KEEPING STRESSLESS

After a some what stressful and very physically busy weekend, I find it important to try to have de-stressing time.
I listen to soft relaxing music as I'm busy doing some daily chores.
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I'm also nearly finished with my little sanctuary on the side of the house. I created an area where I can sit under a shade tree, look at all my colorful flowering plants that I've planted or potted myself (a hobby that I enjoy in so many ways). I listen to my wind chimes ringing in the summer breeze, which I find to be so beautifully soothing.
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When I'm in my room I usually have the window open to hear the birds sing, which I've lured to the yard with bird feeders.
I love the out doors, wind, water, animals, rustling leaves in the breeze, flowers, and, birds singing.

For some it might not be heaven, but to me it's pretty close.

DIET

This very important.
I know everybody talks about diet for health and it's so hard to to make changes, but this is your life!
 Make little changes add more fresh fruits and vegetables to your diet, snack on dried cranberries and fresh (raw) nuts.

I noticed a difference in me and how I was feeling physically,( just over all) when I cut fried foods out of my diet. I continued to change things with my food by going organic, getting away from pesticides in my food, wow! Big changes in how I felt, so much better!
   

EXERCISE

OMG!
How can I exercise when I'm in so much pain? Right, that's what I kept saying.
Walking is what I was told to do but that still hurt. You know how it is when a normal person exercises, the pain diminishes over time; nope not for me. I kept waiting for my body to get used to it.
When I started aqua exercises, things changed for me.
Exercising in water really helped and got me started me on my way to health.

STRESS

Often stress is the worst that could happen!
Sure it is bad for most people but if you have fibromyalgia your body goes through some weird and sometimes uncomfortable reactions.
Here are a few of mine:
I react physically to the least little unexpected event, uncomfortable pins and needles rush up and down my arms and legs, (that's my most common reaction ) my heart pounds, my head starts to pound, I start to shake inside and out, I get slightly confused, I sometimes get a panicked feeling.
This all happen in a matter of seconds. Sometimes the pins and needles happen when I just think I forgot to do something important. It's not a fun experience.
When the reaction is really bad I'll have to take some down time, in a quiet comfortable place, maybe play some soothing music, maybe even take a nap. It can become quite debilitating at times, but no one knows what's happening because it's all internal.

I hope what I have to say is helpful to most.
First for those who aren't too sure what fibromyalgia is all about .
Common signs and symptoms of fibromyalgia include: wide spread pain, allover achenes, deep pain in the tissues( not the joints as you may have heard in the commercials selling drugs) "at least not for me", presser points on the body that are very sensitive to the touch, (as seen in the pictures above), temperomandibular joint syndrome ( jaw pain ), myofacial pain, ( pain in facial tissues ), muscle twitching and weakness, pins and needles in the legs, chronic headaches, sleep disorders, fatigue, weight gain, memory loss, fibro. fog, (cognitive or memory impairment ) anxiety, depression, temperature sensitivity, and more...symptoms vary for the afflicted.

When I first found out what it was I had, was really something with a name rather than just getting old before my time or burned out from work and parenting I was so relieved because some Drs. say or think it's all in your head!.
It all started with bilateral carpel tunnel syndrome from repetitive motion in the 22 yrs as a chair side dental assistant, working four handed dentistry, in general and specialty dentistry.
I had surgery done on my right hand but the recovery was so difficult from the fibromyalgia that I decided not to go ahead with the other hand.

Fibromyalgia

It's been a long time coming .
I always used to think the computer was too time consuming and it can be at times when a person has a life, family, friends, and kids!
Today I've decided to write a blog about surviving and living with Fibromyalgia because I feel lucky to be as active as I am, and I know there are people out there suffering.
I hope to give others like me, the benefits of my experiences.