Give me a break!

Hi Everyone!

Its seems that I only get time to write every now and again these days. So be it! The fibro is still getting the best of me. It feels like everyday is like three days in one for me! I am simply exhausted and its only the start of the week!

On top of it all, my tumble drier burned out on the weekend and yesterday we sat without water from some burst pipes down the road. Seriously?! Give me a break!

Luckily for me the sun is shining today. I have to do washing every day, because with six people in the house of which 5 are male, there is just so much that I can't skip a day! Now I'm going to have a serious problem when it rains! Will have to start saving for a new tumble drier!

I started a natural supplement called "fibromyalgia formula" about a month ago. I think it was helping me a bit with the headaches and I just had a better hold on things in my life overall. I haven't had it for a week and I think I can feel the difference. I say think, because I'm so tired I don't know if its because I'm busy or not. I am ordering some more and will have a better answer soon. If its helping me, I will let you all know how to get it!

Thanks for reading and keep well!

I have fibromyalgia...

Hi Everyone!

Well, my kiddies are back at school and everything is back in full swing again! Including my fibromyalgia! I am so suffering again, its not funny. For a moment during the holidays I actually thought that maybe I'm getting a bit better and might be able to live a better life. I was so wrong! Now it's back to the reality check. I have fibro and have to live with it. It's funny how a brief reprieve from the suffering can make you believe that you could maybe live a normal life like all the healthy folks out there. Then I get sick again and all hope goes away.

So far I have found nothing that works for me. I have tried several alternative medications, but nothing has worked for me so far. I will keep trying though until I find something to relief some of the symptoms, even if it doesn't cure me.

So, to everyone out there that are suffering as well, I know how you feel and am glad that I am not alone in this fight against fibro!

Thanks for reading!

Season's greetings!

Hi Everyone!

It's been such a long time since I have written on my blog. With the long holidays I find it difficult to find the time to come sit at the computer and blog! We had a great family Christmas at our house and everything went well! We have been really busy visiting with family. That is what the whole Christmas season is all about!

As far as the fibro is concerned, I have managed well I think. I did end up taking pain pills almost every day, but managed to get through every day so far without too much pain. Think the heat is helping as well. I have also been swimming a lot and relaxing etc. If only I could live like this I would be able to cope so much better! Think I will just enjoy it while it lasts!

I will probably only write in the new year again, so I thought I will just say to all the fibro sufferers out there:

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

I hope you all have a great time with family and friends and that the new year will bring new cures and superb pain relieve for all of us!

Thanks for reading!

Busy times...

Hi Everyone!

Sorry its been so long since I've written on my blog! I cant say that it is because Im too busy, but I can only blog on our PC that is at a desk (and occupied by my hubby most of the time). I find it extremely difficult to sit upright at the desk for a long time. Hence my blogging has gone down a bit. I need a new laptop so I can lie in bed blogging!

The weather has been lovely here and I find that its makes a great difference to my pain. Winter is definitely much worse.

We have been trying to get into the Christmas spirit and have put up the tree and some lights. We even baked some cookies. This the children loved. As for me, it left me with aching arms for three days! It was worth-it though! Just a pity they are finished already and I don't think I will be baking again soon.

I still have to do all my Christmas shopping and as it is holiday here the shops are already over full with people. Will just have to work up the courage and go do it! (another day that is)

Thanks for reading!

Happy holidays!

Hi Everyone!

The kids are basically on holiday for the next 7 weeks. Most people would think that's a bad thing. To have 4 boys running around and taking over. Not for me though. Now I don't have to drive up and down to school and back. No homework and sport etc. They tend to keep themselves busy most of the time. When things get a bit crowded I take them to the park or the sea. Overall I'm quite happy that it's holidays.

I'm planning on taking it really easy this holiday. I have decided that, seeming as I have been suffering so badly this year with the fibro, I am only going to do what I have to and nothing more. This is my holiday too! Relaxing is on the top of my list! It's also a great time to catch up with friends as we have all been so busy!

As far as my fibro is concerned, I feel so-so. I have been having really bad headaches and the pain in my back, neck and legs are bad too. I take normal over the counter tablets at the moment because everything else makes me sick. Sometimes it helps a bit for the headaches at least. Since I've been of the Lyrica and heavy pain stuff I can at least think a little more clearly. I still tend to forget a lot of things, but the thinking part is definitely better. Now I feel less of a zombie and more of a human!

Thanks for reading!

Some relieve!

Hi Everyone!

Today I thought I will tell everyone that I feel a bit better. I am so scared to say that I feel better as I know it can all change in a heartbeat. Feeling better though does not mean that I'm cured or pain-free or anything like that. The things that has changed for me is the nausea and vertigo feeling. I am not taking any medication at the moment other than my sleeping tablet and I also take an anti-histamine to help further with the sleep. It has no other effect on me. I also take halve a pur-bloka for my headaches, but this unfortunately is not helping with my headaches at all. It is supposed to be for people with blood-pressure problems and also for anxiety. It has helped though.

I feel that since all the medication is out of my system, I can definitely think a bit more clearly now and I know what I'm feeling. I also don't just feel like a zombie walking around.

My advise to people out there is: If the medication doesn't work for you rather don't take it! Going off all the strong stuff has given me some sense of control back. When I experience a lot of pain I do take some pain medication. Most of the time it doesn't work though and I just rather suffer in silence and lie down when I can. I still can't do any strenuous work or anything physically demanding. When I try I end up extremely exhausted.

At least for the moment I don't feel like throwing up every time I drive or watch something on the computer! That's a start for me!

Happy blogging!

Lets all stand together...

Hi Everyone,

Looks like I only get time about once a week to write on my blog. The time is just flying by! Everything is ending of for the year and the kids are starting exams. This term has been so short it feels like we have time for nothing.

I've been taking it easy lately and try to only do what I need to do. I'm feeling a bit better than last week, the headaches and pains just won't let up though! I have heard something about a treatment called Prolotherapy. I was wondering if any of you have heard about it or maybe tried it. It has something to do with injections to help your ligaments tighten and heal. It is supposed to help for pain too! Please let me know if you know anything about it. I am considering it as all other pain medication seems to make me sick!

A while ago I tried some supplement that has to do with your enzymes etc. It did absolutely nothing for me. Maybe because all my blood tests came back normal, I didn't need that specific supplement.

Sometimes I feel so sick and just want to give up trying to find the right thing. But if I do that, there will be no hope at ever feeling better. What I can tell you is, this is not easy. It takes such determination to stay positive and to keep trying. We have to all keep on encouraging each other.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Thanks for reading!

It makes me sick!

Hi Everyone!

I had the most horrible week ever. It started on Tuesday when I went to the doctor. I told him that the Tramahexal that I've been taking makes me feel sick so in the end he said that maybe I should try the tramahexal sr - slow release - so that it slowly go into my body and not all at once. So, of I go and get the meds and take it. A couple of hours later I couldn't get out of my bed. Really! My husband had to fetch kids and make supper etc. At first I thought, ok, maybe it is just because my body is not used to it. The next morning I made sure to eat and take something for my stomach first and then took the pill. A couple of hours later I was vomiting and once again not able to get out of my bed. It helped for the pain, but made me feel so sick that it is definitely not worth it for me. So, I didn't take it again and have been struggling for two days to get back on my feet. As the feeling came back to my body, so did the pain. It now feels like every fiber in my body is aching. I'm sure I am allergic to the stuff.

Now it's back to the drawing board. For now I can't even take any painkillers as my stomach is totally messed up. I have read up about a pain medication that one of the other bloggers wrote about: Flupirtine. Told the doctor about it. He was very interested and immediately started phoning around to see if we can get it in South Africa. But, alas, no luck. It is not available here yet. It does look so promising though and I'm going to keep trying to see if we can't get some company to import it from the UK. Do any of you maybe have some insights on the drug?

I'm glad to say that today is a better day for me. At least I can use my arms again and stand on my feet and drive etc. My hatred for medication has definitely increased and for now I will be staying far away from any pain medication. I would rather suffer that lose all control of my body!

Happy blogging!

Not so positive today...

Hi Everyone!

I have been thinking about writing something positive for a change and not just complaining about the pain. Seems like my life is pretty much consumed with pain though. I just can't think of anything really positive to write about. Fibromyalgia is a very negative subject for me.

I have read quite a lot of blogs and it seems like I'm sort of in the same situation as most of the other fibro sufferers. That is the people who has full blown fibro of-course. Seems like there is a difference. There are some people that say their fibro is under control without medication etc. Is that possible? I have tried it both ways. With meds and without meds. Exercising and massage etc. The whole caboodle! Even stuff like acupuncture. So far nothing has worked for me. I'm still looking for the right thing. As a matter of fact, over the last two years it has just gotten worse.

I am sick of trying everything that's on the market. All the supposedly miracle cures for fibro etc. As far a I know, there is no cure for fibromyalgia. This I'm pretty sure about. If there was a cure we would have all known about it. There's only stuff for the symptoms and that only works for some people with fibro. My personal opinion is that those things help for people with some signs of fibro and not the ones with full blown fibro. Maybe they had some deficiency and taking supplements has helped for it and hence the miraculous recovery! There are many deficiencies that can present as fibro symptoms. So when I hear people are cured, and not using anything but positive thinking and a couple of vitamins I'm very skeptical. If I could cure myself by positive thinking I would have been better by now.

I have always loved doing things for myself and loved being independent etc. I have hopes and dreams and so many things I still want to do in life. I definitely did not choose to feel this sick all the time. I would do almost anything to just feel better. Even if it was just for a couple of days a month. To be pain free for one day would be a miracle!

I love it when I read some medical journals and they say that fibromyalgia is no mystery and that, with the right guidance, you can live a normal life. Now, in my opinion a normal life would be getting up rested in the morning, going to work, managing your house, children, house work etc, cooking, feeling good, going places, having friends over, going to movies, visiting places. Also sleeping through the night, and have I mentioned living this life absolutely pain-free! Oh yeah! Sure, bring it on! If I could live just half a normal life it would be so great! Please cure me! Fibromyalgia is a mystery otherwise we would all be cured by now!

I know some people would probably not agree with me, but this is just my opinion and just me writing what I'm feeling!

Thanks for reading!

Hanging in there!

Hi Everyone!

I have been away for quite a while! It's funny how life can just sort of take over and before you know it 10days have past. That's how long it's been since my last post. Whenever I thought of writing on my blog I was either too tired or not home.

I've been busy with my 10yr old's birthday party. Lots of planning and baking! It's been raining not-stop for the past week and we had to have the party inside. The Pirate Party turned out a great success and I'm super glad all the birthdays for the year is over!

Since my children were little I have always made their cakes myself. No ordering from someone. They now expect me to make their cakes and also whatever they ask for. They have so much faith in me. So far all my cakes have been pretty ok. The kids have loved it and when they're happy I'm happy! But over the last year it has not been as much fun making them as it used to be. The fibro has taken my joy out of making cakes. The hours of standing upright and bend over is like torture. I am still sore and stiff since Thursday after making the cake. I do it with love though for my kids! When I see the joy on their faces the pain just doesn't matter anymore!

Now to get back on to the fibro subject. I have been taking a supplement for the last 12 days. So far there has been no change. Everyone is telling me that it takes long for any natural thing to help and that I'm too impatient. Yes, I am impatient. Anyone with so much pain would also be desperate and impatient to have some relieve. I have been taking a receptozine (an anti-histamine) together with my sleeping pill at night. It helps me to sleep, but makes me feel very groggy the next day. I don't take it in the week because I have to be up at 6am and get the kids ready for school and drive etc. So when it comes to weekend I take it and try to stay in bed as much as possible and get the sleep I so desperately need. It helps to keep me asleep, but I have not one morning gotten up that I feel refreshed and ready to go! It is like I'm not getting the right type of sleep.

I have also been taking painkillers at least once a day. I don't take the same ones everyday. I try to alternate so I don't get used to just one. Sometimes it helps for a couple of hours and at least I get things done. The one painkiller - tramahexal - works pretty well for about 4hours, it actually gives me a kick, and then I have a terrible come-down of it. I would suddenly feel extremely irritable and can't handle any noise and stuff like that. At least I know now what does it so I handle it better! I have found that now that I'm of the Lyrica and trepeline, I have much more control over myself. I know for a fact now that the Lyrica didn't help for me. I know now, when I take something, exactly what it does to my body and whether it works.

I will try to blog more regularly again! Thanks for reading!