Once again good comes with bad. I ache less but am in digestive distress. Seeing my GI friday.

Caran

She was able to get a car, a job, and an apartment in the time she lived with us. I cried when she said she had found an apartment. I helped her move the last two days with the help of a moving company. Mom took back all the furniture and dishes she has promised her, so we gave her our extras.

I am having a flare-up because of the move, and hopefully can see my doctor today and get some prednisone. I hurt from my shoulder to my finger tips. Typing is hard, and I have to keep backing up and correcting my mistakes. LOL. Gentle Hugs.

you all have a good evening and Pete, I AM dreaming of puppies. They are due 9/27 and 10/31. Can't wait for little puppy breath!

When I first was diagnosed with the GERD I had just started teaching and I lost my voice for over a month- it was horrible- I went through almost a year of voice therapy. They said that teachers often get the worst of it because they arn't trained to speak for hours even though they are expected to in their jobs. I do lose my voice periodically- in fact this winter fighting fibro is the first winter I can remember that I DIDN'T lose my voice- go figure that one out. I do sing in a choir- but I made it very clear that I needed to be "expendable vocal texture" they are thrilled when I show up- and ok when I don't because they plan to be without me.

Pete-I hope you feel better from your fall!

We are currently under barrage from tropical storm Hannah. Rain, Rain and wind- could be worse- I'm not complaining. But the thing is- weather is one of my fibro triggers- and I've been feeling absolutly super sensitive. It's past achy- It's like i can feel every cell in my body vibrating- I havn't been able to relax- or even stop shaking since last night when the edges of the storm hit. I'm exhausted and wide awake and half asleep. I feel miserable. The meds seem to be doing nothing. I know it'll pass with the storm but WOW! This is my first tropical storm since fibro figting. Has anyone else had an experience like this- I can literally feel the air pushing against my skin. My head is pounding- and it hurts even to raise my arms.

OK- enough complaining- this too will pass. Good news is that the colonoscopy was clear! Keep up the good fight all of you- Thanks for listening

Caran

I have a question - have any of you had any experience with the cholesterol drug, pravastatin? I think I might be experiencing some of the side affects, increased muscle pain, lack of energy, extreme tiredness, flu-like symptoms - I know that sounds like what we go through every day LOL - but what I have been experiencing the past few days just feels different if you know what I mean, and I think it might be this med. because I just started it.

I just don't have the time or energy to read the back posts but I have missed everyone and think of all of you often.

Fortunately, my family physician has a long standing interest in rheumatic conditions and has even written several papers on them, and always believed fibromyalgia was a real condition 30 or 40 years ago. He has diagnosed my mother, myself, and now my two teenage daughters. My youngest is 12 and was diagnosed last year, my oldest daughter is now 18 and was diagnosed at age 15, although she probably had it earlier than that. (I remember I had one doctor tell me she had "growing pains" at age 10, which made me roll my eyes...I remember doctors telling me that garbage when I was a teenager too. No such thing, even I know that. Growing should not HURT! I also had frequent unexplained bouts of IBS and headaches all my childhood and now, which I understand is often how fibro first can manifest in kids now.)

I also have a 15 year old son with Aspergers Syndrome (basically, it's high functioning autism, often accompanying high IQ and without most of the language difficulties of classic autism, just some or all of the social ones), so I've pretty much spent years advocating with the school system for my children.

My oldest daughter is now 18 as I said, and I took her out of public school at 16 and allowed her get her GED, with which she will be done soon. We tried a 504 with her but I had to fight constantly to keep what few concessions I got implemented and to get any concessions at all in the first place, so I chucked it and got her out of public school. She is a self-motivated learner and also manages a part time job at Pizza Hut as a cook. She's a very talented artist and has already sold some of her work, and wants to attend a good art school and become a designer or an animation artist.

I got more concessions (probably because I have had lots more practice!) with my younger daughter but still am being harassed almost daily by the middle school she attends about her frequent absences. They call me every morning if she is not there by a certain time even though I got late arrival needed specified on her 504 (which in case anyone doesn't know, is a form that allows for concessions for medical or other conditions that require public schooling situations be modified to allow the student to attend public school).

The concessions I demanded where that my daughter be allowed to come to school later, as late as 10:00 am if necessary to get extra sleep. She also has sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome, according to a sleep specialist we just consulted with. My other two kids and I also have sleep apnea, which was much improved with surgery in their case. I also have a congenitally narrow airway which I apparently passed on to all three kids.

I also got the concession that she be allowed to lie down in the sick room whenever she feels fatigued, ill or in too much pain, and that she has an aide to help her when necessary, such as when she is too tired to walk from class to class. She is also excused from PE.

But, there are simply times when she cannot attend, such as when she is having bouts of diarrhea or bladder spasms, or has severe pain or headaches and cannot concentrate at all, or hasn't slept all night long. Last year, we had to deal with a really unreasonable teacher who insisted my daughter was using frequent trips to the bathroom to "mess around" and never seemed to believe my daughter had anything serious...it created a situation where my daughter developed anxiety attacks about going to school because she was horrified she'd have an accident in class. I finally took this teacher to task and basically had a knock down drag out fight with her and the school principle, I mean...it came to slamming things around and screaming on the principle's part, while I sat there and was called a stupid and bad parent for nearly an hour. I kept my temper and left before I punched someone, literally, I was that angry. Then, I had my doctor call them up and basically tell them all they were all abusive idiots who needed to quit practicing medicine and psychology without a license. My daughter, a smart kid, made up the absences and the one class she failed in summer school with ease, in spite of dire predictions that she'd never pass 6th grade by the not at all encouraging teacher and principle. By some miracle of coincidence, my daughter's summer school teacher is a fellow sufferer of fibromyalgia and understood perfectly what we were going through and was very very helpful and encouraging to my daughter.

All this has left my daughter with a very negative attitude about school, though, which I'm working with and she's seeing the school psychologist once a week. Fortunately, this year the school psychologist happens to be a specialist in sleep disorders in children and has been exceedingly helpful, with has been an unexpected blessing after all we dealt with last year. Anyway, my younger daughter is still quite depressed about having fibromyalgia as she was an active child who loved to ride her bike and skateboard, and now has almost constant pain in her back and legs which make this almost impossible. Are there any support groups for kids this age with fibromyalgia, and is it uncommon for it to run in families this way? I'm sure there's some genetic link with this in my family on the female side, as my grandmother (mother's mother) had fibro-like pains all her life as I remember, although was never diagnosed. Everyone just thought she was a hypochondriac, as I remember (she died when I was 16).

Some have told me that I would have more power over the situation if I had an IEP as I do with my son but believe me, even with the IEP, I have had to threaten legal action a time or two to get the school to give my son what he needs at times. But, as I understand it, this is under the Individuals with Disabilities Act, so it gives a parent a lot more legal leverage. It must, because when I suggested one for my daughter, they really resisted, insisting the 504 was enough. I'm beginning to think it's not. Any suggestions on how to insist on an IEP would be appreciated. Thanks in advance for reading this long thing, but I'm really needing to vent here! Obviously, me stressing over all this isn't doing me any good either.

Thanks again, Ginalin

Welcome newbies,glad you found this wonderful place.

Louise,hope you are doing well,miss hearing from you,come back soon.

I guess summer is over here in Pa.,tonight could be frost. Dave and I will close the pool when he gets home this week,and I'll be reay to go back on the road.

Gentle hugs to everyone.

I've had a cortisone shot in my neck and four shots in my heel. Now, they want to do it in my spinal cord. (I wouldn't even do that during childbirth). The shots have NOT helped, so I've decided not to let them mess with my back. But, I'd like to hear from any on you that has had this done, and if it helped you or not. Thanks in advance!

So, "Welcome" to all the Newbies and "Thanks" to all the Oldies-but-Goodies that are always just a click away. You are appreciated more than you know!

My poor flower beds look like a jungle with weeds taller than me. I have been so busy working inside I neglected them. I worked at pulling them out three days ago and hurt so bad now I can hardly do anything...that includes sitting very long.Tried to hire some kids to do it,but they act like that is a death sentence. My son has offered to come up from NC and finish the small things and the lawn work so everything will be taken care of before winter. I will be back in a few days to catch up on the reading,I see ther is quite a bit to read. Gentle hugs to everyone.

I have had shots in my heels also and it didn't do much for me. The shots were too painful for the results to be so minimum so won't do that again. My hands hurt so bad right now that I would probably consider a shot if it would help even a little bit. I wear wrist bands while painting or cleaning....it helps a little. Have a good Sunday everyone.....I'm going to go hold puppies.

I've read where some are trying to loose weight. My brother and husband did the "Sacred Heart" diet. If you google it, you will see how it works. My brother went from a size 38 pants to a 34 in 3 weeks. He has done the diet twice. My husband who did it only once lost inches. His pants are a little roomier and he had to put another hold in his belt. One of these days I am going to try it but am not too concerned about my weight at the moment. I am the biggest I've ever been in my life at 142 lbs but people are always telling me it looks good because I've always been small and sickly looking.

Sending my love and gentle hugs to all.....Dee

Dee,I am so sorry for your loss. I lost my Mother when she was 58 and what I wouldn't give for one more day with her. You and your family will be in my prayers.

On a lighter note I will be back on the road next run and my work on the house is done for this year. My kitchen is finished and my pool closed for the winter and I am ready to go.It has been in the 30's at night here so I am looking forward to going someplace warm.

Barbara Ca.I'm sorry you feel slighted in responses. That is not the norm in here,but like others have already said sometimes we don't have the answers you seek,or we are dealing with some bad days in our lives. Hang in here,keep coming back,there are some wonderful people in here and I am sure nobody ignored you intentionally. We are always here for each other. Warm fuzzy hugs to everyone.

i too have problems with twitching- especially when I'm exhausted. My husband and I refer to it as the dropsies! We buy our glasses at Ikea so we can keep replacing them! When I asked my doctor about it- she said it was a common symptom of the fibro.Muscles contracting etc.

I have been back at teaching part time, but having great difficulties with mornings. I finally talked to my doctors and then my boss about working during my best part of the day- afternoons and eary evenings. Problem is- schools don't really work that way- wouldn't it be great if they did- if there were shifts!!! Anyway- I'm going to be teaching in the afternoons only from now on- hopefully that will help- mornings are soooo hard for me.

The weather change to cold has gotten into my joints and back- pain doc says this is common. But I was in great pain for a while there. It should balance out once the weather settles into winter.

My doctor has signed me up for a nurofeedback study on fibro pain. I'll let y'all know how it goes.

As for the treatments I keep going back to for the pain accupuncture! It makes a HUGE difference in the back pain. Also heating pads- both the plug in kind and the iron oxidzation kind keep me going. Even at work. And, for bad finger joint pain- warm wax bathes, now that's comfort in a crock-pot!

Be Brave my Fibro Fighting Friends! Gentle Hugs!

Caran

My hands HURT- and they are clumsy and feel HUGE. AND my back hurts-I can't move without shooting pain up and down my spine. and my feet HURT they feel like my hands, and I've had a migraine for days!

OK I just needed to complain- I know what it all is- it's the weather change to the colder weather causing a Fibro flair and specifically with my hands and feet a Renyelds (sp?) flair it's related to the fibro and immune problems.

Changes in weather patterns are a major trigger for me. I try not to compain too much to my husband while trying to educate hime to my triggers. He's getting better at knowing what they are, which makes it easier- now instead of sulking if I don't want to go out on date night he asks me how my pain is and counts up triggers he's noticed. Of course sometimes he reverts to sulking . . . And he really is a BIG BABY when HE gets the sniffles . . .

Genle Hugs to All,

Caran

I found a wonderful man who loved me in spite of my Fibro and RSD and continues to love me with medical problems getting worse. He is truly a gem.

He was in a truck accident last week out in Long Beach,Ca.and our truck is damaged quite extensively,but thank God nobody was hurt. A young man texting his cell stomped on the gas at a stop light and drove directly into the side of our truck. As soon as the body work is done I will be back on the road.

Sending warm fuzzy hugs to everyone.

How many times do Ya'll sit in front of the pooter and ponder about posting? I do it so often...first I read the posts and then I just stare at the screen. I want to say what's on my mind at that time, but get overwhelmed, cry and just don't post. There's so much I want to say, but I get choked up, shake and tears stream down my face...even though I know have had good things happen...they seem a distant fog when I allow myself to post the truth about how I feel or how things are really going. I appreciate all of you so much and someday I pray that I'll have something worthwhile to share with Ya'll that might actually help someone.

In August, our central air went out...but at least our electric bill went down...so I'm thankful for that. We can't afford propane for our heat or cook stove...but, we've got long-johns, sweats and sweaters...so I'm thankful for that. We've got crock pots, electric skillets, a convection oven and a hot-plate...so I'm thankful for that. It took me two days to can some pear honey and tomatoes with just the hot-plate...and I'm thankful to have them. (it put me in bed for the next day...but, I'm thankful for all the quilts Mama left me.) My Dr. gave me the third degree on my last visit, but she refilled my meds and I'm thankful for that. So, I really do try to look at the good in everything...I just can't mask the pain well. I really try, but somedays I just have to let loose and cry. I stay very busy...my Hubby fusses at me for it. But, I can't rest well with this pain...I push myself to keep moving...to the point of exhaustion...THEN I'm able to lay down.

Thanks to those who share their experiences with the spine shots...my Dr. wasn't pleased when I told her that I didn't want to do them. The ones in my neck and foot didn't help...I dont' understand how she thinks more is better.

Pete, I also am very sensitive to smell and noise. In fact, I've been sleeping with spongy earplugs in my ears. I've found that if I drown out all noise and pile on the quilts, that I get some better rest at night. I'm swelling really bad, and I use oxygen at night. The air hose pressed against my face feels like razor blades and the indentions left from it stay all day...looks like deep scars.

Well, I hope Ya'll will forgive my rant...I'm thankful that Ya'll understand. I hope Ya'lls puppies, kittens, horses, truck and familys are doing well...they are all lucky that they have you. Folks with fibromyalgia have to be the most loving and gracious folks on the planet...someday others will realize what we deal with every moment of every day. Best wishes to all!

It's 4:00 in the morning and once again I'm not asleep. Not because I'm not sleepy but because the sinusutis and bronchitis make me feel miserable and the chostcocondritis (which is the fibro pains in the chest) feel like someone's poking me with long bony fingers... So, I', sitting upright in the middle of the night/morning playing with my compluter, hopped up on pain killer and codeine and feeling thankful that at least my back feels better these days.

Hey- Does anyone have that thing Renyalds(Sp?) disease) that goes with fibromyalgia where wour hands and feet, but especially your hands have difficulties with the cold and temperature changes and they turn colors and they tingle like they're fallling asleep only worse when you go ffrom cold to warm or warm to cold? Any suggestions on how to make that transion less painful? Beacause OMG IT HURTS!!! I've been doing wax dips and that definately soothing afterwards, but it doesn't really help the transition.

Anyway- I'm not able to work at all these days, Hopefully things will clear up so I can go back to teaching part time, Thanksgiving break is this week- so that should help- Guilt Free Break.!! I'll also thinking I might try some writing- cause that's something I can do at 4:00 in the morning!!

Be brave and keep smiling fibro fighters- everything feels better when you have a giggle on your lips!

Caran

Good news is- I'm back to school and feeling beeter. Bad news is, I have to do report cards. I understand the need for parents to know how their child is doing, I just hate having to RATE a child on a SCALE, when everyone blossoms and grows at everything in life in their own ways and using their own talents. Yet, our culture has a need to quantify it, to somehow make it aprropriate or not, and well, it just steams my booties. Just let me teach- that's the fun part!

Be Brave my Fibro Fighting friends!

Caran

My dear husband is sitting in Florida waiting for a load coming home...I hope he makes it for family Christmas next Saturday at my sister's house.

Our truck is repaired but not painted because the insurance company shorted us $500.00 on the sttlement. We have a $500.00 deductible and they held $1,000.00,and that extra $500.00 was the paint job.Not pretty now,but running.

I see the wall has been fairly quiet since I posted last,I'm surprised because it usually gets busy from fall right through winter.Come on FM'ily lets get talking.

I won't make this long,just wanted to pop in and say hi and remind everyone not to over do it getting ready for the holidays. Gentle hugs

The cold slows me down that's for sure! The snow sure is pretty though.

Thank goodness for heating pads, and fireplaces, and heaters, and electric blankets . . .

Happy Holidays

Caran

Juanita, good luck with the pain management doctor- I have a great one- she's a holiistic doctor who's just as likely to advise me to take higher doses of vitamin D and to make sure I keep up with my water exercizes as she is to advise me to take medications. She's really helped me.

I'm off to wrap presents!

Caran

I just wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy-Healthy New Year!! I am sincerely grateful to each and everyone here at the Wall!

Have a Blessed Holiday!

I wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year. I ended up spending the holidays quietly at home with my husband, instead of flying out to see my parents and my sister and her daughter because of a double ear infection. It's to the point now that I can't tell what the final dregs of the infection and what's the fibro flair because of the infection. My husband has been making a concerted effort to help though- I really appreciate that!

Alexis- I think most of us went though misdiagnosis and extream pain. Many of us still go though extream pain with a fibro flair. It is a good step that your seeing a rhumotologist. It might also help is you asked your rhumotologist to recomend a pain specialist for you to work with as well. Also, read and try everything. Different things work for different folks- but when you find what works for you- stick with it. For me it's heat. Heating pads, electic blankets, those iron stick on pads, heated wax dips, I even try to do my exercises (when I'm up to it) in the theraputically heated pool at the Y. Just keep on fighting!

Be happy y'all!

Caran

My Lyrica has been raised to 300 mg. a day, and I am doing very well with very few flare-ups and no side effects. I finally found something that works. I know a lot of you have tried Lyrica, and it didn't work, so I was a little worried when I first started it.

Hubby and I still have our jobs, but my days have been cut. We are OK through February, we think. It is month by month. We are hoping to get busy in a week or two when the next college semester starts. Students and college book stores will start ordering. Gentle hugs to all.

I hope everyone had a happy holiday and is recuperating from same. I have another question...I've been having dizziness alot lately and sometimes nausea with it. I know you'll think I'm nuts, but it happens more when I get up from laying on my right side. (that's the side I get the best sleep on.) It also has happened, just getting up from sitting down. I need to keep moving, because my legs and arms go numb so often. (that's a whole nuther problem!) Anyway...could I have done this to myself by wearing earplugs at night? The earplugs improved my quality of sleep, so I hope it's not that.

Does FMS cause dizziness or vertigo? I looked it up online, but I don't understand all of the "professional" explanations. I was hoping to find out from the "real pros" here, that may deal with this personally. I thought I was already coping with everything that FMS causes us to suffer with. Soooo...maybe I'd rather find out that it is the earplugs afterall. I've already quit using them, but the dizziness keeps me swaying. My left ear is burning some, but no real pain. So far, I've only fallen back onto the bed, but I'm concerned. It's been happening for a week or so. Thanks in advance!

Still fighting the monster...retired...living in Massachusetts (used to be New Hampshire).

I'm happy to be back.

Debbie- I get dizzy and nauseated often. When I bring it up to my rhumatologist she says it's not uncommon for fibro patients.

I've been fighting a flair with the snow and cold weather- I'm especially achy in the arms and hands. And my fingers are just not working the way they're supposed to. I had to have my husband help me hook my bra the other day because I just couldn't get it. He thought it was funny- I felt foolish. It's bad enough having him hook my necklace for me.

The good news is that my work disability reversed their decision and are going to start paying me again. They, are even going to make up the back pay from when they "decided I was well enough to work full time." Whoo Hoo!

Keep Fighting!

Caran

Thanks to all that responded to the dizzy question. Welcome to all the Newbies and Oldies...I always find some peace when I come here.

I'm battling depression really bad and feel ashamed to admit it. I realize there are so many folks who have much worse things to deal with. I'm not depressed due to bad stuff in my life...the never ending pain is my demon. I already take meds for depression and pain, but they don't help on most days. I feel like such a burden, even though I push myself to be as independent as possible. I know that my loved ones would be happier if I could be the person I used to be. I pray for the grace that I need to show kindness to others that can't possibly understand what we are going through. I do my best to restrain from being grouchy...that's what putting up with this pain, physical and mental limitations does to me (it's not a side effect from the meds...I'm worse without them.) I just can't be that ray of sunshine that others remember me being. I cry alot and that's a downer to my loved ones...they wonder what/if they did something wrong. It's not fair to them either, and I know they are as tired of this monster as I am. I hope they don't get tired of me and that they know how much I love and cherish them. I tell them so everyday. Somedays, I wouldn't even eat if I didn't need to feed my family. I wouldn't go outside if it weren't for my dog and chickens. I go to church on Sunday mornings, but can't commit to more than that. Is it selfish of me to desire to keep some sort of dignity while living with this? I feel as though I'm losing myself.

Please forgive me if I've bummed Ya'll out. I know that Ya'll understand, and I can talk to Ya'll here. I promise to share good times here someday. Gentle hugs....

I have a couple of questions for you, if you don't mind. Was it hard to get off the Fentynal? I'm not planning on going off it, but I have heard really bad stories about withdrawls.

Right now I still only get about 3 hours a day where I can get out and about and feel like a normal human being.

I hope you get your insurance problems fixed...I know how hard it is.

gentle hugs and warm wishes..Janet

Now for my disappointing update on my fibro. I retired in September expecting to have my health fall in line as I had more rest, more freedom TO REST which was probably the biggest stressor. I moved to somewhere I could almost afford to retire so for ten months had a two-hour commute each way. Then I had to work with a psyco. bully who had tantrums and played nicey-nice around supervisors. Resting, I swear, is the most pleasant and most important tning in the world.

I was travelling for six weeks in January & February and wanted to see how much I'd improve--and I expected to improve because I'd be doing what I wanted to do--which seemed like it should be fairly close to stress-free. I didn't have the insight to see that the travel days would likely be stressful. I go into near-freakout when I don't know the way to wherever I'm going--so I had seven days where I didn't know my way and felt my usual (god, i'm a slow learner) fear/panic hovering. I also spent too much on the 1st half of the trip, so had to be careful to be on time to hotel breakfasts (big, bacon/egg things) to conserve $.

I walked, slowly, 5, 6 or 7 hours on non-travel days. I would feel okay until mid-afternoons and get stiff, painy, etc. So, even though my endurance improved, I could carry my suitcases up a short flight of steps (better if i remembered to take one of my panic meds. 1st), but the pain DIDN'T GO AWAY. Fibro. is progressive, right? I did tell you I was a slow-learner.

It feels good to be back. I hope somebody remembers me. Louise?

Some person had spent his whole life inside a cave with a group of people. It was rather dark in there, but they lit a fire (I don't know how they got firewood.) Anyway, it was still dim & they saw each other mainly in shadows on the wall. One day, this person wanders down a tunnel & finds himself outside--in the sunlight w/trees, flowers & everything. He was so excited he went back into the cave & started telling the people about what they were missing, but nobody believed him.

Cheers & low-pain evening to all,

I agree with Pete- Keep trying, If one doctor doesn't "get it" go to another. It is a hard disability for people to understand because it changes so from day to day and minute to minute. And some have fibro on it's own and some have it as a symptom of something else. It's amazing. And anytime a member of my family comes down with a sinus infection of a cold, they're super nice to me-because"oh, this is what you feel like most of the time!" but then they get better, and forget.

Anyway-Keep fibro fighting!

Caran

Juanita- I'm glad to hear your husband is helping around the house a little more. I continue to get sick because of my lowered immune system (along with the Fibro) and this last time I gave the Sinusitis to my husband as well. You would have thought he was dying! I could barely move because of course I have Sinusitis, Bronchitis and a bad Fibro Flair and he is moaning and groaning about how I can't take care of him in his time of need. If I could have moved I might have suffocated him with a pillow!! (just kidding - but it would have put him out of his misery.

So, anyway 3 days later, I still can't move and he's just fine because his antibiotics have kicked in and he's all apologetic - and it just makes me laugh. Because I know if it was HIM dealing with this stuff . . . well, let's just say my bad mood days are nothing compared to his sick days!!!

Gentle Hugs all of you! Keep Fighting!

Caran

'Fibro fog' is the symptom that bothers me the most.
Of course, pain,IBS,numbness,tingling,being cold is right up there and I seem to have most of the other bothersome symptoms that go on and on and on.<

Living in the woods is my alternative form of therepy. The tranquility I feel when I look out the window helps in some obscure way:)

In the morning, I put a smile on my face and then I follow that smile out of bed! It is a pact I made with myself many years ago,"No-one will ever see me without a smile on my face!". Everyone thinks I am the happiest, most content person in the world but I have fibro and it gets me down so I like to be alone.

It is raining today so it is not one of my better days:(

I'm not sure what happens to thes message now so I'm going to subit it and see what happens.So much for a short post.

'Fibro fog' is the symptom that bothers me the most.
Of course, pain,IBS,numbness,tingling,being cold is right up there and I seem to have most of the other bothersome symptoms that go on and on and on.<

Living in the woods is my alternative form of therepy. The tranquility I feel when I look out the window helps in some obscure way:)

In the morning, I put a smile on my face and then I follow that smile out of bed! It is a pact I made with myself many years ago,"No-one will ever see me without a smile on my face!". Everyone thinks I am the happiest, most content person in the world but I have fibro and it gets me down so I like to be alone.

It is raining today so it is not one of my better days:(

I'm not sure what happens to thes message now so I'm going to subit it and see what happens.So much for a short post.

Fibro Fog! Boy oh boy do I know about that. I have been dealing with this horrible part of Fibro for some time now. I have had to completely restructure how I live my life. Every appt or important thing that has to be done is on my computer. I put the dates and times in my Outlook in my email program and on that date and time I get a "ding" that reminds me what I have to do. I work puzzles, play "thinking" games on the computer that help me concentrate and keep my mind active. The worst of this Fibro Fog was when I wasn't working. I had nothing to keep my brain active so it just sat there in a stupor! LOL.

Pain! Some days I can't even hold my book to read because the pain in my hands are so bad. Back pain, knee pain, head aches. you name it and I have it on a daily basis. I used to take meds for pain and also Prozac but I felt it was dragging down my mental capabilities so I'm off all meds except for prilosec.

Depression is the worst! I find myself going under and have to work so hard to not let it get me! God, family, friends and my dogs help a lot. My painting also helps but have not had time or energy to do much painting.

Long story short, (well not so short) I feel better working mentally and just have to push really hard physically to be able to maintain but I find that I like my mental wellbeing better than my physical wellbeing. If that makes sense to anyone.

Be good to yourselves.

Just checking in to say "hi"! It's finally starting to warm up around here. Last weekend was the first trip to the nursery for the year, and backyard gardening- so of course there were several days of barely moving after that. Personally for me, gardening is one of those things that is worth the next day flair up! It connects me to the earth. This year I was just itching to get out there.

We've finally narrowed down my diagnosis to a form of Lupus, Reynard's disease, and fibromyalgia. So, I finally have an answer to write in the blank for all the forms. And, it only took three years of testing and retesting and closely working with my Rhumatologist and my pain specialist. Anyway, my point is, to anyone who needs reminding, hang in there and be an advocate for your own health.

Gentle Hugs!

Caran

First of all- I want to say to Alabama Jane and anyone else out there who is getting this from their family that nobody not your Sister, not your doctor . . . nobody has the right to tell you that you're sick because you're not praying enough, or doing enough or ANYTHING enough. IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT THAT YOU ARE SICK.

See, I have a theory. I think that our friends and family want us to be well. And they can't help us. And they feel helpless. Feeling helpless scares them. They don't like being scared. So they get mad at us. Now, it's our fault! That helps them feel less scared.

Debbie- you asked how those of use who tested for Lupus (I have a similar disease) knew to test for it. If you go to a rhumatologist they will test you and not just stay with the diagnosis of fibromyalgia. In fact, your fybro could be being caused by something else or masking something else. Treating just the fybro may not be enough.

I'm feeling poorly this last month. I had a big flair up, and it hasn't compleatly calmed down. I'm OK though. I'd like to know how everyone else is. Please everyone, would you check in?

Caran