this is a crap shoot. No one really knows what is going to work for whom. While a low dose opioid and tizanidine work for me to manage the symptoms, it may not work for someone else.

Medications are tricky. They are to be used with caution. We have been made to believe that popping a pill will be magic. The pharmaceutical companies are big business and the side effects of the medications that we take are wide and varied. When I hear the disclaimers I think that the illness is almost better than what we have to take to manage it. Plus, they always talk REAL fast when they hit the real icky side effects.

I think that sometimes we're being sold an illusion. They really don't know what these drugs can do. Is it possible, years from now, we will be told that these drugs are really not safe? I think there is a place for everything and we need a strategy that encompasses a pharma-exercise-alternative-behavioral-nutritional strategy.

Let's face it, until they figure out what causes our pain perception and reception to go haywire......well then.......

We are where we are.

It the middle of the stream.

Reaching for any paddle that can get us to shore.

THE GRACE SUBSTITUTION

2013-01-18T19:57:00.000-08:00

Sometimes things look bleak.

Sometimes you can't figure out the "why."

Then God's grace will be...

Evident.

There are times in this life that you can't figure out what the heck is going on. Everything around you is falling apart but, then again, that's just what it seems like.

I've never been a "religious" person but I am a very spiritual one. I really, truly believe that God has a reason for everything. There are times that I've felt his presence and there are times that I'm flailing out there on my own.

I know that I've been blessed in this life. I have wonderful kids that are my life. It was a miracle that I had her and she has been a source of joy in my life. I really meant it when I told her that one day she'll have one and I hope it's just like her. Now, at the time, I really meant that I hoped her son or daughter would make her as crazy as she made me. She walked at a very early age and ran soon thereafter. I never stopped after that.

Did I mention that she downed a bottle of baby aspirin and handed me the bottle?

At the kids wedding I made a speech and mentioned that there were so many stories that I could have told but I chose that I'd save them as bedtime stories for their children. Now, that I really meant!

I just have been a little reflective today. I went to the doctor and need a ton of blood work done. I'm going to be tested for a ton of autoimmune illnesses. Hopefully, just to rule them out. I don't know my medical history because I was adopted. As my daughter gets older it's something that I really wish I knew.

I would hope that it would be included for all adoptions.

I don't think its right to leave certain details out. I know the records are sealed and some birth parents are reluctant to have that door opened BUT I do think that a medical history should be taken so future generations aren't left to "guess work" and basically a crap shoot.

I left the doctor reflecting on the why. Why now does he feel the need to check for more autoimmune illnesses. What is he trying to rule out? They all say that it's nothing and it's just to make sure nothing else is lurking in the background......

Why say that in the first place?

Anyway, I was a little shaken by that but then I heard from my little sweetheart and the world seemed right again. Sometimes I need to be reminded how wonderful are the things this life holds.

I need to let go (never been my strong suit)

And let God be in control.

It will work out.

It always does.......

But Grace has never been my middle name.

KEEP THE MOTOR RUNNING

2013-01-04T23:41:00.000-08:00

The African Griffonia plant.

The seed pods are a natural source of 5-HTP.

Wasn't there a motor oil like that?

5-HTP is an amino acid that is made by the body from the essential amino acid L-tryptophan. The body uses it to increase the production of serotonin. People with Fibromyalgia are usually deficient in serotonin. That's why for some people with Fibromyalgia, Cymbalta works wonders.

There is also a natural supplement of 5-HTP that can be taken.

The dosage can be anywhere from 50 to 500 milligrams. That seems like a pretty wide variation in the dosage. Eating foods that contain tryptophan, such as poultry, seafood, nuts and dairy is a pretty healthy way to increase the amount of L-tryptophan in your body. The supplement sounds like a harmless way to increase the levels in your system.

Just remember one thing.

Even though it's natural that doesn't mean it isn't a drug.

Always let your doctor know what you're taking. Even if its a simple vitamin or a supplement. They can interact with the medications you take.....even the over-the-counter ones. These supplements can have strong biologic effects. We need to be careful....we have enough pain.

Natural doesn't always mean safe.

I'm just as guilty of this as anyone else. Sometimes you get so tired of the pain that you'll try anything. I went to a support group meeting and a woman told me she took a supplement called lithium orotate and it took away the pain. Well, I went online and ordered it. I can tell you that I didn't have a real good reaction. There can be some real serious side effects and I didn't research it until I started taking it.

Now, I'm very, very careful about medication.

Again, I understand the desperation to feel better. If there was something that worked the journals would be filled with studies and trials. The point is that we must be very transparent with our physicians. It may seem silly to list vitamins and supplements but they need to know. If you don't think your doctor will know, ask the pharmacist. Some supplements can interact not only with your current medication but even with certain foods.

This could happen to any of us.

Plus, we shouldn't mess around with our serotonin levels. That is only for trained medical professionals. There can be serotonin poisoning and that can be fatal. It can be as simple as combining medications that increase the levels. There's even cough syrup containing dextromethorphan that can do this. It just depends on how much of a serotonin increasing medication that we're already taking. Part of the problem is that we're prescribed so many things for so many different symptoms.

There is also a great website where you can check the interaction of your medications and supplements. It's called MEDSCAPE DRUG INTERACTION CHECKER. I've included the link so just click on the the word.

So just be careful taking medication.

We have enough issues to deal with.

HTP...STP..........

Still sounds like motor oil to me.

I guess it is.........kinda...........

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2012-12-31T22:32:00.000-08:00

Resolutions?

I don't do those well.

Resolutions have not been on the top of my list of completed items at the end of the year. Most of them have been thrown out the window before the first month of the year has passed.

I think that a resolution, at least in my case, starts out with the best of intentions. I don't think I'm necessarily to blame. I think I choose the wrong resolutions.

So let's try for this year.

I resolve: that I will be more accepting of me. I have an illness that has no cure. I will have bad days and good days and some fair days and, yes, I will have good days. I need to understand that there is absolutely nothing that I can do about that fact. What I can do is manage this to the best of my ability.

I resolve: that I will be a little kinder to me. When I have some of "those" days I will try not to beat myself up. I will not hate the fact, and myself, that I have limitations.

I resolve: that I will try to check the attitude at the door when the pain feels overwhelming. I know this will be the toughest to achieve because it does tend to get the better of me. I know that if I just try to make my attitude a little better it might help get me through those tough days.

I resolve: to be a little more patient with myself. When I get frustrated from the fibro fog and my memory gets fuzzy I will remember that "this too shall pass." I will try to stop getting irritated. I will also quit bemoaning the fact that my fabulous memory is a thing of the past.

I resolve: to try to find the joy in my life. This is just a blip on the screen and it could be a lot worse. A whole lot worse. I am definitely not minimizing what we go through on a daily basis, but even on our worst days we need to find the strength to believe that life could be a lot worse.

So for the coming year........

For all my family, friends and followers.........

I wish you all the love, laughter, wonder, health, happiness and God's blessings.

Every minute,

Of every day........

Happy New Year.

PAIN IS A FOUR LETTER WORD

2012-12-22T21:21:00.001-08:00

I don't know if it's the weather.

I don't know if it's stress.

I do know that it hurts to be me.

Sometimes pain just permeates your whole being and takes over your life. Just when you get used to one level of pain another one decides to take you by surprise. It kind of likes to stop by and say hello just in case you've forgotten about it. It doesn't want to go away gracefully.

Pain wants to rob you of your joy. I don't care whether it's physical, emotional or spiritual pain. It wants to be your nasty little reminder that pain can take away your day in one fell swoop.

Having a good day?

Wrong.

I tend to second guess myself right now. I feel a twinge and I know what's coming. Should it always be like that? Am I forever bound to a life where I measure every twinge and jab? I also can't stay in one position for too long. My legs are starting to twitch so I know the night is going to be a long one.

Is it wise to know or is it better to let it take you by surprise?

I don't know if it's the humidity levels or just the stress of the season. I tell myself I'm going to pace myself and just do what I can. The problem is that even as I'm typing those words I know how ridiculous that sounds. My problem has never been to "just do what I can." If I'm able to, or even if I'm not able to, I keep going until I collapse. This isn't a good way to handle the holiday season.

What am I saying?

It's not a good way to handle this life. Period.

Isn't it pathetic when I can't handle shopping? Just looking at that statement depresses me. You'd think it would be so fun to go out and shop. All I know is that I can't face the stores. It's just too much to deal with and the other thing is the crowds. I can't handle that many people.

OK.

Enough.

Time to stop sounding pathetic.

I need to put a smile on my face.

Is it working?

Nope.

That's a four letter word too.

I WANT TO GO BACK TO MAYBERRY

2012-12-14T20:09:00.000-08:00

It's been quite a week.

I'm not just talking about the pain.

Both personally and in our nation.

First of all, what do you say about the shootings of innocent children in Connecticut? I cannot imagine what those parents and families are going through right now. Also, the survivors....what those children witnessed......it's horrific and there are no words that will comfort those parents. Their dear, dear children's lives were cut short and they must be inconsolable with pain and grief.

Also, I got word that a former co-worker passed away. She was young. She was 51 and didn't feel well. She took a nap and when they went to check on her.....well, it was already too late. Her daughter was her best friend and she's still quite young. She graduated high school in 2011 and was away at college.

I've had to learn the lesson of mortality at an early age as well. I can tell you that isn't a lesson that should be learned early. It changes you. It gives you the feeling that all relationships are on shaky ground because they can disappear at a moments notice. Closeness becomes scary.

Then, to add a tiara to the week, with all these things happening, it's cold and raining. That means the pain has spiraled once again.

If it isn't one thing it's another.

I'm not trying to minimize the happenings or compare them to the pain that has attacked my body once again. I'm just adding it to the list of events of the week. There is nothing that can compare to that kind of loss. Then compound that loss with the addition of senseless violence and what can be said?

I hate these kind of life lessons.

I hate the change that life lessons bring; the innocence of life that is lost and the realization that the people you love most can be taken away from you in the blink of an eye. Parents should never have to bury their children and little children should not know loss. They should be safe and secure in the knowledge that their parents will be there. Parents should not know the all-consuming grief and pain that their beautiful little sweethearts are gone.

What is wrong with this world?

What will inevitably happen is that the issue of gun control will come up again. It will be debated and debated but nothing ever seems to get done. I truly believe on the one hand that if guns are outlawed then only the outlaws will have guns. The war on alcohol during Prohibition, the war on drugs, the war on terror and now the war on guns.....to what end? They are all still alive and well despite the efforts to rid our world of them. I do believe that we need stricter laws and background checks before anyone can purchase them. I think online sales should be banned. I think certain types of guns should not be in the hand of private citizens. Military weapons are just that...military weapons. You need an assault rife to kill a deer??

I think it's our culture that is sick and in need of help.
You can ban all types of weapons but you just can't ban evil.

I think it's time we get rid of our culture of certain kinds of tolerance. You cannot teach children that everything they do wrong is someone elses fault or that something else is to blame. We need to bring back consequences for actions. We've become a society that doesn't want to hurt that little inner child. We equate discipline with abuse. When did it become acceptable for manners to go out the window? When did "please" and "thank-you" get deleted from our vocabulary? When did we decide that just because children grow up less fortunate they should be given a pass? We have done that in our educational system and look what the effect of that has been. I've seen what so-called high school graduates have learned and it's appalling. We need to crank our curriculum up about 7 notches so we can start raising children who will be capable of working in this global economy.

If I sound like I want to take our culture back about 40 years......well, I do and I don't. In some respects.....I do. I look at what children can see on TV during prime time and I honestly don't know how I'd answer the questions that would arise. The innocence that should be childhood has been wiped away. Growing up too soon is all over the news and it's "cool." Am I the only one who sees something wrong with this?

I don't think I'm old fashioned. I'm not trying to be an old grandma but I see society heading in a direction that isn't good.....

Enough.....

I'm off my soapbox.

But...........

I hope that everyone hugs those they love a little tighter tonight.

ME AND YOU AND A DOG NAMED BOO

2012-12-02T22:45:00.002-08:00

Dogs are therapy.

This one is a little wrecking ball o' love,

I don't know what I'd do without him.

It's been a rough few weeks. Two people that I care about lost their baby dogs. I think we've all been through it but it doesn't matter,

It hurts like hell.

They aren't pets. They are little mini-people with fur that might not have the power of speech but their wants, needs and feelings are still very clear. They have their own personalities and quirks. The make us laugh and their love is unconditional. When ever we have a bad day they are there to make it all better.

They feel our love, our joy and our pain.

It feels so good to feel that kind of joy. Putting my arms around those little angels necks and and feeling their behinds start to wiggle with joy and puppy kisses galore. It makes no difference to me where that tongue has been.....now that I stop to think about it.....well, as long as the licks are on my face!! They also don't know how to measure time. I don't care if I've gone out to the garage, when I come back in the door I'm greeted like I've been gone hours. When I'm gone hours the yips and cries of hello make all the cares of the day melt away.

All they want is to be with their pack.

They feel the abandonment when they're in the shelter. I'm a rescuer. I walk down the aisles in tears wishing I could take them all home. But I can't. Still, I know I will choose one. I usually want the one looking dejected in the corner. He lifts his head warily, not wanting to believe that I could be "the one." Then, as I stop, the tail starts to thump and then a little more, and then, he's by the cage licking my fingers.

That's the one,

When I've been in so much pain my high energy, off the wall my baby dog lies quietly by my side. He looks up at me as if to say that he feels my pain. When I try to get up he stays by my side as I go to the refrigerator for something to drink and then jumps right back in bed next to me.

Any dog can be a therapy dog.

This is Buster.

I feel better knowing he's there. It brings a smile to my face when he jumps up on the bed with his favorite toy and puts it right down by my head. He wants to go outside but won't move until I do. This dog just makes me laugh and, for me, that is therapy. It helps with the pain...not the physical aspect of the pain, but it's more manageable and easier to bear. He looks at me and he understands.

I know that the loss of an angel leaves a huge hole in your heart. I know they would want you not to grieve and go back to the shelter and rescue another baby so they can find the comfort of a loving home.

"It came to me that every time I lose a dog they take a piece of my heart with them. Every new dog that comes into my life gifts me with a piece of their heart. If I live long enough all components of my heart will become dog and then I will be as generous and loving as they are."

In order to really enjoy a dog, it isn't enough to make him semi-human, it is, on our part, becoming part dog.

I can't imagine Buster Boo in a service dog hoodie.

I don't think a service dog has the attention span of a gnat.

Squirt and H would have called PETA and had them on speed dial.

Buster wouldn't know the number.....

In loving Memory of that sweet little Max.

xoxoxo

GIVE ME AN F.... OK....ANOTHER F.

2012-11-25T22:01:00.001-08:00

Give me a F.

Give me an .....

Oh, what the heck does it spell?

is for the Fatigue that loves to hound my body when I've pushed it too far. It's always present in the morning because I never Feel rested. "F" is also for the Fun I used to have burning the candle at both ends. "F" is also for the Fog that is around whenever I can't remember the reason I walked into the room in the first place. "F" is also for the Frustration that I seem to feel every time I talk to a doctor about Fibromyalgia and they just don't seem to get it.

is for the Irritability I feel when I just constantly feel Icky. "I" is also for the state of Invisibility which is where I live when people and doctors look at you with pure disdain when you say you've been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. 'I" is also for the use of Imagination when dealing with doctors and trying to get the medications needed to manage this illness.

is for the Bad days that seem to rear their ugly head just when you thought you were beginning to feel good. It's for feeling Bummed when another flare comes right after the one that left a few days ago. "B" is also for feeling Betrayed and Beaten down by your own body and feeling Baffled when another symptom pops up.

is for the Ridiculous way that some in the medical community refer to this illness. It is for the way that most of us have to Re-invent ourselves due to the chaos that Fibromyalgia brings to our lives. It is also for the Realization that there is no cure and this is a life sentence. It is also for the Reminders that you have to leave yourself because you cannot Remember anything.

is for the Optimism that we cling to especially when pain spirals Out-of-control. It is also for people who are Obtuse and think that pain is a constant in your life by choice and not design. It is also for those Outstanding friends and family to come to your aid and love you no matter what. It's for feeling Obligated to keep going even though every bone in our bodies are crying for us to stop.

is for Medical appointments and having doctors on speed dial. It is for the MRI'S and all the other tests you'll go through until you finally get a diagnosis of Fibromyalgia. It's also for the Money that will fly out the window because all these tests and doctor appointments are very expensive. It's also for the Memory that will also fly out the window and you will be left wondering where your intelligence went. It's also for the Management skills you'll have trying to keep the Myriad of symptoms in check.

is for the acceptance and Yielding to the fact that Fibromyalgia is here to stay. It is for feeling Yucky. It's also for the constant Yawning because of the fatigue. It's for the realization that this isn't a day or month thing, this is a Years thing. It's Yearning for a day without pain.

is for the Absence of testing that can lead to a real diagnosis. It is also for the ability to Alleviate some of the severity of the symptoms with medication. It is for standing strong and Adamant that this is real and not in our imagination. It's for feeling Alienated.

is for feeling Limited. It is for feeling Left-out when we have to miss events because of fatigue or pain. It's for feeling Lousy or Lifeless when we lay in bed all day. It's telling ourselves that we are Lazy, Lumpy and Lifeless when a flare comes along and knocks us off our feet.

is for feeling like some of the seven dwarfs especially Grouchy, Gloomy and Grumpy. Yes, I did take license on some of those names! It's for feeling Grateful for the good days that we do have and it's for feeling Guilty when I do take the time to let my body recover in bed. It is also for Grieving for the life that I used to have.

is for the Irritation that I feel when people say that if I'd just move around I'd feel better. Don't they think I'd do that if it worked? It's for feeling Isolated. It's for the Invisible disease because you don't look sick. It's also for the Impatience I have with myself.

is for looking at the bright side because it could Always be worse. It's for being Aggravated and Agitated with ourselves and others. It's for being Absent-minded. It's for the Accusations that we're neurotic when pain and fatigue take over. It's also for being Appreciative friends and family.

I'm sure there are more words......

I can tell you what the F stands for....

But I can't write it on my blog.......

Ha....I know it stands for Fricking Fibromyalgia!!

What does it mean to you?

THE BLISS MOLECULE FORMULATION

2012-11-18T22:23:00.004-08:00

What is it about the sound of the name?

Even hearing it whispered makes you feel good.

Choc....o....late....

It releases neurotransmitters. We can take it quite literally when we hear that we have "chocolate on the brain."

So, what does it do?

Let's start with endorphins. These little babies are natural pain and stress fighters. It seems that eating chocolate releases endorphins. Hmmm...so far so good.

Serotonin. It seems that chocolate (semi-sweet or dark) releases and increases levels of serotonin. This is a neurotransmitter that works to regulate mood, sleep arousal and pain. Hmmm....again....the higher the serotonin level the happier we are. I can tell you that I'm VERY happy when eating chocolate. The downside? Can't drink milk with our little pieces of chocolate, or as I prefer, enveloped in a nice cookie. OK...I can live with that.

Phenylethylamine. Commonly known as PEA. It's a chemical that makes you feel happy. OK..I'm with them on that. It seems that chocolate is loaded with it. It also has a half life of 5 to 10 minutes so it stands to reason that we should shove as much as possible as quickly as possible!! It's also called the love drug because we experience the same feeling.....

Anandamide. It is a lipid that it very similar to THC. THC is a chemical found in marijuana. Anandamide and THC both activate the same receptor that gives us a feeling of well being. Didn't we feel like that in college?? Anyway, I feel very happy with chocolate.

One thing about chocolate.

It contains a chemical called theombrine. While it is mildly diuretic and similar to caffeine, IT IS TOXIC AND POTENTIALLY FATAL TO DOGS. Their heart and central nervous system can be compromised. They don't metabolize it as quickly as their humans.

So, other than that, it sounds pretty good to me. Plus, it melts in your mouth, not in your hands. Actually, when I eat chocolate I feel comforted and loved. Amazing, isn't it? The power of a little morsel of yum.

When you're always in pain a little chocolate sounds like a plan.

Years ago, a friend of mine got me a little bear that I called "Sid."

Sid said one phrase......

"I LOVE chocolate."

He knew me well.

NOW BELLY DANCING HELPS FIBROMYALGIA?

2012-11-07T10:39:00.001-08:00

A beautiful and graceful tribute to the belly dance.

This wouldn't be me.

Is there anything else they can find that will help Fibromyalgia? Now, belly dancing will help us?? First, let me say that the thought of me belly dancing sends me into fits of hysterics. Let's just say learning dance steps isn't my forte and grace isn't my middle name.

Heaven help me.

I guess a study in Brazil put women in dance groups and belly dancers were helped.

When our muscles are immobile, let's say like after a night's sleep (what is that?) they are stiff and sore. After that, ANY movement will help reduce the pain. The more immobile the muscles are the more they will hurt.

It's kind of like the Tin Man and the oil can.

I've always said that exercise doesn't help my pain. I think I need to rephrase that. It helps but it doesn't take it away. The pain ALWAYS comes back. The movement does help my muscles move and it helps the muscle spasms, but, it doesn't "cure what ails me."

I don't think we need more management help.

We need causal and curative help.

That's why Tai Chi, yoga, Pilate's or, yes, even belly dancing helps with pain. It's a slow, rhythmic movement of the muscles. We all get that. I don't know anyone with Fibromyalgia who can't recite a litany of things that help them with pain. We've gone through tons of trial and error to find ANYTHING that will get us through another day.

People can only take so much pain. We are tired of happy, smiling faces telling us that if we just take this magic pill or do this lovely little exercise all of our problems will be solved. No wonder we get to the point where we'd like to scratch that smile off of their face. You're probably just depressed. GEE, YA THINK?????? What is it about chronic pain? Don't they get it? Do they think it's just wincing slightly and rubbing a little shoulder muscle and then we can keep our mouths shut and go on about our day? Or how about sitting us in a rocking chair and keep us drugged enough to shut us up?

We smile through the pain enough. We are the masters of invisibility. We HATE the fact that this lovely thing called Fibromyalgia has the power to render us immobile. Living like this isn't our first choice.

Why can't they find out?

Why can't we get past the stigma of this "imaginary" disease and find out what causes it?

Nope.

We're back to belly dancing.

Trust me.

That's a visual you wouldn't want.

GOING OUT ON A LIMB

2012-11-04T21:42:00.004-08:00

I've been saying it.
I've always been saying it.
Now, I'm not out on that limb alone.

I've always thought that painkillers get a bad rap. I will never deny that they're powerful and, in some cases, abused. I think that just goes with the territory.

I believe if your medical treatment involves opiates you must be responsible, vigilant and do so with the knowledge their capabilities and power. I've always said that if I thought I'd be out of pain by taking these, I'd be in a lot of trouble. They take the edge off of the unbearable pain but will not take it away. If I took enough to be out of pain I'd be a zombie. Now, a study has come out that states that these drugs may not be as addictive as once thought.

Finally, a study that looks at addiction and physical dependence differently.

I know that when my pain doctor and I talked about opiates, I was concerned because of the addition of acetaminophen. That can cause liver damage if you use it long term. I asked about the oxycodone because it didn't have the addition of acetaminophen. He told me that I could be on that for years without the worry of damage.

We talked about dependence.

I was worried about that.

He looked at my history and I'm a very low risk patient. I don't have a history of any alcohol or drug abuse and nothing in my emotional makeup that would indicate risk for addiction. I was told about the rules (sharing, doctor hopping, etc.) and signed my agreement. I've never asked for an increase or taken them in any other way than what I was prescribed.

I think it makes sense.

If you give a bottle of painkillers to a drug addict, chances are there will be problems.

I do think it's important for your doctor to know what and how much is needed. I also think that you've got to be open and honest and let him know how these medications affect you and if it's helping you deal with the pain. He did tell me that I shouldn't expect to be out of pain.

That's something I've never forgotten.

That's why I firmly believe that Fibromyalgia has subgroups. For me, pain has always been the main issue. Pain without depression. The muscle spasms that I have are helped immensely by the tizanadine. The tizanadine helps normalize the amount of Substance P in the spinal fluid. Maybe that's why it will help people like me.....pain without depression. Maybe Cymbalta helps those with pain but with depression. There's still something that nags me about the reason that there is no medication that helps all people with Fibromyalgia.

There needs to be an inter-disciplinary approach to pain. You can't throw medication at patients. There needs to be a team that works with us. From doctors to our yoga instructors.

So it's back to square one.

But things are looking up in the medication department.

It can't come too soon.

Here's the link.

Painkillers not as addictive as feared.

BOO

2012-10-31T22:29:00.000-07:00

There is no dignity left.

None.

I usually dread Halloween because it would drive the doggies nuts. Given the prospect of doorbells ringing and dogs barking I still want them to dress up a bit.

Mr. H loved his tux but HATED his pumpkin outfit. He looked like a big, fat tick. Buster decided to be bat-dog and protect the masses at "pawthum" city. (thanks D!)

Just a quick post to show him waiting for his share of the candy. No, he can't have chocolate but he does get his "snackers" in a cute Halloween bag!

So now we're on to November and 30% humidity. It's been a pretty rough time. Just when you think it can't get any worse.......

Bat-dog is ready to retire to the bat cave.....

It's been a very stressful night.

WHAT'S NEW ON THE HORIZON?

2012-10-23T17:06:00.001-07:00

Ok.

I like this one.

And it's been used in Europe for years.

Flupirtine. Interesting sounding name.....who names these things?? Anything starting with a "f-l-u-p" sounds kind of dorky to me, but hey, what do I know?

But, again, I digress.

I do that a lot.

This is an exciting new drug on the horizon. I'll include the link to the articles at the bottom of the post. I've never heard of it and it sounds promising. Anyway, this drug is neither an opioid or an non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It has properties of being both an analgesic and a muscle relaxant.

It has been used in Europe for the last 25 years for treatment of pain after surgery, trauma, dental work, muscle spasms, cancer and degenerative muscle diseases. The FDA graciously granted phase II clinical trials to be conducted for the treatment of Fibromyalgia.

This has been used in Europe for 25 years?

For extreme pain and muscle diseases??

Why don't we have it here?

The side effects are minimal and there isn't the dependence issue that your body has with an opioid. The NSAIDS have been associated with gastrointestinal issues and, again, this isn't an issue with flupirtine.

It sounds like a miracle drug.

But, believe it or not, it hasn't been introduced in the U.S. for any reason.

I can't wait to see more about this.

25 years........we've never had this.

Why???

Information on Flupirtine