When I was first diagnosed with Fibromyalgia I felt my whole world flip upside down. I was so scared of what it meant. It was really difficult when my Doctor said we don't know what causes it or how to make it better for you. Then she said lets try these medications to help relieve your pain as that is all we can do for you someday you may need to be put on Morphine.
I was devastated to me this meant that I would not be able to take care of my son who was not yet 2 years old. He was my whole world. My son could not even climb up on my lap to snuggle without it causing me extreme pain to the point I would cry. The whole situation felt hopeless. I let myself have a massive pity party; I would love to be able to say it only lasted a day but it was more like a whole month. Some of that I feel is because of the pain and the Fibro Fog I was in. If you don't have Fibromyalgia yourself it is really hard to truly explain what Fibro Fog is.
Once the medication started to really kick in it helped to lift my Fibro Fog some. Finally I stopped feeling sorry for myself and decided I was going to find answers on my own since my Doctor didn't really have them. One of the most important things I learned was that there are for many people with this certain foods that cause problems and make everything worse for someone like me. So I spent a few weeks trying to figure out what foods caused me the most problems, for me it was anything with caffeine that meant no more chocolate. I cried when I realized this. What my son said to me when he found me crying changed a lot of things for me. He said, "Mommy don't worry I will eat all the chocolate for you."
With just that one little phrase I knew he was on my team. That my loved ones would have my back and help me as much as the could. If my son caught me trying to eat chocolate he would yell BAD MOMMY NO CHOCOLATE FOR YOU! We also developed a phrase that let him know if I was having a better day (nice mommy) or a bad day (witch mommy).
The first few months were very difficult for everyone. Over time though we were able to start figuring out what my having Fibromyalgia meant for our small family. My son didn't fight holding my hand anymore in a parking lot because I told him it was for me not him. I told him how sometimes my legs would get wobbly and I was afraid of falling down. So he held my hand to make sure I didn't fall down. Most of the time I was fine but I knew trying to run after him would be really tough if I needed to.
Friday, April 17, 2015
Monday, April 13, 2015
Update on Last Week's Goals and this week's goals
Last week was a typical week. Nothing went exactly as planned. That is ok though, when you have Fibromyalgia you never know how you are going to feel from day to day. I am really glad though I was able to cross a few things off my list. Nathan has been struggling with his sinus's so that has been a challenge.
Mothering/Homemaking Goals
1. Read to Nathan every night (He just was not having a good week and did not want his mom reading to him)
2. Write one note of encouragement to Nathan
3. Clean the dinning room area (picked up a couple things)
Personal Goals
4. Work out 5 times this week (Did this 2 times so that was ok)
5. Read two books
6. Work on cross-stitch project for 30 minutes each day
Cub Scout Goals
7. Clean out supply closet
8. Organize a fundraiser sale for Saturday
Work Goals
9. Finish all shredding
10. Maintain all files for through May dates (I made it 2/3 of the way through this)
I believe I have learned my lesson from last week. This week I am putting down goals that are a lot more manageable for me. The main part of my Cub Scout year is going on break except for a couple of events once a month. So this week is going to be pretty busy plus I have a bridal shower to attend this weekend.
Mothering/Homemaking Goals
1. Read to Nathan every night
2. Write a note to Nathan
3. Make some carrot cake bread
Personal Goals
4. Finish one book
5. Work on cross stitch project for 30 minutes each day
6. Gather up and wrap Bridal Shower Gift
Cub Scouts Goals
7. Wrap up Spring Fundraiser
8. Pass out Summer Camp papers to those going
Work Goals
9. Finish the files through May dates
10. Look into CE courses
Mothering/Homemaking Goals
1. Read to Nathan every night (He just was not having a good week and did not want his mom reading to him)
2. Write one note of encouragement to Nathan
3. Clean the dinning room area (picked up a couple things)
Personal Goals
4. Work out 5 times this week (Did this 2 times so that was ok)
Cub Scout Goals
7. Clean out supply closet
Work Goals
9. Finish all shredding
10. Maintain all files for through May dates (I made it 2/3 of the way through this)
I believe I have learned my lesson from last week. This week I am putting down goals that are a lot more manageable for me. The main part of my Cub Scout year is going on break except for a couple of events once a month. So this week is going to be pretty busy plus I have a bridal shower to attend this weekend.
Mothering/Homemaking Goals
1. Read to Nathan every night
2. Write a note to Nathan
3. Make some carrot cake bread
Personal Goals
4. Finish one book
5. Work on cross stitch project for 30 minutes each day
6. Gather up and wrap Bridal Shower Gift
Cub Scouts Goals
7. Wrap up Spring Fundraiser
8. Pass out Summer Camp papers to those going
Work Goals
9. Finish the files through May dates
10. Look into CE courses
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
Set Backs & My 10 Goals for This Week
Life has been a bit hectic for me this past month. Dealing with health issues in your family is never fun and it is beyond exhausting. Lately I have been struggling with sleep again. That is ok though I know what to do and it will get better soon I hope.
Mothering/Homemaking Goals
1. Read to Nathan every night
2. Write one note of encouragement to Nathan
3. Clean the dinning room area
Personal Goals
4. Work out 5 times this week
5. Read two books
6. Work on cross-stitch project for 30 minutes each day
Cub Scout Goals
7. Clean out supply closet
8. Organize a fundraiser sale for Saturday
Work Goals
9. Finish all shredding
10. Maintain all files for through May dates
Mothering/Homemaking Goals
1. Read to Nathan every night
2. Write one note of encouragement to Nathan
3. Clean the dinning room area
Personal Goals
4. Work out 5 times this week
5. Read two books
6. Work on cross-stitch project for 30 minutes each day
Cub Scout Goals
7. Clean out supply closet
8. Organize a fundraiser sale for Saturday
Work Goals
9. Finish all shredding
10. Maintain all files for through May dates
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
My Goals for the Week
WORK
- Wear jeans to work only on Friday.
- Get all morning work done by 11am
- Finish Presentation for University
- Talk with new Web2's about their Blue & Gold theme
- Check in with new Cubmaster
- Clean Bathroom top to bottom
- Get all ironing done by Friday
- Meal plan for next week
- Read every night to Nate
- Have a movie/game night
- Establish and maintain a nighttime routine
- Go for a walk this week
- Drink more water (goal drink up to 8 glasses a day)
Getting Good Sleep Again
These past couple weeks have been crazy. So many things happening some good and some bad. However that is life and you can not appreciate the good without the bad.
My biggest problem lately has been sleep as many with Fibromyalgia know getting "good" sleep is really tough. It can be especially hard when you have a child who just can't seem to go to sleep before 11pm. I finally caved and made an appointment for my son with his doctor to see if we could do something about him not sleeping as it was really having an effect on my health. I was so glad my sons doctor was able to help give us some new ideas. So far it has helped some.
And now that my son is starting to go to sleep at a better time, I am able to start taking my sleeping vitamins again. These really help me to get a few hours of decent sleep. Which has been a huge blessing to me. This morning I had enough energy to actually add putting makeup on before I left for work. Wearing make up for me is a guilty pleasure. Just a little lipstick and eye shadow make me happy and more confidant.
My biggest problem lately has been sleep as many with Fibromyalgia know getting "good" sleep is really tough. It can be especially hard when you have a child who just can't seem to go to sleep before 11pm. I finally caved and made an appointment for my son with his doctor to see if we could do something about him not sleeping as it was really having an effect on my health. I was so glad my sons doctor was able to help give us some new ideas. So far it has helped some.
And now that my son is starting to go to sleep at a better time, I am able to start taking my sleeping vitamins again. These really help me to get a few hours of decent sleep. Which has been a huge blessing to me. This morning I had enough energy to actually add putting makeup on before I left for work. Wearing make up for me is a guilty pleasure. Just a little lipstick and eye shadow make me happy and more confidant.
Friday, February 20, 2015
About Me
My name is Tracy. I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia 7 years ago. That day was a huge blessing to me. I know that sounds weird but it was. You see I had been in extreme pain for years and no one could figure out what was wrong. When I was diagnosed finally I was only 21.
Then the reality of my diagnosis set in. It became one of the hardest things I have had to deal with. My whole family thought I was crazy, lazy, and very melodramatic. They did not understand what it meant to have Fibromyalgia at all. My family believed that if something was wrong with you; you just powered through it and worked hard to overcome what was going on. Finally they started to talk to their friends and would mention my diagnosis like it was a joke. Until one day one of my family members was asked by a friend if I was in a wheelchair. They had asked this because one of their own family members had Fibromyalgia as well. And they had it way worse then I did. This friend was able to explain how the pain was constant and never really went away. Their family member had to travel to a large city just for treatment and couldn't even walk some days because the pain was so bad. This changed everything for me.
All while this was going on I was researching what I could do to manage my condition. My Dr. prescribed some medication for me it helped take away some of the pain. However the side effects were awful. We changed prescriptions about five times before I finally said enough. I was able to function better without the meds. While trying the meds I learned that food played a role in dealing with the pain. For me the biggest trigger was anything with more the 2% of caffeine in it. That meant no more chocolate and no more lattes. I was devastated as a woman who absolutely loved chocolate and my lattes that was a really hard blow to me.
So I started to make some new life choices. I stopped consuming anything with caffeine. Some days were not good and I paid the price in pain for consuming caffeine. I started to feel better and so I did some more research and learned that people with Fibromyalgia should eat whole foods because of the nutrition and that preservatives could cause pain issues as well. For a few years that was my life dealing with pain and trying to watch what I ate and take OTC painkillers when needed. They only helped me a little.
Then two years ago I had a bad episode with my Fibromyalgia and it came on really strong and what not get better. I went back to my Dr. and all she could tell me was lets try those meds again. There was a new one she wanted to try. I agreed to try it. I so wish I had not. I ended up have such severe migraines that I could not even get out of bed and threw up if it was louder than a whisper in my home. With having my son it was not possible. I stopped taking the new meds as when I called my Dr. about the migraines I was told there was nothing they could do to help me with them. Before the new meds I could at least get out of bed and do some things. So I quit taking them.
I was always researching for any new ideas about how to mange my condition. Then I cam across the idea of a holistic approach. I went to my local GNC for a good multi-vitamin. What I found was an amazing woman who ran the GNC. She had Fibromyalgia as well. She was a godsend to me. We talked for awhile about what my problem areas were and she helped start me out on some vitamins that had helped her. I bought those and have been doing much better since then. I now take some other vitamins and Aleve everyday and it lets me live my life with Fibromyalgia.
Then the reality of my diagnosis set in. It became one of the hardest things I have had to deal with. My whole family thought I was crazy, lazy, and very melodramatic. They did not understand what it meant to have Fibromyalgia at all. My family believed that if something was wrong with you; you just powered through it and worked hard to overcome what was going on. Finally they started to talk to their friends and would mention my diagnosis like it was a joke. Until one day one of my family members was asked by a friend if I was in a wheelchair. They had asked this because one of their own family members had Fibromyalgia as well. And they had it way worse then I did. This friend was able to explain how the pain was constant and never really went away. Their family member had to travel to a large city just for treatment and couldn't even walk some days because the pain was so bad. This changed everything for me.
All while this was going on I was researching what I could do to manage my condition. My Dr. prescribed some medication for me it helped take away some of the pain. However the side effects were awful. We changed prescriptions about five times before I finally said enough. I was able to function better without the meds. While trying the meds I learned that food played a role in dealing with the pain. For me the biggest trigger was anything with more the 2% of caffeine in it. That meant no more chocolate and no more lattes. I was devastated as a woman who absolutely loved chocolate and my lattes that was a really hard blow to me.
So I started to make some new life choices. I stopped consuming anything with caffeine. Some days were not good and I paid the price in pain for consuming caffeine. I started to feel better and so I did some more research and learned that people with Fibromyalgia should eat whole foods because of the nutrition and that preservatives could cause pain issues as well. For a few years that was my life dealing with pain and trying to watch what I ate and take OTC painkillers when needed. They only helped me a little.
Then two years ago I had a bad episode with my Fibromyalgia and it came on really strong and what not get better. I went back to my Dr. and all she could tell me was lets try those meds again. There was a new one she wanted to try. I agreed to try it. I so wish I had not. I ended up have such severe migraines that I could not even get out of bed and threw up if it was louder than a whisper in my home. With having my son it was not possible. I stopped taking the new meds as when I called my Dr. about the migraines I was told there was nothing they could do to help me with them. Before the new meds I could at least get out of bed and do some things. So I quit taking them.
I was always researching for any new ideas about how to mange my condition. Then I cam across the idea of a holistic approach. I went to my local GNC for a good multi-vitamin. What I found was an amazing woman who ran the GNC. She had Fibromyalgia as well. She was a godsend to me. We talked for awhile about what my problem areas were and she helped start me out on some vitamins that had helped her. I bought those and have been doing much better since then. I now take some other vitamins and Aleve everyday and it lets me live my life with Fibromyalgia.
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