A quick check in before feeding hubby so he can scoot off to work for the night! Uhgggg! Kaplods, I was diagnosed with IBS 40 years ago by my quaint little seaside community doctor. He was surely ahead of his time as I was just 15 years old. I have had IBS all my life along with another now-known-symptom...Bruxism. I grind my teeth like there is no tomorrow. I usually have to wear a special night guard to keep my teeth from getting loose. crazy, huh? I have included a fiber regimen at night for my IBS for as long as I can remember and surprisingly, being on the SB plan has helped enormously. I am almost "normal" following this diet. Works for me!!
Hi Julie, I agree that the diagnostic criteria was developed to protect more the medical profession rather than help the patients. It is unfortunate that we can not find doctors in all geographical areas who specialize in these criteria-type illnesses. Too many unknowns about this condition to get involved with it. I signed up at the NFA website and searched for someone in my area for FM and not one doctor to be found. Most of the primary care physicians in my area are not up to date on the treatments or current study information. The pain management specialist I went to gave me the most bang for my buck education wise but still could only offer help in the way of medication. We are our own best advocates and need to educate ourselves.

My doctor probably was behind the times (or just used the diagnosis he was most familiar with rather than the "new" term of IBS), because I was also 15 or 16, but it was in the early 80's.

Crazy though - I've also got severe bruxism. I've apparently always ground my teeth at night, because my mom would complain about hearing it from their bedroom down the hall. It wasn't until I was in my mid twenties that I got a mouth guard though, (I didn't know it was going to cost me almost $250 AFTER insurance paid their share). I really need a new one, because I ground throgh the plastic on one side, but I don't have dental insurance - has anyone had experience with the OTC mouth guards - it was hard enough getting used to the one that was custom-made for my mouth, I'm hesitant to pick up the one size fits all models.

A South Beach style of eating really helps my IBS and fibro too. I need added portion control so I try to choose SB friendly foods, but use an exchange plan to control portions and calories.

It is weird that their are so many "associated" odd health problems with the fibro.

I don't think I would actually agree with that. In the specific case mentioned, the criteria were developed for the purposes of conducting medical studies, and then adapted or adopted for use in the clinical (office) setting.

Most guidelines are developed not to protect physicians, but to ensure a certain minimum level and quality of care for the patient.

I think the guidelines may get used inappropriately if a care provider is either lazy or practicing defensively, but that's after the fact. The guidelines weren't developed for defensive reasons.

Guidelines can actually work against protecting physicians, and be part of the reason that physicians fail to individualize management options. It's very easy, simple and direct for a lawyer to belabor the point that a physician didn't follow a well-accepted guideline. It's much more difficult to get a jury to understand the complicated and subtle reasons why a patient needed to be managed outside of the guideline.

Ok. I'm back. Sorry I've been missing again. I just find myself so busy, and I just don't take the time to get on here and read your posts and post myself. I went away last weekend, so that's my excuse for then. lol

Big changes. Tim is moving home 2nd semester. He's still planning to take classes 2 or 3 days a week by commuting. He said he's just feeling overwhelmed with things, and he was ready to quit school. We reached a compromise, and he is still going to take classes. He admitted that Bob's death is affecting him more than he let on. He didn't want to worry me.

I'm still busy with classes at the Y, so I am staying active. Also doing so much reading, and I'm enjoying just hanging out with the puppy and cuddling up with a book.

Joanne, my BIL called last night and was telling me about the chilly temperatures. It was below 20 here yesterday morning, and I know that I am not ready for this!!

Mima, last Feb. when Bob and I were in southern GA and then FL, I didn't have any pains. It totally amazed me. We planned to spend more time down there this winter, but you know the rest.

Anne, the dry cold has to be easier to handle than when there is moisture in the air. I keep thinking that I'm cold, and then I think about where you live, and I'm sure you are colder.

Kate, I was reading about your bakery, and I was sitting here drooling! Oh my!!

Julie, I am so proud of you weight loss! 50# since April is fantastic!! Any advice??

Kaplods, friends of mine have talked about living in an RV full time. They haven't made the jump yet, but it won't surprise me if they do. Before I was diagnosed with fibro, I was online researching anything I could find about so many different things. I haven't done much in the past few years.

Goodmorning all...another cool but sunny day in Florida. Feeling fairly energetic this morning and not aching too badly ...must be the dry air?? I'll just enjoy the moment! Any good recipe forums or websites out there I should know about? Getting bored with the same old and hubby is getting tired of chicken...:)

And Julie, I understand now what you are saying about the criteria being used to as guidelines for the clinical setting. I guess I should have directed my comments to reflect on those lazy and defensive practitioners who do not utilize these guidelines beneficially. Unfortunately, and I know this may sound unfair, I think most physicians do practice defensive medicine today. Perhaps this is one reason they want to have every test imaginable done so they can cover their butts! Good for patient diagnosis but bad for the health insurance companies. Ultimately the cost trickles down to us, the subscribers. What a scenario..... don't even want to go there.

Hi Tammy, yes, I spent many years bent over a pastry bench. I specialized in pies...savory and dessert along with a large assortment of baked goodies. I've always loved cooking and am finding it challenging to change the way I look at and prepare food. I've always done the "old fashioned like Grandma" kind of cooking with lots of meat, butter and potatoes but now trying to revamp my lifestyle to a low carb, healthy way of eating. I'm looking for some new ground beef casserole recipes to satisfy my husband's red meat needs.

Hope everyone has a great day! Regards to Mima and Joanne....hope the big event goes smoothly.

I think there is a lot of defensive medicine, and in the U.S., it's no wonder why ;). That's really sad. Maybe it will change ;).

More and more diagnostic tests are not truly to the patient's benefit. Because all tests have false positives. That's unavoidable. For many tests that are based on a range of normal values (for example, potassium or sodium levels), the normal range is often defined as that which will cover 95% of undiseased people. So, by definition, about 5% of normal people will be labelled abnormal by the test. Those false positives can mean a lot of mental anguish, for one thing, and certainly additional costs (a big deal in our society), but also generally mean further testing. Those further tests often involve risk (reaction to dyes, exposure to radiation, injury from invasive tests, and so on).

You're right that the cost of all that is bad for insurance companies. I'm no fan of medical insurance companies in general, but they have done a lot to make physicians more carefully choose and justify their diagnostic and treatment options. That also swings both ways - when you're pushed out of the hospital as soon as possible, before you feel ready - that is because of insurance companies, not your doctor. They hire people (generally nurses) to go around and look at charts and tell doctors they need to discharge people.

Be ready, and *know* that this isn't another *try*, this is just the rest of your life. The other stuff is *done.* Not that I was perfect from that moment on, but it was pretty much one of the "click" things. And it's so much more pleasant to base your choices on health, instead of on being disgusted with your body or willpower.

Eat healthy :). I have lots of produce, almost only whole grains, little sugar. I use oil, nuts, avocado, full fat cheeses. Exercise (I do yoga, and have been running a few months now). Don't restrict too much or be harsh with yourself, it has to be maintainable. Good sleep, very important! Plan, and have backup plans. Individualize for you! Always keep going.

Learn new, "normal" portion sizes ;), really, you totally adjust to this and it isn't hard anymore That is really a pleasure.. Hunger and satiety are great cues once you start paying attention to them. It's harder than it sounds, and I'm still working on it.

I started out calorie counting, but stopped (not really intentionally) at the beginning of September, and I am very happy with that. Much more pleasant. But I'm glad I did it for a while, it taught me a lot.

The rate of loss has slowed way down. Which is OK. I'm at a good weight now, so I'm not as impatient, and I feel better about my metabolism if I lose slower at this point.

I am still learning new things and adjusting and tweaking all the time :). As I approach a final weight, I'm have plans to really put all this in writing, to really lay out for myself what works and why. I think that's important for maintenance.

Sorry, don't mean to hijack your thread!

Sleep, weather, stress, (mental or physical), and food (things I ingest)...all affect me and I wear a night dental splint.

I do not get involed in the "political" aspects of FM..too complicated for my brain fogged mind. I just have learned over the years that we can say "no" to the docs for any meds or tests we do not want to take. My whole forties I was over tested and over medicated....just decided on my own to take charge of "me". I do not like docs and do not like meds or tests....but sometimes they are necessary.

They do not teach alot on FM in med shcool..they skim over it, most docs do not want to take the time to learn and there are still some who do not believes it exits.....and some just think we are hypochondriacts...go figure...if they could only live in our bodies:)

The PT(on foot) is time consuming and I am getting behind on unpacking and holiday stuff. Can't really decorate untill the workers are gone and no furniture to put anything on! Everyone seems to think we are all moved in and living normally...that won't be the case for a very long time...so no entertaining here!


Got some good buys at Kohl's and Penny's for my boys so that is done but have to get my familys stuff sorted and wrapped and mailed before to long. I do not think we will be going there this holiday so gotta mail everything..but I Have to find it all!LOL



Today is our 32 anniversay...............

I've had some excellent doctors and some horrible doctors, and unfortunately it isn't always easy to tell the difference at the first or fortieth appointment. I have to say that the fibro and the autoimmune disorder, at least taught me to be a much better informed consumer of medical services. Some doctors do not like well-informed patients, but I avoid those doctors. I won't say all of them are bad doctors, but they're bad for me. I've been very lucky here in WI, because I have a group of doctors, and each understands fibro very well, or are willing to allow me to educate them. If you can find a doctor willing to learn from a patient - do not let that doctor go - that's a priceless quality in a doctor.


Tammy - I definitely can relate to interests shrinking. It seems like my very world has been shrinking since the fibro started interfering with not just comfort, but functionality. I have no doubt that I had fibro a full ten years before I was diagnosed, but because I kept "pushing through" the pain and other symptoms, I ended up in a downward spiral that was difficult to stop.

I am afraid that life on the road could be more difficult than life in a house, which is why we're going to buy something very affordable and our alternative plan (if full-timing turns out not to be feasible) is to use the RV to find the best place for us to settle: evaluating the climate, the state's medical services, the quality of doctors and services... We're not going to be doing any boondocking, because of our physical limitations, so we're probably going to be going from RV park to RV park. Our RV is going to have to be modified in some ways, and we're going to have to pay for services most RVers do themselves, but I've been reading alot on disabled RVing, so I think it at least has the possibility of being a workable solution.

Wow-nie to have so much chat.
That was my 3rd colonoscopy in 5 years-same old diagnosis-lots of diverticulosis and now some internal hemerhoids. But no polyps-hope you do ok Joanne.
I am 70 and came down with fibro in my 40's but had symptoms way before that. For 2 years, I was extremely crippled. And I was working full time with 3 kids-what a nightmare.Now my stomache is more of the problem-IBS-and my back-spinal stenosis. They told me I was taking too much tylenol so I will cut down. Hoping the rheumo can help me. I sure do miss the antiinflammatory.
Wow for making your house look nice for Christmas, Candice.
Tammy, are you still going to GA? I am sure Tim is very sad too-when my husband-their stepfather died-it was such a bad time for them.
It's so good to be home-I took a nap and sat in the sun. Mima

Oh Mima, I feel for you on the 'rroids!! External for me, sweetie!! I am glad you are all set though for another 5?? And hopefully your IBS will calm down enough for you to enjoy the holidays. I am so fortunate to have found the foods I need to avoid and that the SB diet is working so well for me in that regard. My pain management doctor specializes in spinal stenosis and though I have some low back areas that are getting very narrow, I have remained able to function well. My chiropractic adjustments help in that department...keeps things moving.

Candice has made my day as another doctor-phobic FM veteran. Like I said in my earlier post, you have to be your own healthcare advocate when it comes to FM. Most of us who have had this condition for so many years know when to say enough....need that breathing space form the pokes and prods, right? And happy anniversary, Candice. I just had 30 years on 9/11. Crappy anniversary date, huh?? We will obviously never forget, now will we?

I am surprised that so many people are preparing for the Christmas season so early! Even here (FL) people seem to be gearing up. I usually do a big decorate around the house starting the 4th of Dec to the classical "Nutcracker" CD. With the economy falling apart the way it is all over the country, I thought the Christmas spirit would be dead and buried....and I am happy to see it is not so, at least in this forum! Not spending money this year but will be baking my butt off...and hopefully not doing much in the way of "quality control!"

Julie, for some reason I feel you may be associated somehow with the healthcare field? Just a feeling :)...and kudos for doing so well with your lifestyle changes. I am convinced that "weight control" is as much about "portion control" as food choices. Portion control has always been my downfall. Even on the SB plan I have to be very careful with these "good carb" portions. You have encouraged me to look forward to eventually controlling this issue. Right now, my exercise routine consists of walking a few miles daily with the "Queen" and I have recently started back on my elliptical. Wiil take a week or so to build up my time on that again.

Off to do my kitchen duties. Enjoying these chats with all of you! Hope everyone has a great evening....Kate

I just like to to eat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...I have been counting pts for WW since I turned 50......and it is a weigh of life now but I pretty much eat anything and sometimes too much:D

Very tired not much sleep and off to PT again...MIma did you get the shot in your heal???????? HOw painful was it??????? OUch! Glad your butt is ok too!LOL

The shot was painful but very beneficial. I am going to research to find out best IBS diet-my problem is that I can't eat so many foods-wheat, milk, raw veggies and fruit-I laughed at the sheet doc gave me for diverticulosis. I will look at the South beach diet .
Hope you are ok Joanne. I was so happy to get up and have a nice cup of coffee today. Eventually i will go back to bed-we have this wacky routine of getting up early and laying down again.
There is a nice Nativity scene at Walmart with lights-I want it to go on sale. It probably will.
I think Christmas will get our minds off of what's going on. We are so fortunate that our 4 kids have not been affected so far-except that their 401 K's are way down -but they are young. Mike says that even his baseball card and computer business are ok. And we have Social Security and my pension.
Bye for now-Mima

Good morning to the other early risers! (Candice and Mima) I'm killing a little time before I walk her royal highness in 40 degree weather.....brrrr. At least that is cold for us Florida folks! FM is brutal this morning....even after taking the meds. Hope the walk loosens things up. Hubby got home at 5 am from work and is off to bed for a few hours. Stay warm folks. Will check back later.

Kate, I make the same things over and over. I rarely try new recipes, but maybe it's time that I start. In fact, I really haven't done much real cooking in ages.

Julie, I started doing Yoga at the Y a few weeks ago. It has really improved my flexibility and balance. I know I need to stick with it. I'm getting ready to leave for my aerobics class right now that meets 3 mornings a week. It sure was tempting to stay in bed. It's 23 degrees out there!

Candice, good for you on getting some good buys!! That always is a good feeling.


Kaplods, you'll have to keep us posted on the RVing!!

Mima, good news about the polyps! Tim and I leave for GA on Dec. 22. We'll head back north on Jan. 2 I think. We're taking Maurice with us, so that should be interesting!!!!

Hello to everyone else!!