Flare ups and Missing Cars...

Yesterday I wore jeans, a t-shirt and a sweater.  No, I haven’t run out of ideas to blog about and am now telling you what I wore.  Stay with me here…until yesterday for a week I’ve worn nothing but pajamas and I’ve been stuck in the bed unable to walk.  I had the first Fibromyalgia Flare this past week that I’ve had in a long time. What does a flare-up feel like? The best description I can come up with is an electrical storm inside your body. You know what it feels like when you hit your funnybone and it isn’t funny? Well imagine that magnified and all over your body. I wore nothing but soft pajamas because even clothing or a blanket can feel painful to the touch – like a straightjacket tightening on my muscles.

Day after day of lying in the bed in pain and one excruciating afternoon of going to the doctor knowing that he couldn’t do anything but knowing I needed a note for work. It took Ben, a nurse and a cane and a wheelchair to get me in and out of the car that day.  My doc agreed with my diagnosis and sent me home to bed after offering me mega pain killers which I declined as I think he suspected I would.

What caused this flare?  Well my pain triggers traditionally are stress, poor sleeping patterns, chemicals, and weather changes but who knows specifically what triggered this episode or any episode. Perhaps a delayed response to the injections for my hip? So does this mean my organic lifestyle is failing me? I don’t think so because this flare lasted a week. Yes, this is only day 2 of wearing jeans and I’m on my cane again something I haven’t used in almost a year but it only lasted one week and not months as it has in the past.  I think that proves I’m doing something right.

So here I am a week later, still hurting but nothing like before and wearing jeans - quite the accomplishment. So what does one do all week while lying in bed staring at the ceiling?  Well for me it was sleeping for the most part.  I followed my cat’s example and slept more hours than I was awake. When I was awake, I spent a lot of time reading on my Kindle, occasionally checking work email on my iPhone and on one particular morning talking on the phone with a police detective from Kansas City when he called to inform me that Kaitlyn’s car was stolen.

That day wasn’t the best on the stress meter but that was out of my control.  Fortunately, the car was found and so was the criminal.  Unfortunately, we have to pay to repair the damage done to the car. Fortunately, it was minimal since unfortunately this guy was a pro at stealing cars and yes, we are pressing charges.

I also stared at the ceiling. A lot.  Boring perhaps but about all I could handle most of the time. When I did read, I did some research on herbs and treatments and will continue to do so. I’m still a believer in my organic lifestyle and I’m still a believer in herbal treatments and cures.  I used them throughout this week and I think it helped.

I’m not completely well yet but I’m working on it and hey, I can wear jeans again.

Take care of yourselves and your families.

Chelle

Fibro Flare, Doogie Howser, MD and Orange Cleaner

Well this has been quite a week.  I went to my orthopedic doctor on Monday afternoon and he says he wants to send me to a surgeon and before I could get my head wrapped around the idea of seeing a surgeon, he just happened to have an opening on Tuesday.  So on Tuesday afternoon I go to see the orthopedic surgeon. 

I think his name should be changed to Doogie Howser, MD.  He looked 12 or maybe I’m just getting really old.  Lol.  Anyway, he gave me another set of injections and is sending me onto physical therapy.  I’m really glad he is taking a conservative approach and allowing me to try to do some things for myself.  So, I’ll do the PT for 6 weeks and then we can see from there.

I’m really happy my doctor sent me to the surgeon he did (even if he is 12 lol) because the surgeon really listened to me, examined me carefully and helped me and he finally gave me a good diagnosis. Even more importantly he actually understood how my fibromyalgia interacts with my treatments as he knows an injection of any sort triggers a flare up for me. It’s so helpful to have a doctor who understands without me having to explain and who can offer suggestions and help to alleviate some of my problems. Unfortunately, he was right and I did have a flare up this week.  It makes for a tough week.

When I was able to get back to work on Wednesday, it seemed like the day flew by and with school and work, I made it through another week. I wanted to drive to Cleveland, TN this weekend and spend time with my parents but my hip hadn’t healed up enough to drive myself. So instead this weekend is my cooking weekend and I spent part of Saturday going to Trader Joes and Publix to get groceries for a month.  The effort to do that really wore me out so that pretty much was all I was able to do on Saturday.

This morning I got up and started putting a few meals together for the next month.  I’m trying some new recipes and I’ll let you know what I think of them as we make them and eat them.  I still have some more meals to make. I can’t do it all in one day as I just can’t stand that long. An hour is about my max limit of time standing. Wimpy but true. 

Finally today I finished my citrus all-purpose cleaner I started two weeks ago.  It actually takes two weeks to make this cleaner.  So here’s the “recipe.”

Citrus Cleaner

Take a quart jar and fill with orange peels.  Fill to the top with white vinegar.  Seal and let sit for two weeks in a dark cabinet.

Two weeks later, pour the vinegar into a spray bottle.  I added about 5 drops of sweet orange essential oil for a stronger scent and 5 drops tea tree oil as an antibacterial. 

Use the cleaner on nearly any surface except for granite or marble.  I cleaned my countertops and stove top this morning and the smell was great and it did a great job.  Love when something works out like this so I give it 5 out of 5.

As you can see below the white vinegar is definitely not white anymore and is now a lovely orange from the orange peels.

Take care of yourself and your families.

Chelle