Debbie

Now, the holidays are over and our weather as seem to have settled for a bit and I am back at the computer.  I also had the flu, that put me in bed for longer than I would have liked.  It seems no matter what virus I get  takes so long to get over.  I was able to spend some time with my daughter and the grandkids on Christmas wish was wonderful.  To the topic at hand.  I was watching  the news and found the following information.  Here in Utah a study is being down adding another medication to Lyrica called Milnacipran.   www.engagefrostudy.com.   As I am allergic to Lryica maybe Milnacipran can help,  I am going to ask my doctors on my next apt.

I hope everyone had a good Christmas and Holiday Season.  I pray and believe the is going to be a good year for  patients.  So Happy New Year.  Here are a few websites that you might find interesting. 

www.fmaware.org  - www.afsafund.org and www.partnership.org .

As my fibro fog has been exstremely active lately please excuse my errors and the above websites can be found on www.abc4.com.   I nead to get ready for bed.  I had a pretty good day and was able to take care of my birds, do two loads of  laundry and shower.   I also took an afternoon nap, however my fibro fog assisted in making it take much longer than usual to due my few chores.   My memory is the pits along with my typing!  I would head off to a room in the house and forget what I was going there for.  I mean everytime.  Sometimes standing in the room and looking all around will help, but mostly I would go back to what I was doing (once I could remember) and then I would usually remember.  Well I am going to sign off for now and get ready for bed.  Take care and be easy on yourself.

It feels good to back at the computer.  I did have a nice time at the AA meeting.  I also attended my grandson’s  Christmas choir perform he did so as well.  I had a tooth pulled on Wednesday, which seems to have active all my issue at once.  I have been down ever since.  I have not left the the house.  The fatigue and Fibro fog has made it difficult for me to get anything done.  My husban has done the shopping and that is grocery shopping as well.  I was hoping to go shopping today,  but I could not get out of bed.  Tomorrow we are planning to visit a few people, if I am able..  Family is coming over tomorrow after and my husband is cooking ham with a yummy menu.  I listening to Christmas  music which helps  my attitude. As well and the news.  The weather has been almost country wide and I have been fortunate to have a nice warm house to stay in.  There are so many who will not be able to make it home or be with their family.  Of course helps so much by keeping a positive outlook, which brings me out of my dooming attitude.  This time of year, with the cold snow and iced streets, can bring me down, but work hard at staying positive.  I try to keep the sunshine (when possible) coming in my husband.  We are going to do our best inside or outside in the snow.  It is supposed to be heavy to and the winds are to high as well.  And I have made my mind ut that I am going to the best of what I can.

It is very difficult for me to type, heavey duty fibro fog witch case poor typing and to concentrate!.   So I am going to listen to Christmas music.   I wish you all a very on a Merry Christmas, happy holidays.   Take Care! I will try to wite sooner.  

I hope my writing is understand - til next time  Deb

For those of us that suffer from Fibromyalgia, Myofascial, Fatigue and chronic pain, planning for the Holidays and getting the shopping done can be very difficult. What is important for me is to pace myself.  This can be very difficult when I am feeling good, as I tend to over do.   I have done two loads of laundry and rested in between.  My husband and I are planning  dinner with friends and a AA meeting tonight.  It’s special meeting, called “The AA Old Timers”, four speakers each having more than twenty years of sobriety.  My husband sets them up twice a year.   My pain level is high due to the weather (heavy snow and low baromenter 29.38) so I have had to take my pain medication, after eating a banana wiht two cups of coffee (1/2 caffeine free) which gets me going sometimes.  I was able to do my exercises and stretches as well as the laundry.   At 1:PM, I will begin getting ready for tonight as it takes awhile (we will leave at 5 PM).  My husband is very supportive and knows are that I will be down tomorrow.  I have been working with my therapist accepting the things I can’t do and concentrate on what I can do and plan my days accordingly.  I know my husband is worried the pain I fatigue may keep me down this evening, so I am being very careful as not to let me or him down, by pacing myself.  Due to my Gastric By-Pass I am careful as to what I eat.  There are some things I have no control over no matter what I do.  This is when I have to be understanding and not put myself down, which I do at times.  Well I have to get a load of laundry of of the dryer and get cleaned up for tonight.  My vanity gets in my way as I don’t like to leave the house without make up.  But that’s another issue I will work on if and when needed.  I wish you all a good day and good luck getting through the holidays, as it can ad so much joy to the heart and soul.  Until next time - Deb

It is hard for me to type and think this morning.  The Fibro fog is making it difficult to think.  I did want to write my husband, daughter and grand children are so good with me.  Even the kids look out to make sure I don’t do too much.  Yesterday and Saturday afternoon I pretty much spent in bed.  I did do my stretches and little around the house but no much.   I was upset yesterday, as I wanted to go to my AA home group AA meeting but I did not get up in time and missed it.  From now on I’ll set my alarm.  I am going to close for now as the pain is high today and it is difficult to think what to say and to type.  I also need rest so I can go to my daughter’s as my granddaughter is now 5yrs old and I need to get her present to her.  I will do my best to write more later.   Take Care -Deb

I had a good week end and was able to accomplish more than I have in months.  I was able to do two loads of laundry, and prepare myself for dinner with friends at 6:30 Saturday night.  We also went to a AA  meeting where my husband (19yrs) spoke.  He has a good story!!  We then went with friends for coffee (decaf).  I was very tired.  This tired was a good feeling and I was able to sleep.  Sunday I was able to ready getting to go to another AA meeting.  My home group which I have really missed.  I was not able to celebrate my 21 yrs as I was in bed from surgery in June.  After the meeting we came home home and I rested the rest of the day and today I am still feeling the fatigue and  I will take it easy.  I can’t remember what day it was I went to a morning meeting during the week.  So I have had a good week, and being down for a few days is well worth it.  I would have had the pain anyway!   Oh, I almost forgot, my husband asked if I would drive, which I did and did good.  I have not driven much in the last year and half.  He was pretty good a getting me to drive, he is very supportive.  Well have to close for now, need to get dressed and feed my birds.   I plan on doing house work, preparing for Thanksgiving.   Hopefully we will be putting our Christmas decorations soon.  I am getting a head of myself.  One day at a time!!!!   We all need to take care of ourselves because we are worth it.   Deb   Of course fibro fog hope my writing is understandable as well as readable.

I can’t believe it has been since Sept that I have written.  I sure missed it and I am happy to be back.  With my immune system being almost nil when I do get sick it puts me out of commission for some time. The pneumonia and bronchitis put down for longer than I thought.  The stress also causes my fibro to flare up and of course being in pain and not be able to be active deepens my depression.  This morning has been my best so far and I am going to make the best of it.  My husband and I have plans for tomorrow evening so I am not going to over do, but do what I can and rest for awhile and do a little bit more.  Short breaks seems to help me.  It has been cold, with fronts moving in and out sure wish it would stop for a bit as it effects my fibro and ankle.  But after the last few months it is the least of my worries.  I am just happy that I am able to get dressed, feed my birds and type in my journal.  I will not be able to write much today, however my goal is to write every day.  My therapist has given a small list of things to do each day, so I created a calendar, which took me a while, my memory is still a little out of wacky, but I finally did it, which sure made me feel good.  So I am closing wishing everyone a feel good day and to be good to yourself.  I am getting more accepting of my limitations, looking at what I can do.   Having Fibro Fog, I hope my writing doesn’t have too many errors.  I know the more I write the better it will get.  Again my goals are done one day at a time - Make it a Great day!

I have had a few couple of tuff days, doing better today.  I went to the doctors yesterday and I have a few tests that I have to have done.  My liver count is way to high, my sed rate is high and my sodium is low, plus a couple of other things that I can’t remember.   I know I have to see a gastrologist, possible problems from my gastric by pass.  I have also been diagnosed as being by-polar, I wonder what else they will come up with. I have a hard time with by-polar as I have no energy at all.  I will have to learn more about it.    I can’t remember everything from the appt as my husband was not with me and I did not take notes.  However this time I just feel is sometimes it is nice to just forget some things :0).  At least for awhile anyway.  I am getting ready to do my stretches and exercises, I have put it off doing them due to the pain, but I will.  I did manage to feed my birds.   Today’s post will be short due to pain and fibro fog.  I am not thinking clearing which makes typing difficult along with the pain.  I am sure tomorrow will be better, that’s the plan anyway.   Hope for the Best and Cope with the Rest - Take Care - Deb

Happy Monday.  I had my usual slow morning, doing my stretches, however I have now add two pound weights my husband purchased for me.  I was using soup cans, but the hand weights are very nice.  It has been more painful to get through my exercise, but it has been worth working through the pain.  I was able to do my morning routine, get dressed and even put make up on, as well as doing my hair.  My apt with my therapist went very well.  I have a few new goals regarding my exercises.  I am going to walk more and check into swimming exercise.  The goals just give me more reasons to……  I have been worried about the increase in my mood swings, and after discussing this with my therapist we agreed it is more frustration than mood swings.  I even understand the difference between the two, which of course necessary in order for me to be able to take a honest look at the situation and be able to do something about it.  Such as a key that opens a lock, I need the correct key.  Acceptance of having a disability is something that I have struggled with.  Actually the acceptance has made my disability more difficult.  Such as causing the stress, anxiety and of course the pain.  I did not have to take my pain medication until about 4pm today and it actually work better than it is has in a long time.  I actually fixed dinner for my husband and served it to him.  My husband has always cooked, he enjoys it, but it was so nice to wait on him for a change.  If it is possible for any with Fibromyalgia and struggling as I, I highly sugest and therapist and of course exerise.  Just speaking to someone else (outside the family) makes a big difference for me.  This evening has been nice as I have been able to move through the pain and maintain a good attitude.  I am going to type up m daily goals and place them on the refridgerator and add accordingly.   As usual I cried when speaking with my therapist and I am sure that helped with cleansing as I try not to cry to much.  But every now and then crying can be cleansing, healthy tears.  Getting a chance to look at things from a different point of few sure does help.  Well I am going to rest now.  Learning to pace myself and rest when my body tells to, not just rest but relax I have found to be beneficial.   As always “Hope for the best and Cope with rest”   Take care - Deb

The last few days since seeing my doctor and getting the blood test results i have been feeling down, so of course with everything else my Fibro and Myofascial is active and well.  It seems like a circle and I let run through my head.  Am I depressed because of the pain or am in pain because I am depressed?  My arthritis is active and since I the gastric by pass I can’t take anti inflammatories, which would be hard on my stomach and liver as well.  I know I will have to wait awhile to find out why my test was high.  Writing in this journal helps get it out so I wouldn’t stay on the pity pot to long.  I did get to see my daughter and two of my grand children yesterday which was nice.  I was sure how it would go since is was on my med, but it went great!  I am taking vitamins and B12 shots to help my immune system.  I already had a low immune disorder before I lost my spleen.  Being home I don’t seem to get sick as much, however my pain and anxiety seems to have taken over.  Today is supposed to be a hot one and the power went out for about an hour and half.  I am so grateful that it came back on.  I have the swamp cooler on high all the drapes and blinds closed to help keep it cool enough for the animals.  I am sensitive the cold/heat now I have leggings and shirt on and feel cool and it is 77 degrees in side.  When it gets 84 inside I get hot and sick to my stomach.  It’s cooler in the back so we will go there in the afternoon.  I am glad I get to see my therapist tomorrow.  She has gone through alot in in her life (she doesn’t talk about it much) but she keeps on ticking and stays positive.  I feel if she can go through her deal I can make through mine.  One day at a time.  Today for me it is Hope for the best and Cope with the rest.  It is time to take my medications and rest for awhile.  I need my strength for next week.  We are getting our new bed and living room set delivered.  Dipping in my medical account was a difficult decision, I know the bed will help with my sleep disorder and fibro.  The new living room furniture for the (first time purchasing new) felt good!  And Thursday when it is delivered it feel good again.  There is a lot of positive things going on in my live and I will do my best to focus on them.  Take Care - Deb

As always Fibro fog I hope you can understand my writings.

It’s Friday already.  Now that I don’t work outside of the home, I can’t keep track of the days.   I did go see my doctor who confirmed the Fibromyalgia and Mtyofascial (combined) almost same systems is active.  The doctor’s assistant called yester with my blood test results and I also have arthritis and my liver count his high (don’t know why), so I have another doctor’s appt the 29th and see my counselor Monday.  I have had problems with my liver before, however they did not find out what was wrong, I was sent to bed for a month and it seem to work. When I had my gastric by pass I has six infection pockets and one was against my liver, so I wonder if that has anything to do with it.  I wasn’t surprised by the arthritis as it runs in my family.  I am going to try not to think about the liver as it could be many things and on as simple as excess fat (so I’m told).  Yesterday morning was good.  I managed to get two loads of laundry done and visit with my grandsons.  Later in the day I became worse and even became difficult to walk.  I was up late and did not get up 8:30 so I have not done my stretches nor tea so I will close for now.   I will be doing one day at a time, sometimes one hour (minute) at a time.  I does help.   So here we go again hoping for the best and coping with the rest.   Take Care Deb

Experience extreme fibro fog this morning hope my post is readable.