tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20246880130432100222012-02-07T13:59:59.758+01:00One person's journey through a life, dealing with many chronic illnesses, loads of pain, and issues caused by a childhood full of abuse. Still, there is more to life than that...nifwlseirffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554383720321027055noreply@blogger.comBlogger301100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2024688013043210022.post-47545812555072384472011-10-31T15:41:00.001+01:002011-10-31T15:41:32.511+01:00

In a place where doors are normally not heavy or open automatically, costochondritis can be managed slightly easier. However, where I am now, doors are normally heavy and not powered. Also most people do not hold doors open for anyone. As my costo is a symptom of fibromyalgia, I can only manage it, trying not to let the costo pain flare too badly. The following are some management strategies

nifwlseirffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554383720321027055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2024688013043210022.post-55230012324054634892011-10-19T16:05:00.000+02:002011-11-24T17:15:56.929+01:00

Having seen an interesting TED talk on hypersensitivity to pain by Elliot Krane from March 2011 (The mystery of chronic pain), I searched for other TED talks that may be useful for chronic pain sufferers. Unfortunately, although there are a plethora of interesting and inspiring medical TED talks, only a couple touch on chronic pain in general. A TED talk by David Agus in 2010 about treating a

nifwlseirffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554383720321027055noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2024688013043210022.post-35050452422970113262011-10-06T07:24:00.000+02:002011-10-06T07:24:55.978+02:00

Dealing with chronic pain in the best of circumstances is difficult enough. But when situations worsen, or there are no options available to manage the pain, it can bring depression and leaves immune systems wide open to all the viral and bacterial infections that circulate. In Japan, Assistant Language Teachers (ALTs) often attend multiple schools, co-teaching up to 6 classes per day. They often

nifwlseirffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554383720321027055noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2024688013043210022.post-44236824049993809822011-03-13T01:32:00.001+01:002011-10-06T07:25:15.293+02:00

See my post on Athrist for details.

nifwlseirffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554383720321027055noreply@blogger.com0Fukushima, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan37.7607226 140.473356137.4892976 140.0064371 38.0321476 140.94027509999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2024688013043210022.post-4537689593179626822010-03-03T03:20:00.001+01:002011-10-06T07:25:56.330+02:00

It is amazing to see how a body can change, and adapt to changes. In the last couple of months, there have been some incredibly huge and very scary changes in my life, and my health is coping, surprisingly well. Having an achievable dream that I am actively working towards, focusing on short and long term goals, and not feeling trapped by illnesses and situations, has made such a difference. Even

nifwlseirffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554383720321027055noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2024688013043210022.post-83598276856037078032010-01-12T04:15:00.001+01:002010-01-12T04:18:35.616+01:00

I'm travelling alone, for the second time. And this time, it's an extended trip to Japan. I planned an ambitious amount of walking and sightseeing, and my stubbornness is seeing it through (of course). Travelling with chronic conditions has many challenges, although I am managing much better during this trip, than during my first.This time, I travelled to wintry Japan (from a very hot Australian

nifwlseirffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554383720321027055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2024688013043210022.post-9619704694558627022009-10-14T01:31:00.001+02:002009-11-28T04:29:03.907+01:00

I like my teeth. Even throughout the period where my top teeth were being straightened, I liked them. Although I hated the mottling, with facings, and now without (take the surface off the teeth and the mottling became more even), and my bottom teeth are still overcrowded, they are good teeth. Even if I'd like my teeth to be a little bit whiter, they are hard and strong, something that is

nifwlseirffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554383720321027055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2024688013043210022.post-82176815888703782312009-09-25T14:59:00.009+02:002010-02-21T14:49:00.743+01:00

Over the years, I have observed that living alone and dealing with chronic pain disorders, has additional (hidden) costs, more so than for those without chronic illness. It is generally understood that it is more expensive to live alone, than with a partner, group or family. When alone, shopping and cooking is done more often and in smaller quantities (bulk purchasing and cooking is cheaper),

nifwlseirffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554383720321027055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2024688013043210022.post-13374646480585473832009-09-07T05:32:00.010+02:002010-02-13T17:06:12.643+01:00

I have recently stopped working, and am being supported in order to focus on regaining my health (physical and mental), and finish my studies (which were essentially on hold while working). The demands on my health in the second half of my year-long contract damaged my hands much more severely than I expected. I have had to switch to using voice recognition software (MacSpeech dictate), and

nifwlseirffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554383720321027055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2024688013043210022.post-61434563772794939822009-07-08T23:33:00.006+02:002009-07-18T12:25:54.636+02:00

Despite being on Zoladex and three other medications that all have weight gain as a side effect, I am gradually losing a little. The last time I was on Zoladex about 6 years ago, I put on a large amount of weight (coupled with multiple operations and other medications) - about 30kg. This time, I'm slowly getting my weight down. The doctors are very pleased with my progress, and keep asking me

nifwlseirffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554383720321027055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2024688013043210022.post-15944719013249608352009-06-08T07:27:00.003+02:002009-11-28T04:38:47.142+01:00

nifwlseirff on flickr So many people ask me how I keep working, studying, writing - how I keep going despite the chronic pain and ongoing illnesses. I don't really have a good answer.I don't feel that I have any choice for some parts - to pay medical bills, I need to work. To be able to work, I need to eat, which requires a somewhat clean kitchen and an occasional shop. I need presentable

nifwlseirffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554383720321027055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2024688013043210022.post-87054228004366013922009-05-06T12:04:00.004+02:002011-10-19T16:11:18.113+02:00

When you are suffering from chronic pain, nothing is ever simple. Not even a common cold. Constant pain depresses a person's immune system, it doesn't react quickly or 'normally'. When a virus is circulating at work, school or even on public transport, the chronically ill are knocked out for an extended period. Personally, colds result in increased inflammation and pain.I was one of the earlier

nifwlseirffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554383720321027055noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2024688013043210022.post-58570524664033163302009-04-20T06:51:00.004+02:002009-04-20T07:02:30.489+02:00

Deciding on a new name and focus for this blog was more difficult than I expected. This blog may migrate elsewhere in future, or be absorbed, but for now it's sticking around as a separate entity. My favourite - "Through pain" - working through pain, learning through pain, etc., but the subdomain was taken by an old inactive blog. Other variations on this theme were well established and not as

nifwlseirffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554383720321027055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2024688013043210022.post-50464421574222568902009-04-12T04:47:00.002+02:002009-04-20T07:00:57.595+02:00

Unfortunately the side effects seem to be multiplying. Severe cystic acne (had forgotten about that one too), and now nausea, increasing the exhaustion, adding to the insomnia and increasing pain. The headaches are extremely intense, sharp pain shooting through my head in all sorts of directions, usually through at least one eye, and preempting a strong dizzy spell. Unfortunately, they are also

nifwlseirffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554383720321027055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2024688013043210022.post-74166942179753139752009-03-21T15:57:00.002+01:002009-11-28T05:05:05.334+01:00

Just over two weeks into my 6 month course of Zoladex to try to shrink the adenomyomas, and side-effects continue to appear and intensify. The first of the six injections went smoothly, my wonderful doctor using lots of local anesthetic before the main injection, to thoroughly deaden all the nerves nearby. I bruised fairly substantially, but have healed well. A few days after the injection,

nifwlseirffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554383720321027055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2024688013043210022.post-83515589314017778422009-02-15T05:59:00.004+01:002009-11-28T04:47:56.883+01:00

Last week the surgeon finally returned from his yearly break over Christmas and New Years, so I attended my post-operation appointment (the operation was in November!) He was very happy with how the new Mirena IUD is improving my symptoms - I'm getting longer non-bleed periods. The old Mirena was running out of hormones, and I was bleeding almost 100% of the time. Since the operation I had one

nifwlseirffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554383720321027055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2024688013043210022.post-11101800120588758732009-01-26T07:01:00.002+01:002009-11-28T04:50:12.627+01:00

Cutting close but extremely unhealthy ties is difficult. Over 10 years ago I started the process, and many years ago, I managed to cut ties with most of my family. Unfortunately, as with many families in which one child was abused, there was mixed reactions, and loads of denial. Some ignored that it happened, acted and spoke as if nothing bad was done. Others told me to get over it. Of course,

nifwlseirffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554383720321027055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2024688013043210022.post-8142898196394816592008-11-29T11:21:00.001+01:002009-11-28T04:53:38.226+01:00

It's been about four years since I got the Mirena put in, and according to my surgeon, that is about the limit of its lifetime when the hormones are fighting endometriosis/adenomyosis. As pain continued to increase, bleeding occurred more often, the doctors decided to send me in for another investigative laparoscopy to remove any endometriosis that had regrown, replace the Mirena, clear me out

nifwlseirffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554383720321027055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2024688013043210022.post-4455684828667323142008-11-08T02:53:00.002+01:002009-11-28T04:54:59.747+01:00

It seems that Neurontin has halved in price - yay! I was paying up to $140 per box (lasts 100 days for me), but now it's dropped to about $70 (or less from some online sellers). I wonder if it has something to do with its patent expiring? Mersyndol Forte was ridiculously expensive when I was in secondary school, but has dropped to less than a quarter of that price over the last 20 years, as

nifwlseirffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554383720321027055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2024688013043210022.post-39209476704540697712008-11-02T03:56:00.002+01:002009-11-28T04:55:25.106+01:00

My new workplace is a fantastic old building (when I'm not out on the road teaching), but as seems to be the problem with all buildings, the air conditioning in summer is hard to deal with - it's too cold and the drafts are awful! So, I need to find some fingerless gloves, as half of my previous pair has gone missing, and typing in fully fingered gloves is very difficult. Fingerless gloves help

nifwlseirffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554383720321027055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2024688013043210022.post-87266649392935784102008-10-12T13:01:00.001+02:002009-11-28T04:56:24.966+01:00

What gentle exercising and stretching can I do while I'm in a lot of pain, and when recovering from surgery? I'm worried about how much I will lose again during the recovery from the next operation in November. The last few operations contributed hugely to my loss of fitness and weight gain. With the weather changing dramatically and often, and everyone sharing a rather persistent sinus

nifwlseirffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554383720321027055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2024688013043210022.post-7975374926727994802008-09-17T12:35:00.001+02:002008-10-05T13:38:33.206+02:00

Throughout my university years, teaching years and even the first year of working in the corporate world, I attended yoga lessons. At times I attended diligently for weeks, other times I didn't attend for a month or so. Even though I had 'done' many years of yoga, my flexibility did not increase. I could not touch my toes. Since I was a young child, I had never been able to touch my toes.

nifwlseirffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554383720321027055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2024688013043210022.post-49468637211194142342008-07-23T11:35:00.004+02:002009-11-28T04:57:31.678+01:00

nifwlseirff on flickr All the walking in preparation for my trip, and the sightseeing while I was in Japan improved my fitness. I was able to walk up hills, stairs more easily, and walk for longer without becoming tired. It was easier to do the walking because I was on holidays, there were so many great things to see. And because I was not worrying about work, stress levels were a lot lower

nifwlseirffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554383720321027055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2024688013043210022.post-91477641654113866082008-05-01T01:32:00.005+02:002009-11-28T04:58:22.980+01:00

It looks like stress contributes massively to worsening symptoms, especially of fibromyalgia and Raynaud's. Winter has arrived very early this year, the current cold snap showed how unprepared I was for dealing with the cold when stressed. I've been drinking a lot of hot tea, just so my hands have something warm to hold. I will switch to green tea/herbal tea at work, to be a little healthier.

nifwlseirffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554383720321027055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2024688013043210022.post-13966605816494002832007-10-09T15:46:00.000+02:002007-12-15T09:51:31.602+01:00

nifwlseirff on flickrThe bruise at one stage covered the whole foot. The toes were the last to bruise, and still get swollen when the weather is warm.

nifwlseirffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554383720321027055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2024688013043210022.post-17635610304517233842007-09-24T15:44:00.000+02:002007-12-15T09:50:03.677+01:00

nifwlseirff on flickr*ouch* Falling five steps to a landing, after putting my foot down incorrectly, while carrying a full washingbasket, hurts *a lot*. Of course, this had to happen while I was alone, but I made it to the hospital for an xray. Another very bad sprain, almost a year after I badly sprained it while mowing. It's amazing how far skin can stretch when necessary! I had to

nifwlseirffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554383720321027055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2024688013043210022.post-70419793624723516962007-05-04T07:36:00.001+02:002009-11-28T05:00:18.386+01:00

As usual... when things get busy, blogging tends to take a lower priority. My stomach decided it didn't like Splenda sweetener, for most of the night. Combine it with the third day of the diet, and it was not a happy day. The blood test yesterday left my left arm useless... why do nurses think they know better than your past experience? I asked for the butterfly clip, but she said she knew

nifwlseirffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554383720321027055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2024688013043210022.post-27860900850759154152007-04-05T04:40:00.001+02:002009-11-28T04:59:57.216+01:00

Too much typing in the last few days == my hands are numb and tingly again, and the pain in the fingers/wrists has increased. My back has not recovered from being prodded by the osteo yesterday. Discovered that a bath, although great for circulation and muscle stiffness, will worsen the neuroma pain in my feet. The sinus infection is also affecting my new nose ring. yay... Pain: 8 . head/neck

nifwlseirffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554383720321027055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2024688013043210022.post-36723792719339743542007-03-24T06:32:00.000+01:002007-12-15T10:28:33.166+01:00

I've been cutting back on the amount of typing I'm doing as much as possible. This certainly has helped the numbness/pins and needles. Pain in hands seems to be due to a residual strain/sprain (osteopath). Unless it gets an extended rest, where I do nothing, then the inflammation will remain and it will not heal. Unfortunately with house moving/cleaning/gardening it won't see that rest soon!

nifwlseirffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554383720321027055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2024688013043210022.post-77843578357436731232007-03-21T10:58:00.001+01:002009-11-28T05:10:24.402+01:00

I need somewhere to track my day to day health, note what treatments work at what times, and to generally gripe. I'll see how this one goes. Some background: I am in some pain most days, caused by many seemingly separate problems. All are made worse by activity. Strenuous activity and my body seems to break down. Currently bothering me: - hand pain (Reynaud's as a fibromyalgia secondary

nifwlseirffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554383720321027055noreply@blogger.com0