Happy Monday y’all! 
 
Ladies, we have been there. Trying to find the best, form fitting, comfortable bra can easily go from a fun shopping experience to a nightmare in no time. Since I have Fibromyalgia, I needed to find a bra that helped me rather than one that added to my discomfort. 
 
I found Third Love Bras by pure accident while surfing the internet.  When you go onto their website, you are greeted with a box that gives you the option to shop bras or find your fit. If you choose the find my fit, it directs you to a questionnaire about your current bra. Next, they ask you what type of style you are searching for, and your breast shape. Finally, they add detail questions about bra colors, coverage, and underwires. When I first started using their website, I took the quiz. I found it to be true to what I needed. I have stayed with this company for a few years and they have yet to disappoint me. I love their bras! 
 
Some of the nice features found on their website are their informative blogs. For example, under Bra 101 you will find ASKING FOR A FRIEND - Parenting Tips From Real Parents. Whether you’re needing a replacement bra, wanting to treat yourself, go ahead and check them out! Trust me you won’t regret it! Have you ever shopped their website before? Let me know in the comments down below if you have! I’d love to hear back from you! Please continue to stay safe purple butterflies! Thank you for taking the time to read my blog today! If you’re enjoying my blogs, why not subscribe to my website? My blogs will go straight to your email. It’s free to sign up! Tell your friends! Tell your friends to tell their friends!

Till next time! Be well!

~ Rachel   

Happy Monday ya'll! 

Years before my diagnosis, I caught the visual art bug. When I watched The Little Mermaid for the first time back in 1989, I got goose bumps during the scene where Ariel sings “Part of Your World,”  Ever since then I dreamed of working at “The  Walt Disney Animation” as an animator. Fast forward to 2001, I graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Art in Illustration as well an Associate in Multimedia and Computer Animation. I didn’t get the job working for Disney (or any other company) but in my opinion I have the dream job now. I work from home where I am my own boss. I am writing and illustrating the first of what I hope to become a series of young adult books. 

As anyone who suffers from chronic pain will tell you, every day is different. For instance, there are days where I can get out of my bed, sit at my desk and work. Then there are days where I must bring everything I need into the bed and work from there. When I was getting my Illustration degree, my passion became character development (character creating).  I love creating characters because I put a little piece of me in each one of them. This is my preferred way of coping with my situation. Very much like my situation, my main character in my book will have Fibromyalgia. When I am writing or drawing, it is therapeutic. I’m almost hypnotized.

The only negative to being an illustrator and a writer is that I keep making changes to my book! So far, I’ve worked on it for seven years. I’m halfway done editing and the development of the characters are coming along nicely. This year I revised my art page, Rachel Lynn Creations, on Facebook. It has a collection of sketches as well as some of my characters. 

What do you as a form of self-therapy? Please leave your comments down below as I’d love to know your answers! Thank you for taking the time to read my blog today! If you’re enjoying my blogs, why not subscribe to my website? My blogs will go straight to your email. It’s free to sign up! Tell your friends! Tell your friends to tell their friends!

Till next time! Be well!
~ Rachel
#fibromyalgiaartist #creatingartthroughthepain

Would you like to read another blog like this one? 

https://www.onceuponafogblog.com/blog/mindful-monday-51-tearing-off-my-bandage

Happy Monday ya’ll! 
      The story I am about to tell you is a sensitive one. In 2011, I was attending Texas A&M obtaining my teaching certificate in Art K-12. I was maintaining a 4.0 g.p.a., substituting full time while suffering from Fibromyalgia. I should point out that during this time, my doctors were not listening to me. 
 
I distinctly remember thinking that I should have listened to my mother all along. My mom had suggested for me to take up teaching, because teachers were needed. She was a teacher for over 40 years and always thought I would be a good teacher. All I had left  to finish my certification was a teaching internship, and one more class! 

As the days carried on, my pain level was increasing as were my work hours. Exhausted, ankles swollen, barely able to walk or talk, I soldiered on. Dale would be speechless at the sight of my legs. From the very beginning, he was my biggest cheerleader to continue my education. Now I found him begging me to consider other options. 
 
I was so stressed that I went to bed in tears. I prayed for answers. It wasn’t a decision that I made lightly at all. Ultimately, I had to quit school and substituting due to Fibromyalgia. Two children approached me the day before and told me how much they loved having me as a teacher. My heart was broken to realize that I would not be returning to the classroom. It would be a couple more years before I would learn and curse the name, Fibromyalgia. I went through a huge depression until I decided to start writing as a form of therapy. I know I am not alone out there. 

I’d love to learn about your story! Feel free to leave comments down below. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog today! If you’re enjoying my blogs, why not subscribe to my website? My blogs will go straight to your email. It’s free to sign up! Tell your friends! Tell your friends to tell their friends!

Till next time! 
Be well!

~ Rachel
#fibromyalgia #chronicpain #fibroteachers

Would you like to read another blog like this one? 

​https://www.onceuponafogblog.com/blog/mindful-monday52-creating-art-through-pain
 

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Thank you for taking the time to read my blog today! If you’ve enjoyed this blog, why not subscribe to my website? My blogs will go straight to your email. It’s free to sign up! Tell your friends! Tell your friends to tell their friends!

Please continue to stay safe!
Till next time! Be well!
~ Rachel

Happy Monday ya’ll!  
         
A couple of years ago, I learned from my family doctor that my liver enzymes were extremely elevated. After many medical options, I was referred to a Gastroenterologist who confirmed that I have a fatty liver. Some of you may recognize this blog from last year. I have since updated it. "Fatty liver is a reversible condition wherein large vacuoles of triglyceride fat accumulate in liver cells via the process of steatosis (i.e., abnormal retention of lipids within a cell). Despite having multiple causes, fatty liver can be considered a single disease that occurs worldwide in those with excessive alcohol intake and the obese. The condition is also associated with other diseases that influence fat metabolism. When this process of fat metabolism is disrupted, the fat can accumulate in the liver in excessive amounts, thus resulting in a fatty liver (WHAT IS FATTY LIVER?)."

You can imagine that I was not thrilled with this diagnosis. To be honest with you, I was not exactly shocked. I already knew I needed to lose weight for health reasons. One of the first things I did was cut sugar out of my diet all together. This included any dessert for the most part. When I craved a sweet, I looked towards recipes that included fruit. I’ve been behaving myself by watching how often I eat fried foods. We have an air-fryer, so I have been collecting different recipes to try. Growing up, my favorite drink was Coca-Cola. I ended that love affair overnight and haven’t looked back since. My downfall was that I was not actively exercising due to increasing pain. Since my recent back surgery, I feel that I can even more active than before! Dale noticed that I am beginning to walk the way when we first met over seventeen years ago. Once again, he’s asking me to slow down! 
 
During my doctor visit, I was so relieved to hear that the anticonvulsant medication would not be harmful to my liver. I’m still on a medication to assist me with losing weight. I knew that I couldn’t count on the medication alone; I had to get up and move around. With chronic pain, it’s very hard to plan out the week, let alone the next day. In the past I’ve used my treadmill, and I went grocery shopping when I could. I kept all my doctor appointments, and little by little I began losing weight. During the summertime, I take advantage of my dad’s pool. It won’t be long before it’ll be time to get my blood work checked. 
            
A year ago, my GP sent me to see a Hepatologist. She noted that I have
Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH), in addition to the fatty liver. This is where the term “fatty liver” gets dismissed. I have learned over the past few months, there is no such thing just a “fatty liver.” When you are diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, as I am, it is important to note that: "An association between fibromyalgia and hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been previously described. However, the relationship between nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and fibromyalgia symptoms has not been assessed, though they share several risk factors. We aimed to assess the factors associated with fibromyalgia symptoms across etiologies of liver disease." In addition to all this new information, I found this could be very beneficial: The Connection Between Fibromyalgia, the Liver and Digestion. Thank goodness I am not to the point of cirrhosis. This is why I am actively reversing whatever damage I may have done to my liver now. All of what I’m talking about is not meant to scare anyone or look for sympathy. My doctor told me that I am young enough and that I should be fine. As long as I get serious, and concentrate about what is happening to my body. Frankly, I don’t know how much more serious you can get than taking care of your liver. 
 
Have you ever been to a Gastroenterologist, or Hepatologist? I’d love to know about your experiences. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog today! If you’re enjoying my blogs, why not subscribe to my website? My blogs will go straight to your email. It’s free to sign up! Tell your friends! Tell your friends to tell their friends!

Till next time! 
Be well!

~ Rachel

#fibroliver #fibroandgastroenterologist #fibroandhepatologist #healthyliverwithfibro 

Happy Monday y’all! 
 
Note: I am not a physician. If you are sick or believe you need medical attention, please get help immediately! 
 
For some time now, I have been wanting to write a piece about chronic pain and Menzies. I just didn’t know how or where to start. Ever since my late twenties, my menstrual cramping started to increase. After talking about it with friends, I discovered I wasn’t as alone as I thought. In fact, we all thought it might be a part of aging. The last time I had an appointment with my gynecologist, I came out with a clean bill of health. Since I’ve had Fibro, I feel as though my monthlies have been worse! Common sense aside, I began to wonder what is it about Fibromyalgia that makes periods so horrific for some women! Suddenly, my blog started to take shape!
 
Let’s begin with the no brainer! Ladies, if you have Fibro, you’ll understand that we have a more difficult time with periods versus those women who don’t. Chronic pain is challenging enough on a “normal,” day. 
 
Since Fibromyalgia increases an individual’s sensitivity to pain, the physical pain associated with premenstrual syndrome can also be much greater in women with Fibromyalgia, with greater pain in the lower abdomen, lower back, and upper legs.
 
This article, quotes from PMS and Fibromyalgia and sums up the reason why the added stress and pain of having a period, for me is a hundred times worse. Even though my body may not always like it, I try to be as active as possible. During my lady’s days, I am forced to stay in bed due to excruciating circumstances. My mind wants to get up from the bed, but my legs argue the point. I came across this website by luck when I Googled, “Does Fibromyalgia makes periods worse?” Terry continues on with some very interesting information about Fibromyalgia and PMDD. I do recommend reading it. “PMDD Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a condition in which a woman has severe depression symptoms, irritability, and tension before menstruation. The symptoms of PMDD are more severe than those seen with premenstrual syndrome (PMS).” So many times, I often sit and wonder, what did my ancestors do when their time of the month came around? No doubt they were harder women. They did what they had to do. One by one, women all around the world learn how to put their big girl pants on and soldier on! 
 
I’ve heard that being on birth control can help. I did not have the best luck with those pills. Considering I take close to fifteen pills a day, I’d rather not add another pill unless I have too. Do you have any secrets to handling your time of the month? Eating chocolate has always been fun, but I try to stick to dark chocolate if I can! Did you know about PMDD? Please feel free to leave a comment down below! I’d love to hear from y’all! Please continue to stay safe purple butterflies! Thank you for taking the time to read my blog today! If you’re enjoying my blogs, why not subscribe to my website? My blogs will go straight to your email. It’s free to sign up! Tell your friends! Tell your friends to tell their friends!

Till next time! Be well!

~ Rachel
 
 
Reference:
http://fibromyalgia.techie.org/pms-and-fibromyalgia/
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007193.htm

Would you like to read more blogs like this one? 
https://www.onceuponafogblog.com/blog/mindful-monday-45-heart-and-soul
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