Living Daily with Chronic Invisible Illness

Is Fibromyalgia Progressive?

This month marks the 3-year anniversary of my diagnosis with Fibromyalgia. I wish I could say that the past 3 years I have stayed the way I was at my diagnosis. However, my experience has led me to conclude that Fibromyalgia is a progressive condition. When I was first diagnosed, my pain levels were at… Continue reading Is Fibromyalgia Progressive?

Fibromyalgia Pain

Fibromyalgia and Driving

Fibromyalgia and driving don't go hand-in-hand, at least for me. My experiences have always been less than agreeable. Even going shopping or to the city for a doctor's appointment, wreak havoc on my body. Yesterday,  I had to drive over an hour to take one if my sons to a doctor's appointment in the city.… Continue reading Fibromyalgia and Driving

Living Daily with Chronic Invisible Illness

Fibromyalgia and Dividing your Chores

When you have Fibromyalgia, you have to divide up your chores into segments. That means NOT doing things all in one day. For me, this is a hard rule to follow. Especially when my old, pre-fibro self used to "do-it-all" in one day! Take summer gardening. Once upon a time used to pick, wash, cook… Continue reading Fibromyalgia and Dividing your Chores

Homeschooling with Fibromyalgia

Homeschooling with Fibromyalgia

Homeschooling with Fibromyalgia can be a challenge. It's now January of 2018 and I am trying to get back into the swing of the school schedule. That means I have been preparing schedules for me to follow; schedules for me to adhere to when I'm having a (new normal) pain day, an "I feel like… Continue reading Homeschooling with Fibromyalgia

Living Daily with Chronic Invisible Illness

Fibromyalgia and Emotional Stress

Stress can wreak havoc on anyone's health, but for a person with Fibromyalgia, it can be gruesome.  Emotional Stress effects people in different ways. Sadness, grief, joy  and laughter are all emotions, but when intense sadness befalls a Fibro sufferer, it causes pain like no other.  Recently I encountered a situation where my emotions rose… Continue reading Fibromyalgia and Emotional Stress

Living Daily with Chronic Invisible Illness

Happy 2018 with Fibromyalgia

Happy 2018 with Fibromyalgia! What? Can you even put the word "happy" with Fibromyalgia? No, not really. But it is a new year and everyone says "Happy New Year!!", right? A positive outlook is crucial with a condition like Fibromyalgia. Sadly, I must admit that I am not always as upbeat as I try to… Continue reading Happy 2018 with Fibromyalgia

Christmas with Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia and Sewing

So, the other night I decided to pretend I didn't have Fibromyalgia. I know what you're thinking. How can you forget that you're in pain? How can you forget the gnawing, aching feelings that last 24/7? How can you forget??? Well, back in my old life of non-Fibro when my oldest daughters were young, I… Continue reading Fibromyalgia and Sewing

Christmas with Fibromyalgia

Christmas Visitors and Fibromyalgia 

Who doesn't love the holidays? All the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping, the twinkling lights everywhere you look, and the entourage of visitors that pass through your home. It's like something out of Currier and Ives or Norman Rockwell painting. However, even if you have one visitor this holiday season it can still wreak… Continue reading Christmas Visitors and Fibromyalgia 

Christmas with Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia and the Hustle and Bustle of Christmas

In the midst of the hustle and bustle of Christmas I have definitely been reminded by my body that I have Fibromyalgia. There have been countless times I wish I didn't-probably every moment of the day-because there is so much I want to do and so much I cannot do, anymore. It seems this holiday… Continue reading Fibromyalgia and the Hustle and Bustle of Christmas

Living Daily with Chronic Invisible Illness

Fibromyalgia, Stress and Fibro-fog

Fibromyalgia, stress and Fibro-fog do not go hand-in-hand. When I awoke this morning I knew what kind of day I was going to have because my brain was not thinking clearly. I immediately set out to stay calm, move slowly, follow a list, and keep my day as structured and orderly as possible. I think… Continue reading Fibromyalgia, Stress and Fibro-fog

Christmas with Fibromyalgia, Fibromyalgia Pain

The Christmas Season with Fibromyalgia

I don't know about you, but when Thanksgiving is over my thoughts immediately turn to the Christmas Season!! The day after Thanksgiving I love turning my house from Pumpkins and Autumn Leaves to Nutcrackers and Reindeer!! Having Fibromyalgia means the transformation takes me a bit longer to achieve then it once did...but I still love… Continue reading The Christmas Season with Fibromyalgia

Cooking with Fibromyalgia, Living Daily with Chronic Invisible Illness

Thanksgiving with Fibromyalgia 

Happy Thanksgiving! Whew! It's been quite a week. This morning I awoke feeling like a brick building had collapsed on top of me. I felt as if I had to will each brick off of me before I could even get up. My body is sore and achey.  It feels like the flu...only it's not.… Continue reading Thanksgiving with Fibromyalgia 

Living Daily with Chronic Invisible Illness

Wednesday of Thanksgiving week with Fibromyalgia

Well, yesterday was Wednesday of my Thanksgiving week. I have Fibromyalgia and I feel like I have it... I have been baking and preparing for Thanksgiving all week and I tried to complete the list I had made earlier in the week to keep me in track. In conjunction with a turkey craft and Jell-o… Continue reading Wednesday of Thanksgiving week with Fibromyalgia

Living Daily with Chronic Invisible Illness

Fibro Tuesday and Thanksgiving Pumpkin Pie Baking

Well, It is Tuesday afternoon of Thanksgiving week and I just finished baking 6 pumpkin pies, one coconut cream and one vanilla cream pie. My "helpers" have been fighting a virus that causes a headache and makes them lethargic and seems to last about 24 hours so I baked all the pies, save the vanilla… Continue reading Fibro Tuesday and Thanksgiving Pumpkin Pie Baking

Living Daily with Chronic Invisible Illness

Fibro Monday Thanksgiving Pumpkins

Today is Monday of Thanksgiving week and I've been cooking down pumpkins! Cooking and Fibromyalgia don't often go together!!  Good thing I had my handy list available to keep me on track! (Fibro-fog!) That list said I was to cook down pumpkins today for pie! Did I succeed? Well, 4 pumpkins gave their lives for… Continue reading Fibro Monday Thanksgiving Pumpkins

Cooking with Fibromyalgia

Enjoying Thanksgiving with Fibromyalgia

So, the Thanksgiving holiday is upon us! Let's talk about how to make it a success when your dealing with Fibromyalgia! What makes a holiday? Family? Food? Friends? What makes it Thanksgiving? Family? Food? Friends? More food? It goes without saying that food is the number one word associated with Thanksgiving. Turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing,… Continue reading Enjoying Thanksgiving with Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia Family Life, Living Daily with Chronic Invisible Illness

Fibromyalgia Flare-up

What causes a Fibromyalgia flare up? That is something I have been trying to figure out for over 3 years now. So, tonight at 8:30 p.m. my body decided to completely give out on me. No advanced warning...no preview of coming attractions... just flat-out locked up and said "I'm done!" I probably should have expected… Continue reading Fibromyalgia Flare-up

Fibromyalgia and your Heart

Living Daily with Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia sucks lolly-pops. (That is a much nicer way to say something crass.) And it really does! Like, really, really, really bad. When you are dealing with the pain that befalls you on any given day, it is overwhelming! The pain of Fibromyalgia is indescribable! Here I sit after my second rest of the day.… Continue reading Living Daily with Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia Pain, Living Daily with Chronic Invisible Illness

Living Through Daily Fibromyalgia Pain

Fibromyalgia pain is a constant, never-ending type of pain that Fibros battle daily with no reprieve in sight. Here is a post about part of a "normal" day in the life of a Fibro-Momma... ******************* So I just came inside from a forced walk in our pasture with my dog. I say forced, not because… Continue reading Living Through Daily Fibromyalgia Pain

Fibromyalgia Pain, Living Daily with Chronic Invisible Illness

Fibromyalgia, Beta Blockers and PVC Heart Arrhythmia

I have Fibromyalgia. I also have been diagnosed with a PVC Heart Arrhythmia and I have learned how the Beta Blockers affect me, both for the good and the not-so-good. I have been taking a Beta Blocker for over six weeks now after a bout with my heart where it would not stop missing beats… Continue reading Fibromyalgia, Beta Blockers and PVC Heart Arrhythmia

Living Daily with Chronic Invisible Illness

Fibromyalgia and Extreme Weather Changes Don’t Mix 

What is a major FIBRO day? Well, today is, of course! Why? Because today's episode is due to a change in the weather.  Rain, wind, and storms make for a very blustery fall day and it is what I awoke to today. I knew what type of weather it was before my eyes opened. The… Continue reading Fibromyalgia and Extreme Weather Changes Don’t Mix 

Living Daily with Chronic Invisible Illness

Fibromyalgia and Exercise

There are many forms of exercise for Fibro sufferers. I have had inquiries as to whether or not the pool therapy and the myofascial massage I tried this past summer has benefited me. In all honesty, I would have to say no. The pool therapy made my normal daily routine more cumbersome to maneuver through.… Continue reading Fibromyalgia and Exercise

Living Daily with Chronic Invisible Illness

Stress and Fibromyalgia

If you suffer from Fibromyalgia, stress can be a contributing factor to flares. How do you handle stress? Well, that has been an ongoing investigation for this Momma! I am a homeschooling mother with six children still living at home, four still being educated by me, and four already out of the house. Stress just… Continue reading Stress and Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia Family Life, Living Daily with Chronic Invisible Illness

Fibromyalgia and the Guilt Complex

You may have read on other blogs about how some people with Fibromyalgia lovingly tell friends and family that they cannot attend an event or host a gathering and bow-out "gracefully." In this post I we will speak about the realities of the guilt involved by doing this and its repercussions on your health.There is… Continue reading Fibromyalgia and the Guilt Complex

Living Daily with Chronic Invisible Illness

Finding the Blessings in Fibromyalgia

Is it possible to see Fibromyalgia as a blessing??? Well, if you have been diagnosed with this horrific illness, I am sure that is the last adjective you would use to describe it. As a stay-at-home-mother I can assure you that you need to find the good in the not-so-good on most days! Children crying,… Continue reading Finding the Blessings in Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia and your Heart, Living Daily with Chronic Invisible Illness

Heart Arrhythmia and Autoimmune Disorders

Heart Arrhythmia and Autoimmune Disorders-Do they go hand-in-hand? For the past two weeks I have been resting after being admitted to the hospital for heart palpitations. Needless to say, it was a little bit scary to have your ticker out of joint. For me, it began at noon on a Wednesday and was still occurring… Continue reading Heart Arrhythmia and Autoimmune Disorders