Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Recipe

I've been wanting an ice cream maker for forever. Our grocery store, Aldi, had one last year for $20. They are offering it again this summer. My best friend bought one and is keeping it at my house ( :) ). I try to have her and our other best friend over for dinner every few weeks. Everyone can use the ego boost those two women can give someone with the fawning they do over my cooking. Last time I made chicken cordon blue burgers and home made french fries. The burgers are simple I took my basic chicken burger mixture, ground chicken, grated zucchini, and a little salt. Made patties, and put them on the George Foreman. Once they were mostly cooked I added a slice of baby swiss, and a slice of ham. I bought crusty rolls from the bakery covered them with honey mustard and a slice of fresh tomato. They were good.
I like to cook but I also realize I need to make things I can do ahead of time or are simple. Tonight's menu will include a simple iceberg lettuce wedge salad with doctored blue cheese dressing, pork chops, and pesto risotto, and strawberry shortcake ice cream. The pesto was made and frozen a few weeks ago, the blue cheese was doctored Saturday night, and the shortcake was cubed and frozen then also. I just made the ice cream, yes at 4:30 a.m. The pork chops will be simple salt, pepper, garlic, olive oil and a frying pan. Risotto is easy too. Granted, I have to pull my stool up to the stove to stir it for a while, but it's simple.
Back to the ice cream maker, it is an electric one that doesn't require ice or salt. I have made chocolate, chocolate raspberry, vanilla with cherries and chocolate chunk, and now the strawberry shortcake. I have made most of them with splenda, except the chocolate. And, most of them I made for my cousin who just had jaw surgery, I haven't really eaten any myself yet. My husband tasted the strawberry shortcake ice cream before he left for work and swears it's better than sex. He, and my cousins, also swore the chocolate was the best chocolate ice cream they ever ate. Let me know if you want any of the other recipes.

Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream

16 oz fresh or frozen (no sugar added) strawberries
1 cup plus 1/2 cup splenda, divided
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1 cup 2% milk
2 eggs
1 cup shortcake, cubed, then freeze

In a blender put the strawberries and 1/2 cup of the splenda. Blend to puree.In a bowl whisk 2 eggs, add splenda, cream, milk, and strawberries. My machine requires you turn it on and pour the ingredients in the spout then let the ice cream maker do it's thing for half an hour. After half an hour add the shortcake cubes. Stir the cubes in well then freeze the entire mixture to harden (ice cream comes out of the machine in a soft serve type consistency).

Healthy Snacks for Diabetics

Choose low in fat, low in calories:

lowfat or no sugar ice cream or yogurt
lowfat low sugar pudding
sugar free popsicles
sugar free jello
fruit with cool whip
low fat cookies like vanilla wafers, graham crackers
baked chips
pickles
raw veggies, low fat dip, salsa, low fat cream cheese

Michele's favorite veggie dip

2 cups plain yogurt
1 package dry vegetable soup mix
2 tbsp mayonnaise

Mix well, let refrigerate overnight to rehydrate the vegetables in the soup mix.

Diabetes Food Pyramid

I found this food pyramid for diabetics. I am not sure how people are really supposed to eat this much food in a day, but this is what is recommended thus I will share.

Breads, grains, other starches: contains high content of carbs, B vitamins, fiber, minerals. Ie: bread, pasta, cereal, corn, beans, peas     5-8 servings per day

Vegetables: 1/2 cup cooked or 1 cup raw = 1 serving. Contains: vitamins, minerals, very little carbs. Ie: broccoli, spinach, tomatoes, salad greens.     2-5 servings a day

Fruit: 3 - 4 ounce portions, or up to 5 grams of carbohydrates per serving. Contains: vitamins, minerals, small amount of carbs. Ie: apples, oranges, peaches, pears, melons. 2-4 servings per day

Dairy: 8 ounce servings. Contains carbs (lactose, milk sugar), calcium, minerals, vitamin D, protein.Ie: milk, soy milk, yogurt, ice cream. 2-3 servings a day

Meat: 1 ounce servings. Protein, iron, vitamins, minerals. Ie: beef, poultry, pork, fish, cheese. 8-12 ounces a day

Fats, oils, sweets: contains fats. Ie: butter, vegetable oil, sour cream. Use sparingly.

Mushroom & Bacon Risotto Recipe

Before I share this recipe I want to remind you of something I am learning myself. Risotto for us diabetics should be a side dish served with protein and vegetables. I like to pair it with a leafy salad and some lean center cut pork chops simply sautéed in olive oil with salt and pepper.

2 1/4 C low sodium chicken broth
1 c chopped mushrooms (I like the gourmet mushroom blend available at Publix, or baby bella mushrooms, but you can also use regular mushrooms)
3-4 slices pancetta or regular bacon, chopped and browned
1 tbsp olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
3/4 c uncooked arborrio rice
1/4 c dry white wine (optional)
1/2 c freshly grated parmesan cheese
1/2 c heavy cream

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute the onion & garlic until tender, about 5 mins. Add the wine & simmer until absorbed by the rice. Add the broth 1/2 c at a time, maintaining a simmer so the rice absorbs the broth slowly. After 15 mins add the bacon and mushrooms. Cook another 5 minutes or until rice is tender. Add cream and parmesan, stir and heat through.

Fibromyalgia Awareness Day vs. Neuropathy Awareness Week

Last week I was trying hard to figure something out to write about Fibromyalgia Awareness Day, a day that has been very important to me for a long time. But, I couldn't come up with anything to write, call it a loss of words, writer's block, whatever you want, I was frozen. The truth is FM Awareness Day was a big deal to me, every year I would hand out purple ribbons, purple lollipops, and awareness literature to my coworkers on May 12. This year it didn't seem as important because I don't have coworkers anymore. It's funny to me that some people still see me as the fibro girl, and still don't believe fibro is real, and worse think that I'm home because of this "fake" illness. I'd really like to shout at them until they understand that the fibro for me anymore is a non factor. It's a minor factor in my life, in my health, it's not why I'm home.I'd like to remind them that I worked my butt off for years and years with fibro, yes, I missed some when flares hit, but tha was only every few months, most of the time I grinned and beared it. Smiled right through the pain.
Until my hands went on the fritz. This neuropathy is a bitch. I am repeating myself I know, but I will continue to do so until people hear what I'm saying, BELIEVE ME, and stop judging things they don't understand. I went from typing 8-10 hours sometimes 12 a day. Now this little blurb is causing sharp pains in my hands, inflammation will come next, numbness, intense pain, I wonder, is this the reason fibromyalgia gets an awareness day and neuropathy gets an entire week?

Vacation Planning

I'm a planner, frankly I'm a little obsessive, especially when it comes to vacations. For example, when I went to New York with my friend, Aleta, we made a list of where we wanted to go and mapped it out. That way we could see things that were in the same area on the same day.And, yes, we had a time schedule, a rough one, how else to fit everything we wanted to see in such a short amount of time? Makes sense, right? My husband is the opposite, he doesn't understand why I can't go with the flow.
As usual, I digress. I am leaving in approximately 24 hours to go to St. Lucia for my cousin's wedding. I can honestly say I do not have everything timed out. I have a rough idea of what we are doing. Arrive Wednesday afternoon, hopefully nap, then dinner, and then the bachelorette party.
My biggest worry with this trip has been a flare. Wednesday alone we leave at 4:30 a.m. for the airport, international flight = arrive 2 hours before the flight, right? We arrive St. Lucia at 1:30 their time. Grab our bags, hopefully don't get questioned by the customs agent for the fur lined cuffs or edible panties in my suitcase (gag gifts for the party, I SWEAR). Then find the Sandals desk and take a hour and a half ride to the resort. I'm guessing that should put us to our resort by 3:30. Hopefully this will mean time for a short nap, as my best friend has to take a quiz for school online at 7:00 p.m. Then, like I said dinner, and bachelorette party. What I'm trying to say is, it's going to be an extremely long day.
I've been trying to prepare ahead of time so I will be less stressed at the last minute. My suitcase, and I mean this truly, has been packed for a month. Hey, I bought some new clothes and felt it was the safest place to avoid pet hair :). I have one entire suitcase of stuff for the party, gift bags, prizes, etc etc. Today I whipped some of my sugar free banana nut muffins together for the girls. Two of my cousins will be on the same flight as my best friend and I so I promised them all homemade banana nut muffins for the early morning flight. If you haven't tried my muffin recipe yet, you ought to. Seriously it's the easiest thing to make. I have a kitchen aid stand mixer. I dump the ingredients in it one at a time and it does the rest. Therefore, it's incredibly easy, and not taxing on me at all.
I think the most important things you can do to help yourself if you have a chronic illness and are going on a trip is planning.

1. Make a list of what to pack. If you aren't going to wear it between now and the trip. Put it in your bag and check it off your list. 
2. Once you have a list of what to pack, you can make a second list of things you need. For instance, I needed batteries, pantyhose, travel size containers.
3. Make up your containers, and mark them. Put them in a ditty bag or a ziplock bag. 
4. A week before check all of your prescriptions. Make sure you have enough, if not call for refills. If you have new bottles of medications then, and don't need them until the trip, pack them in your carry on.
5. Make your carry on easy. I am checking my bags, except for a backpack with wheels. The backpack carries my medications, my cameras, my snacks, and even my purse.
6. Pack some healthy snacks, especially if you are diabetic. Unless you have been to the location before you really won't know what you will encounter food wise. I have some trail mix packed, and my best friend is bringing almonds. Both low fat, low sugar, low carb treats. 
7. Plan rest. I know I have to nap on Wednesday when we arrive, it's imperative. I know Thursday the wedding is at 4 which gives me all day to sleep and lay by the pool. Friday is a tour. Saturday is another part rest, part fun day.
8. Enjoy yourself. You now you are going to be overdoing it. Seriously, it may as well be worth it!

Blood Sugar Log

I've been looking all night for a blood sugar log or program, something for my Sprint Samsung Instinct S30. I didn't find anything compatible let alone free. So I got some help with the typing and made one in Excel. Here is a snapshot:

On the side there is plenty of room to write notes about pain levels, exercise, whatever. My plan with this is to keep better track of not only my blood sugar, but how certain foods, meals affect my blood sugar. Plus, I can keep track of my pain levels. For instance, I wrote "drove to grocery store, pain in right hand". Today, and really the past few days I need to make a note about severe, premenstrual sciatic pain. This seems to be getting worse every month. Intense pain from my hip through my lower back, left buttock, down my leg, through my knee joint, through my ankle (which my ankle is seriously messed up on it's own), right down to my toes. Unfortunately I sent the ibuprofen to work with my husband. I have read somethings tonight that are a little concerning, it seems the biggest cause of this is endometriosis, when the sciatica coincides with a menstrual cycle. UGH this means a visit to the chick doctor, blah, lol. I'm a little worried about this bout of sciatica being just 6 days before my vacation. But, my point IS I will have it noted on my spreadsheet, a printable spread sheet that the doctor can see about what I eat, how my blood sugar levels are, and even where my pain levels are and what sets off the pain if anything. OF COURSE my columns are pink, but isn't that to be expected. Further, anything that sets off my blood sugar is highlighted yellow. You can see easily I had chicken breast with white rice, slivered almonds, and a spicy mango sauce (which is out of this world) and my blood sugar was up to around 186. I may try it again, but with brown rice, and a little less of the sauce, maybe some green onions. I love green onions, so did my Grandma. Whenever we went to a restaurant that had a salad bar she had us sneak her a few. I prefer mine cooked in things, most anything. My orzo recipe, stir fry, etc.

P.S. I have an appointment with a new doctor, recommended by my friends, sisters who have lived here in Lakeland all their lives. His name is Dr. Adam Parker. I am hopeful because there is a page on his website about inflammation, and a picture of a swollen foot.
http://www.trinityprimarycare.com/Inflammation.aspx 
Plus, and this may sound weird but he is a little young. The last doctor I saw who was that young was a pitbull. I still love her, she is the one who diagnosed my fibromyalgia, and she is not one to give up until she finds an answer. Her name is Dr. Maria Christina Pantaleon, she has offices in Palm Harbor and Clearwater, and when I move back to that area I will be ringing her number for sure so if you live in that area, check her out. Tell her Michele McNett Kellenbenz still thinks she is the best doctor 12 years later, and I have highly recommended her!

rough night

all of this stuff with the doctors has really set off a bad Fibro flare. So I am stiff and sore and exhausted. Writing that letter over the past two days has set off a terrible flare in my hands. I should have used my voice recognition program, but I'm stubborn, so I didn't. I wrote the first page on Saturday, and before I could finish my left hand was experiencing sharp stabbing pains. That hand is not even the one affected by carpal tunnel.
I updated the letter yesterday. Both hands are in inflamed, the carpal tunnel and my right wrist, is really pulling, and I am experiencing severe pain in both hands. For some reason, my toes are killing me too. I wonder if a flare in the hand neuropathy sets off the toe neuropathy or if they both have to flare at the same time? And why do the fibromyalgia and neuropathy seem to flare at the same time?
I feel so useless today. I like I said, I am stiff, sore, my toes, and hands are in incredible pain, frankly my spine and hips aren't too happy either, it's hard to accomplish anything laying on the couch! Ok enough of this I am going to start a new more positive (I hope!) post!

letter to Dr Robert Estupinan March 12, 2010

Dear Dr. Estupinan,

This letter is in regard to the certified letter you sent to me which I received on March 9, 2010 informing me  you will no longer to treat me as your patient, advising me I have thirty days to seek new medical attention, further you will only be available for emergency purposes during those thirty days.   When I read this letter, I immediately phoned your office and spoke with your nurse who explained to me “he does have the right to drop you as a patient if he feels your relationship has crossed the line” and suggested I contact Dr. Cuervo’s office, the neurologist you referred me to, and request a copy of the report he sent to your office.

I cannot begin to express to you my disbelief in what I have heard orally as well as, what I read in the report from Dr. Cuervo to you.  Dr. Estupinan, I have been a patient of yours for almost 2 years.  You have been treating me for my Fibromyalgia, Thyroid, Diabetes and Neuropathy.  You have me on a regular regiment of the following medications; Neurontin, Cymbalta, Vicodin, Synthroid, Metformin, Flexeril, Xanax and Phenegran for all of the above health problems and I do not have a clue as to why you would drop me from your roster. 

I was referred to see Dr. Cuervo for the neuropathy and the continuous joint pains that are getting worse and affecting me where I have lost feelings in both my hand and legs. When I saw Dr. Cuervo, I immediately liked him for the same reason I liked you, he is very direct, however, some of his remarks were insulting and with prejudice.  Without him asking me any questions, he immediately discussed my weight and how I need to have the lap band procedure done and how I eat too much.  I am willing to have the lap band, but I do have to wait until August. Again, he did not ask me what I ate that day, what I ate the night before. I am actually not a big eater, I eat the wrong things, and I understand that.  admitted, which I found incredibly hard to do, I do not know how to lose weight in the hopes he would recommend a nutritionist or dietician. In fact his report stated he advised me to eat a diet of fruits, vegetables, low fat milk…. This is untrue, instead he said to me “Stop eating, no one ever came out of a concentration camp overweight.”  Never in my wildest dreams would I expect such poor professional treatment and lack of professionalism from a doctor to a patient.  People are not just prejudice towards color, and the comments he made about my weight and the concentration camps were so insulting and very much taken to my heart.  Some of my family is Jewish, their relatives were in a concentration camp,  escaped with one of their children and the three other children were killed so yes, this touched home very much and not in a good way at all and I cannot just accept this behavior.

Dr. Cuervo advised me the EMG test I was given at Watson Clinic by Dr. John A. DiLullo showed no neuropathy. I feel like I have been getting the run around and after this new information from Dr. Cuervo I do not understand how I have been diagnosed with neuropathy and been giving medication for neuropathy, first by a pain management doctor; Dr. Pruitt, and confirmed by the neurologist, John A. DiLullo. Aren’t Dr.’s DiLullo and Cuervo reading the same test results and how do they both find different answers and where does your professional opinion come into the picture?  Instead of continuing to work with me on the problem, and knowing I have taken all of Dr Cuervo’s suggestions, I plan to have the carpal tunnel surgery in August. Dr Cuervo advised I was wearing the splints too tight, that’s why they were hurting, so I wear them now looser, and they are fine. He also explained about the morning testing, why it is important, therefore I have been testing every morning, and keeping a log. His assistant asked me about the CPAP and I explained I have problems with my sinuses which the CPAP increases. Dr. Cuervo didn’t mention the CPAP to me, but his assistant said I should speak to you about alternatives, which I planned to do.

Since I have seen you I have shared a lot with you regarding my life and how my physical problems have deteriorated my quality of life.  I always thought we maintained a very good rapport and I can’t begin to tell you how many people I told about you.  I could have really given up, but I didn’t. I am doing everything I can, but I am also limited by insurance at this time.

Respectfully,

Michele Kellenbenz

Cc: CEO - Jack Stephens; CIO - David Henson; President - Scott Swaggert; Board Member - Elisabeth Dupont; Partner - Annette Barnes; VP - Robert Buccino; VP - Robert H. Chapman; Dirctor of Clinical Services - Elaine Bertles; Executive Director - Louis Saco; Medical Director - Helen Mahias – Cherry; Human Resources Manager - Angela Rossiter; Manager of Patient Relations - Shane Turner; Neurolgist - Dr. John DiLullo; Pain Management Dr. - Dr. Michele McPhail – Pruitt; GP - Dr. Robert Estupinan; Neurologist - Dr. Herminio Cuervo

Admiration of Strength and Courage

My cousin is a fighter. That I have always known. She's the oldest of seven kids. was a second mother to all of them. I think all but two have lived with her at some point including me. She's worked two or three jobs when she's had to in order to support her family.

She's five foot tall and has never been afraid to tell someone how it is even if they are six foot 250 pounds. I used to make her crazy. I was the kid who was so shy I sat off by myself while the other kids played kickball at recess. I would never stand up for myself, which is what made her crazy. She taught me how when I lived with her. For which I will be eternally grateful (although others who find my bluntness rude may disagree).

In some ways we are so much alike. Neither of us have ever been able to hide our dislike of someone. Both of us count loyalty as one of the top traits we both admire and expect in a person. In some ways we are not alike. Nine months ago she had a car accident. She has a dislocated jaw she was supposed to have surgery on today (postponed due to more problems with...), she has swelling of the brain, she is having some kind of problem with all the discs in her back from top to bottom that I don't understand, neuropathy of the brain stem, some kind of eyesight problems, including temporary blindness at times. and the list goes on.

I thought I knew pain. I can not begin to fathom the pain she is in. But she still works at least weekends as a waitress. I don't understand how she does it. I can't help but compare our situations and find hers extremely worse, yet she has the steel to still work, as a waitress nonetheless. On her feet probably 8 hours a day. This blows my mind. I think I am green with envy. I have to say that today, my cousin is the person I admire most. For she makes me look inward, find myself lacking in steel, and determined to do better. 

The Job Quest Part I

There are people who have worse physical disabilities than me. In fact, there are millions of people who have worst disabilities than me. I see actor Christopher Reeves directing films, it's inspirational. I watch So You Think You Can Dance and there is a woman trying out who lost her arm, but still dances, another dancer who is dancing in spite of not being able to hear the music. But, I am not these people. I list the types of jobs I've had in the past:

• permitter (drove 300-500 miles a day to building departments all over the state). Obviously this is impossible because I can't drive anymore due to the peripheral neuropathy in my hands.
• convention & meeting coordinator / party planner. Wow, I was so good at this job. I'm not just saying that I am incredibly creative and we through some fantastic parties for some fantastic people. But this job is out too, it requires 18 hour days that include lifting, climbing, and even creativity such as floral arrangements and other arts & crafts type that I love. The whole of this job just eliminates itself as a possibility.
• Working at Disney booking hotel reservations. My favorite job ever. Talking to guests on the phone 8 hours a day and typing information into the computer that long also. Sitting 8 hours a day is impossible given the muscle spasms in my shoulders, neck, and head. Plus, I am unable to do the typing. I could use my voice recognition software to type for me, but the problem with that is I can't talk to the customer and talk to the voice recognition program at the same time. Someone or something would certainly end up confused!

I want to be Christopher Reeves, the girl who dances in spite of not being able to hear the music. I want to be that inspirational. For now I struggle. I write my blog. I get letters from people that tell me I am inspirational and I have helped them. And that feels so incredible I can not describe it. Yet, to be inspirational and to help people does not help my husband move us above poverty, keep a roof over our head, food in our mouths.
I consider the perfect jobs:

• being paid to blog. I can do it from home in my pajamas. I can do it if I am in the worst flare. My hands can look and feel like I spent the afternoon punching a wall. I can toss my cookies all day, and I don't need someone to drive me there.
• Walmart greeter!! I'm pleasant, oh, but I can't stand more than a few minutes, let alone hours. Damn.
• job sharing like an administrative assistant position, or even a sales position. But, the location would have to be somewhere I can get to on the handy bus, and I need to be able to use the Dragon Naturally Speaking program for typing. Which means my cubicle would have to be pretty sound proof so as not to drive other employees nuts.

Now what I need is a plan who to talk to, what organizations can help me.
This I will leave for part 2.

Managing Chronic Pain: 10 Steps from Patient to Person

Making the journey from patient to person takes time. The isolation and fear that can overwhelm a person with chronic pain grows over time. And the return to a fuller, more rewarding life also takes time.

It’s a journey with many phases. The ACPA describes these phases as Ten Steps.

The ACPA’s Ten Steps For Moving From Patient To Person.

STEP 1: Accept the Pain
Learn all you can about your physical condition. Understand that there may be no current cure and accept that you will need to deal with the fact of pain in your life.

STEP 2: Get Involved
Take an active role in your own recovery. Follow your doctor's advice and ask what you can do to move from a passive role into one of partnership in your own health care.

STEP 3: Learn to Set Priorities
Look beyond your pain to the things that are important in your life. List the things that you would like to do. Setting priorities can help you find a starting point to lead you back into a more active life.

STEP 4: Set Realistic Goals
We all walk before we run. Set goals that are within your power to accomplish or break a larger goal down into manageable steps. And take time to enjoy your successes.

STEP 5: Know Your Basic Rights
We all have basic rights. Among these are the right to be treated with respect, to say no without guilt, to do less than humanly possible, to make mistakes, and to not need to justify your decisions, with words or pain.

STEP 6: Recognize Emotions
Our bodies and minds are one. Emotions directly affect physical well being. By acknowledging and dealing with your feelings, you can reduce stress and decrease the pain you feel.

STEP 7: Learn to Relax
Pain increases in times of stress. Relaxation exercises are one way of reclaiming control of your body. Deep breathing, visualization, and other relaxation techniques can help you to better manage the pain you live with.

STEP 8: Exercise
Most people with chronic pain fear exercise. But unused muscles feel more pain than toned flexible ones. With your doctor, identify a modest exercise program that you can do safely. As you build strength, your pain can decrease. You'll feel better about yourself, too.

STEP 9: See the Total Picture
As you learn to set priorities, reach goals, assert your basic rights, deal with your feelings, relax, and regain control of your body, you will see that pain does not need to be the center of your life. You can choose to focus on your abilities, not your disabilities. You will grow stronger in your belief that you can live a normal life in spite of chronic pain.

STEP 10: Reach Out
It is estimated that one person in three suffers with some form of chronic pain. Once you have begun to find ways to manage your chronic pain problem, reach out and share what you know. Living with chronic pain is an ongoing learning experience. We all support and learn from each other.

Electromyogram (EMG) and Nerve Conduction Studies

I have an appointment next Monday with Dr. Cuervo at the Neurodiagnostic Laboratory here in Lakeland. These are the tests that the scheduler mentioned the doctor may be wanting me to take:

An electromyogram (EMG) measures the electrical activity of muscles at rest and during contraction. Nerve conduction studies measure how well and how fast the nerves can send electrical signals. Nerves control the muscles in the body by electrical signals (impulses), and these impulses make the muscles react in specific ways. Nerve and muscle disorders cause the muscles to react in abnormal ways.

Measuring the electrical activity in muscles and nerves can help find diseases that damage muscle tissue (such as muscular dystrophy) or nerves (such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or peripheral neuropathies). EMG and nerve conduction studies are often done together to give more complete information.

Why It Is Done

An electromyogram (EMG) is done to find diseases that damage muscle tissue, nerves, or the junctions between nerve and muscle (neuromuscular junctions). These disorders may include a herniated disc, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or myasthenia gravis (MG). Find the cause of weakness, paralysis, or muscle twitching. Problems in a muscle, the nerves supplying a muscle, the spinal cord, or the area of the brain that controls a muscle can cause these symptoms. The EMG does not show brain or spinal cord diseases.

Nerve conduction studies are done to find damage to the peripheral nervous system, which includes all the nerves that lead away from the brain and spinal cord and the smaller nerves that branch out from those nerves. Nerve conduction studies are often used to help find nerve disorders, such as carpal tunnel syndrome or Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Both EMG and nerve conduction studies can help diagnose neuropathy.

How To Prepare

Tell your doctor if you:

• Are taking any medicines. Certain medicines that act on the nervous system (such as muscle relaxants and anticholinergics) can change electromyogram (EMG) results. You may need to stop taking these medicines 3 to 6 days before the test.
• Have had bleeding problems or take blood thinners, such as warfarin (Coumadin) or heparin. If you take blood thinners, your doctor will tell you when to stop taking them before the test.
• Have a pacemaker.

Important instructions to be aware of:

• Do not smoke for 3 hours before the test.
• Do not eat or drink foods that contain caffeine (such as coffee, tea, cola, and chocolate) for 2 to 3 hours before the test.
• Wear loose-fitting clothing so your muscles and nerves can be tested. You may be given a hospital gown to wear

Excellent news

I did call Lilly Pharmaceuticals today and my application for prescription assistance was approved. This means cymbalta for free, what a relief. We have a limited insurance plan through my husband's work so it is not covered. And, with only him working we couldn't really afford it, but it helps with the pain. I missed a few days this week, because I was running out. I could barely crawl out of bed, I was so stiff and sore. This will cover me for a year. Every drug company is different. I know for a famiy of 2 I believe Lilly was a maximum of 44,000 a year. Which is pretty high. The website link is  http://www.lillycares.com/index.jsp. The medication is shipped to your doctor. If your doctor is better than mine they may actually call and tell you it's there. Good thing I have an appointment tomorrow!

Thai Peanut Chicken Lettuce Wraps

4 tbsp hoison sauce

4 tsp peanut butter

2 tsp water

1 tsp cider vinegar

1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

2 C packaged shredded cabbage with carrot (coleslaw mix)

1/4 c unsalted peanuts chopped

2 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded

8 boston lettuce leaves (boston works best, but sometimes I use romaine as my grocer rarely has boston, and romaine works fine)

In a small bowl whisk together hoisin, peanut butter, water, vinegar, and crushed red pepper. Add coleslaw mix and chicken, toss to coat. Divide mixture among lettuce, sprinkle with peanuts, and wrap!!!

How to Bribe Your Cat Into a Back Massage

I was laying in bed tonight with my left shoulder hurting badly, normal for me. In fact, for so many of us with Invisible Illnesses the reality of laying awake at night in pain is not unusual, more the norm. Unfortunately. Usually it’s my hands or feet due to the neuropathy. Tonight my left hand feels weird, numb, kind of like a tight glove is on that hand. My feet hurt too so I lay on my stomach and put a pillow under my calves so my feet can point straight down instead of flat which stretches the nerves and ligaments. I also tend to sleep a lot scooted down to the foot of the bed with my feet hanging off the end, either way works well and of course, no covers on them! These are easy things I can do to make my sleep a little more comfortable. My shoulder is another problem. The pain is intense, sharp, starts at the bottom right corner and spreads all the way down to my finger tips, and to my chest. I think this is a pinched nerve, but I always forget to ask the doctor about it. That’s not entirely true. I asked my old doctor once. I had an xray but nothing showed and I dropped it. Since then I have ignored it as part of my life.

As usual I digress… So, was laying there in severe pain when my littlest cat came up wanting attention. Now I have to tell you something really weird, but true. The cat gives the best massages. Stands on my back and starts kneading. Sure you get the occasional claw, but it is so worth it. Anyway, I was laying there trying to figure out how to bribe the cat to give me a massage. Catnip comes to mind but then I picture Sox, my little 7 lb cat, or her mother (a much bigger fat cat) rolling around stoned on my back. Maybe not. Next I consider one of those feather toys on a stick. Of course I don't have one. Ha! I could make one easy, I have a garden stake, that would work. Realize this is at 4 a.m. and picture me ransacking the house for glue, cord, feathers, ribbon. Outside searching for lost feathers in the dark at 4 a.m. Oh what would the neighbors think?! So I squash this idea too. Besides, If I could actually get the cat to play with it she would be jumping up and down on my back, and that doesn't sound so good either. Can you say "tender points"? Ha last idea, treats. Why didn't I think of this before? I blame it on the time. Sox loves Science Diet treats. I wonder "have I really gotten this desperate?" The answer of course is a resounding "YES!". Now I need a plan to overcome the obstacles:

Step 1. Find the treats. Where were they last time I saw them? Darn this fibro fog!

Step 2. Occupy the dog. My dog generally insists on being wherever I am AND is jealous of Sox. Hmmmm maybe a nice juicy bone. I have some rib bones in the freezer.

Step 3. Get the cats attention. Shake the bag of treats That always works.

Just when I am ready to climb out of bed and put my plan in action. I hear it. The tv. My husband is home!

Now.... how to bribe him!

(p.s. I tried to bribe Sox with treats the next night, put the treats right on my back… no luck. Better luck next time!!)

Unkers

I've never promoted a product here before, and I'm not about to start. However, I have to tell you I can't live without my Unkers. This is a deep penetrating pain relief salve. With the neuropathy I have quite a bit of burning, aka my body feels to me like I have a really bad sunburn. The problem is most pain relief creams, salves, rubs, etc come with some burning too, and that is the last thing I want, more burning! Unkers does not do that. Granted, it is strong smelling and greasy. My husband hates putting it on me, he says it makes his hands numb. I think "hands numb" says it all! The only place locally I can pick it up is a local Amish store in Largo, FL called The Amish Country Store. http://theamishcountrystore.com/

If you live near Largo and you haven't been to this petite gem... GO NOW. Hurry, rush, don't wait. They have the most amazing luncheon meats, cheeses, and homemade salads like potato salad and macaroni salad that rock. Oh, and they also make their own BBQ pork for sandwiches that is delicious.
You don't have to live near Largo to get Unkers. You can buy it from The Amish Country Store online, or at the Unkers website http://unkers.com/pain_relief.php?PHPSESSID=.

Life In the REAL World

The other night my normally very supportive husband said to me (on the phone) "I don't understand how you can be on the computer ALL day at home, but not at a job". Now this made me angry, but I do understand he gets frustrated too being the sole supporter while I sit home all day and do nothing. BUT I am not exactly on the computer all day in the same manner. This blog right here is the most I type. Oh, I may send 2 tweets a day or update my facebook status, maybe once a day, but a tweet can only be 140 characters, or about one to two rows of writing in this blog. I usually have my mouse with me, but not the keyboard, I hit refresh a lot on twitter, I like reading what people are writing on twitter, especially the characters from True Blood are on Twitter, and it's hilarious. Also, I think my favorite person to follow is shitmydadsays, if you haven't read his stuff, you've got to check him out. It's a 28 year old guy who literally types in stuff his 73 year old dad says, and it is so dang funny, it cracks me up!
The computer is my social link to the world. I miss working. I had the best job in the world. I worked for Disney, I made hotel reservations for guests. YES this was the best job in the world. No, not a job you can get rich at, but rich in so many other ways. I could be in the worst mood, had a flat tire, fight with my hubby, whatever, but once I sat at my desk and picked up the phone it didn't matter. Just hearing the excitement in people's voices, whether it be their first trip to Disney or their 50th was motivating and often inspirational.
I left there because of my health. As you know I have fibromyalgia, diabetes, and peripheral neuropathy. The neuropathy was my undoing. At first the doctors gave me a wrong diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. Mistaken only because the neuropathy was so prevalent in my hands versus starting in my feet, but then again, I did type 8-10 hours a day. The neuropathy got to the point where I would drive the 45 minutes to work, sit down at my desk, take my first call and the pains would start. Sharp stabbing pains, electric shock type pains. hands and fingers swollen. This is when I stopped working. It took the doctors another 6 months before they correctly diagnosed peripheral neuropathy. The doctor upped my gabapentin to 1800 mg a day, and sent me for occupational therapy. The first night after occupational therapy I wanted to have my hands cut off. I cried all night. The next time I went I asked the therapist to slow it down and he was shocked because he thought he had started extremely slow Needless to say the moist heating pad and hand massage felt good, but if I had to pick another pin up and stick it in a peg I probably would have brained someone good with those damn pins! That was when I let Disney know I wasn't coming back. I spent the next 4 months trying to find a job I could do that did not involve standing or walking, due to the neuropathy in my feet and degenerative disc disease in my lower back, or didn't require much to do with my hands, especially not typing. This was when I applied for disability. I'm still looking, so if you know of a job that doesn't require me to stand, walk, or use my hands, (and I can't get arrested for) let me know, I miss life in the real world.

Gabapentin

My gabapentin was finally refilled today.

Gabapentin, an anti-convulsant available in the U.S. for four years, not only significantly reduced pain from chronic neuropathy (due to damaged nerves) but also reduced sleep disturbances, improved mood and enhanced patients’ quality of life.


The findings are reported in the current edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association.


Neuropathy, or nerve damage, is the most common complication of diabetes: up to 45 percent of diabetic patients develop neuropathy in the course of the disease. While some patients report a numbness or tingling sensation, others experience neuropathic pain as a very distressing pins and needles sensation or one similar to receiving a series of electric shocks. Diabetic neuropathy pain most often affects the feet and ankles and to a lesser extent the legs above the knees and the arms. Poor control of blood sugar leads to nerve damage, which in turn may prompt the development of neuropathy.


“This is the first study in more than 10 years to show there’s another promising agent for treatment of nerve pain from diabetes,” said principal investigator Dr. Miroslav Backonja, associate professor of neurology at University of Wisconsin Medical School and a pain specialist at UW Hospital and Clinics. “Gabapentin is a very welcome addition to our options for pain control. It is well-tolerated by most patients and stands apart from other drugs in that it doesn’t interfere with other medications.”


In the study, 165 diabetic patients at 20 medical centres were randomly assigned to either an experimental group, which received gabapentin, or the control group, which received a placebo. All of the patients had a one- to five-year history of pain attributed to diabetic neuropathy. The study was double-blind, meaning neither the patients nor the researchers knew who was taking which agent.


At the end of the eight-week study period, patients turned in daily diaries they had kept to monitor pain and sleep interference and also completed an assessment of their overall well-being. Researchers independently completed their own clinical assessment of change.


Approximately 60 percent of the patients on gabapentin reported at least moderate improvement in their pain, while only 33 percent of placebo patients did. In addition, the medication proved to be well-tolerated; two-thirds of the gabapentin patients were able to take the highest dosage tested in the study. The most common side effects were dizziness and sleepiness, although they typically were of mild or moderate intensity.


Gabapentin not only helps the neurontin but helps the fibromyalgia. Without it the worst pain of my fibromyalgia is on my left side, my chest around my left breast, my shoulder joint, and around my shoulder blade in the back, the outline. I get this terrible muscle cramp that feels like a charley horse that you get in your leg. I take 1800 mg of gabapentin a day. I hsve already had that today and am feeling so much better. Normal for me. Hopefully once I get some sleep I will wake up not so stiff and not so sick feeling. I know I am still going to hurt but I'll be able to move my left arm. So I am very excited about that.
Man it's 5 am and I have to be up in 3 hours to go to the thyroid doctor. Why can't they just call and say these are the results of your blood test and call in the meds to the pharmacy. Why do I have to go in, spend my time and pay money I don't have?

My friend Stacey has some fabulous blogs on Fibro:

http://fibroandi.blogspot.com/

http://mylifewithfibromyalgiaandmore.blogspot.com/

enjoy!!! chele

mind racing

I have been awake all night again. Everytime I go to bed my mind starts racing with "I could be doing this" "I should be doing that". The first time I got back out of bed, after laying there 10 minutes, I cleaned the cat box, wrote my friend an email, and made marinade and put the steak for dinner tonight to marinate. This time I was laying there with my mind racing thinking "I should be working on the mural". (But I didn't, my back and shoulders are hurting way too bad). The mural, my "manic" project. It's been a month or two since I started it, and really it's not that involved, but when I can't sleep at 3 or 4 in the morning, I take a xanax or two, then paint for about 15 minutes, it helps calm me down. The funny thing is, Stephen is asleep right there and clueless that anything is going on while he is sleeping. Poor man never knows what he will wake up to find, lol!!! This is a picture from about a month ago. I have started the tree that comes up from the other side of the dresser and added more flowers to this to make some bunches of flowers in places. It's supposed to be kind of abstract cherry blossoms but cherry blossom trees, in bloom, have thousands of flowers all over them. I think that would be overdoing it for one wall!

I shouldn't be writing this. I spent too much time last night researching companies for my hubby to apply to. We've already sent so many. Yesterday he looked up the phone numbers of at least 50 companies we applied to so he can call them and make sure they received them. But, now my hands look like I've been punching walls again. oh well, such is life. For me stress = insomnia + pain. My lower back, hips, and even the middle of my back have been killing me. My legs too. I actually had Stephen massage my legs for me today, well yesterday now as it's 8:30 am. I hope this xanax kicks in soon so I can catch some zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

be well, chele