Monthly Archives: May 2012
NEW! Living Well with Fibromyalgia
In my endless search for ways to spread awareness and educate myself, I have started a newsletter.
Welcome to the first issue of Living Well with Fibromyalgia.
Click here to see the first issue
Currently, it might be a little boring as I am the one and only contributor; …however, if you would like to submit a story, story idea or tips for other sufferers, for upcoming issues, please email me at fibromodem@bigpond.com.
For this issue, I have posted the newsletter on a variety of different sites, pages and here – but, if you would like to make sure that you don’t miss out next time, please subscribe (at no cost) by emailing me at fibromodem@bigpond.com. I will never sell your details (I wouldn’t know how to) or send you crap!
If you are selling something, I will not be printing an article. You are able to buy advertising space by contacting me at fibromodem@bigpond.com.
I hope you can see what future issues might be like, and that you choose to support this new endeavour!
Related articles
- 10 Reasons To Increase Fibromyalgia Awareness (fibromodem.wordpress.com)
A (Wo)Man of Value
Every day, I wake up, turn on the computer, check my Facebook page and answer any comments. (Rest) Then I look at my email and answer all of those. (Rest) Pay whichever bills have been scheduled on my Outlook calendar. (Rest) Next is my blog and twitter account. I have to do everything straight away, otherwise I forget.
After all that, it’s probably off to a yoga, hydro or tai-chi class. (Then rest)
Back home, to see if any of you guys have written to me. I will try to work on a blog post, or my video (remember I have to deal with Universal Music and Sony to try to get the appropriate copyright license), or FibroModem Girl. This can actually take a couple of hours – research, learning new stuff and diversions to other new stuff (and, of course, rest periods!)
Along with all that, I’m exploring the possibility of starting a charity which involves more research and learning.
You have to remember that prior to March, I had never blogged, had a Facebook page, made a video or promoted anything – so I am actually enjoying myself. I love learning.
I also think that what I am doing has an intrinsic value. Yes, all of this is helping me to cope but I also feel like it’s helping other people. I feel that what I am doing has value.
At my psychologist today – this seemed to be our topic of discussion. She asked me to forget the pain/fatigue part and then asked am I living a life of value that satisfies me?
Although I value what I am doing, and I hope you value what I am doing; other people (ie: people in ‘real’ jobs or ‘normals’) do not think what I do with my time is worth anything – mostly because I don’t earn any money.
For example, when I have a family dinner and my lawyer/executive producer cousin asks me how I stay busy all day, I have to answer that I just play around on the computer, because he doesn’t understand anything about what I’m trying to do. When I try to explain, that blank expression with bored nod appears across his features.
Mommy gets what I’m doing but she still stresses about the money side of everything.
I know that I have to think about the money stuff – but right now, I’m unable to work so (and maybe this is the meds talking) what is the use of worrying. I’m kinda lucky because there are no kids or partners to think about BUT I really don’t know what’s going to happen when the VISA and AMEX are full. Hopefully, the Disability Pension (and subsequent back pay) will be approved and give me some breathing room.
Despite all of this: I am quite happy (how weird is that?)
So, the question is: (forgetting the pain/fatigue) are you living a life of value that satisfies you? And what are you doing?
Another Offensive Four Letter Word
I was watching TV three nights ago, when an ad appeared featuring Toni Collette.
She was reading a poem: Ode to Can.
There’s a four lettered word
As offensive as any
It holds back the few
Puts a stop to the many.
You can’t climb that mountain
You can’t cross the sea
You can’t become anything you want to be.
He can’t hit a century
They can’t find a cure.
She can’t think about leaving or searching for more.
Because Can’t is a word with a habit of stopping
The ebb and the flow of ideas
It keeps dropping
itself where we know in our hearts it’s not needed
And saying “don’t go” when we could have succeeded.
But those four little letters
That end with a T
They can change in an instant
When shortened to three.
We can take off the T
We can do it today
We can move forward not back
We can find our own way.
We can build we can run
We can follow the sun
We can push we can pull
We can say I’m someone
Who refuses to believe
That life can’t be better
With the removal of one
Insignificant letter.
I thought the poem very inspiring, and have spent the last 3 days trying to find the words (would have been easier if I had recorded the ad and transcribed it – oh well!)
I was disappointed to see the ad was for the Commonwealth Bank. Nonetheless, the poem should inspire us.
11 Ways to Cope With a Lack of Fibro Support
If you are in chronic pain (and which of us fibroMAGICians isn’t?), it’s challenging for you and your friends and family. This is particularly true if you have an ‘invisible’ condition like FM, which is hard for other people to understand.
I know that it isn’t always easy to ask for help; or to find the money to do some of these things, but hopefully, you will find something here that is helpful.
Risk Free Tai Chi
I have previously told you about my experience with Tai Chi – I go to a modified class for Arthritis, held by the Arthritis Foundation. We practice a modified Sun tai chi, which has 12 forms (this info is just so you can understand the next part).
Clinical Rheumatology reported, on May 13 2012, that the Oregon Health & Science University’s Fibromyalgia Research Unit held a randomized controlled trial of 8-form Tai chi to gauge any improvement in symptoms and functional mobility in fibromyalgia patients.
Previous researchers have found that 10-form Tai chi yields symptomatic benefit in patients with FM. The purpose of this study was to further investigate earlier findings and add a focus on functional mobility.
Participants met in small groups twice weekly for 90 minutes over 12 weeks.
Of the 101 randomly assigned subjects, clinically and statistically significant improvements were seen in:
- pain severity
- pain interference
- sleep, and
- self-efficacy for pain control
No adverse events were noted.
Accordingly, the study reported that tai chi appears to be a safe and an acceptable exercise modality that may be useful as adjunctive therapy in the management of FM patients. Yippee! Tai chi class on Wednesday is still on!
Fibro Fog – Feels Like Early Dementia
Having trouble explaining Fibro Fog to some-one else – or they just don’t believe you?
Sometimes all it takes is another person to describe it:
