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8/31/12 3:14 P

Turmeric info from another spark team thread
www.sparkpeople.com/myspark/team_messagebo
ard_thread.asp?board=13192x37110x49304
085

Posts: 1,427
8/31/12 2:14 P

Hippiegurl-doctors should write a prescription to psycho-therapy post surgery to help get past the denial-angers-excuses-and other multi-steps of grief like counseling it takes for emotional recovery. We want you to get past it. We want you happy with less bitterness through your day. We do deeply understand the friction from the medical community. You need to be strong for that next ‘slap in the face’.

Don- you asked what to give her in pain reducing ideas of foods to help correct reduce and prevent inflammation.
How about through being selective of foods and adding in a few that you may have a disliked experience in the past. But now you realize the nutritional value could have you ‘trying again’ another way.
How about the ‘over the lips and past the gums-look out stomach here it comes’. The mouth gets by-passed but the body gets the necessary nutrition. Taking in whatever is not liked goes in the middle so the last aftertaste of a meal is not that burped awful thing. Hooray for the taste hiding capsules.

Cilantro, parsley and coconut are great in their own way and have body improving values that may equate to a possible better way to count calories and improve immune support, the area that grows tired quickly and daily longevity seems to be too short these days. Served as a garnish to a plate in live or dried, puree or powdered, these little beauties help a body when a pill is no-fun. A bunch of fresh ones are under $2 per bunch and cheap pain helpers.

But my favorite tip is for turmeric spice of the under ground portion of a tropical flower.
I adore the turmeric spice but a menu with a few teaspoonfuls per serving for everyday I am in pain loses its taste ability to please me. She may not want to eat it if aversion is there. My want of more turmeric that has nerve care written all over the worlds’ history is soothing and does not always have to be as in classic curry ‘hot’, so I bother.

In my areas of self care; my elimination diet found swelling discomfort on garlic and this allium plant family like onion. This diet helps me see what is not fun anymore. Classic blends of curry powder have garlic in the mixed bottles. My ability to adjust my spice choices and blending to suit my taste buds today is powerful for overriding the Isles in the middle of the average grocery store that only stock premixed versions. I look for individual items per bottle and no silicone dioxide. It goes against the grain. It is thinking outside the box. I do this turmeric add-in to serve my pain some pleaser meals with good side affects. When my tongue is fussy one day I can capsule some of the things I do not like and still support nutritional needs. Usually health food sections of stores solo offerings; the nutritional extra can be under a gram and ready-made singles are out there without preservative I can not tolerate.

You might tell her to cut back on the chemicals; you know read the labels more.

Here is my blog of parsley if you are curious.
Ode to a Big Sprig of Parsley Leaf

www.sparkpeople.com/mypage_public_journal_
individual.asp?blog_id=4650039

Edited by: MARGIE100%PURE at: 8/31/2012 (14:17)

Posts: 4,779
8/27/12 5:58 A

After total knee replacement surgery last year, I had REALLY SEVERE pain issues with the replaced knee much longer than the average surgical patient(sat home and cried every day). In fact, it was a good six months before I could actually say my extremely excruciating pain finally turned the corner to where I wasn't watching the clock for my next pain pill. My surgeon wanted to dismiss me from his care after 10 days post surgery - nice guy! I tried getting pain relief from my primary care Dr, but he just doesn't understand fibro, so I went to my rheumatologist. He asked if I had seen a pain management clinic. I told him I tried to get into one....every one I tried refused to see me when they discovered my secondary insurance was Medicaid - EVEN THOUGH MY PRIMARY INSURANCE WAS PAYING 100% at that point in the year!!! Talk about discrimination! Anyway, my rheumie worked with me with a combination of pain pills, topical patches(anti-inflammatory) and a topical anti-inflammatory liquid that you rub into the skin that's absorbed and helps the pain level. After the pain got to the point that I could stop the pills, I went on Duragesic patches, which I still use, and it will be a year next month that I had my knee done. By the way, I still have as much, if not more pain in the replaced knee than in the other knee, which also needs to be replaced.

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8/26/12 2:39 A

BRANDINICOLE, you might want to ask your doctor to refer you to a pain management specialist if there is one available in your area... they often have better ways of dealing with these issues than a regular doctor... I know it sucks, been there. Especially lately with the heat...

Kathy

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8/25/12 2:04 P

There are a lot of meds for fibro that I haven't been able to take due to allergic reactions or side effects. However, the one drug I've never had a problem with except for dry mouth is Topamax. It's original purpose was anti-seizure, but it works for fibro by sending a reduced pain message to the brain. Since fibro is basically the nerves sending an exaggerated pain message to the brain, Topamax is just kind of reversing that message. You start out on a small dose and work up, and it will also help curb the appetite in most people. My only complaint is it gives me a really dry mouth, so I carry a water bottle with everywhere, and I mean everywhere!
Also, since I'm very sensitive to most medications, almost all of the muscle relaxers constipate me, but I finally found one that doesn't! Zanaflex/Tizanidine(gen) is the first one I've been able to take with no problems.

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8/24/12 9:50 P

My pain is severe and never lets up. I have medical coverage, but my doctor will only give me a very mild pain reliever that doesn't even work.

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8/21/12 11:13 A

Oh, oh oh! I KNOW this one! LOL

Esophagogastroduodenoscopy. EGD for short.

It's an endosopic examination of the digestive tract from the mouth to the small intestines. They put you under anesthesia, and put a camera down your throat to look at everything. They can take tissue samples etc in the process...

I had it done several years ago, I have a hiatal hernia... at the time it was too small to bother with surgery, but it's also why I eat six small meals a day instead of three large ones. I only have occasional issues now, instead of all the time... but I do still need to lose more weight to make more of a difference...

Kathy

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8/14/12 1:53 P

Wow, I will have to check this out. Back in December I jumped out of bed due to our dog having a seizure and started having chest pains and just about blacked out, so my husband took me to the ER and they said since I jumped out of bed that my blood pressure was too low which caused me to almost black out and that I should get out of bed slowly in the future to prevent that. Plus they felt like I was suffering from anxiety attacks when our dog has seizures. But since then the migraines are getting worse. I will be going to a Rhuematologist in Sept. What is an EGD?

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8/14/12 1:16 P

I have had some chest pains, nausea, dizziness and even blacked out with this. My doctor initially thought it was anxiety, then said I had PVCs after having me wear a heart monitor for a couple of days. I still had symptoms after being put on medicine, and the nausea got worse so they ordered an EGD. I had not had one previously when the doctor wanted it because of anxiety of the test but went ahead with it since my symptoms were really bothering me. It said that I had acid reflux, hiatal hernia, excess stomach bile, and barrett's esophagus. This is something that might occur after years of reflux or GERD. I had not had symptoms of heartbearn or acid reflux until just recently but they said that some people don't have symptoms such as heartburn to warn them. Barrett's Esophagus can be a precursor to cancer of the esophagus in a small number of cases but they monitor by doing an EGD once a year and I'm taking medicine now to coat my stomach before I eat and at bedtime plus I take Nexium now. They told me to elevate the head of my bed 6-8 inches and avoid certain foods like tomatoes, salsa, soda, etc. It has really helped with the nausea and chest symtoms. I don't know if this is what you are experiencing but it's worth getting checked out especially if you have nausea.

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8/10/12 2:47 P

If you have good medical coverage, I say try everything you can to find a solution.

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8/10/12 2:45 P

Hmmm, that is something to consider. I didn't think of my gall bladder. The Cardiologist suggested the Rheumatologist to have blood work and possibly rule out Lupus. All I know that since May I have had the extreme fatigue, chest pains, shortness of breath, vertigo, & nausea and have been having a lot of migraines.

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8/10/12 2:37 P

...did all of the above; same answer all the time.

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8/10/12 2:32 P

Have they checked your gall bladder when I had crushing pain in my chest feeling like a heart attack they did multiple EKG s and a neuclear stress test and found a slight enlargement of the right side of my heart but nothing that would indicate a heart attack had occurred. It sent me to the Dr multiple times and even the ER with these pains. The second time they checked the gall bladder and scheduled immediate surgery... it was folded in half and fused to the deupdenium and inflamed with stones... when they took it out those pains didn't come back... still dealing with acid reflux because of a hyatial hernia... but anyways the Er doctor said after heart the gallbladder is the next to cause those chest pains

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8/10/12 9:40 A

For at least 10 years, I have had chest pain on my right side. It has gotten much worse lately because I'm under a great deal of stress. I took all the tests, and they found nothing; the best answer I got from the doctors was either stress or acid reflux.

It's probably stress related, but I doubt acid reflux, since it doesn't flare due to something I'm eating. You can see a Rheumatologist if you have good medical insurance, but I believe it is a symptom of Fibromyalgia regardless of what the doctors say.

Posts: 21
8/10/12 9:07 A

Has anyone else had chest pains, shortness of breath which feels like a heart attack? I have had it checked out had echo stress test which shows extra fluid around my heart. The cardiologist believes it is caused from inflammation & feels that I should see a Rheumatologist and not a symptom of Fibro. What are your opinions?

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8/6/12 5:05 P

I recommended a purse? That would be a first.

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8/6/12 4:58 P

Try2keepgoing,
I am guilty of carrying a purse that could double for a suitcase.
I'm going to look into the one you recommended.
Thanks for sharing!

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8/6/12 11:21 A

Jamer123,
I am using gluten free dough from a local source (Brookfield, CT) and it tastes awesome; I no longer have chronic gas since using the product. Before then, I was about to file an environmental protection act for the sake of all living things.

Best, Don

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8/6/12 10:55 A

I thank heaven that I am not gluten intolerant but have a ton of allergies to foods. I have stopped eating breads without any difference so eat a little now and then. I am also on Coumadin which cuts more foods out of the diet as I have to watch the amount of Vit. K intake. I don't think any foods have caused flares. It would be nice if a sign would pop up and yell at me, stop doing................!!!

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8/6/12 1:58 A

There can also be a connection between food and or chemical allergies making fibromyalgia out of control. One of the ones I hear a lot of the time is gluten causing your body to feel like your bones are being crushed and even the lightest touches are agonizing. Personally, for me, I know gluten makes me pray for my pain level to go down to a 10... but then I am gluten intolerant with multiple food allergies on top of the fibro and other conditions...

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8/5/12 7:09 P

Thank you Tankerbear...any help is good.

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8/5/12 7:04 P

I find heat and massage help. Another thing I have found that helps are the fingerless gloves, my hands still ache but it allows me to do more than without them. Also dressing for comfort certain fabrics just feel better when I am hurting the worst. Definitely a fine daily balance between moving to help and moving that is beyond, learning where that is and not feeling guilty and pushing yourself beyond your pain threshold is hard but much better than having to loose ground

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7/30/12 3:05 P

I agree with what has been said so far you really have to do it trial by error and to learn to take things slowly and learn what you can and can't handle by listening to your body. Also as another person said a deep tissue massage can really help. I am a massage therapy student that has had fibro for over 20 years and some of the other students were a bit nervous about working on me because of it. I told them don't worry, I would let them know if it was to much for me, I did better with the deep tissue yeah it may hurt a bit but it is a good hurt and feels so much better after and I have the best nights sleep after having a massage. It would be the light touches that might at times drive me crazy. But each person is different on what they can handle. Like some of us can handle the heat and not the cold and vice versa, or have different areas of our bodies that can handle one but not the other. Do a little at a time, definately fit in some stretching, even if you have to do stretches or exercises laying in bed or on your bed it is something and can help with improvement.

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7/30/12 1:15 P

Tai Chi or Qi Gong are good... it's basically "slow motion" movements, stretching and strength building... all of which are great. Water walking too, simple water aerobics. It takes some of the stress/weight off the body and makes movement easier.

One caveat, though. I tell my friends that exercise with fibro is a matter of walking a fine line between doing enough to make a difference and doing too much... and the line MOVES every day! LOL

The biggest key is just to learn to listen to the body. It signals us when enough is enough, but we are trained by society from an early age to ignore those signals... and when we feel good, we should do about half of what we think we can, or we risk a "crash and burn"! LOL

It's not easy. But it IS something we can work on.

Bless you for wanting to help your friend! Why don't you invite them to join us too?
You know you're both welcome, right?

Kathy

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7/29/12 9:35 P

Don, there is something not mentioned here and some can handle it while others can't. I use deep tissue massage as a temporary relief. it can start out as a massage eventually working the knots of muscles. I would be a wheelchair now if not for massage. A therapist that is very knowledgeable on the treatment of Fibromyalgia is a must.

The other suggestions a re some I use as well and they do help some and others not so much. This is a fickle autoimmune disease and differs in everyone thus it is trial & error for pain relief,
Good luck to helping your friend!

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7/29/12 8:39 P

If your friend is absolutely opposed to medication, epsom salts in a hot bath before bedtime(or any time of day) will help dramatically.

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7/29/12 7:23 P

Thank you Starr; this is very good information.

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7/29/12 7:02 P

Starr---move as much as you can. There are chair exercises that you can do to help keep moving without bearing weight. Little by little, keep adding even very small amounts of activity. It is important for us to not overdo.

Don--God bless you for believing that your friend hurts. FYI, she probably hurts more than she lets on. Fibro is real and none of us want it. If you figure out how to navigate this site.....go to the reading room and read other discussion threads. You will learn much. Here are my top non-medication methods to help handle this.

--Heat. Use microwave hot packs, a hot tub, soak in the bathtub, use a heating pad or heated mattress pad. A nice warm shower first thing in the morning can help with the morning stiffness.

--Use ice if it feels good.

--Get the best sleep you can. We suffer sleep disturbances. Relax before bed. Turn the TV off. Avoid caffiene and alcohol. Use a memory foam mattress pad. Get several different pillows to match your needs. I sleep with many pillows to keep me in a good position.

--Move. Gentle stretches and exercises. Add very slowly. Regular exercise helps to relieve my pain to my surprise.

--Wear sensible shoes. Ditch the high heels. Comfort all the way.

--A well-fitting bra is a must. It helps with proper posture and keeps shoulders from hurting.

--Don't overload the purse! A great purse is available online. It is called The Healthy Back Bag by Ameribag. You can find it easily. A little pricier initially but well worth it. I have had mine for 3 years and it shows no wear and tear.

Good luck to you and your friend!

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7/29/12 11:52 A

Carol,

I am just wondering....you suggested that a person keep moving when they have fibro. What do you suggest a person do, in my case, where it hurts just to walk across a small room. I have knee, ankle & lower back pain all the time. And often in various other places.

Starr

Edited by: TEENYSMOM at: 7/29/2012 (12:03)

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7/29/12 11:30 A

Thank you Jae; I will pass on you advice. I wish I could find my way around this.

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7/29/12 10:55 A

every person with fibro is different, symptoms are different. for each person.. yes moving is important everyday, it is a balancing act really. how much to do .. I have some days are better than others .. I have to take advantage of those days.. I use a heating pad for my pain sometimes. I am sorry to say I have to use meds to control the pain.. while I dont really like using them.. i does me help me to be able to get the things I need and want to do. Mostly pain free. I would say the most important thing for your friend to do .. you have to keep a positive attitude everyday.. while that may sound easy .. I can assure you it is not.

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7/29/12 3:22 A

Tell your friend to keep moving every day. Go for a short walk or jog but to keep moving. Warm baths or showers may help to.

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7/28/12 11:14 P

I have a dear friend who suffers with the daily "achyness" associated with Fibromyalgia. She's not a pill taker, or a candidate for the Chiropractor. Is there something out there that might help her? Any suggestions are welcomed.