Category Archives: Fibromyalgia

It’s raining, it’s pouring, my chronic pain is soaring!

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It is raining, it’s pouring, my chronic pain is soaring.

Yes, a pretty lame attempt at poetry but I know if you suffer from fibromyalgia, CFS, RA, lupus or any other disease that brings chronic pain, you understand completely.

If you suffer from this complicated disease, you feel my pain today. The forecast is for rain and thunderstorms all day today and plenty of the same again tomorrow.

Pain levels can soar (and roar!) when the weather changes. There are many studies that claim there is no correlation between the two and then there are others that verify what those who live with it every day claim to be true. I am definitely one that feels the difference when the barometric pressure changes. I have friends with fibro, CFS, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis that would claw your eyes out if you say that the weather doesn’t increase their pain levels. We know it to be so!

Some studies reveal that here are five major weather factors that appear to affect chronic pain symptoms. These include:

  • Humidity: Humidity is the quantity representing the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere or a gas. When the humidity is low fibromyalgia sufferers report an increase in stiffness, headaches and pain.
  • Precipitation: Water falling from the sky! Rain, snow, sleet, and hail may all  worsen the pain and fatigue of fibromyalgia.
  • Temperature: When there is a sudden change in the temperature some experience a flare up while others might experience a respite in their symptoms and pain. The cold temperatures usually worsen the pain while warmer weather will help relieve it somewhat.
  • Atmospheric Pressure: Atmospheric pressure is defined as the force per unit area exerted against a surface by the weight of the air above that surface.  Sudden changes in the barometric pressure, if it drops suddenly, will usually cause increased pain.
  • Wind: Even the wind can produce fibromyalgia symptoms. This is because wind causes a decrease in the barometric pressure.

Sleep is so important in regulating pain. If you are not getting enough sleep, or not going into REM sleep, your body will react with increased pain and fatigue. Most chronic pain patients suffer from lack of sleep, they wake up as tired as when they went to bed! I have shared before that when I was first diagnosed, I had extreme breathing difficulties and chest pain. One wise doctor recognized fibromyalgia even then and knew I was not going into REM sleep. He prescribed 10 mg of Elavil (amitriptyline). I slept like a baby and woke up with no breathing issues. Of course everyone is different; consult your doctor for answers or help with sleep.

Symptoms also seem to worsen in the winter months due to the cold and lack of sunshine. Vitamin D is critical and many sufferers experience an extreme deficiency of this important nutrient. Open those curtains and let the sunlight in! Take a walk, run, anything to get outside for even a few minutes a day. Do whatever you have to do to get some much-needed sunshine for your health.

Others struggle with the extreme heat and humidity that summer brings. Many patients have trouble staying hydrated and that is extremely important when the temperature is rising. A rise in humidity can make headaches, anxiety, depression and widespread pain worsen. I had a friend that moved from the Midwest to Phoenix, where there is little to no humidity, just to help with the pain of RA and lupus.

On rainy days? If you cannot stay home and veg away on the couch, the best thing to do is keep moving. Yeah. Easier to say than to do. Fibromyalgia, lupus, RA, CFS, anyone with chronic pain knows how difficult it is to just put one foot in front of the other on a normal day. When the weather is not cooperating it makes it that much more difficult. But even if you can walk up a flight of stairs or out to get the mail, it all helps.

It's raining, it's pouring, my Chronic Pain is soaring!

I am not a meteorologist but I can tell by my symptoms if we are about to get pummeled with rain and I didn’t have to look at the radar screen this morning to know today was going to be tough. Those with fibromyalgia, CFS, lupus, RA, any disease with daily, chronic pain, all struggle with changes in weather, no matter what a scientific study claims.

There are many online support forums available for those that suffer with chronic pain. Here are just a few resources:
Chronic Pain Site
Spine Health
American Chronic Pain Association (Click on the April 2015 chronicle for some great info!)
Chronic Pain Forum from Daily Strength
Fibromyalgia Forum

Of course I cannot end this post without encouraging you to look to the scriptures and the Comforter, Jesus Christ, to help you through difficult days. He is ever faithful, always listens and understands, never judges and knows all of these things are very real. He gives grace for every day. Praying your day is filled with happiness and you can find joy regardless of your circumstance.

Share with us! Are your symptoms worse when it rains or the temperature changes? We would love to hear from you!

You also might want to check out Living at the Intersection of Faith and Chronic Illness, Processing Pain, He heals me, He heals me not

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Living with Fibromyalgia

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I am in my 20th year with Fibromyalgia.

Not that I am celebrating or anything of that sort. But I was reflecting back on how this disease began and how it changed my life…some for the better. Together with American Recall Center, we want to spread awareness about Fibromyalgia.

Is that even possible? That something so debilitating as Fibromyalgia could change me for the better?

I think so. Let me share how it started and where I am today. If you suffer with Fibro, or think you might, maybe this will be a help, and even an encouragement to you.

I’ve always tried to figure out the why and how of this sickness. They used to say it could be brought on by trauma and I wondered if a car crash I was involved in when I was 22 was the cause, or maybe contributed to it.

I have also blamed many of my health problems on the evil poison, aspartame. I did drink Diet Coke for about five years, although I have been clean for almost 15 years. I avoid that toxin like the plague. I know without a doubt that it has cost me some of my memory and I may never know what else it did to my body. Yes, I really do believe what I read about aspartame. Yes, I realize there are many things we ingest that are bad for us, this is just one thing I am sure is killing us and causing multiple health problems. I know many others that suffer with this same disease that also drank diet sodas and many other things that are laden with this poison.

My first noticeable symptom with Fibro was neck and shoulder pain, always feeling like I needed a good deep tissue massage. I just didn’t think much about it, I was too busy raising My Three Sons. But when my youngest was about 1 ½, I began having breathing problems. I felt as if I had an elephant sitting on my chest. I could not get a deep breath unless I really worked at it and I was breathing in and out with constant effort. My chest really hurt at times, I would even think maybe I was having a heart issue, except it seemed silly at 32 years of age. I was healthy otherwise, walking 2-3 miles each day and felt good…if only I could breathe!

The tests began and each one would come back normal.

I felt anything but normal.

Living-with-Fibromyalgia

I cannot even remember all of the tests that I had so long ago but I remember when they started testing my lungs that I thought maybe it was just all a nightmare and I would wake up one morning with it all gone. Back then, fibromyalgia was not easily diagnosed and those who understood it were few and far between. It was difficult to get someone to take you seriously.

One night I even ended up in the ER because the pain was so intense, I could not get any relief and I could not get my breath. The ER doctor suggested something to relax me, and implied, without coming out and saying it, that it was all in my head. I was devastated. How, and why, would I make something like this appear out of thin air?! Why would I want to feel this way?!

I refused the tranquilizer and went home feeling worse than when I came. Shortly after this I ended up in a doctor’s office where this wonderful man said I wasn’t crazy. That my symptoms matched something called Fibromyalgia. MayoClinic.org defines it this way:

“Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues. Researchers believe that fibromyalgia amplifies painful sensations by affecting the way your brain processes pain signals.

Symptoms sometimes begin after a physical trauma, surgery, infection or significant psychological stress. In other cases, symptoms gradually accumulate over time with no single triggering event.”

In my case, he said, I was not entering REM sleep, and had not for years. My body was reacting by constricting the muscles in my chest, causing the pain, discomfort and breathing difficulty. If I could begin sleeping deeper, he was sure those symptoms would cease.

He was correct. One night on a 10 mg dose of Elavil (amitriptyline) and I was fine! The breathing problems stopped and the pain in my chest was much better.

Over the years though other symptoms would come, some would go, good days and bad days alternated like the weather. Some years I was on more medication than others, but nothing seemed to take away the overwhelming fatigue and widespread muscle pain. There were a couple of times that I even seemed to go into remission. I would feel almost normal for months at a time, only to have it return with a vengeance.

Thankfully, today it is not looked down upon and you can get help. So many symptoms accompany Fibromyalgia, even though one might experience some and others entirely different issues. It affects so much of your body! Some symptoms include:

  • Chronic muscle pain, muscle spasms, or tightness
  • Moderate or severe fatigue and decreased energy
  • Insomnia or waking up feeling just as tired as when you went to sleep
  • Stiffness upon waking or after staying in one position for too long
  • Difficulty remembering, concentrating, and performing simple mental tasks (“fibro fog”)
  • Abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, and constipation alternating with diarrhea (irritable bowel syndrome)
  • Tension or migraine headaches
  • Jaw and facial tenderness
  • Sensitivity to one or more of the following: odors, noise, bright lights, medications, certain foods, and cold
  • Feeling anxious or depressed
  • Numbness or tingling in the face, arms, hands, legs, or feet
  • Increase in urinary urgency or frequency (irritable bladder)
  • Reduced tolerance for exercise and muscle pain after exercise
  • A feeling of swelling (without actual swelling) in the hands and feet

I could relate to at least eleven of these fourteen symptoms. I couldn’t believe there was a connection! Exercise certainly helped; especially weight-lifting, or strength training. I don’t think it made me feel better but psychologically it was a benefit. I felt as if I was trying to fight it and of course, that is half the battle, the want to.

Do you suffer from Fibro? Do you struggle with getting out of bed some days, or most days? How about depression? Is that an area that is difficult for you? Many Fibro sufferers do have depression and it is easy to see why. The lack of sleep combined with all of the pain and fatigue would be enough to depress anyone. And if it comes upon you suddenly, it can seem as if your world has come to a halt.

If you do not have a doctor who specializes in Fibromyalgia…find one! Many Rheumatologists make that a priority just as much as the myriad of other diseases they treat. Search until you find one that takes you serious and then stick with him/her and give their treatments a chance to work for you.

What has helped me the most over the last 20 years?

Exercise whenever possible.  Walking was my favorite and as I mentioned, strength training. I also feel like water aerobics and swimming are very beneficial. I’ve joined the YMCA and participated in classes that focus on strength and recovery.

Less medication is best because of so many side effects. Yet we understand sometimes it is unavoidable.

Get plenty of rest! When my body screams for me to lay down I would usually have to oblige. It would help me get through the day.

Prayer. It isn’t last on the list…it IS the list. Without a doubt. Those days I couldn’t get out of bed I would ask the Lord to strengthen my mind along with my body. He always showed up. I may not understand the why even today but if I can help someone else by having gone through it myself, it is always worth it.

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DF cover side viewHave you purchased your copy of The Daniel Fast, A Devotional? Still going strong on Amazon in paperback and Kindle! Great for any fast, all year long devotional. Be blessed!

 

 

 

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Living at the Intersection of Faith and Chronic Illness

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One of my best friends in the world is my guest here at Hope in the Healing today! My friend, Joy Terrell, is a survivor and you will be forever blessed by her words. She lives with chronic illness and has been a lifeline for me the past few years in dealing with fibromyalgia and my SI issues. I have quoted her famous line many times that she uses to encourage me when I think that MY ailments and struggles are not as BIG or important as hers: “Just because I have two broken legs and you only have one doesn’t mean that YOUR broken leg hurts any less.” Enjoy this real, raw and encouraging post and please share.

I live at the intersection of Faith and Chronic Illness. I have never really cared for the neighborhood; however, I do not know how to move elsewhere. I have been living here for almost 30 years, yet it has never felt comfortable, or too homey.

I was born into a family with a strong Christian heritage. My family’s religious beliefs defined so much about who we were, and still are.  Our upbringing was all about things being black or white, with no room for gray. Either you fit neatly inside our beliefs or something was wrong with your love for God.

As an adult, I have found that this seemingly simple way of approaching spiritual matters sometimes has me in a quandary.

I have been diagnosed with several autoimmune disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and lupus.  These chronic, debilitating, and painful diseases have affected every facet of my life. Things are drastically different from the ideal life I had imagined. I cannot say it is all for the worse. RA and lupus have taught me enough about compassion and empathy to merit at least a Master’s degree in each!

Now, to get to the topic at hand, having a chronic disease has had a major impact on the spiritual side of my life. I really do believe in God, and in His power to miraculously heal and deliver. I also believe in His ability to walk alongside and give grace to go through the valley.

Many Christians believe that God will always come with healing or deliverance. The scripture in James even lays out a formula, “Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray…Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up…” (James 5:13-15, KJV.) Sounds simple enough, right?  However, why does it not always happen this way? This question has caused me a great deal of emotional stress!

Many ministers, as well as saints in the pews, have prayed for my healing. Seemingly, every revival or special service included a session of prayer for my physical needs. Nevertheless, my condition only continued to become more disabling.

Because the Bible seems clear about healing, the conclusion reached by many is that there must be something amiss in my spirit.

Living at the Intersection

Maybe I do not have faith. That assumption is quite puzzling. I think I have faith. Maybe I just need more of it. How and where is it that I get more? (They do not offer it for sale at Amazon.com!) Maybe my problem is that I am a realist. Either it truly happens, or it does not.  I have a problem understanding Sister Saint, who claims healing from her migraines only to show up at the next service wanting prayer for her migraines. What is up with that? I guess I am being transparent here. My interest is in the real deal.

Others have wondered if I just do not want healing. I must enjoy living this way. After all, I can just sit at home and draw disability. I have a great excuse to attend services at my convenience. Oh, what a life it is!

Maybe I like the attention of others. Perhaps I do not really have a disease, but am just “overly sensitive”.  I am not joking; I have actually heard it all. These kinds of reactions can really do a number on a person.  Regrettably, I have to say it is usually my fellow Christians drawing these conclusions.

This intersection of physical and spiritual matters can be an awkward place.

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In order to maintain my belief in the goodness of God and others, I have had to work through some tough questions. Why am I continually trudging through this valley?  The simple answer is, “I don’t know.”

I do know that it is NOT a punishment from God.

We are subject to diseases, bad genes, and other things because we are fallen creatures. Life is no longer a perfect paradise. I also know that through it, I have learned a great deal about others and myself. I have learned that God’s grace really is enough to get me through any given day. I can walk in the assurance that God will give the measure of strength each day requires.

Why do folks with chronic illness find themselves being the subject of some not-so-nice comments?

It is an instinct people use to insulate themselves from the reality that bad things could also happen to them.  People do not want to face the harsh truth of chronic disease. It is easier to blame and isolate the sufferer than it is to get too close to the facts. If they can ignore it, it cannot affect them.  People blessed with good health cannot begin to comprehend life on this side. It is not their fault; it just is what it is.

I feel compelled to remind all of us not to judge a situation we have never experienced.

Remember, the only people who want a truthful answer to “How are you?” are your doctor and your mother!

It is more comfortable for almost everyone else to hear, “I am fine”.  Living with chronic illness often becomes a lonely place.  Folks around you have moved on, but your reality remains.

How can I cope with all of this?  I need to know I am not alone.  There are plenty of you out there walking down a similar path. We understand each other! We know how to share compassion. We know how to listen, really listen to each other. We know how to encourage each other. We can share in the good and the bad times.

  • Being alone with thoughts is not a good plan.
  • Dwelling on what has happened, and the losses suffered, solves nothing.
  • Fretting about what might be is a waste of energy.

It is important to live in the present. It is only physically possible to get through one day at a time anyway.

It is important to continue to feel useful to others. Find someone you can help. It does not need to be some huge, difficult thing. Simply sending a card can make someone’s day.  Pay it forward in some unexpected way, like paying for someone’s order at your favorite drive thru place. These acts of kindness are a blessing to the recipient, as well as the doer. Try it!

Most importantly, I need to find a place in God that is right for me. This meeting place of faith and disease should not be a place of guilt, or blame. I have to know that God’s love and faithfulness are unconditional. (Take some time to think on that. It is almost more than I can comprehend.)

My spiritual walk is mine alone. I need to be at peace with it. God is not keeping a scorecard. There are no boxes to check off.  I am not forsaking my commitment, or leaving my spirituality to wither away. Here comes that reality thing again! I can only do what I can do. God knows the path I walk, and understands my struggles. My spirituality may look a shambles in the eyes of man, but I humbly pray that God sees me with eyes of understanding and compassion.

Be blessed today!

385665_437965479547500_1068992269_nJoy is a graduate of Purdue University School of Pharmacy. She is a licensed pharmacist, in early retirement. She is married to her favorite guy, Doug. They are “pet parents” to a golden retriever, Jack, and to Kenzi, a golden doodle. Joy has served her church family as a Sunday school teacher, church secretary/treasurer, board member, and a willing helper.

 You might also like He Heals Me, He Heals Me Not, along the same subject lines. Blessings.

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