Maybe my therapist was right, maybe I am a caretaker by nature. That would help explain why I have taken on the responsibility of organizing a local support group for people with Fibromyalgia and chronic pain. I have been interested in starting or joining a Fibromyalgia support group for some time. Partly it is for completely selfish reasons. I want a community I can reach out to; a group that understands how I am feeling without my needing to explain; a group I can turn to for compassion and camaraderie. But mostly it is that I want to help others find hope. I became organizer of the … [Read more...]
It’s All Over But the Hurting
It is over. All the work, and the cleaning, and the cooking, and chaos that is Thanksgiving, it is over. All that is left is to heal (and some really yummy leftovers). I am tired and sore, but I feel good. It was such a nice day and everyone was a huge help. It was like a crazy ant farm in my kitchen in the moments leading up to dinner, and then again during the clean up. I just love all the chaos of bumping elbows and the buzz of ten different conversations going on at one time. I feed off the energy. My Uncle said grace for dinner and I could just hear him over Joe Buck’s commentary on the … [Read more...]
Fibromyalgia-like Pain in Frida Kahlo’s Paintings
When Frida came out in 2002 I knew nothing about the artist Frida Kahlo. After watching the film I became haunted by her. For weeks after I could not stop thinking about the tempestuous woman who, despite living with an inhumane amount of pain, lived with extreme magnetism and passion. I think I was drawn to her because of her pain. I even mentioned to my husband once that I believed she might have suffered from Fibromyalgia. Frida’s pain began with a devastating bus crash at the age of eighteen. Here is an excerpt form Frida: A Biography of Frida Kahlo by Hayden Herrera, which … [Read more...]
Fibromyalgia Pain Breakthrough: Qigong
Last week the Chronicle Herald published an article about the results of a recent Qigong trial done on people living with chronic pain. According to the researcher, Dr. Mary Lynch at Quenn Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre, “their quality of life and their level of pain got better. And this is just through a simple series of gentle, dance-like moves.” What is Qigong? From the Qigong Institute: Qigong (chee-gong) is “Energy techniques” or “Energy Skills,” the ancient Chinese internal arts used for over 5000 years to promote health, emotional happiness and spiritual … [Read more...]
Self-Maintenance and Moderation in Fibromyalgia Management
Living with Fibromyalgia means you constantly have to make choices, choices that can be the difference between a good day and a flare-up. Some days I have to choose between cooking dinner and doing a load of laundry. These are relatively easy choices. I check the status of Rob’s underwear drawer, and if I can see the bottom, laundry it is! It is true. Everyday is a balancing act, trying to measure the most I can get done against doing too much and exacerbating my pain. Self-maintenance and moderation are crucial to my daily success. But sometimes the choices are clear and easy and I still … [Read more...]