I need Help

I have a problem with what my post looks like after I click on "Publish Post." The published post looks different visually than what I write. My last post is a good example...

I am a stickler for what I write to "look good." When I look at my published post, the spacing is irregular. Sometimes there is a space between what I wrote and sometimes there is not a space.

I need HELP...do I need to leave Blogspot or is there a magic button I haven't clicked?

Thanks!

Grab Happiness

"Grab Happiness In The Passing Moments of Life"

Having a chronic illness or two, it is easy for depression to creep into our lives. We will have days that our self esteem is low. This is because we hurt, our balance is off, our eyes won't focus, etc. When you live with these symptoms, of which I only mentioned a few, you can become depressed. My suggestion is to "grab happiness in the passing moments" of your life. They may be short moments or something you can enjoy for longer periods of time. Here are some ideas:

Watch the sun rise or set

Listen to music you enjoy

Look at a flower. Have you ever looked closely at a Dandelion? It's a weed, but it's beautiful!

Take a walk

Look at a smile

Be aware of birds singing

Watch a small child learning to walk

Ice Cream?

Enjoy pet therapy

A good meal

Read a good book

Be aware and grab happiness where ever you can. You won't regret becoming aware of happy moments!

Need Extra Batteries???

I recently read, "Keep a stash of extra batteries." They were referring to keeping extra batteries in case of an emergency. I often think that "MY" batteries run down.

Fibromyalgia/Chronic Fatigue depleats your energy faster than you can blink. Well, maybe not that fast, but faster than most people could understand. Not only is your energy depleted, but because of a malfunction of the central nervous system, the pain is unbearable. You must learn what works for you to regain your strength and what takes the edge off your pain. For me, rest replenishes my physical and emotional strength. Prescription medication helps with my pain.

So...do you have an endless supply of batteries? When you are run down, exhausted, with no strength to continue, how do you replenish your energy?

We Are In The Same Boat

"We may live on separate shores, but in the end, we're all in the same boat"

Author Unknown


Isn't this the truth? I enjoy communicating on Facebook. I keep up with my friends and family. Part of my friends group, are those with chronic diseases like Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue, Lupus, Lime Disease, Sjogrens and Rheumatoid Arthritis, just to name a few. These friends are scattered throughout the world! I talk with people from South Africa, England, Japan and all over the United States. We live on "separate shores" but we're all in the same boat." We share the unimaginable life of chronic pain. No one understands our pain and the obstacles we face daily as well as another. We become a family. I thank God every day for my computer and the ability to communicate with my brothers and sisters in the same boat.

Got My Venlafaxine! (Sort of)

I need to make a correction to my last blog post. I DON'T take 325 mg of Venlafaxine. I take 225 mg.


Went to the pharmacy yesterday. The doctor had ok'd my refill of Venlafaxine. However, the pharmacy didn't have enough to fill my prescription. They gave me ten tablets and said I can pick of the remainder in two days. That's ok with me.

I did notice the instructions on the prescription bottle states to take one tablet in the morning and two tablets in the evening. I looked at the just emptied bottle and it had the same direction. I have been taking this medication for nearly ten years and my doctor's verbal instructions were for one a day, taken in the morning. I have been taking this prescription bottle out of my medicine cabinet everyone morning for nearly a year and I did not notice the additional two at night. I must call my doctor for clarification. We are not in an area where our telephones work so will call tomorrow when we go to town.

Two questions arise for me. One, if I had seen and accepted the additional two pills a day and took them would I have had a reaction? The second question is if I had taken the two additional pills, could I have felt much better starting a year ago? Guess I will wait until Wednesday to find out and will only take my usual one tablet in the morning.

This will be a good lesson to ALWAYS read the directions on my prescriptions, even if I've been taking the medication for years.

We are due to warm up and rain tonight. Right now it is still freezing outside. the transition could be nasty.

Football and Fibromyalgia

I love watching football! I don't have a favorite team right now, but I enjoy if the guys are playing the top of their game. This time of year we are headed for playoff season, which starts next Sunday. They will eliminate teams down to the last two, who will play in the Superbowl.

Football is good for my Fibromyalgia. It holds me in my chair. My body relaxes and sometimes I sleep through a quarter. There are times that I get excited and my body tenses, my mouth starts blabbing, which causes my head to hurt, so I need to be careful.

This week I've spent a lot of time in my chair. I am out of my Venlaflaxine 75 mg. I take 325 mg total and am thankful it was not my 150 mg prescription. I didn't know my doctor's office was closing the week between Christmas and the new year. The pharmacy sent a request for a refill and it's sitting in the fax machine waiting for the office to open Monday morning. I've been out since Wednesday. I have tried to keep my activity at a low level, afraid I will flare. My busiest activity has been carrying items downstairs. I limit myself to three carries each day. Thankfully, I'm done with that activity. Tuesday, I will take down the Christmas tree and decorations. A trip to the pharmacy is at the top of my list on Monday. I must make priorities. If I go to the pharmacy and pick up a few groceries, that's the end of my day...back to my trusty chair. :-)

Our Future is Spotless

"Our future is spotless" I interpret this to mean that the year 2011 is about to begin and what we do with 2011 as a blank slate, is our individual choice.

Will you choose to be positive?
Will you recognize when others need your help?
Will you choose to take the class you want to take because it's what YOU want for yourself?
Will you choose to eat well? Drive carefully? Tend to your health?
Will you choose to parent well?
Will you choose to share your wealth? I'm not talking about money.
Will you choose to believe in a higher power? Or not?
Will you find the style of book you enjoy?
Will you be proud of your tone of voice?
Will you volunteer for those less fortunate?

I hope that you will recognize that YOUR "future is spotless" like a blank canvas...paint your life colorful and clear.

Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays!

I apologize for not posting the last few weeks. In preparation for the holiday and our kids (and their kids....am I sounding old?) to come home, I found myself eliminating, in order to get through the day. I know you all relate, with or without Fibromyalgia/Chronic Fatigue.

I wish you all a happy holiday season. I hope you are able to be with your family or friends and to enjoy the love you share with each other. Try to remember to take breaks and allow others to help. If it isn't done by now, resign to the realization, it doesn't need to be done. Now this last comment I should erase as I will definitely have trouble following. ;D

My love and friendship I send to you. You all are a part of my daily living with these dreaded diseases and I wish you well.

Fibromyalgia is the Pitts!!!

I'm tired of this disease! Can we get back to the original "normal"?

My hands are more stiff than usual and they have been shaking today. Actually, everything has been stiffer. Light head and more mucous. Neck is tight as well as my lower back. Cramping in my back muscles and thighs. Having trouble raising my left arm.

Have I bitched enough?

Today was a beautiful day on the Oregon coast. Can't believe it is December. Rain will be moving back in and I will believe.

Collected a few Christmas decorations for our RV and moved the rest to Grandpa's house. On the 15th we will be moving our RV to Grandpa's. Will use most of my holiday decorations there. The kids will be home for the holiday. Will be wonderful to have them together.

We will join our friends, the Fergusons and Parkes for a seafood dinner at Norma's on Monday. Wednesday we will have a crab lunch with our friends, the Rickerts.

Hoping for a good night sleep!

"God Knows What He Is Doing"

"God Knows What He Is Doing"

Dolly Parton

I watched The Nat Berkus Show this morning. His guest was Dolly Parton. As she spoke to a gentleman who lost his wife during childbirth, she made the above quote as part of their conversation. When I heard the quote I immediately thought about myself dealing with Fibromyalgia. I'm sure most of us have wondered why the Good Lord gave us this disease. Because there is no cure, we are left to cope with a variety of symptoms as long as my arm.

I go on blind faith that God knows what he is doing.