I am...

I’ve spent a lot of time thinking lately about re-starting this blog and the corresponding FB page. But I have been struggling for so long with the idea of pasting that label on me and on my life. I am SO much more than my medical diagnosis. I am so many things to so many different people.

I am a Christian Woman, I am a Wife, I am a Mama, I am a Friend, I am a sister, I am a daughter, I am an aunt, I am a co-worker, I am an employee, I am a Working Mom, I am a Fibro Warrior, I am a Paralegal, I am a Procrastinator, I am a Fighter, I am a Lover, I am Loyal, I am Caring, I am a former classmate, I am a college graduate, I am a Woman…I am enough.

I could go on and on (as could we all) with the different roles, titles, labels, etc. that life has given me. But really, what matters is who am I to me? Who do I believe myself to be? I heard something recently that really stood out to me. None of us are to others who we perceive ourselves to be. Every single person we encounter in this world sees us different. What matters is what we do, how we live our lives that helps each person shape who we are to them.

The events of our lives shape us into the people we become. Each event, each person we meet, each struggle we go through, each success, each moment of joy makes us into the person we are today. So, what are the struggles, the joys, the moments of success, the moments of heartache that have brought me here today? That’s a little of what I’ll share with you, but really, what I hope to do is to bring to each person willing to read, listen, pay attention to what I have to say, is a smile, an inspiration, knowing you’re not in this life alone, that someone else thinks that “adulting is tough today” or that with the support of those around us, we can, we will, see joy in the little things, sing praises and build each other up to be the person that each of us sees ourselves as – fill in the blank:
I am ____________________.

Banana, walnut, dark chocolate oatmeal muffins

I just realized today that it's been just over five months since I last posted something...Oh how time flies! So sorry for my absence, I have been quite busy though - working my full time job, working and managing my small business, trying to buy (and sell) a house, and trying to help me husband find a new job near where we're planning to move to. Ugh...that's quite a tall list for a "normal" person, and I do have to say, I've been quite proud of myself for keeping my stress under control through all of this! I have made some fabulous new foods during this time - which I hope to start sharing with all of you again very soon, as well as found some more wonderful new foods that help me stay on track with my GF diet!

One of my favorite new websites (which most of you have probably also become addicted to) is Pinterest. I have found SOOO many fabulous ideas, recipes, products and just general time wasters on there!! One of my favorite things though is that Pinterest allows those who are on a GF diet to so easily share their favorite recipes. Here's a link to my Gluten Free Foods pin board and since I haven't been keeping up on photographing my cooking sessions, here's a link to one my most recent FAVORITE breakfast/morning snacks -- Banana, walnut, dark chocolate oatmeal muffin:

**Photo borrowed from Green Lite Bites blog

I used the recipe provided by Green Lite Bites blog and made a couple additions/twists to suit mine and my husbands tastes.

Ingredients:

3 Ripe bananas

1 cup Almond Milk (milk, or I've even used French Vanilla Coffee Cream)*

2 large eggs

1 Tbsp Baking Powder

3 cups Old Fashion or Rolled Oats (I just used a generic of quick oats)

1 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract

1 cup Dark Chocolate Chips

1/2 cup Chopped Walnuts (or any other nut you prefer) - Optional

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees while mixing the ingredients.

2. Smash the 3 ripe bananas until smooth then mix the milk, eggs, baking powder, vanilla and oatmeal. Mix thoroughly. Add in dark chocolate chips and nuts (optional) and mix until well combined.

3. Spray your muffin pan with Pam or other non-stick spray or put liners into pan.

4. Generously scoop batter into muffin pan - the muffins don't really rise so they'll be about as big (or little) as the batter you put in the pan. I divide the batter into 12 nice sized muffins.

5. Bake 25 - 30 minutes - or until they begin to brown just a bit on the top.

6. Remove from pan and allow to cool - ENJOY!

*If you use milk alone, also at a bit of splenda, truvia or other sweetener - When making with milk I use 4 packets of splenda.

FIBROMYALGIA AWARENESS DAY 2012

Tomorrow, May 12th, is Fibromyalgia Awareness Day!

A day dedicated to making those around us more aware of what we go through on a daily basis. A day dedicated to standing on our soapboxes to yell to the world about the pain we live with and that it IS REAL! A day to stand next to each other...and to just know, that we're not alone.

I did some google searches recently (yup, last minute of course) to see what events might be planned here in my home state of Minnesota and possibly near my hometown of Hopkins, MN...I was very dissappointed to find nothing :( The Courage Center will be having their monthly meeting with a special speaker, but nothing out in public to make them more aware of Fibromyalgia. Of course, I have these grand thoughts - had I done some searching months agao - of what could have been set up to mark this date and raise awareness...kind of a coulda, shoulda, woulda moment.

So, since it is WAY to late to start planning some grand event for tomorrow to make those around me more aware of this syndrome of Fibromyalgia, I will just blog about it and share, share, share!!

Some information about Fibromyalgia syndrome (Shared from the National Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain Associations website:

Fibromyalgia (fi-bro-my-AL-ja) is a very common condition of widespread muscular pain and fatigue. Seven to ten million Americans suffer from fibromyalgia (FM). It affects women much more than men in an approximate ratio of 20:1. It is seen in all age groups from young children through old age, although in most patients the problem begins in their 20s or 30s. Recent studies have shown that fibromyalgia occurs worldwide and has no specific ethnic predisposition.

The Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia patients have widespread body pain which often seems to arise in the muscles. Some FM patients feel their pain originates in their joints. Pain that emanates from the joints is called arthritis; extensive studies have shown FM patients do not have arthritis. Although many fibromyalgia patients are aware of pain when they are resting, it is most noticeable when they use their muscles, particularly during repetitive activities. Their discomfort can be so severe it may significantly limit their ability to lead a full life. Patients can find themselves unable to work in their chosen professions and may have difficulty performing everyday tasks. As a consequence of muscle pain, many FM patients severely limit their activities including exercise routines. This results in their becoming physically unfit, which eventually makes their fibromyalgia symptoms worse.

In addition to widespread pain, other common symptoms include a decreased sense of energy, disturbances of sleep, and varying degrees of anxiety and depression related to patients' changed physical status. Furthermore, certain other medical conditions are commonly associated with fibromyalgia, such as: tension headaches, migraine, irritable bowel syndrome, irritable bladder syndrome, premenstrual tension syndrome, cold intolerance, and restless leg syndrome. Patients with estalished rheumatoid arthritis, lupus (SLE), and Sjogren's syndrome often develop FM during the course of their disease. The combination of pain and multiple other symptoms often leads doctors to pursue an extensive course of investigations, which are nearly always normal.

Prevelance 
Fibromyalgia is one of the most common chronic pain conditions. The disorder affects an estimated 10 million people in the U.S. and an estimated 3-6% of the world population. While it is most prevalent in women —75-90 percent of the people who have FM are women —it also occurs in men and children of all ethnic groups. The disorder is often seen in families, among siblings or mothers and their children. The diagnosis is usually made between the ages of 20 to 50 years, but the incidence rises with age so that by age 80, approximately 8% of adults meet the American College of Rheumatology classification of fibromyalgia.

*Photo shared from Fibromyalgia Awareness Day 2012 FB Page

Stress and Faith

I quickly learned when I was first diagnosed with fibromyalgia, just how much stress can trigger a fibro flare up. I didn't realize until I began to conciously monitor my stress levels just how quickly sudden stressful news, a stressful situation or event can trigger a flare up. My stress flare ups tend to consist of muscle pain across my upper back/shoulders, a headache and fatigue. I can go from having a great day - feeling good - to wanting only to curl up in a ball on my couch or in bed.

It can be difficult to explain this to those arround me and more so for them to understand it. I am very lucky to have a husband who is very understanding and supportive, but I do have many family members who don't quite get it, or understand - and worse yet, friends who don't. It can be hard to explain in a way that makes sense to some of them why I suddenly have to change or cancel plans. Often times I come up with "excuses" not related to my fibromyalgia, because the "excuse" seems easier to explain and for them to understand than the truth. 

This is also difficult when it comes to work. I do hold a full time job in an office environment as well as have my own side business (photo booth rental business) which together keep me very busy. I do my best to trudge through either or both jobs during a flare up because I'm not willing to "admit defeat". I have had to call in a handful of times to my FT job because I physically could not get out of bed in the morning - but generally during a flare up, I somehow convince myself I have the energy to get out of bed, I drag myself through getting ready and exist through my day at work...not a fun day.

BUT, on the bright side of all of this, I have found that my Faith has helped me through so many stressful times, situations and events that have arose over the past couple years. I am usually able to turn the situation that is causing me stress around simply through Prayer. It is very relaxing, theraputic, uplifting and cleansing to get to the point of being able to turn the situation over to God and put the Faith I have in him to work by trusting that he will get me through it and that whatever the issue, that it is all part of his plan and his will in my life.

I know, this doesn't seem to be a method to "manage" fibromyalgia, but really, it is. One of my biggest triggers - next to gluten (will discuss another day) - is stress. Everyone has a different way of managing and dealing with stress - some might try yoga, exercise, talking, eating, drinking, or arguing - and others fall back on what they know and believe, their faith. I have found my Faith and prayer to be the fastest and best stress reliever. To anyone who might be reading this - I'm still not even sure how to find out if anyone has read or is reading it - How does stress affect you? Does it cause a fibro flare up? How have you learned to manage your stress?

Here we go....!

Hello World!

This is my very first blog entry - ever! I have decided to start a blog to share with others out there who are doing their darndest to live a full and active life despite a Fibromyalgia diagnosis. I plan to share those tips, recipes, tools, activities, etc. as well as those adventures I experience along the way.

Just a little bit about me...I am 30 years old and was "officially" diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in December 2009. I was one of the "lucky" ones - I was diagnosed by the second doctor I saw about my symptoms. I currently take gabapentin, to help with sleep, but have gone to natural options to manage other symptoms. After reading over and over about how a gluten-free diet worked for some other people, I decided it was worth a try...and to my delight, it makes a world of difference! Since going gluten-free it's like day and night...my fatigue and all over muscle pain are greatly reduced - and let me tell you...I definitely know when I accidentally eat something that has gluten in it! Of course, a gluten-free diet would mean nothing if I wasn't able to also manage my stress levels.

Being able to manage my symptoms naturally makes all the difference in my life, I am married (with no kids yet) and work a full-time job, plus have a part-time home business. With all of this my life can at times become quite crazy, chaotic and stressful. With the help of my loving husband and our faith I have been able to keep my life "in check" or at least the things that come up in perspective to reduce stress. As most of you who have Fibromyalgia know, stress can cause a fibro flare up fast!

I have read a lot of articles, FB posts, etc. from people who have struggled with Fibromyalgia in all aspects of their lives, not just the symptoms, but also with their loved ones, friends, co-workers, doctors, etc. and my heart goes out to every single one of them. I have been blessed with a very understanding and helpful husband, family and friends who have educated themselves so they can understand why it is I might not be able to do something I had previously "committed" myself to, co-workers who are amazingly helpful, caring and who have also gone out to learn more about Fibromyalgia and have actually found natural supplements that have been helpful along my journey. I don't tell you this to make anyone feel bad - only to show that there are people out there who understand, and are willing to educate themselves so they can begin to understand what we go through day in and day out.

I hope to be able to share with everyone out there some of the recipe's I find, new information as I discover/find it and life in general (beware...I love taking pictures and cooking - so you're likely to see that in future posts). Thank you for taking the time to read and follow my posts - please feel free to comment with interesting tips, ideas, etc. that you may have found/discovered that helps you LIVE a full and active life despite Fibromyalgia!