Food of the Week: Ginger
Even in the drug-centered Western health care system, doctors recommend ginger to help with nausea, vomiting and digestion. In Eastern medicine, it’s believed to help treat many problems common in those of us with fibromyalgia…
It’s rare to find someone with fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome who’s never had a problem with a doctor, or had serious frustrations getting a diagnosis. When you’re trying …
NEWSBRIEF: Two U.S. FDA committees are set to review the New Drug Application for JZP-6 (sodium oxybate) for fibromyalgia on Aug. 20, according to the drug’s manufacturer, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
The …
XMRV News Alert
It’s a rare occurrence — the chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) community is cheering for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Researchers and advocacy groups have long criticized that agency for its stance on the condition and what many believe is a politically motivated lack of attention to physiological causes.
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Two of the most common overlapping complaints in people with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome are irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and food sensitivities. Now, research is beginning to identify …
When you have fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, you’re forced to make a lot of changes in your life, to accommodate your symptoms. It’s also important for us to make changes to help alleviate our symptoms, but that leads to a whole new set of problems.
Right now, I’m facing an issue with self-discipline. About 6 weeks ago, I decided I absolutely had to loose a few pounds before traveling to my cousin’s wedding. I ate mostly fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean meats. I stayed away from processed sugar. I tracked my food intake through About.com’s Calorie Count to make sure I was getting the nutrients I need while sticking to a low-calorie regimen.
Not only did I lose 5.5 pounds in less than 2 weeks, I felt amazing. I had about double my normal energy and tons of motivation. I’d find myself smiling and humming for no particular reason. I had more patience with my kids. It was awesome! Then came vacation.
As I wrote about a few weeks ago, I really didn’t take proper care of myself for those 5 days — especially when it came to my diet. I had a worse flare than I expected when I got home, and as we all know, it’s really hard to eat right during those times. I went back to my old habits of eating convenience foods and sugary snacks that make me feel better for a short time, and then worse.
I know exactly what I need to do to get myself feeling better: eat right. It seems so simple, and yet I haven’t had the self-discipline for the last couple of weeks to do it. I keep telling myself I’ll start tomorrow, but it doesn’t happen.
That’s one of the many problems with these conditions — they stamp out your motivation. Part of it is the lack of energy, and part of it is that we often know we’ll face consequences for the things we do. It’s a constant balancing act, wondering whether you’ll be able to do the dishes today and still make it to your doctor’s appointment tomorrow. Another part of it — the part that’s the biggest stumbling block for me right now — is mental. I’ve learned to fear change.
Why? Because when fibromyalgia became a part of my life, change became really hard. When you’ve got brain fog, it’s easiest to operate on auto-pilot. I’ve done that with my diet for several years now, always eating and buying the same things because I don’t have to think about it. When I was on the better diet, I kept forgetting what I should eat for breakfast. I’d get hungry for lunch and get feeling a little panicky because I didn’t know what I should eat. I had to branch out when it came to dinners that were healthy and worked for my whole family, looking up recipes and trying new things.
I’m far enough into recovery to do those things physically (at least on most days), and I know that. Academically, I know that I can handle them mentally as well, but my brain is having trouble getting that point through to my emotions. When I think back a few years, I can see how much more difficult it would have been, but I wish I’d had the self-discipline to make the changes then — who knows how much faster my recovery would have been?
As I continue to feel sluggish and achy, however, my desire to get back those good feelings is growing stronger. I’m trying not to lose faith in myself and being positive about getting back into the good habits that I know I need to stick with. I’m certain I’ll get started soon … maybe tomorrow.
Are you having problems with the self-discipline to make positive changes in your life? Have you made some good changes? How did you do it? Leave your comments below!
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Change & Self-Discipline With Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome originally appeared on About.com Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome on Thursday, June 24th, 2010 at 06:00:29.
Food of the Week: Dates
Through most of this series, I’ve talked about fresh fruits and vegetables, but I really wanted to get a dried fruit in. We all know how hard it is to get to the grocery store regularly when you’re dealing with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, and the beauty of dates is that they’ll keep in the pantry for a very long time.
Dates are also one of the best sources of potassium, with more than double what you get from a banana. Potassium is one of the hardest minerals to get enough of in your diet — the recommended daily allowance is 3,500 mg, and some nutrition experts recommend even more. Bananas are considered potassium rich, with just 4oo mg. Meanwhile, you can get 960 mg from one cup of chopped, pitted dates.
Potassium isn’t generally on the recommended list of supplements for us, so it’s easy to overlook its importance. I’d never given it a lot of thought. However, once I learned that potassium supplementation is generally dangerous, it made more sense — no one’s recommending it for us, because they don’t recommend it for anyone. (The amount in your multi-vitamin is considered safe, but check the label — it’s probably only a tiny percentage of what you need.)
Potassium is essential for muscle function, as well as cardiac, skeletal and digestive health. When you’ve got a chronic illness that involves painful muscle spasms, possible cardiac abnormalities, puts you at risk for osteoporosis, and is usually accompanied by irritable bowel syndrome, those are all benefits you need. We’re also prone to excessive sweat and malabosorption, which can put you at risk for potassium deficiency.
I’ve always liked dates, but they’re something I tend to forget about in between the occasional bag. I’m trying to keep them on hand more often, though, because they’re great for a quick snack. This might sound strange, but they’re really good with peanut butter — my kids even love them that way. They’re also good in salads and other recipes.
Have you found a way to get more dates into your diet? How do you like them? Leave your comments below!
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Dates for Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome originally appeared on About.com Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome on Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010 at 06:00:51.
It’s sad that I now look at a change of seasons through the lens of “what symptoms I have to worry about now,” but that’s they way it goes with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. To stay on top of our symptoms, we need to anticipate the ones we can, and head them off as much as possible.
Summer has officially begun, and while it’s unseasonably cool in my corner of the U.S., I know that’s not the case for everyone. With temperatures rising, we need to be especially aware of and prepared for heat sensitivity.
Not all of us are heat sensitive, but among the people who took my poll last June, about 20% are always hot, 25% fluctuate with the weather, and 40% fluctuate randomly. Nearly 1,300 people took the poll, and a whole 7 folks said they don’t have temperature issues at all. Wow.
My biggest problem with heat is that my hands and feet puff up like crazy, ache, and refuse to cool down. The only thing that really helps is soaking them in cold water, so I spend a good bit of the summer sitting with my feet in the bathtub. Other overheating symptoms I get include a really red face, excessive sweat on my head, headaches, nausea, and dizziness. Like pretty much all of my symptom triggers, overheating can cause pain that ricochets around my abdomen.
That sounds crazy to anyone but us, but it’s a real, medically recognized phenomenon. When heat (or cold) that doesn’t actually damage your tissues causes pain, it’s called thermal allodynia. You can learn more about allodynia here: 7 Types of Fibromyalgia Pain.
If I keep my body from getting overheated, though, I don’t have those problems. It’s not always possible to keep cool, but I’ve learned several things that can help. There’s the basics — lightweight natural fibers, staying hydrated, sticking to the shade — but when those things aren’t enough, cooling products can really help. About.com Multiple Sclerosis Guide Julie Stachowiak has put together a great list: Top 10 MS Cooling Products.
What are your heat-related symptoms? What helps relieve or prevent them? Do you have more problems with heat or cold? Leave your comments below!
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Weathering Summer With Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome originally appeared on About.com Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome on Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010 at 06:00:28.
It’s enough of an effort to get outside to enjoy nature and summer weather when you have fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome — the last thing you want to do once you’re there is make yourself sicker by spraying on a bunch of chemical mosquito repellents.
Not all of us have chemical sensitivities, but they’re extremely common. My chemical and fragrance problems have gotten significantly worse in the past few months, so I definitely want to explore alternatives to traditional sprays. I’m also allergic to mosquito bites — they get red, swollen, hard and sometimes quite painful, in addition to a burning itch that can radiate out several inches.
Last summer, I tried an all-natural spray a friend of mine had put together, and while it wasn’t a mosquito-heavy camping trip, I did get far fewer bites than usual. Here’s the recipe she used: All-Natural Mosquito Repellent.
I’ve also found more resources around About.com:
For those of you who are sticking with DEET products, I saw recently that the CDC recommends avoiding sunscreens that contain DEET. The problem is that you should apply sunscreen far more often than repellent, so you could be getting too much chemical exposure with combination products.
If you’re heading out camping, see my Fibromyalgia Camping Checklist to make sure you remember the things that’ll help you get through the trip with the fewest repercussions.
Have you tried natural repellents? What did you use, and how did it work? What helps you enjoy camping and minimize the resulting flare? Leave your comments below!
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Natural Mosquito Repellents for Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome originally appeared on About.com Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome on Monday, June 21st, 2010 at 06:00:49.
Whether you’re a “good father” is not determined by how much you can buy for your family; how far you can run or throw a ball; whether you can wrestle on the floor with your children. A good father is a man who loves his children, provides them with the safest, happiest home he can, and is an example of how to weather the adversities of life with inner strength and courage. A man who faces every day through pain and exhaustion but still works hard to be a good father is a true hero.
To all fathers living with these illnesses, I hope you’re well enough to enjoy today.
To all children of men with these illnesses, I hope you understand how much he loves you and wishes he was more able to do things with and for you.
For a better understanding of the special challenges faced by these fathers, please read A Tribute to Dads With Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
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Father’s Day With Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome originally appeared on About.com Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome on Sunday, June 20th, 2010 at 15:26:31.
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