hi from a newbie

hi everyone~

i've been reading these forums for a few days now, and just finally got around to getting a name and all that jazz. i am danielle, the sleepy bug (something i call my kids when they get tired). i am 35 (though feel about 75 most days *sigh*), live in michigan, and am married to a wonderful man who tries his very best to be understanding and supportive, and am also the mother of 3 beautiful, intelligent, supremely cool kids. my hubby and i run an online book business out of our home, and are both also enrolled in college. we also have two crazy dogs and one prissy cat. in short, i live in a madhouse.

i have a really long "this is how i got from being a fully functional, energetic, enthusiastic person to being an absolutely exhausted, achy, brain foggy ancient-feeling person" story, but i'll save that for another day. i will say, though, that i was officially diagnosed with fm 3 years ago, and almost immediately after my diagnosis, i lost my job and so of course also lost my health benefits. since my hubby and i "make too much money" for me to qualify for medicaid, i currently do not have a regular dr. and am not on any medications except for over the counter stuff for gerd and ibuprophen when i really need it. i basically rely on super hot baths, stretching, and naps when i can get them to get me through the day, though i do push myself way too much (i'm not sure how to get around that one with the kids and all..:( ) and find myself flairing a lot. (if anyone has any good, inexpensive alternative medicine/diet/exercise/etc. kind of coping tips, i would greatly appreciate them!)

anyway...i meant to just say "hi", and now i've rambled. i wish i could be more clear and concise with what i want to say, but it's midnight and i'm having one of those "i am bone tired, but can not sleep" kind of evenings

in short (really!), even with my fully supportive hubby and other family members (not all, but most!), i feel like this..disease? disorder? whatever it is officially called is very isolating in a lot of ways and i could really use some friends who understand:)

thanks for reading and i am looking forward to getting to know all of you.

:)

~danielle

Hi danielle and welcome! Sounds like you folks from Michigan will have others to commiserate with over the long, dark, cold winter days/nights. If your state has a 'state health insurance' program check them out and see if you can get in. Our state, Washington, has what's called Basic Health. It's on a sliding scale from free to fully paying, but goes on your income. Can't be turned down unless the program is so full there's no money but they always seem to find more. Many states have this type of system. Jeannie would likely know.

Join us for our daily Check-In. We have a bit of fun that not fibro related because it helps to remind us we're regular people with the same hopes and dreams as others. Gets our minds off our misery for a short while and can be a great start to your day.

Hugs,
Chutzie

thank you all so much for the warm welcome! :)

jeannie-from what i've been reading, there does seem to be an awful lot of people from michigan around here...coincidence, or something nasty in our water??? i grew up near traverse city, but now live just about an hour south of lansing in an itty bitty little town no one has ever heard of. i usually just tell people i live halfway between jackson and adrian. thank you for the malic acid tip-i will definitely try that. about how much extra calcium and magnesium would you recommend to go with that?

chutz-our state health system is really screwed up-it used to be that if you had children under 18, you automatically qualified if you didn't have health insurance through your work (or you weren't making a lot of money), but they took that away. now it seems to be virtually impossible to get medicaid, especially if you are married. my dh and i only make about $2,500 a month, yet that's too much!? with 5 of us in the family, i just don't get how that is possible. i know that most counties in the state have special programs for people who have no insurance and don't qualify for medicaid, but unfortunately there's nothing like that in the county i live in :( it's a very frustrating position to be in!

thanks again everyone!

~danielle

Hello Danielle and welcome to our fibro family.  We are all here to help each other and you will meet a lot of good friends here.

 

Read as much as you can.  I've learned so much from this forum.

 

God Bless!

Shannon

I read that rice bags are good for the shoulder pain.  You put them in a sock and sew up the end of it.  Heat them in the microwave and you have wonderful relief.  I think it's a great idea and I even bought a couple bags of rice, but I haven't gotten around to putting it in the socks. 

 

You may want to try this.  I've heard that it helps a lot.

 

Shannon

Hi, SleepyBug, and welcome!  It sounds like you are doing the right things for fibro and you also seem to have a good attitude.  That' half the battle!  Check out the Fibro 101 thread...the second thread on the forum.  There is a lot of good info about fibro.  There is also a link in there all about malic acid/magnesium supplements that have helped some, including me, on this forum.

 

I use the malic acid/magnesium supplements along with ibuprofen (with food) and Tylenol for my pain and fatigue and have managed.  I do a lot of stretching and walking, also.  This all helps.

 

I'm so glad that you found us and decided to join!  I hope to hear more from you soon!

 

Sherrine

wow-4 kids! for some reason that seems like so much more than 3. what is that old saying? having one child is having one child, but having 2 children is like having 5? (so i guess my 3 are really like 10 and your 4 would be 15 or something! :)) the messes definitely seem to compound with each addition...

my daughter is 15 and my sons are 6 and 4. they are all most definitely a handful-my dd is driving (eeeek!!!! ) and can be moody and surly, but also incredibly sweet and so, so funny. my 6 year old likes to act and draw and talks like he's 35 (the vocabulary! it's astounding) and my 4 year old is a completely fearless redheaded ball of destructive tigger energy.

so-yup! they keep me busy alright! (wouldn't have it any other way, though, even with all of the pain and fatigue it brings)

Post Edited (SleepyBug) : 11/29/2008 12:24:36 PM (GMT-7)

absolutely! i completely credit my kids with keeping me focused on the positive and steering clear of too much "woe is me" kind of thinking. they know mommy has her "days" sometimes when she's slow and doesn't do much other than sit on the couch, but i really make a point of not getting too down in front of them or complaining too much-i don't want them to think of me as a grouchy, grumpy mama! they also make me laugh so much and that helps tremendously.

my boys do fight, especially over who gets what toy. lol. but they are also so close. they love to play together and have a great time most of the time. my daughter is a bit different since she's so much older than my sons-she's into her music and books and friends, etc., but she's also so a great help to me-she does the dishes every night, takes care of the cat, does her own laundry etc and that really helps out so much. she and i like to have our "girl" days where we have snacks and watch silly t.v. like bridezillas and wife-swap, so she helps keep me "up", too.

good luck with your son and his move into teenager-ville. i don't know what boys are like during that stage yet, but man girls can be super tough! (all the exaggerated sighs and eye rolling! oy!!!)

I tell you what. It is COLD in Michigan.

I guess it is cold in a lot of other places though. Oh well, back to the drawing board.

Donnaeil

Welcom Danielle!! You have come to the right place. I LOVE the bed buddy (rice in sock) , it reallt works on those places that really ache,

How baths just moving is helpful. Some days  I just do very limited things around the house and get my shower in and rest alot in between. I take Yoga and it helps me alot. I now do some of the stretches when I home and have that tight feeling in certain areas. Do read the Fibro101 ok? It has alot of good info for you and remember, we are here to support you. Take care,