B is for Bathtubs

The next helpful must-have for people with fibromyalgia is a big, relaxing bathtub. When I used to have a bathtub, I grossly took it for granted. When I was experiencing a severe flare I never failed to utilize this beautiful blessing two...three...even four times per day. I stocked up on Epsom salt, moisturizing bubble bath, and relaxing bath oils to help combat my fibro symptoms. It wasn’t until we bought a home with only a shower that I came to realize what I had lost.

There is something incredibly soothing about gently floating in a hot bath after a long day. Wet heat and Epsom salts eased my stiff, achy, cramped muscles. Warm water combined with moisturizing bath soaps or bubble bath brought amazing relief to my itchy, dry skin. And relaxing bath oils melted away the stress and tension, as well as helped me combat insomnia. I miss those days, and I’m hoping to save up money to install a bathtub soon!

All my fibro warriors, I highly recommend you take full advantage of your bathtub, and if you don’t have one, it would be wise to eventually install one. A shower feels nice, but it never seems to get the heat deep enough and it prevents you from soaking and relaxing. Bathtubs might seem like ordinary, everyday parts of our home, but it is certainly a godsend in disguise. I have yet to meet someone with fibromyalgia who doesn’t agree that bathtubs make the perfect break from the fibro struggle.

A is for Air Conditioning

For the A to Z Challenge, we will be discussing some fibromyalgia must-haves--things that often help us fibro warriors to deal with or decrease our symptoms or to make our lives a little better or easier.  Fibromyalgia is a complicated condition, which manifests itself in vastly different ways.  Some of these in my list may not work as well (or even at all) for some of you.  However, I tried to stick with the bare essentials, so you will find many helpful tips over the next month.

So, without further ado...A is for air conditioning.  I know many people in the U.S. are just recovering from a frigid winter, but summer will come and with it, hot, humid days.  I have heard that they are predicting an extra hot and humid summer this year in many parts of the U.S.  Consequently, I’m working away at creating my summer oasis--somewhere I can hide when the temps get too high and too unbearable.

I’ve noticed that I can’t handle extreme weather (cold or hot), and many of my fibro friends are the exact same way.  For many of us, hot and humid weather saps our energy, increases our headaches, gives us intestinal issues, and even may give us rashes.  So, it is imperative to have a plan to combat the summer heat and humidity.

Having air conditioning in your home can be perfect, too, if summer heat causes you grief.  However, it isn’t always possible to have air conditioning or the power may go out, so create alternative plans. There are many ways to help you stay cool: (1) set up a comfortable spot to relax in the basement. (2) Stock up on fans (or even misting fans).  (3) Keep your fridge and freezer full of cooling drinks and treats.  (4)  Jump into the pool, shower, or bathtub.  (5) Limit time outside during peak sun times and while excessive hot and/or humid.  Or (6) if the summer weather gets too unbearable, find a public air-conditioned spot (mall, restaurant, grocery store, loved one’s home, etc.) as your fall back spot to take a break.  With a little planning, we can all get the most fun and enjoyment out of summer despite the sticky weather.

I Act Like a Moron Sometimes

I am always one who tries to focus on the positive and what is healthy.  But, sometimes, we all occasionally need to hear the bitter truth, and I am no exception  That is why I am going to admit today I sometimes act like a total moron.  Yep, I said it.  I own up to the sad truth, so I can learn from it and move on.

Most of the time, I am an intelligent and sensible woman.  I have book smarts, common sense, and plenty of life experience for someone my age.  But to be completely honest, I do dumb things sometimes...things that leave me shaking my head in total disbelief.

My latest walk with stupidity is health related.  I have had fibromyalgia for years, and it has been severe for the past 5 years.  Since traditional medicine didn't work out, I've experimented with many lifestyle changes.  One of the things I've found which helps improve my symptoms and my quality of life is supplements.  I take vitamins B, C, D, and E daily.  Each morning, I also take magnesium and calcium supplements and probiotics for my IBS symptoms and urinary health.  That equals 9 pills to take every single morning.  Yes, it is a hassle to choke all those pills down daily.  I'd much rather be doing a thousand other things

.

However, without them, I'm back to being stuck in bed and miserable.  So, why do I keep forgetting them?  Why do I not make my supplements a priority?  I went a week without taking them--again--and I feel awful--again!  I knew this would happen.  Yet, I kept putting my supplements off again and again.  Does this make any sense to you? It doesn't to me, so I can only conclude that I can be a total moron at times!

So, once again, I'm making a pact with myself to make time every morning to take my supplements, no matter how disgusting they are or how busy life gets.  My body isn't going to take care of itself.  No, it is MY responsibility.  My body is precious and irreplaceable, so I promise to take care of myself today and always.  All of the hard work and discomfort will be with it in the end because letting my health go will only lead to worse and much, much more unpleasant consequences.  I'll thank myself later!

Have you ever forgotten your supplements or medications, as well?  If so, do you have any special  techniques that help you remember?

A New Week: I Am 6 Pounds Lighter!

Our beach vacation reminded me that I miss walking!

I’m not even going to pretend to understand it, but I weighed myself for the new week and I lost those 6 lbs. that I gained during the first 2 weeks of my weekday walk challenge. That puts me down 2 lbs. from my starting weight. Yay!

Maybe it was because my body was struggling to adjust. Perhaps being on more of a liquid diet this week from dealing with a cold helped. Or maybe my scale was just messing with my head. Regardless of the reasoning behind this gain and now loss, I’m proud of myself. Expect for this past Friday (because it was chilly and rainy and I didn’t want to make my cold worse), I have been dedicated to my goal of walking a half of a mile every weekday morning. Even when my legs got all incredibly sore and cramped up, I pushed through it.

In the end, all the added pain and discomfort is well worth it! If losing weight and getting more fit has a chance of lessening my fibromyalgia symptoms, I am going to be there every morning that I can. This is MY body. It isn’t under fibro domain and never will be. Here is to taking back our bodies and our lives from chronic illness, one baby step at a time!

What are you doing to help ease or reverse some of your chronic illness symptoms? How well are you doing with sticking with it and pushing through the hard days?

Weather Woes

My poor body is in total shock. It has been sunburned, then frozen, then soaked, and finally roasted--all within a matter of two weeks. (And now it looks like it will have to deal with scattered thunderstorms again for the next few days.) The weather has been completely bipolar this month, and my body is suffering.

As many of you may already know from experience, fibromyalgia doesn’t like extreme weather. And it especially hates sudden and drastic changes in weather. These changes make the body severely sore, stiff, and unable to regulate its body temperature. And the worst part is weather is a fibro trigger that we can’t do much of anything about.

You may argue that we can always move to a more tolerable climate or simply stay in the house. However, weather can be pretty unpredictable anywhere you go. And hiding indoors does little to silence the chaos outside our door.

In the end, we are forced to muddle through the best we can. When we experience a weather flare we should try to get plenty of rest. Also, stocking up on anything that helps soothe our flared symptoms is a must. Finally, we can’t allow ourselves to do too much. Pushing ourselves when we are already under a lot of strain from the weather will only makes things worse. Using common sense and pacing ourselves during these difficult times could be the difference between a flare that lasts only days to one that goes on and on for weeks.

Which one would you prefer? I, for one, would much rather spend as little time laid up as possible. Because of this, I’ve learned to listen to my body and only do what it is capable of doing at the moment. If it says to sleep, I sleep. If it tells me that I’m pushing myself too hard, I take a break and later return at a much slower pace. Ultimately, we must all learn to listen to our bodies. That, my friends, is the best treatment we can prescribe for ourselves!

I...Icy Hot and Bengay

Related to my A to Z Challenge H post (H…Heat Therapy and Message), my topic for today is Icy Hot and Bengay. I am the first one to admit that absolutely adore muscle rubs. Brand name, generic, or even herbal (Cayenne pepper rub is amazing but expensive!), I always try to have solid supply.

Since I can’t live in hot water or on heating pads and I haven’t yet invented a heated compression suit, I’ve turned to muscle rubs as a source of portable heat. All you have to do is rub some on the sore spots, make sure you thoroughly wash your hands to avoid accidents, and you have almost instant relief, lowering the severity of your pain and cramping.

At one time, I was embarrassed by the smell of muscle rubs. I tried the unscented versions, but I noticed that they weren’t nearly as great as their pungent cousins. In the end, I went back to the normal muscle rubs, strong smell and all. Eventually, I learned to live with the smell and not care. To be honest, I actually find the spicy smell of muscle rubs to be refreshing and relaxing. (They also can help with stuffy noses, an added plus!)

Now I venture out in all my muscle-rub glory. I don’t care how many noses I offend or what people may whisper behind my back. I’m a fibro warrior…smell my aroma! I’d much rather be out living and end up clearing out a room than to be stuck in bed because I hurt too much. Seriously, for those who hate the scent of muscle rubs, I do sincerely apologize. I’m sorry my relief has to come at the cost of your nostrils. Really, though, there are worse smells. And a person’s gotta do what a person’s gotta do when times get rough.

H...Heat Therapy and Massage

One of my cats enjoying my heating pad, too!

If you are a fibromyalgia sufferer like me and have yet to discover the heavenly bliss of heat or gentle massage, I encourage you to see what they can do for you! Since I was a very active person before fibro took hold of my life, I’m no stranger to sore muscles and aches. It was during my early teens that I discovered just how amazing heat and massage can be when your muscles are stiff, sore, and cramping.

Now that I have fibromyalgia, I am a heat and massage addict! If I could live in a Jacuzzi for the rest of my life, I’d be content. But alas, I don’t have the money or the space for a hot tub. In fact, I don’t even have a regular bath tub to soak in anymore. Consequently, I’ve had to be a little creative in meeting my heat and massage needs.

I have a hot water bottle, 2 electric heating pads, and gel packs that can be heated in the microwave. I also have an electric heated massaging mat and a battery-operated heated neck massager. I have even improvised and rolled a golf ball with the bottoms of my sore feet to massage them after a long day. Although my fiancé is more than willing to rub my sore spots, I prefer to have as many backup options as possible in case he is at work or too tired.

Although heat and massage doesn’t cure fibromyalgia or make the symptoms go away, it’s wonderful to have something that can take the edge off the pain and help you relax. When I am having a bad flare day my favorite spot to write is lying on my heated massage mat. It covers many of my worst tender points and clears my head enough that I can think again. This mat is also wonderful for when I hurt so much that I can’t sleep. The heat and rhythmic massaging soothes my aching body and makes me sleepy.

Ultimately, it is important to find what works best for you. Sometimes wet heat works better than dry heat. Some people love rigorous massages, while people like me can usually only handle gentle massages. Even if you can' afford expensive equipment or therapy sessions, there are many cheap options available. Regular heat therapy and massage have improved my quality of life immensely, and it is likely they will offer some relief for you as well.

B...Be a B Student: The Importance of Vitamin B

Throughout my childhood, my parents encouraged to be my best and reach for my full potential. In school, they emphasized the importance of reaching and maintaining academic excellence. Wanting to do my best and make my parents proud, I worked hard to be an A student. Never did I think that one day I’d be encouraging myself--and all of you--to be B students.

I know, the B’s I speak of have absolutely nothing in common with school grades…unless of course you consider that these B’s are important for reaching and maintaining life excellence. Yes, the B’s I am speaking of are the B vitamins.

As many of you may know, I endured tons of tests and blood work before my doctor diagnosed me with fibromyalgia. Almost every result was good. However, my doctor did find that my B vitamins were a little low. As a result, he emphasized that I should be taking Vitamin B supplements every day because my deficiency could be affecting my fibro symptoms.

Since before my official diagnosis, I have spent hours and hours researching and reading about fibromyalgia. There are so many theories as to what causes fibromyalgia and what exactly IS fibromyalgia. Many doctors feel that fibro is related to some type of malfunction or injury of the nervous system. Vitamin B12 is essential to the proper function of the body’s central nervous system. Consequently, it is important for anyone with possible nervous system issues to make sure they are getting plenty of B vitamins.

Also, Vitamin B deficiency can cause unpleasant symptoms, including tingling in the extremities and fatigue. I had always assumed that all of my tingling and fatigue was solely my fibro’s fault. However, after taking Vitamin B supplements regularly now for about a year, I've noticed that over half of the tingling is gone and my fatigue isn’t quite as severe as it used to be.

Although vitamin supplements aren’t going to cure chronic illness, we really need to be aware that our bodies can’t function properly without the proper nourishment. By ensuring we have a diet rich of various vitamins and minerals and adding supplements where we fall short, we have the best chances of improving our health and not complicating things by adding unnecessary and easily remedied problems.

Before starting any supplements, please check with your doctor.  Some supplements aren't suitable for individuals taking certain medications or with certain medical conditions.

Battle of the Bloat: Margarine

Photo Credit: Roberto Verzo

The longer I live the more I realize how important it is to listen to our bodies.  Our bodies were designed to tell us when something is wrong, when it requires rest or nourishment, and when we have reached our limits.  However, so many people have learned to simply ignore the signs and signals that our bodies communicate so feel.  We continue on with our busy lives until suddenly this communication becomes so loud it CAN’T be ignored and starts interfering with our lives.

Obviously, it is much more logical and useful to train ourselves to perceive the subtle signs than to wait until our bodies are screaming at us.  Yet, it isn’t always easy to know where to start.  My doctor explained to me that fibro suffers have to make many lifestyle changes if they want to better the quality of their lives.  Any number of things could be causing symptoms or making them worse.

One of these critical areas is diet.  Although research hasn’t pinpointed any foods that are specifically detrimental to those with fibromyalgia, many doctors believe that diet can affect fibro symptoms.  "A lot of people with fibromyalgia have sensitivities to particular foods, but it varies from person to person," Liptan tells WebMD. "They might be sensitive to MSG, certain preservatives, eggs, gluten, dairy, or other common allergens."

As such, paying attention to our bodies' reactions to various foods can help us weed out foods that may be making our symptoms worse or even causing additional symptoms.

Noticing that I get much more bloated and gassy now since my major fibro flare started 4 years ago, I decided it was time to pay closer attention to my body and the foods I was eating.  In time, I started noticing a link between margarine and my bloating.

I was raised on margarine and taught that it was much healthier than butter.  As such, I just adopted this dietary habit without much thought as an adult.  Of course, I wasn't a huge fan of margarine and liked butter a WHOLE lot better.  But I reasoned that sometimes we have to compromise for the sake of the greater good.  Little did I know that this choice, which I hoped would spare me from my parents' heart disease and high cholesterol), was actually causing me discomfort and stomach cramps.

As I started to pay more attention to my eating habits, I noticed that on days when I ate margarine, I had considerably more gas and bloating and sometimes even stomach cramps.  Of course, since I try to get the most nutrients out of my diet, what I eat can vary greatly from day to day.  Consequently, I couldn’t say conclusively that margarine was the actual culprit.  To explore my theory further, I decided to stage a little experiment.  For a whole month, I would avoid margarine and only use butter.

By the end of that month, I realized that my stomach had been telling me all along that it didn’t like margarine.  In fact, it had been telling me within minutes of consuming this food, but I just didn’t notice.  A lot of my margarine usage was when I ate eggs and toast for breakfast.  Each time I ate eggs and toast I got this blah feeling in my stomach, and I had always assumed that it was because my stomach hadn’t been ready for such a big or rich meal.  But guess what happened when I continued to eat eggs and toast but with butter?  That’s right!  I didn’t get that feeling at all…and still don’t over 2 months later.

Some people with fibromyalgia may have no ill effects from margarine, but I know it is one food I should avoid.  Since my switch to butter, my gas and bloating has lessened some.  No, it isn’t completely gone, but that is one less food causing me additional symptoms and taking away from my quality of life.

Excuse Me, But Your Fibro Is Showing

A Fibro Rash (my left forearm)

Fibromyalgia is considered an invisible disease. After months and months AND months of seemingly endless tests, I learned firsthand that fibro is a ninja-like invader, leaving little proof of its merciless hold on our bodies. At times we question our sanity. Am I really just imagining this? Could it be all in my mind? If it’s actually there, then why can’t anyone find anything wrong with me?

And unfortunately, not only must we deal with self-doubt, but we must face the unbelief of others, too. “Oh, you look ok to me.” “But you were perfectly fine a month ago…” “It CAN’T be as bad as you claim.” “Well, maybe you need to only try a little harder.” “You just need more motivation and exercise!” “Aren’t you feeling any better yet?” The barbs and the well-meant comments go on and on…

One night, about 3 years ago, something happened that changed my life forever: my first fibro rash. For those of you that have never experienced a fibro rash, they are pesky things! They pop up out of nowhere with little or no warning. One minute, you are annoyed by a little itch here and a tiny itch there. Then, suddenly, it is as though an army of chicken-pox, poison-ivy welts/patches are fighting to consume every inch of your skin! The more you scratch the more it burns and itches.

Since fibromyalgia hits people differently, I’m sure fibro rashes vary and some fibro sufferers are lucky enough to skip this symptom. But for me, fibro rashes are a real and pretty big part of my life right now. My skin turns beet red, as if I had a severe sunburn. I get painful, little bumps under my skin. And there isn’t a single inch of my body that has not experienced a fibro rash at one time or another. Even the inside of my ears and nose, and my eyeballs have gotten red and irritated at times!

As I was lying in bed that night, trying to sleep in spite of the throbbing and aching that was consuming my body, I noticed my pain lessened. Thinking I was finally going to get some rest, I got more comfortable and closed my eyes. Just as I was drifting off to sleep, my right leg became really itchy. Since I had just shaved before I went to bed, I assumed that I was simply getting a little skin irritation from that. So I turned on my light, reached for some lotion, and slathered on some glorious cooling relief. Immediately, the burning faded. Consequently, I turned off the light again and curled back up in bed.

Yet, sometime after I went to sleep, I was rudely awakened by a severe itching and burning under my jaw and up onto my cheeks. Being only partially awake, I began scratching like crazy, longing for relief. However, as my fingernails dug into my skin harder and harder, the horrible sensation grew and grew! My mind started racing: ok, I didn’t shave THERE! What’s going on?

Then, feeling some strange bumps under my skin, I jolted awake and raced to the bathroom. As soon as I turned on the light and saw my reflection in the bathroom mirror, my heart skipped a beat! My face was so red and irritated—more so than I’d ever seen. I was shocked beyond words and couldn’t figure out what was causing this horrible rash. In desperation, I reached inside the medicine cabinet for Benadryl and took a dose. And unable to wait to see if it would help, I slathered my face with calamine lotion. Within a half hour, the itching and burning had stop. The rash completely disappeared. In the end, part of me was left wondering if maybe I had imagined or dreamed it all!

However, a few days later, I had invited my grandma over for dinner. I was busily at work in the kitchen, putting the final touches on our meal and setting the table. My grandma came into the room to ask if I needed her help when she suddenly exclaimed, “What is wrong with your arm? Did you burn yourself?”

Absentmindedly, I looked down at my arm, and again, my heart skipped a beat again. The rash was back but this time on my arm! Again, I took another dose of Benadryl and applied some lotion…and again, the rash vanished nearly as quickly and mysteriously as it had appeared.

Since then I have developed a fibro rash many more times than I could ever count. Sometimes it’s a small patch and is gone within minutes. Other times, it’s covering most of my body and lasts a good part of the day/night. After several failed attempts to show one of these rashes to my doctors (they always seem to vanish just before or while I’m in the waiting room), so I finally decided to take photos and come prepared. My rheumatologist immediately identified it as fibro rash and explained that without figuring out what was triggering my flares, there wasn’t much more I can do than what I was already doing.

Although I was discouraged that I was indefinitely stuck with this terrible symptom, I was relieved to know that nothing worse was happening to me. Yes, having your skin suddenly change color like a grotesque chameleon can be embarrassing and unnerving. Yes, I’ve had to work on my self-control to avoid scratching as much as is humanly possible (since scratching only compounds the problem). And yes, I’d be immensely happy to NEVER experience another fibro rash again. Still, part of me can’t help but smile a little because every now and then my fibromyalgia gets caught red handed—and red faced and red armed—and becomes visible for all the skeptics to see!

The Soothing Power of the Shower

Moving to our new home this month meant parting with my bathtub. Although I was excited to be crossing into the exciting new territory of homeownership, I was sad that the house we were purchasing only has a shower. For those of you who deal with chronic pain and sore/stiff muscles, you probably know how amazing a long, luxurious soak can be, especially after a stressful day. Add some Epsom salt to the water, and you have a glorious haven you wish you never had to leave!

During the worst of my flare ups, my bathtub was literally a lifesaver and kept me sane. I have been known to take 4 steaming hot baths in a single day because whenever my body is immersed in hot water, the pain eases and the stress seems to melt away! Consequently, I was quite scared that I had lost this glorious reprieve forever--or at least until we could afford to have a bathtub installed.

As soon as I stepped into the shower of my new home, my worst fears became reality. The water was so limp that my inner aches and pains weren’t interrupted for even a second. The idea that I might have to go for years without a soak hit me hard, and I literally sobbed. All the physical, mental, and emotional stress of our move was difficult enough. But to live without one of the few things that make my fibro easier? It was more than I could handle!

This week, however, has changed my opinion of the humble shower forever! My fiancé suggested that we go to Home Depot and pick out a new showerhead. I was extremely skeptical that a simple showerhead change would make that much difference. Still, I relented and tagged along. If there was a chance, no matter how slim, that I might get back some relief from my fibro symptoms, I was all for it!

Perusing the bathroom aisle, my spirits sunk again. I couldn’t believe how expensive some of the showerheads were, and I knew that since we just went through all the expenses of moving, we were obviously on a budget. After reading package after package, I was about to give up and go home. But then a showerhead caught my eye. It wasn’t very fancy looking, and it was only $29.99 (small change compared to some of the other selections). Nevertheless, the package guaranteed that this little showerhead could increase your shower’s water pressure up to 30%. I was sold!

On the ride home, I cradled the bag protectively in my lap, eager to make the showerhead swap. My fiancé went straight to the bathroom with his tools and went to work. Shortly after, the shiny new shower head was gleaming at me, beckoning for me to come and give it a test run. Despite my eagerness to try it out, bedtime arrived much too soon, and I was forced to anxiously wait until the next morning to take a shower.

The next day, I awoke at 6 am, super excited to try out our little shower upgrade. The moment the water hit my body from the new showerhead, though, I realized the wait was worth every second! The massaging setting was the most amazing thing I had felt in ages. It was as if my body was wrapped in total bliss! The tension and pain in my neck and back melted away. The muscles in my arms and legs, tightly cramped from hours of packing and lifting, relaxed. And my headache faded as the water massaged my scalp. Never before had I thought a shower could feel this soothing. And never again will I ever underestimate the power of a simple, affordable showerhead upgrade!