fibromyalgia / princess and the pea

Hi Everyone!
Yesterday, I said you need to take one step at a time, and what the next step would be. Well, it isn't just the next step, it is literally the first step of the morning, that we will talk about today. The good sleep comes first, then when you wake up, you have to take your first step. It is called the first step, because you cannot put your feet down on the floor without excrutiating pain.

So even before you try to take that first step, you might experience your arms feeling weak and might even be unable to move them at first, and your fingers may feel like they are blown up to five times their size. You may need someone to help move your arms up and down to get the circulation going, then shake your hands several times. I guarantee you that they are not swollen, they only feel that way.

One of the important things to know about fibromyalgia is that it is, as far as we know, a condition which leaves your muscles without enough oxygen to function. So if this is true, it is necessary to move your muscles. Pumping your arms up and down and shaking your fingers will cause enough oxygen to flow through your blood into your muscles to allow normal functioning.

Once that is accomplished, you can now swing your feet onto the floor, but DO NOT try to place your feet directly on the floor and DO NOT try to put any weight on your feet. You will now knead your feet like a cat. You have all watched cats knead their front paws when they awake, toes first then slowly back and forth until your entire foot is flat with the floor. Then you can begin to slowly put your weight on your feet. Little by little, step by step, you will begin to walk until the pain is gone. So this is the literal first step, and we all know what it feels like.

Now you have to come to terms with what you are going to do next. If you go back to bed, you will end up having to repeat this whole process again. Every time you are in one position for too long, your muscles lose oxygen. So you must decide, "do I go on with the next step in living my life, or do I go back to bed and start again each time" with the literal first step, getting nowhere.

As soon as possible, I suggest that you make a list of what you want your life to look like. When you have an idea in your mind, set out in small steps so that you can move on. Do I go for a walk? Sounds easy and good.

Along with the good sleep and the oxygination of your muscles, comes your diet or should I say the foods you will eat. There is a fibromyalgia diet on the internet, but I can tell you that what helps me most is a way of eating, which does not include any gluten, (wheat flour), dairy, soy products of any kind, alcohol, chocolate except very dark chocolate and only in minimum amounts, caffiene, red meat, and for most people, peanuts. It's amazing how quickly you can feel better after only a few days of this way of eating. There are many other foods you can eat and what is so wonderful is that you never feel hungry and have no more cravings for candy or cake or anything that has gluten in it. Believe me when I tell you that almost everything has gluten in it. Even ice cream and most non-fat yogurts.

So if I tell you one thing, it is to READ EVERY LABEL OF INGREDIENTS. There are many foods, today, that are gluten, etc. free and can be found in good food stores. We will talk about them tomorrow.

As you begin to feel better, we can go on to talk about a way of life, a life change, your dreams and desires. Doing the things you have wanted to do for so long, and being in too much pain to do them. The irony of it all is that the more you do, the better you will feel, and the better you will sleep.

So, get some good sleep and will talk tomorrow.
shirley