For the past few months my health has not been on my side. I’ve had chronic migraines for months straight with just a little relief for a couple of weeks after giving in and going to Urgent Care and getting the Toradol shot. After a couple months of waiting, I finally got in to see some specialists – both Neurology for the chronic migraines and a Rheumatologist for my Fibromyalgia (and to rule out any auto-immune disorders). I’ve had X-rays, a brain MRI, blood work, etc. and have more tests to come.
The frustrating part? I still don’t have any clear answers and went from not taking medication to taking five different medications. All I know at this point is I do, indeed, have Fibromyalgia (FMS), which was never under question because I was diagnosed with FMS many years ago, and I get to add TMJD and IBS to my list of ABC’s.
In another post I mentioned I was tired of writing cliché phrases in regards to working with a chronic condition, but my personal life is no different. Living with a chronic condition can sometimes be extremely lonely and isolating. If people didn’t truly know me or don’t know of my chronic health issues, they would definitely label me as a flake.
Sometimes I have to cancel appointments, can’t make it to an event or get together, or just plain don’t show up. The last one is the one I despise the most. I have always been the person who at least says I can no longer make it. This scenario usually happens, though, when something isn’t quite right whether it be I have a major headache or, lately, it’s been I’m not adjusting to all these medications very well, and I end up taking an unintentional nap. My husband doesn’t like to wake me when this happens (or sometimes he just completely forgets) and so, I end up missing whatever was planned.
Events at my house are no different! Although it’s definitely a lot easier to have people come here rather than us go there, it’s not uncommon for me to not be prepared for guests. I will be scrambling last minute to make sure I’m properly dressed (a.k.a. not in pajamas) and likely shoving toys, clothes, and whatever else into closets because I don’t have enough time to actually put them away. It’s madness! In fact, I had to do all that for the House Party we had tonight for the premier of Disney’s Descendants. I was a mess!
I think what makes things even more challenging is that my husband also has a physical disability and our kids have special needs. It makes it that much harder to “keep it all together” so I am not a complete disaster every time I leave the house or that I totally flake and don’t even leave the house.
All I can do is say “I’m sorry,” and I truly do mean it. I wish I wasn’t in too much pain, or have a major headache, or can’t fight my overwhelming fatigue. I wish whatever it was that caused me to flake didn’t exist. Instead, though, all I can ask is that people who don’t have a chronic condition try to understand it’s not intentional and it’s definitely not personal. Whatever it is I missed, I’m sure it was a whole lot better than than whatever caused me to miss it!
Sometimes I just push through it. Sometimes I can’t. I never know what “type of day” it’s going to be. The important thing is communication. Sometimes friends and family understand, and sometimes they don’t, but it’s important to be open and honest. Maybe you’re like me and don’t want to make a big deal of your medical concerns, but if you keep it all in there is no way people can understand! You don’t have to let your condition define you, but you also can’t ignore it. Sometimes the brave thing to do is talk about it.
Do you have a chronic condition? How do you explain to your friends and family what it is and why you may sometimes seem like a flake?
I'm Getting Tired of Writing Cliché Phrases
Something that comes along with working with a chronic condition (at least for me) is the need to use cliché phrases over and over and over again. Sometimes I feel like I’d rather slam my head into the wall rather than have to write “I’m sorry, it’s been a rough week” one more time.
I’m blessed that I can work from home, but it doesn’t mean working is easy for me! The past few weeks have been particularly brutal between the non-stop migraines dragging on for over two weeks followed by the now side-effects from getting back on my medications (which I trust will help me in the long run). In fact, I almost started my post about setting realistic goals with “I was going to share my 2015 goals, but it’s been a rough week,” but I cringed and decided to go with what I really wanted to say.
That’s what it boils down to, though. Am I going to say something appropriate or just lay it all out there? I can’t tell you how many emails I have sent over the past few weeks with “I’m sorry for the late reply” followed with something along the lines of “the week got away with me,” or “I’ve been under the weather,” or “it’s been a busy week,” or “I haven’t been feeling well,” or yes, “it’s been a rough week.” I even found something called “Canned Responses” for Gmail so you can reply to an email and choose from a premade list of response. If I could get it to work correctly I would have totally been using it over the past couple of weeks!
Clearly my responses aren’t dishonest. It has been rough and I haven’t been feeling well, and the week (weeks really) have been getting away with me, but I am just SO tired of having to say that over and over again. Sometimes I just want to say “I’m sorry for the delay, for the past two weeks I have felt like I’m being stabbed in the head over and over again and every time I move my head pounds. The thought of looking at the computer screen makes me want to run and hide because I know I will be in agony for a few hours afterwards and most likely won’t get much sleep. I’m tired and my body hurts all over.”
Of course, that would be absurd! Would people be understanding? Sure, but you can’t just say! When I feel this way, though, it’s so easy to get behind – to let days slip by and not even realize that email I moved to “Urgent Action Needed” was 3 days ago. I really WANT to answer my emails in a timely manner and complete everything that needs to be done as quickly as possible. I really, really do, and it makes living with my condition even harder to accept because I have to accept that I have limits. I have to accept that I have to just shut down and disconnect right this minute or risk being down for a couple more days because I pushed my body too hard.
Sometimes when I’m being particularly hard on myself I wonder if I have to accept that I’m just not good at this – at what I do – blogging – my job. I can’t do it every day like I used to. I get behind. I’m setting more realistic goals and expectations this year knowing my health has been challenging and I’m finally taking better care of myself like I’ve needed to do for so long, but it still nags me sometimes because, well, that’s what happens when you’re faced with challenges. Can I really do this? Can I keep pushing through this? Can I still succeed at this? Lately, I haven’t been too sure, but one thing I know for sure even if I have to keep using those cliché phrases I’m going to keep trying!
I haven't been well
A lot of times we parents don’t get a break, and I’m blessed that I have such a supportive husband who does everything he can to make sure I DO get a break and get some rest when I’m not well. Unfortunately, he has his own medical issues, of course, from the chemo, so we always joke that we’re quite the pair! haha For the past 2 weeks I really haven’t been well. I’m hoping it hasn’t been reflected in my most recent posts, but I know it’s been pretty obviously OUTSIDE the blogosphere. It started a couple of weekends ago where I just felt like I was BURNING UP all day. I had a fever but no idea why! Unfortunately, when I’m not feeling very well I fail to get other things done – one of which was calling in a refill for one of my regular medications for my Fibromyalgia. It was the holiday weekend, so by the time I was actually able to pick it up (3 business days basically per the refill system on post) I was already deep in side effects from not taking it – dizziness, nausea, and just overall feeling BLAH. I was SO emotional and was trying really hard to keep up with everything I had going on – homeschooling, blogging, taking the kids to therapy, house, pets, etc. without falling apart! It was rough! I had a couple of emotional meltdowns and had to step back a bit while still keeping up with my obligations, of course!
During all of this I also had some medical test for some “woman issues.” Don’t worry, I’ll spare the details! I started one treatment to help the intense pain I have, but it was actually much worse over the past week than it has been! I even contemplated going to the Emergency Room, and if you don’t know me that well, that’s a big deal. I’m pretty stubborn about NOT going to a Dr when I don’t have to. I have to see enough of them on a regular basis as it is! Luckily, the pain subsided the day after it peaked. It’s still bothering me some, and I may have to cancel a biopsy I’m supposed to have on Monday depending on certain factors. I already canceled it last week due to said factor. So, as far as these issues go, I just have to take it one day at a time right now.
This pretty much sums out how I’ve been feeling:
I try not to make important decisions during these times because my emotions can weigh more heavily in my decisions, which isn’t always a good thing. I have a lot of decisions to make, though, because a lot of changes are coming our way. Most I don’t have to make RIGHT NOW, though, so I’m trying to remind myself it’s OK if I take a mental break. I also try not to take things too personally that are said to me because I’m extra emotional, but that can be really hard, and there were quite a few things that bothered me probably a lot more than they should! Ok, DEFINITELY a lot more than they should!
And today? Today I woke up with a sore throat and a cough. I know, I know take my supplements. I always do. I’m just a wreck right now. I did take something that helped, and I’ll be doing a review and giveaway for it soon! 😉 And it’s homeopathic! I already feel so much better! Plus, I know many have been praying for me, which always helps – and means a lot to me! So, I’m going to take it a little easier than usual today but still trying to get stuff done! I do hope it hasn’t been reflected in my blog, but if it has, I wanted to share why! Hopefully I’ll be better soon! 🙂
Announcement and giveaway *Giveaway CLOSED*
OK, it’s time for the next giveaway – my own! I haven’t yet shared this one here, and I will be posting another under construction page with my link soon! I will eventually add content to my business pages instead of just the link to my websites with those companies, but with that big Expo coming up I have to make sure I’m totally prepared. Ultimately, though, I will always direct you to the websites provided by the companies because THAT is where you will get the most information and be able to purchase products. 🙂
So I know I’ve mentioned I have Fibromyalgia – a chronic pain disorder with chronic fatigue. A year and half ago I discovered what better nutrition and fitness could do for natural management! I started drinking a whole foods shake regularly, and it made a world of difference! I started watching more documentaries about nutrition such as Food, Inc., Food Matters, King Corn, Forks Over Knives, etc. It was all so eye opening! I also started learning more about what super foods can do for us! After my husband got cancer we also became more aware of what we were eating and how we were overall caring for ourselves (more on this later)! I was so excited because I finally felt like I “got my life back.” I stopped taking medications I was taking for the pain, which was such a blessing because who wants to take a lot of medication? I wasn’t completely void of flareups because it is a chronic condition, and there are still flare-ups but nothing like I used to have. I was convinced I would have to use a wheelchair on some days because my legs hurt so badly I could barely walk! Now I’m not only back to “normal,” but I’m working on building up to the fitness level I was prior to having 3 kids! It’s been an exciting journey!
There was something that was still plaguing me – chronic headaches almost daily. I looked again to my nutrition first since I was now aware of how it can affect you. To be honest it wasn’t perfect, but it was MUCH improved. I started cutting out certain things that I knew were triggers and looked at ingredients more closely. Do you know how many products contain artificial sweeteners like Sucralose? Yikes, it’s a BIG trigger for me! I made sure I was staying away from the artificial sweeteners, preservatives, etc. to no avail. I turned to my friends with Fibromyalgia to see if chronic headaches plagued them as well and how they handle it. I went to the doctors and they simply said they’re tension headaches with a “migraine-like component.” I started a supplement of D-Ribose in hopes that it would help (because I was assuming the headaches were related to the FMS), and I noticed I was having even fewer flare-ups, so it’s definitely something I recommend for people with chronic pain. My headaches, though, still persisted. I tried other natural products with super foods, anti-inflammatory supplements, etc., still nothing. I was convinced it was just the one thing that I really would “have to live with.” I happened to notice a post in a networking group I was in on Facebook about a company that sells whole food supplements. I looked more into it (because I’m always interested in looking into whole food supplements and super foods), and I was intrigued by a product called Inspirin. I read the testimonials, watched the video, read the ingredients, etc. Wow, did it look impressive! It had the key D-Ribose I was looking to continue in my daily routine as well as a wonderful list of ingredients. With anything I figured it wouldn’t hurt to try it! If it doesn’t help my flare ups or headaches I will still get a big dose of nutrition. Visit this link for the full information on Inspirin. There is a brochure, testimonials, etc.
Antioxidants, Essential Fatty Acids, Amino Acids, our secret Virtual Massage blend, all in a convenient single-serving Whole Food Delivery!
Whole juicy Raspberry puree, Blackberry puree, Resveratrol from Grapes, Essential Oil of Black Cumin Seed, Essential Oil of Black Raspberry Seed, Hulled Hemp Seeds and Marine Phytoplankton all carry our secret Virtual Massage blend!
Hence… Lose the stress, Ease the pain!
No embalming fluids! INSPIRIN is naturally preserved!
Make Health a Habit, Not an Event… Pleasurable!
So, the news? Yes, I am now an Independent Distributor for Forever Green! What a difference it made for my headaches! The ONLY thing that has ever helped! I ran out of the Inspirin before I thought to order more, and I was plagued with the horrendous headaches again, so I knew it was no coincidence! I have it on auto-ship now, so I won’t have to experience that again! haha When a product has helped that much it was natural that I would want to share it, so now I will! 🙂 (And it didn’t cost anything to become a Distributor! Bonus!!) Forever Green also offers other great whole food supplements and nutrition products, essential oils, natural beauty, personal and household care products.
The Giveaway has ended, but search our current reviews and giveaways for more!
For the giveaway I am giving away a 10-pack of Inspirin!
To enter the giveaway you must simply do the following:
- Visit my Forever Green website at http://tiny.ly/E1Fd then comment on this blog post letting me know what product(s) you would like to try the most besides Inspirin, though do mention if you’re excited to try Inspirin! 😉 (or have tried and is your favorite)
- You must be a fan of Pea of Sweetness Facebook Page where you’ll be kept up-to-date on all giveaways and reviews and notified when this giveaway will be coming to an end – in 2 weeks!
*Congrats Jessy G. for winning the 10-pack of Inspirin!*