How Are You Today? Please share!

[Joni Gooss]

I thought I'd start this thread to let you know that when I can get in here, I do and will be an ear to anyone who needs it! Please add to this thread whenever you just need to share.

I thought I'd share quickly. I have been having neck pain all weekend and can't pin point when it started which makes me think it was coming on gradually. I've only felt good for a month and was trying to fit in too much. My stomach is bothering me, too, more signs of taking on too much too fast. I cancelled all my appts. for this week and next! I've got to put myself first and not "run with the world," and I am thankful I can do that. My children are so supportive and helpful, too. I was just so tired of depending on them I was trying to "win them back" so to speak. Well, I promised this would be short but don't ever feel you have to put in a short entry! I just need to take care of myself better.......and as naturally as possible. Thanks for creating and joining this group! Joni in DE

[Carrie]

Hey Joni, I hope you feel better. It is so easy to do too much as soon as we feel a bit better, so it's good you caught the signs and are slowing down. The past week has been tough for me: increased fatigue, fibro pain, foggy brain with no memory, and working through difficult emotions and difficult relationships. I am hopeful though. Today was a bit better and I had my first appointment with an acupuncturist. It was amazing how accurate she was in accessing my condition. My weak adrenals lead to freezing cold lower legs and feet so we are working first on warming me up, getting my body temp stable. I wish you well!

[maureen]

Hi Joni, I'm glad that you have decided to slow down and give yourself two weeks for your family and yourself. Use your time to enjoy your kids and relax and take care of your health. It's amazing what some alone time and putting yourself first can "heal" you from the inside out. It is hard to cut down on what we think are necessary obligations isn't it? I hope your stomach gets better and your pain eases up. I understand what you mean about depending on your kids too much, I feel the same way a lot of the time. I have always thought that the only good thing that came out of my illness was how much my sons have learned about compassion. They unfortunatey matured too quickly (they were 13 and 15 whet I got really sick) but have grown in so many ways. They are wonderful, caring young men who love me more than I deserve. They will make wonderful Husbands!

Today I feel pretty good, only took a 45 minute nap and was able to go to Mom's house for Dancing WithThe Stars. Got some laundry done this morning and think I have enough energy left to change my bedsheets if Hubby will help. I will probably sleep like a dead person tonight and hopefully I will have a decent day tomorrow! XOXOMO

[Joni Gooss]

Carrie, please keep in touch about the acupuncturist. Let me know how it helps you. I went once in August and then unfortunately that woman left and is now an hour away. I do remember, though, feeling like all the inflammation in my body just left---to the point of feeling like I felt a sense of loss! Is this your first time? Body temp is so important, isn't it? I find I'm colder when I'm not eliminating regularly, too. I've been taking 250 mg. of plain Magnesium a couple times a week to help this because sometimes even fiber doesn't work. But maybe all these new grains will help.
Joni

[Joni Gooss]

Maureen, I agree that we have more compassionate children. I am glad you had a good day, I hope you slept well last night. Its a better day today for me, hope it is for you, too. ((hug)) Joni

[maureen]

Last night I was in the ER for several hours. I somehow pulled a muscle in my chest area and it felt like I had a knife sticking in me. The only way I could get any relief was to hold my boob and apply pressure, I am sure that looked hilarious! I couldn't take a deep breath and it was a little scary! I had an EKG and a chest x-ray and the ribs were fine and so was the old ticker. I got a shot of some wondeful pain med that didn't make me goofy but within 10 minutes the pain was pratically gone. When I first got there my pain level was a ten, after the shot it was about a 2. Today I am taking Motrin and it is just a dull ache. Like they say...I's always someting. I did have to stress dose - I took 20 mg before I went to ER, and then took an extra 10mg today.

[Joni Gooss]

Oh Maureen how painful and shocking! I'm so glad you could get help. Those chest muscles can hurt and pull out of nowhere. I hope it just goes away, now. I also hope you can just rest today. When you say "stress dose" do you mean cortisol? What happens when you don't do that? Also, can you tell me what a crash feels like besides fatigue? Thanks, Maureen, take your time replying and take care of yourself. Love, Joni

[maureen]

Hi Joni, (and everyone else)

I'm sorry I didn't make it clear. Yes, when I say stress dose I mean cortisol. I take 20 mg daily but if I have any kind of stress like the injury the other night, or mental stress I need to "bump up or stress dose" I took an extra 20 mg and it got me through the physical stress of the pain and going to the ER. My body doesn't make adrenalin like "normal people" to help my body get though stressful situations. If I get sick or extremely upset and stressed I have injections of Solu-Medrol (a steroid) at home to help me out. I had food poisoning last year and needed to give myself 2 shots (not at the same time) because of the vomiting, which is very hard on your body. But I couldn't keep anything down and I had to go to the ER anyway because I got dehydrated. Hooked me up to fluids and after 2 bags I was good to go. If I hadn't given myself the shots I would have more than likely gone into an Addisonian crisis. My family usually knows I am getting in trouble and headed for a crisis before I do. I get very weepy, crazy weakness, confusion, wobbly, nausea, dizziness and someone has to keep talking to me to keep me awake. Someone gives me a shot and 20-30mg of oral cortisol and if I don't improve we take a trip to the ER. My blood pressure, potassium and sodium are always very low at that point. I remember one time the doctor was asking me questions and I couldn't answer him. My brain knew the answers but my mouth wouldn't work. I've crashed with a serious diverticulitis attack, when my Father-in-Law died, with a urinary trac infection and the flu. The biggest problem is that the steroids mask most symptoms, especially inflamation that would cause discomfort or pain. With the diverticulitis I didn't feel the pain as someone else would because the steroids helped to eliminate pain until the infection got really bad. I had an infected mass in my colon and needed surgery right away. During surgery I need solu-medrol through the IV for the duration. Usually after a "crash" I am in the hospital for maybe 2 days hooked to an IV, with steroids and potassum injections. With such an increase of cortisol I need to taper my doses over a few days when I get home to get back to normal. Wow, I am rambling. I hope I answered all your questions. If not, ask away. My ribs are good by the way, no pain. But this Chicago weather (rainy and damp) is killing me. Every inch of me is hurting. But, at least I'm not in bed!
XOXOMO

[Joni Gooss]

Maureen, its damp here, too. I'm glad your ribs are good, muscles, too and that you made it through this time. Thanks for explaining Addisonian crisis. I'm so glad your'e on top of it all. I pray you have a quiet weekend. We are so far. Joni in DE

[KarenW]

Hi Ladies,
I thought it was about time for me to jump in. I hope everyone is having a good day!
I had a tough week but I think I've turned a corner, today I feel good. My biggest problem right now is that my sleep pattern is horrible and I am trying to get on a normal schedule. I'm not making much progress there but I actually slept 8 hours in a row so that's cause for celebration!
I also think I was taking too may supplements so the last two days, I cut a few out and am feeling almost lively today. It's a guessing game of what to take and what not to.

Maureen, I hope you are doing better today, that is so scary!
Thank you to everyone for sharing!
Karen

[Joni Gooss]

Hi Karen. I'm glad you got some sleep, that helps soooo much. If you feel like listing your supplements, here, I'd be interested. Hope you're enjoying the weekend and are getting some rest. I remember the dr. telling me that keeping my baby awake made a worse nights' sleep for them and that a short nap can help you sleep better at night. Its hard to balance listening to our bodies and doing what we have to do! Take care. Joni in DE

[Carrie]

Well, I was very excited to go to school yesterday as I took last quarter off because of my health. I am taking just a 1 unit class over 2 weekends. After the first 30 minutes of class I felt absolutely exhausted, got a bad headache, and the left side of throat, jaw, and ear have been hurting me for several days (I can't figure that out!). I felt cold, uncomfortable, and irritable. Sometimes I feel like I just can't take one more day of feeling like crap! I knew it would be more of a challenging day for me, but I didn't expect to feel that terrible. Just the walk from my car to the classroom felt exhausting. Talking to other students felt exhausting. Sitting there felt exhausting. I felt like the illness robbed me of one more thing I used to enjoy and I felt angry and depressed last night. I have been determined to find enjoyment in life despite it, but sometimes it is really hard for me to connect with that.

[Joni Gooss]

I'm so sorry, Carrie, that things turned out like that. Its so challenging to feel good all the time. Did you eat enough protein in the morning? Today I went to church and had a protein shake with Noni juice and some D Ribose, (in the Fatigued to Fantastic book recommended on our resource post) and I was surprised I made it all the way through. I, too, get ear, jaw and throat pain with enlarged lymph nodes, Meneire's symptoms and just a tightness in my ears. I thought for sure the loud music would get to me. I hope you do better next time! (((hugs))) Joni