Writing is a passion I can always remember having. When I was a young girl we lived in a very old house. My bedroom walls were covered with many layers of wallpaper. On a particular wall in my room there was a small hole hidden under the thick layers of wallpaper. I would sit and write letters about my inner most thoughts and feelings, and then I would neatly fold my letters and tuck them deep inside my bedroom walls. Thought after thought, and letter after letter rested inside those walls. For all I know the letters are still there.

Each letter I wrote helped me to release my fears, anxieties, and depressions. They gave me hope and made me feel connected to a source greater than myself. I always felt powerful and connected after writing my letters, although at the time I could not have expressed who or what I was connecting to. In fact I would address my letter to the unseen and all-knowing To Whom it May Concern. It gave me a sense of comfort to believe that there was someone/something that was concerned.

When I began this blog just over two years ago, in a sense it became that little hole in the wall for me – my space to share and process all my thoughts, fears, failures, triumphs, and epiphanies. And each of you became my To Whom it May Concern. And to my surprise my letters did not sit unnoticed. You took notice, whether you responded with a comment or a personal email, or even just read my letters and moved on, you have been here and given me the strength to continue writing. It has been a beautiful thing in my life, the catalyst really for my healing, and I thank you!

So when I am asked by FibroHaven members if I think they would benefit from starting a blog, my answer is always an emphatic YES! Whether you are passionate about writing or not, it is one of the most therapeutic things we can do. The benefits are endless.

From Health Benefits of Journal Writing, by Felice Willat

Marlene A. Schiwy, in her book A Voice of Her Own, talks about the healing dimensions of journal writing: “To create wholeness in our lives is to heal ourselves. Healing comes from the same root as whole and holiness. It is the attainment of wholeness of body, mind, emotions and spirit. For many women, The journal provides a gentle setting in which healing can take place. It offers one place where literally and symbolically, all of the pieces of one’s life finally come together.” And Lucia Cappaccione, author of The Well Being Journal, recognizes that illness can be a great teacher from within. “The most important message I learned from my disease is that the healing process is activated by a spiritual force that resides within. A journal can be a ‘living textbook’ for learning the lessons that the illness has to teach.”

I have learned so much about myself over the past two years of blogging about my illness. This is where it all began. FibroHaven – my little hole in the wall!

Whether you are inspired to begin a blog, or simply take up journaling, I encourage you to write, not just about your symptoms and your daily activities, but primarily about your inner thoughts and feelings. Research has shown that writing about your experiences reduces physical symptoms in patients with chronic illnesses, and isn’t that the goal for each of us. You find yourself here reading my thoughts because you are actively looking for ways to improve your quality of life. So – sit down, make yourself comfortable, and write about it!

One year ago today I sat down at FibroHaven for the first time and wrote this – Welcome!

In my very first post I shared what I hoped and intended to accomplish with my blog:

I have found the blogs I like best are the ones whose authors are aware they have an audience, yet they speak with a realness and simplicity.  They are authentic.  I image if I met the author they would be exactly as they sound on their blog.

That is the approach I hope to take in my writing.  I want to be real.

One year later I think my blog is exactly as real as I was hoping it would be and so much more.

I had no understanding at the time of the relationships I would form and the people who would reach out to me because something I wrote made an impact on them. I knew there was a need for a positive voice in the Fibromyalgia community, but I had no idea how much it would come to mean to me to be that voice.

My heart, soul, love, hope, spirit, and joy are in this blog. I doubt that I have ever been more proud of a personal accomplishment. Maybe that game winning home run I hit as the only girl on my little league baseball team. That was pretty cool! But seriously, FibroHaven is my baby.

Every time I read a comment like this from a recent post, I know I am doing what I am meant to do:

Thank you so much for sharing! I have only recently realized how important it is to reach out to those around me instead of hiding. I’m not weaker as a result of my illness. It is people like you that have helped me realize this. -Terri Simmons

Heart warming!

I have changed so much over this past year, and I doubt any of it would have occurred without this blog.

• I am more accepting of my illness
• I understand that I need to be my own best health advocate
• I understand the value and importance of researching every possiblity
• I recognize that there is no quick fix, no magic bullet
• I do not blame anyone or anything for my current state of health
• I have become more mindful of how my lifestyle choices contribute to my wellbeing
• I have a new spiritual awareness through yoga and meditation
• I am more in tuned to my body and my environment
• I am hopeful
• I feel loved
• I believe with all my heart that I will continue on this path to wellness and one day be symptom free
• I accept that there will be setbacks and obstacles, but that progress is still being made

If I had to give a number to my symptomatic improvement over this past year, it would be about 15%. Fifteen percent better than I was one year ago today. Wouldn’t you take that? Using the most basic of math, and not taking any variables into account, if I continue at a “15% a year” rate of improvement, I will be symptom free in just under seven years. After 13 years of living with a range of Fibromyalgia symptoms, seven years is acceptable to me.

But I don’t believe it will take seven years, simply because I cannot ignore the variables. If I had to give a number to my emotional and spiritual improvement (the variables) over this past year, it would be 60%. I am happier and more hopeful than I have ever been. I am at peace with who I am, and excited about who I am becoming. And I contribute the work I have put into FibroHaven for guiding me into who I am becoming.

I have put the work in, and I will continue to do so. I will continue to share and relate my experiences here. Some you will relate to, some you will not. But by taking the time to research and read, you are becoming your own best health advocate. Knowledge is power.

Thank you all for reading and commenting here. You are a big part of the reason I am feeling so loved and hopeful.

It was several years ago now that my therapist tried to help me resolve my physical pain by dealing with my suppressed emotions. Ironically, her recommendation to me was to write. She believed that through the process of writing, my muscles would begin to let go of everything they had been storing. Unfortunately I did not get very far with her. Maybe I was not ready to hear her and understand then. Maybe the time was not right. But today as I sit here writing about it, I am so much more aware and accepting of where she was trying to guide me.

My muscles are full of emotions I have spent the last 40 years avoiding.

The pain is stored there because that is how I unconsciously chose to process it. I stuffed it deep down inside to avoid facing it, but it doesn’t just disappear, it simply manifests itself into a different kind of pain.

My muscles are inflamed and toxic because I did not have the skills to manage and deal with the crisis in the moment. Who does have the skills? They are not easy to acquire. I still do not have them, but I am working towards it. It may take me the next 40 years, but at least I am now aware.

Healing is not a simple process.

First we must really come to terms with the source of our pain. For the purpose of this post I am focusing on emotional pain, but as we all know there are many other components to our pain (trauma, infection, toxin, etc.) that make this process even more complicated.

So where do we start?

Again, there is no easy answer. Years ago I started in the most logical place, therapy, and yet it turned out not to be my actual starting point. I had years of stagnant suffering after that, waiting for my health to change, but not actively making the changes necessary for my health to improve.

Looking back on it now, I am learning from my time spent in therapy, but it made little difference in my life at the time.

My true starting point in understanding how my emotions have contributed to my pain is this blog. Writing here has allowed me to explore and examine myself in ways I never would have otherwise. It has allowed me to acquire new tools and resources to actively apply to my intention of wellness.

What does that mean?

Well it means I am no longer sitting on my couch with a tub of mashed potatoes, convincing myself that my misery entitles me to eat it. And it means that I am no longer waiting for better health to find me, I am actively seeking it out. And it means I am no longer discouraged by the many set backs, because I understand it took years for this damage to occur in my body, and it will take years for me to correct everything, but each step I take towards healing tips the balance to the path of wellness and a better life.

For me, the tools and resources I have acquired to deal with emotional pain are writing, yoga, and meditation. The combination of the three have given me a greater awareness of the mind-body connection, which I believe is essential for healing our emotional pain.

Yoga and meditation teach you to connect with and examine your body, scanning for places of tension and pain. They teach you to acknowledge and breathe into those places, and not ignore what you are storing there. It has been an amazing process of self-discovery, and both practices often leave me more emotional but less painful.

Writing is where I come to process everything. This is where I put the piece together and try to make sense of them. Without this blog, I am certain I would still be waiting for my health to change.

So how can you take what I have learned and apply it to your own path to wellness?

First, you have to be ready to take your journey. You have to be ready to do the work and the research to find the best tools and resources for you. Then you have to understand that it is a journey of endurance and not be discouraged by the inevitable setbacks. You have to believe that you are worth the effort and that better health is possible.

If you are not there yet, like I wasn’t not that long ago, keep reading, keep researching, don’t give up. Never give up! Better health is possible. Once you believe it is, your journey will begin.

From The American Pain Foundation:

September provides a unique opportunity to highlight the work organizations and individuals do all year to improve pain treatment, raise awareness, dispel tragic myths and spark much needed change in order for people to get the pain care they deserve.

The first ever National Day of Action for Pain Awareness will be held on Saturday, September 26th, 2009.   On this day, we hope you and your community will join together, share your stories, take pictures, and show the country that together we can make a difference.

This charge is being led by APF’s Power Over Pain Action Network (POPAN). Please visit www.popactionnetwork.org to learn more about the network, the leaders in your state, and visit the Events page to get involved in or post activities happening near you!

Get involved. Sign the petition. Become an advocate for the elimination of the undertreatment of pain. Click on the events page and browse the 40 events scheduled across the country or check out their Action Toolkit and schedule your own event.

If getting involved with the American Pain Foundation is not right for you, how about participating in the Virtual Conference over at Invisible Illness Week? National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week is September 14 – September 18.

From Lisa Copen, founder of Rest Ministries and creator behind National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week:

Regardless of where one’s spiritual ties are, there is an fundamental human desire to feel understood, to feel like those you love have some idea about what you are going through. One of the most difficult adjustments to illness is that you feel life is passing you by and no one around you even realizes it. We hope through our conference we can provide a place where people find the true source of being validated in their pain, how to live joyfully despite their illness, and of course, we want to increase awareness about how many suffer silently. Like our theme says, ‘A Little Help Gives a Lot of Hope.’ It really does.

In her continuing effort to make a difference Lisa has scheduled four speakers per day giving special presentations and taking calls from you on the phone for an interactive, encouraging, and educational forum that will leave you feeling refreshed and hopeful that chronic illness doesn’t have to define who you are!

But wait, there’s more…

My 30 Things About Me post was another way I am participating in all of the activities Lisa organized and promoted for Invisible Illness Awareness week. And on Monday September 14, my blog post will also be dedicated to increasing awareness of invisible illness. Do you have a blog? Would you like to participate? Sign up at Bloggers Unite and commit yourself to the cause.

Isn’t it encouraging to learn about these efforts to improve our chronic pain and our shine a light on our invisible illness? Even if you are not capable of getting personally involved, take comfort in knowing there is a movement toward progress and change.

I have been feeling pretty awful lately. I can always count on the heat of summer to bring on several really bad flares, or just one continuous knock-me-on-my-butt-and-suck-my-joy-of-life kind of flare. This summer had been kind, mild even. And then last week happened. Wouldn’t you know, it picked my birthday week to turn miserably hot. Blech!

Perspective: Regardless of my enthusiasm for turning 40 and the promise of a brighter future, I still have a lot of work to do. I still have an active and severe case of Fibromyalgia. I am still learning to manage my symptoms. I am not in control – yet.

When flares happen they also force me to prioritize. How important is it really if I am not caught up on the laundry? As long as there is something clean to wear, not very. Will my friend still love me if I cancel lunch on her AGAIN? If she is really my friend, then yes.

The biggest thing I have battled with during this flare is my commitments. I had a very big and important local support group meeting to coordinate when this flare was just beginning. I felt out of focus and disconnected through the entire event, but with help, I made it happen. It was a great evening attending by members of FibroHaven and also people in our community looking to understand and learn more about Fibromyalgia. I have the NFA to thank for the event, and plan to do just that in my next post. On my list of FibroHaven related priorities, this event was at the top.

My blog would be next on that list. Notice the lack of posts from the last few weeks? It is usually the case that I write less during a flare, but in this instance there is another reason I have not been posting – guilt.

Several months ago I made the commitment to write a post a week for Everyday Health.com. I felt it would be a great way to help raise awareness for Fibromyalgia and add some good articles to my writing portfolio. What I didn’t expect was how it would affect my writing on my own blog. I like to come here sometimes and just blurt stuff out, or share a random thought or two. I really have no rules or structure for this blog. It is purely me in the moment. Everyday Health is different. There I put on my serious and authoritative hat. My writing there takes a different level of commitment and energy from me, and last week I decided I was not up for submitting an article.

But that decision was not without consequence. I felt guilty for not following through on a commitment. And every time I considered writing a post here, the guilt of not writing one there kept me away. That is not what I signed up for. Bottom line, this blog is my priority. So I really had to take the time to consider where I went wrong and how I could correct it. Where I went wrong was in agreeing to writing there in the first place. It was my ego that fueled that decision. When they contacted me to be a featured blogger for them, I was thrilled by the compliment and it was that euphoria that motivated my decision. I did not consider how it would affect the work that I am already doing here and with the other components of FibroHaven.

Priorities: FibroHaven is my priority, in all its forms, and anything that takes me away from my commitment to it, or minimizes my experience with it is not beneficial to me.

I am no longer going to be writing for Everyday Health. I appreciate the opportunity they gave me, but I recognize that I have not given it my best, and I will not settle for doing anything less.

Perspective and priorities. I know you have heard it said, listen to your body. Pain is your bodies way of trying to tell you something. Sure the message with this flare may have been as simple as “it is hot,” but I’m choosing to believe there is a bigger message, and I feel confident that I focused on the right one. It feels good to be back!

I could tell you that I appreciate how thoughtful and well-researched Kathy is, or I could tell you that she challenges me to think about issues I might not otherwise, but instead I will just share with you her post. Be sure to bookmark the link to her blog. She is already well on her way there, and I know she would appreciate a visit from you. Enjoy!

Health Care Rumors

My Experience

I was in Indianapolis last week and saw something that totally amazed me. A group of at least fifty people protesting on the sidewalk in front of my hotel. I didn’t have my glasses on and I couldn’t read the signs so I sidled up to one of the door attendants and asked what was going on. “They’re protesting health care reform.” WHAT? Why in front of the hotel? “Because it’s illegal to protest in front of the capital” which is right down the street from where we were staying.

I decided to take a closer look and wandered closer to the protestors. The signs read things like “There is NO free health care!”, “Don’t take my Medicare from me!” “I’ll KEEP my doctor THANK YOU”, “NO MORE TAXES!” And other things that made me shake my head. Sorry, don’t remember them all but I do remember I was pretty aghast by the misinformation.

I had questions to ask so I stepped up the pace from wandering to purposeful…which is exactly when my husband started steering me in the opposite directions. He’s a federal employee and he knows me. He’d prefer I didn’t start anything in full view of his colleagues who were all milling about the lobby ready to go to dinner. I don’t blame him.

So I didn’t get to ask why these people were protesting, or more to the point, who had pushed their buttons and fed them some, as far as I could see, misinformation.

I believe we need health care reform. I appreciate Fibrohaven allowing me to share my opinions on the subject. Actually our Founder of Fibrohaven Support Foundation, Blogger, Writer and Holistic Health Advocate (I stole this off her Twitter page) refers to me as an “Information Savant” because I blast her with so much (usually relevant, in my defense) info…which I suppose is a compliment?

My Source

I do tend to dig around a lot for information, but I didn’t have to go far, in this case. Health care advocate (full disclosure: she was my advocate and I was able to receive disability retirement and health insurance because of her work. So I’m rightly biased.) Jennifer Jaff, of Advocacy for Patients with Chronic Illness, Inc has already done the research and blogged about her concerns for health care reform here. There isn’t much (if anything) about healthcare that she doesn’t know or can’t find out.

The Cliff Notes Version

Those people in Indianapolis were wrong. Public opinion is being swayed by rumors such as all our taxes will increase. If you make over $250K, it’s a possibility…everybody else, not likely. And health care reform will not force you to change doctors or insurance (as Jennifer says; “Poppycock!). Medicare is not going to go away and it appears that the prescription “doughnut hole” is going to be reduced. So there!

Who has been spreading the rumors? Some fingers point to Insurance Companies and “Big Pharma”. Others at the “rabid right”. The usual suspects, but it doesn’t really matter; the point is that these rumors are persuading the public (those folks in Indianapolis) that health care reform is a bad thing. And if the bills are going to make it out of Congress and onto the Presidents desk, somebody has to let our representatives know that we agree that health care has to be reformed.

There are a lot of good things going for the bills that have made it to Congress; coverage of pre-existing conditions, caps on out-of-pocket costs, and insurance companies will no longer be able to drop people because of health issues for instance. They are still hammering out how it gets paid for, but if they allow a public option “the Commonwealth Fund has issued a report that says that we will save $200 billion over ten years with a public alternative.” And the President will not support anything that is going to add to the deficit. So we can hope…

Do you care?

Why would you care? Health Care Reform affects everyone on some level. Especially those of us with chronic illnesses. While they aren’t addressing chronic illnesses specifically (you should see Jennifer’s comments on Facebook when she was trying to get an answer out of the white house!) however a cap on out-of-pocket expenses would be a good thing.

Why not keep an eye on it? Watch what is happening. Pay attention where you get your information. Don’t be like those people in Indianapolis. And make your opinion and your needs known. You can contact your representatives here.

What do you say to your representative?

Think about it for a minute. Why do you care? Express yourself. In my case my 25 year-old daughter has interstitial cystitis (which is in some way comorbid/related to fibromyalgia) and no health insurance. (She’s gone “off the grid” of health care. I won’t go too far into that, but I would prefer she was at least monitored!)  I have a sister-in-law in a similar position. I have a friend who had to declare bankruptcy when her son had leukemia, even though she had insurance. I know too many people like this. And dammit, my representatives are gonna hear about every last one of ‘em!

You may not agree that health care is a right, but the current situation cannot be defended and should not be maintained. The status quo will continue if Congress does not do its job. So give ‘em an earful!

Yes, I can! I am honored to say, I have been asked by Everyday Health.com to become their new featured Fibromyalgia blogger. It has been in the works for sometime, and I have been quietly posting for a few weeks now, but I have held off announcing it until their new blog software and redesign goes live. Unfortunately there have been delays, and since the link to my blog will remain the same, I have decided to go ahead and share my happy news with all of you.

Fibromyalgia Health Haven is the name of my Everyday Health blog. I will be contributing an article once a week, most likely every Tuesday. The articles there will still have my personality, but will be slightly less conversational. Where this is my happy place, Everyday Health will be more like a place of business. A few of the posts there now are shared here, but starting this week forward, each post will be unique on Everyday Health. I will probably do as I am now and give you a little heads up and nudge to my posts there, or if you are a tech savvy reader you can add my new blog to your reader and be notified of my new posts that way.

I will also update you when the redesign is complete. They are working hard on building and developing a clearer Fibromyalgia community, with more information and resources. It is a great and growing site. And if you register with them you can start your own member blog if you are interested. I have said it many times before, writing is therapeutic, and I recommend it to everyone living with chronic illness. But if you are considering starting a blog through Everyday Health, I advise you wait until the new blog software is up and the redesign complete. Their current software is not very user friendly.

I am very happy and excited to have been asked by Everyday Health to be a featured blogger. They found me here on Fibromyalgia Haven, and felt I have a strong enough voice and write interestingly enough to be a featured part of their health community. Is there a greater compliment? I am honored, and look forward to contributing my patient perspective to the Fibromyalgia resources on Everyday Health. I hope you will visit me there like you do here. Thank you all for supporting my voice here, and contributing to this opportunity for growth. You inspire me!

P.S. Today’s EH post is on working with Fibromyalgia. I would love it if you would leave a comment over there with your thoughts on the subject. Thanks!

Fibromyalgia is such a bitch! Just go back and read my last post written on a good day when I was feeling lucky and supported. How dramatically different is this post. Don’t get me wrong. It is not that I am all of a sudden sad and hopeless, I am just once again humbled by the overwhelming nature of Fibromyalgia. I was just given a very firm and intense reminder of the unpredictable and debilitating status of my health.

Today is a new day, the start of a new week. The mirror is kinder and gentler today. Everything in my life that was put on hold last week is still here this week. My blog! Oh how I miss my blog on the days I am down and out. It is my lifeline. Those of you who left comments – even though I did not reply to them, they really helped me feel connected during my flare – THANK YOU!

So, now to regain my momentum. First thing, now that my brain is starting to function again, is to make a list of all the things I want to accomplish. Second, remind myself to take it day by day. No pressure, just keep moving forward and progress will happen. Third, honor my limits. It is so easy once you get on the good side of a flare up to try and make up for all the time lost. I am not going to do that. That time is gone, I cannot get it back, and trying to would only stress my body and possibly send me back in to a dark hole like last week.

Lastly, I am going to remind myself that I am so much more than my pain and fatigue. It is a part of who I am, not all I am. Fibromyalgia took last week away from me, but this is a new week. I will continue to work towards progress in all areas of my life, because yes, even though my blog is all about Fibromyalgia, my life is not. Seems weird that I have to remind myself of that, but then if you have ever been through a flare, you know exactly what I mean.

My Favorite Posts from the Last 30 Days

1. I Do Not Want to Think About Fibromyalgia Everyday - This post came on day three of my assignment when I realized the reason I have not been writing about Fibromyalgia everyday is because I do not want to THINK about Fibromyalgia everyday. I really enjoyed this post because I got to shout out loud, “I am more than my diagnosis!”
2. Secrets of My Soul - Every secret of a writer’s soul, every experience of his life, every quality of his mind is written large in his works. – Virginia Woolf. This is a piece from a creative non-fiction/personal essay class I am taking.
3. Conversation on Isolation - This started as a conversation in the comments of a previous post, but I made it into a new post to continue the conversation, and also to applaud the commenter, Kathy, for speaking out and holding me accountable for my word choice.
4. Practice May Not Make Perfect, But it Can Make a Habit - Hope that my 30-in-30 writing assignment will make writing more habitual for me.
5. Things I Love #6: My New Office - My new Fibromyalgia friendly office. Love it!
6. The Law of Detachment - In order to acquire anything in the physical universe, you have to relinquish your attachment to it – and how this applies to me and my support group.
7. Misery Loves Company - Where I proceed to rip apart the most ignorant, inaccurate and judgmental acupuncturist to every treat Fibromyalgia. His article perpetuates every negative and inaccurate assumption about Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue.
8. My Six-Word Memoir - I have pain, therefore I am. NOTE: I have pain, but I am not my pain. Look for a post soon on “I am…”
9. Fibromyalgia Affects Everyone: An Interview with My Niece - I interviewed my 13 year old niece about her thoughts on having an Auntie with Fibromyalgia and how it affects her. Maybe my favorite of my favorite posts.

Most Informative Pieces from the Last 30 Days

1. Why I Love Yoga, and Why You Will Too - I cannot emphasis enough how much I have come to love yoga and the improvements in my symptoms since I began practicing several weeks ago. This post is my attempt to entice you to try yoga for yourself.
2. New Book on Fibromyalgia – Claims to Fill in the Missing Pieces - Information from a press release I received – not an endorsement.
3. Bloggers Unite for Fibromyalgia Awareness Day - On Fibromyalgia Awareness Day, I shared how some of my fellow bloggers acknowledged the significance of the day on their blogs. Great way to discover some new bloggers.
4. Review: Treating Fibromyalgia Naturally — So You Can Shine Again – From the womentowomen.com newsletter. I found this to be a very realistic, in touch and accurate assessment of Fibromyalgia.
5. Online Social Networking for Fibromyalgia Support and Information - Part one in my series on Fibromyalgia support and information – focus on social networking sites.
6. Online Forums for Fibromyalgia Support and Information - Part two in my series on Fibromyalgia support and information – focus on online forums and support groups.
7. Online Resources for Fibromyalgia Support and Information - Part three in my series on Fibromyalgia support and information – focus on blogs and general resources.
8. Join Hillary for Her Next Teleseminar - I continue to follow and recommend the meaningful work of Hillary Rubin and her inspirational message about embracing your diagnosis as a gift, teacher and blessing.
9. Self-hypnosis for Treatment of Fibromyalgia - Just one more possible tool for our toolboxes.

There were Three Holidays/Days of Observance in the Month of May

1. Are You Aware? Fibromyalgia Awareness Day is May 12 - In 1993, May 12 was designated as the International Awareness Day for Chronic Immunological and Neurological Diseases. The National Fibromyalgia Association (NFA) joined the Awareness Day effort in 1997 and has led the call for increased recognition of fibromyalgia each May 12.
2. In Honor of Every Mom Living with Chronic Illness - Happy Mother’s Day!
3. Take a Minute and Pause - In observance of Memorial Day.

Fun and Mindless Posts I Wrote on What Normally Would Have Been a Down Day

1. 15 Counterproductive, Needless, and Delaying Things I Did Today - I had a lot of fun with this post, and if you have not yet watched the 2 minute video on procrastination, it is a must! Maybe I should move this up into my favorite posts category.
2. Best Chocolate Cake Ever! Just Happens to be Gluten Free – Yummm!
3. It’s a Down Day – Example of a post I never would have written were it not for my assignment. It was day 12 and I was feeling awful, but committed to completing my assignment. Not much of an effort, but much better than giving up!
4. Taking the Easy Way Out – Day 13 was not much better, so I copied 25 Random Things About Me from my facebook page and posted it here. It was the easy way out, but it still honored my commitment. Yea me!
5. Recognize My Wall? – Just another bad day.
6. Another Careless Doctor to Avoid – Found something quick and simple to write about, but that doesn’t mean it is not worth the read.

So there it is, my last thirty days! I am seriously impressed with what I was able to accomplish, and very proud that I never gave up. There were moments – as early as day three – when I wondered “why did I do this to myself?” and I had several loving and caring people in my life tell me to take it easy and not demand too much of myself. It really would have been easy and perfectly understandable to quit on one of the many bad days I had throughout the month, but that is just not me.

Fibromyalgia has taken many things away from me, but I am still the same determined, stubborn and resilient person I have always been. I still have the abilities that made me a top sales rep at my previous job, I just need to apply them in a new and less demanding direction.

You know the saying “objects in motion stay in motion,” well this was my mantra when I was in sales. The more I got out there everyday to visit accounts, the more new accounts and new sales seemed to fall into my lap. Wouldn’t you know it, the same thing happened in the middle of this writing assignment. I picked up a new monthly newsletter that I am going to be writing for, and something else so exciting I have to wait until everything is finalized before I share it with you. Fibromyalgia or not, very cool things can happen if you believe in yourself, honor your passions, and never give up on your potential.

In my previous posts I listed the main social networking sites (part 1) and group forums (part 2) available if you are looking to join an online community for support, encouragement, camaraderie, or just to have a place to vent. My inspiration for putting these posts together is to help alleviate the potential for isolation if you are living with Fibromyalgia or most any chronic illness. For this post I am going to focus on general resources available, like blogs and websites. Again, this is just a partial list of what is out there, so feel free to leave recommendations in the comments if you know of a forum or support group I did not cover.

Blogs

If you are reading this post then you are clearly already a reader of blogs and quite possibly have several you read and may even maintain one of your own. Blogs are a great way to share information and ideas. Fibromyalgia Haven has become my favorite place to go everyday. I have the chance to express myself here like I can nowhere else. My mental and emotional outlook is vastly improved since I began writing here, and I am constantly researching for new things to write about and share so my knowledge and understanding of Fibromyalgia has increased tremendously. I am proud to call myself a blogger!

I could not begin to list the multitude of Fibromyalgia blogs out there. I think I find a new one each day. But I will list several great sites which contain blog directories and make it easier for you to search a specific blog category. Here are links to the ones I am most familiar with followed by a description taken from their own site:

Alltop – Alltop is an “online magazine rack” of popular topics. We update the stories every hour. Pick a topic by searching, news category, or name, and we’ll deliver it to you 24 x 7. All the topics, all the time.  (P.S. – Have you noticed my Alltop “best of the best” badge I proudly display on my sidebar? Cool, huh!)

Blog Catalog – BlogCatalog is more than just a social community for bloggers; we are one of the largest blog directories on the internet. Whether you are looking to search blogs, connect with bloggers, learn more about blogging, or promote your own blog, BlogCatalog is for you.

BlogHer – The community for women who blog.

Bloglines – We track your favorite news, blogs, weather, and classifieds so that you don’t have to.

Delicious – The tastiest bookmarks on the web.

Digg – Digg is a place for people to discover and share content from anywhere on the web.

Google Blog Search – (Google needs no description.)

Networked Blogs – Blogs are social networks. Are you networked yet?

WordPress Blogs – Just Another WordPress Weblog

Yahoo 360 – A place that’s all about you to share with friends and family.

General Resources for Education and Information

Many of these sites have monthly newsletters you can sign up to have their top news e-mailed directly to you. It is a great way to stay on top of current events and news in the ever-changing Fibromyalgia community. 

National Fibromyalgia Association -The National Fibromyalgia Association is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization whose mission is: To develop and execute programs dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia Network – We’ll keep you current on fibromyalgia treatments, coping tips, and research to enrich your life.

Fibro Center – A community of education, support, and understanding for people with Fibromyalgia. (I hesitated to list this site as it is sponsored by Pfizer, but if even one person finds it useful then it is worth putting my personal bias against Lyrica aside.)

Fibro and Fatigue Centers – Whether you have been diagnosed or misdiagnosed, whether you have been searching for years to get your life back to “normal” or you are just starting to feel it slip away – there is help and hope!

Fibro 360 – A community of Hope and Understanding for People suffering from Fibromyalgia

FibroTalk – Online Community Support

We Are Fibro – The Social Support Network for those Living with Fibromyalgia

Please feel free to add your blog or favorite site in the comments.

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