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Living With Fibromyalgia, Solutions For Suffering

On January 28, 2013 By Q.A.S

Fibromyalgia where to begin.

Where do you begin when you are feeling ill and overwhelmed with pain? When each movement is like some sort of agony, when stress can end your day and you spiral into another bout of pain. Getting out of bed can be a struggle and most days you most likely wish that you could just crawl back into bed and stay there. Does any of this sound familiar to you? Have you been wondering why do I feel this way? Why me? What have I done to deserve this? We can beat ourselves up over this or we can try to understand it. We can choose to give up or we can decide to take charge of our life and diet. We can crawl back into bed and wish it was all over or we can take some control back and realize that life IS worth fighting for. We can listen when people tell us it is all in our head, we made it up etc.

We can let the world bring us down or we can research, listen, learn, try something different. We oftentimes repeat our patterns over and over and wonder why nothing changes. In order for change to exist we have to try a new choice and stick to it. Fibromyalgia can become more bearable and I am living proof of that. Do you find that your skin tingles? Do you get muscle spasms? Weakness in your limbs or nerve pain? Do your muscles twitch or do you begin to find that good sleep is becoming more and more rare? Are you finding it difficult to concentrate? Do you suddenly find that either you can remember things that happened long ago and short term memories are disabled? Or is it the other way around for you? Did you used to be able to multitask like a pro and now you sit there wondering what you can do. Spend time doing that and before you know it your day is coming to an end and you are so tired and you go to bed. Then while you toss and turn do you turn to pills? All of these questions are linked to Fibromyalgia. We all feel this at some time or another. Some of us get all of these symptoms, some only a few.

http://www.fmnetnews.com/fibro-basics/symptoms

So you have just been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and you are terrified and overwhelmed and full of questions. You looked into the eyes of your doctor and found little help there. It is frustrating and sometimes you will cry. You might come home and look up on Google this then you will read it. You might even read between the lines and realize that this is just a name for something that they do not really understand at all. That is when you got a little angry, when you realized that your doctors were practically clueless. That they wanted to throw pills at it and then hopefully you would leave them alone. For some a prescription for Lyrica works.You pray and hope and sit nervously in your chair. This is supposed to help you, you look at that bottle like a potential saviour. You might think that with this pill you just might be able to feel normal again, or at least to some degree. Right? Well the chances of it working are just like any other pill. It may or may not work.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fibromyalgia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pregabalin

One thing that you may have noticed having Fibromyalgia is that not only are you more sensitive physically. You may also find loud noises unbearable. Strong smells bother your olfactory sense as well. So on top of everything else your other senses may go into overload. Even spicy food is a bit too much for some people. Add in the extra strong senses into the situation and it can make most mundane tasks more difficult. It is a bit like being the most sensitive person in the world. You may wonder why you did not get your cape and outfit if you are going to have super anything. You might ask why you cannot at least fly along with super senses.

Treating Fibro can and should be more than just a pill. Pills treat symptoms but they do not cure. So this means that the root cause is somewhere either inside of you or around you. I am suggesting that you look at the inside of your home and inside of your body. Your home can be hiding many toxins that can only make you more miserable. This website goes on to speak about this. Chemicals are not going to help you at all. Whether it is a glass cleaner or a surface cleaner be very careful of chemicals. There is a way to make your own homemade cleaning items that work just like those cleaners bought from the store. The benefit of this is that you can eliminate not only chemicals that are having an effect on your Fibromyalgia symptoms, but also you are getting rid of chemicals that are harming your family too. People buy these items without thinking. Sometimes they do not even read the labels. You have to begin to read labels and take responsibility for what you are bringing into your environment. These take a toll on your health.

http://managingfibromyalgia.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/fibromyalgia-and-chemical-sensitivities.html

You may wonder how to make household cleaners or something that will clean your bathroom etc. You may also buy home fragrances, air fresheners, scent warmers or scented candles. The trouble with many of these is that they are chock full of synthetic scents etc. You should not be exposing yourself to things like this. This teaches you how to make your own. It is not hard at all once you get used to this. Not only that but doing this thoroughly around your home when you have the energy can really help you. If you cannot do it find someone that can and ask for help. Do not be ashamed to admit you need help. You are sick and you deserve understanding and compassion. Once you get this done then your home will not smell as bad. The vinegar does fade away leaving a clean surface. Plain candles can be substituted for those chemical nightmares.

http://frugalliving.about.com/od/cleaningtipsandrecipes/a/Homemade_Cleaners.htm

You also need to take a long look at what you are eating. This is no joke, this is your comfort and happiness here. You need to look at everything that you are eating and get rid of anything that is overly processed. You would be wise to seek out food in its most whole form. Instead of frozen potatoes or powdered ones buy the fresh ones. I know that Velveeta tastes good but it is nothing but chemicals and food colorings really. If you are going to eat cheese then make sure that you eat it sparingly and try to spend a little more and get real cheese. The same goes for sodas of all kinds. Sodas are not worth it. I know they taste good, but is it worth your health? Really consider this please. You may be saying but it tastes so good, or only a little bit can’t hurt me. A little bit can hurt you. Getting rid of processed foods and sodas is step one.

http://waterforlifeusa.com/blog/8-ways-soda-fizzles-your-health

Continuing on with diet, there have been studies done. There are clear links with a plant based diet and improving of symptoms of Fibromyalgia. Your author is on a plant based diet and has lost weight and symptoms have become better over time. Remembering how bad it was and where it is now, things are better. This is something worth looking at. There are many many places that tell you fish will help. I advise against consuming fish vehemently.There are studies coming out right now showing that mercury contamination is much higher than previously believed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_poisoning

http://www.greenandhealthy.info/fish.html

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11093597

Sleep is a very big issue with people suffering from Fibromyalgia. Sleep comes rarely and you wonder when it will come by and visit you. It becomes that thing that people talk about and you hear but seem to almost never experience. You toss and turn add pillows and finally you will sleep after tossing enough. When you wake up you may feel like you have been wrestling with sleep rather than sleeping next to it. This does not help you when all you want is sleep, some peace from the constant pain. This article goes over some of the problems found with patient suffering from this.

http://www.musculoskeletalnetwork.com/fibromyalgia/content/article/1145622/2110825

Now I will cover medical marijuana uses for people with this.It can be said that the author uses this for medical reasons and it has helped tremendously. Each person makes their own choices and finds their own path. Personally, this coupled with a plant based diet and complete elimination of household chemicals and processed foods have helped. Symptoms are much less than they were which of course does tend to cause worry. Because it makes you wonder how bad it would be if these measures had not been taken. It is not so much pain relief as a disassociation from your pain that it provides. It makes it feel slowly less and less until your pain becomes easier to deal with.This is what most people that suffer from Fibromyalgia usually lament. They will say “I wish I had one day without pain, that would be nice, Or that would be a gift” or they will simply lay in bed and cry wondering why they are suffering so much from something that even the doctors wonder about. These things do not inspire confidence or peace of mind.

http://www.medicalmarijuana.net/uses-and-treatments/fibromyalgia/

Herbal relief can also be something else that you can incorporate into your regimen. Now they do say that you should consult your doctor before you begin taking these supplements. Personally, I would make sure that my doctor knew and was open to the idea of herbal remedies. Many doctors seem to be against herbal remedies opting for the more standard western practices. So please be forewarned and forearmed. I am suggesting that you research it and try to find a homeopathic doctor in conjunction with your regular doctor. Just to make sure that you are not getting a biased opinion.

http://altmedicine.about.com/cs/conditionsetoh/a/Fibromyalgia.htm

http://www.myhomeremedies.com/topic.cgi?topicid=285

You can also try alternative therapies to find relief from your symptoms. There are many things that you can do that do not involve taking a pill, getting surgery of some kind, etc. Massage does help with the pain aspect of this. While massage is expensive for some it is possible to just do it yourself. You can give yourself a massage and relax somewhat if there is nobody to help you with this. You could also save up to buy a used massage table that you and your partner can use. You do not have to rely on a professional for the rest of your life. You can get books and begin to practice gently on your partner and eventually it can be something that you can share with your significant other. Acupressure and acupuncture can be very helpful as well. Read more about various other things that you can look into.

http://www.fibromyalgia-symptoms.org/self-massage-for-fibromyalgia.html

http://chronicfatigue.about.com/od/alternativetreatments/a/bodywork.htm

https://www.acufinder.com/Acupuncture+Information/Detail/Acupuncture+for+Fibromyalgia+Syndrome

Remember, you can be your own worst enemy if you do not watch what you say and do carefully. Do not pay attention to others that show you no patience at all while you suffer. The following is an article on ten things that you should stop doing to yourself.

http://chronicfatigue.about.com/od/copingwithfmscfs/a/10-Things-To-Stop-Doing-To-Yourself.htm

Ways of coping are very important tools. Sometimes perhaps write yourself small notes when you are feeling good. Then keep them stashed away somewhere for when you are feeling bad. When you are having a bad day read what you wrote and remember to smile even if you do not feel like it. You can fool yourself into being more happy over time if you just continue to smile.

http://chronicfatigue.about.com/od/copingwithfmscfs/a/pacing101.htm

Finally I want you to repeat after me. This is not my fault and I am a beautiful worthy person. You deserve to be happy and have enjoyment in life. This can feel like a heavy burden but you can find ways to lighten the load. My advice comes from living with Fibromyalgia myself. I know what it feels like and how hard it is. So just know that this advice is coming from someone that does indeed know how you feel. Find something that you enjoy doing that helps others. There is a joy in helping someone that cannot possibly pay you back for your kindness, but it brightens the world. You can smile and find joy and hope and a reason to go on. Life is beautiful and you are not alone.

Quiescent Aureate Serpent

©Children of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

A Healthy Happy #GMO Free Holiday

On December 5, 2012 By Q.A.S

With pretty much the biggest holiday approaching it seems we have another dilemma. One that should be identified and solved promptly. What to eat and how to avoid the lovely chemical concoctions that corporations would tell you are safe. Yet when they do not consume it themselves what are the food that you can safely feed to your loved ones? Well I am hoping by providing the following I can perhaps offer you some options to solve this problem.

According to various sources you can have a better chance if you just pay attention to labels. This means taking a little more time when shopping but look at the rewards for doing that. Barcodes can also provide you with information that can help you to avoid these types of scientific creations. They dare call it food. Well perhaps to a guinea pig it could possibly be called food.

Organically grown food can be your best bet when it comes to avoiding GMO’s. Generally organically grown food has a five digit barcode which begins with the number nine. Many GMO products begin with the number 8. So basically this means that a regular banana would have a sticker that might say 4011, an organic banana would say most likely 94011 and a GMO banana would usually have an 84011. This is not tedious when you consider that this is your health we are dealing with here. Your health and that of your family and friends. That should make it worth your while to take your time shopping and be more careful.

My personal advice is to avoid large stores like Walmart and try finding smaller stores, fruit and vegetable stands by the road, home deliveries of locally grown food. Perhaps try planning to grow your own food for next year.The smaller stores are normally killed off slowly because of the so called convenience of bigger parasitic stores such as Walmart, Target, K-Mart etc. It might seem to be you are saving money but you may be putting your health at greater risk by purchasing food here. Fruit and vegetable stands can offer great alternatives to what is offered in the stores. Home deliveries of organically grown local food an be more cost effective than you think. If there is not one in your area then perhaps you might consider sitting down and writing to local farmers and find out what they grow, how they grow it and if they might be willing to work with you. The universal rule I have found to be most true is that where there is a need there will be a service offered to fill that need.

I can already hear people groaning from the cost of organic foods. Yet consider for yourself the costs of the meal that you need and how much food you have left over. Why not make a smaller meal? Involve the children, family and any nearby friends and put them to work helping you to make things. You could get together with another family to cut the cost in half and try something new. Make new friends and have new holiday experiences rather than the same thing. Leading to the same headaches and possible heartaches. Look at what you spend the most money on and try some alternatives. Or try a smaller portion. A family does not need that much meat in order to get the protein that seems so essential. It is not a one sided nutrient only to be found in turkey etc. You may be surprised at the vegetable sources of protein that are available to you and are much more cost effective in feeding a large group of people.

For example one cup of oatmeal provides 6 grams of protein. One bagel and you get 9 grams of protein. I cup of beans and you get 12 grams of protein. Two tablespoons of peanut butter and you have 8 grams of protein. One cup of lentils can give you 18 grams of protein. The point is that I found this by doing a little research. You can find so much information I think the problem is knowing what to look for. So this is why I am offering you bits of information like this. Such as http://twofrugalfairfielders.com/2012/07/26/frugal-foodie-tip-free-30-day-trial-membership-for-organic-and-non-gmo-foods-from-the-green-polka-dot-box-a-national-food-buying-club/ This is a great little blog that is offering a free thirty day trial right now. Following their link I found myself here https://www.greenpolkadotbox.com/membership/?spon=oca They offer a search to see if the service is available in your area. It can be worth a try to help your health and those that you love.

I think that everyone should keep a diary of what they spend and where. This helps them to determine where they could make some cuts in spending. There is always something that you do not really need and can do without. Why pay for debt consolidation when you can do it yourself. Have a look and see what you can do without. Or what you can stop buying and instead learn how to make it yourself. I think people spend too much time taking on far too much themselves when it comes to this time of year. Put your family to work helping you. It helps to bond you together and to have a common goal. Also if you do not know how to cook and you have the internet then you have the world literally at your fingertips. Here are some links I found.

1. http://allrecipes.com/Info/Videos/ViewAll.aspx

2. http://www.foodnetwork.com/how-to/index.html

3. http://video.about.com/food.htm

4. http://www.chalutzproductions.com/FeedMeBubbe/FeedMeMAIN.html

5. http://freshtopia.net/

6. http://www.pbs.org/food/shows/

7. http://chicpodcast.mevio.com/?mode=current

8. http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/talkCast.jsp?masterId=26735&cmd=tc

9. http://www.downtoearth.org/free-cooking-classes

10.https://www.stellaculinary.com/stella-culinary-school-podcast-index

The point is that you can and should continually learn new things. If you have time for a favorite television show but you are stressed about the holidays looming up ahead then please consider what is important and what can wait. Learn something new it’s fun! You may also surprise yourself with what you can actually do. Do not let your doubts hold you back from trying something new. Trust me I cook with ingredients that only a year ago I looked at and had no idea what it was. So you can too

Now for those of you that love your phones and yes you are out there. Try this! http://www.nextnutrio.com/?p=924 It is an actual phone app that can scan and help you figure out what food is GMO potentially and what is not. I think that some of you that will remain in a hurry despite what I might advise could find this one particularly appropriate and useful.

Common ingredients that are GMO. Corn is one of the most widely used ones. 63% of corn crops contain GMO’s. High fructose corn syrup is one of the most commonly used ingredients in food now. It is not good for you and honestly you would be better off avoiding anything that has that listed in the ingredients. Canola oil is one of the most common GMO’s. Basically you are better off buying food at it’s most basic than risk the processed foods that seem cheaper and faster. They are cheaper and faster sometimes but what is that costing you in the long run?

This is a list that names companies and brands as being proponents of GMO’s. I advise that you have a look.

http://covvha.net/list-of-gmo-foods/#.UMeJoIPAdHI

IF you take the time to look through the list above and find yourself worrying and wondering what to do. Then go to the following links below and use them as a guide to help you buy things that are not GMO.

1. http://covvha.net/non-gmo-shopping-guide/#.UMeIAYPAdHI

2. http://www.nongmoshoppingguide.com/download.html

3. http://gefreebc.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/greenpeace-shoppers_guide.pdf

These can help you to provide a happy and healthy meal for your family throughout the year. I really honestly hope that you will take the time to read this and learn more. To protect yourself and the future of our children. This is so important and such an important issue that you really should not ignore this. I want to see a day where there are no more GMO’s. until that day the least I can do is provide a means for you to find that food yourself.

Here are some recipes, opportunities, ingredients list, ideas and so on. These can be resources for you to know what to buy by name. What you can possibly do as an alternative to your normal holiday meal. Resources on where to buy GMO free food. I hope that these help you in your journey to the belly

1. http://www.facebook.com/events/506222196063221/

2. http://parentables.howstuffworks.com/chow/detox-your-thanksgiving-meal-prep-organic-bpa-free-pantry-options.html

3. http://www.gmofreeidaho.com/category/gmo-free-recipes/

4. http://momsforsafefood.net/2011/01/03/eating-gmo-free-on-a-budget/

5. http://nourishedkitchen.com/gmo-free-food/

6. http://gardenoflife.com/

7. http://realandnourishing.mybeyondorganic.com/

8. http://www.pccnaturalmarkets.com/holiday/deli/index.php

9. http://www.wholepregnancy.org/index.php?id=articles_more&moreid=142

10. http://www.nourishingmeals.com/

I want to wish you and your loved ones a safe and warm holiday season. I wish you health and comfort. Joy and companionship. This world may seem bad at times but I can tell you that there are many things worth living for. There are many things worth fighting for. We shall do this one step at a time. Baby steps and soon you will find yourself at the doorstep of your goal.

Quiescent A. Serpent

2012 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce

On June 19, 2012 By Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

EWG’s 2012 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce™ From The Environmental Working Group Website. http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/faq/ This printable photo includes “The Dirty Dozen” and “The Clean Fifteen”

This is something you will want to print out and have with you on all of your trips to the supermarket!