What is Fibromyalgia?

What is fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia causes pain in your muscles and joints, as well as tenderness when you press certain spots on your body. You may not have any energy, or you may have trouble sleeping. These and other symptoms can be bad enough to cause problems with your work and home life. But fibromyalgia does not harm your muscles, joints, or organs, and there are many things you can do to control it.

Fibromyalgia is a syndrome-a set of symptoms that happen together but do not have a known cause.

What causes fibromyalgia?

Experts have theories about what may cause fibromyalgia, but there is not enough evidence to support any single cause. Some think that people with fibromyalgia may have nerve cells that are too sensitive. Others think that chemicals in the brain (neurotransmitters) may be out of balance. Or it may be related to problems with the deep phase of sleep.

What are the symptoms?

The main symptom of fibromyalgia is pain in the muscles, soft tissues, back, or neck. Also certain tender points on the body hurt when you press directly on them.

Fibromyalgia also causes sleep problems and tiredness. You may get so tired (fatigued) that you become weak.

Less common symptoms include headaches, morning stiffness, trouble concentrating, and irritable bowel syndrome. As with many conditions that cause chronic pain, it is common for people with fibromyalgia to have anxiety and depression. These can make you feel worse.

Fibromyalgia is a long-lasting (chronic) condition with no cure. Symptoms tend to come and go. You may have times when you hurt more, followed by times when symptoms happen less often, hurt less, or are absent (remissions).

Some people find that their symptoms are worse in cold and damp weather, during times of stress, or when they try to do too much.

How is fibromyalgia diagnosed?

Doctors can find out if you have fibromyalgia based on two things. One is widespread pain, which means the pain is on both sides of your body above and below the waist. The other is tenderness in at least 11 of 18 points when they are pressed.

How is it treated?

You may be able to control your symptoms with regular exercise and by finding better ways to handle stress. Good sleep habits are very important, too. If you have trouble sleeping, changes to your routine, schedule, and sleep surroundings can help. Counseling can help you cope with long-term (chronic) pain.

If your symptoms are troublesome, your doctor can prescribe medicines that help you feel better.

Symptoms of depression, such as a loss of interest in things you usually enjoy or changes in eating and sleeping habits, can often be successfully treated if you tell your doctor about them.

Some people with fibromyalgia also find complementary therapies helpful. These include acupuncture, massage, behavioral therapy, and relaxation techniques.

Frequently Asked Questions

Learning about fibromyalgia:	What is fibromyalgia? What causes fibromyalgia? What are the symptoms of fibromyalgia? Does fibromyalgia permanently damage my joints or muscles? Who is affected by fibromyalgia?
Being diagnosed:	How does my doctor know if I have fibromyalgia? What other conditions might be causing my symptoms?
Getting treatment:	How is fibromyalgia treated? What medications are used to treat fibromyalgia? What can I do at home to treat fibromyalgia? Are any complementary or alternative treatments helpful for people with fibromyalgia?
Living with fibromyalgia:	Will my symptoms improve? How does exercise help? What kind of exercise is best for me? What are some ways I can relieve stress? I have trouble sleeping. How can I get a good night's sleep more often? What is fibro fog? What can I do about it?

Tags: What is fibromyalgia

~My path, My way, My friends!~

                            Good morning!
I have a few things on my mind....again....I need to express! Sorry, but if I don't get this out and off of my mind, the more pain I'll be in, and I really don't need that right now.
As you all now, I have my faith and it's very strong! I feel that I don't need to keep going over it ALL the time! But, as I've seen, someone seems to THINK I should! Again, I know whats going on WITH me and thats all there needs to be! OK? And don't just "think" I get this from your journal, reamber the email you sent to me? At the end, you say NOT to put this in my journal! Probably because YOU don't want your "friend" to know what you REALLY do! And HOW nasty you can really TALK! Plus....I can have who I want as friends! OK? Now....one more thing! When I say "My ex nieghbor," who does it mean? Have I lived in this house ALL of my life? NO! So as you put it, get your panties out of a wad! I have alot of "ex nieghbors." And so do you! GET OVER YOURSELF! Or, how YOU put it, Stop hanging on to every word I write! OK? This may please you to know that yes I am dying! But for you, not soon enough! But if YOU don't stop.... then yes...it's going FASTER! And THANKS! And the word "stupid" is an "opinion!" Not SLANDER! Moving on................

Yesterday wasn't very good at all. Pain wise! My leg was not working very well the whole day. :o( My left arm was doing bad as well. Actually my whole left side wasn't doing good! I know crying doesn't help the pain any, but I sure did alot of that! It's the "unknown" that is scary for me! And this one is a biggie! It's my left side of my body thats not doing what a normal human body is suppose to do! That is scaring me to death! I don't know what to do and I have nothing to take that will help the pain. So I have to go through all of the pain! I just keep praying to God to keep his hands on me! Now, I can't hide my pains from anyone!
I have the shakes again this morning. I know I'm pretty weak still. My voice is weak as well. I was talking to Gina on the phone last night, and I thought I was talking normal, and she said she could hardly hear me! LOL :o) Sorry Gina! LOL And thanks for calling! It made my night! :o)

My husband got home....he was conerned about what had happend the night before. He had wittnessed my leg. I had something to eat, and then I sat in my recliner. I'm so glad that I got that! I reclined all the way back, and he put some pillows under my left leg. He thought that maybe if my leg was above my heart, it might help it. Well...the both of us don't know what to do, and we're doing the best we can to cope with this together. :o) It didn't work. My leg started to feel like my heart was in my leg! A " thumping" feeling! He took them out, and I sat the chair back up. He went on to bed and my daughter was still up. I wanted to get in my bed, and my chair is at the end of my bed. I yelled for her and she helped me get in bed. :o) I don't know what I'm going to do if I'm ever alone now. My cane really isn't a help anymore. My walker helps a bit more. I guess I'm wheel chair bound. ;o( And I'm fighting to NOT be this way! If I can. My strength is going away too. I'm still working on it though. My mind is still there and mind over matter! If my stress level could go down....I know my strength would come back. But that will never happen! I'll either get an email or something in her journal. Let's hope not!
She knows what I have and still doesn't seem to care! How about that!
Yesterday, and the night before, I was up helping a friend! I hope and pray that everything is alright! I'm so worried! Oh...The below entry has been settled, and so sorry that I forgot to put in a side note. It was a misunderstand on both parts. :o(
All of my friends know I'm always there for them when they need me! I even slept with my phone last night! Just in case!
Today, my home health aid will be here. And tomorrow my physical therapist is coming. :o( Oooh thats going to hurt! Not looking forward to that! Ouchie!
Well.....I do need to go....my leg is killing me right now. I don't know what to do for it. I just had it up. Oh well. :o) I'll figure something out. ;o) If I knew why and what it is or causing it, that would help! :o)
Thank you all for your emails and comments...they really do help me to get htrough my days! :o) Gods blessings to all of you! :o)

Tags: severe pain, friends being happy, pesky people

There is no greater loan than a sympathetic ear!

Good morning. I do hop you all are well.
Yes...I would love to be the girl in the graphic! The kind of morning I've had so far! Why not? I was up all night again, talking to a friend, trying to help her through a difficult time. I got up from my chair, and my left leg was gone! just like that! My husband is ill and was on the couch. He was awake and saw what happened. He aske if there was anything he could do to help me....no, there wasn't. The pain was horrid as well. My upper arms hurt to move them. Yesterday, when my physical therapist was here, she was doing the back of my thighs and on my left leg, she started to rub this huge muscle "lump" that bulges out, and it moved to the front of my leg! :o( She had to put it back in place for me! The pain was so bad, I thought I was going to pass out again! I was screaming!

I got on line to check my mail last night and my friend IM'd me to talk. She is very sad. So, of course I'm there for her! I always am for my friends. I never told her anything about my day yesterday, nor my left leg. She was the one that needed to talk, so I was here for her. My computer will totally freeze up on me to wear it won't let me click on anything to get out of aol. Nor will it let me do control, alt and delelt. So, I had to cold boot it. Which takes longer for the computer to come back up. Well during our talk, thats what had happened to the computer. I had no way of letting her know! I get back on, and now she's very mad at me....she doesn't believe me and she wrote me  few bad emails. :o( My heart just sunk! She had thought I had read an email she had sent to me while I was froze, I didn't. If it was opened, I wouldn't have been able to see it, all I seen was the IM. Then when I got back on, the email would have went into the old mail. I would never have thought to go there. I seen that she had writen me, and I answered that email. Thats what made her mad at me because I answered the second email but not the first! Well because of something that was out of my control! Thats all! Not my fault.

I'm blocked from writing in her journal, and she took herslef off of my space. and she's deleted my emails. :o( I don't understand. I'm in physical pain right now and have been the whole night. But, I was not going to let that on.
Moving on......
So I guess today is just going to be a day where I'd rather sleep...that is if I can. Since Friday.....I've had 6 hours of sleep. Oh well.
I'm just getting very tired of games that people play.
For once, it would be nice if poeple would do what they say they would! I'm to trustworthy...no more of that! :o(
I'm very hurt! Like she said: Why get slaped in the face twice? She has me more then that. And I'm still her friend, because friends are there for you when you need them!
NO, I haven't called my doctor. Honestly, what is there thats left? I've taken all of those sleeping pills that theu have out. They don't work on me. I've tried Melatonin as well. Someone needs to push me down the steps...then I'll sleep! I do hope that one of these day's I'll be appreciated for the things I do. I've been sitting her since, crying. Wondering why? I know how much she's hurting in her situation, but thats NOT an excuse to hurt me!
Gods blessings to all of you!

......is there a doctor in the house?

Ok......This is the only time that I've had to be on the computer other then this morning. I've been so busy today! I did get 2 hours of sleep! 2 hours out of 49 hours od bing totally wide awake. At least I did get some. :o)
After that I still had to help my husband with these two rooms! My bed and tv is now back in my old room. And now we were rearranging this room! It was fine the way it was to me, but who am I. Let me tell you...my back is hurting terribly! I over did myself! :O( This is the first time that I've been able to actully sit down and stay seeted! And it feels good!
Thankfully my son came home and I was able to take more breaks and he just dtarted in and was helping! :o) He's that way! He's tall hs long arms and that comes in handy! lol I'm short and have stubby arms! lol :o) My arms are now doing what my legs have been doing....having the red lines on them and hurting. :o( And cold to the touch. uuuhhh!

Something else happened to me that scared me as well. I haven't done this in awhile either! I don't know what to contribute this too! But I was talking to my girlfrind in an IM, and I was smoking, ( yes, I know I shouldn't and how bad it is for me,and my circulation) All of the sudden, I wake up with my head on the key baord and I still have my cigg. in my hand and it burnd the 3 and the E keys! :o( I passed out! I wasn't for long, But I did!

Yes....I'm going to call the doctor tomorrow! Somethng is NOT right at all. :o(
Im going to go now. I have company to talk to

Computer Error's!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Care Giving

Did you know that 52 million Americans are caring for someone with an illness or disability? Almost three out of four of these caregivers are women. Informal caregivers (those who are not paid, but who care for friends or family) are the backbone of America's long-term care system.

You may be caring for an aging parent, a sick spouse, or raising a child with a disability. Caring for someone with an illness or disability can be rewarding, but doing so also can take a toll on you. You probably give up some of your free time to care for your loved one, leaving you with little time for yourself. Making time to take care of yourself is important to your own health and ensures that you will be able to care for your loved one. Here are some tips to help you reduce your stress and take better care of yourself:

• Find out about community caregiving resources.
  
• Ask for and accept help.
  
• Stay in touch with friends and family. Social activities can help you feel connected and may reduce stress.
  
• Find time for exercise most days of the week.
  
• Make to-do lists and decide which items you need to take care of first.
  
• Follow a regular, daily routine.
  
• Consider faith-based groups for support and help.
  
• Join a support group for caregivers in your situation (like caring for a person with dementia). Many support groups can be found in the community or on the Internet.
  
• See your doctor for a checkup. Talk to her or him about symptoms of depression or sickness you may be having.
  
• Try to get enough sleep and rest.
  
• Eat a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and low in saturated fat.
  
• Ask your doctor about taking a multivitamin.
  
• Take one day at a time.

Keep in mind, taking better care of yourself will help you feel better and make you a better caregiver for your loved one.

Caregiver Stress FAQ

Tags: caregiving

Great Information for all!

I just ran across these two web sites and thought I would share them!:o)
They are full of Information! :o)
Please check them out !

Lisa

An ice storm.....Oh No...!

I haven't been to bed yet! I've tried a few times and haven't been sucseful in doing so. :o(
But, My bed and tv is in that room now! YAY! :o) I like it do much better. It's nice and dark in there and it has a door on t. :o) My winged back recliner chair came in yesterday and I have it in that too as well. :o) It's very comfortable too. :o)

Well....I was sitting in bed getting reading to lay down and my right foot started to hurt me. I tried to rub it and nothin I could do was helping me. I took my leges out and they were seollen, the right one wad that one gining me all the troubL trouble.

My best friend came over this morning! What a pleasant surprise that was! I can't even remember that last time I've seen her! :o) She gave me this really cute doll that has phrases on it like; hold my hand, oh his hand and things like that! It's cute. Then....in the mail today, I recieved a package from Amanda, her journal is, hugsdoodlewacky! :o)  I was so surprised! My tears were happt tears! :o) It's like she's known me for years! Ot one of my angels were with her, I don't know becuae she sent me things tha I love yo do and to look at! Imagine that! :o) She sent me magnets , which I clollect, and a key chain which I also collect! And this reaaly cool coloring art picture! I'm going to do that first! :o) lol Then there was a card! Thats what made me dtart to fully go into a sobbing happy moment!

Just glad I was alone by my self! :o)  What a day of surprises for me! My room is almost done, and my friend came over, and I was able to visit with her. And then the Gifts. I don't get to see my best friend very often anymore, becouse of her work hours! I honestly don't know how she does it! My hat goes off to you my friend! :o) Please do me a big favor and visit Amanda's journal! :o) What a sweetie she is! Such a beautiful lady inside and out! :o) Just wonderful! :o) 
I also got to talk to my other great friend tonight! YAY! :o) I've missed her so much! She's cool too! :o) It has been two days I think, since we last talked! Whoa...too long now! We can't have that now! lol :o)
I don't have much planned today except for helping with this room. ggrr! Not looking forward to that at all. And...TRY TO GET SOME SLEEP!!! LOL :o) Up all day and nights are making me feel worse! This has got to stop! I'm going to havr to call my sleep sprcialist. :o)
Well....I'm going to leave now. :o) Thank you all for your rmails and comments! Gods blessings to all of you! :o)

Tags: About my life, fibromyalgia

1st fibromyalgia tissue bank set up at Sun Health Institute

1st fibromyalgia tissue bank set up at Sun Health Institute

Charles Kelly
The Arizona Republic
Feb. 23, 2007 12:00 AM

A new tissue bank and new research at the Sun Health Research Institute could offer hope to millions of people in this country suffering from fibromyalgia, a chronic syndrome whose many symptoms include fatigue and muscle, joint and bone pain.

The National Institutes of Health has awarded a $1.4 million grant to Dr. Dianne Lorton, head of the institute's Robert J. Hoover Center for Arthritis Research, to establish the world's first fibromyalgia tissue bank.

"Tissue collected from fibromyalgia patients will be an incredible resource for finding answers to the questions of what causes fibromyalgia and how we can successfully treat it," Lorton said.

 

The bank will lay the groundwork for the institute to do innovative research on glial cells - activated brain and spinal cord cells - which are the focus of the latest theory on what causes fibromyalgia pain.



The expanded arthritis research project is made possible not only by the NIH grant but also by a $100,000 grant from the American Fibromyalgia Syndrome Association and a pilot project grant from the NIH.

 

The institute needs fibromyalgia patients to donate tissue, Lorton said.

"Pain in fibromyalgia is poorly understood and managed," she said. "It is expected this innovative new research will lead to a potentially revolutionary treatment for the millions of people suffering with severe chronic pain."

Lorton is collaborating with Dr. Linda Watkins at the University of Colorado-Boulder, in doing this research, which may help sufferers of long-term pain associated not only with fibromyalgia, but also with shingles, diabetes, arthritis, cancer and AIDS.

Tissue donation will not occur until the donor's death. However, fibromyalgia-tissue donors will be asked to visit the institute each year to have their malady checked and to complete a pain-assessment questionnaire. For information on becoming a tissue donor, call (623) 875-6528.  Web site; <-----clicky!

 

Tags: Fibromyalgia, hope

~Comical~

Good Morning to all! :o) Including the person that is reading this so they can go and give a report to my ex nieghbor! AND by the way, This makes me laugh, this journal is public, so I see no reason to have someone go to her to make a report on if "I" write about her or not! ROFLOL! TOO FUNNY! :o) However, I still WILL find out WHO THIS person is! This just proves to me that YOU BOTH are NOT trustworthy! Not one bit! And thats why I have said; Practice what you preach! I found out a way to find the person that is doing this! If they don't/wnon't tell me! I've lined it up!

And no, I'm not going to go private. I've put too much into this journal for too many years! NO ONE will push me that far for me to do that one! They can try, but I'm stronger then they are! Good always over powers that bad!
I didn't sleep all that well last night. I woke up alot with pain. I was still crying....(i'm really getting tired of that too) in my sleep! When I woke up, I still have the shakes! Geesh! Those are the weirdest feelings to have! I really don't know how to describe them. But let me try. Have you ever been so cold, that you shake on the inside? And, then while thats happening, have you ever had anyone stand and shake you...not hard and rough, just like in play? To where you have a real hard time controling your arms? Thats it. It's hard to explain. :o)

Or...if you've accidently gotten shocked! Oh well....I'll come up with something to compare this to. :o)
My legs as well are not in good shape either. They feel like I just ran a marathon! When I walk, with my walker, it feels like I'm walking in water with alot of loose sand! If that makes sense. My medicines do not help anymore. I can't wait until my next appointment so I can tell him about it. I want to be taken off of them. Why take them if they aren't doing any good for me?

They are changing my insurance starting next month, so I don't and won't know if my doctors except it or not, and I think thats not right! Because the doctors that I have I reall need and were hard to find and are specialists! I can't loose any of them. Well, I can my FP. He doesn't know how to treat fibro anyways. He really didn't even treat my thrush very well. Oh well.
My dauhter and my son left for the weekend! UH! so I'm alone here! :o( Well, at least they both have places to go. :o) But I'm left here. ggrrr! He's already in a mood! So I already know how my day is going to be like! I've already cried enough, my eyes are swollen.

Maybe Extreme Home Make Over will call soon! :o) That would be Great! I could ask for my own wing off of the house! kidding. But really, I could have my own privacy, which I haven't had for almost 3 years now. I miss that. I don't know why it's such a big deal to have asked to have my bed in my old room? Before I got ill, I used to do things like this all the time with rooms! I don't want to go there rigt now.

I have nothing planned today except for my usual day. To rest my legs. I'd love to be able to still get my hair washed. I have it up in a pony tail. But it still feels so nasty! Ick! Oh well. Thats life!
To the person that reads this and then goes back and lets her know what I've said about her.....make sure you've gotten it right now, ok. Then when you're done, write me to let me know who you are, ok. Or let her know to write to me and let me know who you are. :o) Sound fare enough? It does to me.
Too many sick people in this world!
Thank you fro your support and emails and comments. I honestly wouldn't have been able to get through this mess with out you guys! Gods Blessings to you all! :o)

Tags: weird, evil, ex neighbors, fibro, too much time on their hands

We th willing......

We the willing, led by the unknowing, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful. We have done so much, with so little, for so long, we are now qualified to do anything with nothing.

                                                     -Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Existing

Back again. Well....what a day this has been! All I feel like doing is crawling up in a hole! No kidding!
I was just talking to my husband and I guess that might nor have wnet all that well. :o( Once again! You know when you "think" you hear someone say something, and you ask them what they said? Well, I "thought" I hear him say " ok" so I ask him what was he going to say. Oh boy....supposenly I hurt his feelings by saying I thought I heard him say that!!! He said that I just called him a lier! What? No I didn't!!! All I did was just ask him if he said "Ok?" That was it!
What a day this has been! I honestly feel like running away! And he's still making it a big deal that I asked to have my bed and my tv put in the other room. :o( Will piss on it!
I sure hope that tomorrow will be a better day, because I can't take much more of this! My son and daughter are gone for the night, which leaves me here alone with him! great! :o(
My nerves are shot and I have one left and he's standing on it! I just wish I knew what to do.
Lisa

~Please read!~

I am publically apoligizing for the "other" misunderstanding! That was "not" my intention what so ever when I wrote in my journal this morning, to further confuse people. If only all of you knew what I go through here at my home. My stress level is sky high right now, and it's not 5:30 yet! When I started talking about some of it in my earlier entry, I guess it fueled a fire inside me. And I'm sorry.
And to the one who wrote to me, no, you were not in any way the cause of any of my rant this morning. Please forgive me. (B) Hugs to you!
I do so appreciate all of my readers! :o) what happened last night here in my home was uncalled for! And this is why I dread the weekends! Some of you do know why! :o( Not good for me!
I did ask him if I could have just my bed and just my tv put in the empty room, which was my old bedroom. I should have never asked. I also told him that he IS abusing a diabled person as well! Because I've done all that I could around my bed to clean it up, and I can not do any more! When I told him that, thats when he told me that this show we used to watch, if you don't use something for a year, then throw it away! Will, I don't have anything left TO throw away that I've even had a full year! I said to look around!
My physical therapist told me yesterday that she's almost getting ready to turn him in, if he doesn't help me like he should! So, I thought I'd tell him. It didn't seem to help at all.
Yes, I am really having major pain in my hips and legs. I was yesterday as well. I woke up with the shakes this morning. Makes it harder to do things. Slows me down.
And when you all tell me that I can write anything I want to write in my journal. Well, I also got another email letting me know that if I continue, I could be in trouble for slander! Because I have a reader that reads my journal, then goes to her to let her know what I say! How about that? Sure would like to know who that could be. Because I used the word "stupid." Very sorry. I took it out. I didn't know I did it.
No one knows how I actually do feel but me. The person behind this monitor. And I do my best to try to get it across the best way I know how. And all I ask is, please don't stab me in the back by running to someone else to let them know that I might have talked about them in this journal! Isn't that grammer school like? Playing the game telephone? Grow up!
I lay everthing out and then someone thats two faced comes along! Don't be someone's puppet!
Yes, I'm still keeping this journal. But, I want to be able to write freely like "EVERYONE" else does!
Lisa

Tags: No more games!

Buying Prescription Drugs on the Internet? Use Caution

Buying Prescription Drugs on the Internet? Use Caution

 

If you have fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome (aka myalgic encephalopathy), or another chronic illness, there’s a good chance you take more than one prescription medication. As the prices of prescription drugs increase and insurance benefits decrease, more and more people are turning to the Internet to find affordable medications. But you need to be careful so the decision to purchase those inexpensive drugs may be one of the last decisions you ever make.

Buyer Beware

There are reputable, legitimate pharmacies on the Internet, but there are also many Web sites selling medicine that is unsafe and may put your health - or even your life - at risk. The Internet has become such an integral part of our lives, we sometimes forget that it has no borders and people can pretty much say and do whatever they want – including making fraudulent claims and selling dangerous products. Some medicines sold online are:

not what they claim to be (fake or counterfeit drugs).

stronger or weaker than they are supposed to be.

past their expiration date.

contaminated.

improperly manufactured.

not labeled, stored or shipped correctly.

imported from countries that have few, if any, safety standards.

In February 2007, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reissued a warning to consumers about the dangers of buying prescription drugs online. This warning was the result of the FDA’s discovery that a number of people who had ordered the drugs Ambien, Xanax, Lexapro or Ativan instead received a medication containing haloperidol, a powerful anti-psychotic drug.

 

Warning Signs

Unsafe and illegal pharmacies can be hiding behind Web sites that look professional and sound legitimate. So how can you identify the potentially dangerous sites? Do not order medications from an Internet pharmacy if:

there is no way to contact the Web pharmacy by phone.

there is no physical address given for the pharmacy – only a post office box or no address at all.

prices are dramatically lower than the competition.

no prescription from your doctor is required.

they offer an online "consultation" (usually in the form of a questionnaire) after which they will "prescribe" and send you one or more drugs.

their sales pitch sounds too good to be true (i.e., promising "miracle" cures, offering fast and easy prescription drugs with no doctor needed)

Identifying a Safe Site

There’s nothing wrong with having your prescriptions filled by a safe, reputable Internet pharmacy. You can enjoy the benefits of comparing prices and purchasing your medications without having to leave home. But how can you tell if an online pharmacy is safe? There are several things to look for before you decide to purchase medication from an Internet pharmacy. A safe Web pharmacy should:

be located in and licensed by the country you live in. If you live in the United States, the pharmacy should be licensed by the board of pharmacy in the state from which the Web site is operating. You can find out if a U.S. Web pharmacy is in good standing by checking the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy Web site. Outside the U.S., check with your country’s pharmacy licensing board.

require a prescription from a doctor or other health-care professional who is licensed to write prescriptions in your country.

have a licensed pharmacist available to answer your questions.

provide a valid phone number where you can talk to a live person if you should have a problem.

have privacy and security policies that are easy to find and understand.

Dangers of Filling Prescriptions Abroad

If you are thinking about ordering prescription medications from an Internet pharmacy in another country, you need to be aware that drugs may vary considerably from country to country. The FDA has found 105 brand name U.S. drugs that have foreign counterparts with either an identical or similar sounding name but with very different active ingredients.

The following three examples illustrate some of the differences found in an FDA investigation:

Flomax in the U.S. is the brand name for tamsulosin, a treatment for an enlarged prostrate. In Italy, the active ingredient in Flomax is morniflumate, an anti-inflammatory drug.

Norpramin in the U.S. is the brand name for desipramine, an anti-depressant. In Spain, the active ingredient in Norpramin is omeprazole, a treatment for stomach ulcers.

Ambien in the U.S. is the brand name for a sleeping medication. In the United Kingdom, a drug with the brand name Amyben is used to treat abnormal heart rhythms.

Since there is no international standardization of drug trade names, it is important that you purchase your prescriptions from a pharmacy in the same country as the prescribing physician. If for some reason you can’t avoid having to fill your prescription in another country, be sure to compare the ingredients and strengths and discuss any differences you find with your doctor before you take them.

Gambling With Your Life

If you’re tempted to order prescription drugs from a questionable Web site, ask yourself if the potential financial savings is worth the risk to your health and life. You’re not only taking the chance that the medication you receive may not work, you’re taking the risk that it could be life-threatening.

Source: _{"Buying Medicines and Medical Products Online." U.S. Food and Drug Administration. U.S. United States Department of Health and Human Services. 17 Feb 2007.}

Updated: February 20, 2007

_{Important disclaimer information about this About site.}

~Still misunderstood~

Good Morning once again.
Honestly....I must be writing either in a different language, or in a way that is not being understood. I didn't realize that the way I wrote has changed so drastically!
No! The last entry doesn't at all have anything to do with "having someone" that understands me, or to "mesh" with. I posted it because I liked the way she wrote the email. She actually put it very bluntly how I've been trying to get things across in my writings! Thats it! It gets so frustrating at times to try my hardest to get out what I'm going through in my life, and it just so happens that she wrote it out in a way that made it more understandable! If that makes sense?

So, if you don't understand what I've writen, thats ok. You can email me if you want to. I've even tried to open peoples eyes with the little pictures. It's how I feel. Thats just a way of showing, instead of telling.
Moving on.....
Yesterday wasn't of course, a good day. I cried most of it! I could barely walk. I keep praying. I have in my mind, that the reason I have this is becuase that maybe a child now doesn't have it, so it was given to me instead. And I hope I'm right. I couldn't and wouldn't bare to see or know a child going through this wicked pain! :o(

That helps me to get through an hour or two. It's down to baby steps! Not days anymore. If I can make it past a few hours....then I've accomplished something! :o) I will push and push until I make it to another day! I will not stop! My faith gives me my strength! I feel like I'm trying to climb out of the bottom of a darkened well. I will get out.

I'm very weak today. I have the shakes really bad, and its making it very hard for me to even type. It makes me weak to walk. I have to to keep my legs working...I'm not going to let them go! I know you probably do not understand, but What would you do? Would you lay down and just die? Well, I'm not going to! Yes, there are days I'd like to, but I'm not going to! I'm having alot of muscles spams as well. Now they're all over my body this morning. My back, arms legs everywhere.

Since the room that I used to have as a bedroom is now not being used. I ask if I could put my bed and tv in there. Well....Good Lord....if was if I asked if I could have a whol new room added this weekend! :o( So I told him that It doesn't have to be this weekend, or next weekend or even next month! Then he calmed down! I couldn't believe it! :o( Then I told him that he was mistreating me and that my physical therapist is ready to turn him in, if he doesn't clean around my bed for me....I've did the best I could already! He just looked at me! She mentioned it to me again yesterday! Then he said that you know that show we used to watch, if you haven't used it in a year, then throw it away? I said, "Look around!!!" He did, and apoligized. Because I've thrown away almost everything I had! Because he made me! So, While we were talking, my daughter came home and he turned around and started talking to her and our grandson, and that was the end of our conversation! I cried again! It made me feel so low! Once again, he can always make me feel like I don't matter! And it's really obvious because if I did matter, my bed and tv would be in that room...how hard would that be? I could do it if I wasn't ill! Now do you see why I do not like to ask? This is why. I exist and thats all. And then when I try to explain in my journal how I'm feeling and what fibromyalgia is like living with, and it's hard to get across, and hardly anyone gets it....really makes me feel so special in this world! So I say to everyone.....Thank you so very much! :o(
I don't know how long I'll be gone,/done writing in this thing because it really seems to be a waste of my time anymore!

I have this ex eighorb that does nothing but preaches to everyone.....and thinks I do nothing but write about her in here! gggrrr! I'm sick of that crap too! Having to watch what I say...no more! Needs to practice what she preaches, because she comes and reads my journal and goes back to hers and writes about me! Calling me a patholoical lyer! yeah right!

I'm just so tired of all of the bs going around! And I'm just done with it all! I've tried my best to help others with this journal, and all I get is people sating that their glad to see that I have someone that I can mesh with? That doesn't even make any sense! Had nothing to do with what I even wrote! That goes to show ya' that no one really reads this journal!  :o( So...why have one then!?
I'm just done....and I'm going to do my things my way with my illnesses! I'm a fighter and I will win!

Tags: help me

~RE.....Transforming~

When I was talking in my entry called "Transforming," I was trying to get so many things across! And I did! :o)
I got an email from a friend of mine from another entry that I had made about "Sleepwalking." But, she also understands! Thats great! She gets it! :o) I just had to post her email! :o) Because she does get it! :o) Thank you so much Gerry! 

I am so glad you sent in your entry on sleep walking.  I have long thought about the ramifications of sleep walking and you had a very extreme case.  I cannot help but think it was tied to what is happening to you now, but I don't quite know how.  Extreme sensitivity to the vagaries of life. I have been reading your journal this morning and am so sad about the deterioration of your leg function, but you are fighting hard to hang on to everything you have got. You are not letting go easy and that seems to me to be what counts.  You are ahead of us on the trail of pain. And sending back messages of what it is like.   I have always thought I have been blessed to live in a pain free zone, but I still feel the capacity to slip away from hardly any pain at all.  So staying pain free has been my means of survival.  Pain means stress.  And burn out.  Numbness.  I am sure if you live with that long enough you are no longer afraid and ready to take the next bend in the road.  But you are only 43 so must strive to hold on to life and mobility as long as you can for your family's sake, even if it means pain.  But the pain tells you there is still function and life in those legs!  Gerry

http://journals.aol.com/gehi6/daughters-of-the-shadow-men/  

She can see and understand what it is that I'm talking about! And how right she is, I will not give up this fight with me and my body! :o) And I will win! :o)
Thank you Gerry! :o)
Lisa

Tags: Beauty, understanding, fighting

~What would you think~

Good Morning! :o) It rained here yesterday, and we still have alot of snow! lol :o) I think I'll take a month to melt! lol :o) Kidding. :o)
This morning, my physical therapist came again. She really had to do my body again because the shape I'm in. :o( Yesterday, I got up to walk, and my left leg was numb and I didn't even know it! So, I fell towards my left side and hit the tv stand. :o( I can't feel that when it happens! :o( They are getting worse. This morning, the circulation seemed bad. they both had those red line on them again. Well at least she got to see them this way. She asked me again, when I get the EMG done? I told her March 9! She just shook her head. She said that she said she wished it was sooner. I asked her why, what did she think was going on? I always try to get stuff out of her. She just said she wanted to know if this problem wa coming from my brain or not and she needs to know that. I asked her if she could tell me what the difference would be? She smiled at me and said to me that I know that she can't tell me that. :o) Darn it! :o) But, she did say to be cery careful, because my legs are going faster. Which I already know.

I did get a few hours of sleep last night! YAY! :o) Which is good. My body just haven't felt "right" in awhile. There are so many different things happening, and it seems fast as well. I just don't know what to think. Am I in a flare up, or is my body faling me? Or both? Oh well.
Moving on.....
I don't wan't anyone to think that I am complaining or pissing and moaing about what I have wrong with me.

I have too much to think about, (rather then to even waste any of my energy on one person thinking that I would care what she is doing in her life! gggrrrr! ) I'm so weak. I need to do my hair, and a few other personal things, and I don't have the energy to do them. My home health care aid was here yeasterday, but she doesn't do 99.9% of the things that I need to get done. I struggle to do them myself. I struggled and did clip my nails last night...toe nails! Oh...that feels so much better! :o) If you only knew how that feels. I bought this one kind of nail clippers for the toe nails for people in my situation, but they don't work. :o) Before I go on...I want to make something clear...I don't talk about these things for pity, or anything else. I'm just telling it like it is and what it's like to be me in my life! :o) Ok? (I feel the need to make that clear for one certain person and she knows who she is.)

I really need to get my hair washed as well. :o) It feels icky! Blah! :o) I'll try to find a way somehow. My legs stop me from doing so many things. Oh well....I'll just sit and be nasty feeling. :o( My daughter goes to classes today. So, I won't and don't go very far at all from my room. I have this fear of falling. If I'm in here, I'm more likely to have a way to get ahold of someone if something does happen. I just Thank God for all that He has done for me! :o) I still have life! :o)
Before I forget, Don't Forget To Visit CarnivAOL! The last entry below! :o)
When I took a bath yesterday, I was also able to finally shave my legs...aaaahhhhh, that felt great too! Well...I have a hard time seeing the sides of my legs, they don't turn like the used to. I have bed sores on my feet and ankles. On my right ankle, when I was shaving, I have a hard time seeing, I shaved over it and cut it up! OUCHIE! That hurt! The bed sore it's self is getting deeper. And then I go and cut it! Yikes! It hurts! I can't see it, but all I know is there was blood everywhere! And alot of pain! I have alot of bed sores on my legs from just sitting in my bed. on my back thighs and also my albows. eeewww! They're nasty to have, but I really don't know what to do about them. I put lotion on the ones I can reach. :o) I guess I'm just clueless to being this way! I need more help. Like someone to answer some questions and to show me what and how to do things. Because I know how to do ADl's, but not when I'm not able to do them when I'm disabled like this. What do you do? Oh well. I suppose I'll go now. :o)

Thank you all for your comments! :o) (even though I wasn't talking about you (K) )! Gods Blessings to you all! :o)

Tags: Being disabled

CarnivAOL

It's CarnivAOL Time!!! :o) Go and take a look! :o)

Lisa

Tags: CarnivAOL

And I don't know what day it is......

Good morning to you all. I do hope that everyone id feeling well! :o)
Yesss! Yesteray, I was able to play in the snow with my grandson! It was his first time to play in the snow! lol He love it! :o) I knew he would! :o)  I stayed out for a half an hour!  That was longer then I expected! :o) And my grandson had a ball! lol He didn't want to come in...poor thing! :o)

Well, I was up all night again! This really needs to stop! I had taken 3 Doricets last night before bed time to help ease my pains. Well, it did help a bit. It made me really tired and sleepy! But, for some reason, I couldn't sleep! I just don't understand it!  So, I just got up and walked a bit in the house, and got on the computer. And then I talked to a very good friend of mine that was up also that has fibromyalgia! :o) We talked all night long! :o) Too bad she doesn't live any closer to me! I'd just love to meet her so bad! :o)

That way we both weren't alone! :o) She's going to help me get my new journal put together as well. :o)
I took 3 more pain pills about 5:30 and I started iching again. :o) So now I know which medicineit is. Si I took some benadryl to stop the hives I have. :o)  So, I'm really feeling it now. :o) After this entry, I'm going to try and rest. Keyword:try! :o)
I find it still too bad that there are people out there that still don't care enouch to educate themsleves about all of these illnesess! I have been and still have been trying to keep putting as much information as my journal as possible. Education. Becasue once again, just because we look fine on the out side does not mean we all are. Plus, that alone adds more stress on us, having to keep explaining our situation to the people that either refuses to hear you, or the ones that tell you you just "lazy!" Nope...I don't think so! I wish it was that easy!

I have a sister that has fibro as well. But, she doesn't have it to the dgree as mine is. I have another sister that would like to see me die and really can't wait! How do I know this....she found the pleasure in telling me this! Yes, she's  a work of art!  You see how the stress can add up! Please, when any one puts up information, print it out. It will help. Everyone of us needs a circle of support as well. and if you don't have your family for support then you need to have friends to support you and/or a group to go to. It does help!
I also wanted to say that I do read alot of journals! Some of you know how many...I've even lost count! lol :o) I don't even know what day it is because of lack of sleep! But, I do make my rounds to the journals when the alerts come in. Which reminds me real quick...my mail is screwing up, I'll get an email from a few days ago or from last week! It's like snail mail now! Weird! :o) If anyone else is having this, could you let me know. :o) Ok...back to what I was talking about. Well, I just so happened to run across this journal that got to me. Why would anyone ever say that their religion was the "right" religion, and thats why they can sit back and reep the rewards! And thats why the other person wasn't reeping in rewards, because they didn't believe in the same religion! And that it wasn't the "right" religion! Now, how can someone say that to some one? My daughter is Catholic, I'm Baptist. Now tell me which one of us is wrong! They are very different religions. But, my point is this....How I see it, as long as you believe in God, and have faith and Jesus in your heart, What does it matter? My daughter and I, when it comes down to it...believe in the same thing! We "will" reep in our rewards as well!
Today so far, yes I am paying for playing out side yesterday! :o) But....Thats fine with me! :o) I had so much fun with him! He's a very special little boy to me! :o)
Well...I must go now....Thank you all for your comments! :o) Gods blessings to all of you! :o)