SurvivingSara

Tag: chronic pain

  • The Purpose of Life

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    Sara Z
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    Purpose (def): the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists. Purpose creates meaning, offers a sense of direction and helps guide our paths, behavior, and goals. Purpose according to Google: Live and let live. (I think it’s hilarious that one can ask google what the purpose of life is,…

  • A New Way

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    Sara Z
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    My earliest desperate search for a life purpose or meaning, for which I could do great things, repeatedly and resoundingly hit a brick wall. The graffiti on that wall said, “breathe.” It took me a few years to understand that I actually had received my answer. All I needed to do was breathe. No big…

  • Nowhere to Hide

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    Sara Z
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    Today has been a terrible pain day. I have chronic inflammation of the soft tissues of the ribcage and sternum, which is where you find the nerves. It hurts to breathe. I can’t find the right way to describe the pain along the bottom of the ribs but the first time I had it I…

  • Downshifting

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    Sara Z
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    For decades, I’ve been in overdrive. Go, go, go. Career in the early days, babies and books for my husband’s small business, working from home and raising up two boys, and then part-time work. My mom asked me once if I ever relaxed. Admittedly, I have a terrible time unwinding mentally and physically. Here I…

  • So Damned Tired

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    Sara Z
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    Fibromyalgia 101 Recently, one of my doctors remarked that, because I have an autoimmune disorder, I’ll need to really look into the COVID vaccine before I get it. My response? “So, you do consider fibromyalgia an autoimmune disorder?” She said, “Yes, it’s an autoimmune disorder.” Over the years, I’ve heard no one knows what causes…

  • Hope This Finds You Well

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    Sara Z
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    In recent weeks, both of my young adult sons have, separately, encouraged me to begin walking regularly, sure that’s all I need to feel better. I agree with them that walking routinely would be helpful and it is a goal, but it’s not the cure. If I’m having a good day, I can handle stairs…

  • Unwell

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    Sara Z
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    Here I am again, feeling like shit. Fibromyalgia is like a short circuit in your nervous system. When things line up just right, like a lightbulb coming on when you position the damaged cord just so or your phone charging only after much tilting and toggling the charge cord in the port of your phone,…

  • Aaaahh

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    Sara Z
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    That’s not really me, but I’d love to be there. I am feeling pretty relaxed for the first time in a long while. Very low pain level today in just a few spots. I’ve been spending a lot of time learning about fibromyalgia. Although it has rolled off the tip of my tongue for years,…

  • Mixed Up World of Fibromyalgia

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    Sara Z
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    I have a few post fragments in my head but pain has been significant recently and I’m not concentrating well. I mentioned a few posts ago that I have had the diagnosis of fibromyalgia for 11 years but feel like I’m just now truly accepting the big picture of fibro and adjusting my behaviors that…

  • Comfort in Numbers

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    Sara Z
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    It was, at once, both relieving and a bit surprising when I learned yesterday that people with a diagnosis of fibromyalgia are 10 times more likely to commit suicide than the general population and almost three times more likely than other chronic pain patients. (Pain News Network) It’s perverse, but it helps to know I’m…

  • Dancing Glances

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    Sara Z
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    I’m experiencing glancing pain all over my body with intermittent aches. It’s such a strange feeling, thought I’d try to describe it. There is a burning type of pain, some muscle aches and spasms, and stingers. They travel, lighting up different areas very quickly. First a pain on top of my left ankle, an ache…

  • Losing My Head

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    Sara Z
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    After tossing and turning all night, in addition to stress eating, I woke fatigued. The headache and nausea that’ve been around for about a week were present, but the dizziness and motion sickness had subsided. As I moved around, my head started spinning. When my husband asked how I was doing and I indicated things…

  • Oh, Happy Day!

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    Sara Z
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    A visit to my chiropractor and a day of rest, my body has responded well. Not apprehensive about working a full shift today. I do wear really good shoes with orthotic inserts. So glad I won’t have to be faking it when customers ask how I’m doing, which they do in surprisingly high numbers. 😃…

  • Living with Chronic Pain

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    Sara Z
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    The first clue that my back pain was going to be something to deal with long-term, aside from my doctor realizing my legs were different lengths, was at the physical therapy office. At age 16, standing 5’9″ and weighing 103 pounds, the therapist traced both sides of my spine with marker, and then he started…