When All Else Fails There's Always Twilight

I caved. I finally made an appointment with the psychiatrist my doctor recommended three months ago. I can't turn off my brain to sleep unless I am exhausted. Other times it's not my brain, I feel like my skin is crawling or I'm uncomfortable in my own skin. I'm up and down 3, 4, 5 times. I will lay in bed with my eyes closed, sleep mask on, snuggled up to my dog (she's a living breathing teddy bear)for hours. Then I get up and watch a half hour, 45 minutes of tv, lay back down. Next time I grab a book and read for a little bit, then try again. Last night while the world slept I vacuumed the air vent for the air conditioning unit, trimmed the cat's claws, sketched two pictures, watched a couple of youtube videos on how to paint flowers, practiced those techniques. I laid down and decided I had to work on my Christmas shopping list. Then, I laid down and decided I needed a better way to keep track of our bills. I tend to forget to pay something and then get a late payment and all of the sudden we are behind, which is what we are doing right now... playing catch up.
Plus, when I'm manic like this the house is a disaster. I'm in creative mode so EVERYTHING else is... well, forget about it. The coffee table in my chick den is covered in water bottles, paints, sketch books, etc.
Another thing, I put on Twilight because it's the one movie I can sleep to. In fact, it puts me to sleep. Something about the background music just lulls me. But, then I put my Twilight on and it blocks out my brain and my fingers start twitching. Now I am up again writing this and watching my soaps. It's 11 am and I'm so exhausted, feel sick from no sleep but wondering if I should just try to stay awake till at least 6 p.m. so maybe I will get turned back around or if I should try to sleep again.

can fibromyalgia make you feel crippled?

Blogger or blogspot, has a neat new utility called stats. I can see how many people have read my blog, where they live in the world, even what site they used to get here, what operating system they use, and, if they use a search engine like google, what words were searched to find my blog. Pretty, cool, huh?
My point of course is I was looking at this new plus and discovered a reader had found me through google by researching the words "can fibromyalgia make you feel crippled?". The answer is hell yes. And, if not crippled, certainly a hell of a lot older! If you have fibromyalgia I would be surprised to hear you haven't had a flare that made you feel like you were in the worst car accident of your life; aching, tender, feeling like your entire body is one giant bruise even though there is no discoloration, so stiff you can barely move, can barely keep your eyes open, if you can at all. Exhausted, but unable to sleep due to the pain.
I feel like the editor of the newspaper who wrote to the little girl "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Clause". Unfortunately then, the answer is "yes, fibromyalgia can make you feel crippled". Luckily, the debilitating flare will subside, it won't last long.

Still a Medical Mystery

The other day I went to a new orthopedist. One who specializes in the spine and discs. He took more xrays and also looked at my MRI. He said the odd thing is the MRI shows nerve entrapment from the bulging discs in my neck on the right side, so there could be pain there, but there isn't. Yet, on the left side, which is extremely painful... neck to shoulder, back, down arm, elbow, yeah all... there is NO nerve entrapment. Nothing on either the MRI or Xrays to explain the pain. So that's still a mystery, and it's causing carpal tunnel in my left wrist.
You know when you go to the doctor and you fill out all that paperwork you have to list what is wrong with you? IE diabetes, fibromyalgia, sleep apnea, MYSTERY UNDIAGNOSED HAND AILMENT :). Yes, that is what I wrote on the form.
So, I wait. 6 or 7 weeks then I see my new rheumatologist. In the meantime, I am really looking forward to starting this aqua exercise class at the rec center by my house. Unfortunately it only goes through Sept 30th. But maybe after I will start their tai chi class. As with anything either class will require me to take it EXTREMELY SLOW. Heck, by the time I am able to complete the entire aqua class it will be over. Oh well, at least it's a start!

Early signs of fibromyalgia

by Dr. Deborah Bauers

Fibromyalgia has been called both a disease and a syndrome. From its earliest signs through the development and duration of its more chronic symptoms it is neither life threatening nor degenerative. Its pathology does not manifest as a true disease process and yet the chronic pain that a fibromyalgia sufferer experiences can make it a debilitating condition. Its complex set of physiological abnormalities make it a recognized health issue that can create significant pain and fatigue.

Fibromyalgia is a rheumatoid-like condition that impacts the soft tissues, tendons, and muscles of the body causing exhaustion and discomfort. One of its earliest but most conclusive signs is often recognized and identified as the presence of pressure sensitive trigger points that are quite painful when palpated.  These pressure points are usually located behind the head and neck, on the shoulders, and behind the knees and elbows.

There are numerous symptoms often associated with fibromyalgia many of which can also be symptomatic of other autoimmune diseases.  For this reason, a rheumatologist or physician who specializes in treating autoimmune diseases is the best healthcare professional to diagnose fibromyalgia. Before the diagnosis can be made, blood work and x-rays must be done to rule out osteoarthritis, thyroid problems, and other auto-immune diseases such as lupus, Sjrogen’s syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis.

Earliest symptoms, together with specific  pressure points, that often suggest the onset of fibromyalgia include the following:

1. Pain in the groin

2. Difficulty climbing stairs and hills

3. Chronic sinus problems

4. Dry mouth

5.  Stiffness upon waking

6. Dry eyes

7.  Difficulty swallowing

8.  Chronic fatigue

Numerous other symptoms may occur and become chronic as an individual struggles with fibromyalgia over time.  These include:

1. Irritable bowel

2.  Headaches

3. Tingling and/or numbness in the extremities

4.  Depression

5. Bladder spasms

6. Difficulty concentrating

7. Memory loss

8. Dizziness

9. Sleep disturbances

Much controversy surrounds the origins and precipitating factors that may result in an individual having fibromyalgia.  While it was originally believed that this syndrome was largely the result of the psycho-social factors, more recent studies suggest that it may onset after a virus or illness.  Physical trauma to the body, endocrine imbalances, and deficits in the production of neurotransmitters are all being studied as possible stimuli for the onset of fibromyalgia. 

Fibromyalgia sufferers frequently experience hyper-sensitivity to certain sounds, smells, and tactile experiences and are uncomfortable in large crowds or in the midst of a lot of confusion. Prolonged exposure to overstimulation tends to exacerbate both pain and fatigue.

Overall mental health, coping mechanisms, support systems, and ability to manage stress also appear to intensify pain that is felt by fibromyalgia sufferers.  Certain personality types appear more prone to develop this syndrome and individuals who tend to be more negative in their thinking experience greater levels of fibromyalgia-related pain.

Fibromyalgia is best treated by a comprehensive plan that includes pain management, cognitive and physical therapies, and stress management techniques. Fibromyalgia sufferers must learn to set boundaries that ensure that they get enough rest and moderate exercise, while learning strategies to overcome the perception of helplessness that often accompanies the syndrome

New Blog & Giveaway

I have what I hope is exciting news. I have started another blog. 1001 Recipes You Can Create with a Rotisserie Chicken. I hope you are as excited as I am.I like to cook. I like chicken. I like to make things easy... ok, I like to CHEAT. Seriously though, if I can buy an entire rotisserie chicken from Sam's Club, or my grocery store for $4.95 why shouldn't I shorten my prep list and time? Let's face it, most places these days you can buy a fresh rotisserie chicken for the same price, or less, as buying a whole chicken, or worse, boneless skinless chicken breasts.

So, this is my experiment into how many real recipes I can make using store bought rotisserie chicken. I say "real recipes" for one reason, and I don't mean to be knocking anyone, but during my research for the site I came across a cookbook that had to do with cooking using rotisserie chicken. At first, I was disappointed thinking, oh someone has already done this. As I read, though, I found quite a few of the recipes were simple. A simple recipe to me would be a chicken quesadilla. Remove the chicken from the bone, heat slightly. Put some of the chicken on a flour tortilla, cover with cheese. Fold the tortilla in half and brown in a hot pan. I'm not saying that's not delicious, because add a little salsa and you've got a winner with me any day of the week! Still, as delicious as that is, I wanted to make more substantial meals. 

The first recipe you will find is my Chicken & Yellow Rice. Trust me when I say it is a huge hit, and everyone I make it for loves it. On this particular recipe I used Vigo yellow rice. Since I gave a specific ingredient I linked it to Amazon as I have friends who do not have yellow rice, Vigo or otherwise, in their grocery store. The price they have for 5 packages is reasonable, if the price wasn't reasonable I would not share it with you.

The second news I hope you will find exciting is the possibility of a giveaway! I have been contacted by the promotion team of cooking website and am hoping to be able to giveaway some prizes to my readers, wouldn't that be awesome?!

Fibro Free Life, LLC Releases the First Fibromyalgia Treatment Targeting a Main Root Cause of Fibromyalgia Syndrome | Benzinga.com

****I read this several times thinking I would find the main root cause of fibromyalgia, which is why I recommended it. Come to find out this Dr. believes fibro can be seriously relieved, if not cured in 10-15 mins with a foot massage. Of course he does, he's a PODIATRIST, LOL. But seriously, wouldn't it be awesome if all of life's problems could be solved with a foot massage?? p.s. I feel it is important to note here that I absolutely HATE for my feet to be touched!

Fibro Free Life, LLC Releases the First Fibromyalgia Treatment Targeting a Main Root Cause of Fibromyalgia Syndrome

Fibromyalgia treatment protocol includes discovery of the root cause of fibromyalgia pain, and how to correct and eliminate the pain. From podiatrist Dr. Howard G. Groshell, Jr., who has successfully treated fibromyalgia pain for nearly half a century.

Ponte Vedra Beach, FL (PRWEB) September 2, 2010

It’s been the million dollar question plaguing sufferers for centuries, and has confused doctors to the present day: What in the world is fibromyalgia? More importantly, what is the main root cause and how do you stop the excruciating pain? Fibromyalgia Free Life, LLC releases the first fibromyalgia book to answer these questions. East Meets West From the Bottom Up, provides a podiatrist's new breakthrough discovery -- a main root cause of Fibromyalgia. In addition, he introduces the first treatment that focuses on the cause rather than symptoms, giving fibromyalgia patients the first sign of hope in the long history of the disease.

“Teamed up with Western medicine, pharmaceutical companies offer temporary fixes for each symptom that arises. But to actually treat fibromyalgia with more long-term, positive results, you have to target the root. I can show you the main cause of the pain and how to make symptoms go away and stay away,” says Dr. Howard G. Groshell, Jr., podiatrist, author, and founder of Fibromyalgia Free Life, LLC.

The book introduces Dr. Groshell’s expertise in integrating both Eastern and Western Medicine. Unlike many medical books, geared towards giving sufferers and the medical community a generic understanding of a health condition, East Meets West From the Bottom Up includes an extensive protocol that goes beyond learning about Dr. Groshell's medical findings. The book includes a thorough self-help, step-by-step protocol, giving patients the ability to correct their pain. Along with the self-help treatment for fibroymyalgia, comprising over forty years of practice and statistical data, East Meets West From the Bottom Up also offers raw, personal narratives from fibromyalgia sufferers, providing a more in-depth insight into one of the most complex syndromes in the history of medicine.

“My book breaks down fibromyalgia in a way that hasn't been done before," stated Dr. Groshell. "The heart of the book, though, belongs to the sufferers of Fibromylgia. Seek and you will find."

Los Angeles award-winning author Megan Rellahan (Edgar Hernandez POW: An American Hero) co-wrote the book with Dr. Groshell, spending the entire first year collecting data and interviewing former patients in order to present another rarity that you won't find in many other books about fibromyalgia -- longitudinal case studies. The correlation between podiatry and treating fibromyalgia is profound.

“Writing this book after reading and studying so many others was a very exciting challenge," Rellahan admits. "All the books I read on fibromyalgia seemed generally to say the same things. Times have drastically changed and I wanted to write something that was more modern, and with information that wasn’t out-dated. I'm so grateful to all the patients who were willing to dig deep within and talk about some of the more painful things they faced. For me, it was also incredible to see a now retired doctor so driven to push and get this information out there. His passion for his patients with fibromyalgia is something to admire, and his desire to shed a new light and give people hope, is the cornerstone of this book.”

For more information on East Meets West From The Bottom Up and for an up close and personal look at the future of fibromyalgia treatment, please visit:www.FibroFreeLife.com.

Panic Attacks, Anxiety, Mania, Orthopedist

Yesterday morning I started feeling jittery, like my insides were shaking. I am having the same problem today, and finding it very hard to focus to write anything. Hard to have a trail of thought let alone follow the trail!  I've taken my anxiety medication and am simply waiting for it to kick in. I'm not sure why this is all starting back up so bad. I do know I was pruning the bushes outside at 3 am. Yes, I know my husband thought I was nuts, and the neighbor's probably would of had me baker acted had they seen me. I can rationalize by saying at 3 am it's only 90 degrees, and there is no sun, so no sunburn, or rash. I knew at the time the effect pruning would have on my hands but I still had to do it. This episode did accomplish two things... First, you can walk up the sidewalk to our front door without being attacked, which is always nice. Second, the episode has driven me to finally make an appointment with a psychiatrist which I have been putting off for a few months. Procrastinate, who me?
I also made an appointment with an orthopedist for next Tuesday morning. I told the nurse about the bulging discs in my neck and the pain in my left shoulder down my arm. She said the discs do cause that pain so I think I am headed in the right direction. I asked my Facebook friends for doctor recommendations and someone recommended the Orthopedic Associates of West Florida. I went on their website and read all the doctor profiles. Dr Pigeon's profile reads "Minimally invasive spine and neck surgery, Adult degenerative scoliosis, Adult degenerative disc disease, Spinal fusions." Plus, he takes my insurance, so he was the obvious choice. I see him next Tuesday, and will keep you informed, wish me luck!