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IN MEMORY
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Tag Archives: Fibromyalgia
DIET is KEY
After living with ME since December 1992, I have learned over and over that when I make any plans I must also plan for the payback that will undoubtedly come. That may sound like I’m being negative because I’m planning for the crash that follows the fun but it really isn’t. It is just a fact of life, unfortunately, when one lives with this unrelenting illness. I had a wonderful time helping my sister get her new website ready and …
From Empty to Full
I wanted to share something I have been going through with my readers. This may in fact be more of a woman thing but I think it really is applicable to my whole readership. I have been in a bad head and emotional space these last few months. Totally understandable with Dekker’s one year anniversary (death), my father’s sudden heart-attack and quadruple bypass, the birth of my grandson, a betrayal by someone I considered a friend and the severe relapse …
Posted in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)
Tagged 4 walls and a view, consequences, Fibromyalgia, FMS, friend, grief, health, hope, journey, life lessons, loss, ME, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), personal, perspective, pugs, Purpose, winning
11 Comments
My 12 Changes to Living Better with ME: Part 2 of 2
If you missed the beginning of this two part series, you can catch up with part one HERE. Today, I am going to share changes 7-12 with you. 7. Change Place: As I mentioned in part one, so often when I am in the midst of a wonderful event, spectactular moment or memorable time, I am often only their in body but not spirit and soul. This is probably one of my most challenging changes because I am so annalytical. …
Posted in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)
Tagged 4 walls and a view, consequences, Fibromyalgia, FMS, health, hope, journey, life lessons, loss, ME, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), Purpose
8 Comments
My 12 Changes to Living Better with ME: Part 1 of 2
New Years. Two simple words. Yet, these two little words bring excitement, freshness, visions, possibilities and more to my heart and soul ever time they roll around. Most of the time, almost innately, goals start popping up in my head and I feel my blood pumping as the electricity of newness surges through my body. While goals can be a good and necessary thing, when one is living with a chronic illness such as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) and Fibromyalgia (FMS), …
49th Birthday Update
In Oklahoma we always have to be cognizant of the weather. We never know when a tornado or bad weather is going to creep in and change our plans. Unfortunately, it did just that for my birthday. After dinner, we had to move inside and there was no room for dancing and the band was just way too loud. An hour was about all me and my friend could stand. Despite the bad weather though, I had an incredible night …
Allowing Illness to shape me into a better person
I was sitting on the rooftop deck this week (it would be the 11th floor) as it has become my favorite place to write … and if you can believe it … dance. Anyway, I was sitting there looking out over this expansive view and thinking about a time where everything before me would have been a barren wasteland – something called the dustbowl. Yet, as I looked out over the vast city I love I saw business thriving, beautiful …
Posted in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)
Tagged "Invisible Awareness", consequences, Fibromyalgia, FMS, friend, health, hope, journey, life lessons, ME, mold, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), personal, perspective, Purpose, relapse, winning, write
14 Comments
A Play: Cognitive Disconnect
BOB: “Are you ready?” ME: “Yes” BOB: “So where do you need to go?” ME: “You know. That place with all the stores in one place?” BOB: “The Mall?” ME: “Yeah! That’s it! I need to go to, um that store across from that burger place we like … next to um Marshalls? I think?” BOB: “Are you talking about Ross’s? ME: “Yup” (sigh) BOB: “What do you need?” ME: “Sunglasses.” BOB: “Do you know what kind?” ME: “Yeah. Progressive. …
Part Two: Post Traumatic Vision Syndrome (PTVS)
Well, if you didn’t catch part one, of this three part series, you can do so here. Now on to what I dug up on Post Traumatic Vision Syndrome or PTVS. The earliest article on visual issues in ME/CFS that I could find (with the help of my friend Laurel: hap tip!) was this one back in 2001 by the CFIDS Association. In it they explain that, There are few references in the literature to visual and/or ocular disturbances in …
Part One: Keeping an eye on my EYES
I have been getting ready for my eye appointment with my favorite eye doctor. I decided to do some research on whatever I could find concerning eye issues with ME/CFS. Mind you, this illness has been on the radar since at least the 1980′s. However, I was only able to find 4 articles! Is that crazy or what? Anyway, as a result I thought I would start writing about it on my blog because I have actually received several emails …
Challenging CHANGES
As my readers know, the months that have followed my exposure to a toxic chemical have been full of challenges and changes. Even though I would rather forget about much of 2010, it appears that some of those challenges have now followed me into the New Year and I now have to confront them and find way to overcome or work around them. As you know I have been having a lot of trouble with dizziness. So much so I …
Posted in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)
Tagged 4 walls and a view, audio books, books, crash, eyes, Fibromyalgia, health, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), read, reader, symptom, write
54 Comments
my OI/POTS 24-test and results
As you know, I have been increasing my water intake dramatically as well as my salt intake to counter the effects of OI/POTS. I’m actually doing well with the water consumption. I have always been a huge drinker since getting sick 20 years ago so this wasn’t too difficult for me. I am now settling at around 12 glasses of water a day or 3 quarts which seems to be a good place for me. As for the salt, I …
2011: A life of Simplicity
I have been reading many blogger’s New Year resolutions with wonder. I’m always amazed at how the New Year stirs up all sorts of new plans, hopes and desires in people. I think that is a great thing. Even so, this year I decided that I am going in a different direction. My New Year’s resolution, if you will, for 2011 can be summed up in one word – simplicity. The losing of all my worldly possessions, my home, and …
Top Fibromyalgia blogs to Check out
It appears that people are taking notice of the many, great, quality blogs that cover Fibromyalgia. I was excited to hear that some of those within our own tight-knit community here made it on the list. I was totally blown away to find out that my blog had miraculously made it on the list at number 25, especially since I tend to focus more on M.E/CFS than I do on Fibromyalgia. Wow! What a great surprise in the midst of …
this place called, middle
When I grew up, I was always told to push through whatever difficulty I was going through. I have watched for years, as my mother got up every day, no matter how bad she felt, and did everything that was required of her…and then some. In the military I was taught to focus and just do it. There was very little thought. It was more of an instinctive reaction – one that was honed through hours and hours of training …
Determined to turn IT all around
The discussion of our (Chronic illness sufferers) relationship with our doctors has popped up throughout the web today on blogs as well as on Facebook. As a sufferer of a chronic illness (two in fact) that has mystified the science world, medical world and our government for decades, the doctor / patient relationship continues to prove to be the most challenging of all our relationships. As I mentioned yesterday…
Posted in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)
Tagged 4 walls and a view, asthma, chronic fatigue syndrome, determined, doctors, Fibromyalgia, flare-up, health, medication, pain, RADS, symptom
19 Comments
Lung Doctor Visit
Since I am not up to writing a post today, I wanted to make sure and let you all know I’m okay. I am, however, totally wiped out from taking a van and a bus to Muskogee (one hour away), spending the whole day at the VA, and then taking a van and bus to get home. On the positive side, I received some good news. Woo Hoo! However…
Posted in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)
Tagged 4 walls and a view, asthma, Fibromyalgia, health, lungs, pain, R.A.D.S., Reactive Airway Disease, rest, sleep
2 Comments
The Long Road Home – Part Three
Well, the last part of my story isn’t quite as fun as the first two. As a matter of fact, it was a very challenging and emotional part of the journey for me. I think – now that I have the ability to look back at what transpired – I was…
Posted in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)
Tagged "Fibromyalgia Awareness Day", 4 walls and a view, asthma, Dekker, Fibromyalgia, friend, journey, pain, stress, wedding
16 Comments
The Long Road Home – Part two
Well, as you know, I flew out to Massachusetts. That is something I will never do in the future again! I had breathing problems on both flights and had to use my emergency inhaler like it was oxygen! I cannot tell you how awful it feels to be…
Posted in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)
Tagged 4 walls and a view, asthma, family, fatigue, Fibromyalgia, grand-daugher, journey, pain, photography, wedding
18 Comments
Ready, Set, and GONE!
This will be a quick post tonight as I am utterly exhausted and tomorrow I have laundry to do, Dekker needs a bath, and I have to pack for my flight on Monday! Calgon take me away! Anyway…
Dreams Become Reality One Choice at a Time
Time is quickly winding down and I find myself faced with only two more days before I will be heading to the airport to head to Massachusetts for my daughter’s wedding! Thus today was quite a busy day! I had a friend from church ask for my help in purchasing a new laptop and the budget was $400. So off we went to Tulsa and we ended up getting a new printer, laptop, plenty of ink, a laptop bag, and …
The Web: A POWERFUL & POSITIVE impact on CFIDS/ME
I’m a thinker – if you hadn’t noticed – and today, I have been contemplating a myriad of things. I can’t seem to really focus on one thing as I have so many things going on at the same time. This period of my life is little too busy for me. I like the calm, quiet, peaceful existence. Be that as it may, I started wandering over…
Posted in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)
Tagged 4Walls and A View, chronic fatigue syndrome, Fibromyalgia, internet, journey, power, web
17 Comments
Our ILLNESS is invisible, but WE are not
I know, intimately, how these illnesses affect my life every day. I live it every moment of every day. I suffer from its devastating effects every time it whimsically determines that today is the day it will knock me to my knees. I endure its relentless attacks over and over and have done so for over 20 years. I grow frustrated some days as to how people without either of these illnesses struggle for the smallest nugget of understanding. I …
Invisible Awareness
Stephen Covey once said, “I am personally convinced that one person can be a change catalyst, a “transformer” in any situation, any organization. Such an individual is yeast that can leaven an entire loaf. It requires vision, initiative, patience, respect, persistence, courage, and faith to be a transforming leader.” I have read a lot of blogs since I started my own blog on January 10th of this year. I have often been struck by…
After all these years, still trying to adjust to being ‘benched’
I knew in my gut I shouldn’t do it. I knew it was a bad fit for me. But I wanted to help out a friend. I wanted to bless her in a way that her life could become more of what she was hoping and dreaming of. But even in the midst of it, I was in a turmoil. What is it about being a Type A personality that makes me want to do it all, even when I …
He knows!
He knew. He KNEW! I was absolutely floored when I met my civilian dentist/surgeon today. He knew what CFIDS and FMS were! He KNEW! Ha! Wow! In addition, he explained Orthostatic Intolerance to me! Can you believe that! He even explained why so many doctors look at me like I have two (2) heads when I mention I have it. He said that most doctors have never witnessed an OI episode before. So when they see an episode, they assume …
Dekker, Geese, Cotton and a Birthday
I thought I had updated everyone on this last weeks many challenges but it appears I … forgot! Imagine that! I no longer have a mold problem. As a matter fact, my letter was responded to within approximately 12 hours. I was happily stunned! That also is a huge bonus for you as well as I now have had SEVERAL showers! LOL! I also have found something very important to me this past weekend …
the Art of Letting Go: Part Two
If you haven’t noticed, this week’s posts are the result of many weeks of introspection, analysis, and processing. It’s as if everything is suddenly coming together all at once. Amazing how that happens! On May 7th, I read a post on Renee’s blog, Renee’s Reflections, about her struggle with surrendering and it has been haunting me ever since! [In a good way, Renee! ] As a result I have had to confront the idea of surrendering with the new parameters …
Posted in Featured
Tagged "S.T.R.O.L.L.I.N.G.", 4 walls and a view, chronic fatigue syndrome, Fibromyalgia
14 Comments
Lost 30 pounds by making 6 switches
On January 1st, of this year, I made a decision to no longer make New Year resolutions. I have come to the place that, for me personally, these types of commitments or contracts, if you will, are more negative producing than naught. However, I had a goal I wanted to work on so I needed to determine how I would complete it. The first thing I knew I needed to do was to figure out what I would not do. …
Posted in Featured
Tagged "weight loss", 4 walls and a view, chronic fatigue syndrome, Fibromyalgia, switching
21 Comments
The Rubber Band Theory
This weekend I received the delivery of my two (2) veggie/fruit bags from Natural Farms, the co-op I joined earlier in this year. As I was putting them away, I reached down and took the thick rubber band off of one of the veggies. As I held it in my hand, it suddenly spoke to me. Well, not literally, but it did create this innate understanding deep within me. Interestingly, an issue I have been pondering and struggling with … …
Posted in Featured
Tagged "rubber band affect", 4 walls and a view, chronic fatigue syndrome, Fibromyalgia
17 Comments
46 more things I can accomplish
I swiped this from Mo! I just couldn’t resist. I got…
Posted in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)
Tagged 4 walls and a view, 46, accomplish, chronic fatigue syndrome, Fibromyalgia
15 Comments
For tonight, that is enough
It’s 11 pm on Friday night. I’m sitting outside on my deck. Lots of city lights to enjoy and a cool breeze to wrap myself in. Today has been an incredibly challenging one to say the least. (sigh) As you know, I sent the letter I posted on my blog yesterday to the office manager. I’m happy to report, it worked and the mold is gone. Maintenance spent quite a while taking care of it. Again, that makes me happy. …
Posted in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)
Tagged 4 walls and a view, asthma, chemicals, chronic fatigue syndrome, Fibromyalgia, glue, mold
8 Comments
the NEXT step
After praying and pondering about what the next step should be in my mold dilemma, I decided I would forward a Letter of Complaint to the Office Manager as well as to the President of BH Management that owns Westport. I thought you all would like to read it.
A blessing is coming
Where to even start?! Monday night, I received a gift in the mail from a friend who shares my passion for all things (books) Ted Dekker. She was able to score a copy of his new book, The Bride Collector, before me and then graciously decided to send it to me to read and keep! Don’t you love friends like that! Totally added some sunshine to a really challenging (previous) week! Because I received the book, I thought I would …
Posted in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)
Tagged 4 walls and a view, death, Dekker, dogs, Fibromyalgia, fleas, mold
9 Comments
the Good, the Bad, the Ugly
This weekend was an eclectic mix of the good, the bad and the ugly. The ugly resulted from a lot of reading and researching I have been doing about a movement in the UK between UNUM insurance and some psychiatric groups and their push to reclassify ME/CFIDS as a mental/psychiatric disorder, as well as, how that may be filtering over here to America. It breaks my heart to think what these people are doing to fellow ME/CFIDS sufferers. (head shake) …
Posted in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)
Tagged 4 walls and a view, chronic fatigue syndrome, cognitive, fear, Fibromyalgia, sadness
19 Comments
21 things I’m thankful for, TODAY…
After a long, hard week with many, many challenges, I am choosing today to focus on things I am thankful for, today. So here goes….
Flabbergasted, dumbfounded and floored by a … floo
How can my day that started out decent, suddenly, crash and burn in the matter of a seconds? I scheduled Dekker for a grooming appointment today to have him “furmigated” or in English, have his undercoat hair removed. I also needed to pick up a few grocery items and get money for a cab ride to my dental consultation on Tuesday. My friend and I decided to grab a bite to eat at Fridays as it is right across the …
Posted in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)
Tagged 4 walls and a view, asthma, chronic fatigue syndrome, energy, Fibromyalgia, mold
28 Comments
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