Tag: fibromyalgia and weather

Living Daily with Chronic Invisible Illness

Looking for the Blessings with Fibromyalgia

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As summer comes to an end, I am reminded of the blessings life has to offer.

Yes, there are blessings to be found if we take the time to look.

Summer brought warmth, gardening, flowers and dragonflies!

(We won’t mention, mosquitos, ticks, and sun rashes…this is a post about finding blessings.)

However, if you live each day in chronic pain, as I do, it is very hard to have your first response be positive. Being positive can be a moment by moment task.

I have Fibromyalgia. It is an on-going, never-ending battle of daily pain.

Things I do today will cause a delayed pain response which can take up to two days for my body to react to. I have kept journals for eating, what I do each day, the weather, and where I’ve gone. I have kept these journals for over two years now trying to figure out what my “triggers” are.

I have not found one thing I do that does not cause me pain (which basically means everything I do will cause me pain).

Subsequently, I am limited to what I do, knowing how much pain I will be in.

(Try finding a blessing in that!!)

For example, I know that grocery shopping will wipe me out within two days, so I plan to shop on a day when I have no commitments up to two days later.

The blessing is in the planning!

I have learned to pace myself throughout each day.

As a homeschooling Momma I know that sometimes pacing does not work. I have various personalities, hormone levels and unexpected “life” occurances which alter the pacing strategy I try to implement each day. But I do manage to maintain some level of pacing as often as possible and it does make a difference.

Watching for those daily blessings helps keep me going.

I find enjoyment in my children! I have some who make me laugh continuously throughout the day. That is a blessing!

Lighting candles brings me peace, so I try to have one burning daily. Another blessing!

I also have found that no matter when I wake up each day, it will be a struggle. So, I try to get up before anyone else so I can enjoy some Momma quiet-time before the hustle and bustle of the day drags me along into the fast-paced current of responsibility.

This means a lot earlier because it takes me so long to get going, but I find that to be a blessing and worth it. During those early morning moments of reading my Bible and using my planner book (which is especially helpful with Fibro-fog) and it gives me an opportunity to focus on me and God, which in turn helps me handle to pain better, which also is a blessing.

Handling the pain better means handling the children better.

When you are in pain, it can make you short and curt. Leaning on God helps with that.

Each season brings blessings. I for one am looking forward to autumn. It is my favorite time of the year and I plan to find numerous blessings in each autumn day!

Yes, the uncertainty of the rainy weather in the fall wreaks havoc on Fibromyalgia pain.

Yes, the cooler weather brings on more achy joints and migraines.

But if you take a look around you and see the beauty of God’s world being transformed in an array of autumn hues, that is a blessing in itself!

Look for those blessings each day. You will find them!

Happy last day of summer!

Hurray for autumn!

~The Fibro Momma of ten~

Cooking with Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia, the Weather and Family Meals

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Why is weather a factor for Fibromyalgia sufferers? I mean, just when you think the pacing you have been doing daily, (giving yourself adequate rest and not over doing it), and trying your best to get through the week, it drops out of the sky and rains. Literally.

Well, such has been my prior two days. With Valentine’s Day having come and gone and my son’s birthday to prepare for three days later, my body was already in need of some TLC. Yes, I go overboard each holiday and Valentine’s Day is no exception. I set the bar rather high when I did not battle this beast called Fibromyalgia.

Heart-shaped pancakes, heart-shaped cake, heart-shaped pizza…it is the tradition and memories I leave my children. However, with Fibro, it is now tougher to accomplish these things…but I do…and I want to.

Enter the weather. No amount of pacing can prepare a Fibro body for weather change.

Two nights ago my hips just screamed at me. They literally felt like they were coming off; the pain was excruitating and maddening. And then I heard it. The pelting sound of rain on the roof. I checked the radar and there it was…rain for hours…and dropping the temps way down. Since then I have not caught a break.

I awoke early this morning from the pain in my joints. The radar shows snow followed by rain is to be the forecast today.

And guess what? Today I have a house-full coming to celebrate with us. My son is 19 today. He is in college studying business finance and works at a bank. He is a great young man. I want his day to be a happy one.

~sidebar~

My home is centered around the kitchen. Everything is based on the evening meal. (Yes, we are a family who gathers together each evening and breaks bread together. It stems from my upbringing. I was blessed with a family of good cooks who put family first and family meals top-priority.)

That said, today will predominantly be spent in the kitchen. My son’s favorite breakfast, lunch and dinner will be prepared in his honor. It’s what we do. It’s what I love to do.

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However, my body does not usually cooperate…ever. And on this snowy-turned rainy Saturday, I will catch no break from the pain. My “scarecrow body” will need to be gathered together and forced to walk. Later it will change to my “tin-man body” and I will need my “oil can” just to keep going…if only I had and oil can. Ha!

I am sure in my case my week caught up to me and the weather just made it worse. Whatever the cause, I hurt more today. One good thing about Fibromyalgia is that you don’t look like you hurt. But inside you are groaning!

So here is to the waffles and homemade mac and cheese. Here is to the spicy wings and other yumminess to bless our palettes today. Here is to my family, who not only is coming over to celebrate, but will undoubtedly be helping me in the endeavor of cooking all these scrumptious things!

I am blessed…pain and all.

And lastly, here is to my son! May his birthday be filled with pleasantness and love!

(and good food!)

Happy Saturday and gentle hugs!