There's a lot going on

I haven't updated the blog lately as my life has been (and still is) hectic. New job, new skills to learn and a new way of life.

Since I lost a little weight (2 stone) I found that my energy had increased, my pain decreased and I began to see a light at the end of the tunnel.

My new job is very demanding and stretches me in ways I thought were no longer possible. I can be on my feet for many hours, driving for hours and doing strenuous repetitive movements that, only a year ago, seemed impossible.

I am no longer exhausted when I get home. I'm tired, but it's a good kind of tired. I feel that I have accomplished something.

I have been able to reduce my pain meds and I have been sleeping a little better. My weight loss had plateaued but now, I have found inspiration to keep going and the results are starting to happen again.

I also get out and about exploring abandoned buildings and ancient ruins - much better than sitting in front of the TV!

So what, why , how?

All I can say is that I have taken back my life. I refuse to let this illness - fibromyalgia - define me. I also have TN (Trigeminal neuralgia) but that too, seems to have eased off a bit. Perhaps the winter will set me back a little but I'm not afraid to face it.


Some pics of an old folly I recently explored with some friends #healthyliving #fibrowarrior

My thoughts on the book; Andrea Hayes - My Life Goals Journal

Life Goals

As many of you are aware, I suffer from fibromyalgia. I refuse to give in to the pain and I try to live my life as normally as I can.

I recently heard about a book called My Life Goals Journal by Andrea Hayes. My daughter gave me a book token for my birthday and when I was browsing in the shop, the book caught my eye. I picked it up and opened it to have a quick look through.

De-clutter

It fell open at a page about getting rid of emotional and physical clutter. Since the fibromyalgia began to affect my life, housework and maintenance have become very difficult for me. One of my biggest problems is the clutter that has built up in my home.

I thought this must be an omen.

Could this book really help me to get my life back in order?

Clarity

I flicked through the book and it felt good in my hands. I decided to treat myself. I couldn't wait to get started and as soon as I got home, I opened it and began to read the introduction. As I read, my mind cleared and I realised that this woman understood me and my pain.

I immediately felt that here was someone who knew what she was talking about. Someone who knew because she had been through it herself.

Love

The introduction touched me deeply. This woman opens her heart and shares it so that other people may start to heal their own pain. There are many areas I need to work on but even in the introduction, Andrea gives us the tools to begin the work.

Knowledge

The journal is divided into twelve chapters. Each chapter covers a month, allowing us to learn the tools for making the necessary changes and giving us the time to absorb them. Before we dive into the monthly chapters, Andrea walks us through our life goals. She helps us to learn about ourselves, our wants, needs and desires. We are encouraged to dig deeply and find our true selves.

This may sound difficult but Andrea helps with the process and breaks it down into easy sections. By the time I had finished the introduction, I had a much better grasp on who I am and what I really want from life.

All along the way, we are told that the journal can be kept private and therefore we can write whatever we choose. No one can judge us and we are free to change our goals as we progress.

Hypnosis

Along with the journal, Andrea gives us free access to her website. Each chapter of the journal deals with a different area and on the website there are monthly hypnosis sessions to compliment the journal.

I settled back to listen to the first month's audio. I had tried hypnosis before. I had successfully lost weight while having hypnosis. (I put it all on again afterwards but that's another story!)

I found it very relaxing. Andrea's voice is soothing and I loved the positive thoughts she projected into my subconscious mind.

I remember the positive thoughts from the first session but to my surprise, I have not heard them since the first time.

I thought that the hypnosis would simply help me to relax a little but imagine my surprise, when I found myself waking up hearing Andrea saying  you're wide awake now.

Okay, so maybe I was tired and fell asleep (I like to use the hypnosis when I am in bed). I tried it again the following morning. I was wide awake at the start and relaxed, listening to the soothing tones. I woke up again to hear her saying you're wide awake now.

It had happened again!

I felt great.

Hope

That evening after work, I came home and cleaned out some cupboards that I had been meaning to do for years. I felt really happy as I filled the recycling bags. I found things I thought I had lost and got rid of things I no longer needed.

If this is how great I felt after three sessions, I can't wait for more!

These were my first experiences but I will certainly continue with both the journal and the hypnosis and will update you regularly with my progress.

Sharing

If you are using the journal or have tried similar positive healing techniques, I would love to hear about them.

Feel free to share your thoughts below.

How to Relax

Every time we visit our health practitioner the same question comes up; how are you sleeping?

Sleep: One of the many problems of fibromyalgia is the lack of this precious commodity.

Why precious?
I believe that a good night's sleep holds the key to many of us getting, at least a part of, our lives back.

Good quality, deep, restorative sleep is the Holy Grail. During sleep our bodies heal, tired muscles relax and our minds go over the day's events and puts them in perspective.

Poor sleep or broken sleep only puts more stress on our, already overstressed, bodies and leaves us feeling tired, stiff and sore, and in an anxious state.

There are things that we can do to improve the quality of our sleep and help us get some of the relaxation we crave.

Walking helps to release endorphins and is not too hard on our bodies. Too much, however, may just leave us with even more aches and pains as well as the, ever present, tiredness. The secret here is moderation. Short, regular walks work far better for us than longer ones. Try to keep to places where you do not have to go uphill (or downhill) as this requires more energy and puts more strain on our aching legs.

Massage Regular massages from qualified practitioners who understand fibromyalgia can be beneficial. Not all of us can tolerate full body massages but even a simple hand massage can be very relaxing. I love getting a head massage from my hairdresser but I hate having my head rubbed when having my hair shampooed! Try different things and find what works for you.

Reflexology claims to work on various areas of the body. Most babies seem to love having their feet rubbed and they usually sleep well after this so perhaps we are really all connected through our feet. I, personally, hate having my feet rubbed but far too many people find relief from reflexology and it is certainly worth trying.

Aromatherapy There are many essential oils that aid relaxation. Always buy the best quality you can afford and don't be afraid to try your own blends. These can be used for massage, in burners, as air spritzes - you can even lightly scent your pillow. The secret here, once again, is to try! Keep going until you find the oils that suit you best and the delivery methods you prefer.

Music There are many relaxing pieces of music available - sounds of nature, haunting pan pipes  - you know the sort! Personally, they drive me to distraction! I prefer to listen to my favourite music for relaxing even though it is far from the type of music usually recommended! Again, listen to what pleases you, not what someone else assumes will please you.

Gentle hugs

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If it's not one thing ...

Well, most of the chest and back pain has gone now and the usual pain and stiffness isn't too bad so, now my hiatus hernia is playing up!

We are all used to pain all over and look forward to the occasional break from it (if we're lucky) but right now, I could really do without this.

I presume that the anti-inflammatory gel has sparked this - I haven't been able to take the tablets for years - as usual, the cure for one symptom often gives us more problems. I'll have to watch my diet for a week or two until it settles down and hopefully will avoid having to increase the Emazol.

Luckily, I have been through two oesophageal erosions and know what I have to do.

• Relieve stress - Need to relax more
• Avoid caffeine, tomatoes and most raw foods, alcohol and anything spicy - thankfully it's only for a few weeks! The last time it was for six months and that was a chore!
• Sleep with my head raised up on a mountain of pillows - I still do this, just in case, as the acid reflux makes me cough and ruins my already poor attempts at sleep
• No bending over - The last time even my voice box got badly burnt by the acid and I kept losing my voice, so not taking any chances
• Eat small regular meals - Difficult as I don't get a chance to eat on the days I work so I'll have to work this one out

Here are my main pain triggers

• Rushing around
• Grabbing food on the go
• Tomatoes, apples and anything spicy
• Alcohol - I don't indulge much any more as it really is not worth the ill effects afterwards!

I'm open to any helpful suggestions so if you have a tip that works for you, leave a message in the comments!

Gentle hugs

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Essential Oils for Pain Relief

Aromatherapy may have a beneficial effect on Fibromyalgia sufferers. As with all natural treatments, there is no definitive evidence either way but it can be worth a try to see if it works for you. Make sure you check with your health practitioner first as essential oils may interact with medications.

What oils should I try?

• Lavender – Anti-inflammatory, Pain Relieving

• Chamomile (German) – Anti-inflammatory

• Eucalyptus – Anti-inflammatory

• Rosemary – Anti-inflammatory, Pain Relieving

• Wintergreen – Pain Relieving

• Cayenne – Pain Relieving (Nerve Pain)

• Sandalwood – Anti-inflammatory, Pain Relieving (Muscle Cramps)

• Marjoram – Pain Relieving (Muscle Cramps)

• Helichrysum – Anti-inflammatory, Pain Relieving (Nerve pain, Muscle Cramps)

There are many other oils that you might like to add to your blends (For relaxation, to aid sleep etc.)Do some simple research on the oil and if suitable, add it to your blend.

How do I use these oils?

Always dilute essential oils before applying to the skin. (Some can be applied direct, but unless a qualified practitioner advises otherwise, it is safer to use them in a diluted form)

An Aromatherapist will mix you a blend suitable for your own use or you can try mixing your own.

Always use a good quality carrier oil as the base - olive oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil, sweet almond oil – there are many excellent carrier oils so use whichever suits you best.

For a massage oil the dilution is usually 1 fl oz of carrier oil to 10-12 drops of your chosen essential oils.

Mix and match your blends until you find one that suits (try using smaller quantities in the same ratio so you do not waste your expensive oils)

As essential oils are quite strong do not use them on children or during pregnancy unless expert advice has been sought.

Start with simple blends and add different oils as you become familiar with them – keep to the same ratios – so that if you do have a reaction to an oil you will know which one is causing the problem and can remove it from your next batch.

Use your blended oils for all-over body massages or for rubbing on the painful area. Do not use on broken or damaged skin.

Gentle hugs

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When I first heard the word Fibromyalgia spoken by my doctor, I thought 'Oh yeah, I've heard of that! It's that aches and pains thing.'

I went home. Googled it. And fell into a deep dark hole.

When I finally managed to escape from the hole (with help from my doctor, counsellor and friends) I decided to find out as much as I could about it - good and bad - and do something to help myself feel useful again.

There was so much information out there, at first I didn't know where to start but eventually I managed to boil it down to this. My starting point!

Here are my Top Fibro Fives - Five things we should all know so that we all have a starting point on our journey of self discovery.

Top Five Symptoms

• Pain
• Anxiety
• Concentration and memory problems
• Depression
• Fatigue

As we are all aware there are far more symptoms but most fibro sufferers will have experienced all of these.

Top Five Helpful Natural Supplements or Creams

• Vitamin D3
• Fish Oils
• Magnesium
• Capsaicin
• Co-enzyme Q10 

Always check with your health practitioner before taking any supplements or using any creams as, even though they are naturally occurring substances, they can interact with other medications or conditions.

Top Five Natural Treatments

• Yoga
• Meditation
• Counselling
• Acupuncture
• Reflexology

Always check with your health practitioner first and make sure you only use qualified professionals who are familiar with our special needs.

Top Five Essential Oils

• Lavender
• Marjoram
• Chamomile
• Ginger
• Black Pepper

Always ask for advice from a qualified professional before using any essential oils.

Top Five Foods that Help

• Oily Fish
• Nuts for eg, walnuts and almonds
• Vegetables especially raw
• Lean good quality meat and protein
• Water

The key here seems to be to keep it simple and natural. Although not strictly food, I have included water as it is essential for every cell in our bodies.

Top Five Foods that Hurt

• Sugar and products containing sugar
• Products with gluten, especially made from white flour 
• Aspartame
• Caffeine
• Dairy Products

As we can see, the more processed the food, the more harmful to us.

Gentle hugs

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Damn those Aches and Pains

One of the most common symptoms of fibromyalgia is the all over aches and pains. Sometimes described as flu-like, these can strike at any time and make us feel ill, tired, depressed and generally fed up with the illness.

I usually start by getting the aches in my thighs. After a little while the pains move to my arms and then, the rest of my body.

The best thing I've found that helps a little is warmth. Depending on the time of year and the actual air temperature I try one or more of the following in my attempts to gain a little relief:

• A hot water bottle - either cuddled for the perceived comfort or applied directly to the aching area.
• Ensure that the house or room is warm either by lighting the fire or turning on the heating - depends on the time of year and the amount of fuel available!
• Hot drinks - I prefer coffee but many people find teas, hot chocolate or hot milk. I prefer to keep away from alcohol as, although it provides quick relief, once the 'buzz' has gone, the aches and pains seem to return worse than before.
• Appropriate clothing - Although I feel the heat more now than I ever did, I keep a jumper handy for the times I feel under the weather.
• A cosy blanket - to use either while sitting on the sofa or as an extra cover in bed.

It doesn't matter what method you choose, as long as it has the desired effect.

I find that the aches and pains don't last too long once I'm warm and comfortable but unfortunately, they often precede the nerve pains that are so much more difficult to bear.

I have often mentioned this and I will say it again, good quality, restorative sleep is the most important thing we can do to help alleviate some of our awful symptoms.

Gentle hugs

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