October Birthstone: Opal and Tourmaline
October Flower: Calendula

October 03 Crystal/Butterfly
October 09 Lorri
October 10 Pamelia
October 12 Shirley (FL)
October 12 Barb (PA)
October 18 Liesa
October 20 MomaKat
October 23 Bonna
October 29 Carole (BC)
October 29 Sue E. (Idaho)

SENDING BIRTHDAY WISHES FROM ALL OF US HERE AT FMPSC

One thing my doc said a long time ago, even before I knew about FMS, was always take an aspirin before getting on a plane to help prevent blood clots from sitting so long. Air France has really done a good job of encouraging stretching and flexing in their onboard exercise programs. Now if they would just take out some seats to make more leg room!

I have an appointment to start physical rehab on Monday with an aquatic therapist. I would appreciate any advice you can give me about this sort of thing, never had any sort of therapy before. Will the therapist care how badly I hurt, or will she try to force things past what I can tolerate? I'm sort of nervous about it.

I am beginning to really be frightened. I've already lost days of work due to this thing, but what happens if I can't keep going? Thanks for listening.

We (husband with RA and I) slept on a nice warm waterbed for years, until it EXPLODED when he did a swan-dive into it last October. I had loved the Tempur Pedic mattresses ever since my sleep study, where they used them. So we did come shopping and found a Cal King size knock-off at a place in Birmingham called Bedzzzz Express. It's from a Tennessee foam company called Southerland who are trying to edge into the Tempur Pedic market. It's the same foam, but very beautifully upholstered and looks like a cake. Get this: The TP mattress was $2300 but we got this one for $800. If you have a Brookstone at a mall nearby, try it out. Then don't buy their expensive one and get a nicer-looking one for half price if you like the way it feels. I have about the same amount of stiffness in the morning as I did with the waterbed.

Now about me. I still don't recognize the symptoms of FMS yet. Yesterday, my body allover but especially feet, swelled enormous. After 3 of the nurses I work with freaked out and said, "You gotta call your doctor right now!", I called the doc and left a message. They called right back, said go to the ER, and I said "No." (I don't like going to the doc, and much less the ER!!) So the nurse called back about 15 mins later and said the doc really wanted me to go to the ER. So I went. FIVE (5) hours later, my kidneys tested OK, EKG was OK, all labs were OK. They said, "It's fibromyalgia." I was yelling in pain every time I moved, and they found nothing. Came home, took Lortab, and it's still painful this morning but the swelling is gone.

I know some of you have been to multiple doctors and they didn't want to give you this diagnosis, but I think my problem is at the extreme other end of the spectrum. This is the 7th doctor to blame this incredible pain on FMS. I'm worried that it has become their "catch-all" diagnosis and they may miss something one of these times just by blaming everything on FMS.

Got gourds on my mind now! My mom always made the most delicious pie from butternut squash, no sweet tater or punkin pie can come close. It was always our Thanksgiving dessert. I don't think my hubby or I could peel one this year, both have hand pain and those things are really hard to peel. Aren't we a pair?

There is an Oktoberfest going on in north Ala this weekend. I really would have loved to go to it. Maybe next year I'll be walking a little better. This FMS is taking over my life. I hate it.

I hope you all have a pain-free, refreshing, and happy weekend!

I have a Cuddle Ewe on my bed and I really like it. My husband and I had to go to separate bedrooms about 3 years ago. He is a diabetic and very sensitive to the cold so he keeps the room must too warm for me. Plus, I couldn't sleep on our old bed because it was too firm. Not to mention that I have a night life that he is unaware of LOL. I have a TV and stereo in here, plus my TV and video player and my computer. He sleeps on a king size bed and I sleep on a twin (usually with the dogs).

I'm sorry, unless I make notes I can't remember who says what but that problem with the pain in the hands and feet and the feet sweeling must be something we all go through. I have to get dressed each day based on what shoes I can wear.

You really have to get to know your own body to be able to tell what is probably fibro and what is something else. And unfortunately getting used to dealing with fms everyday is very hard - it never goes away. You have to reconcile yourself to the fact that each day you are going to have some kind of pain (as I write this I'm getting shooting pain in my hands and feet, which I often get).

We far as sleep goes, I play the same music every night and I think now subconsciously when I hear it, my body knows it is time to try to sleep. Plus, I have a CPAP machine because I have sleep apnea. Be sure you are tested for that because a lot of people with fms have it and taking sleeping meds can make things worse. And you dont' have to have to snore to take it. When they did my study, they found my legs moved a lot at night (I got more exercise in bed than during the day!) I also sometimes drink hot milk (you need to get it hot to release the trytophan, then you can let it cool); sometimes I drink sleepytime tea. Sometinmes I have the itchies at night and have to take a benadryl. If I really can't sleep, I put one of my favorite moves on and usually can fall asleep watching it.

You also might want to put socks or white gloves on with your lotion if your skin is really cracked. Try using Bag Balm. My husband has to use that on his feet because he has no feeling on the bottom of his feet at all. That's the same thing they use on cow's udders.

Reading your stories, I realize I am one of the lucky ones. I don't know how you all do it and my heart and prayers go out to all of you. If any of you are interested, there is a book called where is God when it hurts by Philip Yancy you might like to read.

It is cooler here now which is good, I do better with my electric afghan than with my air conditioner. I hope all of you are having a peaceful weekend.

Another thing, especially for the newbies, be sure you have had a good thyroid panel workup. People with fms also often have thyroid problems or have had thyroid in the past. Age isn't a factor there. I have a friend who had a lot of trouble with her young son, had to take him to anger management class, he had some major mood swings, had some obsessive/compulsive behaviour. then one day one of the doctors decided to check his thyroid and and it was extremely low, so low they didn't know how he was functioning. they put him on thyroid hormone and he is so much better, he is a different person, and he will turn 11 next month.

Also sleep apea can affect any age, I know of a baby 18 months that has it and a 12-year old girl who has a CPAP machine also.

I have to watch that I don't get too warm at night because that brings on hot flashes. Having fms and going through memopause - that's a combo that will drive you crazy!!!! I think that's why I do better in the winter with the dry heat instead of in the summer fighting the humidity.

One of the problems with fms is that when you have something else wrong, that particular thing also aggravates the fms also unti you can hardly tell where one leaves off and the other goes on.

I had a friend die last spring from hepatitis C and I helped her family clean out her house. they gave me her shoes to dispose of. She had had a lot of swelling and fluid problems (her legs actually "weeped" and she would have to wrap them in cloths). She had shoes ranging in size from 7 to 9-1/2 wide, the latter were all slip on because that's all she could stand, plus couldn't bend over to tie. I think of her everyday when my feet are hurting and I'm trying to find shoes to wear.

On a lighter note - do any of you cross-stich. I'm addicted to it so I'm going to go stitch for a while and watch the Sunday night football game. Deep sleep to everyone.

SASSY: I'm so sorry you are going through this. Surely this will all blow over, I hope. A lot can change in a day or week.

JULY: I plan on getting me some butternut squash, hauling out the old electric turkey carver, and slicing some up! If it can cut thru a 20 lb turkey, it should be able to handle a 2 lb squash. If anyone is interested, I'll share my mom's pie recipe. It should be in her stuff somewhere at my house.

My first visit to rehab was today. The therapist measured my flexibility (lack of) and balance (lack of). Then she taught me some nice stretching exercises which have already made me feel so much looser. Tomorrow I go back for the pool therapy. I can't wait to get in that warm water and loosen up!

Katielady, I advise you get yourself to a wound specialist or at least have another doctor check your hand. If you are running a fever and have an infection do not walk but run to someone who can help.
Jennifer, if your mom has applied for social security disability she just has to keep fighting to get it. They very seldom give it to you without at least one rejection. However, if she has not worked in ten years she may be turned down. That is what happened to me and because it was the law, I could do nothing about it.
Barb, you always manage to see the rainbow no matter what happens. Hope you get your roof fixed, your truck fixed, your back gets better, and you are up and running soon.

About medical marijuana--things in Colorado are kind of squirrely--they just recently busted someone locally that had a prescription for it, and its caused a lot of media coverage...both good and bad...for myself, I've found it doesn't work--I still feel pain, and it messes with my memory, which is bad enough as it is! So, I stick to the Tramadol. I would gladly vote for it to be legalized for everyone, especially those that need it for pain (if it works for them). There are certainly a lot worse things out there to worry about and put people in jail for...

I get that dang rash too--mostly on my legs. I always end up with little sores all over--I think I scratch them in my sleep! They are sooo itchy.

Guess I'll get off the soapbox...everyone have a good evening! Better living through chemistry, or whatever floats your boat...

Combine squash, sugar, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, eggs, and butter in a blender, blend until smooth. Gradually blend in milk. Pour mixture into pie shell.

Bake in 425 degree oven 45 minutes or until knife inserted halfway between edge and center comes out clean. Cool on rack. Serve with whipped cream.

I had been put on Vioxx a while back, but I had an allergic reaction to it and had to stop. I can't take any of the arthritis meds; I get a mouthful of awful canker sores. They are caused by a Herpes virus, and it has nothing to do with sex. Just something I have always had and always will. My hands and neck and shoulders and very ouchy this morning, so I am going to take a hot shower and try to look presentable and try to do some errands around town. Gentle Hugs.

The squash pie recipe sounds yummy. Plan to try it today. Beach Bum, Would it be ok to put the recipe on our food pages?

Check out the Center for Disease Control's website to look up all those special viruses that seem to like us so much-- www.cdc.gov

I've also had the vision problems described--always check out with perfect vision when I go to the optometrist however. He did give me reading glasses that help. Sometimes I don't need them, sometimes I can't read without them. How irritating! I agree with whoever said that this blasted disease won't kill you, but it will annoy you to death!

Janet, your situation sounds very scary. I guess I don't believe everything the doctors say, including psychologists. Trust your instincts-you are the only person that knows what is right for you. I wouldn't live with anyone that threatened to kill me. Sounds like he needs MORE help, and should either get a job and go out on his own, or continue treatment because he's not fixed yet. It sounds like your husband is holding you hostage and could use some help as well. Of course, that's easily said, but hard to do. Good luck, remember to take care of yourself first.

Later...the couch potatoe.

I'm hanging back and just reading for a while. The aquatics therapy seems to have "broken" the 2-month flare. I feel wonderful, absolutely back to my old self again. I wish all of you were in that pool with me! It would be a blast!

Everyone take good care of yourselves!