Finding Inspiration in Every Day Life
Living with fibromyalgia and healthy habits: clean eating, recipes, fitness
“Life is what happens while you’re busy making other plans.”
We have all had those days, right? Woke up late or ran into traffic on the way to work or maybe even got a flat tire or had a dead battery. How do you cope when things don’t always go according to plan?
“It’s not what happens to you that counts, it’s how you respond to it.” Viktor Frankl
Airport travel is challenging enough, but the challenges multiply when traveling with a chronic condition.
“Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer.”
I love traveling. Or at least the part where you actually get somewhere and you can relax, sightsee, visit with friends or family, or whatever is on the agenda. The actual part where you’re sitting in an airport, on a plane, or in a car isn’t always the most pleasant or comfortable these days.
I can’t remember the last time I had an entire trip that had “smooth sailing” when flying with our airlines. Flight delays due to weather or mechanical issues, crew changes, dumping fuel, refueling, scheduling and logistics issues all wreak havoc on your ability to get somewhere on time. Three times this past year I have been rerouted to another city because one of these things. And now I am preparing to head to Florida just days after Hurricane Michael is expected to make landfall with storms expected at home when I leave.
Airport travel is challenging enough between allotting enough time to get through security and arriving before your actual scheduled flight time. Add to that an illness, injury, a chronic condition, or fibromyalgia, and the challenges multiply. Will I be having a flare? Will my back or leg pain act up? So how does one manage travel delays and stressful times when you have a chronic condition? Continue reading “Five Travel Tips for Fibromyalgia”
You cannot drink from an empty cup.
Persons with living fibromyalgia are usually on the receiving end of caregiving. So it becomes a bit of a challenge when they become the caregiver. Sometimes the only energy you have is that which carries you through the day, and have no spoons left for anyone else. So how does one cope with a flare and self-care when presented with the challenging of caring for somebody else? Continue reading “Caregiver TLC: 7 Tips for Self-Care”
On this last day of Pain Awareness Month, I wanted to end with some final thoughts. Pain may not be our choice, but how we deal with the pain in our life and how we respond to our pain is our choice. Attitude matters.
I am not my pain. I choose not to let it define me.
Choose wisely, my friends.
Cheers!
Cynthia
Health Care is not One-Size-Fits-All.
You know there is a reason they call it “practicing medicine.” Doctors don’t have all the answers. There’s no Magic 8 Ball sitting in their office solving all of the great medical mysteries. Trust me. I know.
This post isn’t meant to bash the medical community by any means. Having been treated for fibromyalgia and endometriosis, I have seen my share of doctors over the last 30 years. I have had some great medical care over the years…and I have had some not so great medical care. I have had doctors who would prefer to treat a symptom and send me on my way, rather than look for the root cause of my collective symptoms. And I have had some medical mysteries that have perplexed many a health care provider, leading to endless doctor visits, expensive (and quite possibly unnecessary) tests and medical expenses, and no explanations.
As Pain Awareness Month comes to an end, think about the other side of medical care – diagnoses, benefits, and billing. So what do we need to do to take our health into our own hands and advocate for ourselves?
“The art of medicine consists of amusing the patient while nature cures the disease.”
―
Yoga can help you with many health conditions, including stress, anxiety, and pain.
It is #NationalYogaAwareness month and #PainAwarenessMonth, so what better time to post about why one is good for the other! ❤
Even if your chronic illness is a life sentence, it doesn’t have to be a death sentence of isolation and loneliness.
Life with fibromyalgia and other chronic conditions can be lonely at times. Pain, exhaustion, and other symptoms easily lead to cancelling engagements, giving up hobbies, and social isolation. Your social calendar and life have a new normal. But something is missing. People want interactions and connections, something to do to pass the time. Binge-watching Netflix or reading your Facebook feed only goes so far. And having something easy to do can help distract from pain and find the social interactions again. Continue reading “Easy Hobbies for the Chronically Ill”
