I first became aware of fibromyalgia about five years ago. True, I'd had symptoms for much longer than that and had been to various doctors, chiropractors, massage therapists, taken yoga classes and various natural supplements all in the attempt to heal myself, yet nothing had had any long lasting effect. In fact, over time my symptoms grew worse and new ones seemed to crop up almost daily. Yet no one told me I had fibromyalgia. I just didn't know and thought I was crazy. Deep down, I knew something was physically wrong in my body.
One day, while at the library, this book caught my eye:
Fibromyalgia Advocate: Getting the Support You Need to Cope With Fibromyalgia and Myofascial Pain Syndrome by Devin J. Starlanyl and Hal Blatman. I took it home, read it and cried tears of relief. I finally knew what I had. Since then, I haveread many other books about fibromyalgia but this is the one book that I find to be the most complete and helpful for me. One aspect of treatment recommended in the book is the use of guaifenesin ( Mucinextm ) an over the counter drug used to break up mucous. I've included a link here to a fibromyalgia treatment center that uses this method so you can read more about it. Guaifenesin Treatment Protocol
Everything in me resonates to this treatment method and believes it may be of benefit to me. Especially the information about the functioning of the kidneys - in my gut, I know there is a kidney and adrenal aspect to fibromyalgia that is a key component and I believe many of the drugs prescribed for fibro symptoms actually worsen the kidney function. I presented this information to my primary care doctor several years ago and asked her to prescribe this to me. Unfortunately, I discovered that insurance would not pay for it because it is an over the counter medication. Amazingly, they will continue to pay for all kinds of pain pills, muscle relaxants, antidepressants in endless amounts that treat symptoms rather than pay for a single substance that may actually reverse and cure a condition. Unfortunately, because I am not well enough to work sustainably, I do not have an income that allows me to try this protocol. I do intend to manifest the necessary money to make it possible. My goal is to begin this protocol when my son is done with the school year. According to the information at the link I have posted, a person can get seriously worse before they get better - which means it is working. If I will be feeling worse than I do now, I will need to have no outside commitments for a while, so I can tend to myself fully, as I do not have a significant other to care for house, kids, errands, chores, etc.
Have you tried this treatment? Are you on it now? Does it help? Did it cure you? Have you had to remain on it? Please share your story.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Monday, March 29, 2010
Growing Pains and Fibromyalgia
Many people I know who have fibromyalgia had "growing pains" in their legs when they were children. It was such a frequent and memorable interruption to my sleep as a child that I always assumed that everyone had the same experience and I was surprised to discover that it is not so. In fact, one article I read said that not all doctors relate growing pains in children's legs to growing at all and that many children who experience them have a parent with fibromyalgia. The children may also have other symptoms of fibromyalgia. Like many other things, genetics may predispose us to having fibromyalgia.
Thankfully, my legs have far less pain than many other parts of my body. The worst pain I experience is a stabbing to the bone pain deep in the center of my thigh that comes and goes - literally, it can be there when I step down and with another step, be gone - or it can linger for several days. Some friends with fibro have terrible leg cramps at night. I have recommended Hyland's homeopathic products in the past and have always found them to be helpful. Off topic, they make a sanity saving tablet for teething babies that really works. I just wanted to let any of you with leg cramps know about Hyland's Leg Cramp formula. Maybe it will help you sleep better at night. And if you have fibro and you have children with "growing pains" you might want to consider that your children are prone to fibro, too.
Thankfully, my legs have far less pain than many other parts of my body. The worst pain I experience is a stabbing to the bone pain deep in the center of my thigh that comes and goes - literally, it can be there when I step down and with another step, be gone - or it can linger for several days. Some friends with fibro have terrible leg cramps at night. I have recommended Hyland's homeopathic products in the past and have always found them to be helpful. Off topic, they make a sanity saving tablet for teething babies that really works. I just wanted to let any of you with leg cramps know about Hyland's Leg Cramp formula. Maybe it will help you sleep better at night. And if you have fibro and you have children with "growing pains" you might want to consider that your children are prone to fibro, too.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Maybe I Have Hypothyroid?
I had a disappointing doctor visit on Friday. I had asked for my blood to be checked for any indication of trouble with my thyroid. I have been much more fatigued lately, increased depression, ridiculous and steady weight gain despite having a moderate and healthy diet, increased irritability and horrendous heavy menstrual bleeding despite being on hormone therapy. All these symptoms and more minor ones are common to both fibromyalgia and hypothyroid. In fact, some doctors think hypothyroid IS fibromyalgia. I do not, but I do think they can exacerbate each other's symptoms.
So my blood work looks good. So how come I read in books on thyroid conditions that it is not uncommon for doctors to find good blood work, yet treat for hypothyroid based on symptoms alone. Maybe because I am a Medicaid patient, maybe because I do not look seriously overweight, maybe because my "doctor" is a young, fresh and vital woman who just doesn't get it, maybe because I didn't get demanding - who knows why but I didn't get taken seriously about my thyroid and I am being referred back to a patronizing gynecologist/obstetrician who I saw last year and he will most likely recommend the same D and C procedure he advised last year. So I will have it done just so I can say I followed the advice of the doctor but really feel my thyroid is not doing it's proper job.
After reading many things about thyroid problems and the herb ashwaganda, I have decided to try it. My budget can barely stretch taking a supplement but my daughter treated me to it. I'm encouraged by the spare money I have been earning as a Disability Digest affiliate. I expect I will be able to increase the forms of alternative healing modalities to help myself as my income continues to increase.
I will let you know how I feel in a few weeks after I have taken the ashwaganda for a while.
If you have had a similar thyroid concern or have used anything alternative to help your thyroid function, please share your story or advice. Thanks.
So my blood work looks good. So how come I read in books on thyroid conditions that it is not uncommon for doctors to find good blood work, yet treat for hypothyroid based on symptoms alone. Maybe because I am a Medicaid patient, maybe because I do not look seriously overweight, maybe because my "doctor" is a young, fresh and vital woman who just doesn't get it, maybe because I didn't get demanding - who knows why but I didn't get taken seriously about my thyroid and I am being referred back to a patronizing gynecologist/obstetrician who I saw last year and he will most likely recommend the same D and C procedure he advised last year. So I will have it done just so I can say I followed the advice of the doctor but really feel my thyroid is not doing it's proper job.
After reading many things about thyroid problems and the herb ashwaganda, I have decided to try it. My budget can barely stretch taking a supplement but my daughter treated me to it. I'm encouraged by the spare money I have been earning as a Disability Digest affiliate. I expect I will be able to increase the forms of alternative healing modalities to help myself as my income continues to increase.
I will let you know how I feel in a few weeks after I have taken the ashwaganda for a while.
If you have had a similar thyroid concern or have used anything alternative to help your thyroid function, please share your story or advice. Thanks.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Some Fibromyalgia Facts
When you first find out that the crazy things going on in your body and head are really all connected and they have a name - fibromyalgia - you begin to look for information. Fortunately, we have the Internet to help us find out almost too much information. You can sit for hours getting severe muscles cramps and pushing yourself into a full blown fibromyalgia flare just surfing the 'net to learn more.
BTW, I read a great tip online to managing fibromyalgia and it has to do with pacing. The lady ( sorry, I didn't note her name or the site :-( called it the 20/20/20 system. After reading what she said about it I realized that it took me years to find that I had evolved to a similar pacing system of 20 minutes of standing or activity, 20 minutes of sitting, 20 minutes of lying down. In fact, 20 minutes of anything seems to be my threshhold before pain and irritability increase or muscle tightness or cramps ensue. It is not easy to limit yourself when fibromyalgia is already limiting you but learning the boundaries of what you can and can't do or tolerate is important if you want to avoid feeling worse.
Whether you are a veteran fibro fighter or new to the whole scene, I found a link today that I thought summed things up nicely and even gave me knew information. I like it because it sums up statistics, tests, studies, etc. and is medical and scientific, yet clear and understandable. Here it is:
http://www.fmnetnews.com/docs/FactSheet.pdf
The saddest statistic for me to read was that about 16% of people with fibromyalgia receive some form of disability income, yet 30% of people with it are unable to work sustainably. It is too sad that about 15% of people unable to work due to fibromyalgia are without a means of support or dependent on others. I am currently in that percentage. It is criminal.
If you are in the same boat, please check out www.DisabilityDigest.net where you can find helpful info to get you through a frightening and stressful time. It's free.
BTW, I read a great tip online to managing fibromyalgia and it has to do with pacing. The lady ( sorry, I didn't note her name or the site :-( called it the 20/20/20 system. After reading what she said about it I realized that it took me years to find that I had evolved to a similar pacing system of 20 minutes of standing or activity, 20 minutes of sitting, 20 minutes of lying down. In fact, 20 minutes of anything seems to be my threshhold before pain and irritability increase or muscle tightness or cramps ensue. It is not easy to limit yourself when fibromyalgia is already limiting you but learning the boundaries of what you can and can't do or tolerate is important if you want to avoid feeling worse.
Whether you are a veteran fibro fighter or new to the whole scene, I found a link today that I thought summed things up nicely and even gave me knew information. I like it because it sums up statistics, tests, studies, etc. and is medical and scientific, yet clear and understandable. Here it is:
http://www.fmnetnews.com/docs/FactSheet.pdf
The saddest statistic for me to read was that about 16% of people with fibromyalgia receive some form of disability income, yet 30% of people with it are unable to work sustainably. It is too sad that about 15% of people unable to work due to fibromyalgia are without a means of support or dependent on others. I am currently in that percentage. It is criminal.
If you are in the same boat, please check out www.DisabilityDigest.net where you can find helpful info to get you through a frightening and stressful time. It's free.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Moving Ahead With Fibromyalgia
Welcome to my Disability Digest blog,
Today is my first post. If you found me, it is probably because you used the search term "fibromyalgia" which tells me you, or someone close to you suffers with this terrible syndrome. I had symptoms of fibro for almost 20 years before learning what I truly had. I can still recall how I cried with relief to learn I had something and that I wasn't a crazy crackpot. It has so many symptoms that affect all aspects of healthy function and all areas and systems of the body. My latest symptom, which is becoming increasingly annoying and permanent is loss of voice after speaking for just a short time. It is like my vocal cords are just not up to it! Very frustrating. I am a professional part time astrologer and I must be able to speak with clients and tape readings for 90 minutes or more at a time. Lately, I find myself running out of voice that no throat lozenge, tea sipping or throat clearing can fix after only 30 minutes.
My work as an astrologer is not a fully supportive income but I am unable to work sustainably due to fibromyalgia. It is frightening to consider losing even more. In light of these money worries, I have been seeking other means of income and multiple streams of income. Please, do not spam me with scams or post crap in comments here, but if you are able to earn something while being at home with minimal effort that harms none and even helps, then please share with me and others who visit here.
One thing that has truly been working for me and that I am grateful to have found because I can feel GOOD about it, is being an affiliate at:
http://www.DisabilityDigest.net. The guy who started it, Brian Therrien, is a real person you can really contact. He seems truly concerned about the challenges and needs of people with disabilities and the site is a great free resource for people to find all kinds of info and support. If fibromyalgia is your specific issue, here is a direct link to get right to the free fibromyalgia guide:
http://www.thedisabilitydigest.net/126-3.html
After you spend some time at the site you may choose to become an affiliate, as I have done. It is free. It is a win-win situation. You earn a small referral commission when you share your own affiliate URL with friends or visitors to your own blog who have fibromyalgia or other disability challenges and are looking for answers, support, info and help. Advertisers and agencies who advocate and represent people when filing for disability claims are the source of funds tha keep the site running and result in my - and your - earnings. Brian, himself, has easy how-to help on how to maximize your earning potential. While he admits it is not a get-rich-quick deal, he is totally honest when he says it can easily make some extra cash for you. This month, my phone bill is paid thanks to my free affiliate membership there. And I literally spent under an hour making that money. If you want to cut to the chase and sign up as an affiliate immediately, click below:
Webmasters Earn Money Here!
Thanks for the visit, please comment, share what's on your mind about you and how you move ahead with fibromyalgia.
Dunnea Rae
Today is my first post. If you found me, it is probably because you used the search term "fibromyalgia" which tells me you, or someone close to you suffers with this terrible syndrome. I had symptoms of fibro for almost 20 years before learning what I truly had. I can still recall how I cried with relief to learn I had something and that I wasn't a crazy crackpot. It has so many symptoms that affect all aspects of healthy function and all areas and systems of the body. My latest symptom, which is becoming increasingly annoying and permanent is loss of voice after speaking for just a short time. It is like my vocal cords are just not up to it! Very frustrating. I am a professional part time astrologer and I must be able to speak with clients and tape readings for 90 minutes or more at a time. Lately, I find myself running out of voice that no throat lozenge, tea sipping or throat clearing can fix after only 30 minutes.
My work as an astrologer is not a fully supportive income but I am unable to work sustainably due to fibromyalgia. It is frightening to consider losing even more. In light of these money worries, I have been seeking other means of income and multiple streams of income. Please, do not spam me with scams or post crap in comments here, but if you are able to earn something while being at home with minimal effort that harms none and even helps, then please share with me and others who visit here.
One thing that has truly been working for me and that I am grateful to have found because I can feel GOOD about it, is being an affiliate at:
http://www.DisabilityDigest.net. The guy who started it, Brian Therrien, is a real person you can really contact. He seems truly concerned about the challenges and needs of people with disabilities and the site is a great free resource for people to find all kinds of info and support. If fibromyalgia is your specific issue, here is a direct link to get right to the free fibromyalgia guide:
http://www.thedisabilitydigest.net/126-3.html
After you spend some time at the site you may choose to become an affiliate, as I have done. It is free. It is a win-win situation. You earn a small referral commission when you share your own affiliate URL with friends or visitors to your own blog who have fibromyalgia or other disability challenges and are looking for answers, support, info and help. Advertisers and agencies who advocate and represent people when filing for disability claims are the source of funds tha keep the site running and result in my - and your - earnings. Brian, himself, has easy how-to help on how to maximize your earning potential. While he admits it is not a get-rich-quick deal, he is totally honest when he says it can easily make some extra cash for you. This month, my phone bill is paid thanks to my free affiliate membership there. And I literally spent under an hour making that money. If you want to cut to the chase and sign up as an affiliate immediately, click below:
Webmasters Earn Money Here!
Thanks for the visit, please comment, share what's on your mind about you and how you move ahead with fibromyalgia.
Dunnea Rae
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