Flare-ups of CFS, fibromyalgia, and Other Chronic Conditions

For the past 3 weeks I have been battling a sore throat.  Started as severe, went to the doctor, she prescribed Amoxicillin, but a did not start it for 3 days, because I thought it may be a EBV flare.  I did not have a fever then, nor do I now.  I finally went to my nurse practitioner, who did a throat culture and ordered a mono test.  We'll see what they show.  Probably nothing but an EBV flare.  But it sure can be annoying and discouraging.  I have continued my walks and still get a nap every day.  Fatigue has not been bad.

I have been stressed out about some personal stuff and suspect that is what triggered the flare.  What I want to say is, try not to be discouaged.  Take care of yourself, but don't go to the depths.  Keep up some of your normal activities, and make small baby steps toward resuming your favorite activities.  We are having our grandchildren over to spend the night tonight, because they always cheer me up and get my mind off of things.  You will get better!

The Shopping Fast is Over!

Woo-hoo!  My shopping fast is over - Lent ended last night.  Guess where I was today?  Checking out all the spring clothes out there - it was a feast for my starving shopping soul.  So much color and prints.  Black and white, shades of orange and coral, blues and greens. And so much on sale today!  I ended up buying a couple of tops on sale at Ann Taylor (30% off) and Ann Taylor Loft (40% off).  I also saw tons of beautiful dresses at both places and I was happy to see plenty of A-line and full skirts in addition to sheath dresses (which don't work for a curvy body.)  Here is one of the blouses I got:







It will be perfect over navy pants and jeans or even colored skinny or straight-leg jeans.  I encourage you to get out there and check out the beautiful spring clothes.  Happy Easter!

My Fast from My Shopping Fast

I confess.  I actually found some cash in my purse that I had received before Christmas and decided to go in to Chico's and look around at the spring fashions.  I really have missed checking out all the styles and colors for spring this year since I have been on this shopping fast (since January 1, 2013.)
Sooooo, I did find a cute top with blue, green and white that I could wear with many pants and shorts and it was just within the cash amount I had in my purse.  So I bought it and love it.  Can't wait to wear it.  Here it is:

 I do intend to continue my shopping fast until the end of Lent, not July 1, as I first promised.  Shopping is fun for me, even if I don't buy anything, and I love helping other ladies find new items for their wardrobes and clearing out items that no longer fit or look good from their closets.  Call me if you'd like some help!

Do You Want To Get Well? Part II Hope for people with CFS, fibromyalgia and other chronic conditions

Do you believe the statement by your doctor, "You will always have this condition?"  Or can you answer these four questions:

1.  Is this statement true?

2.  Can you be absolutely certain that it is true?

3.  How do you react, what happens, when you believe that thought?

4.  Who would you be without that thought?

These are the questions posed in the Work of Byron Katie.  Ask yourself these questions and see if you can't turn around your thinking just a little..Who would you be without the thought, "I am sick?"

Do You Want To Get Well? Hope for those with CFS, fibromyalgia, and other chronic conditions

Did you at one time have doctor or doctors tell you that your condition will be chronic and that, basically, you will never get well?  That is was happened to me back in 1984 when my internist told me he had just read about a condition called, Chronic Epstein-Barr Virus Syndrome, and that is what he thought this mysterious illness was...No cure, no easy fix, just live with it.  I decided that I would find out all I could about this condition and work on making my immune system as strong as possible to keep the virus dormant.  I paced myself, took a nap everyday, ate healthy food, took supplements.  That is how I lived until about a year and a half ago.

I read a book by Lewis Mehl-Madrona, M.D, called "Coyote Wisdom" and it changed the way I thought about the illness.  There were multiple stories of people in the book who used what had meaning to them to get well or at least change their thinking about their condition.  I decided that I did not have to believe what the doctor(s) said and that I had to believe that I would get well.  Your belief becomes your biology.  I would change the belief that was limiting me.  I would still do all I was doing to stay healthy, but I would also go try some things I thought I couldn't do.  I would push myself a little when reluctant to push myself a little.  And it worked.  I felt stronger and healthier.  I let my body guide me, instead of blindly following what the practitioners were telling me. (see work by Byron Katie).  Granted, I still do all the things I was doing before to stay healthy, I just changed my thinking.

Walking for CFS, Fibromyalgia, Lyme Disease and other Chronic Conditions

When you have been diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia or other chronic condition involving fatigue, the last thing you might want to do is go for a walk.  But for me that was the easiest way back from feeling weak and sick.  I actually started by walking up and down in front of my house, as ridiculous as that sounds, because I was afraid of going too far.  I started slow and then slowly went farther and farther by mailboxes on the street.  Walking is the easiest on your joints and it takes no extra equipment other than a good pair of athletic shoes.  With each extension of distance, I felt a little better and more encouraged about getting well.