Wow...sure haven't posted here in a long time, huh? Maybe that's good...I've noticed that I tend to post when things are bleak and I don't feel like I can talk to anyone about them. It's been a crazy 6.5 months since I last posted. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in early May after a 6 month bout with incredible pain and fatigue. I count myself very lucky in getting diagnosed so quickly. I thank my wonderfully progressive and open-minded doctor for that. We experimented with various prescriptions for the fibro for about three months until I started reading up about more holistic ways to deal with the illness. I tried Flexeril and Lyrica, along with the prozac I had been taking for depression. But it dawned on me that I've never really tried just taking care of myself to see what my body could do with that. There's always been one thing or another in the way - anorexia, college goals, law school, hectic work, three babies in a row, depression, debilitating migraines, marriage in crisis...you get the picture.

I read a book by the name of Foods That Fight Pain by Dr. Neal Barnard. While he is a vegan and therefore may be considered to have an agenda, the information contained in the book was well-researched and well-presented. A lot of the migraine information was consistent with what I'd learned other places but never had the energy to implement. However, body-wide pain that keeps you from standing or walking upright and crippling fatigue are powerful motivators.

So in late may, early June I started exercising daily. I started with 5 minutes of walking and added one minute/day. I'm now up to 60 minutes a day of cardiovascular exercise. I ride, I walk, I use the elliptical, and one of these days I'll throw in swimming for kicks and giggles. I am also doing strength training 3-5x/week. In July, I weaned myself off of all of the medications I was taking and started adding in some supplements that my research indicated have helped others {I do love my geeky research :-) } Each day, I'm now taking about 2400 mg Malic Acid, 1.5 g Magnesium, a Shaklee multi (Vita-Lea with iron), Calcium, a B supplement, Ginseng, Folic Acid, and a few others I can't remember (yes, I rattle when I walk now). I am also (mostly) following a vegan diet. My weaknesses are both surprising and unsurprising (surprising that I couldn't resist taking a bite of a brat, unsurprising that I cave and get a mocha from time to time and find myself daydreaming about medium-rare steaks).

Long story short, it is working for me right now. I still have bad days, but they make me appreciate the better days more. It is hard not to get discouraged when I feel like I am doing everything I can but still get hit with days on which I can't straighten up or even seem to get out of bed. On those days, I just pray for relief, patience, and the energy to keep doing what I need to do.

Part II, hopefully to come soon, will be about all of the great things God is doing in my life. Until then, though, please take care of yourself. Take care of yourself the same way you take care of your child when they are young and sick and fully dependent upon you...with love, gentleness, and the utmost of concern.