Fibromyalgia #180
 

Good evening. Thought I should stop in and say Hi.

Well, I went to the Dr. about this darn foot, and it is inflammation in the Metatorsil. Keep taking Celebrex and stay off the foot and it will be as good as new. It is caused because I haven't been walking the right way, because of this darn back pain. I did go to the chiro today, and it does feel better than it has in the last 3.5 weeks. Hopefully, it will be even better tomorrow. I had stopped taking the Celebrex, because I needed to take a pain med that is Asprin based and you can't do that with Celebrex. Now, I am taking Tylenol 3 if I need something and a muscle relaxer if I need it. I guess the Celebrex was working, as my hands were really sore yesterday and they haven't been.

Mima - glad that you are starting to feel better. I guess the new med must be working.

Candice - I remember those snowmen from a picture you posted a few years ago. They are cuties.

Kate - it is nice to get back to normal, whatever the heck that is.

Well going to go sit and watch some TV for a bit. I have to be at work by 7:00 a.m. tomorrow, so I need to start to get tired somehow.

Have a nice evening.

Oh yes, it was an absolutley beautiful day here today. I don't know if you know that after having temps of -35 below zero, that -3 (26F) feels like HEAVEN. After the chiro I was feeling pretty good, so went shopping, which wasn't the brightest thing to do with this foot, but it has been soooo long now since I could even drive the car. Found my insoles and away I went.

Here is a little fun for you. Uncle Jay explains the news for 2008

http://www.unclejayexplains.com/medi...012-22-08.wmv/

Happy.....it seems we all have foot pain, back pain and such...also it seems to flare around the same time. I guess our connection is the Fibro or are we all sisters?!? :) Maybe just getting old ......Yikes.. I take Tylenol #3 when I think I can't stand the apin much more and need a bit of help but it upsets my tummy and sometimes I get a weird reaction like a heart attack feeling, pain pressure, shortness of breath...scary....I hate meds! How is your elbow, mine hurts off and on.

Kate I usuall rely on someone else to report stuff too....sounds like you enjoy your time alone...well you do have Queenie! So do you cook for yourself when DH is gone?

Mima.....I am dissapointed in my orthotics....the left onehurts my foot, feels like something is making the ball of my foot hurt. I told him I could not tolorate the hard orthoics, tried them years ago, but that is what he made me and covered them with foam. I will have to go back and have them adjusted..they are a pian to get in and out of your shoe. Glad you are feeling better....I am a bit bloated today.....hate that feeling.

I shopped after the foot doc, can only where new orthoics two hrs at a time so had to change in the car. Got some good bargains on x-mas clearance.....(a really nice green entry rug with snowfakes on it for 5 bucks, was 30...I had my eye on it for awhile) stored for next year, then groceries. I am hurting and pooped. The dog still needs a bath, did get his tummy trimmed, but he is really wooly!

Hey Tam and Meme:wave:

Just checking in for a minute on my way to bed. It's nearly 3 am and pouring rain (again). Thunderstorms and flash flood watch tonight so you can guess what kind of shape I'm in. Entertained last weekend on top of Christmas and New Year ... I'm still asking 'what was I thinking.' At least I have leftovers for a couple of nights. Took today off completely (except for one customer ... in the rain) and from the looks of the weather forecast I'm going to be taking off tomorrow, too! It rained all day today plus there was a water leak down the road and the water dept. had all the water on our street turned off most of the day so I couldn't really do anything (not that I wanted to!) :p

I'm going to bed, hope you have a good Tuesday. I'm sleeping as much as possible!

Wow for all the foot and back pain. I have spinal stenosis and I told doc that it probably affected my foot. No comment from him.
Sometimed I put foam under my arch in my shoe. It is a pain to put them in and out-I only have 2 pair of shoes I can wear them in. Can't wear my sabdals which are most of my shoes. PT today.
I am thanking God that our car was fixed free-didn't realize it had a warrranty left and the heat wouldn't go off and the ac wouldn't go on. 600$
And a ride back and forth.
No call about my blood. Can't seem to find out what vitamins are in Hemax so I won't take too many.
Sleep, Meme, sleep. I was up at 4 so I will have an early nap before pt.
I enjoy my time alone-sometimes a little too much.
Have a good day all. Mima

Hey There
 

Today is my turn to go to Dr.I really don't like running between labs and Dr.'s. I have been having a pretty steady weight loss. I don't know why but I will take it.. I weigh less now than I have in years..I guess I am just getting 'younger.'Tomorrow it may be up. Different each day.. Our daughter gave me a electronic scale for Christmas.. I have wanted one for a long time..
Today is the 6th of Jan. There will be huge crowds in town.. Big day here. Young men dive for the cross amd then there is a glendi till dark.. We don't go anymore.. Watch it on T.V.
Joanne

Good morning everyone! Another fine sunny day here in Florida! I think we are due for a cool spell tomorrow night though and we really need some rain soon.
Candice, I have a neighbor who cannot take anything with codeine. Isn't that one of the ingredients in Tylenol 3? She gets these "panic-ky" feelings with heart racing and such. I had to go sit with her a few weeks back when she took some cough syrup with codeine in it from her doctor. She was really afraid of what she was feeling. Upset her stomach too. She has the same reaction to Benadryl too.
As for hubby being gone....well it is just a daily thing and he is home every night but I do enjoy the peace and quiet (almost too much!!) and yes, Queenie does keep me busy. I swear she hauls in a ton of sand every morning from her walk in the park! Sometimes I feel like the vacuumn cleaner should just be attached to my body! That way I could just suck up the dirt as I walk around! I cook everyday but once in awhile we have to do leftovers to clean out the fridge. I did have take-out pizza Sunday night though. I'm sure the scale will reflect that too!
I meant to ask those of you out there who have IBS; has your doctor ever suggested fiber therapy to you? I started fiber therapy way back when I was diagnosed and part of my evening regimen is to drink a glass of physicians grade psyillium with water/juice every night before bed. I buy 6 containers at a time through a company called N.E.E.D.S and have been doing this for over 25 years. It really did help my symptoms as long as I watched my diet. I still drink this every night even though my symptoms have subsided on the SB diet. Just curious if it was ever suggested to you. I know Metamucil is recommended quite often for IBS sufferers.
Off to the store to pick up some supplies. Making lemon chicken tonight. Hubby gets tired of poultry but I could eat it 7 nights a week. He loves his beef...I love my chicken and fish. Guess who wins most of the time???;) I am the cook after all! Hope everyone enjoys the day. Kate

I know I've been kind of silent for a while. When I'm flaring, I just can't seem to follow threads easily that aren't on a single topic (does this make sense to anyone?). I do ok on one subject threads, but when there are several conversations going on at once (which I really enjoy when my brain is working), just reading them feels confusing.

If my post makes little or no sense, I'm sorry. The cognitive effects of fibro sometimes are the hardest for me to deal with. Hubby says I can seem like I have multiple personalities, because sometimes I will act and speak as if I'm almost drunk (long pauses in the middle of a sentence, taking seconds to comprehend what a person is saying to me, mixing up words, not being able to find the word I'm thinking of, and even slurring my words). Other times he says I'm "normal," and other times my thoughts are racing and I'm contemplating topics he says "sound brilliant, but I have no idea what you're talking about."

Ok, lost my train of thought.

Any way, Kate I have IBS and my doctor also recommended increasing fiber and veggies (slowly). I've noticed that it helps with the painful flares, but not so much, the inconvenient ones. As I said in another thread, my flares are now more of the inconvenient and embarassing kind (my husband calls me the gassiest woman he's ever met) and I have to stay close to the potty sometimes (are you in the bathroom, again?!) rather than the painful kind (the kind that inpire prayers for an instant death).

Hubby and I went to the doctor yesterday, and the doctor prescribed the muscle relaxant, cyclobenzaprine primarily to help with sleep and night pain, although I can take it up to three times a day if I need to (but he said it will make me groggy, so I won't want to use it except on days when I'm not good for much anyway).

I was wondering if anyone has been on this drug, or one like it and what they thought of it (I haven't picked up the drug from the pharmacy yet. Hubby is going to do pick it up this afternoon).

Sleep is a big issue for me, and if I don't get decent sleep I'm in flare city. I have had a lot of trouble staying asleep and the doctor feels this will help. One thing that does seem to help some (and maybe will help more with the drug) is a sleep mask. I seem to sleep longer with the sleep mask on, even though I didn't think there was much incidental light in the bedroom (just the digital numbers on the alarm clock).

I'm so tired of feeling like a giant chemistry set (not only my drugs, but all of the ways I'm trying to discover how my body works).

Hi Kaplods. That is the generic for Flexeril...a muscle relaxant. I was prescribed that many moons ago for muscle spasms but it did not do well with me. I got very irritated when I took it. Let's call a spade a spade here...*****y!! I got *****y on it. So they switched me to Soma which worked much better for me. Good luck with it, it's different for everybody. Have to walk the Queen....Bye for now. Kate

Kal.....you discribed all of us with fm fog! Sometimes I think it is early alzhiemers it is so bad, and as you can tell on the key board I change my letters around too as I do when I write manually. I tired Fiber, lots of it and just was bloated all the time...still try it naturally and to keepmy meds to a min. The Flexeril will make you tired and slow your bowel down. I use the elavil to go into a deep sleep and Ambien cr if I can't get there. Sleep is so important and I do not get enough of it and then flare too.

Hi Meme..yes what were you thinkin! WE have ice and light snow here..I feel crappy with rain too. Rest...rest...rest......while you can.....

Kate.....I thought your DH was gone for a few days at a time with his job! I know all about the sweeper and we do not have sand! Kate that sounds like my reaction with the codine but it does not happen everytime and I can't seem take anything else. Sooooo I do not take it but once in a blue moon!!!!!!! I just suffer! LOL

Mima....I had to get some rest off my feet to try them again to make sure that is the problem...need to be pain free in the foot which usually happens with rest before I can go back to him, and I do not sleep much. Glad your car was fixed for FREE!

Joanne.....hope you are not losing due to illness! Keep and eye on it, Meme did that awhile back.

I am trying to get a few off now too...

I was so tired when DH got home and didn't feel good ate a banana and took a meclizine(for nausea) and told him he was on his own and layed back down and fell sleep, then he comes in the room and wakes me up to tell me he is going to bed..I was so tired I just stayed there and fell asleep again(the med makes me tired and I needed the rest! ) Got up at 2am had a v8 and a salad and A ww meal and a piece of dark choc and have berries defrosting for a snack later......am gonna go watch my shows and then back off to bed after DH gets up and leaves, since we have more snow. If I have no appts and the weather is bad and no sun I sleep good. Still gotta bathe the pup..but since yesterday was laundry maybe it will get done today after I get up. This whole move thing has had me so messed up!!!!!!!!

Good news-I am NOT anemic-went to doc yesterday-he said the lab the insurance co used must have made a mistake. I was upset for all I went through but I had my thyroid checked when I retested and my med is too high. No wonder about the sleep and waking up so early. He changed and lowered my med-now I am on genetic synthroid but I am a little skeptical. I was on Armour Thyroid and it worked well-had to adjust the dose once in a while. The good thing is that the new med is 4$ at Walmart. I will try it but
go back if it doesn't work. I have too many docs, Our doc here uses different meds than back home. I don't like the part where you have to wait 30 minutes to drink coffee.
I hate flexeril-can't stand being groggy and I was b----- too.
I loved the tolmetin but it made me bleed. Am only taking tylenol and one 5mg of prednisone when I get up. Foot is still sore and I am done with pt yjis week. He is giving me home exercises and I will wait before I get another shot. I know I am on my feet too much.
I am finally going to have my favorite art teacher today-Suzanne wants a picture for her bathroom and laughed when I suggested outhouses. I found something cute on the net so I am painting a pair of watercolors-small -and frame them. Hope they come out ok.
And then we will eat at church and go to the service. No cooking tonight.
And I can get a ted Dekker book out of the church library.
Hey tammy-are you back?
Bye for now. Mima

It has rained solid for days. I'm so tired of it. Poured all day and all night and were supposed to have rain, SNOW and wind tomorrow. They say we should dry out for a couple of days after that but I'll believe it when I see it.

Flexeril knocks me out and I feel like something the cat dragged in the next day. It knocks out everyone I know who has ever taken it so be careful that you don't need to go anywhere or do anything. Doc gave me some for the times when I need to sleep but I usually take Tylenol PM instead. At least with that I don't have a hang over when I wake up. I really believe if I took a Flxeril and the house caught on fire I'd just burn up in it.

I've had IBS for years. Can't stand the fiber stuff. Bloats me up like a big ole frog. I usually tough it out ... take Imodium or something else and try to get through it best I can. I've had pills for it, little pills for muscle spasms because I have spastic colon, doesn't really help. Nothing much helps except pepermint capsules. They help sometimes.

I'm glad you're not anemic, Mima ... that really sucks. I've been there all my life. And no one understands why I'm so tired all the time. How do you explain that to someone who has never experienced it? :?: Between the arthritis, fibro and anemia along with lack of sleep, some days I don't even feel like getting dressed. Hard to explain to 'normals.'

Sometimes I find myself wishing a few of the people I know could take a little stroll in my shoes (so to speak) for just a day or two. I don't wish them any harm ... just wish they could experience the joy of being me for a bit. I think there might be a rude awakening.

Hey There
 

Dr. visit yesterday. Blood back in control No anemia here either now.. Still taking iron though.. The bad was the sugar.145. Ate wrong over Christmas.. Cholesterol high,273 Triglycerides 455.. Not good.. He said my weight loss was because of the high sugar.. I don't mind the weight loss..But, I guess I need to really take charge..
It was 70 degrees here this morning.. It is supposed to rain tonight.. If we get much more than 5-10 minutes I will be surprised.Meme, You can send us some of your rain..
I too take Tylonal pm.. I can't take any of the other drugs to sleep . I refuse to take a prescribed drug for sleep. They are too addicting..I want a clear mind .I am up at least 5 times a night..
I just looked out the window . It is starting to rain.. I am timing it!!!!!
I have been wishing a few people could walk in my shoes for years."If wishes were horses".
Joanne

Good morning all! Joanne, it's cloudy here on the east coast and looking very seriously like it will rain any moment now. Very windy too...suppose to get cool tonight for a few days. Hubby has high glucose as well and they put him on Metformin 2X a day. He still likes his bread and sweets which I have been discouraging. I only keep sugar free fudgicles or sugar free puddings around now. His triglycerides were up to 400 as well but the tricor medicine bothered him so he just stopped taking it the other day. His doctor put him on 4000 mg of fish oil capsules and 250 mg of niacin(to start) to help bring the cholesterol down...and of course watching his diet! I just have to make sure he's eliminating some of those carbos.
I sometimes have to take Advil PM to help get me to sleep at night too. I only take 1 tablet though just for a little help....and I have recently started taking 3 mg of melatonin instead and find it works as well. Have vivid dreams with the meletonin though. Joanne, before I was diagnosed with sleep apnea, I was up an average of 6 times a night going to the pots. Once I got used to sleeping with my CPAP machine, I sleep straight through the night. That will make a big difference in FM symptoms. Why I am feeling so crumby lately I can only chaulk up to stress. Between the economy and worries about our retirement funds, I have some issues I can't seem to let go of. I try not to think about it too much but it just hangs in the back of my mind. I need to exercise it out of there I guess!
I think that is why we like this forum Meme, because we are all surrounded by "normals". This gives us a chance to communicate with folks that know how it feels to want to stay in bed and not face the world once in awhile and feel crumby for weeks at a time. I think we just need to keep putting one foot in front of the other and not let it get to us. We're stronger for it, yes?
Enjoy the day folks....Kate

It is nice to be able to talk about the fog and have someone understand. During my last year working (when we were still struggling to get a diagnosis), I was so embarassed when my words would slur and on other days the thoughts and words would race. I knew my coworkers thought I was on drugs.

Last night was my first night on the Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine) on top of the Elevil (amitriptyline). I woke up about 90 minutes after falling asleep to go to the bathroom (as usual), so I thought "geez, this stuff isn't working at all", although I was a bit groggy, but once going back to sleep I slept the rest of the night, so that was actually pretty good.

I did wake up a bit groggy, but more like a sinus headache than a hangover (and I've been having sinus pressure the last few days, so maybe it really was just a sinus headache). Once I got dressed, I felt ok, so maybe it's a good sign.

I'll have to ask hubby about the irritableness, because he notices that in me more than I do (I just think he's being a bigger jerk than usual).

It's like a joke I read in the reader's digest: A woman's doctor asks her what happens when she stops taking her antidepressant and she says "To me, nothing, but my husband becomes a big jerk."

I really do appreciate everyone's experience and just the understanding. My husband does the best he can, but there's no substitute for someone who understands because they've been through it.

I was wondering has anyone else had instances of sleep paralysis, or dreams in which you realize you're dreaming, but feel like you can't wake up. I wonder if it has something to do with the alpha wave anomoly I've read about, in which people with fibromyalgia can have alpha wave brain activity (usually associated with being awake) during other stages of sleep, it's like our brains don't shut the awake part off (or it doesn't stay off) while we sleep. Combined with not getting much Stage 4 sleep, I'm wondering if that might not be the core of at least some fibro. (on the other hand, it might be a consequence rather than a cause of the fibro).

It's frustrating to know that sleep might be key, because it's not like you can guarantee the right amount and kind of sleep. Drugged sleep often isn't the right kind of sleep, but it's not like you can choose to get the right quantity, quality of sleep in the healthiest proportion of sleep stages.

Good afternoon for a nap....cloudy, rainy and cool now. Curl up under those covers and snooze. :yawn: Queenie will join me....just like a furry blanket! Stress is getting to me with all these monthly financial statements coming in. Maybe I should just throw them in the trash!:crazy:

I do gtaht allthe time..just thought it was the meds....I am awake can hear all the noises and am aware but cannot move...the Biofeedback doc said it was a high state of relaxation???????

Ate well for a few days........

Glad your anemia is ok Joanne and mIma....

Meme.....I always say I wish you could walk in my shoes.....even the people with FM , the ones not too bad do not understand..sometimes I think they are misdianosed...they say "I have FM but only have a pain in my neck or shoulder"...well FM is more than that...irritates me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ice and snow here so I do not go out...go to doc next week for MRI report, the card said it was normal........so I guess it is vascular...the vision problems are annoying!

Good morning everyone....cool, no let me rephrase...VERY cool here this morning! This weather is definitely not good for my FM. I feel like someone took a baseball bat to the back of my shoulders today. :club:I do much better with the heat. Hubby home from work today due to company scheduling problems. What next I wonder? At least he is trying to be productive...and is fertilizing the lawn right now. He had a terrible reaction (flushing) to his new niacin supplements this morning. He thought he was dying or something. :rolleyes: Looks like he will have to take the flush-free kind which I was surprised his doctor didn't prescribe to begin with. Oh well, will wait to hear what doc has to say. Just one more pill bottle on counter to clean up around! Have to go run the irrigation system for a few minutes to water the fertilizer in....will check back to see how everyone is feeling later.

Hey There
 

I had a very bad reaction to niasin .. Can't take it. The son can't take it either.. When the Dr. gave it to the hubby he said to start with low dose and work up over a period of weeks. That is what he did and was able to take it. Although it did no good..He is on 4 different colesterol meds at this time.. That is the only thing that has helped him..I am on one at this time . I had a problem with them a few years back but am not taking one with q10. The Dr. said he may have to do something else if my Triglycerides doesn't come down..I don't want to take any meds for diabeties.. One you start that there in no going back.. I have a sister on insulin.. I think she started much too early.. I am trying to really watch what I eat for the next few weeks..
It is cool here and should get a little cooler.. We had about 5 minutes of rain the other day.. Very light and not enough
Got to walk Christie in a little while and then I can put on some more comfortable clothes and lay down with my book..
Joanne

Kate...cool bothers me alot too......I ache really bad even when cool air blows and me.........

Joanne....does High Cholestrol run in DH's family...and diabetes yours? MIne came down, not sure why with this stressful move and all but I am glad. I eat sugar but not too many carbs and lots of good fats!

WEll I did the sleep eating thing again..ate a whole bag of almond M&m's :eek: LOL Not a good thing...35 pts gone!!!!!! I also cut my nails but do not recall doing either one!..Now if I could have taken my shower and done my hair....LOL:D Got Fish in the oven and hardboiling some eggs for later.

I can take the extended release or flush-free niacin without incident (although my doctor did recommend taking it at night, as an extra precaution), but the regular niacin - Yikes. "Flushing" is such an understatement. I felt like all of my skin was on fire, burning and itching intensely, and twice as bad on my face and arms. I learned it's not an allergic reaction (which it felt like), but still a histamine reaction, so I took a couple benadryl to try and quiet the symptoms (then dumped the bottle into the trash and went out and bought the extended release niacin).

If I hadn't already been taking the slow release niacin for months without incident (the purchase of the "regular" niacin was an accident), I would have been too fearful to try the slow release. It was awful.

Hope that niacin works out. Hate buying things and then not being able to take it. And wasting the money like 30$ for that hemax, I think docs should give you samples.
Last day of pt-I want to get a timer so I can time my home exercises-it's hard to look at my watch all the time. I hope I do not need another cortisone shot but....
Brad's sister has diabetes and does not take meds and he does-she is much more careful. It's quite weird because they were diagnosed the SAME day.
Dennis 's sister is going to call today and tell us how he is.
Slept good last night. I am feeling better on new thyroid med but afraid the dosage isn't high enough from what I read on the net. Doc wants MY thyroid to kick in-maybe it will.
It's cool=have the heat on for a bit. Mima

Good morning all. Another cool one today and of course, that achy feeling along with it! Yuk....feeling so lethargic. Hubby's doctor's office called to tell him to continue with the regular niacin at night and to take a 325mg aspirin in 1/2C applesauce a half hour before the niacin. Awful lot of work for a crappy vitamin B pill! I asked why he couldn't just take the flush-free kind and the nurse had no answer...nice, huh? Well, hubby has decided the heck with it, he's not going to take it all because his flush was so severe, he doesn't want to take any chances. The literature I have indicates that the slow release/sustained release niacin is bad for the liver and that the flush free is actually better for the liver than the regular niacin. It also states that you can tolerate a larger dose over time using the flush free form. Don't understand why the doc didn't recommend that form for the hubby to begin with and disappointed his nurse didn't have the answer when asked. Has anyone heard of this new supplement called Sytrinol? Suppose to be this new heart health breakthrough for lowering cholesterol and triglycerides and improving glycemic control. I'm going to research it a bit. I'm of the belief we need to be aware of our own health care issues and treatments....we are ultimately responsible for our own wellbeing, right?
Candice, are you taking a prescribed med for sleep? I read that some people sleep/eat or sleep/walk while taking one of these new sleep meds....Lunesta? Maybe Ambien? One of those. That must feel so strange! I know I used to have night terrors when I was a young child but eventually grew out of them over a few years. That too, involved sleep walking...sometimes right out of the house! Of course I don't remember them much. Thank God we lived in a small remote community at the time! I couldn't imagine doing it now as an adult....hope it is a temporary thing for you.
And like most of you in this forum, there are certainly hereditary issues to deal with in my family as well. Diabetes, COPD, CHF, Glaucoma and Osteoporosis. I am fortunate to have not delveloped any of the above except the possibility of Glaucoma from my high eye pressure. But since I take drops for that and am continuing to watch my diet, lose weight and exercise, I am confident I can head off the rest. My sister on the otherhand......she'll be 70 this April and I am surprised she has made it this far with her weight and other health issues. She's on an oral diabetic medication now. She'll be visiting me next month for a couple of weeks so I will see how she's doing.
Off to get some housework done. Hope everyone enjoys the day and is keeping warm!! Kate

Hey There
 

High Colesterol runs in both my hubbies and my families. Diabeties in mine.. my G/mother was diabetic.. She died with pancreatic cancer.. Ofcourse some of these things come with age and overweight.. I was on blood preasure meds at the age of 30. My father had his first stroke at the age of 30.. He died at 67 of cancer. He was a lifetime smoker.. Cancer was a killer in his family..My daughter is very careful with her diet and weighs just about 100 pounds.. She has h/col. My son is in good health and has h/col.Not overweight too much he could lose a few pounds.. .so you see?
Today is cool. We use the heat at night. By the looks of things it should get cooler this weekend..I did a lot of house work this morning.. Now I rest.. Leftovers for supper so I don't need to cook .WOW! Got it made today!
Joanne

Mima....you can ask the pharmacy to give you just a few pills to see if they work, then you do not have to apy for them all.

Kala..what is this niacin stuff? and what is it for?

Kate..yes it is one of those meds, but only happens when I fall asleep somewhere and wake up to relocate after Hubby has left, sometimes I remember things and sometimes I do not..I have cooked a whole meal before and not eaten it but left it sitting out untouched.....I have gardened, walked the dog...things neighbors told me when we lived out in the country. Also cleaned the house, paid bills...(that is the scary one)....Never have I left the property....always in my pj's! Why I remember some and not all I do not know.

Joanne, sounds like bad stuff runs in your family and then you have DH too!LOL

Cooked a good pasta meal, walked the TM and rested. I am getting really hungry trying to stay within pts.

Well, glad I don't have the sleep problems. I have been getting up later-all along it was the thyroid med. Also not running to the bathroom..
We went to meet Mike etc at DQ. I always have coupons for that place.
Gor our tax bill and it went up 300. Def going to sell the house but it will probably take 2 years with all the work. I just remembered what a mess the yard is. from the ice storm.
Brad is going to help on the handyman team this morning . Morning to myself. I bought a second timer at Target to time my pt exercises. 30 seconds for each exercise.
Bye for now-Mima

Good morning everyone! A cool but sunny day here in Florida. Of course, we thin blooded folks here think 50 degrees is chilly!Hard to type when your hands are cold...
Candice, I'm not sure of your reference to "Kala" but my posting about the vitamin "niacin" is regarding what my hubby's doctor prescribed to help with his cholesterol because he had to stop taking his statin medicine. His liver function tests came back high so he decided to stop taking this "Tricor" stuff. So now he tried niacin, which I think is vitamin B3. There are several varieties of niacin...flush-free, sustained/slow release, and regular. The regular niacin often causes "flushing" in people....your arms, chest, face get red and hot...kind of like a severe hot flash with color added. The sustained released niacin could possible build up in the liver which is not good, especially if there is abnormal liver function to begin with, and the flush-free seems to be the product of choice. The dosage needs to be increased gradually to a level that is supposed to help lower cholesterol and triglycerides. Hubby's doctor wanted a gradual increase to 1000 mg of regular niacin, but to do it slowly. Of course, hubby had a severe flush reaction with the very first dose of 200 mg so now he doesn't want to touch it.
Well, have my first two reservations for company! They will be back to back for 3 weeks so this should prove interesting! Will be great to see my friends from up north though and we'll have a great visit.
Mima, my hubby used to be the local handyman where we lived so I consider myself fortunate. If it needs fixing, my hubby can do it and has all the tools. The garage is set up like his workshop with just enough room for my little suv. He just finished replacing the weather stripping on our big front door. That garage is his domain while the house is mine! Off to run some errands. I need to fix something simple for lunch for some friends who drove down this past week to their house in Kissimmee. They brought down a small trunk for us we had left behind. Maybe a small antipasto with some crostini. Hope everyone enjoys their day....and do keep warm!;)

Just a suggestion for sleep, and I have discussed with my doctor and a pharmacist and they see no harm in it. I tried sleeping meds - couldn't stand the side effects. I now just take plain old Gravol - in generic form. You get 50 tabs for about $2.99. I take a hot bath about an hour before bed. Soak for fifteen minutes. Part of the falling asleep process is your body cooling off, so that starts the process even faster as your body perceives the cooler air and the cool bed sheets as the start of the process. I take two tablets right after I get out of bed. I have my bedside radio set to a quiet radio news station, but it goes off after half an hour. That is because I tend to be a worrier and if I have just my brain spinning around to listen to, I don't relax. Somehow the background news helps shut out the worrying (unless they start talking about the stock market). It has been working for me. After three years or more of awful sleep, I am making an average of five hours before waking. I can even get back to sleep sometimes. Now the doc did ask that if I feel I am getting into a better routine to cut back to one gravol and see if it still worked...After a while to cut to half and then to none. As in any case, we don't want to become dependent if we can do it for ourselves..right?

Also, a pharmacist alerted me to the fact that I shouldn't be taking aspirin on top of any anti-inflammatories. Is why I was getting ringing in my ears. I have discovered that ADVIL gel-caps for migraines..for whatever reason, work wonders on my hip and feet pain.

Lastly has anyone heard of the new study on the use of gabapentin for fibro pain. It is prescribed in doses of 1200-1400 mg. daily. It seems to work wonders. Doc put me on it, and either it is working, or I have just gotten so used to the pain, I don't remember what less pain felt like LOL CHeers

Good morning, at least it still is here.

Mima - Sounds like your thyroid is OVERACTIVE. When my daughter had Graves Disease, she could only sleep a couple of hours and all body functions were speeded up, including her heart. Not a good thing. Hope they have it right now. Hope that Dennis is doing ok.

Kate - I took Niacin once, and it made me so darn hot. However, that was all it did, and I was ok with it, once I found out it was a normal reaction. Your hubby will need to change his eating plan to try to get that cholestrol level down. My Dr. told me, carbs are worse for cholestrol than fat is!!! I guess with the colder winter,people will start to flock to Florida. Mostly, people from Alberta, go to Arizona, not Florida. Eastern Canadians tend to go to Florida. So, I guess it will be company time for you.

Candice - That is scary. I get fibrofog, and have a hard time pulling the right words, but I don't think I forget stuff. I know there were times I would NOT drive my car, because I didn't think it was safe. I think I felt like a drunk person would feel.

JoAnne - boy high cholestrol must run in your genes, like arthritis runs in mine :lol: I guess you just take the meds and hope for the best. Diabetes is a BIG thing in our family. My grandfather was diabetic, My Mom, my brother, my other brother is right now doing a diet to try to control blood sugars, my nieces and nephews have it. Apparently, the HBA1C shows that mine quite stable, so far.

Molly - No sure Americans can get Gravol. It only works for me, if I am sick. Then I can sleep for hours. Other than that, it just makes me feel woozy. I try to take it when I fly, but NADA. That Gabapentin is Neurontin®
(gabapentin) Capsules
Neurontin®
(gabapentin) Tablets
Neurontin®
(gabapentin) Oral Solution

I think lots of Americans have taken that for a long time for FM. Is it new in Canada?

Meme - how are YOU? Hope you are catching up on some rest, but knowing you, you are still plugging along.

It is finally warming up. We are OUT of the deepfreeze. Never have I remembered such a cold December. For 3 weeks, we had such cold temps, often night-time temps, of -38 or better. Thankfully, we are now on the other side, and it is now 22F and heading up to 32F. I can now open my windows and air the house out. It feels WONDERFUL!

Hope you all have a good day.

Hi everybody

Anne, Gravol is dimenhydrinate (available in the US as Dramamine). I've never tried it for sleeping, but have used diphenhydramine (Benadryl), which is closely related chemically. The Walmart generics for both are very inexpensive and worth a shot. My doctor told me I could take up to 4 benadryl caplets or capsules. It works most of the time, but sometimes it makes it harder to sleep (I'll feel groggy, but instead of falling asleep my brain doesn't shut down, so I'll spend several hours very sleepy, but unable to actually fall asleep).

Candice, I have fog that messes with my short term memory too - and having had an almost photographic memory in the past, this is a hard adjustment to make. I still sometimes get this paranoia that hubby is "messing with me" when he says I've done or said something I can't remember. Yesterday I found a piece of toast that I had put in the toaster more than three weeks ago (I don't eat bread very often). I knew it was me and not hubby, because it was only one piece of toast in the toaster (he always puts in two).

My neurologist recommended 1000 mcg of folic acid daily to help with memory (you can get prescription folic acid, but it's VERY, VERY cheap otc, the only problem is it mostly comes in 400 mcg tablets (which doesn't divide evenly into 1000 mcg). He said I could take 3 tablets (1200 mcg) daily if I wanted to (the "extra" wouldn't hurt) but instead I take 3 tablets one day and 2 tablets the next. However, I just looked online and saw that 1000mcg are on the Sam's Club/Walmart $4 lost ($4 for 1 month, $8 for 3 months, so I'm going to have to compare this to the otc cost).

I found that it really does help, though it took about a month to notice a difference (and hubby noticed more than I did - because I don't "feel" any differently when my memory isn't working so well).

I'm feeling shockingly decent today, so I'm crossing my fingers that the new med, the cyclobenzaprine (Flexaril) is responsible (and not just the "luck" of a good day). Before I started the med, I had found that wearing a sleep mask was somewhat helpful (actually more helpful than I would have imagined), but I was still waking up several times during the night - but for some weird reason hubby's snoring is less likely to keep me from falling asleep with the eye mask (ear plugs hadn't worked, because they weren't keeping out sound and they felt funny and wouldn't stay in my ear canal - but for some reason the eye mask helps me "tune out" the sound, weird huh?)

That's what frustrates me about fibro the most, the "weirdness" of it all. It's like "trying to pin jello to a tree," as the saying goes. What helps, what doesn't, what symptoms appear and disappear without rhyme or reason, what was working and now doesn't, the "weirdness" of some of the symptoms and conditions that aren't fibro, but often accompany fibro (the irritable bowel, the chemical sensitivities, the autoimmune symptoms, the allergic symptoms that aren't allergies, the skin conditions .....). I'm tired of hearing "that's common in people with fibromyalgia - but we don't know why."

Good morning-Brad is mad at me-it's only 6 in the am -because I don't want to discuss plans to go home for a few days-it's too early in the morning, He also wants to discuss things at night!!!! All I said was that we could rent a car to get from the airport. I don't have any more info-besides it;s Sunday.
I spoke too soon about my stomache. It's acting up a bit.
It cerainly is hypothroid, I have been sleeping better except for last night.
Dennis has pneumonia. And it's snowing today back home.That was another thing, I was looking at the weather before I booked.
Trying to exercise my foot. on my own. Bye for now. Mima

Kal...Dramamine and meclizine are the "same" or are both used to treat vertigo and nausia and I get both. Right now am on the nausia route. It does make me sleepy at times when I do not want to be.......I hate this..yucky feeling, not getting much done and my brain needs to be acitve with my body. Fresh air and sunlight......might help but can't stand the sun on the snow! ..or breath the cold.

I can't take a lot of meds or supplements, they bother my tummy.....everything bothers my tummy right now.

Cold here too and we had ice and now light snow. So I do not go out, just let the dog out the door.

Happy I will not drive on a bad day....requires to much thought!

Kate..thanks for explaining the nicacin....

Molly..I am thinking of getting a noise machine to fall asleep by....my main problem is DH...he is a leg jerker and cpap user and a cover yanker and a night screamer and so far the only comfy bed is in the master. WE will get another once we are settled and it is warmer. I can fall asleep if I am tired anywhere, just wake up in more pain is I am not comfy all night. He goes to bed early and gets up early I go to bed and late and get up late.......

Mima....good you can get some sleep..Brad is being a poop!!!!

I wonder if I feel so bad becasue I cut points?..should feel better Huh?

Well, we argued a bit and then went to church and out to eat with friends and had a great time. Then we went to bed at 9 and Brad wanted to know what we would do for food-and I wouldn't discuss it at 9.!!!!! I was reading to fall asleep. We can discuss it today but i need to get the tickets first. I believe you need yo unwind at night. I know i am anal;but I had a rule with my kids-anything they needed me for had to be done before 8 pm. Not an easy task for teens.
Candice-get what you need to sleep now. I used to run an air cleaner and that acted like a noise machine. I also wear ear plugs. they help but if I get woken up around 4-that's it for me.
no pt-I am doing my exercises.
Bye for now. Mima

Good morning everyone! Lost my post yesterday....I think the sight was down for maintenance or some such. I am still trying to find more info on this Sytrinol which is derived from some sort of "flavones". It's a natural product that is used to lower cholesterols and triglycerides. It also acts as a powerful antioxident and improves glycemic control. I found the article in a publication called "Total health"...going to google it and see what happens!
I wanted to mention to Mollymom that I had tried 600 mg of Gabapentin for about a month but found I became very agitated on it. It does take about a week or two to get into the system. It works by blocking or shutting off the signal from nerve pain from the spinal area or something along those lines.....regardless, it didn't seem to be for me. It was explained as having the same components as Lyrica but had not been approved as treatment for FM by the FDA yet. It is actually an anticonvulsive medication....go figure!
Weather has gotten cooler and very cloudy today. It looks like we are finally going to get some much needed rain. Suppose to get a cold front moving through tomorrow too, which will push our temps down into the 60s for the rest of the week. Brrrrr...down comforter on the bed tonight!
Took a fall night before last while out dog walking with some neighbors. It was dark and I caught my foot in a hole on the side of one neighbor's yard...down I went. Didn't hurt at the time but got up the next morning and could barely walk! Getting too old to be doing these stunts! Feeling better today though.....I've been icing it and eating advil. That will teach me to remember my mini flashlight when walking after dark! Having a quiet day today I hope. Trying to get my thoughts around the impending visits and company beginning in a couple of weeks. I'm tired already and we haven't even got there yet!
Candice, as a cpap user myself, I am surprised your DH isn't quieter and more restful. I sleep so quietly and hardly move at all once I drop off. Hubby says that absolutely no noise comes out of me now. I was a talker, snorer and teeth grinder before the cpap machine. On the other hand, I have to keep poking hubby for his snoring now! He also has those restless legs once in awhile...moving them around every few minutes. It does become annoying when you're trying to drop off to sleep. I would consider using a sleep aid in your case as well. I've always had good luck with a single Advil PM when needed. Or the 3 mg of meletonin.....good luck with finding a solution.
Mima, good luck with your trip...and it's sounds like this is a trip up north? Does it have to do with your rental? Hope the weather cooperates with you. Hope everyone enjoys the rest of their day. I've been running late all morning so far....not good for a Monday! Kate

Hello again. Just read posts. sounds like we've all had some pain from our fibro. We're expecting more snow and wind overnight. I'm tired of it already. Tim starts classes tomorrow. I'm doing ok. I have to get on here more often to read and to post. I'm sorry I haven't been doing that. Talk soon.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-...38/file003.gif to Tammy.....great to see you on here:)

Kate....oh my...falls we can do without.....I never hurt right away either that is why I overdo so much I think...about 2 hours after I do something I will begin to feel it. Hope you recover fast! Can you still do stretches on the floor and stuff to keep you from getting stiff?

Mima...good for you holding your own:D

I am so sore form cleaning my girl came and we worked form 9 untill 2:30, she had to leave early again. I did the pots and sinks and she did the tubs and floors in the bathrooms. I mop the garage everyday when DH brings salt and cinders in and sweep the salt up on the walkway rug. Then I swept the cats room, that will be our task in the next few weeks to clean and scrub their floor and walls...they are such piggies! I decided to leave my x-mas stuff out for now, some of it is just winter but the little tree and mantle are xmas...no one comes by anyway and it is alot of trips up and down the stairs. Got an appt WEd so gotta rest today...this cold snap is pretty rough temp is falling fast and snopw is a blowin'. So far the dog has not asked to go out....maybe will let him before I lay down for good. I layed on the floor earlier to stretch my back and dozed off for an hr. and could hardly get up!LOL Should beable to sleep today with the snow unless DH stays home, then the dog annoys me, he gets all confused!

HI Hap, Meme, Kala, Molly....:wave:

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-8/796538/sandy2.jpg

Kate here is a pic of last dog we had, she was 17....finally had to pur her down about 6 years ago and were dogless for a few years. Looks a little like Queeney........

Nice dog-we talk about Cassidy a lot. But we don't need a dog when we go back and forth.
Went for a walk last night. My back is hurting but it was no worse on my foot.
We are going back home because Brad wants to work on the heating systemo we won't burn all the oil. Am Express is converting our pts to miles and then transfer them to Southwest so we can get the plane tickets. We will be taking Aunt Beverly back with us and then she will only have to fly home alone. She is a sweetie but also 81. When Brad's sister took her in their camper, she fell and had a hairline fracture in her neck so I was thinking that a week would be long enough.
Sorry you fell, Kate, I fell in a ditch once when I was walking with my aunt because the darkeness covered it-not fun.
Brad refuses to talke anything to sleep and he wakes up all night long to go to the bathroom. I tell him he likes to suffer.
The insurance company will not insure me because of the lab test that was their mistake but I have not faxed the correct ones yet because one of them is not here yet.
there are so many good things I can do if I go home for a week-see Auntie-and my kids and get a decent haircut and a massage and see the good chiro, Wow,
Bye for now Mima

Good morning everyone. Very chilly here this morning...need a sweatshirt to walk. I know, I know...I shoudn't even mention this, huh? This cold front coming through will stiffen me right up too. My ankle is feeling much better today. I will be off for my morning walk with the "Queen" in a few minutes. She was in a barking mode last night. Must be the remnants of the full moon we just had. They were calling it the "wolf full moon". Not sure why, but I think Queenie must have figured it out! Candice, such a sweet looking dog. I had a Samoyed for 13 years, then I got my first German Shepard, then added a second Shepard to the family. They lived to be 15 and I had to put them down 6 months apart. I waited 3 years thinking hubby and I would travel some when we moved to Florida. Well, we didn't get too far so I went to the Humane Society and brought Queenie home. Hopefully I will be as lucky with her longevity. Need to get something done around the house today...probably vacuumn and wash floors. Hope everyone enjoys their day. Kate

Candice, feel free to come to my house and do some cleaning!! Loved the dog picture!

Mima, sounds like you'll be busy at home!

Kate, I'll take your chilly over mine. lol We're supposed to get down below zero the next few days. I don't like that much at all.

I think it is nap time for the puppy and me. I have things to do, but the pillow is calling me.

Hello to everyone else!!

Hey There
 

Yes it is supposed to get cold here. Damp and cold.. Raining ,but, very light.. Not going to do a lot of good to help the drought..
Christie or I will not be happy going out today tp potty. But, better that than my floor..
Tammy- I have been thinking about you when I watch the weather up there.. That is not for me. But ,I have been in Florida all my life so I don't know much about things up there..
Kate - It takes about 5 years to get used to Fl. weather.. My sister was born down here ,but, when she got married and moved to N.Y she seemed to forget what it was like in Fl. Now she is back and tryinf to learn again.. Saddly she was gone so many years and not much contact so we are really more like strangers..Her companion died just recently and now it may be even harder..
Candice- Sleeping with the hubby gets harder all the time.. He is up and down all night. I try to keep him awake during the day so he will sleep at night. Not a whole lot of luck.. So I don't sleep well at night.I wouldn't think about sleeping in the daytime. I would not sleep at all then at night.He is Greek and has no intention to sleep alone.
Mima- Will you be coming back down this year? Do you think that you may sell and stay down on a permanent basis?That is what a lot of the retirees do around here.
Hello Happy,Meme..Joanne