The National Fibromyalgia Association is the leading non-profit organization dedicated to improving quality of life for people with Fibromyalgia. Their website has been a great resource for me as an FM patient, advocate, and support group leader. The NFA is focused on creating programs dedicated to spreading Fibromyalgia Awareness, like the Fibro Focus events that took place last year, which my support group was fortunate to participate in.

The NFA truly is the leading authority on Fibromyalgia, so when they asked me to help spread the word about the free online version of Fibromyalgia AWARE magazine, I was more than happy to help.

Fibromyalgia AWARE Magazine

Published by the National Fibromyalgia Association, Fibromyalgia AWARE is the first and only consumer magazine dedicated to the subject of fibromyalgia.

The comprehensive publication offers straightforward, insightful information and support. This reliable resource will help to improve the quality of life for people affected by fibromyalgia. The magazine includes:

• The latest news in research
• Helpful information on general health and well-being
• A balanced approach to treatment options
• Lifestyle and self-management techniques

As a non-profit organization, the NFA relies on purchases of the print version of the magazine to help them continue their mission. But now they are offering a free online version to reach and help as many people as possible.

Now we all have free access to the great stories and editorial produced in each quarterly issue. For example, here is a small sample of what you can find in the Winter 2009/10 issue of Fibromyalgia AWARE:

• Making the Invisible Visible: The Science Behind Fibromyalgia
• How to LIve a Balanced Life: Lessons from Practice of Tai Chi
• Your Best Night’s Sleep: Tips to Get the Rest You Need
• Making the Right Online Connections

There is even a special section dedicated to Disability – determining if it is right for you, dealing with the myths and landmines.

So there you have it. Quality information from a quality organization. Bravo to the NFA for creating this free online version and making this valuable information more accessible. I am happy to support their efforts and get the word out to all of you.

If you haven’t already, click on the link above to the Winter issue and get your free copy. Happy reading!

How do you filter all this information?

Who do you believe?

Where do you go for your expert advice?

Fibromyalgia has slowly become current. And by that I mean with FDA approval of drugs to treat FM, and with the marketing that comes along with it – to us via media, and to health practitioners via free samples and kick backs – Fibromyalgia is visible. So of course every health expert and health blog must have something to say on it or they are not being current. This benefits us in a lot of ways, but it also creates a problem of authority.

Who do you trust?

Who do you believe?

I recently received an email asking me about a current book on Fibromyalgia. Is it authentic? Is it worth the read? Is the author simply looking to cash in on the newest hot topic?

Having not read the book myself I could easily have said “sorry I have not read it” and moved on, but by creating this blog I have positioned myself as a type of authority on Fibromyalgia (and I believe patient experts are the best experts), so I shared with her my general opinion on all Fibromyalgia related information out there:

Knowledge is power. If you are interested enough from researching the book, I say get it and read it. It may turn out that you disagree with the authors findings/opinions on FM, but it can often be just as helpful to read literature we disagree with, as it is to read a tried and true information source.

But be a savvy reader. Blind faith, blind trust in “authority” is just scary. Especially in this age of the web when anyone can write and publish an article, and call themselves an expert. A healthy amount of skepticism is good. Trust yourself first, and then take away from your research the things that serve you best. I have had several people tell me that yoga sucks! I disagree, but I leave it at that. It is not up to me to convince them otherwise. Because truly, the only thing I am an authority on is my daily battle with Fibromyalgia. Keep this in mind when reading all the “expert” advice out there; you are your own best authority.

And the sign said everybody welcome, come in, kneel down and pray
But when they passed around the plate at the end of it all,
I didn’t have a penny to pay, so I got me a pen and a paper and I made up my own little sign
I said thank you Lord for thinking about me, I’m alive and doing fine ~ Five Man Electrical Band

Rare is the Fibromyalgia patient who embraces exercise.

Not only does it elicit a pain response in most of us, but it also sends our defenses up. Too, too many times we have heard the unsolicited advice, “If you would only exercise you would feel much better.” We could all give examples of some of the insensitive and inaccurate things we have heard, that is not at question here, but what is under consideration is what truth is there in those comments?

It is hard to consider the validity to a comment that has raised our defenses and left us feeling misunderstood. But what if, regardless of how misinformed the comment and commenter, there is an underlying validity to it? Should we continue to be defensive and ignore what instinctively we already know? Who are we hurting if we do this? Not them, that is for sure.

Be Mindful

The fact is, not all exercise is good or even possible for most Fibromyalgia patients, but some form of mindful movement is essential if we ever want to improve our symptoms and our overall wellbeing. And yet it seems so counterintuitive: “It hurts to move, so you are telling me I need to move?” How does that make sense?

A lot of research has been done on this topic. Article after article has been written touting the benefits of exercise for Fibromyalgia. Here is a summary of the benefits of exercise for those with Fibromyalgia from WebMD:

helps restore the body’s neurochemical balance and triggers a positive emotional state

boosts levels of natural endorphins — pain-fighting molecules

triggers the release of epinephrine and norepinephrine, hormones that are known to boost alertness

burns calories and makes weight control easier

gives range-of-motion to painful muscles and joints

improves a person’s outlook on life

improves quality of sleep

improves one’s sense of well-being

increases aerobic capacity

increases cardiovascular health

increases energy

places the responsibility of healing in the hands of the patient

reduces anxiety levels and depression

relieves stress associated with a chronic disease

stimulates growth hormone secretion

stimulates the secretion of endorphins or “happy hormones”

strengthens bones

strengthens muscles

Would your life and your symptoms benefit with even one of the listed improvements? Then let’s step back from our conditioned response to exercise and think about how we can approach mindful movement with more positive results.

Be Gentle

This really is a matter of reconditioning our response to, and expectation of movement. Societies idea of exercising for health is to push through the pain; No Pain No Gain. Absurd really, and an approach that will guarantee failure for those of us living daily in pain. Take that approach and turn it inside out and then upside down. Gentle, mindful movement is the key to exercising with Fibromyalgia.

If you are familiar with my blog at all you know I am a huge proponent of yoga. Well I learned the hard way recently that I need to revise my ardor of yoga.

I Love Yoga, But Not All Yoga Loves Me

My first experience with yoga years ago was a No Pain No Gain experience. Even though I made an attempt to explain Fibromyalgia and my limitations to the instructor, she still pushed me way beyond my means. It was an awful experience and I was done with yoga. Fortunately, Fibromyalgia has taught me to consider and reconsider everything, because, when given the opportunity to practice yoga again, I did and had a completely different experience. It was one of the greatest epiphany moments I have had. Movement without pain. Hallelujah!

But then recently I had a setback to my love affair with yoga. For financial reasons I was no longer able to attend the gentle yoga classes that were having such a positive impact on my health and my symptoms. I was forced to look for alternatives; I tried YouTube videos with no success; found a few sources on Facebook that were okay, but not great; rented a few DVD’s, not even close. Then I resorted to buying a Yoga for Beginners DVD. I mistakenly interpreted “for beginners” as meaning “gentle.” Boy was I wrong. Massive failure and major flare-up.

But We Are Resilient – Remember

So I looked again specifically for “gentle” yoga, and I found a free class being offered at a local library. My love was back. I spent the next restorative hour in mindful movement so gentle I sometimes wonder if it is really benefitting me, but it is. The result was no flare, days of improved cognitive function, better sleep, and decreased pain – all from one class!

Not All Movement is Created Equal

So you tried yoga and it hurt and sent you into a flare and now you are done with exercising. Exercising is not for you. I could not possibly understand how severely exercise hurts you because if I did I would not be telling you to do it.

I understand all of the reasoning behind not exercising, because I used them all myself for many years. And if I had tried yoga again and it had been anything other than gentle and restorative, I would still be reasoning myself out of attempting any form of movement. It is understandable. We have become conditioned by our pain. But the really great thing is that we can also become reconditioned.

First you must trust that your muscles need movement. The longer they remain inactive, the more severely they will continue to hurt, the less energy you will have, and the harder it will be for them to support your frame. Your muscles want and need to move.

Next you have to find the appropriate movement for you. It may not be yoga. Maybe it is Tai Chi or Qigong. Maybe it is some form of water movement. Maybe it is a slow and gentle walk. Find what works best for you. Find what you love and what makes your body say Hallelujah.

Finally you need to accept that you will feel sore and there may be some discomfort, but you should not become discouraged by it. Consider how long you have been inactive. Honor you body and your limitations, but do not use them as the reason for not trying.

As with all things Fibromyalgia, there is no easy answer or quick fix, but if you intend to get better, then mindful movement is a necessary step towards wellness. Do not give up if your first attempt is a failure. Regroup and recommit yourself to mindful movement. When you find what works for you the rewards will be many, including an increased range of pain free movement. And as I like to say – be sure to take baby steps to avoid the making the painful leaps.

Last month I started a FibroHaven page on facebook. I have been promoting it quietly with a link on my sidebar, and with little fanfare we are already up to over 200 participants. It is meant to be a compliment to my blog and a quick way for me to share current articles and information. You do not need sign up on facebook to participate. Just click on this link to FibroHaven on facebook and join in on the conversation. If you are signed up on facebook, click on the “become a fan” button and the daily posts will feed automatically to your home page. I hope you enjoy this new format of FibroHaven. I know I am!

Today’s FibroHaven facebook post is shared from Lisa at invisibleillnessweek.com. In preparation of Invisible Illness Week, Sept 14-18, she has created a fun exercise to share 30 things about ourselves. If you have a blog of your own you may want to participate by sharing your answers there, but if you do not have a blog, you can share you answers in a discussion at FibroHaven on facebook. Lisa has created a great way to express ourselves to each other. Maybe this will be the tool you need to explain your experience and struggles with chronic illness to your loves ones. It is worth the try!

30 Things About My Invisible Illness You May Not Know

1. The illness I live with is: Fibromyalgia

2. I was diagnosed with it in the year: 1997

3. But I had symptoms since: 1996

4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is: Losing my ability to be a full-time, productive worker. So much of my self-worth was invested in my career and it has been hard to redefine myself and understand my new purpose.

5. Most people assume: That my symptoms are mild. Because I am so  active in growing FibroHaven’s support community, I often hear remarks like “I wish I had your energy.” or “I wish I could do as much as you are able to.” I am excellent at hiding my misery. My husband sees it, and tells me I should not sugar coat how I am feeling. I talk lightly of my symptoms because it helps me and my mindset not to dwell. It is really for selfish reasons that I do not share the depths of my symptoms.

6. The hardest part about mornings are: Pain, stiffness, fatigue, dizziness – and my poor expectant puppies who are always so joyful in the morning, and confused by my sluggishness.

7. My favorite medical TV show is: I guess it would have to be ER since I watched it from its inception to its end.

8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is: My toes! Maybe not quite a gadget, but I can pick up almost anything with my toes. They constantly save me from the pain of bending over.

9. The hardest part about nights are: Looking back on the things I had planned to accomplish that day, but did not get done.

10. Each day I take 1 or none pills & 3 vitamins.

11. Regarding alternative treatments I: Am a huge proponent in yoga and meditation, but would love to be able to try more like acupuncture, massage, & biofeedback. It is so cost prohibited (see number 4). I am always looking for new cheap/free alternative treatments and find many by joining groups on Meetup. Some charge small fees, but many do not.  I have even found free yoga classes at local libraries and free meditation at a local center.

12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose: Had to chose – I would chose the invisible illness I currently have as I have 13 years of experience in dealing with it. I would never choose to start over with a new illness.

13. Regarding working and career: I miss being the sassy, successful sales rep I once was. I miss connecting with people on that level. But I love the direction of my new career as a freelance writer. I can work from home, and around my symptoms, but it is not yet as financially rewarding as my previous career. I miss the freedom money brings. I miss dressing up to meet a new client. I miss feeling really good at something.

14. People would be surprised to know: That I am not as in control as I appear. I am full of pride and bravado. It makes me feel less vulnerable.

15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: Letting go of my old reality, and all the control I had. Type A, control freak faced with a debilitating illness… It may take me 13 more years to accept my new reality. Except I am convinced in 13 more years “debilitating illness” will not be a part of my vocabulary!

16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: Support and encourage others. In the depths of my despair, when I was looking for guidance, I never thought I could become a voice for others. But I have, and it has helped me more than I would ever have thought possible. Thank you for letting me be a voice for all of us.

17. The commercials about my illness: Make me cringe! Take a pill, and then life will be all sunshine and rainbows. BARF!

18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: Dancing… Moving my body in a carefree and painless way. I would sometimes go out with my friends and dance for 6 hours straight. I would just feel the music and let it move my body. I can’t believe that this body was once able to move like that. But it was, and I miss it.

19. It was really hard to have to give up: Should I talk about my sales career again, or would that be redundant? It was very, very, very hard for me to give that up. Almost like starting your own business, turning it into a great success, and then just handing it off to someone else to reap the benefits. Even worse, that someone lost all my best accounts and ruined my territory. Such a shame!

20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is: I was going to say my blog, but that is my passion, not my hobby. Then the answer must be poker! My husband and I began playing in a regular Friday night came several years ago. I seldom missed a week, even if I was not feeling well, because poker is sometimes the only thing that can distract me from my pain. There is a level of focus and concentration that is needed to play well that takes me right out of my pain and fatigue. And I do play well. Poker is fun!

21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would: Take my hubby and my dogs and backpack around  Catalina Island. Something we did back in my health days (minus the dogs – no dogs allowed – but this is a fantasy, right). It is like having your own private island with isolated beaches to explore. I miss the feeling of strapping all that I need onto my back and heading out for the day. Freedom! A day of freedom from this body would be priceless!

22. My illness has taught me: That I am not invincible. That I am not in control. That my pain is there for a reason. Still working on figuring out the reason.

23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is: “It could be worse.” They are right, but pointing out that it could be worse, does nothing to actually make it better.

24. But I love it when people: Treat me like they always have – like I am still an intelligent, funny, viable person – like I still matter.

25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is: “It could be worse.” Okay, no –  just kidding! That is what I meant by still being funny. We have to have a sense of humor, right?

I don’t think I have a saying that gets me through tough times, but I do love and believe in the saying “The harder I work that luckier I get.” There is going to come a day when my symptoms will be in control, and I know I will be considered lucky, but I can assure you luck doesn’t just happen. It is going to take a lot of hard work for me to get that lucky.

26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them: There is hope. You are not alone. You are not crazy. What you are experiencing is real.

27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: That my marriage has thrived along the way. Somehow we have managed to grow together instead of apart. You probably think I am one of the lucky ones – and I am! – but again, luck is not random. I am lucky and our marriage is strong because we have worked hard at it, and we are still a work in progress. I am still learning to communicate and to trust and to let go.

28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was: Accepted me and my limitations, and did not judge or try to fix things. They were just there for me while letting me be.

29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because: Because it is important. Because Fibromyalgia is invisible, and like so many other chronic illnesses it is misunderstood. And because it is up to us to help people understand. We cannot just sit back and will them to understand. We have to open the doors of communication and use productive means to enlighten everyone to our invisible illnesses. Not everyone will get it, but with each that does we are that much improved.

30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: Like you care. This is so much longer than I anticipated it would be. I had a lot to say, and everything I said was pure and honest. It felt really great to do this exercise, and I appreciate you for taking the time to read it.

I intended to write this follow-up post on my experience with Dr. Whitcomb and his Neurologic Relief Centers Technique last Monday, but have been sidelined by a bad flare-up. Yes, I do attribute my flare to the workshop and testing technique, but even so, I intend to give you a fair account of the workshop, although as with everything on my blog, it will be full of my opinions. It may be a lot to follow, so I hope I have managed to present a readable review.

The logistics of the day went like this:

I was initially invited to the workshop by a local acupuncturist who I will call “Dr. J.” The workshop began at 1PM on Friday, July 24. The local acupuncturist as well as several other local chiropractors actually paid for a training session with Whitcomb. They spent all of Thursday and Friday morning training to learn his technique. Then at 1PM on Friday, myself and the other patients whom each practitioner invited arrived for a lecture by Whitcomb. After the hour long presentation, we broke off with the practitioner who invited us to be tested to see if the technique would benefit us.

So What is This Technique?

The technique involves several minutes of firm pressure to either the anterior or posterior neck trigger points. The pressure is intended to release the tension on the nerves that travel through the meninges, and relive the pain and symptoms this tension causes. Whitcomb attributes most symptoms of FM to this compression. His name for this is meningeal compression, which he uses interchangeably with Fibromyalgia.

I brought three of my support group members with me. As you can imagine, given my impression of Paul Whitcomb and his clinic, I approached this event with a healthy amount of skepticism. Adding to my skepticism was the information one of my resourceful members shared with me about Whitcomb. He is still under investigation by the California Board of Chiropractic Examiners. There is still a possibility that he may lose his license for charges of administering “excessive treatment” and making “sensational statements which are intended to deceive the public.” He has recently closed his practice in South Lake Tahoe and is traveling nationwide to teach his technique. The reason he gave during the presentation for this move is to eliminate the need for patients to travel to him.

Whitcomb’s Presentation

The presentation Whitcomb gave was full of dramatizations: “Fibromyalgia patients are closest to prisoners of war.” “The Fibromyalgia patients who came to my clinic did not want to continue living.” “Eighteen percent of Fibromyalgia patients commit suicide.” I am really curious to know where he got that number, but unfortunately he did not allow for Q & A. He never once described Fibromyalgia patients as type A, as givers, or as overachievers, which in my experience is closer to the truth. Instead he painted a very bleak and desperate picture of us. Most of his claims were dramatic and over-the-top. He did not share anything about FM that I did not already know, but he did supply us with many statistics about his practice and the tremendous results he gets; such as 85% of his patients remain symptom free, only 6% lost the benefit of his correction and treatment after leaving his clinic. It makes me wonder why he would choose to close up shop.

As we moved on to the testing part of the workshop, we were all required to sign a waiver agreeing to let our test be recorded on video and used at their discretion. I refused, as did the other members of my group. I attended this workshop to research and share as much information as I could about Whitcomb’s technique. I would not agree to have my image shown in support of it and without my knowledge. Dr. J expressed our concern and they agreed to let him test us without being filmed.

I think because we were not being filmed, Whitcomb basically left Dr. J on his own, while paying closer attention to the chiropractors he trained and their patients who were being filmed. Also, Whitcomb unfairly sold Dr. J on training with him. He told Dr. J that “the test is the technique,” but then during the presentation he said just the opposite, because the chiros learning the technique also learned a particular adjustment that an acupuncturist like Dr. J is not legally qualified to perform. When I questioned Dr. J about this he said, “Yeah, I guess he kind of fooled me there.” So the “technique” that Dr. J paid to learn and implement into his practice is not complete. I really feel like Whitcomb snowballed Dr. J and any other non-chiro who paid to learn his technique.

And Now I Share Why I Have Been in a Flare

My first instinct was to not be tested, and I wish I had followed it. Instead I sat and watched many patients receive the technique and seemingly have instant improvements. One older gentleman with Parkinson’s had a noticeable reduction in his tremors. Another man was able to lift his arm above his head for the first time in months. I should note that we were not all fibromyalgia patients in the room, although the presentation was geared specifically to FM. After observing for some time, I was just too curious to opt out, so I hopped up on the table and let Dr. J proceed. After a short palpation he concluded I was sorest and tightest at the trigger points on the side of my neck below my ears. I concurred with this assessment.

He used metal rods with soft ends to place steady, firm pressure on my neck for five minutes. It did not take long for me to begin to feel nauseous. I tried to breath through it. Dr. J frequently check with me to see if I had a reduction in pain. I had rated my pain a 6 on the 1-10 scale, with 10 being worst. That day my neck, head, shoulders, upper back and hips were painful. I did not feel any change as I laid there. He asked me to focus on my hips. Laying still I felt no difference, but when I moved my hips, I eventually felt a reduction in pain. After the test, upon standing, my right hip was free from pain, and my left was improved. There was no improvement to my neck, head, shoulders or upper back.

I remained nauseous for sometime after the test. I had driven my members, and did not feel well enough to drive right away, so it gave us an opportunity to stay and talk about the workshop. The test had zero effect on two of my members, and two of us had a slight decrease in our symptoms. For one member the pressure was too painful to bear. Her pain level had been very low to start the day, and after her reaction to the test, Whitcomb remarked he wasn’t sure why she was even being tested if she had no pain. He told the second member who did not experience any relief that she was just being difficult. When I remarked to him that I did not experience any relief in my upper body he said I just needed to have the test performed longer. We all felt underwhelmed by the experience. It did nothing to change my opinion of him that his care for FM patients is motivated most heavily by his bottom line.

Conclusion

The proposed follow-up with Dr. J was to involve an initial consultation, and then three consecutive days of treatment, which would require three visits each day. After the three days of visits he would reevaluate and propose further treatment. It is expected to take weeks or months for complete healing, and then there is likely to be maintenance to assure the meningeal release holds. Given that I have been in a flare since receiving the test at the workshop, and that the improvement I felt in my hips lasted only an hour or two, I called Dr. J and told him I was not interested in pursuing this treatment. He then told me hed decided not to implement the technique into his practice, and that he too was underwhelmed by the experience. I have to say I think he made a very wise decision.

So there you have my experience and my opinion on the matter. I feel like a little guinea pig, but I am happy to have had this experience to share. When Whitcomb had his Web site up, there were a lot of testimonials of people who swear by his technique. One of my members who attended the workshop has personally spoken with several of his former patients who claim to be symptoms free. She was considering attending his clinic and did a tremendous amount of research. She was the most hopeful of us last Friday that his technique would benefit her, but unfortunately she was one of the two it did not.

If Whitcomb comes to your community to teach his technique, I cannot recommend that you attend his workshop, but as we all know, what works for one will not for the other. Even after this particularly bad flare, I still plan to keep an open mind about treatment options available and useful to us. But I most certainly will not be having my meninges released anytime soon!

NOTE: On Tuesday October 27, FibroHaven was moved from a WordPress domain to its own URL. In doing so the comments of each and every post have been affected. They are no longer chronological or nested (if they were a direct reply to a previous comment). It happened on each post, but because this particular post has been so active it is especially troublesome to try and follow the comments logically. I apologize for this confusion and we are trying to fix it, but it appears it may not be possible.

I can assure you no censoring or editing of comments has occurred. If you are interested and brave enough, feel free to read the comments and try to piece them together. I do warn you against taking things out of context as that has already happened. To avoid any more confusion, I am turning off comments on this post until the issue is resolved. If you have something you absolutely must say in response to this, feel free to email me at fibrohaven@gmail.com.

Cheers,

Dannette

10/28/09

It is too soon to know what, if any, impact this will actually have. The FDA is not required to follow the committee’s recommendation, although historically they do. At the very least it is a good time to consider what options you have to prepare for the possible ban. Prescription painkillers will always be available in some form. With complaints of chronic pain on an epidemic rise, drug companies will see to it. But prescription painkillers need not be the only option for Fibromyalgia pain treatment.

So what can I do to ease my pain naturally?

I am glad you asked! In the midst of a severe Fibromyalgia flare-up, there may be nothing as quick to bring relief as good old - insert your painkiller of choice here, but for daily maintenance and preventative health care, natural is best.

Foods & Herbs

Your food should be your first medicine. In a previous post I listed the many toxic foods to avoid if you have Fibromyalgia. Now lets take a look at foods and herbs beneficial for pain management.

Essential fatty acids are a must. EFAs like Omega-3s are necessary fats that humans cannot synthesize, and must be obtained through diet. Omega-3s have a natural anti-inflammatory quality along with a whole complex of other health benefits. Research indicates that omega-3s may be better absorbed from food than supplements.

Wild salmon is a great source of Omega-3s, as are other fatty fish like albacore tuna, halibut, and sardines. Not a fan of fish? Flaxseed oil and Canola oil are good choices too. Or how about walnuts? Try a sprinkle of walnuts on spinach salad for a nutritious and delicious double dose of essential fatty acids. Summer squash, cauliflower, and broccolli are all very good sources as well.

Herbal remedies also aid in pain relief. Natural pain relief — like herbal medicine, is an increasingly popular way to manage pain.

• Turmeric is gaining great recognition as a natural painkiller. Why not try sprinkling some on that piece of salmon you are grilling up?
• Fresh ginger helps with inflammation.
• Capsaicin applied topically may be beneficial for relieving pain.
• Feverfew has been found useful for treating migraines.
• Ginseng is listed by the American Pain Foundation as beneficial for Fibromyalgia pain treatment.

If you are serious about trying herbal remedies for pain relief, I advise that you consult with your physician or a licensed herbalist who understands how powerful these herbs can be.

Soak on it

More and more research indicates that Fibromyalgia patients suffer from magnesium deficiency. Magnesium is extremely important to many functions in the body, and a deficiency can cause several of the symptoms associated with Fibromyalgia. There are great benefits in taking an Epsom salt bath, rich in hydrated magnesium sulfate, which is easily absorbed through the skin.

As listed on the Epsom Salt Industry Council website, here are some of the health benefits to be had from an epsom salt bath:

• Flushes toxins and heavy metals from the cells, easing muscle pain and helping the body to eliminate harmful substances.
• Relieves stress. Excess adrenaline and stress are believed to drain magnesium, a natural stress reliever, from the body. Magnesium is necessary for the body to bind adequate amounts of serotonin, a mood-elevating chemical within the brain that creates a feeling of well being and relaxation.
• Reduces inflammation to relieve pain and muscle cramps.
• Improves oxygen use.
• Improves absorption of nutrients.
• Improves formation of joint proteins, brain tissue and mucin proteins.
• Prevents or eases migraine headaches.

I don’t think we could ask much more from a simple bath! Epsom salt baths are so relaxing and therapeutic, I recommend you take two or three a week – more if your level of pain dictates. Before bed is a great time, as you will find yourself so relaxed by the natural serotonin boost, you will be able to gently drift off into a restorative sleep.

Just Breathe

Yoga, Qigong, meditation and many other mind-body practices teach the healing properties of purposeful breathing. Conscious breathing can actually change your body chemistry by increasing oxygen supply to your cells and prompting the production of endorphins, which are the body’s natural pain killers. Deep breathing relaxes the muscles and calms the mind.

In her book Yoga for Fibromyalgia, Shoosh Lettick Crotzer teaches The Healing Breath technique. To practice this, begin in a seated pose with your feet flat on the floor and your arms resting lightly on your thighs. Close your eyes, follow the directions below, and let your breath heal.

Inhale and exhale slowly, focusing on how the air feels as it passes through your nose, into your body, and back out. Think of your breath as the gift of life – prana: life force. Let it feel soothing as it flows inside. If you have general pain, visualize this healing breath filling your whole body. If your pain is more specific, on inhalations, bring the breath directly to your pain. Then, for either type of pain, let each new inhalation bring energy to expand and soften, cleanse and release, rejuvenate. With the exhalations, let the tensions and heaviness of your pain flow out with the breath. Breathe slowly, and continue until you feel quiet, heavy, and more relaxed. Come out of the pose when you are ready. Notice the difference you have made in yourself.

Mindful breathing will bring you more in-tune with your body. It is something we should all practice everyday, regardless of our level of pain.

Good Health Requires Mindfulness

Self care is critical in the management of Fibromyalgia. There is no magic pill that will reverse all of the symptoms we live with. There never will be. So instead of waiting for the magic bullet, we should focus on simple and manageable things we can do to help improve our health and wellbeing. It may take a great combination of holistic and natural remedies, combined with the care of our doctors, to really achieve optimal results. Be your own best health advocate and practice the Healing Breath technique, cook yourself some salmon for dinner, and then take a relaxing epsom salt bath. You are worth the effort.

This morning I found ProHealth’s June newsletter, Fibromyalgia HealthWatch. I have read many interesting Fibromyalgia articles on ProHealth. That is where I learned of the Fibromyalgia Wellness Project. I think they do a great job interviewing important people and sharing pertinent information. A lot of their articles are excerpts from books that they sell in the ProHealth bookstore. I have yet to purchase a book from them because information on Fibromyalgia is so fluid and ever-changing, I think newsletters and online resources keep me more current. Here are some highlights of the Fibromyalgia articles in their newsletter this month.

Nutritional Approaches in Fibromyalgia – A Review of Common Deficiencies & Basic Supplement Strategies

Excerpted from Dr. Pellegrino’s very popular book Fibromyalgia: Up Close and Personal.* Dr. Pellegrino has seen more than 20,000 FM patients in his practice at the Ohio Rehab Center, and has been a fibromyalgia patient himself since childhood.

The Healing Power of Exercise – Advice from a Fibromyalgia Patient-Expert 

Claudia Craig Marek, MA, is an FM patient, medical assistant to Paul St. Amand, MD, a specialist in FM patient counseling, and author of  The First Year – Fibromyalgia. Claudia has counseled FM patients for some 20 years, and is co-author with Dr. St. Amand of What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Fibromyalgia and other books.

Fibromyalgia Myth Busting: The Truth about Five Stubborn Misperceptions

A concise explanation of what fibromyalgia is and is not – suitable to print out for your family, friends, and doctors – by NFA co-founder and ‘expert patient’ Karen Lee Richards.

These are just a few of the many articles in the June newsletter, and that is why I am signed up to receive newsletters from many different resources – The National Fibromyalgia Association, American Pain Foundation, The Chopra Center, etc.. They take the time to put their articles into bullet points – easy to digest reading – and then I get to chose what interests me and what I am going to take the time to read. It is a great way to stay informed and educated.

So that is my recommendation to you – sign up for newsletters! I do not receive spam, only what I register for, and if you sign up for one and find it does not interest you, it is just as easy to remove yourself from their list. But on the other hand, if you really aren’t interested in finding newsletters in your e-mail each morning, keep coming back here, because I am certain to report on what I find to be relevant and beneficial. Hey… maybe I should start my own Fibromyagia newsletter!

Gluten is the complex protein found in wheat, barley, rye and some oats. For many, our bodies are unable to digest these proteins properly. That headache you experience after a meal of pasta may be an indicator that you are gluten intolerant. If you feel sleepy and lethargic after a French toast breakfast, your body may be having too hard a time trying to break down the food you are consuming.

New evidence suggests that as many as 1 in 7 are gluten sensitive, or gluten intolerant. Many chronic illnesses are associated with gluten intolerance: Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid disorder, and diabetes. It is also thought to be the cause of infertility in some women. Gluten intolerance should not be confused with the less common and more severe auto-immune disorder, Celiac Disease.

If you suspect you may have sensitivity to gluten, consider eliminating it from your diet. All gluten intolerances are easily identified by an elimination diet. Start for a period of two weeks and remove all wheat, barley and rye based foods. It is helpful to keep a fibromyalgia food mood journal during this time, and log what you eat along with any symptoms you experience. If you have intolerance, improvements may be felt in just a few days. For myself, eliminating gluten from my diet quickly lead to massive improvements in the many symptoms I experience living with Fibromyalgia.

The first thing I noticed was an increase in energy. I began feeling less fatigued and sluggish. Then I noticed my head was feeling clearer, less foggy. Eventually I also noticed my back muscles were no longer on fire with pain, and my shoulder muscles seemed less tense. The thing that cinched it for me though was the improvement with my hands. The joints in my hands had become so painful I was certain I was developing arthritis. I had a hard time gripping and opening things, my coordination was off – I dropped things often, and my hands frequently woke me up throughout the night with throbbing and aching pains. After just ten days on a gluten-free diet there was a noticeable improvement. I needed no further proof that I am gluten intolerant.

Blood tests are available to test for gluten intolerance, but it is possible to test negative and still have sensitivity to gluten. The easiest way to test if you are intolerant is to simply eliminate it from your diet. It takes a commitment, and careful food preparation, but the benefits of improved health and wellbeing far outweigh the disadvantages. And if you are worried you may miss your favorite gluten based foods too much, don’t. With growing recognition of gluten intolerance comes a growing variety of substitutes and options. Eat well, be well.

Note: This is a reprint of an article I wrote for Optimal Nutrition’s monthly newsletter.

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.

You were just an infant the day I had my accident that eventually developed into Fibromyalgia. What is one of your earliest memories of having an aunt with Fibromyalgia?

I remember that you were not always able to pick me up so much or do things together like I did with other people in the family, also I remember when we would go to places like amusement parks or Tustin Tiller Days you didn’t always go on the rides with me and C.J. (C.J. is her older brother/my nephew)

Your mom has always been very caring and compassionate about my health issues. Do you remember any advice or information she gave you about Fibromyalgia?

Yes, she always would tell me, and still does, “your auntie isn’t having such a good day so don’t be too hyper or be too much of a bug.”  and that always made me know that you were not feeling too well and I understood that it was your Fibromyalgia.

Even when I am not feeling well, we always manage to have a lot of fun together. What is one of your favorite memories of a time we spent together when I was not feeling well.

My favorite day together over all, and you were not feeling well was when we went to the beach and fed the squirrels and then went to Cabo Grill and met Bam Margera and Tony Hawk.

That was a good day! The very next day we went to the beach again and got caught in a rip-tide. It was very scary for both of us, but I hated not being strong enough to rescue you. Thank goodness we were both safe. You spent a lot of time with me last summer. How did it affect you when I was not feeling well?

I always knew when you weren’t feeling well, it would upset me sometime because I knew that we weren’t going to be spending so much time together or we wouldn’t do much or go places and it was summer so I wanted to but I always understood that when you don’t feel well that you say no to something like the beach and I would know that means no.

So on the days when I was not up for going to the beach and we stayed home we still managed to spend quality time together. What would you say is your favorite way to spend time with me when I am having a “bad” day?

I like it when we just sit around and watch tv but my FAVORITE thing is poker=] (I taught Dani to play poker several years ago, and she is a shark! If you sit down to play with her, expect to lose all your money.)

If you could use just one word to describe Fibromyalgia what would it be?

hmmmm…. painful

What advice would you give to a friend or classmate with a loved one with Fibromyalgia?

I would first of all tell them that I have an auntie with Fibromyalgia and I would tell them its a disease that controls your body and sometimes takes time out of your life because you are so sore from doing something the day before and I would tell them that whoever it is that has Fibromalgia wouldn’t be able to do the things they used to be able to do and I would explain to them some examples that happened between us and the family concerning your condition.

Do you think we would be closer or that I could love you any more if I had never been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia?

NO!!! I could never ask for anymore of your love because I know that you love me a lot and we are already so close I don’t think we could get any closer to each other. I love you so much and you are my favorite auntie and the best auntie a niece could EVER have and just the time I spend with you and the love we share is enough for me=]

How much of your participation in this interview had to do with the $20 I promised you?

Hahahaha well you just told me right now so I was just doing this because you asked me to and because I think it was awesome to do something like this. I don’t need money to tell you how I feel about you and your condition and I love you so much you don’t need to give me money this was something for fun.

You are a wise and loving niece Dani. I am a lucky and proud Auntie!

28/30