Foggy Brain Living

12/06/2017

Again I am absent even after starting to feel better. SMH

On Thursday, my husband was rushed to the ER with severe dehydration, in itself, that would have been it after given fluids, etc. But all weekend he still didn't feel quite right and yesterday was admitted with a gastro bleed. So I will be pretty much at the hospital during the day as long as he is there. At nights I will be home taking care of our furbabies. I am going to try to post at the hospital, I will have my iPad and if that doesn't work today, I will take my laptop tomorrow. Please send good thoughts and prayers, an Endoscopy is on the menu for today to see where the bleeding is coming from. Please pray for good news......

07/06/2017

More good advice on how to protect your kidneys.......

You may need to make some changes to your diet and lifestyle to help you live a healthier and longer life. These diet and lifestyle changes are good for your heart and for your kidneys.

07/06/2017

This is the article that has the juice recipe that is good for Kidneys.

http://www.kidneycoach.com/381/kidney-juice-recipe-to-help-reverse-your-kidney-disease/

A delicious juice recipe to help heal those suffering from kidney disease; discover the powerful healing effects of juicing has on kidney disease...

07/06/2017

Many of us have other chronic health adventures that hold hands with our chronic pain conditions. It can sometimes play havoc with trying to eat healthy and stay healthy and allow us to improve energy and reduce inflammation.

This morning the nurse called with my quarterly lab results. As she was giving me my results, she mentioned that my kidney function was better than the last lab work, but still not as good as it should be.

WAIT....................WHAT??????????????

My PA had not mentioned to me that my kidney function was not good. (This is going on my list of questions for next time)
2 years ago I had been given a low dose BP med in order to protect my kidneys as I also have Type 2 Diabetes.

So now I find myself researching ways to improve kidney function besides the obvious, drinking more water. Water and I have a love/hate relationship. I have an overactive bladder and if I drink the recommended amount, I might as well stay on the potty 24/7. I also don't like the taste of plain water unless it is really hot outside.

Enter juicing. I am going to try it. I also have some plain sparkling water and some Crystal Light and sugar free Kool-Aid to try with it to hopefully fool my soda addiction. What can I say, I like fizzy. Later, Sodastream may be an option, but I can only afford one miracle at a time and since it is summer and my favorite veggie stand is open, juicing is it for the moment. I will post another article that has an appetizing kidney helping juicing recipe with fruit and veggies.

http://www.kidneycoach.com/901/kidney-function-how-to-improve-naturally/

Do you want to know how to improve kidney function naturally? This article will detail 10 simple and easy methods to increase your kidney function without needing to leave home...

07/06/2017

Update on withdrawal:

I know I have been in hibernation mode. Several things have caught me off guard in the withdrawal journey.

My IBS decided to take an UGLY turn. Apparently Cymbalta does do some good in some areas. Still being a zombie while on it makes taking it a deal breaker. So back to my PA. Long ago I took a great IBS med, Hyoscyamine, which is the generic for Levbid. They stopped making the generic and I had to stop taking it because I couldn't afford the name brand. Yesterday I discovered the generic is being made again and my insurance covers it! YAY! Problem solved.

Ringing in my ears has increased substantially, so PA showed me some pressure points to try massaging to see if it works, if not, MRI for neck and shoulder is probably in the offing.

I have been lucky enough to only have 3 meltdowns emotionally, one was especially bad, contributed to by another party that just thought I was being a bitch and didn't understand they were pushing my withdrawal boundaries. Long discussion with other party has (hopefully) solved the problem.

My point in this post is that to successfully deal with anything, withdrawal, pain, etc., you have to be willing to ride on TOP of the storm and not under it. You have to be able to recognize the problem and control what you can. Sometimes that is not always possible or easy.

The most important thing? When overwhelmed or can't find the answer, NEVER be afraid to ask for help.

06/06/2017

Nature can offer us lots of remedies for our pains and troubles, especially when we have a thorough knowledge of each plant’s benefits. But what about the lesser known plants and their healing powers? For instance, how many times have you used turmeric in your natural treatments? This is a spice use...

27/05/2017

Another good set of tips, I follow a lot of these, without them, I would be lost.

There are medications to treat many symptoms of chronic diseases, but sadly there isn't yet a pill that takes away brain fog.

26/05/2017

Update on the Cymbalta withdrawal:

Last night was my last 20mg capsule.

It has not been easy. Not at all. Right now I sit here trying to find interesting things for you and I find myself restless, irritated (at myself), my legs won't stop aching, it's a cycle. I have prepared and endured and still it's one of the hardest things I have done, but also one of the best things I have done. The benefits so far has outweighed the discomfort.

I am hoping I can start my blog soon so that I can be a little more in depth about my journey in the attempt to help others find the resources they need to accomplish the same or similar goals.

Gentle hugs, my friends, we will persevere!

26/05/2017

A neat craft for Memorial Day that the whole family can enjoy and can start a discussion about the reason we celebrate Memorial Day, to honor the fallen of our military.

This is a great project for anyone, but especially those parents and grandparents that have served in the military will love making these military planes with their kids or grandkids!

26/05/2017

Want to feel like you are in the tropics this weekend? Whip up these non-alcoholic Pina Colada smoothies!

This Pina Colada Smoothie is simple to make and so delicious! No need to wait for your beach getaway to enjoy this tropically refreshing smoothie.

26/05/2017

Gentle Stretching is always a good idea, it keeps muscles looser and helps prevent those knots that can creep up on non-moving days. Make sure you incorporate some kind of stretching into your daily routine. Your body WILL thank you!

Personal trainer Ryan Krane demonstrates some simple exercises that can help counter the effects of chronic fatigue and reduce pain.

26/05/2017

20 May Top Member Post by Allison in https://www.facebook.com/groups/1509778912679220/

26/05/2017

26/05/2017

This is what our government needs to understand about chronic pain opioid users.

There are days when I can’t get out of bed for longer than a few minutes without the aid of strong medication. Having fibromyalgia guarantees one of those days every so often—or very often, depending on the weather. On mornings when my pain level is

25/05/2017

Getting to sleep with chronic pain can be a nightmare in itself. It becomes a dreadful cycle of insomnia and pain. Here are some tips on sleeping...

24/05/2017

you have a choice today, babe. choose light.

24/05/2017

I own two doxies myself and I am a huge fan of this little man. He has been through back surgery, yet never complains and never fails to entertain.

So here is a Hump Day smile for you guys and a reminder that even our four-legged friends can come through the pain to the other side!

23/05/2017

This is something that is truly hard to do when you feel your worst.

23/05/2017

Self-worth is something all chronic pain sufferers suffer with at some point in time. We all feel the burden of not being able to do what we want or even what we feel we need to do.

23/05/2017

One way to manage IBS symptoms is by making healthy diet choices. Know the best foods for IBS — and the worst — to better cope with symptoms.

23/05/2017

Most of us deal with some form of this, there are some good tips for management here.

Would you like to find ways to calm your gut without medications? There are more natural ways to pamper your colon without the harsh prescription drugs.

23/05/2017

In this video from NewLifeOutlook, Debbie Duncan talks about some of the things she does each morning to help ease her joint stiffness.

23/05/2017

Read about how applying cold gel packs on a major back muscle for short periods of time may significantly decrease pain in fibromyalgia patients.

23/05/2017

All of these are free apps with extensive reviews. Chances are you already use a couple of these, I know I do. Check them out, there might be others that interest you!

Money making apps are an easy way to earn extra cash on the go. I've put together a list of 101 of these free apps that I've all used personally.

23/05/2017

I am not posting this for a political debate, I am posting it more for the links to information contained within this story that concern the position of the insurance companies and what might happen in the future, it is a good starting point to do some of your own research into the future of your own healthcare. When you deal with chronic pain issues and chronic illness, it is important to be your own advocate and to accumulate as much knowledge as you can. There are links to the CBO, Standard & Poor, and the Kaiser Family Foundation. All links in the story are in blue, just click on them to follow!

Just the threat that Republicans may destroy Obamacare has led insurers to pull out or raise rates in some states next year.

23/05/2017

Today is a rainy, icky day in Southwest Virginia, so besides some much needed cooking that I need to do, I will spend the day with you guys, that always perks me up!

23/05/2017

When you put your sweetener in your littlest dog's water bowl sitting next to your coffee cup by accident and you are concentrating so hard on mentally making the pain go away that you forget to even take a Tylenol, well you know it's going to be a Fibro day..........

21/05/2017

These look really good, I am a fan of anything you can do ahead to be able to fix in the crockpot or any other time saving gadget. Plus these are healthy to boot! What's not to like?

Of all the ways to make preparing dinner for a hungry family easier, we find there is none better than a make-ahead, freezable, slow cooker recipe! As if…

20/05/2017

Nothing like fresh squash in the summer!

http://southernbite.com/squash-casserole/

The truth is, this is probably one of the most involved recipes you’ll find on Southern Bite. I’ve always tried to provide you with food that is easy to prepare and uses ingredients you probably…read more »

19/05/2017

Another yummy squash recipe, if you don't keep bacon drippings, just fry a piece of bacon in the pan first, you can always cut it into small pieces and add it in as well!

http://www.deepsouthdish.com/2013/08/smothered-summer-squash-and-onions.html

Young, tender, yellow summer squash, prepared simple and basic. Sweet Vidalia onion and bell pepper is first sauteed in bacon drippings and butter, the squash is added, and slowly smothered down.