Blizzard Watch

BLIZZARD WATCH!!!!!!!!  If you live with chronic pain those words almost sound like a death threat.  Between the cold temperatures, the wind, the snow and the low pressure my body and those of my chronic pain suffering friends just want to crawl into a cave and hibernate.  My body has always been able to tell me when the weather will be a certain way or when the season will change.  Some people think that's weird but it's really not.  Migraines flair with weather changes whether they are allergy related or pressure change related.  Your joints might ache when it gets damp outside.  If you have deep scars from surgery they might warn you of impending storms (I have one of those scars and so did my father.)

Read this article from WebMD to find out more information about what your aches and pains (and chronic pain) have to do with the weather:  Weather and Joint Pain

I will tell you one thing that is odd for my personal situation.  While I hate winter weather and can't wait for the day when we move south what I hate even more is being closed up in the house with the heat on.  I feel completely claustrophobic.  Since I have terrible claustrophobia and need to get out of my house I will go outside in snowy weather and shovel the snow.  I know that is the worst thing I can do for my body but I need the fresh air.  I hate indoor heat.  I also hate feeling closed in.  Talk about anxiety producing!!!! Not a fun situation.  Needless to say I'm not looking forward to this weekend.

So my friends, if you are a chronic pain warrior like me what are your plans for the blizzard?  If you are not a chronic pain warrior but you love one what are you going to do to help them get through this nasty weather time?  If you are lucky enough not to be in any of those categories how will you spend your weekend?

(I am planning to work on my Scandinavian Snowflake afghan.  Yes, while everyone else is running to the grocery store -my husband and daughter have already done that- I will be running to the craft store for more yarn.  That's my blizzard must have.)

Love and Blessings to all of my chronic pain warriors out there.

And I'm Back...

So, I've discovered that it really is hard to keep up a blog.  I think about things that I want to write on here rather frequently but between trying to function at my job (which, yes, I've returned to full-time), take care of my home and family (even though my kids are grown and live away from home they still need their Mama), doing some things that I do for fun and getting the rest that I need there's just no time left over.

Since I was last here I've gone from having a dog (dogs plural in the past) to having a very sweet little cat.  He's a rescue but I believe he rescued me.  I also think he's a dog in a cat suit since he's snuggly and prefers to spend his time on my lap.

I will say that he calms my anxiety a great deal.  He makes me feel better when my body wants to give up and he welcomes me home at the end of the day with lots of meows, love and warm cuddles. 

I've also become a mother-in-law.  That is a real change in my life.  A new daughter to add to the tribe.  Of course it meant a lot of travel for the wedding and before and now to see the young couple.  Travel, of course, is not a treat for someone with fibro, MCTD or gastroparesis.  Somehow I manage to survive the day trips to see them since they don't drive.  

On the medical front I've had my ups and downs.  My gastroparesis flares at times and I have had to change nausea and pain meds.  Thankfully the new meds are better.  This disease is a constant learning process because it changes day to day and is never consistent.  It's no wonder my anxiety is bad so much of the time.  

My joints and muscles scream at me regularly.  Some day there might be a cure for fibro but probably not in my life time.  This is a wicked disease.  Sorry, I can't call it a syndrome.  I have to live with it and the medical folks don't.  If they did they would call it a disease too.  Having MCTD on top of it makes it much worse too.  The lupus part of that rears its ugly head more often than I'd like to see it.  My hands really take the brunt of it but I manage.  Somehow I still use the computer and still crochet..  I'm just slower than I used to be and I have to take more breaks.  

My blood pressure isn't being my friend either.  You know the old saying, "If it's not one thing it's another.", well for me they just keep piling up and my blood pressure is just the most recent.  For some unknown reason it has decided to go up.  I know it's been an insane week but I really didn't need that too.  

Well, it's time to close this entry.  Maybe I'll get better at this.  At least I have a three day weekend coming up so maybe I can get some rest.  I'm wiped out. Good luck to my chronic pain buddies.  Stay well and stay warm in this cold weather.  Blessings to all of you.