Won't see something like that again for another thousand years. Wow. Isn't that something? Just throwing that out there. Really no reason for it. LOL! Just a pondering thought for you to enjoy today.
Did you miss the December meeting? Let me tell you, if you did, you really did miss out. Delicious food and treats galore. Deb even treated us to fresh chicken eggs to take home! Can you believe her? So generous! I am not sure I'd have been able to share if I had my own chicks. But indeed that will never happen. I have 2 labs that would love to get their chompers on some poultry. So yep, I was pretty excited about the eggs. And can she serve them or what? I saw her come in with a full tray of deviled eggs and by the first hour they were gone. Pretty sure I was going to have to fight Rob for the last one but alas someone beat us to it. Thanks Deb!
And a special thank you to Janice. Our loving, compassionate, warrior woman. Oh and leader/spokesperson. Ha Ha Ha! She was also very generous and deserves her very own paragraph as well. Ever heard of worry dolls? Or worry stones? Rub your worries into them and they are gone? Well, this beautiful soul made the women special glass treasures for us to take home. I just am dumbfounded at everyones generosity! These were absolutely gorgeous. I am not talking little bits of nothing either. These things were solid. Beautiful pieces that were 3 and 4 layers of glass deep. The fronts were shiny and smooth. The backs held tiny ridges to rub your worries into. I don't know about the rest of our peeps that were there, but "I" am going to treasure this gift and hold it close to my heart. Definately special indeed. Thanks Janice!
Our very own Verna had the forethought to give out Christmas cards. How did she do that? I haven't even started on mine! Enclosed was a beautiful poem to delight in. Our beloved Linda read it to us to kind of cap the evening off. Loved it!
The evening was spent enjoying each others company and playing the white elephant game. That was a hoot I tell you. I still feel bad for stealing my gift. But hey, it was an angel! I love angels. I just couldn't help myself. And I felt better that she ended up with two bags of truffles. Thats a good exchange I think. I might have held out and snagged the truffles but I didn't know they were in that stash. Darn it! Oh well. I love my pretty angel. I brought her to work with me to sit on my desk and make me smile. But some of those things, they brought some good chuckles. Not alot of people got into the stealing mode til' Janice got in there and ripped off Debs necklace set. Rob was sneaky though and got a hold of it for his band. Secretly I think Deb was a bit relieved. My only troubling thought was why no body wanted my pooping gingerbread man or pooping penguin? They walk, the poo candy. Whats not to like? HA!
So thats the gist of the evening. Hopefully you were there to enjoy the friendship and support. But if not, hopefully we will see you in January. Remember the second Tuesday of every month. 6 pm to 8 pm. Hope everyone has a safe and joyous holiday.
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
November Meeting
First of all I'd like to apologize for not updating the blog in a couple months. I missed the meetings. We know all about flares and life mishaps, well, I've experienced a fair amount of both. So I am sorry not to keep you updated. NOW - moving on to the meeting I did get to. LOL!
It was a really great meeting. And so good to see everyone again. Its such a warm and welcoming environment that you just can't help but feel great about being there.
Our speaker this month was Peggy White. She does self hypnosis. Handing out many papers on the process that breaks the cycle of the fight, flight, and freeze responses that our body automatically does. Hypnosis connects the conscious mind to the subconscious mind. Making your mind more open to suggestion. It cannot make you do things against your will. A hypnotist can only gues your mind into a hypnotic state and offer simple suggestions to your mind based on your desire to effect change. As far as I am aware, we were all aware the entire meeting and no one ran around clucking like a chicken. LOL! So I'd safe your in perfect hands to see Peggy if this is of interest to you.
There was alot of talk about hyaluronic acid and how important this substance is to your body. Every body tissue has it - making it a lifeline for our cells. It helps remove toxins from your cells. It is a natural substance that is found in the synovial fluid surrounding our joints and all the connecting tissues of our body. Um hello! Where does fibromyalgia affect you? Uh, yeah. Those connecting tissues and joints to start. LOL! So a look at hyaluronic acid would be beneficial to fibro sufferers. You can go to a health food store and ask them about it. Or contact Peggy for more information. She is a true believer in its benefits and uses Synthovial Seven which is pure hyaluronic acid. If hyaluronic acid reduces pain as its claimed, I know where my next stop will be.
Just a reminder that our group meets every 2nd Tuesday of the month from 6 to 8 pm at 2401 River Road Suite 100 @ the Willamette Pain Management Building.
Our December 11th meeting should be a total hoot. We are going skip the speaker and just have FUN! Everyone is to bring an angel to exchange and a small gift for an elephant exchange game. Nothing over $5.00 - can be wacky, tacky, unusual, new, used, whatever! Just bring a little something for us to fight over. :) Cookies will be provided to tame our sweet tooths. This should be a very fun evening indeed. Hope to see you there!
It was a really great meeting. And so good to see everyone again. Its such a warm and welcoming environment that you just can't help but feel great about being there.
Our speaker this month was Peggy White. She does self hypnosis. Handing out many papers on the process that breaks the cycle of the fight, flight, and freeze responses that our body automatically does. Hypnosis connects the conscious mind to the subconscious mind. Making your mind more open to suggestion. It cannot make you do things against your will. A hypnotist can only gues your mind into a hypnotic state and offer simple suggestions to your mind based on your desire to effect change. As far as I am aware, we were all aware the entire meeting and no one ran around clucking like a chicken. LOL! So I'd safe your in perfect hands to see Peggy if this is of interest to you.
Just a reminder that our group meets every 2nd Tuesday of the month from 6 to 8 pm at 2401 River Road Suite 100 @ the Willamette Pain Management Building.
Our December 11th meeting should be a total hoot. We are going skip the speaker and just have FUN! Everyone is to bring an angel to exchange and a small gift for an elephant exchange game. Nothing over $5.00 - can be wacky, tacky, unusual, new, used, whatever! Just bring a little something for us to fight over. :) Cookies will be provided to tame our sweet tooths. This should be a very fun evening indeed. Hope to see you there!
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
July Meeting
Another excellent meeting. Janice got Mr. Dan Oniel to come and speak with us. Huge kudos and thanks to this man. He was our biggest advocate at our disposal for the American Pain Association. I am sad to report that the APA no longer exists. Due to lack of funding and backing it had to shut down. What a huge step backwords! Yes, Oregon has other associations. But even one association closing is hurtful to all involved. Thats just one more resource that is unavailable to us. BUMMER! So remember, be your OWN ADVOCATE for your health care. Don't expect someone else to do it for you. Consider writing letters to your legislature. Write good positive stuff. You don't just have to write negative letters, write about the good too!
He did however have many resources to share with us. He's so full of knowledge and stories. I'd love to just sit down with a cup of tea and listen to him for another hour or two. I bet he'd be a hoot to talk to. Anyways, back to what he shared...
Did you know that there was help from the Feds? Yeah, me either! But there is. For those that don't have health insurance available, go to http://www.oregon.gov/OHA/OPHP/FHIAP/index.shtml and get signed up. Can't hurt anything to try.
Ever heard of Forest Tennant? Well, if you have issues with pain, you should. I didn't. But you can bet your buns that I am downloading and reading this ASAP tonight. Go here for your copy: http://pain-topics.org/pdf/IntractablePainSurvival.pdf
Pain Pathways is a magazine you may or may not have heard of. Started back in 2008. Click here to see if its something you might be interested in subscribing to. http://www.painpathways.org/
Did you know that ANYONE can attend a Oregon Pain Management meeting? I didn't. Held every other month in Salem in the Barbara Roberts building (close to the state capitol) in Salem. This would be so informative. I say grab a friend or two and make a trip of it!!!
Dan closed the meeting with a rant on forming a team for yourself. Okay, not a rant. But he was mighty serious. LOL! I can't agree with him more. You can't do this yourself. You need a team. Your team might be made up of your doctors, your psychologists, neurologist, physical therapists, your parents, your mate, your friends, or even your neighbor or church member if you attend. We don't care who's on your team. We just want you to have one. :)
Lastly, I will leave you some links for things that Dan mentioned along the way. Check them out in your free time.
http://www.inflexxion.com/painACTION/invisitbleproject.org
http://www.uspainfoundation.org/
http://www.foresttenant.com/
P.S: If looking to find anything in Eugene and want it all in one place, Ward has done a wonderful job with this site: http://www.getinvolvedineugene.com/
Happy Wednesday Everyone!
He did however have many resources to share with us. He's so full of knowledge and stories. I'd love to just sit down with a cup of tea and listen to him for another hour or two. I bet he'd be a hoot to talk to. Anyways, back to what he shared...
Did you know that there was help from the Feds? Yeah, me either! But there is. For those that don't have health insurance available, go to http://www.oregon.gov/OHA/OPHP/FHIAP/index.shtml and get signed up. Can't hurt anything to try.
Ever heard of Forest Tennant? Well, if you have issues with pain, you should. I didn't. But you can bet your buns that I am downloading and reading this ASAP tonight. Go here for your copy: http://pain-topics.org/pdf/IntractablePainSurvival.pdf
Pain Pathways is a magazine you may or may not have heard of. Started back in 2008. Click here to see if its something you might be interested in subscribing to. http://www.painpathways.org/
Did you know that ANYONE can attend a Oregon Pain Management meeting? I didn't. Held every other month in Salem in the Barbara Roberts building (close to the state capitol) in Salem. This would be so informative. I say grab a friend or two and make a trip of it!!!
Dan closed the meeting with a rant on forming a team for yourself. Okay, not a rant. But he was mighty serious. LOL! I can't agree with him more. You can't do this yourself. You need a team. Your team might be made up of your doctors, your psychologists, neurologist, physical therapists, your parents, your mate, your friends, or even your neighbor or church member if you attend. We don't care who's on your team. We just want you to have one. :)
Lastly, I will leave you some links for things that Dan mentioned along the way. Check them out in your free time.
http://www.inflexxion.com/painACTION/invisitbleproject.org
http://www.uspainfoundation.org/
http://www.foresttenant.com/
P.S: If looking to find anything in Eugene and want it all in one place, Ward has done a wonderful job with this site: http://www.getinvolvedineugene.com/
Happy Wednesday Everyone!
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
June Meeting
Well peeps. You missed out. Our key speaker couldn't make it. But thats alright. We got the insiders scoop and tour of the basement at the Pain center. They have pool down there! Thats right. A nice warm therapy pool. Where do we sign up for that? :) The Axis therapists are down there with new space and its just mind blowing. A very good move for all involved. Be sure to check it out!
Monday, June 11, 2012
June Meeting June 12th
Yep. Its that time again! I say 'again' loosely because it seems like we haven't had a meeting in eons. LOL! What can I say? I miss you peeps!
Hope to see you at the meeting TOMORROW night. 6-8 pm at 2401 River Road.
Hope to see you at the meeting TOMORROW night. 6-8 pm at 2401 River Road.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Relief from weeds?
Yup! Met a wonderful lady by the name of Virginia Scroggins at the Fibromyalgia Awareness Seminar. She sells her stuff at Dr. Morris's office as well as makes custom things for you. How great is that?! Her company name is "Sacred Secrets" and I just wanted to give a quick shout out to her in case (like me) were unaware of such a thing.
She makes wraps with flax seeds, lavender, peppermint, pine, ginger, allspice, cloves, cayenne, and orris root in her healing wraps. You just microwave them in 1/2 minute increments (because each micro varies! and once you know what your # is, you can stop doing that and just enter your set time.) She does caution that you use carefully at first to make sure your body is okay with it and you don't have a reaction to any of the herbal mixture.
But after that, your good to go! Now, I didn't get to feel the results of them heated up because we were at a Seminar. BUT let me just tell you, they smelled divine. And there is something about the weight of them and the texture wrapped around you that feels good even without the heat. Like a hug!
I am looking forward to getting some of her wraps and am even going to get a custom one made for my lower back. YEAH!
Two posts in one day? Who'd have thought? :) Have a great day!
She makes wraps with flax seeds, lavender, peppermint, pine, ginger, allspice, cloves, cayenne, and orris root in her healing wraps. You just microwave them in 1/2 minute increments (because each micro varies! and once you know what your # is, you can stop doing that and just enter your set time.) She does caution that you use carefully at first to make sure your body is okay with it and you don't have a reaction to any of the herbal mixture.
But after that, your good to go! Now, I didn't get to feel the results of them heated up because we were at a Seminar. BUT let me just tell you, they smelled divine. And there is something about the weight of them and the texture wrapped around you that feels good even without the heat. Like a hug!
I am looking forward to getting some of her wraps and am even going to get a custom one made for my lower back. YEAH!
Two posts in one day? Who'd have thought? :) Have a great day!
Fibromyalgia Awareness Day (May 12)
To recognize this day, I spent my evening over at the Tamarack Pool with so many other wonderful people who, unfortunately, have to deal with the daily issues of Fibro. If you thought it would be an evening of whining and belly aching, your wrong. It was a wonderful evening full of great information. Had some wonderful speakers.
Since not all of you were there, I am going to share a brief overview of the evening. Janice and I both have copies of the literature that was available so just get in contact with us if you need a copy of something.
Did you know that we celebrate this day in honor of Florence Nightingale? I didn't. She was a fabulous nurse in the English Crimean War during 1854 to 1856. She was a pioneer of the Red Cross movement. Unfortunately, she became ill while working on the front lines and never fully recovered. She had pain and fatigue that resembled our nemisis Fibromyalgia and was virtually bed ridden til' her death in 1910. Before her death she laid the foundation for professional nursing at the St. Thomas Hospital in London. What an amazing and strong woman!
No, I am not going to give you a history lesson, but I thought it was worth mentioning that people struggled with this obnoxious syndrome and still ended up doing amazing things. So I thought it would give you all a bit of encouragement. Don't give up. Its not a death sentence, its a life sentence. Remember to just keep putting one foot in front of the other and don't be afraid to help pull people up and encourage them along your path. You will discover friends along this journey if your not afraid to look for them!
--------------------------
The first speaker of the evening was none other than Dr. Morris. It was fabulous to hear him say once again that its not in our heads. If you are like me, you'll catch yourself every once in awhile wondering if it is...
But thankfully he reaffirmed our doubts. Its real and there is hope! Laboratory tests and brain imaging technology has validated fibro as a physical disorder. What causes it? A malfunction in our central nervous system.It tends to run in families. 7 to 1 women vs men. They think this number is not completely accurate. They think more men suffer than are currently recognized. They just suffer in silence. Us women, well, what can I say? We are a bit more vocal. (shocker!) 541-344-8469 to book an appt with him or his team.
Our nerves wind up and get all excited. The glial cels that produce inflammation turns on the nerves, so we need to work on keeping the glial cells calm. The biggest thing to get from this whole evening is that there is no pill, no single "one thing" that is going to help us.
Second up to bat was Darby Valley a local acupuncturist. He really had some interesting things to say about our inner chi, body toxins, and how to make our bodies stronger thru chinese medicine. There was mention of some yummy dirt tea. Not sure where I sign up for that. LOL! But in all seriousness, you should look into seeing an acupuncturist for alternative assistance. It may or not work for you. What works for one, may not work for another. But you at least need to try. Once you build up your team of professional and friends, you'll have that much needed support team. He admitted to no one being completely balanced, thats why he'll always have a job. :) darby@cgca.us or 541-357-7530
Teri Strong spoke to us next. She is a local councelor. A very nice and knowledgable lady. A good choice to try if you are looking to build your support team. She encourages trying to live with less stress in our lives. Changing our "have to's" into I "choose to" - this is a subtle change of mind frame. But huge. If we "choose" to do something we have more luck succeeding than we do when we stress ourselves out with all the "have to's." Teri encouraged us to develop our habits with three action steps. I really think she's on to something there. Personally, I don't like being told I "have to" do something. I revolt, protest, etc. I think I would do better if I did change my thinking to "I choose to..." --- But thats just me. terilstrong@yahoo.com or 541-393-5983
Coleen Stevenson from Body Works attended. She works with Boen therapy and specific body work with myofacial release. Its a natural healing process that works on reducing our constants state of fight or flight. She'll help you figure out how to relax on your own. Its important to learn to just me in the "now" and let go of the past. coleen.stevenson@gmail.com
Patricia Schnider spoke about the benefits of ai chi. Breathing. Stress relief. She'll help you bring balance to your nervous system so its not stuck on all the time. (I wonder what that would be like?) Sounds wonderful though. Its a another water based program that improves your range of motion, balance, and mobility. Combines Tai Chi, shiatsu, and qigong techiniques. Pattyh-s@email.toast.net
Then we had Kathie Knowles who introduced us to Watsu. She has a passion for water healing. Another form of myofacial release. Watsu is a form of Water and Shiatsu. You float in warm water and it relaxes you. Allowing your body to stretch and be manipulated. Very gently relaxing your mind and body. Helps the treatment of chronic pain, fibro, myo, brain injuries etc. Helps improve a persons ability to sleep and digest. Allow fuller breathing, reduce anxiety and stress. My only question was "where do I sign up?" LOL! If you have any questions you can contact Kathy at klk1946@comast.net or 541-342-6436
Janice VanCamp was next ot last. She's just a doll. She gave the support group a qucik plug and did a fabulous job wrapping up the evening. I think huge kudos goes out to this lady. She had the courage and inclination to start a support group here locally. Where as some of us would only think about doing it, she forged ahead and did it! I can't applaud her loud enough. That takes drive. Especially when she was the only attendy for the first couple of meetings. LOL! Thank god she stuck with it. Soon she had such a great group they outgrew their old location and had to move. Can you think of a better compliment than that? Thank you Janice for all your hard work and sticking with it. I don't know what I would have done trying to go this journey alone. You can contact her at fibrosupp11@yahoo.com
Leighann Turner with Axis Physical Therapy was our last speaker. They always save the best for last don't you think? She reminds of a little sprite. A pixie or something. She's a tiny lil' thing with so much energy inside her, I swear, she glows... Anyhoo... She was a god send. Had us immediately stand up and stretch. How did she know I was about ready to scream? So we all got a chance to stand. We stuck out our tongues and said BLAAH! (No I am not crazy or stupid. It works!) But you do feel silly doing it. She ran over some quick self care treatments and pointed out things in the room we could look at after our session.
leighann@axisptrehab.com or 541-683-6187
There is just no way I can cover the wealth of information we were given that evening. But thats as best of an overview as I can manage. Please, if you are local, I encourage you to join us at our Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain support group. We meet the second tuesday of every month at 2401 River Road in Eugene.
Feel free to email us if you need any information at fibrosupp11@yahoo.com
LASTLY it is important to note that I am fully responsible for the content of this blog post. If I got any of the information wrong, it is my fault alone. Which is why I encourage you to get in contact with these individuals and speak with them if you need clarification or have questions. It was an abundant amount of information to consume in an hour. You had fibro fog and pain and you get, well, me. Befuddled but trying. So there you have it. My take on a wonderful Fibro Awareness Day Seminar.
Since not all of you were there, I am going to share a brief overview of the evening. Janice and I both have copies of the literature that was available so just get in contact with us if you need a copy of something.
Did you know that we celebrate this day in honor of Florence Nightingale? I didn't. She was a fabulous nurse in the English Crimean War during 1854 to 1856. She was a pioneer of the Red Cross movement. Unfortunately, she became ill while working on the front lines and never fully recovered. She had pain and fatigue that resembled our nemisis Fibromyalgia and was virtually bed ridden til' her death in 1910. Before her death she laid the foundation for professional nursing at the St. Thomas Hospital in London. What an amazing and strong woman!
No, I am not going to give you a history lesson, but I thought it was worth mentioning that people struggled with this obnoxious syndrome and still ended up doing amazing things. So I thought it would give you all a bit of encouragement. Don't give up. Its not a death sentence, its a life sentence. Remember to just keep putting one foot in front of the other and don't be afraid to help pull people up and encourage them along your path. You will discover friends along this journey if your not afraid to look for them!
--------------------------
The first speaker of the evening was none other than Dr. Morris. It was fabulous to hear him say once again that its not in our heads. If you are like me, you'll catch yourself every once in awhile wondering if it is...
But thankfully he reaffirmed our doubts. Its real and there is hope! Laboratory tests and brain imaging technology has validated fibro as a physical disorder. What causes it? A malfunction in our central nervous system.It tends to run in families. 7 to 1 women vs men. They think this number is not completely accurate. They think more men suffer than are currently recognized. They just suffer in silence. Us women, well, what can I say? We are a bit more vocal. (shocker!) 541-344-8469 to book an appt with him or his team.
Our nerves wind up and get all excited. The glial cels that produce inflammation turns on the nerves, so we need to work on keeping the glial cells calm. The biggest thing to get from this whole evening is that there is no pill, no single "one thing" that is going to help us.
Second up to bat was Darby Valley a local acupuncturist. He really had some interesting things to say about our inner chi, body toxins, and how to make our bodies stronger thru chinese medicine. There was mention of some yummy dirt tea. Not sure where I sign up for that. LOL! But in all seriousness, you should look into seeing an acupuncturist for alternative assistance. It may or not work for you. What works for one, may not work for another. But you at least need to try. Once you build up your team of professional and friends, you'll have that much needed support team. He admitted to no one being completely balanced, thats why he'll always have a job. :) darby@cgca.us or 541-357-7530
Teri Strong spoke to us next. She is a local councelor. A very nice and knowledgable lady. A good choice to try if you are looking to build your support team. She encourages trying to live with less stress in our lives. Changing our "have to's" into I "choose to" - this is a subtle change of mind frame. But huge. If we "choose" to do something we have more luck succeeding than we do when we stress ourselves out with all the "have to's." Teri encouraged us to develop our habits with three action steps. I really think she's on to something there. Personally, I don't like being told I "have to" do something. I revolt, protest, etc. I think I would do better if I did change my thinking to "I choose to..." --- But thats just me. terilstrong@yahoo.com or 541-393-5983
Coleen Stevenson from Body Works attended. She works with Boen therapy and specific body work with myofacial release. Its a natural healing process that works on reducing our constants state of fight or flight. She'll help you figure out how to relax on your own. Its important to learn to just me in the "now" and let go of the past. coleen.stevenson@gmail.com
Patricia Schnider spoke about the benefits of ai chi. Breathing. Stress relief. She'll help you bring balance to your nervous system so its not stuck on all the time. (I wonder what that would be like?) Sounds wonderful though. Its a another water based program that improves your range of motion, balance, and mobility. Combines Tai Chi, shiatsu, and qigong techiniques. Pattyh-s@email.toast.net
Then we had Kathie Knowles who introduced us to Watsu. She has a passion for water healing. Another form of myofacial release. Watsu is a form of Water and Shiatsu. You float in warm water and it relaxes you. Allowing your body to stretch and be manipulated. Very gently relaxing your mind and body. Helps the treatment of chronic pain, fibro, myo, brain injuries etc. Helps improve a persons ability to sleep and digest. Allow fuller breathing, reduce anxiety and stress. My only question was "where do I sign up?" LOL! If you have any questions you can contact Kathy at klk1946@comast.net or 541-342-6436
Janice VanCamp was next ot last. She's just a doll. She gave the support group a qucik plug and did a fabulous job wrapping up the evening. I think huge kudos goes out to this lady. She had the courage and inclination to start a support group here locally. Where as some of us would only think about doing it, she forged ahead and did it! I can't applaud her loud enough. That takes drive. Especially when she was the only attendy for the first couple of meetings. LOL! Thank god she stuck with it. Soon she had such a great group they outgrew their old location and had to move. Can you think of a better compliment than that? Thank you Janice for all your hard work and sticking with it. I don't know what I would have done trying to go this journey alone. You can contact her at fibrosupp11@yahoo.com
Leighann Turner with Axis Physical Therapy was our last speaker. They always save the best for last don't you think? She reminds of a little sprite. A pixie or something. She's a tiny lil' thing with so much energy inside her, I swear, she glows... Anyhoo... She was a god send. Had us immediately stand up and stretch. How did she know I was about ready to scream? So we all got a chance to stand. We stuck out our tongues and said BLAAH! (No I am not crazy or stupid. It works!) But you do feel silly doing it. She ran over some quick self care treatments and pointed out things in the room we could look at after our session.
leighann@axisptrehab.com or 541-683-6187
There is just no way I can cover the wealth of information we were given that evening. But thats as best of an overview as I can manage. Please, if you are local, I encourage you to join us at our Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain support group. We meet the second tuesday of every month at 2401 River Road in Eugene.
Feel free to email us if you need any information at fibrosupp11@yahoo.com
LASTLY it is important to note that I am fully responsible for the content of this blog post. If I got any of the information wrong, it is my fault alone. Which is why I encourage you to get in contact with these individuals and speak with them if you need clarification or have questions. It was an abundant amount of information to consume in an hour. You had fibro fog and pain and you get, well, me. Befuddled but trying. So there you have it. My take on a wonderful Fibro Awareness Day Seminar.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
March Meeting
Oh my goodness! March's meeting was such a treat to the ears. Sorry some of you missed it. We had the luxury of listening to one of our members (Bethel) play soothing music on her flute. She's a very talented lady and this was a great opportunity to unwind after a stressful week.
Our original speaker could not make it. So we told funny stories about ourself. Which I will not share. You have to be there to get the skinny on everyone. Sorry!
Its their story to tell though and I doubt my recaps would do them justice.
Janice has been able to coordinate some services to donate their time or service to us for certain things. So some of the meetings will now have drawings. How fun is that? This is a great idea and very kind of them to be offering it to us.
In April's meeting we are having Mary Carter, a local FeldenKrais practioner come in. She has also graciously offered a session to the winner of our drawing. You must be in attendance to win. So please make an effort to join us.
Ward has made a website www.getinvolvedineugene.com for those of you interested in a one stop location to finding whose- who and what's - what in Eugene. Thanks Ward for taking the time to do that.
Just to get everyone a heads up, we'll be taking pictures of the group during our April meeting so we can post it on the side bar of our blog. So don't say we didn't warn you. You'll be in the picture sweats and all if you thats what you come in. :)
I can't remember who said this. (SORRY!!!) But a lady at the meeting said something terrific. She said she had to "forgive myself to be in pain." We all loved this thought very much. And if I can find out who said it, I will come back and edit this properly.
So please forgive yourself for being in pain and concentrate on what you CAN do.
Hope to see you April 10th at our next meeting at the clinic.
Our original speaker could not make it. So we told funny stories about ourself. Which I will not share. You have to be there to get the skinny on everyone. Sorry!
Its their story to tell though and I doubt my recaps would do them justice.
Janice has been able to coordinate some services to donate their time or service to us for certain things. So some of the meetings will now have drawings. How fun is that? This is a great idea and very kind of them to be offering it to us.
In April's meeting we are having Mary Carter, a local FeldenKrais practioner come in. She has also graciously offered a session to the winner of our drawing. You must be in attendance to win. So please make an effort to join us.
Ward has made a website www.getinvolvedineugene.com for those of you interested in a one stop location to finding whose- who and what's - what in Eugene. Thanks Ward for taking the time to do that.
Just to get everyone a heads up, we'll be taking pictures of the group during our April meeting so we can post it on the side bar of our blog. So don't say we didn't warn you. You'll be in the picture sweats and all if you thats what you come in. :)
I can't remember who said this. (SORRY!!!) But a lady at the meeting said something terrific. She said she had to "forgive myself to be in pain." We all loved this thought very much. And if I can find out who said it, I will come back and edit this properly.
So please forgive yourself for being in pain and concentrate on what you CAN do.
Hope to see you April 10th at our next meeting at the clinic.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
February Meeting Recap
Holy smokes! Was that an amazing meeting or what? Thank you to all of those who could attend. And no worries for those that couldn't make it. I'll get you up to speed in a jiffy!
Since our meeting fell on Valentines Day we didn't know what the turn out would be. So Janice (our most respeced and dedicated leader!) decided that it would be an excellent time to just get together and swap ideas on what each of us do to make our daily life easier. Let me just say I was blown away by all the brilliant ideas that everyone so graciously shared.
First up to bat was the hand towel idea. Did I mention how brilliant these ideas were? Take a ordinary (or fancy!) hand towel and put it in your car. It is so wonderful to fold up and use for back support while driving. There are many options for folding and rolling to ease your comfort. You can use it for your back, your neck, or shoot - even to wipe the windows off. LOL! So easy and useful!
Then we had the dental floss idea. They now have little plastic devices that are already flossed for us. Make sure they are from 'glide' so they don't get stuck. Wouldn't that just suck? :) These are wonderful to use. You can do it one handed and don't waste 2' of floss for cleaning between two teeth. Love this!
Oh the joys of bending over or reaching up high... Ugh. No thank you! If I get down there, I might just not get back up. So here came another light bulb moment from our amazing cohorts. Use a "Pik Stick" or "Grabber" You know, those long handled devices with pinchers on the end? What a life saver. Wonderful for grabbing cereal on the upper shelf, picking up something off the floor, or reaching into a tight crevice. Someone even mentioned using it to pull on their socks. It can do it all. I am going to place a couple strategically around the house.
Kitchen tongs. Not just for the kitchen. Same principle as the Grabber/Pik Stick only not as long of a handle.
Dear heating pad, oh how many of us love thee... :) I think this was on many of our lists to share. (Walgreens carries extra large ones. They are longer and so nice to "wrap around" you.) Several of us use these to sit on or wrap around our backs and hips. This is a must on anyones list. And may I remind you also to get one for your car? Or a heating blanket! If you suffer from aches while driving or traveling just buy an inexpensive inverter. Voila! Comfort and coziness to go!
Heating blankets and pads are so nice to have in bed or near the couch so you can just squish yourself in and be comfy.
Don't forget your dollys people! No I am not talking about dolls or stuffed animals silly. I am talking about handcarts. They now come in collapsable form. These are so wonderful for getting our stuff from a to z. Wheeled back packs and small wheeled luggage are other good resources to utilize. We tend to want to carry everything but the kitchen sink with us. But we all know that its forbidden to do so. We are bound to pay the price for it. So if we still feel compelled to do this, lets do it the smart way.
A grocery tip that really helped Linda came from her physical therapist. They recommend taking an empty box and turning it over in a shopping cart. That way it elevates your groceries so you don't ache from bending in to get your groceries out. Makes it core level and that is so much easier. Also it was recommended to use your handicap stickers if you need to. And don't forget to utilize the motorized carts with the baskets in the front. Lets save our bodies for the fun stuff. Not buying groceries. :)
*I feel compelled to note something about using the handicap permits and spaces. There was much discussion about this. Please people... Use it on days that you need it. If you don't, don't abuse it. So many people are abusing these passes and it so frustrating. Remember the elderly and people with extreme hardships need these too. So before pulling into one, think about your pain level first. If its high, by all means USE IT! But if your having a good day, go ahead and park in a regular spot and count walking in to the store as your exercise for the day.*
A simple tip that many went "Huh?" over was just to get dressed for the day. Don't forget your shoes and makeup. And no sweats! WHY?! I know many of you just had that pop in your head. LOL! But think about it. Even if this is your ONLY accomplishment for the day. Than so be it. But at least you are ready for company, going to the doctor, or taking out the trash. If you allow yourself to just lounge around in ratty pajamas or sweats, what message are you sending to your brain? You are giving it an excuse to be lazy. To wallow a bit. Shoes are just as important as the no sweats and pj rule. One, shoes provide support. Two, it eliminates the excuse for "i'll do that later when I have shoes on" Lets be honest here, we don't need any help in the area of procrastion. Many of us have that one down pat. And number three: We are prone to being a wee bit clutsy. Or I am anyways! So wearing shoes protects our toes.
Raise the washer and dryer onto a platform so it makes it the right height for you. No bending. YEAH!!! The newer sets come with pedestals, but are spendy. If you have access to a handman - he can build you a simple wood box platform for alot less.
A camping matt or memory foam mat in front of the washing area can save your back and legs. These matts work great in front of kitchen sink area too.
Garbage cans with wheels make excellent laundry hampers. You just roll it from your bedroom right up to the wash machine. You can use it to transport the dryer load to wherever you fold your clothes too. This really saves me...
Not that I am promoting theft of any kind but steal, beg, borrow your childs or grandkids wagon when its time to bring in those groceries! Costco makes a kind that folds up for easy storing. Since we can't lift much, we end up with so many little bags of stuff to transport from the car to the house. Just borrow the wagon and put your groceries in it. That way it goes straight from the trunk and you just wheel it all the way to the kitchen and your done. Love this!
For the bathrooms, it is recommended to keep the cleaning supplies in each one. This eliminates extra trips throughout the house. I personally leave a crock full of cleaner and water by the loo for quick swish and swipes. A tub of clorex wipes on the shelf for the seat and shelves. So easy!
Don't forget that a steamer can really save you. Shark makes a great one. Its a must for people with chemical sensitivities. But I think everyone should own one. It does the "scrubbing" for you. The hot steam makes soap scum come off like butter. The baked ickiness on stoves? No problem! And no repeticious scrubbing and shoulder aches. Plus its a "green" way to keep your house clean.
Mr. Clean. Mr. Clean! Yes, I have a love affair with that rugged bald man. I don't know why, but don't you just find ANY man that cleans a house sexy? LOL! My point in this? That bald dude makes magic erasers that are, well, magic! He's got a sponge for cleaning crevices, sharpie marks, and kool aid spills on my counter. Grab an eraser and viola! Easy peasy. I like that.
Put together an emergency pack for your car. Keep it simple. A spare set of meds and pain patches fit nicely in your glove compartment or side pocket of your door. If you have room, throw in an instant ice pack and a thermocare wrap and your ready for anything. Just remember to restock it when you take something out of it.
Can I introduce you to your new best friend? Hello timer! Yep a timer. You can get one very inexpensively at the dollar store. I know it sounds silly but it will become a lifesaver. Or a body saver I should say. All you have to do is set it for 15minutes. Thats it. It is just a friendly reminder for you to switch tasks, stretch, exercise, or whatever. The key is not to do any "one" task for longer than fifteen minutes at a time. Dishes? You can't stand there for longer than 15 minutes. Not done? Tough. Move on to the laundry on the couch. Sit and fold for 15. When it goes off again, go have a cup of tea or a snack. Guess what? Since your 15 minutes is up, you are back at those dishes. This way everything gets done in a day but your aren't exhausting any one particular part of your body. Repetition is the devil that bites us. So bye bye evil brat.
Aren't these ideas yummy? LOL! I love Leannes yummy and delicious phrases so I am going to borrow them and insert them here and there for grins and giggles...
Create a "on the run" bag. Keep only the basics in it. Calculator, pen, stamps, thank you notes, and a book. Then when you are off to a doctor appt or kids activity all you have to do is throw in some bills and your set. There is nothing I detest more than wasted time. This syndrome drives me nuts. As an "aries" I am a "do'er" not a "sitter." At least I used to be... Anyways, with this bag I can take full advantage of that wasted time to write my thank yous and pay my bills.
Cheapy binders help me. I color code them to hold all my miscellaneaous papers that I tend to collect from my many doctor and therapy appts. I want to keep them to refer to but don't like them spread throughout the house or cluttering my desk top. So for me, white is my doctor binder. Blue is for physical therapy, and green is for my regular doctor. This is a great place to store the warnings and need to know inserts for the medicines you are taking also. Don't forget to tell family members about them too. My hubby knows right where to go if he ever had to answer any question about what meds I am taking.
Altoid anyone? You know in the morning when you can't bear the thought of getting up and moving? Your brain is in a fog and you haven't even moved a toe outside the covers? Place a tin of altoids on your nightstand. You know... the curiously strong mint? Not only is it good to pop in your mouth when people snuggle up... its great to pop in your mouth on those mornings you can't get moving. Peppermint is known to stop the substance P to your brain. Kind of like a short circuit. Just let it melt in your mouth as you lay there and see if it helps lift the "fog" and gets your brain up and going so you can get your body up and to the shower.
Whats YOUR number? :) Sleep number that is! The sleep number bed came recommended highly for those thinking about a change in mattress's. Warning *it will make you suceptible for being a bed snob" LOL! When sleeping at motels or in friends guest rooms you'll be laying there coveting your number bed at home. HA!
When standing in the kitchen doing your 15 minutes worth of dishes, open the cupboard and prop your foot up. It relieves pressure. If you have a full cupboard like some unnamed people, grab a short step stool and use that.
Focus people! A certain retired doctor who shall remain nameless :) mentioned for us to keep our focus when shopping. (Who me?) Instead of meandering up and down the aisles wasting our much needed energy, go just to the aisles that your stuff is located. Get in and get out. Ask the grocers where certain stuff is so you don't have to do a search. Well, duh! Why didn't I think of that?! So easy, yet you will find me dazed and confused fumbling my way up and down those aisles.
Another lovely lady suggested making a grocery list that is segregated into groups where things are located in the store. Brilliant! This might take some planning at first. But dang if I am not going to try this. Sticking to a list, and eliminating "tour de aisles," will save energy and money! Bravo folks. Way to point out the obvious and stop our befuddled keisters in our tracks.
Here are the last of the great ideas:
The Dollar Tree is currently carrying a lumbar support piece for your chair for a dollar. Now thats about as inexpensive as you can get!
A Shiatsu pillow can be helpful. Also an old boppy pillow. Take some of the stuffing out til' its comfortable. Then its the perfect pillow to wrap around you to support your arms and elbows while driving. You'll arrive at your destination and hopefully in less pain.
Sew tubes together and fill with rice or flax. A mixture of both rice and flax together will hold the heat in longer.
A vacuum sealer can make reusable ice packs if you put in a little rubbing alcohol in the water. Play with it til' you get the right combination. Or be like our newest member and grab that mashed up frozen squash if your in a pinch. Did you know that "mashed" frozen foods holds up for a longer period of time than lets say a bag of peas? (Good to know!)
Voice dictation on a computer saves your hands and wrists. A program like Dragon Natural Speaking or Talk It/Type It. One of the men in our group gave us this great tip. So yes, "men" are also welcome to attend. Chronic pain and fibromyalgia doesn't affect just women, so if you know a sufferer, tell them to come and join our group. Everyone is welcome!
For those of you that are stranded in bed and need to lay flat, have someone locate you some prism glasses! They are definately "different" looking. I will admit that. But what a great invention! They allow you to write while laying flat or watch tv. Its really quite cool.
Just spray "Clean Shower" after each shower to keep your shower walls clean and mold free.
When working at a desk for long periods you may want to prop your feet up on a 2x4 to eleviate the pressure off your back.
Feet flat on the floor people. Keeps your hips from aching. (This one is so hard for me!)
All of these tips are remarkable. But do remember that what works for one, might not work for another. So keep exploring to find what works for you!
Since our meeting fell on Valentines Day we didn't know what the turn out would be. So Janice (our most respeced and dedicated leader!) decided that it would be an excellent time to just get together and swap ideas on what each of us do to make our daily life easier. Let me just say I was blown away by all the brilliant ideas that everyone so graciously shared.
First up to bat was the hand towel idea. Did I mention how brilliant these ideas were? Take a ordinary (or fancy!) hand towel and put it in your car. It is so wonderful to fold up and use for back support while driving. There are many options for folding and rolling to ease your comfort. You can use it for your back, your neck, or shoot - even to wipe the windows off. LOL! So easy and useful!
Then we had the dental floss idea. They now have little plastic devices that are already flossed for us. Make sure they are from 'glide' so they don't get stuck. Wouldn't that just suck? :) These are wonderful to use. You can do it one handed and don't waste 2' of floss for cleaning between two teeth. Love this!
Oh the joys of bending over or reaching up high... Ugh. No thank you! If I get down there, I might just not get back up. So here came another light bulb moment from our amazing cohorts. Use a "Pik Stick" or "Grabber" You know, those long handled devices with pinchers on the end? What a life saver. Wonderful for grabbing cereal on the upper shelf, picking up something off the floor, or reaching into a tight crevice. Someone even mentioned using it to pull on their socks. It can do it all. I am going to place a couple strategically around the house.
Kitchen tongs. Not just for the kitchen. Same principle as the Grabber/Pik Stick only not as long of a handle.
Dear heating pad, oh how many of us love thee... :) I think this was on many of our lists to share. (Walgreens carries extra large ones. They are longer and so nice to "wrap around" you.) Several of us use these to sit on or wrap around our backs and hips. This is a must on anyones list. And may I remind you also to get one for your car? Or a heating blanket! If you suffer from aches while driving or traveling just buy an inexpensive inverter. Voila! Comfort and coziness to go!
Heating blankets and pads are so nice to have in bed or near the couch so you can just squish yourself in and be comfy.
Don't forget your dollys people! No I am not talking about dolls or stuffed animals silly. I am talking about handcarts. They now come in collapsable form. These are so wonderful for getting our stuff from a to z. Wheeled back packs and small wheeled luggage are other good resources to utilize. We tend to want to carry everything but the kitchen sink with us. But we all know that its forbidden to do so. We are bound to pay the price for it. So if we still feel compelled to do this, lets do it the smart way.
A grocery tip that really helped Linda came from her physical therapist. They recommend taking an empty box and turning it over in a shopping cart. That way it elevates your groceries so you don't ache from bending in to get your groceries out. Makes it core level and that is so much easier. Also it was recommended to use your handicap stickers if you need to. And don't forget to utilize the motorized carts with the baskets in the front. Lets save our bodies for the fun stuff. Not buying groceries. :)
*I feel compelled to note something about using the handicap permits and spaces. There was much discussion about this. Please people... Use it on days that you need it. If you don't, don't abuse it. So many people are abusing these passes and it so frustrating. Remember the elderly and people with extreme hardships need these too. So before pulling into one, think about your pain level first. If its high, by all means USE IT! But if your having a good day, go ahead and park in a regular spot and count walking in to the store as your exercise for the day.*
A simple tip that many went "Huh?" over was just to get dressed for the day. Don't forget your shoes and makeup. And no sweats! WHY?! I know many of you just had that pop in your head. LOL! But think about it. Even if this is your ONLY accomplishment for the day. Than so be it. But at least you are ready for company, going to the doctor, or taking out the trash. If you allow yourself to just lounge around in ratty pajamas or sweats, what message are you sending to your brain? You are giving it an excuse to be lazy. To wallow a bit. Shoes are just as important as the no sweats and pj rule. One, shoes provide support. Two, it eliminates the excuse for "i'll do that later when I have shoes on" Lets be honest here, we don't need any help in the area of procrastion. Many of us have that one down pat. And number three: We are prone to being a wee bit clutsy. Or I am anyways! So wearing shoes protects our toes.
Raise the washer and dryer onto a platform so it makes it the right height for you. No bending. YEAH!!! The newer sets come with pedestals, but are spendy. If you have access to a handman - he can build you a simple wood box platform for alot less.
A camping matt or memory foam mat in front of the washing area can save your back and legs. These matts work great in front of kitchen sink area too.
Garbage cans with wheels make excellent laundry hampers. You just roll it from your bedroom right up to the wash machine. You can use it to transport the dryer load to wherever you fold your clothes too. This really saves me...
Not that I am promoting theft of any kind but steal, beg, borrow your childs or grandkids wagon when its time to bring in those groceries! Costco makes a kind that folds up for easy storing. Since we can't lift much, we end up with so many little bags of stuff to transport from the car to the house. Just borrow the wagon and put your groceries in it. That way it goes straight from the trunk and you just wheel it all the way to the kitchen and your done. Love this!
For the bathrooms, it is recommended to keep the cleaning supplies in each one. This eliminates extra trips throughout the house. I personally leave a crock full of cleaner and water by the loo for quick swish and swipes. A tub of clorex wipes on the shelf for the seat and shelves. So easy!
Don't forget that a steamer can really save you. Shark makes a great one. Its a must for people with chemical sensitivities. But I think everyone should own one. It does the "scrubbing" for you. The hot steam makes soap scum come off like butter. The baked ickiness on stoves? No problem! And no repeticious scrubbing and shoulder aches. Plus its a "green" way to keep your house clean.
Mr. Clean. Mr. Clean! Yes, I have a love affair with that rugged bald man. I don't know why, but don't you just find ANY man that cleans a house sexy? LOL! My point in this? That bald dude makes magic erasers that are, well, magic! He's got a sponge for cleaning crevices, sharpie marks, and kool aid spills on my counter. Grab an eraser and viola! Easy peasy. I like that.
Put together an emergency pack for your car. Keep it simple. A spare set of meds and pain patches fit nicely in your glove compartment or side pocket of your door. If you have room, throw in an instant ice pack and a thermocare wrap and your ready for anything. Just remember to restock it when you take something out of it.
Can I introduce you to your new best friend? Hello timer! Yep a timer. You can get one very inexpensively at the dollar store. I know it sounds silly but it will become a lifesaver. Or a body saver I should say. All you have to do is set it for 15minutes. Thats it. It is just a friendly reminder for you to switch tasks, stretch, exercise, or whatever. The key is not to do any "one" task for longer than fifteen minutes at a time. Dishes? You can't stand there for longer than 15 minutes. Not done? Tough. Move on to the laundry on the couch. Sit and fold for 15. When it goes off again, go have a cup of tea or a snack. Guess what? Since your 15 minutes is up, you are back at those dishes. This way everything gets done in a day but your aren't exhausting any one particular part of your body. Repetition is the devil that bites us. So bye bye evil brat.
Aren't these ideas yummy? LOL! I love Leannes yummy and delicious phrases so I am going to borrow them and insert them here and there for grins and giggles...
Create a "on the run" bag. Keep only the basics in it. Calculator, pen, stamps, thank you notes, and a book. Then when you are off to a doctor appt or kids activity all you have to do is throw in some bills and your set. There is nothing I detest more than wasted time. This syndrome drives me nuts. As an "aries" I am a "do'er" not a "sitter." At least I used to be... Anyways, with this bag I can take full advantage of that wasted time to write my thank yous and pay my bills.
Cheapy binders help me. I color code them to hold all my miscellaneaous papers that I tend to collect from my many doctor and therapy appts. I want to keep them to refer to but don't like them spread throughout the house or cluttering my desk top. So for me, white is my doctor binder. Blue is for physical therapy, and green is for my regular doctor. This is a great place to store the warnings and need to know inserts for the medicines you are taking also. Don't forget to tell family members about them too. My hubby knows right where to go if he ever had to answer any question about what meds I am taking.
Altoid anyone? You know in the morning when you can't bear the thought of getting up and moving? Your brain is in a fog and you haven't even moved a toe outside the covers? Place a tin of altoids on your nightstand. You know... the curiously strong mint? Not only is it good to pop in your mouth when people snuggle up... its great to pop in your mouth on those mornings you can't get moving. Peppermint is known to stop the substance P to your brain. Kind of like a short circuit. Just let it melt in your mouth as you lay there and see if it helps lift the "fog" and gets your brain up and going so you can get your body up and to the shower.
Whats YOUR number? :) Sleep number that is! The sleep number bed came recommended highly for those thinking about a change in mattress's. Warning *it will make you suceptible for being a bed snob" LOL! When sleeping at motels or in friends guest rooms you'll be laying there coveting your number bed at home. HA!
When standing in the kitchen doing your 15 minutes worth of dishes, open the cupboard and prop your foot up. It relieves pressure. If you have a full cupboard like some unnamed people, grab a short step stool and use that.
Focus people! A certain retired doctor who shall remain nameless :) mentioned for us to keep our focus when shopping. (Who me?) Instead of meandering up and down the aisles wasting our much needed energy, go just to the aisles that your stuff is located. Get in and get out. Ask the grocers where certain stuff is so you don't have to do a search. Well, duh! Why didn't I think of that?! So easy, yet you will find me dazed and confused fumbling my way up and down those aisles.
Another lovely lady suggested making a grocery list that is segregated into groups where things are located in the store. Brilliant! This might take some planning at first. But dang if I am not going to try this. Sticking to a list, and eliminating "tour de aisles," will save energy and money! Bravo folks. Way to point out the obvious and stop our befuddled keisters in our tracks.
Here are the last of the great ideas:
The Dollar Tree is currently carrying a lumbar support piece for your chair for a dollar. Now thats about as inexpensive as you can get!
A Shiatsu pillow can be helpful. Also an old boppy pillow. Take some of the stuffing out til' its comfortable. Then its the perfect pillow to wrap around you to support your arms and elbows while driving. You'll arrive at your destination and hopefully in less pain.
Sew tubes together and fill with rice or flax. A mixture of both rice and flax together will hold the heat in longer.
A vacuum sealer can make reusable ice packs if you put in a little rubbing alcohol in the water. Play with it til' you get the right combination. Or be like our newest member and grab that mashed up frozen squash if your in a pinch. Did you know that "mashed" frozen foods holds up for a longer period of time than lets say a bag of peas? (Good to know!)
Voice dictation on a computer saves your hands and wrists. A program like Dragon Natural Speaking or Talk It/Type It. One of the men in our group gave us this great tip. So yes, "men" are also welcome to attend. Chronic pain and fibromyalgia doesn't affect just women, so if you know a sufferer, tell them to come and join our group. Everyone is welcome!
For those of you that are stranded in bed and need to lay flat, have someone locate you some prism glasses! They are definately "different" looking. I will admit that. But what a great invention! They allow you to write while laying flat or watch tv. Its really quite cool.
Just spray "Clean Shower" after each shower to keep your shower walls clean and mold free.
When working at a desk for long periods you may want to prop your feet up on a 2x4 to eleviate the pressure off your back.
Feet flat on the floor people. Keeps your hips from aching. (This one is so hard for me!)
All of these tips are remarkable. But do remember that what works for one, might not work for another. So keep exploring to find what works for you!
Monday, January 16, 2012
What I took away from our meeting.
I am sure I missed some things that were discussed during the meeting. Which just adds to the reasons for you to come in person... :) But what "I" took away from Linda and the others in the group is the following:
You may or may not want to check out a sleep study. Are you getting enough oxygen? What is waking you up? Maybe a CPAP is in your future. Its one easy thing you can do to try and get better sleep.
Think about booking an appointment with Terri Lechnyr. She is a clinical psychologist. www.drterrilechnyr.com/ She would be able to help you with cognitive therapy, relaxation techniques, and biofeedback, among other things. Definately worth checking out.
Have you had your thyroid checked? Low thyroid or hypothyroidism could be causing you to feel tired or could be a reason why your having trouble remembering things. Might want to get that checked the next time your in to see your doctor.
Linda went to the 2010 Pain Conference in Eugene and it absolutely changed her life. She discoverd ways to stop the amygdala that controls signals to your brain from running wild. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amygdala Don't you just love wikipedia? Because during the meeting I was going " A mig da WHAT?" LOL! But what she was saying made sense.
Picture your brain. Then picture at the base of your brain, a door. Now picture someone accidently leaving that door open. What happens when you leave a door open? A draft comes in! So picture sections of your brain screaming to shut the door. (Every parent has hollered this at one time or another.) But thats the gist of it. That door gets left open and several parts of your brain light up in panic saying to itself "OH OW! IT HURTS!" But you know what? It doesn't really.
Picture yourself going over and slamming the door shut. Stop the pain going to that nerve center thats lit up. In my instance, I am always getting yelled at home for leaving the lights on. So I calming think about each of my pains. My elbow is screaming but before I go and rub more crud on it, or complain that I hurt, I think about it. Is there any real reason for it to be aching so? Did I bump it etc... ? No. It shouldn't really hurt. So I imagine my hubby walking over and turning off the switch. It works for me. (Most of the time. I am not saying its a fix all and your cured.)But it is worth trying. Your homework is to come up with an anology that works for you. Whats there to lose in trying this exercise? Hmmm.. Maybe some pain? I'd love a chance to lose that!
In Linda's case, she came up with a song about Gaba. But she was a different generation than I, so I had no clue what the heck she was singing about. Ha Ha Ha! She also tried the singing in the rain song. For some, picturing rain falling on the nerve centers to douse them will work. Pick something that will help you and try it.
So visualization seems to be a key in feeling better. Talk to your body. You can stop the pain. It was life changing for her and she hopes it will help you be more comfortable.
Another suggestion was to make up a pleasure list. Twenty things that bring you pleasure. Lets face it, when you hurt, its hard to think of things that bring you joy. So thats why we need a list! We can refer back to it and try participating in some of these forgotten activities. The point is to confuse the pathways. Pain and pleasure pathways intersect. Instead of letting the pain path run straight ahead and ram into the pleasure pathway, lets divert it. You know your coming to the intersection so lets just take a side journey. If doodling is your thing, doodle. If its crafting, craft. Art? Try meandering thru a gallery. Anything to trick or sidetrack your brain to going somewhere else.
The Feldenkrais program at the Tamarack pool was also discussed. I am going to refer you to my beloved wikipedia if you are going "what?!" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feldenkrais_Method Mary Carter teaches class 5:30 to 6:30 on Mondays and she can be reached at (541) 687-2064. I will post a flyer for the Tamarack pool next.
Some other things that were mentioned was to keep up on your exercise. I know it hurts. But it hurts more not to. Remember that your natural endorphines kick in for a natural pain blocker.
Listen to what your doctors are saying. If they aren't listening or not respecting the fibromyalgia diagnosis, say goodbye! You need to surround yourself with a strong support team. So if you aren't on the same page with them, move on!
You also need to keep in mind that not everything is an emergency. Why are you all crunched up and stiff? Slow it down. Breathe! Put your feet flat on the floor and relax. Did you know that your spinal cord is connected to your tongue? Yeah me neither. But Linda had a funny little exercise to try. Stick your tongue out and go blech! Feels better doesn't it? LOL! Now get up and do some light stretching.
When feeling pain, do you chaulk it all up to it being Fibro? Don't! Thats a scary risk to take. Every new pain isn't automatically your nemesis. If you having chest pain or anything new really, get it checked out. Could be something more serious. Don't just shrug it off.
There is a local ACUPUNCTURIST here in town that does group acpuncture on a sliding scale of $15 to $30.00 a session. Definately worth checking out! www.acupunctureforthepeople.org/ definately worth checking them out.
A book by Ben E Benjamin was recommended for Exercise Without Injury. http://www.benbenjamin.com/pubs.html I notice on his website that he has others that might be worth a gander or two as well. I say "knowledge is power." So the more I learn, the more powerful I feel. And its that power that gets me thru the day. I won't let Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain keep me from living my life. Its all about babysteps. But everyone needs to take that step.
Another book discussed was Figuring Fibromyalgia by Dr. Ginerva Liptan which I found here:
http://www.amazon.com/Figuring-out-Fibromyalgia-effective-treatments/dp/0982833970
By now most of you know about essential oils and the power of scent. Well, don't forget about the peppermint or lemon. These will calm or stop the firing of cells in your brain that are telling you that certain body parts ache or are in pain. Another recommendation for non-smelly pain applicants is Absorbine Junior. It comes in a bottle with a dauber for easy application. A few in the meeting really enjoyed its effects. Also - don't forget your local feed store for your products or asking the pharmacy for a larger size of product. If you can buy it in bulk, often times it is cheaper. I know saying the feed store sounds a bit odd, but really, alot of our pain topicals can be found there and we can buy them for alot less. So its worth checking out.
Our next meeting is February 14th from 6 to 8 pm. We will not have a speaker for this meeting but rather we are all coming together to share all of our helpful hints on how we get thru a flare, how we can make traveling a bit easier, and how we go about our daily activities. How have you modified these things to make it easier on you? Just to share one of mine and give you an example - I had my husband build an elevated platform for our front loading wash machine. So now I don't have to bend to retrieve all the heavy wet stuff. There are so many little things that I am sure you do and thats what we want to know. The tips and tricks of your success. So be thinking!
Feels like I have written my own book so its time to log out and do some stretching. Hope to see you at the next meeting!
You may or may not want to check out a sleep study. Are you getting enough oxygen? What is waking you up? Maybe a CPAP is in your future. Its one easy thing you can do to try and get better sleep.
Think about booking an appointment with Terri Lechnyr. She is a clinical psychologist. www.drterrilechnyr.com/ She would be able to help you with cognitive therapy, relaxation techniques, and biofeedback, among other things. Definately worth checking out.
Have you had your thyroid checked? Low thyroid or hypothyroidism could be causing you to feel tired or could be a reason why your having trouble remembering things. Might want to get that checked the next time your in to see your doctor.
Linda went to the 2010 Pain Conference in Eugene and it absolutely changed her life. She discoverd ways to stop the amygdala that controls signals to your brain from running wild. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amygdala Don't you just love wikipedia? Because during the meeting I was going " A mig da WHAT?" LOL! But what she was saying made sense.
Picture your brain. Then picture at the base of your brain, a door. Now picture someone accidently leaving that door open. What happens when you leave a door open? A draft comes in! So picture sections of your brain screaming to shut the door. (Every parent has hollered this at one time or another.) But thats the gist of it. That door gets left open and several parts of your brain light up in panic saying to itself "OH OW! IT HURTS!" But you know what? It doesn't really.
Picture yourself going over and slamming the door shut. Stop the pain going to that nerve center thats lit up. In my instance, I am always getting yelled at home for leaving the lights on. So I calming think about each of my pains. My elbow is screaming but before I go and rub more crud on it, or complain that I hurt, I think about it. Is there any real reason for it to be aching so? Did I bump it etc... ? No. It shouldn't really hurt. So I imagine my hubby walking over and turning off the switch. It works for me. (Most of the time. I am not saying its a fix all and your cured.)But it is worth trying. Your homework is to come up with an anology that works for you. Whats there to lose in trying this exercise? Hmmm.. Maybe some pain? I'd love a chance to lose that!
In Linda's case, she came up with a song about Gaba. But she was a different generation than I, so I had no clue what the heck she was singing about. Ha Ha Ha! She also tried the singing in the rain song. For some, picturing rain falling on the nerve centers to douse them will work. Pick something that will help you and try it.
So visualization seems to be a key in feeling better. Talk to your body. You can stop the pain. It was life changing for her and she hopes it will help you be more comfortable.
Another suggestion was to make up a pleasure list. Twenty things that bring you pleasure. Lets face it, when you hurt, its hard to think of things that bring you joy. So thats why we need a list! We can refer back to it and try participating in some of these forgotten activities. The point is to confuse the pathways. Pain and pleasure pathways intersect. Instead of letting the pain path run straight ahead and ram into the pleasure pathway, lets divert it. You know your coming to the intersection so lets just take a side journey. If doodling is your thing, doodle. If its crafting, craft. Art? Try meandering thru a gallery. Anything to trick or sidetrack your brain to going somewhere else.
The Feldenkrais program at the Tamarack pool was also discussed. I am going to refer you to my beloved wikipedia if you are going "what?!" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feldenkrais_Method Mary Carter teaches class 5:30 to 6:30 on Mondays and she can be reached at (541) 687-2064. I will post a flyer for the Tamarack pool next.
Some other things that were mentioned was to keep up on your exercise. I know it hurts. But it hurts more not to. Remember that your natural endorphines kick in for a natural pain blocker.
Listen to what your doctors are saying. If they aren't listening or not respecting the fibromyalgia diagnosis, say goodbye! You need to surround yourself with a strong support team. So if you aren't on the same page with them, move on!
You also need to keep in mind that not everything is an emergency. Why are you all crunched up and stiff? Slow it down. Breathe! Put your feet flat on the floor and relax. Did you know that your spinal cord is connected to your tongue? Yeah me neither. But Linda had a funny little exercise to try. Stick your tongue out and go blech! Feels better doesn't it? LOL! Now get up and do some light stretching.
When feeling pain, do you chaulk it all up to it being Fibro? Don't! Thats a scary risk to take. Every new pain isn't automatically your nemesis. If you having chest pain or anything new really, get it checked out. Could be something more serious. Don't just shrug it off.
There is a local ACUPUNCTURIST here in town that does group acpuncture on a sliding scale of $15 to $30.00 a session. Definately worth checking out! www.acupunctureforthepeople.org/ definately worth checking them out.
A book by Ben E Benjamin was recommended for Exercise Without Injury. http://www.benbenjamin.com/pubs.html I notice on his website that he has others that might be worth a gander or two as well. I say "knowledge is power." So the more I learn, the more powerful I feel. And its that power that gets me thru the day. I won't let Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain keep me from living my life. Its all about babysteps. But everyone needs to take that step.
Another book discussed was Figuring Fibromyalgia by Dr. Ginerva Liptan which I found here:
http://www.amazon.com/Figuring-out-Fibromyalgia-effective-treatments/dp/0982833970
By now most of you know about essential oils and the power of scent. Well, don't forget about the peppermint or lemon. These will calm or stop the firing of cells in your brain that are telling you that certain body parts ache or are in pain. Another recommendation for non-smelly pain applicants is Absorbine Junior. It comes in a bottle with a dauber for easy application. A few in the meeting really enjoyed its effects. Also - don't forget your local feed store for your products or asking the pharmacy for a larger size of product. If you can buy it in bulk, often times it is cheaper. I know saying the feed store sounds a bit odd, but really, alot of our pain topicals can be found there and we can buy them for alot less. So its worth checking out.
Our next meeting is February 14th from 6 to 8 pm. We will not have a speaker for this meeting but rather we are all coming together to share all of our helpful hints on how we get thru a flare, how we can make traveling a bit easier, and how we go about our daily activities. How have you modified these things to make it easier on you? Just to share one of mine and give you an example - I had my husband build an elevated platform for our front loading wash machine. So now I don't have to bend to retrieve all the heavy wet stuff. There are so many little things that I am sure you do and thats what we want to know. The tips and tricks of your success. So be thinking!
Feels like I have written my own book so its time to log out and do some stretching. Hope to see you at the next meeting!
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Happy New Year!
Hello ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the new year! Hopefully you are discovering ways to control your pain so that you may lead a more productive life. Its a journey we are all on together and is the main reason we opened this blog.
I would like to thank all of you for your patience in the last few months. Its been rather hectic with the holidays and with the move to the new facility as well as partnering up with the Pain Management team. All of this is huge for us and rather exciting if I do say so myself. :)
Over the next day or two I will be posting a bit more. We had a very informative meeting last Tuesday and I want to share some of the things from that session. Linda was our speaker and let me tell you... Wow! She's been there, done that, and knows what she's talking about!
So stay tuned as I gather up that information and will be posting shortly. For the time being, remember to drink your water and take deep breathes. I'll be back in a bit.
I would like to thank all of you for your patience in the last few months. Its been rather hectic with the holidays and with the move to the new facility as well as partnering up with the Pain Management team. All of this is huge for us and rather exciting if I do say so myself. :)
Over the next day or two I will be posting a bit more. We had a very informative meeting last Tuesday and I want to share some of the things from that session. Linda was our speaker and let me tell you... Wow! She's been there, done that, and knows what she's talking about!
So stay tuned as I gather up that information and will be posting shortly. For the time being, remember to drink your water and take deep breathes. I'll be back in a bit.
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