Hey everyone, thanks for following me here. My life is changing in so many wonderful ways. My health journey is taking another path along the health trail. as I learn more about nutrition, whole foods, holistic health and healing the body~my blog will be changing as well...Making the move to Wordpress~
More to come so stay tuned and "Don't Touch That Dial!"
Peace~
Friday, September 7, 2012
Monday, September 3, 2012
Hearing loss and illnesses
Currently I am 65% Deaf and my hearing loss is on a steady decline. This past eighteen months it dove into the valley 3 times. My latest audiograms look like a plane crash. My loving brother's description...I wonder if I will have any hearing remaining in the next 5 years.
My hearing loss began as a young child. I am an early loss twin and I was a very, very sick little girl. At five years of age I had to have my tonsils and adenoids removed. As a result I was horribly sick with pneumonia that required my being placed on an IV. In that time era as both Momma and Nana were RN's, I was allowed to be treated on the IV at home, which they did. Momma said she thought they were going to lose me I was so ill. Fever raged and the pneumonia was consuming my little body. This warrior child pulled through. When I was in first grade I contracted Whooping Cough and became horribly ill.
Whooping Cough, also known as Pertussis is highly contagious and can cause serious illnesses according to the CDC - Whooping Cough.
I was "medicated" with Hot Toddies ( tea, lemon, honey and brandy) and lots of rest. I was a very sick little girl. A vaccine is available now to help against getting Pertussis. Why the cases of Whooping Cough are on the rise now baffles me. It is a scary thing to have when you area kid and scary for parents when their child has the illness.
I survived those two of many illnesses (they were the worst) but the consequences left me with lifelong repercussions. My hearing loss began before i even entered first grade and began the slow and steady decline over time. Apparently the loss was not enough back then to get anyone's attention. They concentrated on my vision, which required me to wear glasses by the time I entered first grade.
Why, when we have the vaccine, is this highly infectious disease on the rise?
CDC: U.S. Whooping Cough cases rising at epidemic rate. The CDC news report stated that In 2010 there were 27,000 cases reported and 27 died from the disease, of which, 25 were infants.
In this next article it is reported by the CDC that 18,000 cases have been reported and it is more than double last years cases. CDC: WHooping Cough cases may be most in 5 decades. A vaccine was introduced in the 1940's and cases decreased yet they are on an alarming rise now. I was told that the vaccine was not available to me and I was the only one of six living children to not receive it. I was born in 1960. I don't know if it was unavailable in our area or what but it has me wondering since the vaccine was introduced almost 20 years prior to my birth.
As a child I also experienced numerous ear infections. This is another factor that can contribute to hearing loss and Deafness as they did in my case. The numerous ear infections led to my having the adenoids removed with the tonsils. There are multiple causes of ear infections including family history but I find the following statement very interesting. Both my parents and my maternal nana were heavy smokers.
According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders "Studies have shown that babies who are around smokers have more ear infections."
Meniere's Disease affected my father when he was in his 40's and he had to be placed on medication Meclazine which helped him somewhat. No one else in the family was affected. By this time however, mom was along on her journey to hearing loss and wore two hearing aids. Neither of my maternal grandparents experienced hearing loss. From what I know and heard my paternal grandparents had no troubles with their hearing either.
Peace
My hearing loss began as a young child. I am an early loss twin and I was a very, very sick little girl. At five years of age I had to have my tonsils and adenoids removed. As a result I was horribly sick with pneumonia that required my being placed on an IV. In that time era as both Momma and Nana were RN's, I was allowed to be treated on the IV at home, which they did. Momma said she thought they were going to lose me I was so ill. Fever raged and the pneumonia was consuming my little body. This warrior child pulled through. When I was in first grade I contracted Whooping Cough and became horribly ill.
Whooping Cough, also known as Pertussis is highly contagious and can cause serious illnesses according to the CDC - Whooping Cough.
I was "medicated" with Hot Toddies ( tea, lemon, honey and brandy) and lots of rest. I was a very sick little girl. A vaccine is available now to help against getting Pertussis. Why the cases of Whooping Cough are on the rise now baffles me. It is a scary thing to have when you area kid and scary for parents when their child has the illness.
I survived those two of many illnesses (they were the worst) but the consequences left me with lifelong repercussions. My hearing loss began before i even entered first grade and began the slow and steady decline over time. Apparently the loss was not enough back then to get anyone's attention. They concentrated on my vision, which required me to wear glasses by the time I entered first grade.
Why, when we have the vaccine, is this highly infectious disease on the rise?
CDC: U.S. Whooping Cough cases rising at epidemic rate. The CDC news report stated that In 2010 there were 27,000 cases reported and 27 died from the disease, of which, 25 were infants.
In this next article it is reported by the CDC that 18,000 cases have been reported and it is more than double last years cases. CDC: WHooping Cough cases may be most in 5 decades. A vaccine was introduced in the 1940's and cases decreased yet they are on an alarming rise now. I was told that the vaccine was not available to me and I was the only one of six living children to not receive it. I was born in 1960. I don't know if it was unavailable in our area or what but it has me wondering since the vaccine was introduced almost 20 years prior to my birth.
As a child I also experienced numerous ear infections. This is another factor that can contribute to hearing loss and Deafness as they did in my case. The numerous ear infections led to my having the adenoids removed with the tonsils. There are multiple causes of ear infections including family history but I find the following statement very interesting. Both my parents and my maternal nana were heavy smokers.
According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders "Studies have shown that babies who are around smokers have more ear infections."
Meniere's Disease affected my father when he was in his 40's and he had to be placed on medication Meclazine which helped him somewhat. No one else in the family was affected. By this time however, mom was along on her journey to hearing loss and wore two hearing aids. Neither of my maternal grandparents experienced hearing loss. From what I know and heard my paternal grandparents had no troubles with their hearing either.
Peace
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Relationships and activities
Relationships can become stressed when our lives have been turned upside down with an illness that is not visible, or with any illness. I am currently single and not sure if having someone in my life as a partner would be more stressful or not although I sure do get lonely for companionship. Having Fibro has changed my life so much, some for the better, some not and it has also changed my life in that I can no longer do a lot of the activities I once enjoyed. I had to learn to become flexible regarding my daily activities. That is not always easy to accept. As we never know how we will feel from day to day it is extremely hard to schedule anything. I strongly dislike the energy drain. What Does help is to connect with others who are experiencing the same things I am or similar. We can share with each other out tips and strategies for making the days, and nites, easier. I am learning to let go of to let go of those who do not uplift me and support me. Taking care of me first is priority. Eating healthier has been very beneficial and I drink tons of water. It is my main refreshment. Take things a day at a time and know your limits. Learn to say No when you do not feel up to something.
Know your own limitations and let others know what you can and cannot realistically do. Often, we tend to overdo and this can put many of us down for a considerable amount of time so be gentle with yourself, do what you can do and learn to let go of the rest.
Help to educate others on your illness. A little information goes a long way in helping others understand what Fibromyalgia is and is not. Although it does affect us all a bit differently we do experience many commonalities.
Rid yourself of negative relationships and build up the positive ones. Negativity can draw us down physically and emotionally. We need to get rid of all that we can that is not healthy for us and sometimes it includes distancing ourselves from family members who do not support us.
Surround yourself with understanding friends and family. Find support in a local Fibromyalgia support group if there is one near you and you are able to handle groups. Frankly, I am not a group person too much and prefer the company of a friend or two - small groups work best for me if I am so inclined to join any. I rather join a couple friends for coffee and a visit to the local park to feed the birds or something simple that is relaxing.
Take it one day at a time and remember to take care of You~
Fibromyalgia reality
The hardest thing for me to accept about my Fibromyalgia is the energy drain and not being able to do many of the activities I once enjoyed before this insidious thing latched onto me.
A simple trip to the grocery store can do me in for the day. It can wipe me out for hours or even a couple days. Naps are no longer 30 minutes and a luxury from time to time. Naps have become a staple in the closet of my "Must Haves" and range anywhere from 2-4 or five hours. I wake many mornings feeling as though I had just ran the Boston Marathon or finished a triathlon!
I want my energy back!!
I have accepted the diagnosis but I do not like it. I do not have to like it. I do not want it...I do not Sam I am...I do not like it one bit!
Monday, August 20, 2012
Somedays clothes just hurt
Tags, do they bother you? They bother the blazes out of me.
I cannot wear shirts with tags. Tags, in shirts or in any clothing I wear literally drive me crazy and hurt. If they have a tag it gets cut right away before I wear it. I like my jammies just a little too big so they will be comfortable. When I am hot I will wear just a loose light shirt to bed. I always have a sheet or blanket, even when I am cold I have to have fans on; the ceiling fan, my standing fan and my small nitestand fan, all have to be on. I would rather the windows be open with a great breeze but summer it is too hot. I am either too hot or cold. No happy medium. Oh and bras, I hate them hate them. But being large breasted I cannot go too long without one or it becomes hard to breathe and my back hurts more. I have been considering a breast reduction and plan on asking my doctor for a referral for one due to the size of these things. I have always been large since late elementary school. Hoping I can get the medical clearance to get this done. It is nuts!
We need to have clothes that are kind to our bodies. It is hard to find them out there though and incredibly frustrating.
Well, until next time...
Peace
I cannot wear shirts with tags. Tags, in shirts or in any clothing I wear literally drive me crazy and hurt. If they have a tag it gets cut right away before I wear it. I like my jammies just a little too big so they will be comfortable. When I am hot I will wear just a loose light shirt to bed. I always have a sheet or blanket, even when I am cold I have to have fans on; the ceiling fan, my standing fan and my small nitestand fan, all have to be on. I would rather the windows be open with a great breeze but summer it is too hot. I am either too hot or cold. No happy medium. Oh and bras, I hate them hate them. But being large breasted I cannot go too long without one or it becomes hard to breathe and my back hurts more. I have been considering a breast reduction and plan on asking my doctor for a referral for one due to the size of these things. I have always been large since late elementary school. Hoping I can get the medical clearance to get this done. It is nuts!
We need to have clothes that are kind to our bodies. It is hard to find them out there though and incredibly frustrating.
Well, until next time...
Peace
Sunday, August 19, 2012
This weather
The weather has been exceedingly hot, to put it mildly. A couple weeks ago we were even into the triple digits and even though extreme cold causes me unbelievable pain as does the heat, weather I remember from Texas. I contemplated crawling into the ice box a few times. If my fridge were not a side by side I Might have attempted to do more than put my head in side ways lol!!
Well, it finally did shower some today with thunder that could have or should have woken the dead. I ended up with one Chihuahua buried into my lap and the other one flew upon the couch and dove between my back and the couch.
They are amazing watchdogs and protectors, fabulous Service animals but hate storms they do.
My hands are aching , throbbing mad but I wanted to get a post out before I headed to dreamland.
Peace
Well, it finally did shower some today with thunder that could have or should have woken the dead. I ended up with one Chihuahua buried into my lap and the other one flew upon the couch and dove between my back and the couch.
They are amazing watchdogs and protectors, fabulous Service animals but hate storms they do.
My hands are aching , throbbing mad but I wanted to get a post out before I headed to dreamland.
Peace
Saturday, August 18, 2012
IMAK Arthritic gloves - My Review
With the Fibromyalgia comes pain and my hands needed something to keep them warm and help them feel better. I had been going to bed with my service related thermal gloves but knew there had to be something better out there that I could wear more often and be able to write, eat and perform other daily tasks wearing. I have been experiencing tremendous pain again lately especially in my hands. The current weather here in NW Florida has definitely been a huge factor in the ongoing pain. We are in our rainy season, hurricane season and therefore we have rain pretty much every afternoon right on schedule.
Many posts ago (please do not ask me how many, I am bad with numbers lol) I mentioned the upcoming purchase of special gloves to help with the pain, swelling and coldness of my hands. I was going to give you my review after purchasing them and wearing them for a bit.
My Review:
I Purchased the gloves from Wal-Mart online, as they did not offer them in their store. They have to be delivered to you. I was so excited when they arrived and proceeded to put them on. The gloves felt just a tiny bit too snug at first and I thought maybe I should have ordered the med. but I went by their size measurements and ordered the small...I do have small hands. After a few hours of wearing them my hands felt so much better. They alleviate some of the pain and coldness. They are light compression and have spandex in them. I am delighted with them and looking to order a second pair. It is good to have a back up pair. When you wash them (hand wash only) and lay them out to dry it takes a few hours.
The cost is $14.88 and with $1.47 the total comes to $16.35 which I thought was a very good price.
I Highly recommend these gloves. They are the Best thing I have done for my hands. The gloves are the gray ones and not the color you see on the box.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE My IMAK gloves :)
I am in no way not being compensated for purchasing and review of the product. I desperately wanted to try them due to the pain and freezing coldness of my hands. My review is just letting others who may be looking for a similar product know how I feel about them.
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