April showers bring May flowers, or so the saying goes.
April showers can also bring the blues, especially if you are a Fibromyalgia, Lupus and Chronic Pain sufferer.
Today it is storming and pouring rain, which does affect one’s mood. If you have Fibromyalgia, rain also affects your head, giving it a “hazy” sort of presence, not to mention how every joint will scream at you…all-day-long. It then becomes a mind-over-matter scenario, and “matter” usually wins.
At a recent check-up with my PCP, it was decided that extensive blood work should be done again to check my status on **Lupus, making sure it is still in remission. The reason for this is that I have been recovering from a bout of pneumonia and since then, my heart has decided to start palpitating and/or racing again, causing an increase in my current beta-blocker. I was placed on 5 days of steroids and 2 different antibiotics for the pneumonia, which rocked my Fibro-body’s world, and I am still recovering from it all. My cardiologist has also ordered a stress test and echocardiogram as well, plus a chest x-ray to be sure the pneumonia has left. It’s my second lung sickness in seven months, so they want to be thorough and see what (may be) going on. All this is to be done in the next month or so.
In the meantime, I need to continue to pace myself, breathe deeply and often throughout the day, so I can keep my lungs open, and also try to reduce all forms of stress and be mindful of how I handle stress. That shouldn’t be too hard …. (sarcastic smile of genuine enabling) …To help, I have listened and memorized Mercy Me’s song Exhale. It really helps me to have it “play” in my head when I need to breathe deeply or I feel overwhelmed in my day. It is a short and peaceful song to keep you grounded with Jesus.
So, back to the April Showers…
Today it is storming, with a forecast of rain for the next 3 days. My body feels the atmospheric pressure, like it is beating down on me and me alone. Of course, that is not the case, but it feels like it. My Dachshund doesn’t like storms and is buried under a blanket on the bed, slightly peeking out, watching me type.
Storms wreak havoc on Fibromyalgia sufferers
As I type this, I have a heated, home-made, rice sock thrown over my shoulders to help ease the pain I am feeling. Only those who suffer with chronic pain (CP) would understand.
A person just reading this who doesn’t suffer from CP would wonder why I am typing at all if I feel so poorly. The answer is …I HAVE TO KEEP MOVING, even if only a little bit, to keep my joints from locking up. Every 5 minutes I stand and stretch, walk a bit, and then type some more.
Today, it may take me 2-3 hours to get this post written.
Again, I NEED to pace myself.
Chronic Pain is a drag on every level. Our mental outlook is EVERYTHING, which is easier said (or typed) than done.
So, here is to Mind-Over-Matter!!
May your day be dry, wherever you are, and your pain be minimized my self-pacing and minimal stress.
God Bless-
The Fibro Momma of Ten
**There are many websites intertwining Lupus and Fibromyalgia with the heart and lungs. One for Lupus can be found by clicking here. One for Fibromyalgia, by clicking here. **
