Waiting for the Lilacs to Bloom

Just reflecting how lucky I am to live in a 4 season area.  I love God's colors that show in the Spring.

How have you been talking to yourself lately?  Are you being nice to yourself or saying negative things?  Well, it's time to change your thoughts and words to yourself.  I'm doing a program on this subject at my face to face support meeting next week.  For the past few weeks I've been more aware of what I am saying to myself....

Such as:
*  No body can hurt like this, I must be imagining it
*  I'm  such a pansy, can't even do anything for more than 5 or 10 minutes and then have to sit down.
*  It's probably all in my head.
*  Come on, push a little harder, I can do it  (flare time)
*  Maybe I'm just lazy.
*  She/He is thinking I'm taking advantage of her/his help.  I hate it when I can't do thing myself and she/he helps out so much.  It's not fair to her/him.
And it goes on and on.....

How can I change the way I am thinking?  By turning my negatives into positives....like this:

*  I'm hurting today, what can I do to help it?  stretch, take medication, go for a walk, a stretch shower
*  I'm so glad I can still get my housework done, even though it takes me longer and I need to rest here and there.  What I'm doing today will make a difference.
*  Yes it is all in my head... in my central nervous system which is all out of whack.  I will do what I can to make myself better and not be so mean to myself.
*  I would like to push harder but I need to be realistic.  If I break up my household chores into different days and just work on one smaller area, I can feel accomplishments.
*  No, Carol.. you are not lazy. You love things in order but due to Fibromyalgia it is impossible to be like your old self... You were one of those who liked things done and looking good.  You loved your flowers and your home.  But due to this weird disease, syndrome or whatever else they want to call it you just can't do it anymore.  Look at what you do now...  You still have flowers (in pots) and quite a few of them.  You still can pick up in just a few minutes and be ready for company (they will NOT know just what you've done the last few days, nor do they care.  They are coming to see YOU (ME) and that's what counts.  You still love to cook, you just don't spend hours at it.  You've made some pretty darn good dinners in way less than a half hour.
*  I'm so glad she/he helps me.  I know she/he is concerned that I have to live in pain and is more than happy to help out so I have less pain.  They LOVE me... and I LOVE them...

We have to watch our self-talk... it can really bring us down quick.  When we realize what we have been doing we can turn it around and love our selves 100% in spite of Fibromyalgia...

Think about it, my friends.... catch yourself in action.... 

Have a wonderful day... you deserve it!

Spring is showing her colors

A couple weeks ago on a sunny day we had visitors in the back yard.  My little Sparky came scooting in to the house ... Arfing all the way.  Up on the tree limb were 3 smaller raccoons sunning in the sun, napping.  Practically standing on my head I finally got a picture of them.

Our daffodils are out along with heather, forsythia, and flowering trees.  Some of the trees are greening up and the grass is growing.  We are about 6 weeks early for this beginning of Spring but I'll take it with what so many others are going through with weather and earthquakes.

Getting out of the dark days of winter helps most fibromites.  No the pain doesn't disappear but the mood is brighter which makes coping much easier.  Getting out of the house into the fresh air cleanses the spirit. 

On the other hand, Spring is when we really need to remember to pace ourselves.  It is so easy to over do at this time of the year...  we see the dirty windows, the spots on the carpet, what needs painting, the trimming and planting wait for us outside.  PACING is a real key to less pain.  Work 10 minutes, or 20 and then rest for 10.  Then 10-20 minutes more and rest again.  It makes a world of difference.

Thanks for letting me into your world for a few minutes.  How are you and your Fibro doing?  Have you any secrets to share that help you endure the pain?  I'd love to hear from you....

Hints of Spring

I don't know about you but I'm ready for Spring and signs of spring are popping out all over.  Like most of you, we had a crazy winter this year.  We are either getting a false spring or the worst is over.

The barometer going from lows and back and forth.  For us with Fibro, we don't need a barometer, our bodies tell us when it changes.  Doesn't matter if it changes to bad or good, we feel it.    Perhaps we need to listen to it more.  When the pain starts not to overdo and try to do everything in one day.  Get extra rest, eat the foods that are best for us, do our breathing and relaxation exercises and work with it instead of against it.  We can only do this when we accept our pain and decide to do what works best for us to alleviate it.

I've been doing too much sitting, too much wrong eating and not doing right for my body.  And, I am paying heavily for it.  If it is to be, it's up to me.

I just went out to be in the sun, trying to soak up the Natural Vitamin D...  I must start walking.  If you live on a big hill you will understand.  To get in the car and drive to a safe and flat area is something that is easy to put off doing.  If I could walk out my door and walk on flat sidewalks, it would be great.  Hmmm, guess I'm making excuses, do you do that, too?  I have an area less than 2 minutes away that I can walk safely.   We get a lot of rain (I bought a raincoat last year and haven't worn it once)...  excuse again.   I've really got to put in action what I know I have to do for myself. Why do we seem to procrastinate?

This is my year to improve myself.  I'm starting today.  It'll take work not to procrastinate but in the end, it will be so worth it.

What are you doing for yourself this year?

The Day before Christmas

Hi Everyone....

Sure hope you haven't overdone and will be able to really enjoy the day tomorrow. I'm doing pretty good, didn't give in to urges and overdo. I plan to enjoy the day tomorrow, too.

Wishing each one of you a Merry Christmas, May God bless you all as we celebrate the birth of our Savior. This is a picture of our "outdoor" tree.

Hugs
Carol

OOOPS.... did you. . . . .

overdo at Thanksgiving? Did you get up very very early on Black Friday? Are you now in extra pain and heavy fatigue?

This is a pre-December warning. PACE, PACE, PACE or you won't have a very merry Christmas due to lack of planning and pacing, lack of rest and lack of getting good sleep.

We who have Fibromyalgia know if we push too hard we lose.... It's time now at the very beginning of December to plan our days.

The Christmas season used to be such a drain on me. Back some years ago, I suddenly realized that I didn't have to make dozens of cookies, tons of candy. My family all has problems with "fluffyness" (except for my thin husband. I quit doing those kinds of things, saving me pain and fatigue. I now make the skinny one a few of his favorites (single recipe) and can then say "I'm done"

We used to have a large tree and packages were wrapped with care. We now have a smaller tree that sits in the family/dining room on the table. We go to the kids for Christmas so I don't need my table. I put a few "little" wrapped packages around the tree and the real gifts are "bagged" which leaves me feeling less fatigue and pain.

We have boxes and boxes of Christmas decorations. I now choose from them and put up only the favorites cutting the time of decorating at least in half.

I do shopping online, gift certicates, cash and very little tromping through the stores. The grandkids much prefer money to getting "stuff" they don't like. The adults like the gift certificates so they can choose what they want to get for themselves.

Guess what? We still have the very same Christmas Spirit, no one misses all the sweet stuff and my house still glows with Christmas Spirit and decorations. I am able to enjoy Christmas without extra fatigue and pain.

I hope this helps you to think about your Christmas season and make plans to pace yourself and do less and enjoy more.

Support Meetings

Wednesday was the local Fibromyalgia Support Group meeting. We had 24 attending. I lead the group with the help of others who are on the board. The fact that these ladies helps is what allows me to continue on as their leader.

We meet monthly for two hours at a local restaurant. They give us our room free if people order lunch. Almost everyone does so that works out great. We have a raffle (2 for #1) of white elephants, handcrafts, things from the garden in the summer, fresh brown eggs, and much more. Everyone who enters will get a chance at winning something. We draw the tickets from a basket. The first drawn have the biggest choices of a prize. Most people pass after winning once.

We have speakers, programs done by the Board members, open question/answer or discussion times. The board meets every two months to plan meetings ahead.

We have a library of books that have been purchased with the raffle monies. We do free handouts with each meeting.

Last month we had 31 compared to the 24 this time. The Columbus Day holiday had kids at home for the mom's and we had competition from the ugly new flu bugs.

Why am I telling you about all this? A support group helps us so much. Sometimes we are hurting so bad that we really don't want to go but when we do, we find ourselves forgetting our pain.

Our meeting is a fun one (no pity party stuff). We learn, we care about each other, we laugh a lot and best of all we are with people who understand this invisible disease.

If you don't have one in the area, you might want to start one. Our paper runs a free ad for us along with the free newspaper nickel ads. Pick a restaurant that isn't too busy that has meeting rooms and ask if they would let you use it free if people order food.

As you get members get others to help you. We have one for the raffle, the library, setting up and taking down, ones to fill in if you can't be at the meeting to lead it sometime in the future. DON'T do it all by yourself as you will burn out.

Let the local doctors know about the support group. Make some fliers with your phone number on them and info about the meeting. Give them to doctors, whenever you come across someone with Fibro. Your local newspaper might do a article about a new Fibromyalgia group.

We find that evenings are too tiring for us to do. I feel bad about the working people but we are not superwomen, we can't do it all.

A good support group is good medicine. Do I get worn out and my body full of pain after a meeting. Yes, I do. But it is worth it to help others like me. I never plan anything for the next day. That's recovery time.

Please let me know if you start a meeting or go to a support group. You'll never know the benefits unless you try it. If you want more info you can e-mail me at
mrs.carol at gmail.com Be sure to correct this before putting into your address book with the @ sign.

Bright Lights

One of the things I've found is that when winter rolls around my spirits go down, down and down. Those gray days really get me. I bought a bright light last month and have been using it daily. It really does make a difference in my mood.

With Fibromyalgia we deal with depression due to the chronic pain and fatigue. Anything that might help us is worth a try.

It sits near my computer so as I am computering in the a.m., I turn it on. After a few minutes I don't even notice it. I usually keep it on at least 30 minutes a day and on some of the dark rainy days I've used it twice in the day.

There was an article in our newspaper which spoke highly of using them just a few days ago. Two doctors from our local hospital/clinic were interviewed.

By the way, the little guy in the picture came into the yard during the day a couple weeks ago. He got tired of me taking pictures of him pawing through the squirrel food and climbed the nearest tree... non the less.. A Holly tree. Bet he had second thoughts about it.

Stretch Stretch Stretch

Happy Fall to you all.

Stretching is a key to relieving pain of Fibromyalgia.

The muscles shorten when tight with pain, stretching lengthens them, relieving that pain. Stretching makes us more flexible which helps when doing chores around the home. Stretching can be fun and easy to do but there are some rules. Don't overstretch, start slowly working up to more stretches.

Put "Fibromyalgia Stretching" into Google and you will find lots of good links for stretching.

Now... I'm off to find some good stretching exercises for me.

Where have I been?

Where have I been? Have you ever heard of a Fibro Cave or Arthritis Cave or any other cave? I crawled in and hibernated for a while. I bet you have all done that at one time or another. Your pain, FATIGUE, etc takes over and you don't want to do anything extra. Every thing is an effort. If you haven't been there, I'm glad. It's not fun.

We have had a wonderful summer here and now are coming into the cold Fall nights. The tree's are turning colors and leaves are beginning to fall. It's a beautiful time of the year in the Pacific Northwest. We have 4 definite seasons, my favorites are fall and spring. Not much of a winter person. Summer is great but requires so much work to keep up with the flowers and yard as I love lots of color around.

Have a wonderful day..... (Oh, the picture is of my little guy, Sparky)

I hear people so often saying that moving to a hotter place like Arizona, etc helps their arthritis and fibromyalgia.

My past few weeks say "phooey" to that as we have had hot weather and I have been in constant flares. Yesterday at a luncheon of 11 women, 3 others were feeling the very same as I. I don't know the answer but I don't think that is it.

Have you ever felt a difference when you have been somewhere else than your home area? I'm curious to know.