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Fibromylgia Comments

I have received comments from followers making a personal statement or asking for a response from myself, or anyone who can relate to fibromyalgia. When I first started this blog I really had no idea what niche I was going to follow, other than writing posts about personal experiences that other people may be able to relate to. Being a baby boomer I have plenty of things I could write about or embarrass myself with! However, I have got a very real response to all the fibomyalgia articles that I have posted here, on Twitter and Facebook. I discovered that everyone needs someone that can relate to this disease and talk to. I myself have no one to talk to so I have decided this is going to my niche. You will still get stories about myself and anything I decide to add that I feel people may like. If you would like for me to add your questions and or information in one of my posts, email me at purrfectone@ymail.com. I will only add your name if you agree to it, otherwise your information will be left anonymous. Here is one of the comments: I have also noticed the following symptoms: * shakes/tremors that tend to be worse after activity or while experiencing higher levels of pain; * nausea that seems to be occurring daily around lunchtime; and * bouts of sweating, especially during the night. Anyone else out there have these? If you have any of these symptoms you may make a comment at the bottom of this post. I myself have noticed shakes/tremors that tend to be worse after activity or while experiencing higher levels of pain. I do experience nausea occasionally along with dizziness. But not very often. I can't remember right now if I knew what may have set it off. (bouts of sweating, especially during the night.) I can attest to bouts of sweating at any time day or night! Everyone else can be freezing, but I will be sweating like an old man in the fields on a hot summer day. Oh my, can I ever relate!! I don't want my posts to get too long, so I will address this issue again later.

Remembering My Mother

It is funny how a persons life changes through out the years. Sometimes we make the changes ourselves and some are made for us. When I was 4 years old my mother died at the age of 29. Now although I don't remember it, it has changed every day in my life. I think about my mother a lot, and when I do, I miss her. I only have a few memories, but I hang on to those with all my heart. My mother had rheumatic fever and was told not to get pregnant that she may lose her life and mine. But she ignored her doctors and here I am today. She wasn't allowed to do very much so we had a housekeeper. She spent all the time she had with me. I assume that has molded my personality and helped make me the person that I am today. I was told that my mother had a good sense of humor, loved to tell jokes and spend time with her family. There was a small room upstairs in our house and as far as I can remember the only thing in this room was a small record player and children's records that at that time were bright yellows and reds. We danced in that room. She held my hands and we danced and danced and danced. I also remember her teaching me how to tie my shoes. Although the memories are few, I look at the picture of her and I sitting at our kitchen table eating watermelon and I smile. I have no shirt on and the juice is dripping down my chest but we are smiling and enjoying all the time we have left together.

My Cats "Beau and Sheik"

Everybody that knows me knows that I love cats. I like dogs, but I love cats. They are the only thing in the house that is self cleaning, except for maybe the oven, of course. I am the kind of pet lover that lets my pets sleep with me and feel offended when they don't. They look at me with great admiration and I look at them for the great pleasure and sense of love they provide. And they are great entertainment. Anyone who has a house cat knows what I mean when I say the "dash and go" game. This is where they are sitting completely still looking like they are asleep with their eyes open and in one second they are across the room like they were shot out of a cannon. This always amazes me. My cats loved the milk ring that you pull off the plastic container. We always pulled them off and threw them on the floor automatically. Most of the time you could probably round up about fifty if you crawled under the bed or dug deep enough in the closet. When we had visitors, especially the ones that didn't come over very often, or didn't have inside pets, we tried to hide them. I always felt like they would think, man these people throw their trash on the floor, how gross! One or two rings would appear during those visits if the cats liked the visitors. They would carry one over to them and drop one at their feet and look up and meow. Most of these people had no idea what was going on, so we would have to show them how to play the the "milk ring toss" game. This game got even funnier after we got a wood floor in our kitchen and family room. The cats would run and then slide........like no tomorrow. They soon learned how not to slam into the fireplace. We had a small wool rug in front of one of our chairs and when they landed on that it was like a magic carpet ride. They loved it! We no longer have Beau and Sheik. They are playing with each other in cat heaven. They are probably looking for milk rings and someone to toss them. I miss those cats with all my heart.

Tips For Friends, Family And Co-Workers Of People Who Suffer With Fibromyalgia

"Don't Wait Another Moment! Improve Relationships Between Friends, Co-workers And Those With FMS Now!" Having experienced the symptoms of FMS since 1978 [even before it was recognized by most as a legitimate disorder] I have had to deal with the reactions of friends, family and co-workers to my illness. I would say that without a doubt that if you do not know someone with FM, you do not understand it....not really. If you are acquainted with someone with , there are certain things that they desperately need you to know. These are several points and suggestions [tips] I would like to make to those who know of someone with fibromyalgia [FMS]. Invalidation And Disbelief "You look fine to me." I do not know how many times I have heard this over the years. This is why fibromyalgia is sometimes referred to as "The Invisible Illness". Please recognize that "seeing is not always believing!". Looks can be deceiving, especially with people with FM. People sometimes think that people with fibromyalgia are just lazy or depressed. Don't even think that, "If they just push themselves a bit, they can do anything the rest of us can do", just because they don't look sick! The fact of the matter is that fibromyalgia is a medical illness, not a psychiatric one, and all the wishing or pushing in the world will not help. As often implied, it is not "all in their heads". I have often replied when a doctor or friend asks me how I am feeling to look deep into my eyes, and take a gander at my soul. Then and only then will they possibly comprehend how I feel. "Oh, I've felt that way at times. I get tired and achy also!" It is mainly people saying "I've had that too!" which can be devastating. Please do not feel tempted to find common ground with those who have fibromyalgia. You may be well intentioned but saying "I've had that too!" is as if I, Bill Wallmuller, hadn't lived 31 years before getting this illness and as if I didn't know the difference between what I have now and what I was like before. I....we are not "making a mountain out of a mole hill". No need to suggest that all I...we need is some more rest. "Have you tried the latest FM treatment of choice?" Friends and family and [yes, even fellow people with fibromyalgia] sometimes suggest using, with good intentions, any and all alternative medical treatments in existence. When doing so they manage to imply, usually without intending to, that because we with FM do not follow their advice, that it is our own fault we are sick. Poppycock! Please don't put this guilt trip on us with fibromyalgia. The last thing a person with FM needs is to feel blamed for being ill. Fibromyalgia - The Better We Inform Ourselves, The Better We Can Manage Communication With Others Having Fibromyalgia. A person with fibromyalgia is always better off being able to communicate with others with the same disorder. There is beneficial relief in sharing one's experiences with others with FM, hearing what helps for some, and what doesn't help for others, etc. Attending Support Group Meetings if possible is ideal. Sometimes though, support groups are not always near by and convenient. This is where online support in the form of Message Boards, Chat Rooms and just reading Web Pages about other peoples experiences, can be a blessing to us with FM. If you are acquainted with anyone with fibromyalgia, and they do not have access to or the finances available to obtain a computer, you can really show your concern by helping them to obtain this important channel of support. One does not have to spend a lot of money today on a basic computer capable of surfing the net and getting access to an Internet Service Provider [hint: maybe you could sign them on as an identity on your ISP account]. Even the most computer illiterate person can learn enough to be able to contact some good well intentioned FM Chat Rooms and FM Message Boards. I have found that having a computer for the last 10 years and being able to contact, communicate, research and exchange ideas with others with fibromyalgia to be most beneficial. I hope this material was helpful to the friends, family and co-workers who know someone with fibromyalgia. We plan to bring more tips and points of view on this subject at a future date.

Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Associated Syndromes

"List of Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Associated Syndromes, Apart From General Pain and Fatigue" Go to a Valued Guest's Article..."Living With Pain" and also... "Fibromyalgia...A Man's Perspective Fibromyalgia is a complex, chronic disorder which causes widespread pain and fatigue usually accompanied by a variety of other symptoms. Few symptoms are outwardly visible, which has led to much confusion. Sometimes FM has been called "the invisible disibility". Fibromyalgia pain usually consists of diffuse aching or burning described as "head-to-toe". I know personally that many times I could only explain and describe my pain to my physicians as a feeling as if my entire body was [ON FIRE]! Not like a sunburn or surface irritation, but a deep down, in the muscles, bones and joints type burning! I feel it is very important that we be as descriptive as possible when discussing our pains and symptoms with our doctors. Doing this can help the physician to better ascertain our condition and possibly uncover any hidden serious illnesses that we have brushed off as fibromyalgia. It is important to note that these fibromyalgia symptoms will and do vary in intensity and duration from person to person. As a result, the effect of fibromyalgia symptoms on our quality of life is also different for each of us who have to contend with this disorder. Stiffness: Body stiffness may be particularly apparent upon awakening and after prolonged periods of sitting or standing in one position or coincide with changes in temperature or relative humidity Increased Headaches Or Facial Pain: Fibromyalgia patients may experience frequent migraine, tension, or vascular headaches. Pain may also consist of referred pain to the temporal area (temples) or behind the eyes. Approximately one-third of patients with fibromyalgia are thought to have pain and dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, (located where the jaw meets the ear) which produces not only headaches but also jaw and facial pain. Sleep Disturbances: Despite sufficient amounts of sleep, FMS patients may awaken feeling non-refreshed, as if they have barely slept. Alternatively, they may have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. Some also suffer from the condition, sleep apnea. The reasons for the non-restorative sleep and other sleep difficulties of fibromyalgia are unknown. Gastrointestinal Complaints: Digestive disturbances, abdominal pain, and bloating are quite common in FMS as are constipation and/or diarrhea (also known as "irritable bowel syndrome" or IBS). Genito-Urinary Problems: FMS patients may experience increased frequency of urination or increased urgency to urinate, typically in the absence of a bladder infection. Women with FMS may have more painful menstrual periods or experience worsening of their FMS symptoms during this time. Conditions such as vulvar vestibulitis or vulvodynia, characterized by a painful vulvar region and painful sexual intercourse, may also develop in women. Paresthesia: Numbness or tingling, particularly, in the hands or feet, sometimes accompanies FMS. Also known as "paresthesia", the sensation can be described as prickling or burning. Temperature Sensitivity: Persons with fibromyalgia tend to be highly sensitive to ambient temperature. Some often feel abnormally cold (compared to others around them) while others feel abnormally warm. An unusual sensitivity to cold in the hands and/or feet, accompanied by color changes in the skin, sometimes occurs in persons with fibromyalgia. This condition is known as "Raynaud's Phenomenon". Skin Complaints: Nagging symptoms, such as itchy, dry, or blotchy skin, may accompany FMS. Dryness of the eyes and mouth is also not uncommon. Additionally, fibromyalgia patients may experience a sensation of swelling, particularly in extremities, like fingers. A common complaint is that a ring no longer fits on a finger. Such swelling, however, is not equivalent to the joint inflammation of arthritis; rather, it is a localized anomaly of FMS whose cause is currently unknown. Chest Symptoms: Individuals with fibromyalgia who engage in activities involving continuous, forward body posture (i.e., typing, sitting at a desk, etc.) often have special problems with chest and upper body pain known as "thoracic pain and dysfunction".1. Often accompanying the pain is shallow breathing and postural problems. Patients may also develop a condition called "costochondralgia" which involves muscle pain where the ribs meet the chest bone. Such conditions may mimic heart disease and are therefore sometimes misdiagnosed. Note: Anyone experiencing chest pain should always consult a physician immediately. [Remember that persons with fibromyalgia can have other health problems!] Dysequilibrium: FMS patients may be troubled by light-headedness and/or balance problems which manifest themselves in a number of ways. Cognitive Disorders: Persons with FMS report a number of cognitive symptoms which tend to vary from day to day. These include difficulty concentrating, "spaciness," short-term memory lapses, and being overwhelmed easily. Many fibromyalgia patients refer to such symptoms as "fibro-fog". Leg Sensations: Some FMS patients may develop a neurological disorder known as "restless legs syndrome" (RLS) which involves an irresistible urge to move the legs particularly when at rest or when lying down. One recent study reported that 31% of the fibromyalgia patients studied had RLS.6 The syndrome may also involve periodic limb movements during sleep (PLMS) which can be very disruptive to both the patient and to his/her sleeping partner. Environmental Sensitivity: Hypersensitivity to light, noise, odors, and weather patterns is common and is usually explained as being a result of the hyper-vigilance seen in the nervous systems of patients with FMS. Allergic-like reactions to a variety of substances (i.e., medications, chemicals, food additives, pollutants, etc.) are common, and patients may also experience a form of non-allergic rhinitis consisting of nasal congestion/discharge and sinus pain, but in the absence of the immunologic reactions which the body experiences in allergic conditions. Depression and Anxiety: Although FMS patients are frequently misdiagnosed with depression or anxiety disorders ["it's all in your head"], research has repeatedly shown that fibromyalgia is not a form of depression or hypochondriasis. However, where depression or anxiety exist concomitant to fibromyalgia, their treatment is important as both can exacerbate FMS and interfere with successful symptom management.

Definition of Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Fibromyalgia (new lat., fibro-, fibrous tissue, Gk. myo-, muscle, Gk. algos-, pain), meaning muscle and connective tissue pain (also referred to as FM or FMS), is a disorder classified by the presence of chronic widespread pain and a heightened and painful response to gentle touch (tactile allodynia).[1] Other core features of the disorder include debilitating fatigue, sleep disturbance, and joint stiffness. In addition, persons affected by the disorder frequently experience a range of other symptoms that involve multiple body systems, including difficulty with swallowing,[2] functional bowel and bladder abnormalities,[3] difficulty breathing,[4] diffuse sensations of numbness and tingling (non-dermatomal paresthesia),[5] abnormal motor activity (i.e. nocturnal myoclonus, sleep bruxism),[6] and cognitive dysfunction.[7] An increased prevalence of affective and anxiety-related symptoms is also well known.[8] While the criteria for such an entity have not yet been thoroughly developed, the recognition that fibromyalgia involves more than just pain has led to the frequent use of the term "fibromyalgia syndrome".[9] Not all affected persons experience all the symptoms associated with the greater syndrome. Fibromyalgia is considered a controversial diagnosis, with some authors contending that the disorder is a ‘non-disease’, due in part to a lack of objective laboratory tests or medical imaging studies to confirm the diagnosis.[10] While historically considered either a musculoskeletal disease or neuropsychiatric condition, evidence from research conducted in the last three decades has revealed abnormalities within the central nervous system affecting brain regions that may be linked both to clinical symptoms and research phenomena.[11] Although there is as yet no generally accepted cure for fibromyalgia, there are treatments that have been demonstrated by controlled clinical trials to be effective in reducing symptoms, including medications, patient education, exercise, and behavioral interventions.

Keep Pets Cool, Comfortable During Summer

PET CORNER: Keep pets cool, comfortable during summer By Laverne Hughey, Humane Society of Harrison County Saturday, May 16, 2009 It is definitely summertime, with temperatures already reaching the 90s and sure to go even higher. "Summertime and the livin' is easy" is not always true for many dogs and cats. Dogs and cats can suffer from the same problems that humans do in hot, humid weather such as overheating, dehydration and even sunburn. By being aware of possible problems and taking simple precautions, our companion animals can bee comfortably cool and avoid serious weather-related problems. Small dogs that stay inside the home will not have problems, nor will the cats that live indoors. Outside pets can easily get into trouble on a hot, humid day. No matter to what a pet is accustomed, it should never, ever, be left in a vehicle during this hot weather. A dog should not be left in the back of a pickup truck, either. Even with car windows open slightly, temperatures that seem pleasant to people will rise dangerously high in a vehicle, often reaching well over 100 degrees. Pets can quickly suffer heatstroke. According to "Webster's New World Dictionary, Third College Edition," heatstroke is a "serious failure of the body's heat-regulation mechanisms resulting from excessive exposure to intense heat and characterized by high fever, dry skin, collapse and sometimes convulsions or coma." According to the ASPCA, the right time for playtime is in the cool of the early morning or evening, but never after a meal or when the weather is hot and humid. Even though your dog may be accustomed to taking a walk or run with you, please consider that asphalt and concrete become extremely hot as temperatures rise. The dog's body can heat up rapidly and sensitive paw pads can burn. Walk your canine pal as early in the day as possible before the street or sidewalk has had time to heat up or wait until the pavement has cooled down in the evening. We should be especially thoughtful of pets that have reached their senior years, as well as overweight animals during the hot weather. If they absolutely cannot come inside to stay cool, be sure there is a shady spot in the yard for them. Dogs also enjoy wading in a child's shallow pool, which will help them keep cool if the pool is kept in the shade and the water changed daily. Pets with heart or lung diseases should be indoors in air-conditioned comfort a much as possible, especially at mid-day. This also applies to snub-nosed dogs, such as Pekingese, Boston terriers, bulldogs, Shit Tzus and Lhasas Apsos. Naturally, plenty of fresh, cool water should be available at all times for all outside pets. Food bowls should be remove as soon as the outdoor pets have finished eating as ants and other insects find the food almost immediately. If the dog or cat comes back for a second helping, it will have a very painful surprise with the first bite. Pet food left out during the night will attract raccoons and other wild animals. Fleas and ticks are sure to be plentiful this year, so consult with a veterinarian as to the best way to prevent them attacking your dog or cat. Mosquitoes are already painful, and if you dog or cat is not on heart worm preventative medication, take Sam or Sweetie to the veterinarian for a blood test to be sure he or she is not infected with heart worms and get your pal the preventative. Heart worm treatment is very expensive, therefore, prevention is definitely the way to go. Thinking of shaving the dog or cat? Not a good idea as the pet can easily suffer sunburn. Experts advise against shaving or clipping closer than one inch of hair. That way, the pet will be protected from the sun as well as insect bites. A hairless dog or cat is at the mercy of hungry, biting insects. The animal will no doubt be more miserable than if it had long hair. When in doubt, always ask the veterinarian.

Springtime

Finally, it is here. Spring has sprung and I hope that it lasts. Here in the Midwest it has been cold and rainy and a few snowflakes from time to time. My favorite seasons are spring and fall because of the warm temps, but not too hot. I am probably one of the few people who doesn't like summer. But for me, it is because of the heat and humidity. We have started taking vacations during the cooler weather and we have been delighted with the beauty of each season in different areas of the US. I love the springtime flowers in the Florida Panhandle and the orange and red leaves in Michigan in the fall. I am a fibromyalgia sufferer and hot weather is not my friend nor is extreme sunlight. This now limits the kind of vacations I take and the activities that I can do. I will be posting articles about fibromyalgia from time to time and also my own insights about the disease.

A Little Something About Me

I have been selling online for about five years. I have sold gourmet chocolates, gift baskets, baby gifts , party and wedding favors. I am now selling favors only. I really enjoy selling online. I have met so many really nice people, some that I still hear from. Women call about finding the perfect baby or bridal shower favor or wedding favor for their perfect day. It is a fun job. Find Elegant Favors For You at : http://elegantfavorsforyou.kateaspenshops.com