Fibromyalgia Support Group
You're not alone in your pain. Fibromyalgia is a condition that can be difficult to diagnose and manage. If you're trying to cope with pain throughout your body, sleep problems, general fatigue, or other common fibromyalgia symptoms, you're in the right place. The community is here for you to talk about therapies and share your challenges.
Good morning.
I surrendered. I got memory foam. I worked five years to regain the use of my body enough to sit upright in a chair like "normal" for ten-twenty minutes, but spend most of my day at a 60* angle because it hurts less on my scarred up pelvis and such. Well, I was also off memory foam for a few months... not anymore. Pressure on scarring was not worth it. *sigh*
So on to the Tales of Tails!
Darkness... a screened-in porch in a cold night... a sliding door opens so a sucker of a human can bring in the food dishes before the possums and skunks visit... and a small furred shape zooooooooom-zooms past her, into her house! AIeeeeee! Gray! FUrry! Possum! No, wait, cat! No, wait, dog! No, wait... WTF? THere's a *squirrel* under the shelf in the corner?
Just as my mind figured out species... Zzzzzzzzoooooooommmmm..... Right past me again! Agh! Ack! Cosmos hates me! OMG! Invasion! Vermin! It's...
LilMiss from next door?! (That's a cat, btw.)
Apparently, she was "playing" with Mr. Squirrel on our porch ("Awwwww, she wanted to give us a Christmas present," cooed my hubby, who accuses me of being too soft-hearted), and, well, yeah, you can guess the rest. Actually, no, you can't.
Hubby used the snow shovel to remove Petrified Squirrel (but left me to get down in there and clean up Mr. Squirrel potty break, gee, thanks), and while he did that, I scooped up LilMiss Huff-and-Puff-and-Tear-My-House-Down, and delivered her next door with a smile and a laugh and a casual, "Oh, she looked pretty cold when I opened our door," and left it at that.
For the record, if a squirrel is terrified past fighting, they're easily removed by sliding a shovel under them, even if alive. I, myself, am glad he didn't think our (fake) Christmas tree was a good idea. LilMiss would've gone after him and then we'd need a new tree. I'll note, btw, that Mr. Squirrel might have run up the shovel handle, and this is why Hubby was wearing dish-washing gloves (?) and donned a trash bag poncho (in case it rained squirrel?)... I actually recommend dumping said animal immediately into a laundry sack and then relocating it outdoors, but the squirrel in question last night was basically too scared to move. It sat in the yard for about five minutes, panting, before it went up a tree and probably died there, quietly, in its nest, of pure shock.
All that, and my mom's got a colonoscopy scheduled for next week, but it's 7 weeks till they look at the eye that's going blind. Tell me again, why are we meant to respect doctors? Right, I don't!
***
In 1884, Levant Richardson received his patent for the ball-bearing roller skate. Those of us who ever skated now that once you lose the ball bearings, you're done, but what really confuses me is how anyoen managed to roller skate *without* the ball bearings... Isn't that like strapping two bad skateboards to your feet? Or two wooden toy trains? Huh.
In 1962, the epic film "Lawrence of Arabia" premiered in London. The movie (sorta) tells the story of TE Lawrence, who was a diplomat and author ("Seven Pillars of Wisdom" is his telling of his part in the Arab Revolt of 1916 onward), and if you look at the actor in the film (Peter O'Toole), the resemblance to the real Lawrence is rather uncanny. Lawrence helped the Brits decide whot o back int he revolt against Ottoman Turkish dominance, acted as liaison, raider, and spy (sorry, "intelligence gatherer", ahem), and after the war (aiming at Arab nationalism) ended, he went home with a promotion to colonel. PHotos of him dressed as a Bedouin became the iconic image of a picture show (literally a slide show type fo thing) about the "Orient" (anything east of Greece), and Lawrence became a popular figure of himself. He ended up a bureaucrat for a bit, hating it, and is still loathed in France to this day for "stirring up Syria" against French interests. Lawrence died at 46 after wrecking on his motorcycle. INteresting to note, his death by head injury from motorcycle crash led a neurologist to study head injury fatalities and eventually the use of helmets for motorcyclists both military and civilian.... So when you wear a motorcycle helmet, you partly have Lawrence of Arabia to thank. Yes, that's weird even for me.
Helmet laws, btw, are mandatory in many locations, but where not, you bet fatalities are higher due to head trauma. Shocking, right? *eyeroll* An excellent example of why to wear one is the fact paramedics call helmetless riders "organ donors". But hey, we need more organ donors, right? (Did that sound as bad as I think it did?)
***
Most other history today is dull or depressing, so I leave you with the image of my husband trying not to touch a squirrel with a six-foot pole (shovel) and leaving me to wrangle the cat, which btw, was not the easier option...
May your Friday be ... um... may no fur fly in your Friday! There! Alliteration and good wishes combined! WOot!
Cheers,
Leo
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So fun facts for today:Tesla's full self-driving mode once drove someone into the path of an oncoming train, and other times so far into lakes and off bridges --- that the company has not stopped from being public. Turns out that "FSD" mode routinely busts the speed limit, too. They don't bill Tesla for that...If your company is adopting AI, PLEASE be aware that it's got more security holes than...
Fantod, ahhhh, cut and color. Bet you look, and feel, fabulous! That’s a great idea of splitting up the services. I desperately need to have both, myself, but I dread being in that torture chair for 2 hours at a time. My stylist usually asks what I’m gonna do to show off my new style, and is a bit surprised when I say, “nothing, I need a nap!” Hope your knee holds out and doesn’t cause too much pain today.
Kel, I love the idea of giving gifts of what I already have and don’t use anymore “smile” Or, what I couldn’t bear to part with after my mom passed away … and now is packed away in many, many boxes in my attic (‘50s green, bubble glass extra large serving platter anyone?) Glad Spartacus is giving you and Gin such joy. Stay warm!
Twin, so sorry you’re hurting so much, emotionally and physically. Thinking of you, and sending hugs. Also, sending “hearts”, something my son used to give me starting when he was about 4. Besides waving, he would put his hand on his heart, grab it and send it off to me. So, here are some for you.
Back in a bit ….. doggies are calling …
socalgal, thank you so much for the kind words and hearts. That is truly touching and brought a great smile to my face.
Thanks Leo! Hugs to you!
I'm going to turn on a movie and drown my sorrows under a heatpad.
In my part of Michigan - yesterday snow , today snow, the next several days snow. Ok mother nature I get it, it is winter. We tend to get Lake effect snow from Lake Michigan, but really knock it off with the snow.
Today my son and I took the dog to the vet for her shots and blood draw. I explained some things going on with the dog and the vet thinks she might be having stronger seizures although we have not witnessed them yet. When she started having seizures, the ones I witnessed were small and just weird movements in her eyes and if you were not looking at her face you wouldnt even know she was having one. We are not in the same room with her 24 hours a day.
Twin - I am really worried about you. You need to take some time regularly for yourself. Lay down with a heating pad and watch something funny on TV or that makes you happy for distraction. I was where you are several years ago except I had one 5 year old. I worked in extreme pain and didnt have any help at home or with parenting from my ex. Well, finally my whole body just gave out and I became disabled. I go back and forth in feeling that other people here are stronger than me and better adjusted. But we shouldnt compare, fibro can be small, medium , or severe and many of us have other physical issues. It is just not fair to ourselves to compare. We can only do the best we personally can. I am very low functioning between my fibro and spine and stomach problems and the list goes on. I cant do even half of what other people here do - but that is my truth and I cant beat myself up about it. You have a lot on your shoulders and I think you are awesome. Hugs to you.
Time to make dinner.
I'm sorry so many are in pain and anxiety. I missed you guys a lot. I plan on responding to weekend check-in later when I get home.
Take care.
Let me introduce myself...I am 57 married no children, 2 beloved young dogs. I have MS for 20+ years, RA for 4 years, Sjogruns for 4 years, and fibro for 3 years.
About 4 years ago I sorta crashed when all the "new" stuff hit me.
I went on short term sick leave from company then back into the fray but this time I could not get back to be good enough to do my job and about 10 months later I needed to leave for good. The company really tried to work with me for many years and they accommodated me constantly. I cannot complain. I am grateful for the years I had, I just wish it had been another 6 or 7 years