Live happy and don't look back!

Life is a series of ups and downs, especially when a chronic illness like fibromyalgia is involved.  Despite the ups and downs, if you aren't happy then nothing else counts.  Am I right?  Happiness has the power to affect everything in our lives, even our health.  I'm not saying if you are struggling with chronic illness that it isn't a tough journey, but I am saying that happiness is tied into the mind/body connection.  If you are happy you have more life satisfaction, life satisfaction leads to better relationships, and better relationships leads to more happiness.  It's a life cycle.  Another life cycle begins with taking care of yourself and making that a priority.  If you care for yourself you feel better, and when you feel better you have a better quality of life, and when you have a better quality of life you have more life satisfaction, more longevity, better relationships, more happiness . . . you see how these cycles work?  Stagnation is a foreign concept in the cycle of life and stagnation doesn't lead to happiness.  Happiness is a dynamic state of being that ebbs and flows as you travel on your journey.

I recently was introduced to a magazine Live Happy.  That says it all.  The newest research has showed that  "when we choose to be happy and take steps toward that state of mind, our golden years are more likely to be truly golden.".  (August 2014, Live Happy, The Golden Age of Happiness, pg 82)  Research has also demonstrated that when we are in the state of happiness that we most likely will live longer too.  Amazing how that mind/body connection works.  We are truly an entity that cannot be dissected merely into body parts. 

Me and my happy little kittie Wills with the cute whiskers!

I read a number of blogs written by people with fibromyalgia.  The focus is frequently pain, brain fog, difficulties experienced in every day . . . that focus can result in a downward spiral and rob you of your life.  Despite life's challenges, and they can be many, if the focus turns to happiness, relationships,and caring for yourself and others, you will feel better.  Happiness is a key that opens many doors and leaves you with good memories.  It's a matter of focus.

This month's Live Happy publication talks about the power of words.  (Rubin, Gretchen.  August 2014, Live Happy, pg. 40)  According to Gretchen, the words we choose are critical to our happiness.  The differences in our word choice reveals how we think and who we are.  If you listen to what you say it will reveal your attitude, level of optimism, your level of empowerment, how positively you think, and your entire mindset.  Listening can be a difficult task and how often do we listen to ourselves anyway?  We should be the first person we choose to listen to!  That's how we get to know ourselves. So, is your glass half full or half empty, do you play the piano or practice piano, do you exercise or take a dance class . . . ?  You get the idea.  Are you a victim of circumstances or responsible for everything in your life and in charge of you?  Being in charge of you leads to total freedom and happiness.  Those words may be nuances to some, but they tell a deeper story that may be affecting life satisfaction and happiness.

Happiness doesn't mean you don't still have difficult or next to impossible days, but it sure helps me get through those days and improves my level of resiliency.  That's the cycle of our life.  Choose that cycle wisely!  Blessings to you on this fascinating journey.  To read more about happiness look for Live Happy and find positive in your relationships, at your job, and in your daily life.

One word: NERIUM and a picture that speaks a thousand words

Conquering fibromyalgia can be a tough thing to face every day, but one thing is for sure -- when I look good I feel better.  I have used Nerium for 3 weeks and I have seen remarkable results.  So this blog post is going to be short, because I'm going to let this picture tell the story about the power of Nerium AD, a revolutionary anti-aging skin care product.  The top photo is the before picture of me and the bottom photo is me after using Nerium for 3 weeks.  I'm 62 years young and I love Nerium!  I'll post more photos in the near future . . . Wow those close ups can be scary!!  To see more results from Nerium or to try the product go to www.valgarner.nerium.com

This is a close up added 8/10/14 both taken in the same light with no flash.

Taken 8/10/14 both with no flash.  Notice the change in the contour of my face.  Amazing!!

Embarking on a new adventure with Nerium

The last month has been so busy for me and I have had little time to write.  Since I have been on CPAP for several months my energy has been coming up and I am to the point where I actually want to be involved with something other than staying home.  I couldn't figure out what that would be so I let it go and waited to see what would come my way.  My husband needed to have an ultrasound done so the day we went to the imaging department I found myself looking for a good magazine to pass the time.  There was nothing but Sports Illustrated and Golf!!  I persistently went through the magazines hoping there was something else that may be of interest.  Sure enough there was a magazine Success from Home.  I snatched up the magazine and began going through it.  This particular issue featured the company Nerium International, a revolutionary skin care company.  I was completely intrigued with the product, which boasted an age-defying effect that would take 10 to 12 years off your face.  Oh my gosh!  This was it!!  This company was what I had been looking for and when I let go, it appeared to me.  I called the Independent Brand Partner, Angi, listed on the magazine front and she informed me that there was a Real Results Party the next evening.  So I went.  The positive energy in the room was unbelieveable and I met a large group of fabulous women and men.  So I signed up to be an Independent Brand Partner.  It has been so fun to be part of a company that offers me complete flexibility and the ability to make some extra money that could turn into some serious money.  I feel better, I am more hopeful and my energy continues to rise.  Who would ever think a magazine could have so much power to change lives??  The corporate culture is to give back and serve others.  The mission statement??  To make people better.  So as a retired RN I am back to serving others and helping people be the best they can be.

Meanwhile, I have used the day cream and night cream for 3 weeks and I have seen remarkable results.  Amazing!  So off I go on another life adventure.  I hope every day is an adventure for you.  Don't give up on yourself and fibromyalgias tenacious hold on you.  You can minimize the effects of this illness and get your life back one more time.  Blessings to you!!

Hope isn't a passive phenomenon . . . Make hope happen!

Image from ShaneLopez.com

Life isn't a spectator sport.  If you really want to live life you must immerse yourself totally in the experience.  In all lives there are ups and there are downs.  The most devastating "down" is the experience of chronic, debilitating illness.  But chronic illness doesn't mean the end of life, but the beginning of a new chapter in life.  After the initial grieving and that feeling of hopelessness begins to subside, take your life reins back and start directing your life plan again.  Just because "life is what happens while we are planning" we don't have to succumb to life's setbacks.  That's just to let us know we are still alive!  With every setback there are opportunities that present themselves.  They may be difficult to identify at first, but if you look closely enough they are there.

Image from Amazon.com

Shane J. Lopez, Ph.D. is a leading researcher on hope and he seeks to make hope less elusive for all of us.  "Making Hope Happen:  Create the Future You Want for Yourself and Others" is his book, which focuses on the possibilities and not the obstacles.  His prescription for success is to start small and grow hope big by creating a vision for the future.  Creating a vision for the future excites the mind and minimizes anxieties. (Lopez, Shane J.  "Five Years Ago and Five Years From Now", Success from Home,  Vol 10, No 6, pg 74-75.)  It's all about moving forward and not looking back.  That's a good practice for all of us in our everyday lives.  Spending too much time on reminiscing and hoping life was different from our current experience and reality is counterproductive and self-defeating.  Self-sabbotage just doesn't make sense, but first we must recognize when we are demonstrating self-defeating behaviors and that's the hard part.

The first step is to be honest with ourselves . . . if we can't be honest with ourselves who can we be honest with??  Give up denial, rationalization, and victimization and put yourself back in the driver's seat.  That alone will give you more hope and limit self-defeating behaviors.  Again, start small.  I tend to self-defeat by eating the wrong foods and not adhering to smaller meals for the gastroparesis that tries to be my "boss" every day.  So instead of me being in control I allow my gut to boss me around throughout the day.  That doesn't make sense to me, but I do it anyway.  Then I feel terrible, which results in a downward spiral.  Not a good thing!  So I must take control back and gain my freedom again.  That's just one example of how easy it is to self-sabbotage our own lives.  So, move forward and be free again.  That's real freedom and liberation, which is what we all are searching for.

Regaining control of your life when chronic illness dominates your day

Chronic debilitating illness is an insidious, demanding foe that seeks to rob us of everything in our lives.  It seeks to destroy relationships, careers, life plans, hopes and dreams . . . our entire world can be lost in its clutch.  I'm sure this isn't news to you.  As the life losses mount so do the grief, depression and anxiety.  Some days may feel like a downward spiral into a bottomless pit.  Maintaining a sense of your former self may seem impossible.  As that chronic illness gains an ever tighter hold on you, your sense of identity may wane as you begin to identify more and more with an illness that attempts to dominate your life.

There is one way to beat chronic illness so it doesn't rob you of your life: refuse to be its victim.  That's a tough concept to digest, especially when chronic illness persistently makes each day so difficult and miserable.  Giving up all your dreams and life goals automatically puts you in a victim role.  When you say "I can't because I have fibromyalgia", you just put fibromyalgia in charge of your life.  If you say you can't do something because your partner won't let you, you just put your partner in charge of your life.  Viewing yourself as a victim of anything prevents you from enjoying every moment of your life and steals the joy of accomplishment.

Perceiving yourself as a victim is more debilitating than any chronic illness, because it is so pervasive in every facet of your life.  Feeling like a victim paralyzes you and prevents you from moving forward.  Victimization leads to feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, anxiety and depression.  In addition victimization keeps you stuck in the muck and quagmire, and the tendency is to focus on how bad life is because someone or something did "it" to you.  When you blame someone or something for how bad your life is, you are sabbotaging yourself.  I'm not talking about taking on so much that it has a negative impact on your health.  But if you have a dream or a life goal, don't give up on it.  That's the kind of stuff that keeps us feeling alive.  If you want a college degree, figure out how to get it done . . . excuses and blaming your illness, your spouse or anything else doesn't get it done.  All that does is take hope away and get you deeper in the muck.  Don't be afraid to set goals.  If you don't quite meet your goal, you can reset the goal line.  And you don't have to go after every goal at the same time.  Pace yourself so you can accomplish what you want without putting your health in jeopardy.

It takes a true warrior, lots of persistence, a whole bunch of patience, loads of fortitude and great courage to get where you want to go.  When you tackle your favorite life goal, do it with enthusiasm and take responsibility for everything in your life.  It will set you free and make you smile too.

Are you sleeping at night?

I asked this question almost a year and a half ago and the resounding reply was "absolutely not!"  The first priority for someone with fibromyalgia is to get a good night's sleep, but for many this is a lofty goal that remains out of reach.  I know the despair of energy depletion and amplified pain, irritability, and the difficulty of coping with the numerous fibromyalgia symptoms due to unrestorative sleep.  Well, after not having slept for almost 22 years I am finally getting a good night's sleep and I feel so much better.  My CPAP machine is a miracle for me and I am actually getting a good night's sleep every night.  Amazing.  All it took to get a good night's sleep was an astute Pulmonologist that listened to me and believed in me.  Many times people with fibromyalgia don't find a doctor that will really listen and trust that the patient is telling the truth.  If that is you, don't give up.  If you have a doctor that won't listen to you, get a different doctor.  Many doctors tend to treat the symptom and not the real problem, such as prescribing Ritalin in an attempt to increase energy.  But the lack of energy is not the real problem; it is a symptom of unrestorative sleep.

I want to reiterate that 80% of fibromyalgia patients have sleep apnea.  If you aren't sleeping, go see a sleep specialist.  A sleep study may not demonstrate a sleep problem if you don't sleep well during the study.  I believe that's what happened to me during my first sleep study.  If you had a sleep study that didn't demonstrate a sleep problem, but if you aren't sleeping, go see a different sleep specialist.  The doctor that diagnosed me with sleep apnea is a Pulmonologist with specialties in sleep disorders, critical care and internal medicine.

I still have fibromyalgia and Willis-Ekbom Disease (rls), but normalizing my circadian rhythm has done wonders for my quality of life.  And if you don't have quality of life, what else is there?

A CPAP adventure and the unfortunate "fallout"

My CPAP machine

I am just completing my first week on CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) and I am surprised at how easy it was to become comfortable with the equipment.  I believe a positive, "can do" attitude has a major influence with readily adapting to change.  I was determined to make CPAP work for me and so it has.  Albert Einstein said "If you believe you can, or if you believe you can't, you're probably right."  My determination has paid off and I am sleeping through the night and feel more refreshed in the morning.  That's the best news I have had in a month.  The CPAP machine is so quiet and the mask is as comfortable as possible so those things really help too.

I also saw a cardiologist this week to find out how sleep apnea has affected my heart.  The cardiologist informed me that people with sleep apnea can have a blood pressure spike as high as 300 mm Hg during an apneic episode.  A person's blood pressure can be low throughout the day, but sleep apnea events can cause the blood pressure to spike up anyway.  The repeated spikes in blood pressure cause damage to the cardiovascular system and can result in a heart attack or a stroke.  So it doesn't matter if blood pressure is well controlled throughout the day; if you have sleep apnea you are at risk.  My echocardiogram and EKG show three heart blocks in the fibers that spread the heart's electrical charge in the lower chambers of the heart and I have some stiffening of the heart, but no thickening of the heart muscle at this point.  In other words, I have diastolic heart failure although it is mild.  I guess I won't be running laps around the house like my hair is on fire any time soon!  The treatment for the cardiac changes is CPAP so I'm on the right track.  Even though the news is mixed it is all good news.  A piece of the fibromyalgia puzzle has been put into place.  If I know what is happening with my health then I'm able to do something about that health problem.

The funny part about all of these health problems that I am unearthing with the help of some remarkable medical doctors is the fact that I "don't look sick".  No one would ever guess in a million years that I am struggling to regain my health or at least, prevent my health from deteriorating.  When I think about it, I really don't want to look sick.  Who wants to look sick and what would be the purpose in that anyway?  Possibly some secondary gain of extra attention or extra consideration.  My personal goal is to be the best I can be with what I have to work with.  That helps me to avoid that victim mentality and to focus on life rather than my eventual demise.  I think it's important to live each day no matter what that day may bring and those daily challenges just remind me that I'm still alive.  Embrace each day, because despite the trials and tribulations, each day is truly a gift.  Blessings to you today, tomorrow and always!

A sleep disorders guide . . .

My sleep disorder saga is on a slow and bumpy course.  I had a second sleep study using CPAP and now have a referral to home care to get my equipment set up.  I had to laugh when I found out that I had a home care referral . . . I must be getting old!  So I am hoping to hear from home care this week and start getting used to using a mask at bedtime.  I am determined to make this work and improve my sleep quality in the process.

I have had mysterious episodes of sudden arm weakness as if the blood was draining from my arms.  This only happens occasionally and lasts from 1 to 5 minutes.  I have had this happen several times in one day.  After a great deal of searching for answers I have discovered that this is cataplexy, which is related to narcolepsy.  I have not had narcolepsy episodes thankfully.  Cataplexy can be quite frightening for people and can affect many parts of the body including the legs.  When the legs are involved it can result in collapse if the person is standing.  So this mystery has been solved.  I feel so much better just knowing what causes these episodes.

Today I was doing some reading on sleep disorders and found a valuable comprehensive guide to sleep disorders that you may find to be valuable as well.  The Web site is sleepdisordersguide.com.  This site even includes a section on fibromyalgia, which I thought was useful too.  Sleep disorders are common with fibromyalgia and you owe it to yourself to see a sleep specialist to help diagnose your particular sleep problem.  Since fibromyalgia is a neurological condition it is no wonder that sleep is impaired since sleep is a complex neurological process.  If you don't get any answers from one sleep specialist, go see another sleep specialist.  I didn't get any answers during my first sleep study, which was a humiliating experience for me.  Come to find out it wasn't about me, it was about their incompetence.  I have found it to be quite helpful to have a doctor that is both a pulmonologist and a sleep specialist since I have recently been diagnosed with asthma.

Having a diagnosis of fibromyalgia is a tough diagnosis, because there are so few therapies that can really improve quality of life.  Without quality of life, what else is there?  I have always been a person that has a desire to keep moving forward and avoid getting stuck in the quagmire.  But fibromyalgia has certainly been the greatest challenge of my life.  Despite the difficulties that fibromyalgia poses, I have still been determined to move forward, but there is no way to do that alone.  I needed a caring, compassionate and helpful team of healthcare providers on my side to help see me through this.  It only took me 20 years to find this team, but I have finally arrived.  It takes a whole team of doctors, because where one lacks expertise, the other may fill that void in knowledge.  I am the captain of this team and I work to bring it all together, which helps me to know what the next steps are.  There is no magic remedy for fibromyalgia, but armed with information, emotional support and a big dose of perseverence we can have a better quality of life and more every day happiness.  Blessings to you and your journey!

Sleep Study Results: the continuing saga "in search of restorative sleep"

About a year and a half ago I had a sleep study done.  It was a grueling and painful experience that I never wanted to repeat.  The results of that study:  completely normal.  I was told there was nothing wrong with my sleep so my question was "Why isn't that my experience?"  What I have learned is that not all sleep studies are equal.  I recently had another sleep study done and the experience wasn't nearly as bad or as painful.  The electrodes on my head were more comfortable and the staff were warm, friendly and professional.  What a difference from one sleep lab to another.  My health insurance didn't want to approve my second sleep study so I filed a grievance and spoke with representatives at the insurance company several times.  When I'm not getting anywhere with staff I always ask to speak to their manager.  I presented compelling facts that convinced the insurance company that further delay was only going to add to the cost of my healthcare for them and me too.  The sleep study was approved, but their reluctance did result in a delay in my care.

In follow up after the sleep study and a pulmonary function test for my complaint of shortness of breath, I learned that I do have sleep apnea and I also have asthma.  I know when the asthma started . . . it was 11 years ago and I'm just being diagnosed.  I know that I have had sleep apnea for years, especially since there are subtle changes in my heart due to the physiological
stress from untreated sleep apnea.  This is an important point for everyone with a diagnosis of fibromyalgia.  Fibromyalgia has so many associated symptoms that patient complaints are ignored resulting in a lack of care.  If a doctor ignores your symptoms, go see another doctor.  I was fortunate to have seen a very good neurologist that referred me to a pulmonologist.  This pulmonologist is an astute healthcare professional that relies on his own intuitive sense.  My move to Arizona has been a good one, because I have found compassionate, competent healthcare professionals.  Without this move I would continue to have untreated health issues.

My next step is a stress echocardiogram and Cpap titration for my sleep apnea.  Just maybe I am going to finally get a good night's sleep.  I'll let you all know how this works out.  Meanwhile, nighty night and sleep tight.  Good night.  Don't ever give up . . .

Psychobiotics and the dark chocolate connection . . .

There has been a fair amount of interest regarding neurotransmitters in the medical community, but treatment for depleted neurotransmitters has remained a mystery.  Nutritional supplements have been the first line of treatment with dubious results and psychoactive medications have been prescribed for decades with little to no benefit.  Neurotransmitters are those chemical messengers in our body that modulate all the functions of our body and mind.  The table below provides a brief explanation of common neurotransmitters and their function.

It is interesting to note that many people with fibromyalgia have depleted neurotransmitters, which may be responsible for some of the symptoms that decrease quality of life.  But renewed hope may be just around the corner.

It seems that the human body is teeming with beneficial microbes that are critical for our physical and emotional health.  There are approximately 15 trillion cells in our bodies and 100 trillion bacteria.  Amazing, huh?  These bacteria are essential to digestion, metabolism, immunity and our psychological health, and that's just the tip of the iceberg.  These bacteria act as messengers that orchestrate our body's function and wellbeing.  So the question is "How do we ensure these essential and beneficial bacteria remain healthy and functioning properly?"  As it turns out, probiotics rarely make it past our stomach and its acid environment.  According to Davidson in "The Psychobiotic Revolution" (Davidson, Jordan.  Psychology Today, April 2014, pg. 40), "It's long been known that the stress system is intimately involved in depression.  People suffering from major depression frequently have elevated levels of the hormone cortisol, released in response to stress.  In a recent study, a probiotic cocktail of Lactobacillus helveticus and Bifidobacterium longum was found to reduce cortisol levels."  In addition, "many physiological and psychological processes associated with depression can be traced to a deficiency in the neurotransmitter GABA.  Lack of GABA in the brain may bring on the negative ruminations long linked with depression."  Researchers have determined that gut microbes secrete GABA, which include Lactobacillus helveticus and Bifidobacterium longum organsisms.  It is interesting to note that dark chocolate increases numbers in both of these bacterial families.  The polyphenols in the chocolate act as a prebiotic and enhance the growth of benefical gut bacteria.  Now that's the best news I have heard in the last 20 years.  I not only drink red wine for health benefits but I am also eating 2 squares of dark chocolate every day.  The specific strain of Lactobacillus reuteri that is found in yogurt or as a supplement works to improve mood, appearance and general health by increasing levels of oxytocin.  Oxytocin is that hormone that gives you a feeling of wellbeing when you cuddle, hug, or have sex.  There are also active yogurt ingredients that reduce anxiety and fear.

We are on the cusp of gaining more knowledge regarding the best way to ensure the health of our body's microbial community that will ensure the health of our body and mind.  Meanwhile, I intend to eat Greek yogurt and dark chocolate every day so my microbes don't go hungry.  Blessings to you and your microbes; may you live happily ever after!