Gardening: The Good, The Bad, and The Pain

Gardening is something I enjoy.  I even like to pull up weeds!  I know, there's something wrong with me, I'd have to be really sick to like weeding.  For most, weeding is their least favorite thing to do in the garden.  I think that's why weed killing chemicals are so popular.

I'm different, though.  I like to kneel, bend, and pull out those suckers by hand.  In fact, I enjoy it so much that I go over to relatives' houses (yes that's plural) to weed. 

My Grandmother and Mother In-Law have small gardens and they are quite easy to maintain, a great plus for me and my Fibro.  But even if you have a large garden or landscape, you can still weed without killing your lungs with chemicals or your body with Fibro pain.

In today's day and age, society landscapes their property and this can cause a bit of stress for the meticulously inclined person because weeds will take up residence in an open landscape.

If Monk had a garden he'd probably go crazy trying to pull out every little corn flower and buttercup that graced its presence on his lawn.  Weeds grow because the wind and animals carry their seeds.  A lot of plants that we consider a weed today, were actually utilized by our ancestors.  Dandelions, for instance, were used in soups and as an herb for a bath. 

Property was also used differently because people didn't have the luxury of going to a store to buy produce.  Their gardens looked more like a farm than anything else and those properties had very little weed growth.  Why?  Because there wasn't much room for them because produce can take up a lot of land.

Does this mean that you have to become Farmer Jane in order to have some weeding relief?  No, it certainly doesn't.  Some weeds are easy because they show up on the lawn and can be mowed.  Others will show up in the cracks and crevices of the sidewalk which can either be pulled every couple of weeks or dug up with a trowel.

Taking your garden on in sections also helps along with frequent rest periods.  You don't have to clean it all up at once, Rome wasn't built in a day and neither was your garden.  You can start with the front of your house and then leave the sides and the back for another day.  Taking frequent rest periods is also a must.  I only work for an hour at a time, but I still take a short rest in that short time.

Another thing that I also do is garden in the early evening.  I find that around 5 or 6 o'clock in the evening is the best time for me because it's still early enough where the exercise won't disturb my sleep and late enough where I won't get bothered by many bees. 

I'm rather terrified of bees.  Hornets, wasps, and the like are the worst.  I've learned to like honey bees because they aren't bad.  They only sting once and if they only do it if they need to.  Hornets and wasps are all together different and they terrify me.  Sometimes just looking at them can gives me nightmares... Wait that's with all bugs LOL! 

Okay, maybe it's more so bees and hissing roaches, yeah, don't like those either, especially after watching The Mummy.  All kidding aside, my fear has something to do with my Mom being attacked by a hive when I was little.  I'll always remember her running into the house with the bees swarming around her and yelling "Run to Grandma's!"  I froze for a second and then ran upstairs into the bathroom.  My brother, having a little more sense than me said, "We have to get out of here because the bees could crawl through the crack in the door."  He was only 3 at the time and a lot more wise than me at 4.  He darted out of the bathroom first and then I reluctantly followed in fear.  Everyone was fine, even my Mom, though sore from the ordeal.

The fear has taught me to pick my battles, however, and I choose to be a night time gardener because of it.  But the thing you can learn from me is to find the right time for you to garden. Pain is just as much of a factor as fear is.

Of course, I could totally give into my fear and do indoor gardening instead.  It's another past time of mine and has a lot of perks.  The air quality is better in my home, I can garden sitting down if I so choose, and there's less of a mess because the plants are in pots.  Three big pluses for Fibro sufferers.

No matter what you choose, I hope you give gardening a try.  It's good for the heart, the soul, and even your pain.  Okay, well not the pain of weeds, but your Fibro pain.  Gardening is great exercise and can give you just as much of a workout as a treadmill or weights, maybe even more.


Stay Fabulous!
Love and friendship,

Kimberley

It'll Keep

When I was younger I always remembered those words being uttered from my Grandmother, It'll keep.  The reference was always in regards to a household chore or errand that had to be run.  Her thought was simple, if it wasn't needed at that very second, it could wait to be done.  She was right.

The only problem with It'll keep is the when.  When can be a big problem for Fibro sufferers because our pain determines the when at times. I can't tell you how often I hear from my family the words, "Do we have to do that now?"  The that usually refers to me cleaning the one and only bathroom or the kitchen floor, two very important areas of the house that seem to be needed 24 hours a day in my home.  I find it comical that no one seems to need anything until I start to clean. 

It is then, of course, that I have to stop what I'm doing and pray to God that I don't get too stiff or tired while waiting to finish the job.  There are some occasions where this does happen to me, especially recently since I'm caring for my Grandparents too.  It is during those times that I use the It'll keep mantra. 

I'm a perfectionist and I absolutely HATE to leave any job unfinished.  Caring for my grandparents this year, however, has taught me that it's okay to do things good enough.  I now mop my floor good enough instead of moving EVERYTHING in the kitchen so I can get all the cracks and crevices so it's perfect.  I now reserve perfect for those special occasions when I'm having company. 

Good enough also works for meals, dusting, and all around straightening up.  Simple and quick meals like grilled cheese on 12 grain bread, tomato salad, or chicken sausage with apples over jasmine rice can all be prepared in about 20 minutes, are healthy, and save you from slaving over a hot stove in the summer. 

Dusting a room can be taxing if you have a lot of what we call chochkeys (knicknacks).  I used to have MANY of those things because I'm such a sentimental Taurus.  I kept every little card and token someone gave me.  I still have some things from friends that were given to me in middle school and I just can't part with them because they are special to me.  But what I've learned over the years is that I don't have to put EVERYTHING out on display.  I now have scrapbooks to put cherished cards and photos in and I've consolidated my holiday and home decorations to a minimum so I don't have dust as much.

I also straighten up rooms quickly too by putting toys to one side.  The kids can see them better and that makes the chances of getting them back into their rooms easier.  I also try to organize where I can.  I have a pot lid organizer on my kitchen wall, an office dry and push-pin board by the entrance, and magazine racks on my bookshelves.  These little things make my life a little less messy because I can keep my pots, bills and important mail, and writers magazines within reach and within order.

The rest, well, It'll keep.

Stay Fabulous!
Love and Friendship,

Kimberley

The Facts about Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue! Some things on the web just aren't true.

In this post I will share an article I wrote in this month's The People's Press News .  This article was written after seeing a shocking Twitter post.  I wanted to set the record straight and let people know that not everything that's posted out there on the World Wide Web is true.  The article appears as the third on the page entitled The Facts about Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue! Some things on the web just aren't true.  


Stay Fabulous!

Love and Friendship,


Kimberley

True Balance and Fibromyalgia

I don't share too many books in this blog.  It's usually because I don't get much of a chance to read books that have words in them too often.  Little kids tend to find words pretty boring, you know.  But this book has me sneaking the flashlight into the bedroom because it's that good!

I'll admit that the subject matter is geared towards the New Age crowd because it deals with chakras, but this book is really great for Fibromyalgia sufferers.  It doesn't go into great detail about the history of chakras and it isn't filled with a bunch of meditative exercises that you need to do when you have a quiet moment.  I like to meditate-- don't get me wrong, however, I'd probably be old and gray if I waited for a quiet moment to practice any new form of meditation.

There is nothing wrong with meditation.  It's a great way to relax.  I've used it many times during my B.C. (Before Children) years.  I was able to keep my chakras in line and even fix weakened ones back then all through meditation.  The A.D. years (After Daughters) really don't lend me to meditate far beyond the contemplation of my name.  I don't get a lot of spare time to do much besides these posts so finding a book that is down-to-earth without all the new age tree hugging is very refreshing.

True Balance: A Commonsense Guide for Renewing Your Spirit by Sonia Choquette, PH.D. explains each region of the body and what it governs.  She then explains what you may or may not be lacking in that particular chakra.  There are questions to answer after each section making it easy for the common person to see if that particular body region is weak. 

Illnesses may also factor into a weak chakra, even a chronic one like Fibromyalgia.  For instance the root chakra or base chakra governs our bones, blood, immune system, colon, rectum, legs, and feet.  Fibromyalgia in some cases is considered an auto immune disease.  Having said that, it may mean one's first chakra is imbalanced and we can follow any of the suggestions listed once we go through a series of detailed questions geared towards seeing just how imbalanced our first chakra is. 

The questions are set up as yes, no, or sometimes, and are easy to answer.  Questions like, are you preoccupied with food, money, control? dawn the page at the end of each chapter.  The suggestions are also not only easy to follow but fun too.  One suggestion is go and get a monthly pedicure!  I never really thought about it before I read this book, but I always seemed to feel more calm and relaxed about life in the summer months.  That might have a lot to do with my home pedicures. 

You see, I, like a lot of other people (I hope) only think about my feet when it's sandal season.  During that time I go to the local Walmart and treat myself to a new nail polish color so I can paint my toes all summer long.  I really splurged this year and went with the french manicure because it was on clearance.  Yep, that's the cheap me talking-- no wonder my base chakra is low LOL!

Creative slumps, which are a symptom of a weak second chakra, have plagued me from time to time too.  I once had writer's block that lasted 10 years.  It lasted so long that I started using my laptop as a paper weight for my bills.  Sad, yes, but a reality for me.  My Sears retail job literally sucked the life out of me and it's no wonder that I used to have nightmares about the floor breaking apart underneath my feet, leading me to Hell.

I recently felt a slump because I felt trapped again due to lack of time.  It's unfortunate but sometimes our busy lives can suck the life out of us too.  I've been feeling a bit stressed because Brittanny is nearing the end of another school year and that means a lot of spring concerts, picnics, and fundraisers that we have to attend.  I normally take it in stride and try to tackle one event at a time but caring for two households is putting a damper on that stress free solution.  There are days when I'm driving back and forth at least 4 times a day and that translates to 2 hours in the car alone.  It can be a tough juggling act, but not impossible.


On those days I carve out some time right after dinner and take a 30 minute walk with the kids.  It's a great low impact exercise and I can do it even when my back is hurting from a long extended sitting period.  I also like to get a glimpse of the robins and the occasional ground hog that inhabit the densely wooded apartment complex with us.  Nature walks have always been a favorite past time of mine.

Another quick pick me up that Sonia suggests in the book is to buy some fresh cut flowers.  I actually did that the other day and you can see a picture of them here.

I can tell you that it's made a world of difference, or at least enough to manage 2 blog entries in one night.  I'll take it as an accomplishment none the less. 

Stay fabulous!
Love and friendship,

Kimberley

Life Interrupted | It's Not All About Me...

I met Chris recently at a social book marketing network on the net and became instantly intrigued by his message. He does not have Fibromyalgia, however, he understands what can happen in a marriage when one has a chronic illness. Chris has MS and it unfortunately destroyed his first marriage. He, like all sufferers at one point in the life of their disease, took on the poor me outlook. This outlook usually does not bode well for relationships. In fact, it usually makes them short-lived. That was the case for Chris.

Since then, Mr. Tatevosian has written a book about relationships and chronic illness entitled Life Interrupted, It's Not All About Me. He also does motivational speaking events around the Mass area and even hosts his own radio show called Winning Life Through Pain. All are geared towards relationships and chronic illness.

Chris's message really hits home for all chronic sufferers, including fibromites. I encourage you all to take a look at his site. He is a wonderful person to talk to, is very giving of his time, and is really upbeat.

Life Interrupted | It's Not All About Me...: The Website

Bizymoms.com: The Interview

dBusinessNews :: Daily Business News Delivered to Your Desktop

dBusinessNews :: Daily Business News Delivered to Your Desktop

This is something worth looking into. Something that mimics a human thumb to massage trigger points of Fibromyalgia. This sounds great!


Stay fabulous,
Love and friendship,


Kimberley

Remembrance of Foods Past

Remembrance of Foods Past

I thought I'd discuss Comfort Foods today because it's a topic I haven't done in a long time. Above is an article dedicated to comfort foods for Senior Citizens. The writer makes a lot of good points that I've been expressing to my family and friends. I just haven't discussed them here since Senior care is a little off topic.

However, the idea of comfort foods also applies to Fibro sufferers. I went on an elimination diet when I was first diagnosed because I was convinced that a lot of the foods I was eating at the time were, put simply, killing me. I started with easy things, like eliminating boxed foods, such as mac & cheese. This was a great help. I started feeling a lot better and didn't want to look back, but I had this nagging feeling that would creep up on me from time to time. I couldn't help but feel like I was missing something. It was an awful feeling that at times left me depressed.

The reason why I felt this way wasn't from the Fibro, it ran much deeper. The problem with the elimination diet, at least to the newly diagnosed, is that it's hard to part with some comfort foods. I'm not into sweets, but I love salty foods like frozen pizza bites and mac & cheese. These foods were hard to give up because they really meant a lot more to me than sustenance. They were like a home coming that brought me back to the days when my mom was cooking. We'd talk while she prepared cut up, boiled hot dogs with mac & cheese and a dash of salt. The smell and the taste of that dish brings me back to a carefree time when both my mother and I weren't sick.

I may not be able to get that time back with my mom due to her Alzheimer's, but I can get back my memory of her cooking away with some comfort food every now and again. You might wonder how this could be possible since the food store isles are over stocked with products containing MSG and other chemicals they disguise as "additives". Well, it is possible if you are willing to do a little research while shopping. There are products, even hot dogs that are friendly to Fibro sufferers. Cookouts no longer have to be feared-- YEAH!!! All you have to do is look for a hot dog that doesn't contain fillers, in other words, a kosher product.

Boxed mac & cheese is another favorite of mine and I don't have to miss it either because I have substituted an organic one in it's place. The organic ones, which can usually be found right next to the chemically processed ones, don't contain any dyes that color your pasta an orange, yellow. These boxed products have actual real cheese that doesn't glow in the dark, a welcome change for this food lover.

It's been refreshing to see food stores changing with the times and stock wholesome products. Food stores have a long way to go before any of us can zip through the isles without having to scrutinize labels, but it's comforting to see some major changes none the less.

Stay fabulous!
Love and friendship,

Kimberley

Another Autographed Book for Winner...

Jewel has won an autographed copy of my latest book based on this blog!  Congrats Jewel!  Please email me (kimberley@kimberleylinstruth-beckom.com) with an address to send the book out to along with your one of a kind book mark (made especially by me of course!)

The Power of Word Persuation

Classic rock music is a favorite of mine and I tend to listen to a station from Springfield Mass called Rock 102 on the way to Grandma's every morning.  In between sets of Areosmith and The Stones, I heard a commercial for something I thought was rather obscure.  It was an add for hypnosis.

Now, being the cynical consumer that I am, I normally chalk ads up as a form of selling propaganda.  However, I'm also a bit optimistic and will generally listen with an open mind if the ad is something worth while.  This particular ad was pretty straight forward and talked about using hypnosis to aid in loosing weight and quitting smoking-- something I normally hear for hypnosis, but then it went into aiding in chronic pain.

Chronic pain?  Could it be possible that something that was once used as a pallor trick to get people to cluck like chickens really help with chronic pain?  The answer is yes, it can according to magazines like Psychology Today.

A particular article published in October of 2008 discusses the power of suggestion.  It explains that some doctors and patients have been lead to believe that only expensive medication pushed onto them by drug companies are the know all and be all cure for your aliments.  Jacob Teitelbaum MD, the author of the article goes further into explaining that what doctors seem to think of as science in an article or convention is really just nothing more than a drug company's infomercial.  I'd have to say that I agree with him after seeing more and more drug representatives at the doctor's office over the past few years. 

Teitelbaum also makes another interesting point about the power of suggestion in that if a doctor says things like "no one can get you well", your subconscious just might start to believe it.  It's disheartening enough that most doctors until recently thought Fibromyalgia was nothing more than a made up pain in the mind of the afflicted.  But when a doctor who supposedly took a medical oath, uses negative comments against an already disheartened individual because he/she can't see past a drug price tag, it's just disgusting.

I know not every doctor is brain washed by drug companies, but lately while in the waiting room, it has seemed like they are.  There are holistic doctors making their mark in the medical community and this helps with the changing idea that medicines are not the magic bullet people need. 

I've yet to go to a holistic doctor myself, but I just might have to in order to check out hypnosis.  Even before I do that, however, I may check out this site that has self hypnosis downloads for an extremely reasonable price.  If something like this works, why go to a doctor for a $170 supply of Tremodol?  $13 is a heck of a lot cheaper, in fact, that's even less than the now grossly over-priced ($30/ month) herbal supplement sam-E. 

Oh listen to silly old me, I sound like a commercial!  Let me set the record straight-- I'm NOT endorsing the site, I just think it's worth looking into if you fell hypnosis is right for you.  Hypnosis is something that most people can do, in fact, some of us do it every day while driving in our cars (a scary thought I know, but would explain A LOT LOL!).  If you've ever driven somewhere and you can't remember the drive, you were probably hypnotized.  Hypnosis, though, is not for everyone.  Some people can't be hypnotized and that is something you can find out during a consultation. 

Stay fabulous!
Love and friendship,

Kimberley

Herbs: The Spice to Life

I recently took a trip to the book store with my daughter.  It's become a tradition to go every year around this time because we scout out books for my daughter's summer reading.  I also tend to pick up a title or two for my own summer reading pleasure.

We got to the magazine section and something caught my eye.  It was a copy of The Herb Quarterly.  I have always been an advocate of natural cures to aliments, even before being diagnosed.  My Grandmother taught me most of the common natural remedies like baking soda for bee stings, aloe for burns, and peppermint for an upset stomach.  These were great, but I knew they were only the start to my budding curiosity.  I knew there was more, I just didn't know where to start.

While thumbing through this magazine, I saw that I found a gem.  Articles like how to make your own lip balms, soaps, and lotions brightly popped from the pages.  I was happy to find such recipes because it may end my problems with chemical based products.  And as most of you know, chemicals are an enemy to the Fibro sufferer.  This was exciting to say the least, but what I found most intriguing were some of the statistics about herbs and supplements. 

According to the Miscellany section of The Herb Quarterly the next generation of doctors will be more than less likely to use alternative treatments, such as herbal medicines, along side standard Western medicine.  The study goes further in saying that out of 1,770 students surveyed about 74 percent believe Western medicine combined with complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) are more effective than just one of these practices alone.  What is sad about all of this is that only 50 percent of the U.S. medical schools offer some type of CAM course. 

Ryan Abbott, a researcher from the University of California Los Angeles Center for East-West Medicine and the author of this survey, states that 60 percent of the respondents want an increase in education of CAM.  He believes it's "a global phenomenon" because "policy makers at the highest levels (are) endorsing the importance of a historically marginalized form of health care." 

Another article delves into the scary statistics of OTC counter and prescription medication fatalities.  According to the article, 4,825 deaths and almost 21,000 injuries can be linked to prescription drugs in the first three months of 2008.  The Archives of Internal Medicine published a study stating that deaths due to prescription drugs have tripled between the years of 1998-2005.  In comparison, there have been zero deaths reported from herbal supplements, vitamins, mineral, or amino-acid consumption in 2008.

With statistics and information like this, it kind of makes me feel good that my old herbal standbys are still tried and true.  I've always said that a disease will never kill me, but the medications and the bills will.  Seems to me that this statement is becoming more and more true as the data pours in.

I still believe in doctors-- don't get me wrong and I will continue to go to them when I need to.  But I also know that what I'm growing in my proverbial back yard will aid me too.

Stay fabulous!
Love and friendship,

Kimberley