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.
Hey, all!
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Life hacks:
Y'know how toothpaste tubes don't roll up and stay there? Use a mini-sized Chip Clip (for snack food bags), an dfold the tube, usin gthe clip to hold it in place. No more unexpected air bubbles of doom, and you know how much toothpaste you really have left. (Also, duh, squeezed from the bottom, as is proper ;-P )
Use leftover cream of tartar or baking powder to polish metal. B/c it's slightly acidic, you can use it with fair safety to polish stainless steel tableware, pots/pans, sinks, as a paste, and rinse with warm water. My mom used it to clean her white nurse shoes, too, but I never did think it worked.... Anyway, if you have expired cream of tartar or baking powder around, there you go. (Do not use on grout!)
A bay leaf in the storage bin with flour, pasta, sugar, and/or rice will not flavor the item in question, but can help keep food moths away. Keep the bay leaf on top. Or, like I do, tape it to the underside ofthe lid with a tiny bit of tape. Change out every 6-12 months as you feel necessary. (I use realllllly fresh ones so they last about a year for me. Dried-from-store maybe 6 months. Climate willing.)
Place uncooked rice in a pan, not even a drop of water, and shake it around till it's hot. Place in aluminum foil, fold up, and put a cloth around the "packet". YOu now have a no-microwave flexible rice heating pad!
If you don't have aloe vera handy, the goopy center of cucumbers is a quick substitute on sunburns or dry skin. I just spoon it out and slap it on, but some people will add stuff and do stuff. You can also use thin shavings of cucumber (use the peeler on the cucumber flesh) for a "skin mask". Slap 'em on, feel the love. Also nice on sunburn, or minor burns from the kitchen. And, duh, cold b/c they were in the fridge. Double bonus.
Where one bug goes, others will follow. And if you squish the bug? Yep. OThers wil still take that path. So wipe down with a bit of citrus-based (real lemon oil from a lemon) cleaner. Many bugs, like stinkbugs and ladybugs, do not go where lemon has been. Or you can just put lemon zest in a bottle of water, fridge it, shake it up, and use that. Whichever. Fresh lemon zest, btw. I know, so inconvenient.
Fruit or veg came in a mesh bag? Save the bag for a surface-safe scrubby. Or save several and rubber band them together, which is what I do.
Cut tomatoes last to help remove any lingering odor/etc. from other veg on your cutting board. Works well for thsoe of us who cut onoins, hot peppers, etc., and reallllly don't want that residue around.
Bought fish and it smells a bit like, well, fish? Soak in milk for an hour, and then rinse. THe milk really works wonders at removing the icky "fish" smell.
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And, on that note, I'm gonna go ice my stubbed toe. And dream of sleep. And all that.
May your weekend be a good wind-down from the week!
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I'm alive, I'm sleeping like a rock, and for some reason I wanted cherry juice so that seems to be helping. (??? Weirdo that I am.)***Infamous therapies over history:1. The Attic. The madwoman in the attic is a motif in literature going waaaaaay back: the nutty female relative is locked in the attic. (See: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte for a grotesquely racist version of it, and Charlotte Perkins...
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Hey all, i know its been quite awhile since i posted on here. Its been a summer all right. Its been something else........... You know how they say not to open the can of worms? Well a few months ago i decided to find out what my due date would have been for my first baby, the one conceived by r***. My baby would have been due on March 4th of 2006. They would be 20 years old. I was R**** on June...
Frenchick, yep, pacing!
All others, I'd reply but honestly, I wake up in such a mental meltdown re: Hubby that I just am useless. I mean, like, I cried b/c I found out I can't plant a certain pollinator-friendly plant in my yard. (Wrong soil and sun conditions.) Yeah. On PTSD board we call it FF: Feeling Fragile. Here, FEeling Fibro too.
Sunny Sunday to all... let's hang in there...
I'm having a lot of pain in my hands and now my left elbow too. One month til my annual exam...I'm not going to make a separate appointment for this. I figured out my knee issues earlier this week: apparently if your hip muscles get tight enough, they can literally pull your kneecaps out of alignment. Which hurts when you bend your knee more, like squatting down or climbing stairs. I'm assuming normal people would feel muscles that tight and notice that something's up, but thanks to fibro that's how they feel on a regular basis so it takes my damn kneecaps moving out of place to realize I needed to stretch my hips more than I already do. I'm feeling really tired and unmotivated today, but I need to run and get to the credit union and make lunches. Oh and laundry too. Hugs everyone
Big hugs to you and Koshka.
Hello to Frenchick. Welcome to the crew.
Along with fibro troubles, I'm still in pain with the fissures. The tramadol is making me super tired so I'm sleeping all the time. No church today. I can't drive on this stuff.
Take care, everyone.
I have some baking I need to do today, more laundry, more lice checks, and then maybe the health food store...I don't know if I can fit it in.
Leo, Thanks for passing out your goodies from your friend. That is so sweet! I'm sorry about the plant, I understand having your heart set on something and it can't happen, Enjoy your chocolate, take a little stroll, and do whatever you can to enjoy life.
ida, I hate tramadol too, but I'm glad it's helping your fissures pain. It sounds horrible and I feel so bad for you. I hope your day still turns out decent.
Angela, I'm glad you got a new fish, Sometimes those small things can make a big difference.
Autumn, I hope it's nice outside for you again today. I'm glad the relaxation tapes helped you. hugs
Fantod, I have a tree in my front yard that I want to take down b/c I worry about it smashing my neighbors cars someday. I just can't afford it and I don't know what to do about it. I need and want more kitchen space to store stuff. I hope you love the extra storage.
milily, I'm happy to say the lice has not returned! :-) I wish you could take anti-inflammatory meds too, I'm the same way and I know it could help me so much, but nope it kills my stomach. I wish you didn't have to ice so much, it's just no fun. Hugs
Frenchick, I can't sit for long or I will become one with the couch, and it's impossible to make myself get back up. I'm glad you try to laugh at things, if we can't change them it does make it easier. I will be feeling sorry for you next weekend. I can't imagine trying to move.
I'm sorry if I missed anyone, I"m so slow.
Not much sleep last night. I'm pretty achy from the weather continually changing. And, my back continues to torment me. Going to call pain management and have them set me up for an MRI.
Leo - My neighbor has the haunted forest next door. The trees in question can not be trimmed back due to a lack maitenance for many years. It would put them out of balance. And, one is girdled due to a chain being left wrapped around it when it was growing. Two different arborists have looked at them and stated that they need to be taken down. They are both rotten. I have relayed the information to her several times. The city can't do anything because they don't affect city owned property or sidewalks. I've also told her that she will likely lose her homeowners insurance should they land on my house etc. She has money - new car, recent plastic surgery, multiple tooth implants. She just won't do it. Makes me very frustrated. I would never do that to a neighbor.
I'm typing on my Kindle which is having a moment. I will try again later. Hi to everyone!
Leo I am praying for a sense of peace in the storm for you. Hugs.
Fantod I hope PM can get you in for an MRI quickly. I have a crumbling spine and the pain can be intolerable. I hope the pain lessens to help you deal with the week ahead.
Angela hugs and prayers for you. I hope as the day wears on the pain will get better.
Twin wow that is a busy day you have planned. I am glad the lice haven't shown.
Ida my thoughts are with you. I hope you get a break from the pain. I can't take tramadol. Sleep you deserve it.
Miki I have burning in my hands and cramping. I also get severe pain in my elbow. Have you been checked for RA?
Frenchick pacing is a rule with fibro. Without it we can't function at all. You are smart to listen and pace yourself.
I did some grocery shopping yesterday and read. I think today I am going to do some light housekeeping. The relaxation tapes are helping me to relax but the wake cycle of my brain just refuses to let me sleep. Hopefully tomorrow my doctors office will call and change my meds. I am trying not to think the worst but with the new med not being on the market they may not cover it. I hope you all have a great day.
Sorry I'm so late posting an update here. I did make it to Waikiki beach for a very brief dip at the beach on the way to the airport.... the water was frigid, I swear I got frostbite. I can't remember the last time it was that cold. But considering how we just had snow the other day, I'm guessing there's a connection. It has been a bit cooler than normal lately.
I made it back to Maui last night and I'm supposed to pick up hubby from the airport Monday morning. I came back feeling quite unwell with stomach pain, so after doing Hershey's chemo, I put myself to bed. I hate to think this, but it almost feels like an injury. The pain is in my upper stomach (which is new) and it hurts to move / twist / touch.... I was hardly able to eat anything yesterday. Even water made it feel like I had more pressure in my gut.
My mom says my symptoms sound like a hiatal hernia (she's still healing from one)... I hope to God she's wrong and this is just a fluke that maybe some rest will cure. If I don't recover by this afternoon, I'll look for someone to help me drop off the car at the airport for him so I won't have to get up early Mon morning.
I won't be going to church today, don't want to push myself. I have a jam-packed week ahead after running around all over Oahu and that was after a busy week too. But hopefully after some rest today, I'll get through the week feeling better. One can hope, right? Sigh.
I've browsed everyone's posts. Sending hugs and well wishes for the week.
He was going to scrub out the cupboard before installing my new sliding drawers. I decided to do it so he can just get started and not have to deal with that. So much fun trying to get down on the floor and then back up again. A lot easier with my new knee but still... I also took the grill off of the bottom of the fridge. He can push it and the stove out for me tonight after dinner so I can clean back/under there tomorrow. I'm not taking any chances on pushing and pulling things with my #$@#$%$$ back right now.
Looks like I will be going to see Black Panther tomorrow. My helper is treating me which is very nice. My aunt and uncle from Ontario are passing through from Florida today and tomorrow. They'll stay with my Mom tonight and I will see them tomorrow morning for a quick visit. Between getting up early and the movie it will be a busy day for me.
Its the crack of 2:00 so I should probably shower and finish the laundry. I feel a nap coming on. You guys are the best!
Angela, just lie in bed, you need it.
Blue, hi!
... I know I forgot people, sorry.
Fantod you have been such a busy bee today. I hope you get that much deserved nap.
I am so exhausted today that I haven't even been able to shower. I don't think I am going to wait for the doctor to call me. I am going to call the help nurse tomorrow morning and have her put in an urgent call to the doctor. I can't take this not being able to sleep. It has been two weeks now and all I can do is doze before my awake kicks in and wakes me up. I want to scream but I don't have the energy. If a person can die from lack of sleep I would definitely fit that description. Hmm then I could sleep lol. I hope they find something that works soon.