My friend posted this today for her friend. Please reblog and repost, especially if you live in Indiana!
This is my friend Tricia’s cousin Deaundrea. She has been missing since December 27th!
PLEASE re-blog this post!!!!
Deaundrea (Dee) Williams has been missing since December 27th. She was last seen in the Hammond Indiana area. If you have information on her whereabouts please contact Hammond Police department (219) 853-6490
The Harry Potter fangirl in me couldn’t resist this quote.
You may have read recently that researchers have discovered what they believe to be the cause of FMS symptoms.
The discovery really is groundbreaking, but what concerns me is the tagline featured in many articles on the subject that fibromyalgia sufferers can rest assured that “it’s not all in their head.”
Unfortunately, we’re not the ones who needed the reassurance. Those of us who have FMS know that it is very real. Sadly, though, many doctors still don’t “believe in” fibro, and will hopefully believe otherwise after reading about the latest research.
I’m very fortunate never to have been told that my symptoms are “all in my head.” (Not by anyone I know, or any medical professional, that is. Trolls on the internet are the extent my experience with that kind of patronizing b.s.) My mom has FMS, and so did my father, much to the astonishment of doctors I spoke to early in my diagnosis and treatment. My family isn’t very large, either, so my support system was small, but two of them already had firsthand knowledge and experience to share with me. That also means less of a chance that a family member would dismiss my symptoms as psychosomatic. I’m very thankful to be surrounded by understanding, empathetic people who, even if they’ve never experienced something similar, want to help make life a little easier for me by helping me with physical tasks, allowing me enough rest, and just being there to listen and encourage me. I know that’s not the case for everyone with an invisible illness.
There’s a little ray of light, though, in this research, that will eventually illuminate the minds of medical professionals, and hopefully lead to better diagnoses, and fewer misdiagnoses. It may even lead to a cure, or at least a consistent form of treatment for those of us who’ve known all along that it’s not just in our heads.
Gentle hugs,
Chels
I hope you all had a beautiful Christmas filled with love and cheer, and that you have a wonderful new year full of possibilities!
Gentle hugs,
Chels
It’s a cloudy day here, and a storm’s coming in. My body is weak, sore, and my eyelids are heavy. I’ve had some sleep issues for a while now, and have gone to bed late (or early in the a.m.) and woken up around 11 or 11:30, for a total of about 8 hours of interrupted sleep. So, really, more like 6 or 7 hours. My body tends to require 9 to feel rested enough. I’ll be trying an increased dosage of the new med tonight to see if it helps regulate my sleep patterns.
Meanwhile, five days to Christmas, and I still have lots of presents to make. So, I’m going to take today to knock them out (hopefully.) Since we’re unable to go to Louisiana to see Tom’s family this year, I’ll be sending the presents with my brother in law, who gets to play Santa.
Wishing you all a restful, renewing weekend!
Gentle hugs,
Chels
Now, first let me say that I’m trying very hard to practice what I’m preaching, here. I started doing yoga when I was about 12, as I was starting to recover from years of illness, and started doing it regularly as a Junior in high school. I took yoga in college, and have continued to do it on a semi-regular basis since. Needless to say, there are days that I can’t even imagine doing Savasana (Corpse Pose, or the resting period at the end of your practice,) whether it be from lack of energy, pain, or weakness.
A few days ago, though, I was reminded of the possibilities of yoga poses by this article from SparkPeople:
Nearly every pose out there can be modified for just about any limitation. Seated poses are great, especially if you work in an office environment, or another environment where you don’t get to stand up and move around much. (Be sure to go to the next pages in the article for specific instruction on seated poses.)
Another thing about yoga is that it regulates your breathing, and causes you to have to focus on your body alone. There’s plenty of quiet time as you’re trying to keep your balance in Tree Pose, or as you’re trying to be aware of your core while pulling your sacrum upward as you pull your heels down to the floor in Downward Facing Dog.
I also came across this link to Yoga Nidra, or Yogic Sleep, which is what many people experience at the end of each practice with Corpse Pose. This goes a step further, adding guided meditation to the experience. It’s said that one hour of yogic sleep is equivalent to three hours of “regular” sleep.
Click on the photo for free recordings to use during your meditative practice. I surprised myself by staying in a meditative state for the majority of the 45 minute recording I chose to listen to. I’ve meditated before, but often no more than 15 minutes or so. It helps with the fibro fog and anxiety by calming my brain and helping me focus. I also sleep much better afterward.
Do you practice yoga or meditation for your health? What’s your favorite pose or mantra?
Gentle hugs,
Chels
So, it makes sense that music just makes people feel better (as long as you like the music, of course.) But to read that it can help reduce chronic pain up to 20%, and depression by 25% is just profound to me.
Music has gotten us all through tough times. Most recently, as my mom was suffering from the aftermath of an allergic reaction to the pain meds given to her after surgery (which meant she was completely without pain meds a couple of weeks after her knee replacement,) combined with not having been given her daily medications during her stay in the hospital, I made her an uplifting music list to load onto her iPod. When she was in too much pain to bear, or felt overwhelmingly anxious or depressed, she would put in the ear buds, close her eyes, and “hide” for a while. When she emerged, she was her old self again.
So, I thought I’d share some music with you that I find uplifting. I hope it makes your day a little brighter! If we don’t have the same taste in music, though, just find what you like, close your eyes, tap your feet, and feel better.
Happy listening!
Gentle hugs,
Chelsea
Here’s a good info graphic to share with new FMS patients, and friends and family wanting to learn more about Fibromyalgia.
Of course, this is just basic information, and there can be much more to the illness, especially when you have other health problems, but this is a good place to start!
What do you tell people when they ask you to describe Fibro?
Gentle hugs,
Chels
Chelsea, like England 