Brrrrr it's cold outside

I took this article from Fibromyalgia Symptoms website.  I don't like how they use 'claim' when they refer to how those that suffer from fibromyalgia symptoms but the information is good to know.

This past month has been rather cold for here in Arizona.  I do at times feel like a barometor, with truly feeling the effects of how the weather changes.  Not good!  I have been so cold that my wrists have been aching horribly.  Dressing in layers, coats, gloves, hats and long socks (this is not going well with this menopause crap going on also...where's my music because these clothes are coming off often.  It's rediculous, layers on layers off good Lord!
Using a heating pad to keep my hands warm. Keeping my house at 73 and using my heated blanket at night.

I fuss but other than having hands that are just annoyingly achy, I am doing awesome, I don't even bother putting a 'number' for plan level to this current issue.

The guaifenesin protocol really puts your body back in order.  Along with following a proper diet of no boxed, frozen or processed food eating fresh veggies, fruit, no dairy for me and sticking with chicken I am doing wonderful.  I hibernate in the winter anyway but now I am able to do my quilting or projects without the fatigue or just not having the energy at all.

I love that I have got my life back.  Thank heavens for guaifenesin!

Enjoy the article!





fibromyalgia sufferers claim that their symptoms vary according to temperature changes, changes in air pressure, and changes in precipitation in their part of their world. Most fibromyalgia sufferers claim that they experience changes in:

• fatigue
• sleep patterns
• headaches
• muscle pain
• the number of symptom flare ups

Who is Affected by Weather Changes?
According to a study performed in 1981, a large percentage of fibromyalgia sufferers may actually be sensitive to changes in the weather. In this particular study, 90% of patients claimed that weather was one of the most important influences on their fibromyalgia symptoms. And fibromyalgia sufferers aren’t the only ones to experience weather-related symptoms. You may also find that the weather exacerbates your symptoms if you have:

• rheumatoid arthritis
• multiple sclerosis
• osteoarthritis

What Weather Factors Affect Fibromyalgia Sufferers?

There are five major weather factors that appear to affect fibromyalgia symptoms. These include:

• Temperature: Rapid changes in temperature can sometimes trigger a fibromyalgia flare or help to ease fibromyalgia pain. Cold weather tends to make fibromyalgia symptoms worse, while warmer weather tends to ease those troublesome symptoms.
• Barometric Pressure: Barometric pressure is a measurement of the weight that is exerted by the air all around us. On beautiful sunny days, barometric pressure tends to be quite high, but during a storm or similar weather front, barometric pressure drops suddenly. Fibromyalgia sufferers often find that these changes in barometric pressure can trigger muscle aches and pains.
• Humidity: Absolute humidity is a measurement of the amount of water vapor present in each unit of air. When absolute humidity is low, fibromyalgia sufferers often report headaches, stiffness, and flares in widespread pain.
• Precipitation: Precipitation is the term used to refer to any type of water that falls to the ground from the sky, including rain, sleet, snow, or hail. Precipitation is often accompanied by a change in barometric pressure, and therefore may exacerbate your symptoms of pain and fatigue.
• Wind: Whether it’s a light wind or a gale-force wind, wind generally causes a decrease in barometric pressure. This means that wind can trigger fatigue, headaches, and muscle aches in fibromyalgia sufferers.

Weather and Fibromyalgia: The Studies

Numerous studies have been conducted in order to evaluate whether or not fibromyalgia symptoms do appear to be influenced by changes in the weather. Most of these studies have had surprising results.

In 2002, a study was conducted in Cordoba, Argentina, where there are four distinct seasons every year. The study involved fibromyalgia sufferers and a healthy control group and aimed to find out whether pain symptoms could be linked to specific weather changes. Participants were asked to rate their pain symptoms on a scale from one to ten, every day for 12 months. After 12 months, these symptoms were correlated to weather patterns for the entire year. Researchers found that pain symptoms of the participants with fibromyalgia correlated directly to weather changes. Specifically, pain increased as temperatures fell and atmospheric pressure increased. The healthy control group did not show any correlation between pain and weather patterns.

Another study performed in Norway found a similar relationship between fibromyalgia symptoms and the weather. Fibromyalgia symptoms appeared to get worse during the months of December and January, but began to improve during April and May. This suggests a direct relationship between colder temperatures and lower barometric pressures and a rise in fibromyalgia symptoms.

Why Does Weather Affect Fibromyalgia Symptoms?
Unfortunately, researchers do not yet know why weather appears to affect fibromyalgia symptoms so much. However, there are a few possible explanations:

• Change in Sleep Cycle: Weather, particularly hot and cold temperatures, can sometimes affect the way in which you sleep. This could have a great affect on symptoms and flares if you are a fibromyalgia sufferer.
• Change in Circadian Rhythm: Your body operates using an internal clock known as the circadian rhythm. Changes in seasons and the amount of light that your body receives can throw off your circadian rhythm, causing you to feel fatigued and more achy then usual.
• Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines: There does appear to be a relationship between low temperature levels and an increase in the number of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the body. These cytokines appear to be related to pain intensity.

Dealing with the Weather: Managing Your Fibromyalgia Symptoms
If you find that your symptoms are influenced by weather changes, here are a few tips to help keep you more comfortable:

• Dress in Layers: Prepare for those chilly days by dressing in two or three layers. This will keep your body warm and allow you to shed excess clothing should you become hot.
• Avoid Cold Temperatures: Try to keep your air conditioning off in your house during the summer, and keep your heat up during the winter months. If you have to go outside in the cold, wear gloves, proper boots, and a hat. This will keep your extremities warm and prevent aches and pains.
• Bring the Sunshine Inside: If you are finding that you are particularly fatigued or depressed, try to increase the amount of light you have inside of your house. During the gray winter months, it is easy to become depressed and tired, which will only make your symptoms worse. Purchase some halogen bulbs or a special light box to help improve your mood.

I left a fibro facebook page

Hello Fibro friends!
Been out sharing about eat fresh foods, no boxed or processed foods.
Telling people how I shop around the edges of the store.  No dairy, limited bread (still my downfall), no red meat and NO CANDY. Makes for quick grocery shopping trips.
I encourage people to take a closer look at the chemicals in the products that they use on their skin and hair. I have found I am overly sensitive to chemicals. Worth a look.
Then I share how I have given up sodas about 6 years ago and feel so better without it and only drink water.
When I am asked what fibro meds I take and how much do I take, I share I am only on guaifenesin and Omegas, I am faced with disbelieve.
When I shared this info with the facebook group I was told by one person her doctor told her to NEVER take guaifenesin for it has horrible side effects and be aware of people pushing this protocol.  I can't believe she has this site convinced guai is bad.
Sadly they all compare how badly they feel and what meds they each take and how they wish their flares would let them be and give them relief. But when I tell them what I do they belittle and bully me.

I am very proud that I took my health into my own hands, researched, tried and trusted my gut feelings to give guai and the hypoglycemic diet a chance...I had nothing to lose but the pain.

I am coming up on my 1 year guai anniversary and happily able to say have been pain free since August. :) (could have said from May but I thought I was Superwoman in July and put myself in a flare when I moved that washing machine all by myself).

Believe in Yourself and you can do anything!

Kim

Beginning to look like winter

This week is my return appointment for mappings.  We shall see how well I map after a month of only one cheat for bread.
Been doing super!
Kept myself busy all day today with serveral projects that need to be done.
Winterized my cooler and boy was that work.  Hopefully the soak in the tub with Pink Himalayan salt in the water and Omegas will keep me from a flare.
Have been doing quite a bit lately and so far this has not affected my fibro.
Thank goodness for all the steps I have in place.
Been sharing with others with fibro, the advantages of changing their diets and chemical removal...have'nt had too many people give this a try.
Be sure and visit my prior blogs for diet and chemicals so you may see if this works for you also/

Hugs

Oct 19,2011

Wonderful day!!!
Warm sun, cool breezes, went for a walk on my break.
I have gotten back on track with the gluten thing :(, dang I miss bread.
Been super busy with sharing my story this past couple weeks.
Got on the T.N.T. Tuesday calls and shared my Awesome story of the success I have been having with all the pieces I have placed in 'my wellness puzzle'.
Also spoke with a group at a 'dessert party'.  They were non-believers of what the products is use can do provide for people.
I have even spoke out on a Facebook site.  Makes changes for the better.
Unfortunately the facebook site did not like me, it would seem 'I make them (fibromyalgia patients) look bad.
Truly, I hope I am encouraging others to try some of the things I have tried, for maybe, they too will have a success.
The hypoglycemic diet, I have recently find, is very important to MY health.

I have been 'found' by 2 other guaifenesin protocol users, it is so good to know others are using this protocol and are having successes also.
I am ever grateful for find this and being the determined person I am, am so glad it works for me.

Hugs all,
Kim

Current mapping

Sad day.
Had my October mapping and it showed 6 spots instead of my 3 spots.
So following the guaifenesin protocol really isn't hard to follow when its become such a habit but when you get to the part where you can cheat a little....you have to be careful on HOW much you cheat.
I miss bread!
Soft, warm yummy bread.
Texas Road house bread.
Raisin bagels.
French bread.
Toast.
Pancakes.
French toast.
Darn that gluten anyway.

Back to being strict with my bread.....which means no bread products.

On the upside, not eating the bread isn't that big of a hurdle because knowing that controlling what I eat has an effect on my pain is a complete no brainer.
So I am back on track and eating the way I should be.

October 4th, 2011

Hi Everyone!
Been super busy doing lots of things!
Almost forgot I had a blog about fibromyalgia or that I have fibro!
The weather only kept me down a day or so and I returned to normal.
Running around getting into everything.
Finished a Halloween quilt top.  Moved my quilt room around, again. I swear those 3 cabinets, 5 bookcases and 1 dresser have seen more positions than the yoga floor.  For some reason I just can't get this room right.
This time however, even though I moved the furnature around myself with no help and with my daughter yelling at me to wait for her boyfriend as he would move it for me.....I did not have pain!  WOW

So lets see, quilt top, moved furnature, um what else......went to Slow Low AZ for the Run to the Pines annual Car Show the 23rd of September. Walked the car show, then went to the quilt show and then on to the art fair.  All that walking in one day. whew my feet were tuckered out.  The weather was wonderful, cool, sunny and the feel of fall was in the air.  So beautiful! 

I have been on such a roll with energy lately so I started cleaning my house the next weekend.
Pulled all the curtains down and washed them.  A 'fall' cleaning before we shut the house up for the winter months. Even managed to toss out 4 bags of junk I really didn't need to be saving.
Awesome!

I have all this to thank for everything I have put in place to get and keep me well.
I have gotten so used to the way I eat it is second nature and I miss all my veggies when I don't have them available.  Like the weekend of the car show, my parents eat so differently than me.
Eat around the edges, fresh only, no boxed or processed foods.  Eating a salad daily is routine, just like everyone else who still eat a McDonalds or Burger King everyday.

Reducing the chemicals in products that I use is/was so easy and makes such a HUGE difference.  One of the simpliest things a person can do to keep themselves well is to avoid these poisons.  Some say it is 'hard' to do but if it reduces my pain then I'm all IN!

The guaifenesin protocol is so routine now that I don't even have to think about what I do anymore.
Take my Guai twice a day, add my Pink Himalayan Salt to my water in the morning before my breakfast and right before bed.  I am set for a wonderful day.

With the exception of a storm every now and then I am good.  Its funny though, weather, I never know which time the weather will bother me.  But the longer I stay of this protocol the better I get.  10 months and I am doing so well!  I can't wait to see what a year, 2 years, 5, 10, 20 years will bring me!

I am so please and happy with myself that I had the fortune to find these products and Dr Muhich to guide me with the protocol! 
Sharing I will continue to do.
May you have pain free days also.

Weather and fibromyalgia

For the last few days I have been slowly going down hill.  More tired, not as spunky and not getting the sleep I need.
Today for the first time in quite awhile I stayed home from work.  Yesterday, I did not feel well right from the start, ears throbbing, slow moving and my arms began to ache getting worse throughout the day. 
Got home and took a nap. Ran a warm bath and soaked in x2o water.  Ahhhhhh, that helped.  Went to bed after taking 2 PM's.  Woke a lot through the night, like I had been doing all week long.
Ugh, the morning was worse, my arms hurt, they hurt just thinking about moving them.  Steady aching, throbbing pain and that was not even with movement.  I moved at a snails pace today.  Called in and took a 6 hour nap. 
Pain was at an 8 and after napping it was down to a 2. 
In come more storms, wind and rain.
We have had 3 stroms back to back now for the last 3 hours.  One with hail.
NOW I know why I hurt.
Weather and fibromyalgia.  Weather....the one thing we can not control. 
The tempurature drops and our bodies can be affected.  Not enough sunlight and fatigue can set in.  Cool temps can invade and cause ache and pain.  Humidity also has an effect.
Right now the temps are starting to change.  Still hot during the day but cooling off at night.  Places of work are now seeming cooler because the insides of the buildings are not warming up as they did earlier.
I'm already layering up and using my heating pad at work. brrrrrr.

http://www.fibromyalgia-symptoms.org/fibromyalgia_weather.html

Found the above article that will give a little insight about weather.

Glad I have taken other measures to control my pain levels this way when weather comes at me hopefully I can get through it with the shortest amount of pain.

Tonight should be fun, the weatherman says we are having 'train' storms.  Where the storms come in back to back with short intervals between them. Hooray!

August 24, 2011

It has been one year since I was formally diagnosed with Fibromyalgia.  With my first two months on 4 different medications and a final decision by myself to take my health into my own hands and seek non-traditional treatment.
I am glad I did as now I am able to control my pain levels.  I have learned which foods cause me pain and if I really want a certain food I can have it....at a price....pain.
I have also learned that because I have control of my pain by eating the correct foods I can have an occasional cheat...like two bites of a rich ooey gooey brownie...and not have pain.  Or knowing that any kind of potatoes cause me pain so if I avoid them I have no pain.
I have also learned that chemicals, certain types of chemicals, cause buzzing, tingling, sharp cold stabbing pain within my body in random areas.  If I avoid those products I won't have those sensations.  There are many other products that can be found to replace the product that does cause pain.

Learning to drink only water and like it was a huge advancement for me so much so that now that when I decide to 'cheat' and have a lemonade, it does not taste good.

I have learned that there are different types of supplements.  Different grades of supplements.  Like everything, there are good, better, excellent and just plain bad supplements.  Who know there were 'fillers' in vitamins?  Or trying to save money on our supplements really was not giving us our monies worth.  There truly is something in 'you get what you pay for' when it comes to supplements and vitamins.

All that being said, I have gained so much back to my life.
I've lost a few pounds, found energy, saved some money on products I really don't need and the best part is I'm able to get back to my favorite hobby. Quilting.

I will continue to share my journey in hopes that others will give the protocol a try to have the same wonderful effect.

Smiles

Kim

And someone asks.... 'ok what is it you do?'

Kay: ok what is it you do?

Briefly first you should know last summer was the last straw for me. I woke to body stopping pain and I had had enough. I have always had pain, my whole life. I have just learned to deal with it. I usually ran about a 7-10 for pain levels. Some days worse some days bareable some days okay. But always a headache 24 hours a day. Soda for energy, chocolate for, well everything, right, chocolate makes everything better. Living life just like everyone of us lives, fast food, boxed food, I always told people its not what you eat its how much you eat. HA! Anyway, I have always tried to be fit, exercise, work out...always caused pain...no pain no gain right? I have always had pain. Not pain in one area, all over pain. Here there everywhere. Sometime by itself sometimes all at once. I have seen and been to lots of doctors. Lots of specialists. Been on lots of medicine. Nothing every hit the pain and I usually would just not take meds. Not gonna work, not gonna even put it in my body. So back to last August. Pain. Me, can't move, crying because it hurt so bad to lift my arms. I went to my chiropractor who thought I was stroking or being poisoned. Nothing wrong from his point of view...I was in alignement and he listened to my veins and I didn't sound blocked or unusual. So to my PCP. He touched my right knee (this was the only exam he did) said it was not hot or swollen gave me a script for prednisone and 2 names of specialists to see and sent me on my way. I could barely walk and he didn't bother getting up to open the door (I'm a little pissed at him for being a lousy human being and I do not see him any longer). Went to specialist, she told me I was depressed, gave me Cymbalta and see a therapist. So now I'm happy I'm in pain because cymbalta sends a msg to your body of no pain. I quit the cymblata. I will just fix myself thank you very much. Researched online. Found Dr St Amand. Read his book. I started with removing chemicals from my use.
Did you know we put on over 250 chemicals on our body in the morning before we leave the bathroom. I changed the products I used and within 3 days the 15 year headache was gone GONE!!! I found a doctor 2 hours from Tucson and I went to meet him. He follows the guaifenesin protocol from Dr St Amand. Dr Muhich put me on a strict hypoglycemic diet for a month to detox my body. No dairy, no milk, no soda (i hadn't drank soda for 5 years anyway) no red meat, no potatoes, carbs, sugar, no caffiene. Eat around the edges of the store. Thought I was going to die. Fresh veggies, chicken, fish, fresh fruit and water, tea or coffee. Don't drink coffee and tea needs 2 tons of sugar so that was out. Left water. Lost some weight there and I only weighed 140 anyway.

Then I was able to start the guaifenesin a month after that. 2 months into the guai protocol I was introduced to x2o, I hate water, its a dead weight in me, I hate the dirt filter system and it just tastes awful but it was all I could drink. Larry gave me the x2o and it did what it said. I could feel it absorb in my body. I was drinking lots of water now and I was having an increase of energy. I still wasn't sleeping much though.

Next came the Focus up. With fibro, your brain is consintrating of pain, keeping it under control, or hoping to keep it under control. So your thought process is shot. Remembering things and multy tasking is a thing of the past. And whats the dogs name again? Focus up has extracts in them, so I was very careful when I tried the product. OMG, not just energy and help with mood I could think through the pain! On bad days I used 1/3 of the focus up and I could get through the day with my smarts.

Now the KX was did it for me for the inflammation it helped a lot. On day 5 I was burning in my legs then on day 10 I was out watering the yard and a planter was overflowing so I ran to the facet to turn the water off. I don't run, it hurts. but I ran then I realised I didn't have pain, at all that day. :) Yeah!!! That was in March. I was still having bad days and pain, and fog and not sleeping, But...I was getting better. I shared this with my PCP, who when I told them this got up and walked out of the office. Didn't get excited for me at all. So I kept going to Dr Muhich every month for my mappings to see how much my body was detoxing. See my page for the mappings (it is super amazing...it makes me laugh how wonderful I am doing) .
Still not sleeping through the night, which is very typical for fibro. Again Larry gives me more Xooma products. PM. For the love of GOD where has this stuff been all my life?!?!?! I slept all night, dead to the world, body off, no dreams nothing. I woke up at 6 in the morning and hoped out of bed. I was lets go! Let's get this day going, places to go people to see stuff to do, lets rule the world! Took 2 AM's that morning also. I had so much energy!

That was April. You guys, I have been doing wonderful since then. With the exception of June and part of July because I set myself into a flare. Super woman here thought she felt so well she could move a washing machine out of the laundry room by herself. And I would have too if my 19 year old hadn't said 'mom this is gonna fall on you and kill you if you try to take it down those 2 steps' and she wouldn't help' :P! I hurt so bad from the pain again. I dumped 20 sachets of x2o in a bath and that helped a lot but I had to suffer through to get back to no pain, which I am happy to say I am now back to for about a week now.

Food, chemicals are the starting point for everyone. WATER, who knew how important that was and it has to have X2O in it. Now the tingling I have in me is from the excitement from all of these products, from how I made changes in MY life, how I changed MY life. None of the doctors I went to seemed to care as long as they gave me some medicine according to whatever list they work from thats supposed to help. I only see my chiropractor now, he cares about me, he listens and is excited how much I have improved!
No INTENSE exercising for fibro patients, it will cause flares and set one back again. Yoga, walking, pilates, swimming, dancing (not Zumba that almost killed me -think that is what was what pushed my body to the edge). Gentle exercise for fibro people.

Kay: Thank you for sharing all of this. Before I read this I didnt know much about Fibro and its affects on the body. I have learned a lot tonight. Thanks again

Thank you, Kay for asking, I love sharing my story with people in hopes to reduce someone elses pain.

Brief explaination of 'what is Fibromyalgia' (from Dr St Amand's website)

What is Fibromyalgia?Fibromyalgia is a syndrome, meaning that it is a collection of symptoms that occur together, and not all patients have all of them. Women are affected more than men--only about 20 percent are male--and it also occurs in children. Fibromyalgia means "pain in muscles and fibers." This pain must be present in all four quadrants of the body for three months. Diagnosis is made by the prescence of tender swollen areas that hurt when a small amount of pressure is applied. However, not all patients have significant pain, for some fatigue is the primary complaint. Other symptoms include headahces, irritable bowel syndrome, irritable bladder, vulvodynia, problems with memory and concentration, nervousness, depression, and sensitivity to sound, light and odors.

What causes Firbromyalgia?We believe it is an inherited trait and that from birth phosphates very slowly build up in your tissues. At puberty and other accelerated growth times your body uses more of the phosphate you ingest. The build up might completely stop at that time. However, at some point, depending on your genetic trait, you become symptomatic: ie the phosphates have built up to the point where they cause an impediment in making energy. Eventually this lack of energy, dysenergism, causes our symptoms.
You will reverse one year of build-up with about 2 months of guaifenesin. If you stop taking guaifenesin when you stop feeling symptoms the build up will begin again and in time your symptoms will come back. That's why we stay on guai for life despite the fact that we feel better.

Is Fibromyalgia an auto-immune disease?Fibromyalgia is not an auto-immune disease. Auto immune means that the body destroys itself. Hashimoto's thyroiditis is autoimmune --the body actually attacks its own thyroid as if it were foreign tissue and destroys the gland. ( "Auto" means self as in the word autonomy.) Antibodies made by our own body destroy parts of it in this kind of illness.

In fibromyalgia there is no tissue destruction. It's one of the hallmarks of FM, actually. No changes are seen on Xray, MRIs, on blood tests, or in biopsies. If you see destruction--you know immediately that the cause is from some other condition. The immune system in FMS is somewhat underactive.
This should not be a huge shock to us fibromyalgics since our mind and our muscles and our stomachs and our fingernails and hair don't work very well either. Our immune systems are probably too tired to attack us! There doesn't appear to be any more of a connection between the immune system and FMS than this general one.
Pain level 8-15-2011 is zero, slight tingling in left arm lasting 30 seconds or less in evening.

Mappings and ME

Ahhhhh, back on track.  Back to pain free days again!  Everyone has got to incorporate this protocol into their life style.
(except the moving washing machines by themselves part).
Had another mapping on the 11th of August.
3 Spots remain...3 SPOTS!!!
You have no idea how exciting this is.
A lifetime of pain and learning to just deal with it.
A lifetime of going from doctor to doctor, getting the joy of trying a med that doesn't work.
I am so glad I didn't give up. 
Researched and found Dr St Amand's protocol.
Found Dr. Muhich who follows this protocol and WAAAAA LAAAAAAA!

PAIN FREE DAYS.  ME!!!!

You have got to try too :)

August 6th 2011

Today was a WONDERFUL day!
The flare that I have been dealing with is letting go of me, finally.
I have now learned I can not move a washing machine by myself without causing way more pain than I want to live with.
I have to wonder now if it was the washing machine that caused the pain or the humidity that has been up for the last 3 weeks also. 
Because the flare is on the way out, I was able to hit my ever growing 'To Do List'. 
The growing mound of things that coud wait to be washed disappeared today.  Table clothes, extra towels and that load of sheets are completed.
My diningroom table that became the drop zone, is now set up for sewing tomorrow.  Going to work on a quilt that had to take a back seat during this resting period, is going to see some work in the morning.
One of the many draw backs to Fibromyalgia is the just don't want to do anything mode you get in.
Everything just takes a backseat while you just get by until your body releases you from the pain.

That is why I am thankful I found the protocol I have been following for now 10 months.  Eating fresh foods, no mor boxed, frozen or processed foods.  Avoiding salicylates, propylene glycol, sodium lauryl sulfate in the products.  No mint, no dairy, sodas and everything with cafiene to include chocolate.  Amazing pain relief just by doing that.
Water only with my X2O sachet in it.  An occasional lemonade when eating out with my sweetie. 
Still taking the Guaifenesin to purge the built up toxins. (going for a mapping this week, can't wait to see the continuing changes).
Sleep is so important ans with the current stressors from work I am needing a little help and I have found Metabowise PM, enough to get me to sleep, able to wake up if I need to during night, if not I sleep all night with none of the grogginess one gets from sleeping pills.

I have been doing so well with the Kardiaxyme that when my 12 year old Dalmation wasn't doing so well and had me thinking it was 'time'.  I gave her an ounce daily.  1 ounce for her and 2 ounces for me.  And let me tell you she is jumping around, running, barking again.  Amazing what Kardiaxyme can do for a person (or a pet) lol.

I am truly blessed that I have choosen this path and it is working for me. 
I hope to keep sharing my success with others and hopefuly they will try it and see what it does for them.

Tomorrow, can't wait to sit and create !!!

More Water

Found a You Tube video that really explains how good water affects our bodies. 
Shows how our bodies have to work very hard to keep us healthy.
They did a wonderful job so I am sharing the info for everyone to view and rethink the products they put in their body.
A healthy body will keep you well and if you keep it well it will keep you going for years.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvzMKQL0wwI&feature=youtu.be

Its the only body we get, keep it in good working order and it, YOU, will last a good long while.

Alkalinity = Good Health

Pink Himalayan Salt is all-natural, organic mineral complex. it's easy to use just by adding it to your water.  I have a salt Grinder I purchased with the salt already in it.  5 grinds into a 16-20oz glass is all you'll need.  It will not taste salty but, you may notice the water tasting smother and more refreshing.

• Is Your Body Running on Empty? Hydration: Electrolytes: PH Balance:

• Dehydration is a primary reason for daytime fatigue and can slow down your metabolism as much as 3%
• Just a 1%-2% drop in body water can impair your mental focus, concentration, and physical performance.
• Beverages that contain caffeine such as colas, coffee, or tea actually stimulate fluid loss and promote dehydration.
• Exercise and prolonged activity cause you to lose vital electrolytes, which are critical for nerve impulses and muscle contractions.
• Quickly replenishing lost electrolytes is essential for peak physical performance.
• Major electrolytes (minerals) needed by your body are calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, and chloride, which can all be found in X2O.
• Disease and illness thrive in an acidic environment but can’t survive in an alkaline environment.
• “Alkalinity” equals oxygen and oxygen equals good health.
• To maintain healthy pH balance, your body must have an abundant supply of ionic minerals – especially calcium.
•  STRESS is one of the most significant causes of acidic conditions in your body.

• WHY Water is Critical to Your Good Health

Your body is designed to be approx. 70% water. The most critical fluid in your body, your blood, is mostly water. Your muscles, skin, and vital organs all contain and need large amounts of water for optimal health. Water also transports oxygen to your cells, delivers nutrients, removes waste, and provides energy to the body.
Signs of Dehydration
Your body loses approx. 2.5 liters of water every day just through normal bodily functions. You lose water through urination, respiration, and perspiration. If you are physically active or athletic, you lose even more water. Although “thirst” is an obvious sign of dehydration, the TRUTH is your body is in need of water long before you feel thirsty.
Symptoms of mild dehydration include chronic pains in joints and muscles, lower back pain, headaches, and constipation. A strong odor to your urine, along with a yellow or amber color indicates that you are not getting enough water.

• “Supercharge” Your Water

Today, with the overwhelming evidence of all the known contaminants found in standard “tap water,” purified and bottled water is more popular than ever. And while purified water is definitely a much healthier choice – it’s still plain water.
Why drink just plain water when you can “supercharge” your water? Pink Himalayan Salt is powerful enough to transform standard tap water into a much healthier form of water.

• Alkalinity EQUALS Good Health!

Happy Birthday to me

Another day older :)
Learned something new today and it makes me wonder.....
Apparently, if you have breast implants you are to have MRI's ever 3 years to check for leaks.
And implants have a 'shelf life' of 5 to 10 years then need to be replaced.
I was born with Poland's syndrome.
When I was in the 8th grade I had my first implant placed.  I wish someone had had the information to tell the parents of the 13 yr old that she would be on a journey of surgeries for the rest of her life.  I have had 5 so far.

I wonder how many fibromyalgia patients have implants? And how many of them have had them break or leak and now have pain.  Wonder if some of the pain is caused by the silicone in the implants?
Cause for some thought......

Weekends :)

Weekends are for recouporating after spending all week in a freezing office. Sitting at the desk with cold air blowing.  Enjoying ever minute of ones break outside warming up the body just to go back in the chill down again.
Every day when I walk out from work it is with joy...ahhhhh the sun back on my body for the warmth!
Okay, granted its hotter than ever now here in Tucson and the fires don't help but that being said, warmth is a fibromyalgia sufferers best friend.
I love the weekend!
No cold air, no loud noises, no co-workers, just peace and quiet.
And a little quilting doesn't hurt either :)

ER visit

Yesterday had a 4 hour ER visit.  Chest pain all morning that I couldn't get rid of.
EKG, chest x-ray and 3 stabbing trys for lab work.
No heart attack thankfully but very disappointed in the visit.
No one asked me what meds I was on, just wanted to know what meds I was allergic to.
No one asked about family history. My dad has had 2 heart attacks, 7 stints.  An aunt has stints.
I kept trying to tell them but they kept cutting me off, 'how do you spell that med...Indocin'.
The doctor came in and decided it was acid reflux...never asked me what I ate.  Salad and a banana, did he want to know? No.
Did he ask family history, whats going on in my world, what meds are you on?
Just decided it was acid.
So I was sent home with the same pain in my chest that I walked in with. A diagnosis of 'chest pain, cause unknown' and a script for Nexium, which I did not ask for.
Thankfully the pain is gone, I didn't have a heart attack, not the best way to spend $150.00 and yet again another disappointing but yet confirming my disillusionment with our medical system.

Is It True?

I'm super excited with my current mapping and am sharing my mapping pictures with everyone that will stop long enough to look at them.
I shared my pictures with a provider friend of mine and he could 'see' my excitement and told me not all people want to be well.
Reeeeeeallllly?
How can that be?  Wouldn't everyone want to be well?
He went on to tell me that some people like the attention illness brings them.
Some have family members that can't handle when they get better so the person with the illness stops treatment to keep things as they were.
Some people enjoy the 'I'm sicker than you are game'.
I find this rather disappointing and disturbing :(
He went on to tell me to be outspoken of my choices and improvement and try not to take the naysayers to heart.
I hope he is wrong and people will be receptive with what I have to share.

My routine

Products I have been using and have been improving my pain are pure and simple.

"PHS" Pink Himalayan salt in my filtered water balances the PH level in your water and helps the trace elements and minerals in the water absorb into your body.

Omega 3/75 - fish oil - supports cardiovascular, Immune and Nervous system.
 
Vitamin D



These products plus the Guaifenesin protocol, hypoglycemic diet and chemical removal from my use has made a great reducation of pain in my life.
To sum it up on a number scale -  10 - living a fast food, boxed products, perfume, lotions, chemicals galore life = this is how I got here.
Hypoglycemic diet took me to an 8.
Chemical reducation - 6.
Guaifenesin protocol with Omega 3 took me to a 4/5.
PHS got me to a 1/2 of pain.
Daily gentle exercise.
Monthly chiropractic care

These are changes I can live with.
It just might work for you also.

Could it be the CHEMICALS?

The most important thing to do with fibro is to try to reduce pain.

Dr St.Amand's protocol calls for:


...
QUICK SALICYLATE CHECK:
DO NOT USE PRODUCTS THAT CONTAIN THESE INGREDIENTS:


Salicylate, salicylic acid

Oils with a plant name (except Corn, Rice, Oats, Wheat and Soy)

Gels with a plant name (except Corn, Rice, Oats, Wheat and Soy)

Extracts with a plant name (except Corn, Rice, Oats, Wheat and Soy)

Sunscreens: No octisalate, homosalate, meradimate or mexoryl

No: Pycnogenol, balsam, camphor, bisabol (bark extracts)

No: chemicals with MEN or CAMP as part of the word

No: Mint flavor

In vitamins/supplements: no bioflavinoids (quercetin, rutin, hesperiden)

Start looking at the ingrediants on your products in the bathroom and in your foods.  It they have these chemicals STOP using them and see what happens.

What is Fibromyalgia?

What is fibromyalgia?  It can be grouped 7 catagories.

Cerebral - fatigue, irritability, nervousness, depression, apathy, listlessness, impaired memory and concentration (fibrofog), anxieties, insomnia, frequent awakenings and unrestoravitve sleep.

Musculoskeletal - pain, morning stiffness involving muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia that ...may arise from such structures surrounding the neck, shoulders, upper and lower back, hips, knees, inner and outer elbows, wrists, fingers, toes, and chest as well as from injured and old operative sites.  Pain can assume any form and intensity such as throbbing, burning, stabbing, stinging, grabbing or any combination of these. TMJ, facial and head pains, neck and skull pain - numbness and tingling arise from constricted structures pressing on nerves.  Twitching, restless leg sysndrome, electric pulses, leg and foot cramps.

Dermal - undue sweating, rashes with or without itching, hives, blotches, acne, tiny red or clear bumps, blisters, ecezema, dermatits and rosacea.  Nails are brittle and break, peel and chip.  Hair breaks or falls out.  Strange sensations happen - cold, heat in palms, soles and thighs, crawling, electric vibrations, prickling, supersensitivity to touch.

Gastrointestinal - Irritable bowel syndrome, leaky gut, spastic or mucous colitis, fibrogut.  Transient nausea, gas, pain, bloating, constipation, alternating diarrhea, mucus in stools and hyperacidity with reflux.

Genitourinary - pungent urine, frequent urination, bladder spasms, low subpubic abdonimal aching, burning urination (dysuria) with or without repeated bladder infections, or so-called interstitial cystitis.  Yeast infections, without the cottege cheese discharge, vulvar pain syndrome, vulvitis, vaginal spasms or cramps, burning mucous discharge, increased menstrual cramps, and painful intercourse (dyspareunia).

Head-eye-ear-nose and throat - headaches labeled migraines when servere enough: dizziness, veritgo (spinning) or imbalance, dry eyes, itching and burning eyes, with or without sticky gritty discharge.  Blurred vision, excessive nasal congestion, postnasal drip, painful burning or cut tongue: abnormal tastes (bad or metallic) scalded mouth.  Ringing in ears, low pitch sounds in ears.  ear and eyeball pains, sensitivity to light sounds and oders.  Late in life onset of asthma and hayfever.

Miscellaneous - weight gain, low grade fever with night sweats, lowered immunity to infections, morning eyelid and hand swelling in morning that gravitates to lower extremities by evening.

I took this info from pg 24 and 25 of Dr St. Amand's book 'What your doctor may not tell you about Fibromyalgia'

Narrows it down a bit, doesn't it :)See More

How'd I do that?

http://fibromyalgiatreatment.com/

If you can't find the book this is Dr R. Paul St. Amand's website. It's the same info from the book.  The website gives you a listing of providers that have trained under him and does his protocol.  Thats how I found Dr Kenneth Muhich in Scottsdale AZ.  Dr Muhich has been such a God send!  I am so glad I found him!  Month 4 on Gaui and you should see my mappings!  And now with the Kardiaxyme for inflammation control....I'm singing and dancing with excitement. :)

Life with Less Pain

Hello, my name is Kim and I have fibromyalgia.

I am creating this to share what I have learned on my journey of the last year.
Finally, finally I had a diagnoses to what has been with me my whole life.

I will be sharing my experiences and info that I feel important for others to know about and possibly you will find 'less pain' in your life also.