It's a Hot Summer!

It's been a week since my last post. We've been on the road, traveling between NW Oregon to NE Oregon. Visited our park hosting friends, Sonny and Mary in Ilwaco, WA. Also our son and family, Adam, Carrie and baby Lyla, who is almost 10 months, in Ridgefield, WA. Very much enjoy our visits and always hate to leave. However, it was 101 and 102 the two days we were in Ridgefield. It was 95 when we arrived in Wallowa, OR. Heat is not my body's friend. Most FM suffers feel better in warm weather. Not I! It not only lugs me down, but my Fibromyalgia pain level increases. Anyone else have more trouble with heat than cold weather?

I have another book to recommend. "The Fibromyalgia Help Book". The authors are I. Jon Russell, MD, Ph.D and Jenny Fransen, RN. This was the first FM book I acquired. I read it before I was diagnosed. When I went to the Rheumatologist, I told him I had read the book, thought I had FM and wanted to be checked for it. Of course, he ruffled a bit. No one likes to be "told" especially a doctor. But sometimes we are so desperate for a diagnosis, our research provides what we think is the answer. In my case, I fit the information. I needed a doctor to confirm my suspicion and help me. Help me he did. Dr. Valentine practiced in Astoria, Oregon. To my sadness, he passed away four months after my diagnosis. He got me on medication and a good start to feeling better. I wish I could have learned more from him.

Fibronomics

Fibronomics? I learned this term by reading Mark J. Pellegrino, M. D.'s book. "Fibronomics is defined as the art of properly manipulating our fibromyalgia bodies in the environment to enable completion of an activity with minimal pain. Fibronomics can be applied to everything we do in life, no matter how simple it is. There are four easy rules of fibronomics, and once these are learned and applied, our bodies will automatically follow them."

Four Rules to Fibronomics:

1. Arms stay at home: The favorite position for our arms is at our side with our elbows touching on our sides...

2. Unload the back: Avoid bending forward at the waist; maintain a natural arched curvature; put your feet on a foot rest; lie on your side with a pillow between your knees; avoid picking up heavy objects, bend your knees and lift with your legs; wear sensible shoes, no heels.

3. Support always welcome: Use support items like pillows or footstools. Whatever works for you.

4. Be naturally shifty: Move or shift your muscles regularly.


Today has been a day of trying to remember my fibronomics. When I am able to accomplish multiple tasks in one day, I find that I push my body too far. When my body is DONE, I forget the basic rules that help to keep my Fibromyalgia in control.

Fibromyalgia Up Close and Personal

I want to recommend a GREAT book on Fibromyalgia. The title is Fibromyalgia Up Close and Personal. The author is Mark J. Pellegrino, MD. He has a writing style that will make you smile while reading and he writes in common language, not with big medical words. Dr. Pellegrino has Fibromyalgia himself. You feel he understands every symptom and he does. He practices medicine in Ohio. I have read this book several times. I often refer to the book when I have a new symptom to see if Dr. Pellegrino has written about the symptom. This book has given me a resource for reassurance.