Be the person who cares

Dealing with Light Sensitivity

Hi Everyone,

Today I want to discuss how to deal with light sensitivity. Our home and work environment can mess with our sensitivities to light, sound, and touch. Flourescent lighing can trigger headaches, dizzy spells, and vision problems. There are days when my sensitivity to light, sound, and touch are magnified to the point of not being able to deal with anything. The next thing I know, I am experiencing a full blown migraine. Not good.

I retreat to my bedroom, turn down the lights (sometimes turn them off completely), turn on some soft music and lay down to rest. I lay on my back with pillows placed under my head, each side of my arms, and under my bent knees. I enjoy listening to music, or simply meditate with my eyes closed. 

Sometimes it is difficult to deal with normal or average lights and sounds. Hypersensitivity seems to occur on its own, with no headache. These sensitivities can interfere with your work and daily activities. Being unable to tolerate average levels of light or sound can make it difficult to go outside, participate in social events, or do your job. I know it is related to certain health conditions that should be addressed. So, by all means talk to your healthcare provider about these issues. Yet another reason to journal because it will help you understand what triggers these episodes. Here are my tips:

- Journal (assists you in figuring out what triggers these sensitivities)
- Darken rooms 
- Wear earplugs (to this day, I wear one earplug at the movie theater)
- Wear sunglasses
- Take breaks away from settings you find difficult because of light or noise
- Lay down and rest with your eyes closed
- Get the right amount of sleep (we all have different sleep requirements)
- Practice deep breathing exercises
- Practice relaxation exercises (meditation)
- Allow yourself some "me" time
- Seek out support (family, friends, doctors, Internet acquaintances)

My initial experience was devasting and caused me to become anti-social. I finally decided that blogging, researching, and reading about other people experiencing these symptoms made me feel better about myself. Yes, I was blessed to have a partner that loved and supported me. He was there through good times and bad times. Somehow it seemed easier to deal with these issues when I shared my experience with like individuals. Do what makes sense to you and your physical and mental health.

My thoughts: Stay connected to your family and friends. Seek help and learn to communicate your thoughts and feelings.

I hope and pray you have a day free of pain and fatigue.

Affirm Youself Often

Hi Everyone,

We must affirm ourselves often because we deserve it, giving ourselves compliments will provide a boost to our self-confidence. In the process we must also affirm others because helping others feel good about themselves makes us feel better about ourselves too. The goal is to accept yourself thereby allowing you to open up to the people around you. When we feel pain and fatigue whether it be emotionally or physically the feelings of sadness and anger can cause someone to lose determination or confidence. Affirm Yourself Often. Examples of self-affirmation:

I AM - is a statement of who you are

I CAN - is a statement of your potential

I WILL - is a statement of positive change in your life and what you want to happen moving forward.

Create your own or consider the ones I have written below:

- I am in control of my life and I am willing to take that first step to control my pain and fatigue.

- I can be positive, I can plan to become more active and I can succeed.

- I will focus on remaining positive and I will decrease my pain and fatigue.

Yesterday I wrote that I wanted to blog and share my emotional and physical journey. I think I will separate my relationship grief and possibly discuss how we start to consider building new relationships. I may create a new blog on relationships. So this site will continue focusing on how I deal with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue. Let me know what you think.

Part of chronic illness includes a loss of self, social life, money. etc. and our definition of normacy changes. You may be in the initial phase of realizing you have a chronic illness. Where do you stand? Do you want to learn how to take control of your pain and fatigue? I hope so. Are you starting your journey, progressing, or at a stand still?

Personally, I got lazy. Oh I still continued to stretch and eat the right foods, but I did not make an effort to add to my routine. The only reason I continued to stretch was because I trained myself to stretch before getting out of bed and it felt good. I figured out certain foods did not agree with my body and just changed my food choices. I worked on improving my health and eventually my habits changed. Then life changed, I lost Jerry and then I lost interest in my own emotional and physical health and happiness. I'm sharing because I want someone to learn from my mistakes. Don't just survive, I know you are tired, in pain, fatigued, and discouraged. Each time you wake up, you have another chance to make things better, to improve upon your emotional and physical health. You have a choice.

Well you are probably bored so let me end this post with my thoughts for the day:

Take control of your life. Start with one change, and when it feels like part of your usual routine, add another. DO NOT STOP even when you feel pain and fatigue. Once that change feels like second nature, add another, and so on. Don't just survive, make new plans and goals. Affirm Yourself Often.


I hope and pray you have a day free of pain and fatigue.

P.S. Completed my yoga stretches and exercise routine!

A place to buy Ice Pack Wraps

Hi Everyone,

I found a site that sells ice packs. Get your gel packs, cold therapy ice packs and heating pads to treat your leg pain, elbow joint pain, hip pain, knee pain, foot pain, or arthritis pain! I have used cold therapy ice packs and heating pads to treat my pain. They were first introduced to me during my medical rehabilitation for Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue. Here is the link and a coupon code that is available until May 9, 2013:

http://www.pjtra.com/t/RT9GSkVFSD9LS0lGST9GQ0hC
10% off your IceWraps.net purchase with coupon code SPRING10! Expires 5/9/13. 

I hope and pray you feel good today. Try the cold and hot therapy options. I personally like the hot therapy option.

Prayer for Jerry

God our Father,
Your power brings us to birth,
Your providence guides our lives,
and by Your command we return to dust.

Lord, those who die still live in Your presence,
their lives change but do not end.
I pray in hope for my husband Jerry,
relatives and friends,
and for all the dead known to You alone.

In company with Christ,
Who died and now lives,
may they rejoice in Your kingdom,
where all our tears are wiped away.
Unite us together again in one family,
to sing Your praise forever and ever.

Amen.


I pray and hope everyone experiences a day without fatigue and pain.

The Start of a New Year 2013

Hello Everyone,

I am starting off the new year without my soul mate, Jerry. I miss him so much and I hope that I can move forward without always feeling so sad. The fatigue and pain I have felt on a daily basis is nothing when compared to the sadness I feel because of the loss of my husband. It helps me to write to him everyday. Jerry completed me and made me want to be a better person. I will never forget Jerry's courage, compassion for others, wisdom, and infinite love. He made a difference in my life. I thank him for the beautiful, blessed journey in life we shared.

On another note, I would like to remind everyone to update their medication list and try to keep a daily journal. The journal does not have to be fancy. Write down your symptoms, thoughts and find a way to measure your pain. After a few weeks or months you can review and re-examine your symptoms, thoughts and pain level. I have been able to monitor activities, medications and found ways to improve my health and quality of life.

The most critical part of learning to live well with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue is making lifestyle adjustments. We cannot change the past or our genetic makeup. However, there may be aspects of our lives that we can change or ‘adjust’ in order to improve our health and quality of life.

Also try to simplify and balance your life.

Today’s message: Never take life for granted, cherish the people you love and take control of your health.

Meanwhile I hope and pray everyone has a wonderful new year filled with love, good health and happiness.

With Warm Regards,

Viv

Requesting Prayers for Jerry

Hello Everyone,


My husband is in ICU at Brackenridge Hospital. He needs your prayers and strength. He was placed in an induced coma and now is in the awakening stage. We are waiting to see if he responds to us. PLEASE PRAY for him, I love my husband and want him to recover and come back home. I would die for him, he is a good person with a kind heart. He is a husband, Father, Grandfather, Son-in-Law, Uncle, Brother-in-law, and friend to many. PLEASE PRAY FOR HIM.


Sincerely,

Viviana

P.S. Tomorrow I will post more information with progress reports. Please keep him in your prayers.