There is some debate among patients of chronic illness whether nutrition is a contributing factor to our illness. I can only speak to my truth on this matter, and for myself it is an emphatic yes. When I think back to the days after both traumas - the first that triggered my fibromyalgia and the second that exacerbated my symptoms - I clearly see that my eating behaviors contributed to my dis-ease. Before the first head trauma I had what I consider healthy eating habits. But as soon as I became couch-ridden, trying to recover my ability to speak coherently, I turned to food as a source of … [Read more...]
The Language of Fibromyalgia
I have been thinking a lot lately about language, and about how our thoughts and words influence our beliefs and actions. If I say "I am in a lot of pain today," does that influence the way I deal with my pain that day? I think it does. Pain is not a static mass. Sit quietly and pay close attention to your pain. It moves, it fluctuates, it varies. Now if I state to myself or out loud that I am in a lot of pain, I may not allow myself the awareness to focus on and appreciate the moments when the pain is less. Sometimes I will find that I am in a good frame of mind - despite whatever … [Read more...]
Fibromyalgia: The Great Momentum Equalizer
Wow! Last week was bad. Hell really. One of my most intense flare-ups I have had in a while; the kind of pain and fatigue that literally distorts your facial features. The few times I bothered to look in the mirror last week and take inventory, I was amazed at how awful the stranger peering back at me looked. It was a really long week. It was nothing new. We have all been there. We will all be there again. Then why, each time I suffer that severe of a flare, does it all seem so desperate and unending? Fibromyalgia is such a bitch! Just go back and read my last post written on a good day … [Read more...]
Gluten Intolerance: The Culprit Behind Many Chronic Illnesses
Do you ever find yourself feeling achy and fatigued for no apparent reason? Are you experiencing headaches, muscle and joint pain, irritability, bloating, or digestion problems? The symptoms you are experiencing may be an adverse reaction to the foods you eat. These are just a few of the many indicators of gluten intolerance, a condition gaining recognition as a contributing factor behind many chronic health issues. 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 … [Read more...]
It’s Day 30 of My 30-in-30 Writing Assignment!
I did it! I made it through my self-imposed 30-in-30 writing assignment. Wow, what a roller coaster it has been. I really learned a lot about what I am capable of and a little about over-doing it. Before sitting down today to write this post I looked back over the previous 29 and was actually impressed with the quality of what I put out there, even on the days when the last thing I wanted to do was to sit at my computer and write. I thought I would do a little recap of the posts and my health and frame of mind the day I wrote them. My Favorite Posts from the Last 30 Days I Do Not Want to … [Read more...]