Helpful Tip or Two

Is it just me or are most people obsessed with "life hacks"?  I'm seeing so many articles/pins about "easy kitchen hacks", "unforgettable life hacks", and even "easy spoonie hacks"!  I don't have any tips, tricks, or magic moves to make this life any easier.... But I do have a couple hints that I have found helpful along the way I would like to share with my readers. 

Tip #1:


One of the biggest things I have learned along the way is to contact the hospital, doctor's office, mall, hotel, etc and ask about any Guest Services offered.  I do this before any new appointment or any new location.  I don't mean something like fluffing my towels - but I ask about things like valet parking, guest transport assistance, etc.  If you aren't sure where to start with asking if these services are available, talk to your reception workers at the doctor's office.  Or call the mall's customer service professionals.  

I am extremely blessed that the facility where most of my medical appointments are located has valet parking (disability tags park free or your doctor's office can validate the card so you can park free) and it also has guest transport assistance (which means on those days I'm unable to physically walk to my appointment they have someone who will take me in a wheelchair).  It doesn't hurt to ask, all they can do is say that nothing of that nature is available.


Tip #2:

My other big tip is to really take the time to beef up your contact information on your doctor's in your cell phone.  I include things like the Doctor's name, number, specialty, address (in case I forget where they are located), what elevator/suite number, and sometimes the name of my favorite nurse at the office.  Here is an example of what I mean, it is for Dr Enjeti who is my Pulmonologist.  And yes, this is a real screenshot from my iphone! haha  I constantly found myself getting lost in the hospital or forgetting which elevator got me to which doctor, so by beefing up the contact information I am more prepared for each appointment.  

On good days I hate asking for help because I have to ask for assistance on bad days.  By beefing up the contacts, now I know exactly where I am going :)   

That's all I have tip wise!  Well except for the normal things... But that's another blog post.

Waterpark Win!

 
 
Today my brother Johnny took us out to the water park for his birthday.  It was so much fun!!  Jennifer, Johnny, Missy, and myself all spent the day at Lake Winnie.  The amusement park is local and one of our best kept secrets - especially since they have opened up the water park addition!

 

The waterpark is amazing, it has slides galore and a crazy river (like a lazy river on steroids)!  That's where Jen and I stayed all day.  Don't get me wrong, I have always loved waterslides... but I was really scared that this would happen (see picture).And I didn't want Missy to see me get stuck in a waterslide... And I didn't want the evening news to witness my rescue by the local fire trucks.  But that being said, we had a blast!


Thanks to the amazing offer that Jennifer found on kick@$$ sunscreen (SPF 50, trowel not included) we were only mildly burned.  It was the first time since getting my pump that I have spent the day monitoring the time, watching my sugars, and attaching it every two hours for at least fifteen minutes to keep my sugars in range.  I have to say that it was a huge WIN


Of course the hardest part of managing my pump while swimming was keeping an eye on the time.  But I seen this case on Groupon about three weeks before and it guaranteed to keep a smartphone dry even when submerged in the water.  It works!  Thank God!  Which was awesome, because I set the alarm for two hours, locked my pump, meter, and stuff in a locker and swam my heart out until the sound of the alarm pulled me from the crazy river.  I don't remember the name of the pouch right off the top of my head, but I got it super cheap by using groupon.


Considering the last time I spent a lot of time in the sun I was completely roasted and this time I had even more insulin and medication in my system (thanks to my new diagnosis and pump) - and this time I walked away with a touch of pink.... this was a huge success!

 

Black Friday - No Way!

Nov. 27.  Black Friday and Holiday Shopping - In preparation for Black Friday holiday shopping, give some advice on how to survive the long lines and packed stores. How do you find the best bathrooms? How do you stay comfortable on your feet? Give us some tips before heading to the stores.

Order online!  Or do what I do - offer to babysit so your friends can go shopping, then slip them some cash and your list. :)  We can usually get the children to enjoy a cuddly fun day of movies, books, snacks, helping cook, and decorating the tree... Which is much more fibro-friendly than fighting it out in the mall at 4am.  

No Sweat!

I haven't felt the best lately, I definitely overdid it at the Festival.  It was fun and I had a good time :)  Time with family is always the best part of it all.  Yesterday I did as little as possible.  I rested, stretched, worked from home, and took naps in between catching some stuff on Netflix.  My body needed a recharge.  

This morning I overslept a bit but felt better.  I could move much easier, wasn't as stiff and aching.  I took a shower, used my tinted moisturizer and even blow dried my hair!  I put on a new pair of capris and a cute shirt, thought I was super fabulous!  Some of my favorite songs came on during my hour's commute and work has gone really well!  

And now, it is 6:50pm and I'm about to head home... when I realize.... I didn't put on any deodorant.  

Ok yes, many people do that all of the time, but - normally I sweat like crazy!!  

Usually I keep a bottle of deodorant at my desk, but I used it up not that long ago.. and of course my fibro brain didn't remember to get a new stick.  

Hmm now would be a good time to set a reminder on my phone to bring a new stick!! 

Oh well, thank God for air conditioning! :)  

Now... if I can just find my phone.... 

Day 18: When the Dinner Bell Rings

This morning I am thankful for Facebook.  Not only has it allowed me to catch up with friends from my childhood, but it has also helped me communicate with other spoonies so I feel less alone.  I also post a lot of pictures that make me laugh or inspire me.

One of my favorite pages is When the Dinner Bell Rings.  I'm not sure who does it, but it haves amazing DIY type things.  From how to whiten your nails for the holidays to easy crock pot recipes, it is definitely one page I look forward to seeing each day.  I have used some of their yummy recipes when I am having a fibro day and very few spoons to spare.  If you are on facebook, please take a minute and check out their page. 

Day 4: Sissy and Bubbey

Day 4:  I am so very thankful for my sister, Jennifer, and her husband Johnny.  

I am thankful for them every day, but wanted to write about them today.  We have spent the day together, running errands, and just laughing.  I frequently refer to Johnny as my brother, or Bubbey.  We might not always get along, sometimes we fight so much I think the house will cave in!  But - no matter what - I have their backs and they have mine.  

They both mean the world to me and I am so proud to say that we are not just siblings but we are also best friends.  

Check out Jennifer's blog here! 

Giving Thanks: Day 2

Day 2:

Today I am thankful for a job that I enjoy.  I am blessed with coworkers who seem to understand me and insurance to cover my medical needs.  The most amazing part of my job is that I can adapt what I am doing to how many spoons I have or how I am feeling.  Which is truly a blessing!  So while sometimes I do complain, I am truly blessed.

Set Free from Sunburn (for today at least)

Anyone who knows me will tell you that I am constantly muttering about the difficulties of finding the right sunscreen for the summer months. Not only does the medication for my condition make me sensitive to sun, but I start sweating like nobody's business as soon as I step foot in the brutal rays of the sun.

This summer I am trying something new. Banana Boat Clear Ultramist UVB SPF 30 Continuous Spray Sunscreen.  I found mine at Walmart, but I think you can get it anywhere.  Some people mock and aggravate me about the price I pay for good sunscreen, but the way I see it - it is definitely worth the price.  Some say that we shouldn't use are-sol spray sunscreens, but I am cautious about not breathing it in and its the only way I can make sure that I get every inch of my (exposed) body.  After doing some research and talking to my physician, I am learning that if you have the UVA and UVB protections you don't have to splurge as much on a higher SPF.  This is really the first summer that I have used a lower SPF so I was curious about how it would work out.


Luckily, I had a plan!  I went into the events of the holiday making sure that I could keep an eye on the clock. While it may sound a bit dull, I reapplied the sunscreen every 90 minutes.  Yes, I climbed out of the pool and dried off every 90 minutes, spraying myself with the sunscreen and massaging some onto my face.  The coolest part was that my 5yr old niece climbed out of the pool with me - and I went ahead and slathered her up too.  It's never too early to teach sun protection and skin care!


Well guess who DIDN'T burn!!  That's right, ME!!!  In the pool for hours during the hottest part of the day and while I did get a little bit of color - no lobster-red burns for me this year!   




Happy Independence Day!

For more FAQ about sunscreen, check out the American Melanoma Foundation.

Beating the Heat - DIY

While it is cute, this picture is a bit more factious than realistic - but the truth isn't looking any better. 

Today's High was 105^°F at 3:45pm when conditions were Partly Cloudy


See what I mean?!


While doing a bit of research for some creative ways to stay cool this summer (that I haven't already covered in previous posts), I came across two that made a lot of sense but that I hadn't really thought of before!  


1)  Make a DIY air conditioner. Put a metal bowl of ice in front of a fan, and adjust the fan so that the air is blowing over the ice. Or, use one or more 2 liter bottles and fill them mostly full of water, freeze them, then place them in a large bowl (to catch dripping water). Position a fan to blow on them. As the ice in the bottles melts, the air cools around them. The fan will blow that air at you. The water in the bottles can be frozen overnight and used again repeatedly. You can also turn on your stove fan (on the ventilator hood) or open up your chimney flue. These will also draw hot air out of the house and pull cooler evening air into the house. 


2) Put smooth white fabrics over anything in your house that's fuzzy. For example, you could cover corduroy pillows with white satin pillowcases for summer, put linen slipcovers over wool sofas, or just throw white sheets over furniture. Light-colored fabric will reflect heat instead of absorbing it, and the smooth texture will give you an impression of coolness. 


How are you beating the heat this scorching summer?


For more great ideas on staying cool during this scorching summer, check out Wiki How!   

The 4-1-1 on Supplements

I have to admit that I never really took any over the counter supplements until I started getting sick.  I have many healthy friends who take vitamins, mineral boosters, and various other supplements to help maintain their health.  I know even more chronically sick individuals who rely heavily on their supplements to have the best day possible.  This morning as I was checking my email, I ran across this Yahoo! Video and thought it was interesting. 

Or if you are unable to watch the video, you can read the article here.

Luckily, when I first started taking vitamins and supplements, I was going to a holistic doctor who helped me ease into this world of nutritional additives slowly.  I only take a few, but I have been taking them for a while now and definitely can see the difference they make. 

Here is my list:

1. CoQ10 - helps give me energy during the day, also good for my heart.
2. B-12 - helps give me energy long term.
3. Magnesium Oxide - a prescription that helps with my asthma.  
4. Centrum's ProNutrients Omega3 EPA/DHA (mini gels) - heart, eye, and brain health.  I take these because I rarely eat fish.
5. Vitamin D - I am a major sunscreen user, every inch of exposed skin is protected from the harmful rays - but that also seals out much needed Vitamin D.  Your doctor can run a blood test to see if this would help with chronic pain and how much your body needs. 

What do you take?

Budget Friendly Budget Secrets: Starring Michelle Phan!

Like so many others on YouTube, I am a faithful fan of Michelle Phan's videos.  I'm not one for wearing a lot of make-up and things, but I do enjoy her homemade skin care secrets.


For example, Michelle walks us through making an exfoliating scrub out of three things that can be found in anyone's kitchen.  This is definitely on my "to do" list!!





In this video, Michelle shows how to use an organic egg to give yourself a facial can tighten and boost your skin's appearance.  I haven't tried it yet, but I am considering it..  :)

Here Michelle walks the viewer through making homemade pore strips!

Here are the links to a few other low budget homemade tricks that she clues us in on: 

Do It Yourself Cucumber Eye Pads- Reduce dark circles and puffiness 

Creating kissable cheeks with hot chocolate

 Homemade lip scrub to get pucker worthy soft lips

Turn extra eye shadow into beautiful lipstick in just a few minutes

How to salvage your lip-gloss, lower your waste

Snow White's Secret for Skin Care

Snow White is the very first movie I remember seeing in a movie theater, it has always held a special place in my heart.  Imagine my smile when I heard that my niece also enjoys this movie!  This part always makes me laugh, yet this time it reminded me how important it is to have healthy skin and a good skin care regime. 

Being a spoonie, like many others, I have to be aware of my energy levels and am often not feeling up to do most of the things I should.  But taking a hint from my sister, Jennifer, I have a small tote that contains my essential skin care items, I keep it within easy reach of my bed.  




My tote contains:

• Equate Micro-Exfoliating Daily Cleansing Cloths,  they remove makeup, dirt, and anything else that may be lurking after the day.  I love these!  I truly feel that these cloths are a good substitute for those days I don't have the energy to properly wash my face before going to bed. 
• Biore Triple Action Astringent and generic cotton facial pads (or cotton balls, depending on your preference).  I definitely make sure that I use astringent on my neck, around the back of my neck and in the front, because of how badly I have night sweats.  
• Equate Complete Beauty Lotion with Vitamin E for Sensitive Skin that includes sunscreen.
• A new item I have added to my tote is a container of Simple Vital Vitamin Night Cream.  It was a bit of a splurge ($9) but I'm eager to see how it does with helping my face and neck stay moisturized at night without the blemishes.  
• I also keep my favorite body lotion by my bed and lather it on as often as possible!  

Yes I have other things for my skin, but those are when I have the luxury extra energy - stored in the shower so I can reach it easily.  But to be honest, this tote is for doing the minimum.  I wouldn't exactly say the minimum, because it beats doing nothing at all.  :)

Natural Pain Relievers

Over the last few months I have began to look forward to the newsletters in my inbox from IVillage.  This morning, I was very happy to see an email about relieving pain naturally.  I'm up for anything (at least once) so I thought I would browse through and share some of the highlights here.

The first option was Yoga for pain relief.  The article mentions a lot of different types of pain, from hangovers to pms to sinus pressure.  For me, what helps the most are the anxiety breathing and backache poses.  I'm not flexible AT ALL (picture the Tin Man when he started getting oiled, that would totally looked like me if I stopped coloring my grey!) and yet I found a way to do these positions comfortably.   


The next option was 20 Natural Pain Remedies from your Kitchen.  I have to admit that at first I wasn't too impressed with what it offered, but when I seen that ‘fresh pineapple daily can cut painful bloating within 72 hours’ that definitely got my attention!  As anyone who takes Neurotin will tell you, I'm bloating up like a fish!  And I love fresh pineapple, so if it works it will be win-win!  


Another thing that I do to ease my pain is try to distract my mind away from it.  It isn't always easy.  The newsletter had an  article, Surprising Ways to Ease Pain, lists some of my favorite methods of  redirecting my attention away from the pain.


What do you do to ease your pain?  Do you have any natural or mental tricks?  Please share your experiences in the comments below!
  

If I Only Had a Cure - Need Creative Help

I need your help!

I need your creativity!

Readers, near and far, let's join together and have a little fun with Chronic Illnesses for a change!  Help me rework a classic in the style of 

If I only had a Cure!

Since the brain, heart, and courage are verses to the same song, you can use whichever inspires you to rework it. 

Current Lyrics

Email your lyrics here or leave them in the comments!

-beep beep- Coming Through!

Most people who know me professionally will tell you that I am always busy and rarely find myself with very much downtime. Those who know me personally know that I struggle with fatigue. I think that is one of the Fibro symptoms that is the hardest for me to navigate around. Before I started seeing my current PCP (Primary Care Physician) I was going to a doctor more focused on holistic treatment. He suggested that I experiment taking Coenzyme Q10 or CoQ10. At the time, I didn’t try them because I had other things going on that I felt would make it hard to judge if they worked or not. 


 About three weeks ago, I touched base with my current Physician- she said she did not feel the supplement would take anything away from my current treatment plans. So I picked up a bottle of CoQ10 liquid caps and thought I would give them a whirl. 

While filling my pill boxes for the week, I added one 100mg CoQ10 pill to each of my morning doses. I could tell a difference almost immediately! Within 30-40 minutes of taking the pill I began to feel more awake and within an additional hour I had more energy than I have had in several days. It was as though I had drunk one of those 5 hour Energy Shot drinks again – except I didn’t crash (mentally) afterwards at all and I didn't talk four-hundred words a minute either! lol  I did, however, get very hungry several hours after taking the supplement. Over the last three weeks I have learned that if I eat a good breakfast before taking the CoQ10 I don’t get hungry after.

For me, taking CoQ10 works. I can feel the energy boost for a while too, if I start to pick up my activity later on in the afternoon I can feel that energy surge slowly filtering through my body. I’m kind of kicking myself for not trying it earlier.

As with anything else discussed on this blog, please touch base with your Doctor or Health Provider before altering your routine, medications, etc.

10 Low Budget Things to do to make summer fun

10 Low Budget Things to do to make summer fun


1. Carnivals, fairs, and amusement parks. Nothing better then spending the day eating corn dogs, smelling cotton candy, and riding thrilling roller coasters!  Early in the mornings or later in the evenings are the best times for me, it tends to be less hot and sometimes you can have less of a crowd.  


2. When the temperatures start soaring, nothing feels better than running through a cold sprinkler, fountain or fire hydrant.


3. Go to the beach. Swim in the water, build sand castles, play with a beach ball, sun-bathe and have LOTS of fun!  Most people forget about their local lakes, rivers, and harbors - some offer a swimming area and a sandy beach.


4. Go rollerblading, swimming, biking, or skateboarding – anything you enjoy.  (Personally I look for a rocking chair or swing in the shade.)


5. If you hear the music from the ice cream truck, go and get some!


6. Have a campfire and make s’mores!


7. Windy day?  Fly a kite!


8. Go camping in your backyard. Sleep under the stars with your friends, and sing campfire songs or tell stories.


9. Grab your water guns, water balloons, buckets, hoses and whatever you’ve got…and have a water FIGHT!


10. Go to the nearest park and have a picnic with your pals. Ride the slides, hop on the swings, play Frisbee and take a whirl on the merry-go-round.

Special Thanks to Yahoo Blog!

Sickie Challenge: Two Recipes

Thank you Monique for developing the 10 Day Sickie Challenge! For more information on how you too can take part in this experience, get more information here.

Day Nine: Two Recipes!

These are two of my "go to" recipes for when I'm having a fibro day.  Its very little cooking, easy peasy, throw together delicious.  And they can be converted into a healthier option!

Fibro Friendly Chicken Salad 

Yield: 6 cups of chicken salad.

• 3 cups cooked chicken breast
• 1 red apple and 1 granny smith apple (doesn't matter which kind of apples, as long as there are 2)
• touch of lemon juice
• 1 cup sliced, seedless grapes
• ½ cup chopped celery
• ½ cup Craisins
• ½ cup to 1 cup of light mayonnaise (to taste)
• ½ cup walnuts, chopped (or can use toasted slivered almonds)
• salt and pepper to taste

Chop both apples into small cubes, and place into a bowl. Sprinkle over 1 tablespoon of lemon juice over apples, this will help them from turning brown. Add chopped chicken, chopped celery, grapes and craisins. Mix well. Add 1 cup of light mayonnaise, and stir well. Depending on how the salad is coated, you may want to add an additional 1/2 cup of light mayonnaise. Season with salt and pepper. Allow flavors to marry in the refrigerator in a covered container for about an hour before serving.

I love it on bread, toast, crackers, and even just with a spoon some days!

Fibro Friendly Chicken Alfredo

• 1 lb dry pasta, any kind
• 1 ½ cup Alfredo sauce (small jar) 
• 2 cups of broccoli florets
• 2 cups cooked, chopped chicken breasts
• garlic powder to taste
• salt and pepper to taste

1. Cook pasta according to instructions.
2.  Steam broccoli according to instructions.
3.  Drain pasta. 
4.  Drain broccoli.
5. Combined cooked pasta, Alfredo sauce, chicken breast, and broccoli. 
6.  Heat and serve.  Flavor with garlic powder, salt, and pepper to taste.

Sickie Challenge: Four Tips

Thank you Monique for developing the 10 Day Sickie Challenge! For more information on how you too can take part in this experience, get more information here.

Day Seven: Four Tips

Learn to listen to your body.  I think the hardest thing about having fibromyalgia is not the pain, discomfort, low immune, or even the hot flashes... it is that so many people, even respected medical professionals, do not believe in it!  I have been told that my solution lies in a husband, a makeover, a new job, and that I would find healing if I moved to another state.  

Accept that sometimes, everyone needs help.  In the beginning of my illness, I was embarrassed to use a handicapped parking place on a bad fibro day.  I knew in my head that it was ok because I needed to be closer, but I was humiliated with the thought of someone seeing me using it... until a good friend pointed out to me that it might be even more embarassing for someone to find me passed out in the middle of the parking lot or clutching to a stray buggy as I grew violently sick by pushing myself... Now I park in those places and consider myself blessed to be allowed that support when I need it. 

Embrace who you truly are, down in your soul.  And do not let anything or anyone change that. Having an invisible illness is extremely difficult, it can be frustrating, exhausting, and has made me question my very sanity at times... but I was blessed in that I have an amazing support system that always brings me back around to being me. Quote of the day - "Let your smile change the world, but don't let the world change your smile!"  

Keep some sort of record/journal, for the good days and the bad.  Some place where you can be 100% brutally honest about how you feel and the thoughts that keep you company...  I have discovered a lot of strength and learned a bit more of myself by being able to go back and read some of my previous entries.  

Bonus Tip:  Like it or not, this is the new you... take the time you need to learn to love yourself and it is ok to grieve for the abilities you may have lost... The important thing is not to dwell on this loss, but to pick up and keep moving forward.  


Just Keep Swimming

Sickie Challenge: Seven Movies I Love

Thank you Monique for developing the 10 Day Sickie Challenge! For more information on how you too can take part in this experience, get more information here.

Day 4:  Seven Movies I love, in no particular order. 

Click on the movie name to get the Internet Movie Database Information on that particular movie. 

Wizard of Oz

Stardust

10th Kingdom

Ever After

The Shawshank Redeemption

Secondhand Lions

The Notebook

Sickie Challenge: Fibro Friendliness in Nine Products

Thank you Monique for developing the 10 Day Sickie Challenge! For more information on how you too can take part in this experience, get more information here.

Nine Products that Make my Life Fibro-Friendly

1. Handheld showerhead – for days that I need a hot water massage on my back or am too sore to bend very much.  I love how independent I feel using the hand held, even on bad pain days.

2. Crest Spin brush – for days my shoulders/hands/back hurts too bad to brush my teeth on my own.

3. Easy Feet foot scrubber/massager – This feels amazing no matter how I’m feeling! Sitting on the side of the tub, this dandy little thing scrubs my feet from tiptoes to the back of my heel.  Absolutely worth more than the $10 that it sells for!!

4. Blackberry / Google Calendar – Not only does this keep up with work deadlines, family birth dates, and my schedule, it also keeps me in contact with my coworkers, family, and friends via text messages, twitter, facebook, email, etc. I feel totally lost without my blackberry.

5. Icy Hot Spray and Banana Boat's Spray on Sunscreen – Thank God for these inventions!  I am single, so I don't have the helpful hands of a spouse at my disposal when it comes to either putting on soothing muscle rub on my aches and pains, or even protecting my skin in those places pain will not let me reach with sunblock.  While some say aresol sprays are bad for the environment, they are a welcomed assistance in my world.  

6. Canvas Tote Bags for groceries – Find out more here

7. Facial Wipes – I try to be as skin-health conscious as possible, which includes not going to sleep with a dirty face. This wipes are a blessing! Even on bad days, I can save some pain by cleaning my face with a wipe.

8. Electric Blanket – I’m a good sized girl, tall and curvy. So an average heating pad will not cut it during muscle spasms that last all night long. I have discovered that an electric blanket is an excellent alternative!

9. Post it Notes – Fibro fog anyone? These little miracles save my life at work! This may not be a product I use at home very often but from grocery lists to reminding me to stop by the bank, they are amazing!