What's that? You have never heard of Free Lunch Fridays? Well then you need to meet my sister, because she is so awesome and loving, and she would totally invite you to come! My sister lives about an hour away from me, but a few months ago she accepted this really great job just a few miles from my house. Ever since she started working there, we have made the effort to have lunch together at least once a week. Okay, so our lunch date is not always on Friday, but it is always fabulous! We laugh and gossip and complain and sympathize and share and laugh some more. Even though we text and … [Read more...]
Stay Tuned – My Brain Will Be Back Shortly
I am having trouble writing an intelligent post. That Wellness Center which I love greatly, and which I believe is where I will begin to improve my health, well right now it has kicked me in the butt. I have been in a pretty significant flare since I tried the H2O Cardio class. It was basically high-impact aerobics in the water and I really should know better. I really need to stick with the gentle, low impact classes. If I do things that put me in a 2 week flare-up, well then I am less likely to be successful and I know that. So now I cannot exercise and I cannot write and I cannot do the … [Read more...]
The Many Triggers of Fibromyalgia
Most patients with Fibromyalgia can pinpoint the inciting incident they at least suspect was the catalyst that triggered their Fibromyalgia symptoms. But as is the case with all things Fibromyalgia, no two incidents are necessarily the same. For some it was post pregnancy or minor surgery when their symptoms began. For others it was after a viral infection or a bout of mono. Emotional stress is another common cause cited by patients. I have not come close to listing all the variables and possibilities that trigger Fibromyalgia, which clearly helps demonstrate the complexities doctors face … [Read more...]
Viva la Vida
Do you ever feel that you are on the verge of something real, something good? Do you ever feel that despite all you are suffering with, or maybe because of it, that you are on the precipice of something deeper than you could have imagined, and that all you have gone through has brought you to this moment, to this time, and that everything is exactly how it is supposed to be? I feel that way right now. It started with my blog, which forced me to open up about the fact that I have Fibromyalgia, and about how very hard it is to manage my life sometimes. I feel like I have finally come clean, … [Read more...]
Fibromyalgia and Qigong
Several weeks ago I wrote about research results which claimed that Qigong can decrease pain levels and improve the quality of life in patients with Fibromyalgia and chronic pain. It took me this long to finally take a class, and after just one session I am convinced Qigong is a compatible and beneficial exercise for me. The Wellness Center I recently joined offers Qigong (pronounced chee-gong) in addition to many other mind and body disciplines. Fay McGrew is the instructor and this is how she describes Qigong: The practice of Qigong is used for stress reduction, to enhance the body's … [Read more...]