Chronic Diva

Hello again after a very long, somewhat unexpected hiatus. Part of my absence was planned as I spent ten glorious days traveling to and visiting in Wisconsin. My husband grew up there just outside Wausau, in a farm house that was converted from a barn. It is very old and very lovely and sits on […]

Quality of Sleep Attempting a good night’s rest when you struggle with chronic pain is different than just your average restless sleep or even insomnia. This is not to diminish either, because lack of sleep all around is terrible for mind, body and spirit. However, chronic pain insomnia encompasses more than being unable to sleep; […]

1. Endorphin Release: Endorphins are the natural pain relievers produced in your body. They work by binding to the opioid receptors in your brain to block the perception of pain, similar to the opioid pain medications such as oxycodone or morphine. By encouraging increased production of these natural hormones you can substantially reduce your pain. […]

It isn’t clear to me whether or not IBS or IBS-D and other digestive issues are clearly linked to fibromyalgia or any other chronic pain issues, but I will sum up some of my findings to help you get started in your own research. It is not unusual for fibromyalgia and IBS to run tag […]

I’ve been knee deep in the holistic world for a little over 12 years. It started with yoga and quickly progressed into essential oils and meditation. Prior to this I had already dabbled in herbs and understood many to have therapeutic qualities when prepared and used correctly. As someone who practices Wicca, this makes sense […]

Why doctor’s Know So Little About Fibromyalgia After approximately 6,000 research studies on fibromyalgia, why is it doctor’s still know so little? For starters, many medical journals describe fibromyalgia as “mysterious” and “confusing.” Primary care physicians are uncertain how to diagnose fibromyalgia and find it equally difficult in treating it. According to Ginerva Lipton, MD, […]

Inspiration through Chronic Illness I think this is as important a part of the deconstruction of fibromyalgia as any chronic pain illness. Just as there are misconceptions about chronic pain there are so many inspirational thoughts, which people in the non-pain community can learn from and perhaps see their chronic pain friends and family in […]

Of Irony and Hope There are so many reasons that make living with chronic pain difficult. If you are reading this and you are living with chronic pain you certainly know what I mean. Off the top of my head, in case you are reading this and don’t understand or have someone in your life […]

A Definition According to the Mayo Clinic: Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues. Symptoms sometimes begin after physical trauma or illness or significant psychological stress. Other times, symptoms gradually accumulate over time without a triggering event. Women are more likely than men to develop […]