ComfortPillow

Several weeks ago I was contacted by a marketing agency and asked to participate in a product review of Tempur-Pedic pillows. It was a simple offer. They would send me two free pillows, The ComfortPillow and The NeckPillow, and all I had to do in turn was to review my experience using them on my blog. Sign me up!

But what about the fumes?

Actually before I agreed to participate, I had one major concern I needed addressed; do Tempur-Pedic pillows release any fumes? I have heard reports to that affect about “memory” material but had no direct knowledge. As most of us with Fibromyalgia know, chemical sensitivity is a real issue. Sometimes just being exposed to a smell or inhaling a toxin can debilitate us. Victoria, the lovely marketing agent who contacted me got right on it and quickly got back to me with this response from Tempur-Pedic:

Our mattresses and pillows contain polyurethane foam which is chemically similar to other polyurethane foams utilized in many common products in everyday use including furniture, bedding, carpet underlay, packaging, and automobile seats. Like foams in other products, those used in a Tempur-Pedic® product do experience some levels of “off-gassing” and typically an odor will be associated with the same. The odor will be strongest immediately after manufacture, and will dissipate over time. Upon delivery of your mattress/pillow, you may notice a slight odor which is left over from our manufacturing process; however, this is not harmful to you. We recommend reviewing our “Use and Care Instructions” for more information. Tempur-Pedic® follows a variety of industry standards and conducts proprietary tests to ensure that our products adhere to all local, state and federal health regulations.

I was satisfied with the response so we moved forward and in a few short days I had my two new pillows.

The Tempur-Pedic NeckPillow

NeckPillow

I have been sleeping with a neck pillow for years, so was excited to try the Tempur-Pedic NeckPillow first. There definitely was an odor upon removing the pillow from the packaging, but by the time I laid down on it that evening it was nearly gone, and not strong enough to affect me. By the second evening it had completely disappated.

My first reaction to the pillow was that it is not as soft as I was expecting or used to; there is a firm quality to the material. Although firm, it was immediately comfortable for me. My head was being cradled and supported in all the right places. I did not have to adjust it several times like I did with my previous pillow, because the NeckPillow was adjusting to me.

Patented Construction

Our patented integration of multiple layers of TEMPUR material with different base materials provides a variable balance of pressure-relieving comfort and therapeutic support. The top TEMPUR Comfort Layer (A) is a softer formula that reacts immediately to your body temperature and weight. As you sink further into the mattress, the TEMPUR Support Layer (B) completely absorbs and distributes your body weight and supports your spine in perfect alignment. The typical AirFlow System™ Base Layer© provides a supportive base for the TEMPUR components and increases the flow of air to maximize comfort and responsiveness.

I slept very well on it that first night and on many nights since. My neck is my chronic hotspot for pain. After several concussions and damage from severe whiplash, it aches regularly. Usually the mornings are the worst. I can unequivocally say that my neck aches less in the mornings since I began sleeping with the NeckPillow. It has not been a cure for the restless sleep I suffer due to fibromyalgia, but it is an improvement.

The Tempur-Pedic ComfortPillow

BodyPillow

Next I tried the ComfortPillow which is a more traditional pillow. My experience was similar. It too cradled my head, and even though I am used to a neck pillow, I found the ComfortPillow just as comfortable. Hmmm, maybe that is where they got the name! I did not use it as my head pillow for long, but I continue to sleep with it as a side pillow. I rest it against my chest and between my arms to help keep my body aligned  - similar to this model sleeping with a Tempur-Pedic body pillow, except my hair usually doesn’t lay that beautifully and I often have a scowl on my face, but otherwise, just like that! It is a restorative way to sleep and minimizes morning pain and stiffness.

Seriously though, I am very happy with both pillows. They are definite upgrades from what I was previously using. Thank you Victoria at Rocket XL for asking me to participate and to Tempur-Pedic for my two new pillows. Sleep well!

In their most recently newsletter, the main article was a feature on Fibromyalgia: Treating Fibromyalgia Naturally — So You Can Shine Again.  I found this to be the most realistic, in touch and accurate assessment of Fibromyalgia I have ever read. Several times throughout my reading of it I wanted to clap for Dr. Marcelle Pick, or stand up and bow. Here are just a few of the things she wrote that made me want to cheer her:

I see many women in my practice who feel discouraged and disheartened by the advice they’ve received about fibromyalgia. The sleeplessness, extreme fatigue, and widespread chronic pain that accompany fibromyalgia can be unbearable for some women, but the medical community has long been stumped by this confusing and controversial condition. It was ignored by conventional medicine for years, and in some circles fibromyalgia is still questioned as a “real” diagnosis. But fibromyalgia is real, and I know there are thousands of women out there who deserve compassionate and effective care. We don’t have all the answers yet, but pain specialists and functional practitioners are working to get to the root of fibromyalgia and similar pain syndromes, to give you the answers you want and deserve.

I think women with fibromyalgia deserve more than a prescription for their pain and suffering.

I see this as a condition that strikes at the very core of a woman’s being.

But you can feel good again, if you’re willing to roll up your sleeves, do some digging, and learn some new ways of being.

At this point in the article Dr. Skin goes into a very thorough discussion of Fibromyalgia and its underlying issues. She uses the word SHINE as an acronym for what she believes to be the main issues of FM – Sleep, Hormone Imbalance, Immune Health, Nutrition and Emotions. (Some of you may recognize this as a protocol of Dr. Teitelbaum, author of From Fatigued to Fantastic. I am very familiar with his name, but have yet to read his book. After reading this article I certainly plan to.) Dr. Skin also addresses Stress, Detox, Exercise and Mind-body Work. She shares a lot of valuable information in her article and is clearly invested in helping women with Fibromyalgia shine again.

Dr. Skin ends her article with encouragement and hope:

Find hope in your own light

We all glow in our own unique ways, and when we are feeling good, the world can feel our warmth and positive energy. I know fibromyalgia can dim this light, making us too tired, too discouraged, and too achy to find hope in anything, let alone feeling better. Especially if you’ve been told by your practitioner, or by several practitioners that there is nothing they can do — or worse, that your symptoms aren’t real — it can seem like you just have to live with this. But please know that you don’t have to live in pain, and you don’t have to be on a prescription medication for the rest of your life, either.

Fibromyalgia is a syndrome caused and influenced by many, many factors, and if you start to work on even one or two of these factors, you will find that light within starting to shine again. With this new hope, you can regain the energy to work on more aspects of your life that may be affecting your health — and in time, you’ll be enjoying each brand new day.

 

I encourage you to take the time to read the article for yourself. It is refreshing to read a perspective from a doctor who actually understands the many levels of Fibromyalgia, and hopefully you will decide on one or two factors of FM that you will want to work on. Articles like this go a long way in encouraging us to take steps towards better health and wellbeing. Thank you Dr. Skin.

15/30

Laughter Yoga is a revolutionary idea – simple and profound.  An exercise routine, it is fast sweeping the world and is a complete wellbeing workout. It is the brainchild of Dr. Madan Kataria, an Indian physician from Mumbai who started the first laughter club in a park on 13th March 1995, with just 5 people. Today, it has become a worldwide phenomenon with more than 6000 social laughter clubs in 60 countries. 

Laughter Yoga combines unconditional laughter with yogic breathing (Pranayama). Anyone can laugh for no reason, without relying on humor, jokes or comedy. Laughter is simulated as a body exercise in a group but with eye contact and childlike playfulness, it soon turns into real and contagious laughter. The concept of Laughter Yoga is based on a scientific fact that the body cannot differentiate between fake and real laughter.One gets the same physiological and psychological benefits

 

So what are the physiological and psychological benefits of laughter and how can they help patients with Fibromyalgia? Here is a list I compiled from my research:

• Laughter reduces pain and allows us to tolerate discomfort. It is not clear whether laughter is just a diversionary tactic to help us forget our pain or if it is due to a chemical change and an increase in endorphins, but researchers have time and again documented lowered pain responses in patients treated with humor therapy. It is also thought that a good hearty laugh that brings you to tears removes toxic substances that build up in our bodies during periods of emotional stress.
• Laughter improves brain function and reduces stress. Laughter stimulates both sides of the brain to enhance learning. It eases muscle tension and psychological stress, which keeps the brain alert and allows people to retain more information. Laughter is a great way to combat fibrofog.
• Laughter aids in better relaxation and improved sleep. The focus on the benefits of laughter really began with Norman Cousin’s memoir, Anatomy of an Illness. Cousins, who was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, a painful spine condition, found that a diet of comedies, like Marx Brothers films and episodes of Candid Camera, helped him feel better. He said that ten minutes of laughter allowed him two hours of pain-free sleep.
• Laughter helps your immune system carry out its natural functions. Laughter moves lymph fluid around your body simply by the convulsions you experience during the process of laughing; so it boosts immune system function and helps clear out old, dead waste products from organs and tissues. Your lymph system doesn’t have a separate pump; your body needs to move around to properly circulate lymph fluid so that your immune system can carry out its natural functions. Laughter is a great way to support that.

Pain, brain function and sleep (the three biggest complaints of Fibromyalgia patients) can all be improved with a regular dose of hearty laughter. And according to Dr. Kataria, founder of Laughter Yoga International, it doesn’t even matter if the laughter is spontaneous or forced, your body does not recognize the difference. When you laugh you are forcing oxygen into your lungs, muscles and the cells of your body, which boosts circulation and increases energy. And if you watch this video you will see, laughing is just plain old fun.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eB3ISAYE-I]

Tomorrow evening my support group is going to be treated with a session of laughter yoga. I will be sure to report back on the event and share with you how we all feel after all the laughter, giggles and silliness of the event.