My Top 5 pieces of advice for helping tackle fibro, for the newly diagnosed as well as the chronic sufferers:
(I know, these sound very simplistic, but these are what gets me through and are the BIGGEST factors in helping me!)
1. 2 Books: FibroWhyalgia & How To Be Sick -- they helped me get mental clarity, calmness and strength to tackle the fibro (amazon.com)
2. www.chronicbabe.com - check out the forums, this is the BEST place for constant doses of positivity and support and advice from others with similar issues!
3. Yoga &/or Massage! The gentle stretching is AMAZING for my body, and helps me sleep. Yoga is a gentle form of exercise that really, really helps with my fibro if I keep up with it (twice a week); I also get a massage 1-2 times a month, it has similar effects as yoga, muscle stretching and relaxing, cleansing and revitalizing.
4. Write a Letter for close Friends & Family - Here is a link to one I wrote when I was diagnosed. I sent it to close F&F, I felt like it helped explain things that are complicated to explain, and I wanted them to know what I was going through and that I really needed their support, and this told them exactly what they could do to help me. Please feel free to copy this and make it your own! http://adayinthelifeoffibro.blogspot.com/p/my-letter.html
5. Supplements & Fresh Foods - look into some that can help - Magnesium, Ginger... many others. They take longer to start to work, but are all natural, and have no side effects, and most are available at your local drugstore inexpensive! Keep to all healthy - eating too! No chemicals or additives - fresh fruits, veggies etc!
BONUS: Aim for a balanced life!
Showing posts with label struggles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label struggles. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
To Get Things Accomplished and Keep Sanity :)
Dealing with fibro is difficult. Remembering things is difficult. Having the energy to get things done, is difficult. It's also all overwhelming. Trying to maintain and live a semi-normal life is a real struggle for me, on a daily basis.
Before fibro, I was the over-accomplished Type-A do more, go go go type person. I have had to cut back, give myself breaks, take on less. It drives me nuts, as I like to accomplish a lot, get alot done, fit a lot into my days. But in order to keep fibro in check I have to reduce stress, and not overexert in any way. I have to maintain a normal sleeping and eating schedule, stick to it strictly (hard, very hard for me.)
So I have come up with a way to get things done and still maintain my sense of sanity and accomplishment. It may sound simple, and childish, and really silly, but it really helps me. The night before a weekend-day I choose the top 4 things I need to accomplish the next day. I don't write them down, I challenge myself to remember them, all 4. (And I promise myself not to worry about anything else that needs to get done, I will add it to another days list.) I keep reminding myself of the list of 4, all evening/night, and the next morning :) At the end of the weekend-day I review, if I am able to accomplish all 4 I am super happy, even if I do 3 of the 4, I am still pretty delighted with myself. For weekdays I usually lessen the to dos, to 2 or 3 (and 1 of these to dos is always taken up by work, the ol 9-6 thing which exhausts me utterly making it difficult to do anything else.) These things can be big or small, from do the dishes, laundry, mail a package, to go to a friends dinner or party.
It helps me, I feel a sense of accomplishment and I feel good about remembering :)
Before fibro, I was the over-accomplished Type-A do more, go go go type person. I have had to cut back, give myself breaks, take on less. It drives me nuts, as I like to accomplish a lot, get alot done, fit a lot into my days. But in order to keep fibro in check I have to reduce stress, and not overexert in any way. I have to maintain a normal sleeping and eating schedule, stick to it strictly (hard, very hard for me.)
So I have come up with a way to get things done and still maintain my sense of sanity and accomplishment. It may sound simple, and childish, and really silly, but it really helps me. The night before a weekend-day I choose the top 4 things I need to accomplish the next day. I don't write them down, I challenge myself to remember them, all 4. (And I promise myself not to worry about anything else that needs to get done, I will add it to another days list.) I keep reminding myself of the list of 4, all evening/night, and the next morning :) At the end of the weekend-day I review, if I am able to accomplish all 4 I am super happy, even if I do 3 of the 4, I am still pretty delighted with myself. For weekdays I usually lessen the to dos, to 2 or 3 (and 1 of these to dos is always taken up by work, the ol 9-6 thing which exhausts me utterly making it difficult to do anything else.) These things can be big or small, from do the dishes, laundry, mail a package, to go to a friends dinner or party.
It helps me, I feel a sense of accomplishment and I feel good about remembering :)
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Marylin Meberg - Good Quote
From a book that has been at my bedside and a great solace to me over the past couple months, "God Always Has a Plan B":
At times I feel as if the events of my life are riding on a pink golf ball that suddenly curves off in a direction Ii didn't plan, didn't want, and over which i have no control. In dismay, I watch as my life careens off the course I have carefully planned for. And in my rescue of my pink golf ball I have to wander off my chosen course to reinstitute my life. While this is an adventuresome experience, it is not a selected or always joyous one.
I've also experienced many unexpected curves that were delightful and enriching. I didn't see them coming, nor did i have time to prepare, they were just suddenly there.
but life is simply full of curves - sometimes gentle, pleasant, and surprisingly gratifying and sometimes threatening to overwhelm me in their sharpness. The seat belt insuring my survival in all this is that God is always there with me.
- Marylin Meberg
At times I feel as if the events of my life are riding on a pink golf ball that suddenly curves off in a direction Ii didn't plan, didn't want, and over which i have no control. In dismay, I watch as my life careens off the course I have carefully planned for. And in my rescue of my pink golf ball I have to wander off my chosen course to reinstitute my life. While this is an adventuresome experience, it is not a selected or always joyous one.
I've also experienced many unexpected curves that were delightful and enriching. I didn't see them coming, nor did i have time to prepare, they were just suddenly there.
but life is simply full of curves - sometimes gentle, pleasant, and surprisingly gratifying and sometimes threatening to overwhelm me in their sharpness. The seat belt insuring my survival in all this is that God is always there with me.
- Marylin Meberg
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