Fibro Friday - Fibromyalgia in the Bible

Fibromyalgia has been around for centuries. In fact, it has been written that Cleopatra suffered with this condition.  But how come you never hear of any "stars" having it.  I did some research and could only find a handful of people and then I found something that goes back to the day of Christ.


It could be inferred that Job (from the Bible) suffered from FM.  There are many verses that decribe his suffering and pains that were very similiar to FM.  In Chapter 7:3-4 it is written: " So am I allotted months of vanity, and nights of trouble are appointed me. When I lie down I say, 'When shall I arise?' but the night continues, and I am continually tossing until dawn." 

In Chapter 30: 16-17: "And now my soul is poured out within me; days of affliction have seized me.  At night it pierces my bones within me, and my gnawing pains take no rest."  (New American Standard Bible)

This makes me feel a little better.  I believe the Bible as the true word of God.  And if it's in the Bible then I really know that it's not "all in my head."

No Hot Water For You!

We, as Americans, have a tendency to take so many things for granted.  It's only when things are taken away that we realize how much we rely on something or how it would be so difficult to live without it.  

As of yesterday we were going on 4 days with NO hot water.  Sunday we thought something might be wrong with our water heater.  It wasn't until Monday that we figured it out because all of the hot water was gone from the tank.  I hate cold water (unless I am drinking it) and especially to shower in it.  My hubby and I had been braving the cold showers, but after my shower Tuesday morning I was done.  I was willing to go without until our water heater was fixed.  And of course there was no way we were going to bathe the girls in it.  We had so many offers from friends to use theirs (which we were so thankful for) and others suggested boiling water on the stove to make a bath.  I went with the easiest and Tuesday night we went to our neighbors house to bathe the girls (thank you guys so much for letting us use your hot water).  

Thank you Lord that it only took until Wednesday morning to get someone to come out.  The repair man was here for 20 minutes and had it fixed.  Thank you again Lord that it was such an easy fix and that all parts were under warranty.  We had a not so bad $60 fee for labor.  But it really does make you think. 

I think of how lucky we are to have running water (let alone it being heated), food on the table, gas for our cars, electricity to help us survive the miserable summers here in AZ.  The list goes on and on.  We all need to take time out of our busy lives to thank the Lord for all of the modern conveniences that He has blessed us with. 

Reflections

October is upon us.  As I look back at September, I wonder where it went.  I remember writing how excited I was to get my Fall decorating done and I usually complete it the first few days of September.  And here we are the first weekend in October and I finally have it done.  It is normally such a joy to do it and this year it was such a chore and an agony.

When you are in a flare-up, all of the weeks just end up blurring together.  You think that only 2-3 weeks have passed, when really it has been 5-6 weeks of a flare-up.  For everyone, time seems to go by way to fast.  But dealing with FM and everything associated with it, time seems to go by even faster.  Before you know it, you have spent months in a flare-up with nothing to show for it.  You suffer in silence and try to act as normal as you can. 

If you are in a flare-up, just keep hanging on.  Learn to only focus on one day at a time or one hour at a time (if it is that bad.)  Focus on all of the blessings that you have.  Ignore the thougths of doubt and despair. We are in this together and will survive it.  We will survive, YOU will survive!

Ding Dong the Binky's Gone!

One stressful moment in our child's life is breaking them of the binkie (well, at least it has been for us).  We have had 3 binkie babies (which I prefer rather than the thumb.)  The first one was so absolutely hard to break, the second one was pretty easy (except for the fact that she stopped taking naps), and my little A. has not been too bad so far.

Everyone varies as to when they think the binkie should go bye-bye.  My thought is usually around age 2.  We weren't very anxious with A. since she is our last baby.  It's been nice to hold onto the baby stage for a little longer.  But usually an opportunity arises that you must take hold of and just run with it.  For two of our girls it was loosing all of the binkies somewhere in the house.

This opportunity arose and I ran with it (hubby was not totally excited about it, but oh well.)  So far, so good.  I am a stand firm, don't give in and A. is doing pretty good.  Bed time and naps times are still a bit of a struggle, but they are getting better.  (I use the super nanny trick of putting them back in their bed over and over and it has been working.)

Here are a few tips to help you break your little one from the binkie:

*Put the binkie inside of a Build-A-Bear.  That way they still have the binkie to hold but not put in their mouth.  (My hubby came up with this idea and that's what worked with our #1.)

*Loose all of the binkies and just tough it out with crying and so forth - DON'T GIVE IN!!!!
*Put a small hole/cut the tip off in the binkies so that is affects the sucking and they don't want them anymore, you will still probably have to deal with some crying, etc., but DON'T GIVE IN!!!
*Start limiting the binkie to bed time and car time only.  Make them leave it at home or in the car when you are out in public or with friends.
*If they are old enough, have your dentist have a talk with them and then have then turn over the binkies to the dentist.


Worst case you have some whining and crying for a day or two, but eventually they will forget all about them.  What have you tried?

Random Mommy Thought

Tweezers work great for retrieving a  

             corn kernel out of your toddlers nose.

Fibro Friday - Help Yourself!

When you suffer from FM, you sometimes wonder "what can I do to help make things easier?" I have never asked a doctor this question, but have thought about it. With doing research and talking to others on FM forums, I found this great article. (To read the full article, click on the link below.)


Here are 3 Things That Patients Can Do For Themselves:


1. Self-education. Understanding the battlefield is often half the battle. As people with fibromyalgia develop a better understanding of their condition, it becomes far easier to cope with and address.
2. Stress reduction. Reducing stress can help with muscle relaxation and improve non-Rapid Eye Movement (non-REM) sleep. Inadequate sleep of this type is felt to play a central role in promoting the symptoms of fibromyalgia.
3. Exercise. Aerobic activities that exercise the muscles can work together with the methods above to greatly relieve the symptoms of fibromyalgia. Many experts on fibromyalgia feel that exercise works by promoting the non-REM sleep that is commonly deficient in patients with this illness.




Hopefully this might help you and your battle. Keep on fighting the fight and don't give up!

Take Charge!

It's Time to Take Charge!

Today I go to my new/old Rheumatologist:

Ever since I was diagnosed, I have seen a Rheumatologist (that's actually who diagnosed me).  Now there have been several long periods (3 to be exact) where they have not been able to treat me because I was either pregnant or nursing.  During that time, I would just try to survive my symptoms as best as I could.  And I have still had that mindset until recently.  Why should I live like that anymore?  Why not take advantage of the medications and treatments available to me?  Since there are no more children that will be taking over my body, it's time I take charge of my body.  I am now armed with a new confidence and an understanding of FM and I am prepared to take a more active role in treatment of my symptoms.

Due to an insurance change, I am going back to my doc that I last saw in 2006.  With looking back, I don't think my doctor or I was doing all that was possible to treat my FM.  I think that my new/old doc is a good doctor (obviously I have chosen to go back to her), but I just never knew what questions to ask and just did what she told me.  I was also unaware of all of the other illnesses/symptoms that I have that are actually associated with FM.  So how can the doctor treat you if you don't tell the doctor what you are experiencing?  And how can you know what to tell the doctor if you haven't educated yourself on your illness and all that's associated with it?  It really takes a joint effort on your part and your doctors.

There are a few states that have actual FM centers that treat just FM.  (But I don't have that in AZ.)  I would really like to be able to go to one of these centers one day, but I am confident that between me and my new/old doc I will start seeing some improvement in my life.  I am excited to try and get my pain more under control or the proper medicine to treatment when it is at it's worst.  I am excited on getting some medicine to help with some of the annoinances/side affects that come with FM.  My theory is going to be:  if there is help/treatment available, why not take advantage of it?

It is my body and I am the only one that can be in tune enough with it to help guide and direct the doctors to treat me to the best of their ability.  Today will be a new start to me being in charge of my body, no more putting me aside.  Like I like to say, "if there ain't no mommy, there ain't no family!"  (I don't think I have actually ever said it out loud, but I think it quite often.  And I don't mean to put the hubby's down at all, because I have a great hubby.)