Daily Archives: June 17, 2016

Fibromyalgia – Day-to-Day Activities We Can Struggle With

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Here are a few examples:

Grooming

First, the shower:

  • It gets hot, which can make you dizzy and activate your temperature sensitivity (which in turn can lead to more symptoms.)
  • The spray of the water, for many of us, is painful to the skin at any temperature, thanks to a symptom called allodynia (pain from typically non-painful stimuli.)
  • Standing for that long and using your arms to vigorously scrub your hair and body can lead to tired, achy muscles.

Fortunately, there’s a simple solution to this: baths. They eliminate many of the problems.

Then there’s styling your hair. Holding your arms up to brush, blow dry and flat iron is hard on the arms. For the heat sensitive, styling tools can make you feel like you’re in a microwave, especially after a hot shower.

Wearing Clothes

Waistbands. Bra straps. Elastic in socks. Rough fabrics. Tags. These are all things that can cause a lot of pain because of allodynia.

For those with both hot and cold sensitivity, deciding what to wear, and enduring the ramifications of the wrong choice, can be extremely unpleasant as you either freeze or overheat, or alternate between the two.

Talking on the Phone

We don’t normally think of a conversation as a strenuous mental activity, but when you have cognitive dysfunction (brain fog or fibro fog), it can become one.

All social interaction takes energy, and when you’re not face-to-face, it takes even more.

For most people, it’s not noticeable. For us, though, it definitely can be. Our foggy brains might not be up to the task at times.

Many of us have problems multi-tasking, so your brain may essentially block out what the other person is saying while your attention is on something else. Then you find yourself confused as to where the conversation has gone, which can be frustrating and embarrassing.

Many of us have problems with language, especially when it comes to finding the right word for things. Again, it’s frustrating and embarrassing, and if you know you’re having a bad day, communication-wise, it can be easy to stress over the problem and make it worse, or at the very least make the conversation unpleasant for you.

And then there’s the physical aspect. Holding a phone for very long can tire your arm, or your neck if you’re clenching it between your jaw and shoulder.

Driving

Brain fog can be a major problem when you’re behind the wheel. Some of us periodically forget where we’re going or how to get there. Even worse, we may become disoriented and not know where we are.

It’s scary when this happens and can lead to an anxiety attack, which makes the situation even worse.

Some of us also have trouble paying attention to the myriad things that we need to while driving. We may not be able to process all the necessary information to be safe on the road.

I am paying for it now…(Fibro)

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I am glad I went to the graduation, but my body is paying for it now. Serious Fibro flare-up.

Pain at least a 10 (or I will claim 11 even though ten is tops on the pain scale). Wish I could soak in a hot tub, but no tub here and can’t get in and out anyhow.

And now to top it off I couldn’t sleep last night or even nap this afternoon. Nothing, but pain.

Plus I can’t talk. Losing my voice. What us Fibromites have to go through just to see our loved ones and do some minor activities. I needed help last night getting up and down in the bleachers 3 times. Had to climb the bleachers to get out of the field.

Trying to  keep my spirits up during this trial by pain. I used a lot of Ibuprofen as I don’t have any  pain pills. Ibuprofen doesn’t even take the edge off.

Tessa

Healthy Foods # 3 – Bipolar

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Healthy Eating for Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder requires a comprehensive treatment plan to keep its mood swings in check. A healthy diet gives a person’s body, including the brain, adequate amounts of the materials it needs to function properly.

Good choices include:

Eating a balance of protective, nutrient-dense foods. These foods include fresh fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, lean meats, cold-water fish, eggs, low-fat dairy, soy products, nuts and seeds. These foods provide the levels of nutrients necessary to maintain good health and prevent disease.

Which Foods Should I Avoid if I Have Bipolar Disorder?

  • When someone with bipolar disorder is feeling depressed, extra caffeine can help that person boost the low mood. The problem is caffeine can disrupt sleep. Caffeine can also lower the sedative effects of medications, that are used to treat anxiety and mania associated with bipolar disorder.
  • Avoiding high-fat meals to lower the risk for obesity with some bipolar medications. High-fat meals may delay the time it takes for some bipolar medications to be absorbed into your system.
  • Also avoid sugar. Sugar will affect mood swings.

Can I Drink Grapefruit Juice While on Bipolar Drugs?

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice with your bipolar medication. Grapefruit juice may increase the blood levels of certain bipolar medications. This includes some anti-convulsants. Taking anxiety medications with grapefruit juice may cause excessive impairment and even toxicity.