Archive for the ‘Helpful Stuff’ Category

Stress much?

Jul 1st, 10 / 7 Comments

I just got back from a ten-day trip up to Seattle to visit family and friends…and to a fantastic and fun wedding .

At friend's wedding. Funnest wedding ever, trust me!

At friend's wedding. Funnest wedding ever, trust me!

For some insane reason I scheduled a dentist appointment for the day after I got home. Not only the next day, but in the morning. What was I thinking? Dunno. But I dragged my sorry butt in there this morning.

Damage. I got damage. Apparently the stress I’ve been under is causing me to clench my teeth so much that my molar fillings are “crumbling”. Jeeze, I just got those fillings redone a year ago. No, not going to blame the dentist who did the fillings, he’s a good guy and did good work. Nope, it’s me and my clenching.

I’ve been under significant stress lately. Think I might have mentioned it once or twice? One of the reasons I was up in Washington was to pick up my daughter. That turned into a protracted battle, complete with lawyer. Not fun.

So there was definitely a reason I was clenching my teeth. I woke up in Seattle in the middle of the night with the feeling that someone had punched me on both sides of my face. It hurt! I’ve had TMJ issues since my first husband died over twenty years ago. And it flares up in times that my coping mechanism doesn’t work as well as it should.

Me coping with stress? If I had adequate ability to cope with the stress in my life perhaps I wouldn’t have fibromyalgia. Studies and papers have suggested genetic predisposition along with a triggering event can result in fibromyalgia…and sustained mental stress can be a triggering event. I’ve had plenty of that.

I used to think of myself as being quite resilient. I’ve had quite a few crazy stressful things happen in my life and up until I hit my forties, I bounced back quickly. Not so much any more. And then the fibromyalgia symptoms started…so I think it’s all related.

Once the fibromyalgia symptoms became quite pronounced (read: overwhelming) I finally started looking for ways to cope, because that resilient thing wasn’t working out so good for me. And I had to learn to cope because Fibromyalgia turned my life upside down. I had to be flexible and be willing to rework how I lived my life (for more useful info see FibroHaven’s post “You Don’t Have to Like it to Accept it”. I went through cognitive behavioral therapy, stress management classes, meditation, journaling…and drugs. All of which helped, somewhat.

For instance, meditation. That is something that you have to be willing to do every day. I’ve seen how it has helped other people, but the whole deal of clearing your mind is hard work and even though I was at it for several months I never felt particularly successful at it. I noticed a subtle decrease in my “flight or fight” response, but that was about it. It didn’t seem to be worth the time and effort I put into it.

But I’m still grinding my teeth when I get overwhelmed. Nice, huh? Guess this means I am back to the drawing board in stress management.

Maybe yoga? And I soooo need to get back to exercising. I didn’t do so good with exercise on this trip. And eating. I’m used to being picky when I eat out while traveling with my husband (for his work). But staying with family makes it a bit more difficult.

If I cook, I cook for everyone. If I go out to dinner, I buy for everyone. It got to the point where I caved in and just ate whatever was available. It wasn’t worth the hassle…at the time. Looking back, I think I should have tried harder, and continued walking no matter how chilly and wet it was up there!

I’m just rambling , aren’t I? But the point is, and I think I’m coming to realize that yes, the trip up to Seattle threw me off my game, but I need to find a good solid “go to” method of dealing with stress that doesn’t involve crushing my filings!

Got anything that worked well for you? I’d love to hear what helped you. And just because I’ve already tried it, doesn’t necessarily mean I tried it in a way that would be most helpful for me. :)

Helpful Stuff

Might as well be a travel blog

May 10th, 10 / 8 Comments

As much as we travel, I’m starting to feel like that’s all I write about. And this summer is going to be a doozy.

I’ve been asked how I manage to do so much traveling because I have to drag my fibromyalgia along with me. My husband, John, makes it possible. I couldn’t do this by myself! Generally he makes all the plans, does all the packing (once I figure out what I’m going to wear) and gets us where we need to be. I do have my little habits that help me survive the trips, but I still need help and look forward to any tips or ideas you might share!

John and I were talking last night, trying to figure out travel plans for this coming summer. Sharon, my youngest is coming to stay with us this summer so I won’t be wandering all over the countryside with him (as much).

However I will still be heading up to Seattle in June (to pick Sharon up), July (for a wedding) and August (see my new grandson!) and one trip to Seaside (in Oregon) for the annual family reunion. Teresa, my oldest daughter, isn’t due until the end of August, so I think I’m safe to go to Seaside in mid-August. And if my grandson comes early (Teresa was born three weeks early…so you never know) Seaside is only four hours away from Seattle so I’m better off there than down in San Diego. I think.

Meanwhile I’ll be missing out on a trip to Miami, New York and Omaha…in the summer. So maybe not such a bad thing?

In spite of all the traveling I have yet to become a travel pro

For instance there are things I know to do like:

  • I always bring a small pillow on the flight. I have one from Brookstone that I always take with me. The link isn’t the exact one, but it’s close.
  • I also bring my Kindle, iPod and earplugs
  • I pack my own snacks and buy a big bottle of water once I get past security
  • I do NOT wear a sweatshirt on a plane. I found out that security will make you take it off before you go through the magnetometer (the scanner) the hard way and it’s difficult for me to get my hands over my head. I wore a clunky jacket this time. That was also a mistake.
  • And I always wear slip-on shoes. Getting through security is hard enough without having to bend over to lace shoes up. I have a pair of Crocs (do not laugh! They are comfortable and they are big, so in case my feet swell–which they always do–they still fit and don’t hurt)
As far as packing…I am a lost cause. I always over pack

Jenni at Chronic Babe has a video where she lists out travel tips for people with chronic illnesses. She talks about making a packing list and planning coordinating outfits to wear. That word…planning…stumps me every time. If I start planning then pretty much everything in the wardrobe comes with me. “But I might need it!” is my usual excuse.

I have been keeping my eye out for “travel friendly” clothing. By travel friendly I mean clothes that are lightweight and don’t wrinkle easily. I’m not a big fan of the “nylon-Lycra spandex knit stuff” that you find at places like Chicos. I’m more of a jeans and tee-shirt person. But I do have one dressy outfit made out of that stuff and if  I have to, I’ll bring it.

But coordinate? I wear jeans. I know, I’ve heard that “ladies of a certain age” should not wear jeans. Tough. I like my jeans. And I will occasionally wear khakis. Both which are made out of fairly heavy material and take up a lot of room in the suitcase. But if you have any suggestions for alternatives I will try to be a little more flexible about my militant “jeans only” attitude.

I’m always amazed at how much space I take up with my “personal products”

I honestly don’t wear that much make up! I’ve tried putting my shampoo and other hair products in smaller containers and that works, sort of. As long as I don’t forget to label the darn bottles. I think this is where a list would come in handy because I’m always forgetting something (this trip it was hair mouse, gel…anything and Chicago was windy! I bought a small can of hair spray. Oh man that stuff smelled nasty!).

I generally store all my hair, face and makeup stuff in gallon size plastic bags. How highbrow is that? But I’ve tried those make up bags that they sell, and except for the makeup brush case, they’re useless. They take up too much space and I can’t see to find whatever it is I’m looking for.

I don’t wear that much jewelry but I do have a couple pairs of earrings that I’ll bring occasionally. I finally found a way to transport them. The last time I got prescription glasses they gave me a glass case that snapped shut. Closed up tight, nothing in and nothing out. Works like a champ for the earrings but I’d never put a necklace in there. That would be asking for a knotty mess.

When we drive (and we will be this week) I always take my pillow and  blanket. If they didn’t take up so much room, I’d bring them when we fly, too. But other than that…that’s all that I take. And it still seems like a whole lot.

Oh wait, forgot the meds…

I’ve been reading a lot about traveling with prescription drugs. It seems like a given that you would travel with the prescription labels on the bottles, right? Do you have any idea how big my bottles are?!! But the pharmacy was kind enough to give me smaller bottles to take with me.  I always bring more than I think I’ll need and they always go in my carry on.

I’ve carried on long enough. But I do have more to say about surviving while traveling, I’ll just do it in another post!

So I was wondering…do you have any travel tips you’d like to share? I obviously need the help!

Family Stuff, Fibromyalgia, Helpful Stuff

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