Dear Fibromyalgia

03/17/2026

03/17/2026

A bit of SPD humor ☘️

Art by ~ Babushka Cat 🐈

03/17/2026

Art by ~ begonepots

03/17/2026

“Every Chronic Pain Patient Should Have Their Hormone Levels Tested”

March 12, 2026
By Dr. Forest Tennant

Periodic hormone panel testing should be a standard procedure in chronic pain care. Why? Some specific hormones are essential for pain control and others for healing and restoration of damaged tissues.

Unfortunately, both chronic pain and opioid medications can suppress hormones, which the body needs for pain control and tissue healing. Nerve receptors in the brain that control pain, such as the opioid/endorphin, dopamine, GABA, and serotonin receptors, use hormones as energizers – the same way gas is needed to fuel your car.

One of the first signs that your hormone levels are deficient — and that you’re running out of gas —- is when your pain relief medication seems to be losing its effectiveness. If that is the case, hormone panel testing should be performed and hormone replacement may be necessary.

Six hormones that you should test for:

•Pregnenolone

•Progesterone

•Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)

•Estradiol

•Testosterone

•Cortisol

Opioids can suppress all of these hormones. Long-acting opioids like oxycodone, morphine, methadone, fentanyl patches, and intrathecal opioids are the worst.

Short-acting opioids like hydrocodone and hydromorphone are less disruptive, because they do not constantly remain in the blood, so they give the pituitary and other hormone-producing glands time to recover.

Long-acting opioids constantly suppress the pituitary and other glands. Consequently, any person who takes a long-acting opioid needs hormone panel testing at least every 6 months. All deficiencies must be replenished.

Hormone Therapies

Given the importance of hormone testing and hormone replacement therapy, I recently published a new book, “Hormone Therapies in Chronic Pain Care.”
I wrote the book because I strongly believe it is time to incorporate hormonal therapies into the care of essentially every chronic pain patient.

Despite an imperfect pain care system that admittedly has some supply, regulation, and financial issues, modern pain management has achieved great success.

Recently developed medications, physical therapies, and surgical procedures have brought pain relief and recovery to millions around the world. Hormones can and will build on this foundation.

The book is designed to help both medical practitioners and patients identify hormone therapies that can improve their current treatment. You can’t control pain or acquire healing and restoration with deficient hormone levels.

Forest Tennant, MD, DrPH, is retired from clinical practice but continues his research on the treatment of intractable pain and arachnoiditis. Readers interested in learning more about his research should visit the Tennant Foundation’s website, Arachnoiditis Hope.

Source: https://www.painnewsnetwork.org/stories/2026/3/11/every-chronic-pain-patient-should-have-their-hormone-levels-tested

03/17/2026

💚☘️☘️💚

03/17/2026

St. Gertrude of Nivelles 🐈🐈‍⬛

“Why St. Patrick’s Day Also Honors Cats”

March 17 has taken on new meaning for cat lovers, who honor the church’s unofficial patron saint of felines: St. Gertrude of Nivelles.

March 17 is also the feast day of St. Gertrude.
Although she might not be a household name, St. Gertrude of Nivelles—not to be confused with St. Gertrude the Great—is recognized as the unofficial patron saint of an important member of many households: cats. She is also considered a protector of travelers and gardeners and, according to legend, once saved devotees from a sea monster.

03/17/2026

☘️ Happy St. Patrick’s Day!! ☘️ May love never be a stranger to your heart and home. Sláinte!!
With love ~ 💚 Michelle, Beth & Mende 💚

03/17/2026

Tuesday, March 17:
Good morning, lassies and lads, and happy Tuesday…St. Patrick’s Day! I’m early this morning as I’ve got a special St. Patrick’s Day post on the agenda next hour. Besides being SPD, it’s also National Corned Beef and Cabbage Day…but of course! Who’s preparing that dish today? And who’s drinking Irish coffee this morning? I’m having spaghetti and meatballs tonight as I had a batch in my freezer, so it’ll be an easy meal. Hope today brings you joy and good fortune. Remember, everybody’s a little bit Irish today! Cheers, my dears! ☕️🫖☀️🐇☘️🦋💜 Beth 🐝🟦

03/17/2026

"May love and laughter light your days, and warm your heart and home. May good and faithful friends be yours, wherever you may roam". ☘️

03/17/2026

Late Nite Random Post 🍀🤷🏻‍♀️

03/17/2026

Monday nite 3/16:
We made it through Monday ✅ !! Let the shenanigans begin!! ☘️ So, did everyone get plowed out? That was quite the storm, and hope it’s the last one of the season!! We had some wicked storms blow through here today. My market umbrella kept getting airlifted, but thankfully didn’t break. The rain was absolutely pummeling our house, the electricity flickered a few times, but everything turned out okay. Tomorrow the temps going to drop about 30 degrees, and I’m happy about it!! Not in any hurry for summer as our Spring’s very short, and then it gets swampy 🥵 for months. You’ll hear me complain 😂 Well, goodnight, my brave souls, and may the luck of the Irish be with you tonight. Rest easy, dream sweetly, and I’ll see you for coffee tomorrow! 🌝💫✨🐇☘️🦋🛌💤💜 Beth 🐝🟦

Artwork by Amy Lay

03/17/2026

Gentle reminder 💜🦋💜

Art by ~ tinybuddhaofficial