Tag: FMS

Self-Care Self-Check

“Self-care is not about self-indulgence, it’s about self-preservation.”

Back in January I wrote about the importance of self-care and some things I vowed to work on myself. As May is Fibromyalgia Awareness month, I decided it was time to check in and see just how good or bad I am doing on my own self-care. Practice what you preach, and all. I have found more success following strategies for healthy living, than I ever did taking a pill that the doctors prescribed. So taking care of myself has to be my number one priority, in order to minimize my fibro-flares. You cannot, after all, drink from an empty cup, and having a flare can often feel like you are running on empty.Cannotdrink

Here’s what I wanted to improve on: Continue reading “Self-Care Self-Check”

Fibromyalgia, Courage, and Strength

This quote popped up on my weekly planner page for today, but it is one I have read before.

life-quote-strength-courage

This embodies what it’s like to have fibromyalgia for me. Having the courage to push through the pain on a daily basis, even when you feel like you have no strength left to do so. In the 16+ years since my diagnosis, I have had plenty of days where getting out of bed and walking across the floor were a challenge. When every step you take radiates pain through your body, and you wonder: Why am I doing this? Why don’t I just crawl back in bed? It would be so much easily to just curl up under the blankets with a heating pad than to try to work out, shower, and get ready to go to work. Continue reading “Fibromyalgia, Courage, and Strength”

Fibro Fog Defined

It’s like a turtle trying to run in peanut butter.

Fibro Fog. Brain Fog. Senior Moments.

People who live with Fibromyalgia (FMS) refer to their Brain Fog moments as “Fibro Fog.” This common symptom is characterized by short-term memory loss, cognitive issues, difficulties concentrating or retaining information, transposing letters/numbers, just to name a few.

I find my symptoms growing worse as I get older. I am transposing numbers all of the time. It takes me longer to do simple tasks sometimes as a result. And it is definitely harder for me to remember something someone told me a few minutes ago. Just ask my family. (That’s why at work I take notes in a searchable online notebook (OneNote) if I will have to remember something later.) Continue reading “Fibro Fog Defined”

Curse the Pigeon Pose

This post is brought to you by the today’s Daily Post prompt. Transmogrify means “to change in appearance or form, especially strangely or grotesquely; transform.” So consider the rather awkward and “hurts-so-good” yoga pose called the Pigeon Pose as a “transmogrifier” for your lower back and hip pain. No, really. Trust me.

pigeon
King Pigeon Pose

I hurt every dang day of my life. The location and extent of the pain changes, but I cannot remember a day without pain as of late. Bouncing out of bed is no longer an option. I am slow to move as I am stiff and it hurts to straighten up and walk in the mornings. Some days the pain is all over, some days it’s more pronounced in the neck and shoulders, others it’s the lower back and/or one leg or another. This is not meant to be a pity party, but more of an explanation, and what I do to relieve my pain. Continue reading “Curse the Pigeon Pose”