Greetings,
Interesting question huh? The first question that will be asked of me with regard to this particular question is "What can I do about what?" There is a very simple response to this, but one that needs a little bit of qualification and explanation. From this there are questions about actively doing things and what this will require of the individual, and also some processes that you can go through to get there. Now, these are just my ideas applied to things in a generic fashion, each problem will require its own approach.
What can I do about what?
The simple answer to this is "everything". Everything has a solution and everything can have something done about it. In some instances what can be done about something is simply the wisdom to know whether you can actually do something about it. There is no point in wasting energy beating against a problem you can actually do nothing about. On the other side of this is also knowing the difference between those things you can do something about and those things which you cannot do anything about. If you can't do anything about it, there is also no point in focussing on it, leave it alone and move on. If you can do something about it, you then need the courage to stand up and actually do something about it. In some instances it will be easy, in most it won't.
Taking charge
Taking charge is about not sitting around waiting for a solution to be dropped into your lap. Taking charge is about actively going out and seeking a solution to a problem yourself. It is important that you do it yourself and not rely on other people to do it for you. Your problem, you need to be doing something about it. Go and find out what you can do about it, and then actually do it. There are always options available, one of those options is doing nothing, the other options are sometimes not the best to choose from, but if they are what you have, then they are what you have.
Doing things yourself
Doing things yourself is an important aspect of problem solving. Problems are often best solved by ourselves and in our own ways. Other people can help us with it, but in the end it is really a "do it yourself thing". With regard to doing things yourself, the first thing is that you have to find what works for you. For some this means taking the problem head-on, for others it means skirting around it and doing a little at a time. You need to figure out what is going to work for you. This approach can even be modified by the problem itself. The next part is making sure that you do not push too hard too fast. You need a measured response to the problem and a measured approach to the solution. There is no point in burning yourself out otherwise it will just make things harder for you later.
Focus on "can" rather than "can't"
Many people are too busy focussed on what they can't do to realise the great lot of things that they can do. It is important that you focus on those things that you can do rather than those you can't. This way you will find more things that you can do and this will improve things for you. This is an attitude thing more than anything. You need to focus on the positive side of things and find those advantages you can use to aid you. Being positive is a great advantage.
Importance of positivity
Being positive is important especially in problem solving. Attacking a problem with a positive frame of mind allows you to see what you can do more than what you can't do and this will assist you greatly. Positive thought will also have a positive effect on your emotional state as it will allow you to have more positive emotions, and thus more positive emotional responses. This has a strong link to the mental side of things which is also strongly effected by a positive or negative approach to things. If you are mentally more positive it is more likely that you will find more things that you can do. This is because you will be actively seeking them. A negative attitude will limit your mental approach to the problem solving and will restrict you. The positive approach will also improve you physically as well. Positive feelings will help you feel much better than if you are being negative about things.
Asking for help
Asking for help can sometimes be a problem for people. Some people feel that if they ask for help they are showing weakness and this will reflect negatively on them. In the case of very independent people this can be a real problem as they do not really know how to ask for help. Asking for help is not and admission of failure in any way, shape or form. It is just an admission that some assistance will further you toward your goal. You need to know how to ask for help and also when to ask for help, as most people will actually quite willingly give you assistance if they are able. The other part of this is that unless you do ask for help, do not expect any. People are not mind-readers, they need to be told that you need assistance.
In writing this, some will ask "What right does he have?" I will say, "None really, just giving advice." These are some of the things that I have found myself when it comes to problems. As anyone who knows me will confirm, I am one of the worst for asking for help, and as such I should really take my own advice, and I do try to. The important thing here is that we all need to look at problems and see what we can do about it, and if we can to actually do something about it. Have a look at the situation. Figure out what you can do about it. If you can, do something about it. Figure yourself out a plan and work at it, and don't forget to ask for help if you need it.
Cheers,
Henry.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Time for a Change of Tact
To my dear readers,
I have come to the conclusion that unless I start droning on about each day, I have pretty much run out of stuff to talk about with regard to FM. I will probably still put a couple of posts here and there with regard to what's going on, but I think it is time for a change of tact. A change of perspective is what I am going for here.
Now, this is my personal blog and is designed for me to get some personal stuff out there for anyone who is willing to read it. The primary aim of this blog was to talk about FM and how I deal with it, and I think I have for the most part covered those subjects. I think it is about time that I used this blog for some more personal stuff, but on a broader scale.
So, unless there is something you want to know about FM, and want to send me an e-mail or contact me via this blog, I am going to broaden the scope of what is going to go in to my blogs. There will be some opinions and also some discussions about what is sparking my interest at the particular time. Expect there to be a lot of errors, expect there to be a lot of opinions and meanderings about things, don't expect it to be any more regular than I have been of late.
Cheers,
Henry.
I have come to the conclusion that unless I start droning on about each day, I have pretty much run out of stuff to talk about with regard to FM. I will probably still put a couple of posts here and there with regard to what's going on, but I think it is time for a change of tact. A change of perspective is what I am going for here.
Now, this is my personal blog and is designed for me to get some personal stuff out there for anyone who is willing to read it. The primary aim of this blog was to talk about FM and how I deal with it, and I think I have for the most part covered those subjects. I think it is about time that I used this blog for some more personal stuff, but on a broader scale.
So, unless there is something you want to know about FM, and want to send me an e-mail or contact me via this blog, I am going to broaden the scope of what is going to go in to my blogs. There will be some opinions and also some discussions about what is sparking my interest at the particular time. Expect there to be a lot of errors, expect there to be a lot of opinions and meanderings about things, don't expect it to be any more regular than I have been of late.
Cheers,
Henry.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Henry's Rules
Greetings,
It has been a while since I have written anything in my blog and for those who have been particularly interested in reading what I have to say, I am sorry. I got to the situation where giving simple updates on my current state of health just was not appropriate to my aim for this blog. For those who have been keeping up, my chest is much better and has improved a lot with excercise and physiotherapy. Now on to the topic at hand...
This particular blog is about 10 rules that I do my best to apply when dealing with my fibromyalgia (FM). What I will do with regard to this is not just simply list them and let people work out what I am saying, but write a small paragraph about each in explanation for each one. The first thing that needs to be realised with regard to these rules is that they are rather general and mostly aimed at the physical aspects of life and especially exercise. This being said, they can apply to less physical things as well.
1. Do what you can when you can.
Rule number one. This is about not having too strict deadlines because you never know what is around the corner. It is also about making the best out of a good situation and achieving all that you can when you are able to do things. When you are feeling your best you should try to achieve the best that you can. This rule is also about not pushing things too hard.
2. Do what you can with what you have.
If rule number one is about what to do when you have all of your facilities and abilities, then rule number two is about what to do when you don't. This rule is focussed upon doing things that you are able to do at the time. If you can't walk comfortably, find something that is sitting down to do, and so on. It is also about maximising the usefulness of the abilities that you have at all times, this way you will always be getting the maximum amount out of your day.
3. Any exercise which gets you to move and helps you to continue to move is great.
One of the biggest problems with FM is that if you start on the downward spiral it is very difficult to recover from it. This rule is about keeping your mobility and maintaining it. Excercise is important for keeping mobile and simple things such as walking and doing simple physical activities will improve your health. Obviously running marathons and excessive exercise in the beginning is not such a good idea, you need to ease into things.
4. Find your limits and push them.
Everyone has limits. Some of these limits are imposed upon them involuntarily, and some are imposed voluntarily. Both of these sets of limits can be pushed within reason. If you think that you cannot do something and never try to do it, you never will. This is self-limiting. On the other hand, if you try something and find a limitation there is something that can be pushed until the real edge is found and you will have made progress. This limits should be pushed carefully and with consideration for consequences.
5. A little advancement is better than none at all. Aim for 105%.
Little advances are better than big ones as little advances are progressive and one can be stacked upon the next, and before you know it the large advance is made, even if only made a little at a time. The idea of 105% is in order to stretch your limits and improve them. If you only go to 100% you will end up with the same limit as you started. If you push for a little bit more, over time your limitations will improve and be further along. Steady improvement is much better for you than over-reaching yourself.
6. If you push it too much today, remember you will pay for it later.
Burn-out, what a nuisance. This is the result of pushing things a little too hard. You need to know that if you attempt to push way beyond your limits you will end up paying for it later. This can result in some extended downtime, but this being said if you are prepared to do this and it makes you feel good to push your limits do so. This is one that I am personally guilty of on a regular basis. I get going, have too much fun and then don't know when I should have stopped. I then pay for it afterwards.
7. Don't feel guilty about taking a rest when you need one.
This one applies to everyone, regardless if you are completely healthy or not so much. Rest time is important. This is how we build our energy to deal with the next day, next task, next event or whatever. If you do not take the time to rest you will not perform at your peak. Listen to your body and what it is trying to tell you. Have a break, you will feel better for it afterward. Just remember not to stay on the break too long.
8. Respect, do not fear pain.
There is a guage that I use which puts fear of pain on one end, disregard on the other and respect right in the middle. If you fear pain then you will never attempt to push yourself as as soon as it hurts you will stop, this just may be from fatigue. On the other end of things if you keep pushing yourself even though you are in real pain you can do yourself some real damage and this is to be avoided also. Understand that if you push things then it will hurt, for the most part this will just be due to fatigue, just don't push it too far. If you are getting pain beyond fatigue then you really need to stop.
9. If you don't use it, you will lose it.
FM like all forms of arthritis and similar conditions locks joins and restricts movements. If you let your condition dictate to you, you will end up less able to move. You need to be doing some sort of gentle exercise at least in order to keep your movement up. If you fail to do this you can end up being worse than you were before. The only thing that will keep you mobile is if you move. The only thing that will keep your joints operating is to use them.
10. Recovery is a long road, but it will be worth it in the end.
Recovery takes a long time and if you rush things you can put yourself back further than you were before. It is important that you take your time to recover in order to make your recovery effective. This being said, you also need to be doing things as you are recovering in order to maintain your recovery. Once again it is a balance between doing not enough and doing too much. If you put effort into making your recovery effective you will thank yourself in the end.
These 10 rules are pretty simple and their explanations are also. I have found it useful to keep these rules in the back of my head. This way you are always considering what you are doing. In effect each person should make up a similar list of rules for themselves, this way they can be modified to suit the individual. I have given an example of a list which I have found works for me for the physical aspects, you can even have a list of rules for each area in your life, and they do not all have to go together and they can contradict one another, they only have to make sense to you.
Cheers,
Henry.
It has been a while since I have written anything in my blog and for those who have been particularly interested in reading what I have to say, I am sorry. I got to the situation where giving simple updates on my current state of health just was not appropriate to my aim for this blog. For those who have been keeping up, my chest is much better and has improved a lot with excercise and physiotherapy. Now on to the topic at hand...
This particular blog is about 10 rules that I do my best to apply when dealing with my fibromyalgia (FM). What I will do with regard to this is not just simply list them and let people work out what I am saying, but write a small paragraph about each in explanation for each one. The first thing that needs to be realised with regard to these rules is that they are rather general and mostly aimed at the physical aspects of life and especially exercise. This being said, they can apply to less physical things as well.
1. Do what you can when you can.
Rule number one. This is about not having too strict deadlines because you never know what is around the corner. It is also about making the best out of a good situation and achieving all that you can when you are able to do things. When you are feeling your best you should try to achieve the best that you can. This rule is also about not pushing things too hard.
2. Do what you can with what you have.
If rule number one is about what to do when you have all of your facilities and abilities, then rule number two is about what to do when you don't. This rule is focussed upon doing things that you are able to do at the time. If you can't walk comfortably, find something that is sitting down to do, and so on. It is also about maximising the usefulness of the abilities that you have at all times, this way you will always be getting the maximum amount out of your day.
3. Any exercise which gets you to move and helps you to continue to move is great.
One of the biggest problems with FM is that if you start on the downward spiral it is very difficult to recover from it. This rule is about keeping your mobility and maintaining it. Excercise is important for keeping mobile and simple things such as walking and doing simple physical activities will improve your health. Obviously running marathons and excessive exercise in the beginning is not such a good idea, you need to ease into things.
4. Find your limits and push them.
Everyone has limits. Some of these limits are imposed upon them involuntarily, and some are imposed voluntarily. Both of these sets of limits can be pushed within reason. If you think that you cannot do something and never try to do it, you never will. This is self-limiting. On the other hand, if you try something and find a limitation there is something that can be pushed until the real edge is found and you will have made progress. This limits should be pushed carefully and with consideration for consequences.
5. A little advancement is better than none at all. Aim for 105%.
Little advances are better than big ones as little advances are progressive and one can be stacked upon the next, and before you know it the large advance is made, even if only made a little at a time. The idea of 105% is in order to stretch your limits and improve them. If you only go to 100% you will end up with the same limit as you started. If you push for a little bit more, over time your limitations will improve and be further along. Steady improvement is much better for you than over-reaching yourself.
6. If you push it too much today, remember you will pay for it later.
Burn-out, what a nuisance. This is the result of pushing things a little too hard. You need to know that if you attempt to push way beyond your limits you will end up paying for it later. This can result in some extended downtime, but this being said if you are prepared to do this and it makes you feel good to push your limits do so. This is one that I am personally guilty of on a regular basis. I get going, have too much fun and then don't know when I should have stopped. I then pay for it afterwards.
7. Don't feel guilty about taking a rest when you need one.
This one applies to everyone, regardless if you are completely healthy or not so much. Rest time is important. This is how we build our energy to deal with the next day, next task, next event or whatever. If you do not take the time to rest you will not perform at your peak. Listen to your body and what it is trying to tell you. Have a break, you will feel better for it afterward. Just remember not to stay on the break too long.
8. Respect, do not fear pain.
There is a guage that I use which puts fear of pain on one end, disregard on the other and respect right in the middle. If you fear pain then you will never attempt to push yourself as as soon as it hurts you will stop, this just may be from fatigue. On the other end of things if you keep pushing yourself even though you are in real pain you can do yourself some real damage and this is to be avoided also. Understand that if you push things then it will hurt, for the most part this will just be due to fatigue, just don't push it too far. If you are getting pain beyond fatigue then you really need to stop.
9. If you don't use it, you will lose it.
FM like all forms of arthritis and similar conditions locks joins and restricts movements. If you let your condition dictate to you, you will end up less able to move. You need to be doing some sort of gentle exercise at least in order to keep your movement up. If you fail to do this you can end up being worse than you were before. The only thing that will keep you mobile is if you move. The only thing that will keep your joints operating is to use them.
10. Recovery is a long road, but it will be worth it in the end.
Recovery takes a long time and if you rush things you can put yourself back further than you were before. It is important that you take your time to recover in order to make your recovery effective. This being said, you also need to be doing things as you are recovering in order to maintain your recovery. Once again it is a balance between doing not enough and doing too much. If you put effort into making your recovery effective you will thank yourself in the end.
These 10 rules are pretty simple and their explanations are also. I have found it useful to keep these rules in the back of my head. This way you are always considering what you are doing. In effect each person should make up a similar list of rules for themselves, this way they can be modified to suit the individual. I have given an example of a list which I have found works for me for the physical aspects, you can even have a list of rules for each area in your life, and they do not all have to go together and they can contradict one another, they only have to make sense to you.
Cheers,
Henry.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Four Physiotherapy Sessions Later
Greetings,
In my last post I mentioned that I was beginning to see a physiotherapist about doing something about the damage done to my chest. This is really the first development toward progression that I can talk about. The medication worked on the symptoms of the problem it is true, but the physiotherapy seems to be making some real progress.
I have been for four sessions with the physiotherapist. I have been given movement exercises to do and have been having various techniques applied to various parts of my body. I can say for sure that there has indeed been progress. I have actually been feeling an increase in movement in the area. Of course the weather of late being cold has not helped things particularly much, but I feel that I would be feeling a lot worse than if I had not been going.
One of the big things that we have been working on his my posture. I am now standing up more straight than I used to be and it is helping a great deal. I have noticed improvements in other areas thanks to this actually. I can now sit and work at my computer a little longer, and sitting for extended periods of time is causing less problems than it used to. These are small improvements, but still significant.
The other major area that the physiotherapist and I have been working on is getting some muscle tone into my right shoulder in order to place my shoulder blade back up against my chest wall where it should be. It actually stands out a bit and the exercises that I have been given are designed to assist with this. This is in turn working on muscles in the front of my chest around the area and improving things in that particular area.
I am hoping that with continued maintenance and stretching and the exercises I may eventually be able to finally solve an issue and improve my current condition, well at least back to how I used to be. I can tell you for free that there are no miracle cures, but if you are willing to put in the work which is required in order to improve yourself, the benefits from this are great. I am even considering some more physio after the chest has improved in order to focus more on a fitness increasing regime to improve things overall.
Cheers,
Henry.
In my last post I mentioned that I was beginning to see a physiotherapist about doing something about the damage done to my chest. This is really the first development toward progression that I can talk about. The medication worked on the symptoms of the problem it is true, but the physiotherapy seems to be making some real progress.
I have been for four sessions with the physiotherapist. I have been given movement exercises to do and have been having various techniques applied to various parts of my body. I can say for sure that there has indeed been progress. I have actually been feeling an increase in movement in the area. Of course the weather of late being cold has not helped things particularly much, but I feel that I would be feeling a lot worse than if I had not been going.
One of the big things that we have been working on his my posture. I am now standing up more straight than I used to be and it is helping a great deal. I have noticed improvements in other areas thanks to this actually. I can now sit and work at my computer a little longer, and sitting for extended periods of time is causing less problems than it used to. These are small improvements, but still significant.
The other major area that the physiotherapist and I have been working on is getting some muscle tone into my right shoulder in order to place my shoulder blade back up against my chest wall where it should be. It actually stands out a bit and the exercises that I have been given are designed to assist with this. This is in turn working on muscles in the front of my chest around the area and improving things in that particular area.
I am hoping that with continued maintenance and stretching and the exercises I may eventually be able to finally solve an issue and improve my current condition, well at least back to how I used to be. I can tell you for free that there are no miracle cures, but if you are willing to put in the work which is required in order to improve yourself, the benefits from this are great. I am even considering some more physio after the chest has improved in order to focus more on a fitness increasing regime to improve things overall.
Cheers,
Henry.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
8 June 2010 - Progression at Last!
Greetings,
I know it has been a while since I have posted anything, well finally I have some news and some good news at that. I went to my new physiotherapist today as part of a program I have been put on in order to improve things for me. Seems that there is actually a cause for the "chest issue" that I have been having over the past months.
About a month and a half before my chest started causing some real issues I cracked a rib while fencing. Once again, my own stupid fault not parrying properly and impaling myself on my opponent's weapon. Of course that meant six weeks of pretty much no fencing at all. Only a few days after that I went to a fencing event and pretty much fenced for about six hours with very little break, not very smart, but a lot of fun.
Of course the lack of activity followed by an extensive amount of activity was bound to cause issues, and I expected that. I expected to be out of action for a couple of days after the event, I did not expect that it would have longer lasting effects. Well it seems that to compensate for the lack of activity, the joints from the sternum to the ribs tightened up along with the muscles associated, leading to the "chest issue".
So, I am off to the physiotherapist for some sessions to get the muscles and joints moving again, and thus bring back my activity level and comfort. What I am hoping is if I can convince the physiotherapist that giving me exercises pointed toward fencing would be an awesome idea. I will just have to see how it all goes. For now it is doing some exercises targeted at the particular area and working on my posture.
I am back again to the physio in the next couple of days and hopefully I will have another progress report for you all. Looks like things are finally looking up for me, which is a nice change. I am thinking with a little work, I may actually be able to progress toward some real improvements in my condition. I am not expecting to it all to "cure" me, but I am sure as hell going to do what I can to improve things for myself. If I can at least get some flexibility back and some movement I will be much happier.
Cheers,
Henry.
I know it has been a while since I have posted anything, well finally I have some news and some good news at that. I went to my new physiotherapist today as part of a program I have been put on in order to improve things for me. Seems that there is actually a cause for the "chest issue" that I have been having over the past months.
About a month and a half before my chest started causing some real issues I cracked a rib while fencing. Once again, my own stupid fault not parrying properly and impaling myself on my opponent's weapon. Of course that meant six weeks of pretty much no fencing at all. Only a few days after that I went to a fencing event and pretty much fenced for about six hours with very little break, not very smart, but a lot of fun.
Of course the lack of activity followed by an extensive amount of activity was bound to cause issues, and I expected that. I expected to be out of action for a couple of days after the event, I did not expect that it would have longer lasting effects. Well it seems that to compensate for the lack of activity, the joints from the sternum to the ribs tightened up along with the muscles associated, leading to the "chest issue".
So, I am off to the physiotherapist for some sessions to get the muscles and joints moving again, and thus bring back my activity level and comfort. What I am hoping is if I can convince the physiotherapist that giving me exercises pointed toward fencing would be an awesome idea. I will just have to see how it all goes. For now it is doing some exercises targeted at the particular area and working on my posture.
I am back again to the physio in the next couple of days and hopefully I will have another progress report for you all. Looks like things are finally looking up for me, which is a nice change. I am thinking with a little work, I may actually be able to progress toward some real improvements in my condition. I am not expecting to it all to "cure" me, but I am sure as hell going to do what I can to improve things for myself. If I can at least get some flexibility back and some movement I will be much happier.
Cheers,
Henry.
Friday, April 23, 2010
The Two Sufferers
Greetings,
First a little update. Nothing has been found by X-ray, ultra-sound or blood test that gives any definitive explanation for the long-term pain in my chest. The result of this is that it has been a little difficult to deal with the particular problem. Most recently the options were lined up for me by the doctor: 1) injection of cortisone and local anesthetic into the area; 2) physiotherapy in order to possibly strengthen the area; 3) quitting fencing as it may be a repetitive strain injury; and 4) doing nothing and just hoping it will go away with time. I am happy to tell you that options 3 and 4 have been taken off the table by both of us. Needless to say I have a referral for physiotherapy. Anyway, on to the blog.
I have found in my travels there are two types of sufferers of fibromyalgia and how they deal with the condition does directly affect their lives and the quality of it. I am going to present these two types of sufferers and describe how they deal with having fibromyalgia. I am hoping that this may give some people some idea about how to deal with the condition or possibly help a friend or loved one about how to deal with the condition. You will also find that this is closely related to the previous blog.
The first type of sufferer of fibromyalgia is afraid of pain simply put. What this means is that they will do all in their control in order to avoid putting themselves into a situation where pain may happen. For these individuals, pain and fatigue associated with doing things is very scary for them so they tend to not do very much or go out very much. They bundle themselves up and hide from the world in order that it cannot hurt them. These people don't tend to do very much with themselves, and in some situations they do less and less.
The second type of sufferer of fibromyalgia is not afraid of pain. They know it makes them uncomfortable, but they can put themselves in a situation where pain may happen. These individuals go out and do things. These individuals do not allow the condition to rule what they will or will not do just because of the result if they do it. These are the individuals who you may not know even have the condition because of the things that they go out and do and are seen doing. They know that the result of activity may be a period of inactivity, but feel that the activity is worth it.
Of course there are grades of both. There are some who have a little of both in them, or more of one than the other. There are also extreme examples of both. The extreme example of the first type is the one who does not leave their home unless they have to and does the absolute minimum required in order to survive. The extreme example of the second one is the individual who constantly pushes and pushes their body to the breaking point and beyond. This often results in a high activity and crash style of existence.
It is important that the person with fibromyalgia understands that pain and fatigue will be a part of their life, but are not scared of it. In my personal opinion it is much better to be one of the second type rather than the first type as you will get to see and do a great deal more. Of course, this must be balanced with periods of rest in order to be able to continue to do things and this is important. What also needs to be realised is that if you do an activity and push it to 5% more than you did last time you can only improve.
For those who have the first type of sufferer as friends or loved ones, encourage them to do things. Remind them that maximum activity is not expected to start with, get them to find things that they can do and then do a little more and a little more. I feel that this will eventually improve their quality of life. Get them to look at what they have achieved when they have improved, this may spur them to do more, and thus get motivation in order to gain a better quality of life.
Cheers,
Henry.
First a little update. Nothing has been found by X-ray, ultra-sound or blood test that gives any definitive explanation for the long-term pain in my chest. The result of this is that it has been a little difficult to deal with the particular problem. Most recently the options were lined up for me by the doctor: 1) injection of cortisone and local anesthetic into the area; 2) physiotherapy in order to possibly strengthen the area; 3) quitting fencing as it may be a repetitive strain injury; and 4) doing nothing and just hoping it will go away with time. I am happy to tell you that options 3 and 4 have been taken off the table by both of us. Needless to say I have a referral for physiotherapy. Anyway, on to the blog.
I have found in my travels there are two types of sufferers of fibromyalgia and how they deal with the condition does directly affect their lives and the quality of it. I am going to present these two types of sufferers and describe how they deal with having fibromyalgia. I am hoping that this may give some people some idea about how to deal with the condition or possibly help a friend or loved one about how to deal with the condition. You will also find that this is closely related to the previous blog.
The first type of sufferer of fibromyalgia is afraid of pain simply put. What this means is that they will do all in their control in order to avoid putting themselves into a situation where pain may happen. For these individuals, pain and fatigue associated with doing things is very scary for them so they tend to not do very much or go out very much. They bundle themselves up and hide from the world in order that it cannot hurt them. These people don't tend to do very much with themselves, and in some situations they do less and less.
The second type of sufferer of fibromyalgia is not afraid of pain. They know it makes them uncomfortable, but they can put themselves in a situation where pain may happen. These individuals go out and do things. These individuals do not allow the condition to rule what they will or will not do just because of the result if they do it. These are the individuals who you may not know even have the condition because of the things that they go out and do and are seen doing. They know that the result of activity may be a period of inactivity, but feel that the activity is worth it.
Of course there are grades of both. There are some who have a little of both in them, or more of one than the other. There are also extreme examples of both. The extreme example of the first type is the one who does not leave their home unless they have to and does the absolute minimum required in order to survive. The extreme example of the second one is the individual who constantly pushes and pushes their body to the breaking point and beyond. This often results in a high activity and crash style of existence.
It is important that the person with fibromyalgia understands that pain and fatigue will be a part of their life, but are not scared of it. In my personal opinion it is much better to be one of the second type rather than the first type as you will get to see and do a great deal more. Of course, this must be balanced with periods of rest in order to be able to continue to do things and this is important. What also needs to be realised is that if you do an activity and push it to 5% more than you did last time you can only improve.
For those who have the first type of sufferer as friends or loved ones, encourage them to do things. Remind them that maximum activity is not expected to start with, get them to find things that they can do and then do a little more and a little more. I feel that this will eventually improve their quality of life. Get them to look at what they have achieved when they have improved, this may spur them to do more, and thus get motivation in order to gain a better quality of life.
Cheers,
Henry.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Update and the Slippery Slope
Greetings,
Update on the chest: Went and saw the doctor after the ultrasound found nothing. The current theory is it may be reflux causing it. If not the next option is injections of cortisone into the areas of my chest. After that, who knows. With the update done we can move on to a more interesting and poignant subject.
One of the greatest issues with fibromyalgia (FM) is that there are three elements which conspire together to result in a slippery slope, the three are pain, depression and lethargy. It is a problem when the three of these are able to combine together to give the sufferer the full effects of the condition, and it can also lead to the condition becoming worse. This is a very slippery slope downward, and some will not find their way back up again.
Pain is an ever-present element of FM. It is something which is dealt with in various different ways. Medication is the most well-known of these methods. For some the best way to deal with pain is to avoid it altogether. There is a problem with this however, this restricts the activity level of the individual, and also makes them less inclined to do things. This can lead to lethargy.
Lethargy is an element of FM which is sometimes taken to be laziness on the part of the person with the condition. Some days the sufferer will simply feel drained and there will be nothing which can increase their negative feelings. This is especially the case where the individual is in pain. In some instances the person with the condition will examine their situation and just stay where they are this can lead to feelings of depression.
Depression is an element which is associated with FM. This is because the symptoms of the condition tend toward the individual feeling horrible on a regular basis. There has been a correlation demonstrated between this and the individual's pain levels. The more depressed a person gets the more pain the individual may feel.
What can be seen in what has been presented is that there is a very slippery slope between the three elements presented. One leading to the other and gradually the individual feels worse and worse, and is less and less inclined to do anything. This of course leads to increased depression and the cycle starting over again. This results in and individual who does very little at all, thus making their own condition worse. Is there a way out of this? Not without work.
The individuals with FM who are more active are usually those who feel better. This is simply because they do not allow the condition to rule their lives as much as it might. Sure, they have their bad days, but they also ensure that they do things as well. Acknowledging small achievements is a good way to start bringing an individual out of a state of depression. Doing things will also assist greatly, even if it is as simple as going for a walk somewhere. These three elements can be fought against in order that the individual can feel better. This will increase their ability and want to do other things and thus the cycle upward starts.
In all cases, assistance from others is always helpful. This may come in the simple form of encouragement from them. It is something which is small but helps a great deal. Help the individual with FM to see the positive things that they can do rather than focusing on those that they cannot. It is not easy and it does take time but it is possible.
Acknowledgement of pain is important, but fear of it or complete avoidance of it will not help. Do the little things that you can do now. Acknowledge the achievement. As you do more and more things, you will be able to do more and more. The increase in activity itself will also help you feel much better than if you did not do things. As soon as you feel yourself slipping downward, find something to help you fight your way upward and work at it. Increasing activity may cause some problems in the beginning but it will be worth it in the long run.
Cheers,
Henry.
Update on the chest: Went and saw the doctor after the ultrasound found nothing. The current theory is it may be reflux causing it. If not the next option is injections of cortisone into the areas of my chest. After that, who knows. With the update done we can move on to a more interesting and poignant subject.
One of the greatest issues with fibromyalgia (FM) is that there are three elements which conspire together to result in a slippery slope, the three are pain, depression and lethargy. It is a problem when the three of these are able to combine together to give the sufferer the full effects of the condition, and it can also lead to the condition becoming worse. This is a very slippery slope downward, and some will not find their way back up again.
Pain is an ever-present element of FM. It is something which is dealt with in various different ways. Medication is the most well-known of these methods. For some the best way to deal with pain is to avoid it altogether. There is a problem with this however, this restricts the activity level of the individual, and also makes them less inclined to do things. This can lead to lethargy.
Lethargy is an element of FM which is sometimes taken to be laziness on the part of the person with the condition. Some days the sufferer will simply feel drained and there will be nothing which can increase their negative feelings. This is especially the case where the individual is in pain. In some instances the person with the condition will examine their situation and just stay where they are this can lead to feelings of depression.
Depression is an element which is associated with FM. This is because the symptoms of the condition tend toward the individual feeling horrible on a regular basis. There has been a correlation demonstrated between this and the individual's pain levels. The more depressed a person gets the more pain the individual may feel.
What can be seen in what has been presented is that there is a very slippery slope between the three elements presented. One leading to the other and gradually the individual feels worse and worse, and is less and less inclined to do anything. This of course leads to increased depression and the cycle starting over again. This results in and individual who does very little at all, thus making their own condition worse. Is there a way out of this? Not without work.
The individuals with FM who are more active are usually those who feel better. This is simply because they do not allow the condition to rule their lives as much as it might. Sure, they have their bad days, but they also ensure that they do things as well. Acknowledging small achievements is a good way to start bringing an individual out of a state of depression. Doing things will also assist greatly, even if it is as simple as going for a walk somewhere. These three elements can be fought against in order that the individual can feel better. This will increase their ability and want to do other things and thus the cycle upward starts.
In all cases, assistance from others is always helpful. This may come in the simple form of encouragement from them. It is something which is small but helps a great deal. Help the individual with FM to see the positive things that they can do rather than focusing on those that they cannot. It is not easy and it does take time but it is possible.
Acknowledgement of pain is important, but fear of it or complete avoidance of it will not help. Do the little things that you can do now. Acknowledge the achievement. As you do more and more things, you will be able to do more and more. The increase in activity itself will also help you feel much better than if you did not do things. As soon as you feel yourself slipping downward, find something to help you fight your way upward and work at it. Increasing activity may cause some problems in the beginning but it will be worth it in the long run.
Cheers,
Henry.
Monday, March 15, 2010
News at Last About the Chest Issue
Greetings,
I must apologise for the rather large gap in time since my last post. Now to get on to more important things. I mentioned an issue that I was having with my chest a while ago, and the new medication that I was having to get used to. Well, after some swearing, cursing and examination of the situation things are finally looking up.
First, with regard to the medication.... I have finally managed to get that under some resemblance of control. I am now taking it and actually waking up at a relatively reasonable hour. This is I think my body getting used to the medication and its side-effects. The other good thing is that the pain in my chest is also finally coming unders some sort of control, thanks to the new medication. So in other words I am scoring two for two with regard to the medication.
Now for the really important information. There is a chance that there may actually be some light at the end of the tunnel for this particular issue in my life. I went to the doctors again to have a chat about the medication and also the particular issue and its persistence. He examined me for any changes and decided that it was time for an ultrasound of my chest. In particular it will be doing a scan of "Anterior costo chondral joints". If it comes up that this is where the problem is, it could all be solved before Easter, which would be great. This is the best news I have had for a while.
As for things in general, well I have had pretty much of a "normal" time for me, well as normal as a person with FM can have. The weather around here has been rather changeable of late and has been causing some issues, which I mentioned it does in a previous post. I am attempting to stay as mobile as possible as I have found that the more mobile I am the better I feel, a sedentary lifestyle, while wonderful in other respects, just does not do me much good. I would prefer to be active.
Anyway, things being what they are, I will hopefully remember to update this once the scan is done. Some good news and a possible solution would be nice. It would be nice to actually mark off a problem for a change rather than just adding them.
Cheers,
Henry.
I must apologise for the rather large gap in time since my last post. Now to get on to more important things. I mentioned an issue that I was having with my chest a while ago, and the new medication that I was having to get used to. Well, after some swearing, cursing and examination of the situation things are finally looking up.
First, with regard to the medication.... I have finally managed to get that under some resemblance of control. I am now taking it and actually waking up at a relatively reasonable hour. This is I think my body getting used to the medication and its side-effects. The other good thing is that the pain in my chest is also finally coming unders some sort of control, thanks to the new medication. So in other words I am scoring two for two with regard to the medication.
Now for the really important information. There is a chance that there may actually be some light at the end of the tunnel for this particular issue in my life. I went to the doctors again to have a chat about the medication and also the particular issue and its persistence. He examined me for any changes and decided that it was time for an ultrasound of my chest. In particular it will be doing a scan of "Anterior costo chondral joints". If it comes up that this is where the problem is, it could all be solved before Easter, which would be great. This is the best news I have had for a while.
As for things in general, well I have had pretty much of a "normal" time for me, well as normal as a person with FM can have. The weather around here has been rather changeable of late and has been causing some issues, which I mentioned it does in a previous post. I am attempting to stay as mobile as possible as I have found that the more mobile I am the better I feel, a sedentary lifestyle, while wonderful in other respects, just does not do me much good. I would prefer to be active.
Anyway, things being what they are, I will hopefully remember to update this once the scan is done. Some good news and a possible solution would be nice. It would be nice to actually mark off a problem for a change rather than just adding them.
Cheers,
Henry.
Monday, February 1, 2010
01/02/2010 - Progression Made
Greetings,
Well, I seem to be getting this new addition to my medication regime under control, hell I am actually up at a reasonable time, that is a start. I am thinking that I may try getting to bed at a reasonable hour in the next couple of days and seeing whether it can all wear off by the morning, here's to hoping. The good thing is that I am actually beginning to manage the side-effects.
Yes, the side-effects are really annoying, especially for me. Feeling "fuzzy-headed" and lethargic is just not me, as many who know me will tell you. I am getting these under control, mostly through taking some time each morning to get through that bit in order to get on with the rest of the day. Of course, I am still having a day every now and then which is spent on the couch as the universe catches up with me. I am beginning to think that this means I need to slow down a bit.
I am beginning to think that I may actually begin to need a little more down-time than usual for a while, especially with these new meds working on me. I don't usually laze around too much, it is just not me, but I am thinking that this may actually be useful if I can get the timing right. I am hoping that the increase in rest here and there may help with the side-effects of the medication, and with other things in general, but I suppose we will just have to see how it goes.
Cheers,
Henry.
Well, I seem to be getting this new addition to my medication regime under control, hell I am actually up at a reasonable time, that is a start. I am thinking that I may try getting to bed at a reasonable hour in the next couple of days and seeing whether it can all wear off by the morning, here's to hoping. The good thing is that I am actually beginning to manage the side-effects.
Yes, the side-effects are really annoying, especially for me. Feeling "fuzzy-headed" and lethargic is just not me, as many who know me will tell you. I am getting these under control, mostly through taking some time each morning to get through that bit in order to get on with the rest of the day. Of course, I am still having a day every now and then which is spent on the couch as the universe catches up with me. I am beginning to think that this means I need to slow down a bit.
I am beginning to think that I may actually begin to need a little more down-time than usual for a while, especially with these new meds working on me. I don't usually laze around too much, it is just not me, but I am thinking that this may actually be useful if I can get the timing right. I am hoping that the increase in rest here and there may help with the side-effects of the medication, and with other things in general, but I suppose we will just have to see how it goes.
Cheers,
Henry.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
21/01/2010 - Some Trying Days
Greetings,
Now I am going to attempt to explain what has been happening to me for the past couple of days. Recently I had a change in medication to deal with a side-issue. I have been getting chest pains near my sternum for a couple of months now. I went and saw my doctor, he poked and prodded and said he did not know what was going on. I was sent for an x-ray, the upside of this is that it cleared a lot of things off the list but still not solution. We are both thinking it is either a muscular or cartilage problem. The result of this was to increase my medication.
It was known that the side-effects of this combination of medication would result in some drowsiness and some lethargy. What I did not know was it would result in me sleeping for an extended period of time and also feeling "fuzzy-headed" and sluggish all day. While the medication has indeed reduced the pain in my chest, it has resulted in some other side-effects. The increased sleep is an increase of more than six hours and anyone who knows me will tell you that I am not the type to stay on the couch all day, well that is exactly where I have spent at least the last one.
This is truly one of those situations of the question of whether the cure is worse than the problem. I will be giving the current run of medications their chance, and will be giving myself some time to adjust to them. I am just hoping that the resulting in-between time is not too bad and that people will understand exactly what I am going through.
Cheers,
Henry.
Now I am going to attempt to explain what has been happening to me for the past couple of days. Recently I had a change in medication to deal with a side-issue. I have been getting chest pains near my sternum for a couple of months now. I went and saw my doctor, he poked and prodded and said he did not know what was going on. I was sent for an x-ray, the upside of this is that it cleared a lot of things off the list but still not solution. We are both thinking it is either a muscular or cartilage problem. The result of this was to increase my medication.
It was known that the side-effects of this combination of medication would result in some drowsiness and some lethargy. What I did not know was it would result in me sleeping for an extended period of time and also feeling "fuzzy-headed" and sluggish all day. While the medication has indeed reduced the pain in my chest, it has resulted in some other side-effects. The increased sleep is an increase of more than six hours and anyone who knows me will tell you that I am not the type to stay on the couch all day, well that is exactly where I have spent at least the last one.
This is truly one of those situations of the question of whether the cure is worse than the problem. I will be giving the current run of medications their chance, and will be giving myself some time to adjust to them. I am just hoping that the resulting in-between time is not too bad and that people will understand exactly what I am going through.
Cheers,
Henry.
Friday, January 8, 2010
08/01/2010 - "The Fog"
Greetings,
Ever had one of those days where you had great things planned? You sit down, pull up a document or something and just sit there and look at it. Your brain will just not engage, all of the stuff that is written seems jumbled, you have to read everything three times, you just can't think straight. If you didn't know better you could have sworn that you were drunk. Well, for the fibromyalgia sufferer, this is more frequent than a person would like.
The brain fog is one of the mental symptoms of FM and it can be one of the most annoying. For a person who tends to write most of the time, aside from the pain and movement restriction, this is one of the most annoying. On days with "the fog", as I have named it, comes in; thinking seems to take more effort than it should, words just do not make the sense that they should, and even words you have written yourself seem to be less meaningful than they should. This makes getting any sort of work done a true chore.
On the worst days dealing with this symptom, about the best that I achieve is to sit in front of the TV and watch DVDs or play some mindless game. Something where I can be passive and do not actually have to put much thought into it. Of course the result of this is what could be called a "wasted" day. Nothing is really achieved and as such frustration sets in as a result. This of course leads to negative feeling and even some more physical symptoms.
On days when "the fog" rolls in, I tend to avoid contact with most people. This is because I have enough frustration thinking for myself, let alone dealing with other people. On days like this I might as well not bother to think about much as most of the time it is pointless. It is only with a great deal of persistence that it is possible to cut through this fog.
"The fog" is really annoying and can hamper a person's existence, especially when they have things they need to get done. For those sufferers who are studying this can lead to some real problems, especially with deadlines for assignments and other assessment items. In my case, I usually battle this particular symptom with caffeine. This allows me to be able to think at a normal sort of level again, and does stave off some of the lethargy which tends to be associated with it. On other people's part, all that is required for the person with FM is a little patience, they will get through, it may just take a little more time.
Ever had one of those days where you had great things planned? You sit down, pull up a document or something and just sit there and look at it. Your brain will just not engage, all of the stuff that is written seems jumbled, you have to read everything three times, you just can't think straight. If you didn't know better you could have sworn that you were drunk. Well, for the fibromyalgia sufferer, this is more frequent than a person would like.
The brain fog is one of the mental symptoms of FM and it can be one of the most annoying. For a person who tends to write most of the time, aside from the pain and movement restriction, this is one of the most annoying. On days with "the fog", as I have named it, comes in; thinking seems to take more effort than it should, words just do not make the sense that they should, and even words you have written yourself seem to be less meaningful than they should. This makes getting any sort of work done a true chore.
On the worst days dealing with this symptom, about the best that I achieve is to sit in front of the TV and watch DVDs or play some mindless game. Something where I can be passive and do not actually have to put much thought into it. Of course the result of this is what could be called a "wasted" day. Nothing is really achieved and as such frustration sets in as a result. This of course leads to negative feeling and even some more physical symptoms.
On days when "the fog" rolls in, I tend to avoid contact with most people. This is because I have enough frustration thinking for myself, let alone dealing with other people. On days like this I might as well not bother to think about much as most of the time it is pointless. It is only with a great deal of persistence that it is possible to cut through this fog.
"The fog" is really annoying and can hamper a person's existence, especially when they have things they need to get done. For those sufferers who are studying this can lead to some real problems, especially with deadlines for assignments and other assessment items. In my case, I usually battle this particular symptom with caffeine. This allows me to be able to think at a normal sort of level again, and does stave off some of the lethargy which tends to be associated with it. On other people's part, all that is required for the person with FM is a little patience, they will get through, it may just take a little more time.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
03/01/2010 - Weather
Greetings,
Well, not the best way to start a year. The weather has been changeable so my joints have been giving me hell. This has been going on since Christmas. The weather can really affect me sometimes, and can cause all sorts of issues.
This is one of the problems with FM being much like arthritis is that it is affected by weather. Wet weather, dry weather, I don't mind which. I just have problems with weather that is changeable. If it stays to one or the other I don't mind but when it changes then this is when problems start.
On the same subject, with no suprise I prefer warmer weather than cooler weather as it gives me less issues. The cold tends to seep in to the joints and cause all sorts of problems. This of course means that I have some problems with winter. Cold is simply not fun, sudden changes in temperature can cause similar issues so going from hot to air conditioning is not necessarily good. Anyway, I think I have sprouted enough on this subject.
Cheers,
Henry.
Well, not the best way to start a year. The weather has been changeable so my joints have been giving me hell. This has been going on since Christmas. The weather can really affect me sometimes, and can cause all sorts of issues.
This is one of the problems with FM being much like arthritis is that it is affected by weather. Wet weather, dry weather, I don't mind which. I just have problems with weather that is changeable. If it stays to one or the other I don't mind but when it changes then this is when problems start.
On the same subject, with no suprise I prefer warmer weather than cooler weather as it gives me less issues. The cold tends to seep in to the joints and cause all sorts of problems. This of course means that I have some problems with winter. Cold is simply not fun, sudden changes in temperature can cause similar issues so going from hot to air conditioning is not necessarily good. Anyway, I think I have sprouted enough on this subject.
Cheers,
Henry.
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