Chronic Pain

Hello, my dear friend! How are you? I hope the sunshine I've sent your way has finally arrived! Warm weather (not hot!! lol) always makes the body feel a bit better! Just a bit of sunshine gets those endorphins going. There were a few days here where it was over 100F already! It's April, not August!! Gaah, wtf?!

Well, it seems my luck has run out, again. I'm back to hurting, again. I do have some answers, but not many. My new doctor seems to think I have Fibromyalsia and a severe case of IBS. I'm in the midst of a lovely flare now. I got put on Lyrica, so I'm going to wait and see how that works out for me. According to my doctor, it can make me feel "weird", as in: out of body experience kind of weird. LOL. I'm actually looking forward to that! It's got to be better than the usual nausea that comes with new meds or changing doses.

The garden is somewhat planted. I have some corn in the ground already, and some Chamemille (sp?) planted in a hanging pot. They should start sprouting anyday now. Things don't grow as well as you'd think they will out here. It gets too hot in the summer (and now apparently April is part of summer, lol), and it litterally burns the plants! Nothing quite like having your sunflowers have burn marks from the sun. The corn should be okay, though. I'll send some pics when/if it starts to grow well. Hopefully I can get the pool all fixed; water makes me feel better and helps with that "acid in my veins" feeling. My doggie, Cookie, misses swimming so much. I was at the beach last weekend with Andy, and when I came home, she gave me such a look! I've never seen a Rottweiler so happy to go into the ocean. LOL.

Anyways, write me back and let me know how things are with you!

Much luv,
Harley

Hello There Ms. Harley

I was really glad to hear from you this weekend. I checked everyday and kept thinking, Wow! she's doing great and hoped you'd come back to tell me you were healed. Well, bummer, not so huh?

Since your doc thinks you have FM, then I would suggest you learn all you can about it and consider as many alternative therapies as you can. Some help some of us, and then others help the rest of us fmers. IBS is just another one of the fascinating symptoms of this dreaded chronic illness, there's a list a mile long and not all of us suffer the same amount of symtoms.
There is alot of great info here at the CPConnection as we are very blessed to have Karen Richardson the co-founder of the national FM Association as one of our main writers here and here is the link to the NFA and you can find just about any & everything you would ever want to know about Fm in their site too. http://www.fmaware.org/site/PageServer?pagename=fibromyalgia
You mentioned the acid running through your veins? Do you mean you have skin pain & sensitivity too? if so, another lady & I have a discussion going right here in this forum, I think in the treatments section or the symptoms section and she & I have been sharing about our skin pain & sensitivity and also shared alot of things we use to eleviate the pain. So if your interested in joining she & I? your certainly welcome.

I could really use your weather right now. I received your sunshine last weekend and we got in the mid to upper 70's, then starting thurday night we've had snow and down in the 30's temsp every night at 6:30pm, it lasts all night and then by noon tomorrow it'll melt, the sun comes out and it gets up to about 45-50*, then as soon as the sun goes down, it's snowin again. This is very weird weather, even for Washington state. It's snowin out right now so hard, I can hardly believe it. lol insane

I hope you get past your flare soon and then maybe you can start to see some patterns from your diary, so you know what types of scenerios will cause or set off a flare and then maybe you can learn to work around it. It's a full time job just trying to figure it out though and I'm still working on it. Your lucky you live in a warmer climate, as you will do much better there, than I do in this colder damp one.

Glad to see your still seeing Andy. Going to the beach sounds so nice right now. If you continue to get some fresh air and get out to at least walk, you'll feel better. Even when it causes more pain to push myself out for a walk & some fresh air, I still do better and handle the pain much better too. Theres something about the fresh air and just keeping movin and you'll do alright.
I'm also curious to see how the Lyrica does for you. It has worked amazingly for some folks and not so much with others. please keep me posted, as I've not tried it yet.

Well, I better quit yapping. Much lov & warm hugs. Your doing great hon and I'm really happy for you. Get that pool cleaned and in working order, as the water is really good for you & your Fm.
Talk to ya soon and if you get time come talk to Bev & I about your skin pain, we might have some ideas for ya.

TTFN
Gentel hugs
Betty

Well, I'm good and lazy! First, I must apologize to all my friends online here! I'm so sorry I haven't been chatting on here in months! I've kept you all in my thoughts, prayers, and dreams. I hope that life is finding you all well and, hopefully, as pain-free as possible. I've been feeling so bad about not posting on here in a long time. I really do. It's important to keep in contact with those who go through the same (or very close to) kind of trials and tribulations that I go through on a daily basis. So, my friends, please forgive me. I also have a hard time remembering to come on in here and updating things. If you have AIM/YAHOO/MYSPACE, you're definately more likely to catch me on there. My screen name is HarleyQuinn1980 on ALL the accounts (yea, I'm cool like that! lol). I hope to speak with all of you someday!

Ok, now on to the grand 'ol update!

1) I'm no longer seeing Andy. Unfortunately, things just didn't work well for us as a couple, but we are still very much friends. Within the same breathe, I do have a boyfriend! His name is James, and he's an army medic! Who better to take care of me than someone in the medical field? He's still active military, but he's home with a messed up back. He's in a lot of pain, too, so he knows how things are with me, and understands all that comes with my disease. It's great to have someone whom can look past all the pain pills, rashes, fevers, and distresses I have, and actually see the person that I really am! He's a very kind, gentle, loving soul, and I'm so very happy to have him in my life!

2) I got the wrong diagnosis - sort of! While I do have Fibromyalsia, that wasn't explaining the kidney infections and why I feel so sick all the time. I finally got into a Pain Management Clinic - James actually got me in - and, they diagnosed me with Lupus. That wasn't the answer I wanted, but it is an answer. Nothing quite like being told that you will spend the rest of your life in pain, and sick until your disease eventually kills you. That was not a good day. Fortunately, they've put me on some different medications, including a muscle relaxer to help with the all over soreness that comes from Lupus and Fibromyalsia. Now, if I can only find something to do about my chronic, and often disabling, extreme fatigue. I have a waterbed that James loves to sleep on next to me. He's so good to me, and will rub my back or give me soft kisses on my face when I wake up crying from the pain and general discomfort.

3) I've started my own business!! I am now the proud co-owner of my own travel site!! www.IWannaGoSomewhere.com is the place to go for really good deals! Seriously, some of the stuff that's available to everyone, not just the members, is crazy discounted. I'm headed to St. Thomas (US Virgin Islands) for 7 days in a condo for $400 total - that's NOT per person! The plane ride down will only run $300 roundtrip. Of course, becoming a member makes you eligible for the "DreamTrips", but I'm not advertising that. I'd rather my friends just come to me to help book trips for "mental health" reasons - as in: "I need a vacation before I scream!" kinds of reasons. LOL. Again, I'm always available to help anyone and everyone!

4) James gave me a little life-form! I am now a proud mommy of a very tiny, fluffy, pure white, blue-eyed kitten named Fiona! She's so adorable, and so completely crazy! She's growing up so fast!! While I don't have the get up and go to chase her around the house, my doggies love to play with her. Fiona loves to play with Lilo especially. They even fall asleep together. It's so very cute! Pictures are on MySpace, of course!

Well, I think I should wrap this up by apologizing again, and promise to do my bestest to keep up with everyone. I hope everyone is feeling the best possible these days. The sun is out and shining, take advantage of it, my friends! We only have 5 Billion years left of our wonderful star!

Hey Kiddo

Good to hear from you. Don't ever worry or apologize for not posting or hanging around here. I was & always think that it's great when some is not posting, cuz they must be doing better. giggle!

Sorry to hear about your old Bf, but sounds like you've made a really nice new friend and he is understanding of your illness.
Speaking of illness, did we discuss the suspicion of you having lupus before?? For some reason I was thinking that it was a suspicion, but one of your docs said NO WAY? I have a friend with Lupus and It could of just been me, thinking you might have it.

I'm glad you atleast have a diagnosis and can know work towards treatment for yourself, instead of feeling like no one knows what's wrong with you and all the grief of knowing somethings wrong, but feeling like no one believes you.

You sound really good and I'm proud of you for doing your online buisness. Good for You!

Well, I better not jabber your head off, good to see you hon. Take Care and Thanks for letting us know how your doing.

Hugs & Love
Betty