Posts from — January 2009

We Fibromyalgia CFS sufferers have all heard it before! Exercise! Stretch! Move! I know for this Fibromyalgia Survivor some days I can’t roll out of  bed less roll around exercising! 

But it is sooo important! Yes, we Fibro CFS Sufferer’s must exercise, stretch and move if we desire to either retain our muscle condition or begin to obtain it or we will suffer the prolonged deconditioning of our muscle tone!  It will hurt (in my case), it may always hurt! But we Must establish an exercise program with ourselves, a physical therapist or a personal trainer!    

It’s January and New Year resolutions are abound!  By March many will be discounted!  It is too important for the quality of our daily lives to begin and continue an exercise program!  We cannot discount this resolution!  If you haven’t made one, make it now!

Start slowly! Begin with small stretches in bed if that will get you started!  I do!  I mentioned some I move through everyday in my prior blog posts.

Very Important: discuss your program with your physician first!  Not that they know everything. But it is wise to be sure the plan you choose does not irritate other conditions you may have.  Another point to remember is many Fibromyalgia CFS Sufferer’s experience Exercise induced pain from 1-3 days following initial exercising!  I am one who experiences this excruciating pain!  It usually let’s up after a few more days. With me it does not!   But I don’t allow the pain to stop me from exercising anymore!  I found I suffer more in the long run without some movement.

While searching the Web for additional info regarding Fibro CFS and exercise I located a Great Website that explains how to establish your goals and exercise program for Fibromyalgia Sufferer’s. It is http://www.ncpad.org/disability/factsheet.php?sheet=191    

Copyright 2009 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois

It’s free and helped me with a few goals. Hope you benefit as well!

Happy New Year! Your Friend,

Cheryl

Fibromyalgia and CFS Sufferer’s Listen Up!

Could an enzyme evolve in the digestive tracts of Western Civilization due to our large consumption of dairy products?  Does Dr. Mark Shaw have something here?  Read on…  

“In Japan, Thailand and China 90% of the populations lack the enzyme necessary to digest dairy produce. It appears in the west we have evolved a specific enzyme in response to the amount of dairy produce we consume. Could it be that we are not meant to consume a product meant for young calves that need to grow at a colossal rate in order to avoid being eaten by prey?

• The Eskimos had absolute zero incidence of heart disease or cancer until the 1940’s they adopted western diets containing wheat and dairy.

• Almost 15% of the populations may be intolerant to a complex protein molecule which is very difficult to break down and is found in wheat and to a lesser extent in other grains.

Long term consumption of these foods appear to be affecting the digestive system of CFS and Fibromyalgia patients and is creating situations where there is increased permeability of the gut wall, thereby allowing partially digested food to enter the blood stream.”  *Permission granted by Dr. Mark Shaw and the Mellington Clinic

Dr. Mark Shaw is no new comer to Fibromyalgia and CFS Research.  Something to keep on the upper burner!

Your fibro friend,

Cheryl  :)

Today is January 1, 2009!  A New Year… with a  New Tool for Fibromyalgia and CFS Sufferer’s!

Care Tip: This tool could have come in handy on New Year’s Eve with the noise makers and party goer’s cheering it up! 

EAR PLUGS! Yes, EAR PLUGS! I use them every night to lessen the sounds that sneak in from others in the house. Or cars, sirens, train whistles etc. creeping in from the outdoors.  Ear plugs help considerably! 

The soft pliable Ear Plugs work best for me.  They must be placed in the ear correctly or they don’t work as well.  Play around with them when inserting and “you’ll know”  when the sound has been drastically reduced.  

Try them out as one of the new tools to help increase your daily functional level living with Fibromyalgia and CFS.  It’s certainly worth a try!

A bit of trivia:  I stayed home to usher the New Year in with a friend.  We made Banana Bread and Cookies! My friend helped alot so it was not a task. Rather some good quality time!  I still felt critical pain and my motion was extremely limited so I was forced to adminster a couple pills just at the time the brain fog crept in and my ears began a punching match!   Did we eat a few cookies?  Hmmm.

I kept thinking of you All. I was hoping you too shared an activity that made you Feel Better. 

“Happy New Year” Fibro/CFS Sufferer’s!  Life is Great!  So are You!

Your Fibro Friend,

Cheryl