TAI CHI

            For this weeks blog I decided to try some Tai Chi.  I have also been visiting a physical therapist, and she encouraged me to try tai chi also.  Tai Chi reminded me a lot of tea kwon do.  Except tai chi’s movements is easier flowing than tea kwon do. I generally used videos on youtube, and would give me something to go off of.  After a video I usually continue repeating it for thirty minutes.  I felt weird doing Tai chi at first, but eventually I found it relaxing and soothing.  Before I began I would stretch to loosen up my body.  After doing Tai Chi for just a week I have felt like I am dealing with the stress in a more manageable fashion.

            There has been a study where 66 people were divided into two groups.  One group would do Tai chi and the other would just stretch.  Overall the group with the Tai Chi in it reported that their pain physically and emotionally decreased.  I do feel like I can deal with my usual everyday stress a little bit more easily.  I am planning on keeping up the Tai Chi.  I hope that anyone who reads this will consider taking part in tai chi. 

Tai Chi link info

Sunni 

Tai Chi Chuan 24 Steps Beginners Lesson 1

Fibro Frog

This week’s blog I decided to finally tackle the one thing I was procrastinating on.  This would be dealing with my fibro frog, and try some memory tips.  I have a terrible memory, and I really should have started with this from week one, but I kind of forgot about my fibro frog.  I usually use my phone for reminders on events and things, but this week I have been favoring on using my computer.  I have been making out my schedules, and amazingly I haven’t forgotten things as frequently like I usually do.  I usually am always using humor for almost everything.  So this comes naturally to me.

 This week I also cleaned my room, and did so filing which I really needed to do.  De-cluttering my room has helped be remember where I put my stuff.  My room isn’t dirty the majority of the time, but I still lose where I place my stuff.  So I decided to kind of file things away.  Have certain areas that I will place things, and so far it has worked.  I tried to form a routine, but I did not work out so well for me.  Now when I write things down it does help, but only when I find the paper I write those things down on. I have always kept a pill keeper, and those really do help.  The key is to keep the pill keeper in vision so you will remember to take them.  Lastly, when it comes to fish I like my fished fried, and that might be my problem. 

If you have fibro frog or even memory problems you should try at least one of these things.  If you were to try anything from my blogs I would probably try to help with memory problems.  So far these things really are working for me.  I whish you luck on the road to better memory.

Sunni
http://www.fibromyalgia-symptoms.org/memory_tips.html

Tis the season for the parties!

I have been saving this topic for Halloween, and my friend’s birthday party.  When you plan a party you get really stressed, and up tight.  Well, at least I do all most every time there is a party. I usually have a brake down of some sort, or I feel like I can’t finish the planning.  I am not even entirely sure why I feel this way, but I can’t help it.  I had to make myself realize that no one cares if the party isn’t perfect.  This was extremely hard for me to deal with.  My friends almost had to keep me away from the party until it started. 

For dealing with party planning from the website I used as my guide lines I had some interesting things to deal with.  I tried to prioritize the best I could.  I finally decided that we were going to have fun.  So I focused on making space for us to dance or what not.  I usually always plan ahead, but this time I decided to clean during the entire week, and not just wait until it’s too late.  The hardest thing was trying to take care of myself.  I tried to make sure I had breaks to sit down, and eat.  I just wanted to keep on cleaning, but I made myself stop and remember I want to feel healthy during the party, and not sitting down sad in pain the entire time.

For my coping skills I had my friends to help me with a lot.  They helped me cook the night before the party.  We made a lot of cookies, and we bought everything we needed.  Now, for the cleaning part I didn’t really listen to much.  Sadly, I still cleaned every room almost, and I was trying to make the house clean.  I just can’t help on that aspect.  Yes I ended up feeling pain, but everyone who showed up to the party was amazed that it was so clean.  By the way I live with my friend; so that was a shocker for them.  I bought decorations, and my friend helped me put of a lot of them.  Having helped helped lessen some of the stress I am not going to lie.

If you have parties try these things out, and also the things on the website.  They did help with decrease a lot of the stress that I usually deal with when I plan a party.  I hope that if you do try to try these things that they will help and work for you. 

http://www.fibromyalgia-symptoms.org/fibromyalgia_special_events.html

Sunni

Lets sooth our backs!

Hello I am finally back, and sorry for the two weeks of no blogs.  My teacher extended our blog until this week, and I am grateful for that.  Doctors must have known because they have been keeping me busy.  Anyway, this week’s blog will be about treating my back pain.  Like most fibromyalgia patients we all have terrible back pain, and it feels as if we broke our back some times. 

                First I did take the advice of heat for my back.  I have a heating pad that I would have lay on my back whenever I would sit or lie down and relax.  Amazingly it works a lot for you, but so far it is only when you are using it.  However, I find it is worth it if you can get in a few minutes of comfort.  I am recently unable to do most of the exercises because of some of my other health issues, but once I am finished dealing with those I will try the curl ups.  Believe me I will when I can it sounds like a great idea. 

My friend Cody wants to be a massage therapist when he graduates from high school, and he will come over, and practice on my friends and me.  Whenever I walk to much or anything that is hurtful for my joints or muscles his massages help tremendously!  The massages are so helpful you cannot even believe.  Just the only down fall is that if you want a massage the majority of the time it cost money that some of us might now have.   I also have asked to sign up to get a free massage from some massage students here on ICC campus.  So this will be interesting, but I heard they are great.

These things are great things to do for you back pain.  Try these even if you don’t have fibromyalgia and only back pain in general.  I believe these will help you.  Jeez I believe these things could help anyone.  Also, we have probably heard these things many times, but it might have sliped our minds.  Hope that you will try at least one of these things.  If you find another way, or something you would like me to try just giving me a comment and I will try my best.  Stay warm, and if you’re in Illinois try not to blow away.

Sincerely,

Sunni

The website that I found these on:

http://www.fibromyalgia-symptoms.org/fibromyalgia_back_treatment.html

Coping skills for this week!

This week for my challenge I have decided to deal with the coping skills.  For about a month now I have had depressing feelings and issues.  I cry and explode on my love ones; I do not understand why.  That’s why this week I have decided it is time to deal with this nagging problem. 

                I asked my mother and sister if I could vent to them, and it helped more than I could ever imagine.  I have found out that putting an hour or two aside for myself was a great suggestion.  I am so busy now a day’s and having some times to myself just helps me to cool down.  Whenever I started to feel bad I would stop and take a moment to breathe in and out and focus on my chest going up and down.  It was extremely soothing to me, and I will try to keep this up with my pain.

                I believe everyone should have some type of coping skill.  Especially people with fibromyalgia because we deal with pain every day, and we watch people live their lives without this aching reminder that we cannot do what most of them do.  If you do decide to do a coping skill or just talk to someone I hope it will work for you!

Sunni

http://www.fibromyalgia-symptoms.org/fibromyalgia_skills.html

week yoga

Hello, I am back!  This week I tried to do some yoga.  Everywhere I go people always mention yoga to me, and tell me it works to relieve a lot of pain.  After a little surfing on the web I found out that yoga is said to be a helpful solution.  From what I have read about yoga it looks like stretches that are meant to be relaxing and strengthening.  So I decided to accept every ones advice and try doing yoga for this week’s challenge. 

I did some yoga in school during my P.E. hour.  I started off by stretching, and then started the yoga positions.  I got as far as the downward facing dog; when I realized this was going to not be easy as I thought.  I felt like I couldn’t breathe at all. I decided after the first day to slowly ease into yoga.  I would start the first time by doing it for ten minutes, and slowly increase by five minutes per day.  Now I don’t know if it is usual for most fibromyalgia patients to lose their breath, and have their asthma to become more sever.  Mine has, and if you do have asthma problems yoga might not be for you.  I used to love yoga, but during this week it was so difficult that I really had a negative perspective about the whole challenge. 

All because yoga didn’t work for me; doesn’t mean it won’t work for you.  You should always try new things.  You can at least try doing it for a week like I did, and if it was still difficult for you then you can check no to this list of challenges.  I hope that yoga does work for you.  I wish you luck!

Sunni

Also, the website that I found yoga on is in the link.  Which I always trust!                   
http://www.fibromyalgia-symptoms.org/fibromyalgia_enough_sleep.html    

Week Three Water Time!

This week has been a difficult week for me.  My ribs keep bothering me, and also I have been stressed a lot this week.  Because my week has been so hectic I decided to make my challenge probably my easiest ones…drinking water.   I do not really drink that much water; however drinking about two bottles a day has helped me in a way.  I feel more refreshed, and my throat feels soothed by it.  This challenge was on page one number one on the website provided on my home page of my blog. Now I am not going to lie and hold back information from you.  Yes, I have drunk a bottle or can of soda also.  However, my headaches have not been as bad lately.  I am going to keep trying to drink water every day.  Ideally I would like to drink the reprimanded amount, but I will try my best and work my way up to it.

                If you try this challenge it will help you a lot.  Now it might be the easiest for most people to do.  Especially; the ones that have busy schedules, and at least have enough time to chug down some bottles of water.  This challenge also really helps you realize if you really do want to try to feel better with the decision of soda or water.  Even if you are healthy and do not have anything wrong with you; it might be a great idea to still try this weekly challenge.  Just think of it we are all made up of some water so it won’t hurt us.  If you do try to drink more water I wish you all luck, and hope it helps you. 

Sunni

The page that I will be using for my blog!

H:\Internet\Favorites\Fibromyalgia Frequently Asked Questions womenshealth_gov.mht

Week two is all sleep!

This week I decided to try to regulate my sleep patterns.  I went to bed nine to ten every night.  As I read in an article; it isn’t good to exercise before you go to bed. This article will be posted also. Therefore, I decided to exercise once I got home from work.  I would get home generally around six or six thirty.  I reframed from drinking caffeine before bed.  I never have slept during the day, but when I do I usually get headaches so I didn’t end up snoozing off during the day. I didn’t really have to work on staying in my bed a whole lot, because I already do most of my activities in my bed.  Keeping my room quiet didn’t entirely work so much, but I did play light soothing music that helped me fall asleep more soon. 

I did base most of my actions off of an article; which you can find also post.  Once I finished this week I have realized that getting plenty of sleep is extremely important.  Sleep is important not only for me, but also for everyone.  Now I am not going to lie to you; getting out of bed was just as difficult as before.  Although, the reason I couldn’t get out of bed was because I slept most of the night and just had a well earned sleep.  I am not as sleepy during the day like I usually was.  I understand now why my parents always tried to set a bed time for me as a child.  If you do choose to try to regulate your sleep I truly believe it will help and work for you.   Good luck!

Sunni

Week One

Dear everyone,
    For my first week I have decided to start by doing stretches in the morning, and at night. I have been doing your normal typical stretches. Sitting and stretching, standing and stretching.  In the beginning of the week I tried to hold all of my stretches for at least ten seconds each. Once the week continued to go on I gradually tried to worked in holding my stretches for fifteen seconds. Amazingly I did not feel as achy in the morning like I usually do. Also, by the end of the week I felt more flexible while stretching.
    I will continue to stretch as much as I can, because I am feeling that stretching is a keeper so far. The usual pains from standing, walking, and other activities are still occurring. At work or school when I start to feel pain I do stretch a little, and it does help somewhat. I might look a little funny stretching on a chair or on the floor, but it is the outcome I am worried about in the end.
    I hope that you will try to stretch as much as you can; even if you don't have fibromyalgia or another illness. I bet if you just stretched, or at least tried to stretch on a regular basis you would feel better than you do now. Also, if you have someone who can help encourage you to stretch that helps tremendously! Trust me it really does help when you have a family member or friend helping you out to remind you. My boyfriend helped me out and I kind of feel bad for giving him a hard time about it with my attitude, but in the end I appreciated it more than he could imagine. I hope that the stretching will help anyone who tries it!

Sincerely,
Sunni

Intro to dealing with fibromyalgia blog

          Hello to everyone!  My name is Sunni, and these posts will be about dealing with Fibromialgia.  Fibromyalgia is a condition when you have chronicle wide spread pain in your body, fatigue, and etc.  The worst part of Fibromyalgia is the pain that occurs during almost anything you do.  In this blog I will try different things every week to see if my pain or any symptoms will decrease at all.  I will try things like yoga,  walking, stretching, and much more.  If you or a loved one has Fibromyalgia, or a condition that makes you hurt all over I hope i will uncover something that will work for youl!

                                              - Sunni