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Hello Friends,

Last week I let all kinds of things interfere with my plans, mostly with exercise, the thing that always goes first, and my writing work. I have had a sinus infection and some wheezing. My dog has spots on his retina (small hemorrhages noticed by his eye vet) and has a cough. It turns out he has Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. He got it from a tick bite in my currently mice-infested home. Mice have been common this year in Tahoe homes. I’ve been cleaning and trying to get rid of the mice, though I am finally making progress. All in all, I feel overwhelmed.

My little boy, Mitra.

I noticed I had a lump on the right side of my neck, a big lump which didn’t feel like swollen lymph nodes. I went to my primary care doctor. My blood test results were normal, but the ultrasound found four nodules in my thyroid. I am having a biopsy on March 23. Truth be told, I am more nervous about the biopsy than I am the results. I think I would know if something was seriously wrong.

I got back on track with exercising this morning and will exercise tomorrow morning. I still haven’t weighed myself. My clothes fit better and I can see the fat has started to move away from my collarbones. Those are good signs that I have lost some fat!

It was physically difficult to exercise this morning. I felt like I had never exercised in my life. Have any of you noticed that you have no muscle memory anymore, and feel like you have to start from square one if you don’t exercise for a week? It’s one of the things about fibromyalgia that frustrate me the most. I will feel more fit next week.

With the pain in my body from exercising after a few days break, I did a longer meditation. It helps me more than I can say. There is much to the idea that meditation helps chronic pain. I am putting together something that will focus on that very idea. I think many of you will be helped by the program I am creating. I can’t tell you how good it feels to know I can help others.

Do any of you meditate? How does it affect your chronic pain? Is there a certain technique that helps you more than another technique helps? If you have a comment about meditation or anything else, please comment below.

Cheers,
Julie

Since I last wrote, things have gone well. I have strayed only a few times from my food plan, which isn’t bad, and have kept up with my exercise plan quite well. It is obvious to me that I am committed, which feels good. Normally, by the time six weeks has passed, everything has fallen apart. It is nice to think that I have found something that I have stuck with for this long.

I planned on posting my weight in every post, but the thought of getting on the scale made me anxious. I don’t need that kind of pressure! That kind of pressure can send me into a binge frenzy where I sabotage all my good efforts. I don’t want to do that to myself. I know all I need to know, how well I’ve stuck to my plan and that my clothes now fit my body with ease and space. One of these days I will measure myself, but I don’t seem to want to do that, either, or I would have done so. I have decided I will weight myself once each quarter. You will see that post around the first of April.

This summer, I will be out riding my own bike through the country. (I got this image for free at pixabay.com.)

I feel myself getting stronger as exercise has become easier. Every day I am either on the recumbent bike or Gazelle glider for 45 minutes to an hour. I also do yoga or strength training six or seven days a week. I’ve had a few sore days here and there, but I know that’s part of the process. I used to fear that pain, but that makes it worse. I’ve learned how to have a different relationship with pain when I exercise. Now it doesn’t bother me much.

The journey to a new, healthy body is fraught with evil and temptation. I will keep my eye on the prize and be honest with myself. That will keep me on track.

Julie

Hello Friends,

I am still recovering from surgery and things are going well. As physical therapy puts my muscles and tissues back in place and creates a physical base for going forward, I am getting glimpses of my new normal. I still have Fibromyalgia pain, but I expected that. What is amazing is how much taller and how stable I feel. And I’m getting stronger every day. It’s a great feeling!

As I still have chronic pain, meditation is still one of my go-to remedies. No, it doesn’t remove pain, but it keeps my relationship with pain in check and provides some relief. One way meditation provides relief is by reducing the stress and unnecessary emotional feelings that make pain worse. Meditation does this in two ways, first by helping us be aware we are stressed, and second, by relieving the stress itself. So let’s do a short and simple meditation practice.

Don’t try to sit like this! It’s not necessary!

Before we start, let’s have a little talk about sitting, also known as your meditation posture. It doesn’t matter at all whether you sit in lotus pose or even on the floor. The only thing that really matters is that you are comfortable and that your spine is straight. Sitting up with a straight spine makes it easier to be alert, and allows your body’s energy to move through  your spine with ease. You can sit in a chair, if possible sitting on the front edge so you hold your spine straight. If that isn’t possible for you, that’s perfectly fine. You may try holding your spine off and on the chair as it feels good. One day, you may not need to lean on the chair because your spine will be strong enough to hold your spine, and the rest of your body, erect.  Put your feet flat on the floor, if you are in a chair, and your hands in your lap or on your knees. If you are sitting on the floor, make yourself comfortable. Relax the shoulders, and keep the back of your neck long, tipping your chin down slightly. Your chest is relaxed and open.

You will get distracted. It’s your brain’s job to think. It’s your job to tell your brain what to think, to master your brain so it doesn’t master  you. So don’t worry when this happens, just start over. I have been meditating since 1976 and it still happens to me, just less often. It isn’t a big deal, begin again.

Let’s start by closing your eyes. You will breathe through the nose. Take several deep breaths, feeling the belly expand on inhale; gently pull your belly toward the spine on exhale. Fill your lungs completely on inhale. Try to make your inhale and exhale equal length. For example, if you inhale to a count of four, exhale to a count of four. This is one way to control  your breath. You are directing the intensity and timing of your inhales and exhales.

After taking the deep breaths, let go of the control of your breath. Let your body breathe the way it wants to. Follow your breath as it moves in and out your nose. Investigate it. Is your breath a different temperature on inhale than it is on exhale? Does it feel different moving in your body? Where do you feel your breath the most? The nose, chest, back, belly? Be curious about your breath. Do this for about five minutes.

When you are ready, release your breath concentration and open your eyes. How did that feel?

Do this once or twice a day. When you feel you can increase the time, try ten minutes for a few weeks. If you would like to get to twenty or thirty minutes a day, increase the time little by little over a few weeks. Remember, it is better to meditate for a few minutes a day, every day, than it is to meditate a half hour once a week. The regularity of practice is what matters, do it every day. Give meditation a chance to help you.

If you have any questions or comments, please comment below. I love to hear from you and am happy to help wherever I can!

Blessings to all of you!

Julie

Hello Readers,

It has been a long time since I have written and much has happened to me.

I had been dealing with a back problem, anterolisthesis, as a result of Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD). DDD is not associated with Fibromyalgia, but is in addition to it. It created significant pain and numbness and inability to do many things I would normally do, affecting even my ability to walk my dogs a short way. By the time I had surgery, I could not stand for more than a minute, two at most, without going numb from the waist down. It affected everything in my life.

Feeling peaceful and ready to face my fear.

I had to face a major fear, surgery. I hadn’t had surgery since my tonsils were removed in 1980, when I was seventeen years old. But in May I had back surgery, a fusion, a laminectomy at two vertebrae, and had bone spurs cleaned from another vertebra. It was a big deal, especially with having Fibromyalgia. A month before surgery, because of numbness, I fell down the three stairs leading to my deck, spraining my right ankle and tearing the meniscus on my left knee. I was a mess.

I was terrified of having surgery! I put it off for five or six  years, having epidurals and physical therapy. I am sure there were advances in technique while I waited. But, there came a time when that didn’t work anymore and I was in danger of losing my ability to walk.

How did I release the fears so I could have surgery and be relaxed about it? I chose a healthcare team I trusted, wrote lists of questions that my doctors patiently answered, I didn’t do too much internet research on my surgery (enough to know what was going on and what other people did to get through it), and I prepared myself spiritually. I meditated, visualizing the surgery and my successful recovery, and my friends sent me their prayers and positive thoughts, depending on their own religion. Oh, and I wrote my will, which some neighbors witnessed for me, just in case. I requested that the anesthesiologist who gave me the epidurals was with me in surgery. I liked him and we already had a doctor/patient relationship. He knew my body. When I went to the hospital the morning of the surgery, I was calm and at peace. Sure, I wasn’t happy about it, but I wasn’t terrified anymore. 

I gave my doctor and anesthesiologist some information about Fibromyalgia and how surgery can affect Fibromyalgia patients. Both doctors were very happy to read the article I gave them. That was encouraging and relieved some of my fears. I knew that the people caring for me were truly interested in the best outcome. I knew in my heart I had chosen the right team, but to see the evidence lifted burdens from me that even I didn’t know I carried. Thank you Dr. Morgan and Dr. Lasko and the whole Sierra Neurosurgery team!!!

Since the surgery I feel like a new person! Yes, I still have Fibromyalgia, so it isn’t as if I have no pain or numbness at all. But I don’t have the pain and numbness from a physical abnormality that could be repaired. It is a big relief to not have the fear of it getting worse (which it did) and I don’t fear the surgery I will likely have in the future. More discs will degenerate to the point of needing surgical intervention. This time I won’t live with the pain and numbness for so long!

I also want to thank my priests at Reno Buddhist Center, Revs. Matt and Shelley Fisher. They came to the pre-surgery room to chant for me and visited me while I was in the hospital.

I am not afraid of much in this world, but I do have fears come up every now and then. I cope by doing everything I can to control that which I can control, and, when I can, choose who is in control of everything else.

Let me know about your fears and what you have done to cope and face your fears. Please comment. Please also comment on what you would like to read about in this blog.

Thanks for coming to this page and reading this post. Have a great Labor Day weekend!

Many blessings,

Julie

Hello friends in Blogland,

I just read an interesting article I wanted to share with you. It is about vibration exercise curing Fibromyalgia. Click here to see the article. (The actual content of the article does not state that the vibration exercise “cures” Fibromyalgia.) What the article says is that researchers at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis found that Fibromyalgia patients reported lower pain levels, and increased strength and muscle spasticity after participating in vibration therapy treatment.

Although there are different kinds, the vibration exercise machine I have access to once a week is one on which you stand on a platform. The platform vibrates. You can just stand on it or you can do any number of standing exercises. It is my understanding that doing exercise on the vibration machine, whether you have Fibromyalgia or not, is more effective because more muscles are involved in the exercise to keep you stable and keep the alignment through the exercise. Essentially, you are getting more of a workout without more effort.

It is believed the vibration therapy helped the subjects of the study because the vibration causes muscle contraction and relaxation, simulating a subtle workout. It is well known, through other research, that regular exercise means less pain. More research needs to be done on vibration therapy to see if it really works. One thing the article didn’t say was how much and how often the subjects got the vibration therapy, nor was it noted at what speed the vibration machine was set.

I will try using the vibration machine for ten to fifteen minutes every Monday evening and let you know what I find. If you have access to a vibration machine (health club, medical center, private access…), try it out, if you wish and it’s okay with your doctor, and let us all know what you think by making a comment below.

Have a wonderful weekend, my friends!

Cheers!

Julie

Hello Friends,

On Thursday, I had some epidurals in my back. This is the second time I have gotten them.  The epidurals are not for Fibromyalgia, but for another, structural condition I have in my back, which causes pain and numbness.

I was wondering how you and your body react when steroids, or anything else, are injected into your body.  The first time, it was very painful and remained swollen and painful for a little more than a week. This time, the doctor changed the steroid and sedative mix.  I have had little of the pain and swelling, but more feeling exhausted, weak, and out of it. Tomorrow it will be one week, and I am much more clear minded and less exhausted today, but I was wondering if that is a “normal” occurrence in someone with Fibromyalgia. The people I know who get trigger injections and/or epidurals who do not have Fibromyalgia do not seem to need the recovery time.

I know many people with Fibromyalgia get trigger injections and epidurals. What are your experiences?

Sending love and light your way!

Julie

Hello Friends,

Tomorrow, June 13 at 11:00 a.m. Pacific time, I will be doing a one hour free teleclass on how to use meditation to help you with chronic pain and fibromyalgia.  If you would like to be on the call, let me know by emailing me at meditation@awarenessvillage.com.  If  you are unable to make the call, but would like to listen to the call, email me.  The call will be recorded and I will email you a link to listen to the recording.

During the teleclass we will talk about the connection between the mind and pain, the benefits meditation can bring you in managing pain, and one of the techniques I use to manage my own fibromyalgia and chronic pain.

I hope you are able to join me!

Namaste,

Julie

Hello friends,

I hope you are starting 2015 with a bang and some excitement about the new year.  If not, maybe some of what I am about to say will help.  As for me, I am looking forward to making some changes.  I have a habit of naming every year.  I have done that for many years, but, for some reason, did not do that for 2014.  I just couldn’t find the right words, and it showed.  It was a reasonably good year, I accomplished some of the things I set out to accomplish, and had a great deal of joy in my life, but there were some things missing from the final tally.  This year will be different.  This year is The Julie Project.

First off, how did you do with the stress of the holiday season?  Many people get sick around the holidays.  It is believed by some that the “cold and flu season” exists purely as a response to lowered immunity caused by the stress of the holiday season, and not by germs.  I think stress, along with spending more time indoors (there are fewer germs outside), focusing more on other people, and less on self-care, and trying to do too much during the holidays, is what lowers our immune system and allows us to become ill.  My body tried to get sick, but I knocked it out with Cold Snap (a Chinese herb product to increase the immune response), Zicam and Airborne.  I should have started taking these products before I got on a plane December 19 and taken them through the holiday season.  I was left with some minor sinus trouble.  Since I was traveling from December 19 to December 29, I have a little fatigue from with traveling, but not too bad.  I got plenty of sleep, practiced yoga and meditation and ate well while I was gone.  I know those are practices that strengthen my immunity. What do you do to help yourself stay, or get, well?  Do you have any products or tips you use to boost your immunity?

I like to take stock of my life at the end of the year.  Here are some of the questions I ask myself and how I answered them this year.  I am not going to list everything, just the things that may be interesting to you or are more general and will serve as an example.

What am I grateful for?

1. My loving husband, George.

2. My babies (dogs), Sarge, Pearl and Mitra.

3. Friends and family.

4. My health, the good and bad of it all.

5. My ability to read, which enriches my life more than I can say.

What did I accomplish in 2014?

1. I did a 15-day juice fast in May.  It was not easy, but it let me know I can be disciplined when I want to be disciplined.  I can’t use the excuse, “I don’t have any discipline,” any more.  I know better!  Damn.  That makes life a little more liberating and a little more scary.  LOL

2. I wrote a novel in November.  Last year I found out about National Novel Writing Month (nanowrimo.org) where participants write the first draft of a novel in 30 days, and I wanted to participate.  I finished on November 29.  Whew!  I can’t wait to finish editing the novel and I plan to participate again this year.

3. I finished 4 extensive knitting projects, three of which involved many skeins of yarn, and one of which required only two skeins, but involved lace and took many hours to complete.

What can I improve upon in 2015?

1.  My sleeping habits:  I don’t get enough sleep because I go to bed too late and still get up early most of the time.  I will have less pain, more energy and will be more productive if I get 8 or 9 hours of sleep a night, instead of 6-7.

2. My eating habits:  I haven’t been eating enough greens or fresh fruits and veggies. If I eat better I will have less pain and more energy, and will likely lose some more weight.  Yes, it will take more planning, I won’t be able to just find something in the cupboard.  I will eat six or more servings of fruits and veggies a day. The benefits will outweigh my love of laziness.  LOL

3. Clutter in my house:  My house isn’t my sanctuary right now, it is a bit of a mess.  When my house is tidy again, it will better serve me and my needs.  I will be able to work more easily, will be more productive, and my home will be easier to clean.  Above all, I will enjoy my home more.

What are some steps I can take right now to help myself meet my objectives.

1. I can ask a friend of mine to help me with accountability.  I asked one of my girlfriends to do “Integrity Day” with me. This is where you schedule a day, or even a few hours, to check in with each other every hour.  During the check-ins, you say what you did the last hour and what you plan to do the upcoming hour, and so on each of the next hours planned.  It creates accountability and you end up getting more done.  This is something for once a week or less often, and is used to help you finish up projects or things you have procrastinated on, not normally for day-to-day tasks, but it is up to you.

2. I signed up for a food-related challenge. January 5 through 25 I will eat one raw vegan meal a day.

3. I hired a professional organizer.  We start on January 8.

These are just some of the questions I like to ask myself at the beginning of the year.  I focus on the positive, on gratitude, why I am proud of myself, what I can change and why, and how I will change the changeable.  I find this helps me more than focusing on the past and what was wrong.  I like to come from a place of love for myself and my life, and a potential for joy. These are the things that change my life for the better and that will, ultimately, cause the least amount of stress,  We all know that stress exacerbates Fibromyalgia symptoms.  With all this in mind, what will you change and how will you love yourself more this year?

May 2015 bring you joy, love and peace.

Many blessings,

Julie