Archive for the 'General Tips' Category

Are you Credible?

Hello Everyone,

I have not posted for awhile. I thought I would just write a few words about credibility. I started off with my title: Are you Credible?

Credibility makes or breaks an individual. You must be honest and upfront about everything in your life. I have tried to be honest with my viewers to help them understand how difficult it is to deal with a chronic illness. This is why I share my own experience, tools, and information.

In order to start feeling good about yourself you have to learn to be honest and upfront about your illness. I know some people have had to deal with criticism, judgment and sometime even loose their jobs. In the end those that are judging them will have to deal with their actions.

It is difficult to accept we are ill, but we cannot start the healing process until we are honest about how we feel. Yes, I have heard many woman state their spouse is not listening or yells at them. Try the following:

1. Go get brochures about your illness and place it in front of them, tell them to read them.

2. Ask them, why were we married? I am suffering from an illness that many people do not understand, please take the time to try and understand what I am dealing with. If my own family does not support me, what am I to do?

3. Do not get angry, sincerity and openness while informing them lays out a solid foundation of credibility.
If your own family does not believe you, seek out friends, doctors, etc.

4. Do not make any promises you cannot keep. If you cannot do the laundry, clean the house, etc., then just let them know. Eventually they will understand and hopefully they will start helping you out.

I just want people to understand that the healing process starts with you acknowledging your illness and sharing that information with your loved ones.

I hope and pray this post has helped someone today.

Fibro Viv


Aromatherapy and your body

The active ingredients of essential oils can ease muscle tension, improve your mood, boost your circulation and clear respiratory problems such as hay fever, stuffy noses and sore throats. By rubbing your oils over or onto the affected area, you will begin to feel their healing effects almost immediately.

TO EASE HAY FEVER:
Chamomile
Eucalyptus

TO RELAX SORE ACHING MUSCLES:
Frankincense
Ginger
Sweet marjoram
Rosemary

TO EASE STOMACH/PERIOD PAINS:
Aniseed
Clary sage
Juniper berry
Lavender
Marjoram

TO EASE STOMACH UPSETS:
Ginger
Mandarin
Peppermint

TO HELP OIL SKIN:
Cypress
Lemon
Mandarin
Tea tree (also good for acne)

TO EASE SORE THROAT:
Frankincense
Jasmine
Sandalwood
Tea tree

TO EASE ECZEMA:
Chamomile
Geranium
Juniper berry
Lavender

TO IMPROVE CELLULITE:
Juniper berry
Geranium
Rosemary

TO EASE HEADACHES:
Eucalyptus
Lavender
Peppermint
Rosemary

FOR HAIR:
Cedar wood
Cypress (for oily hair)
Rosemary (for dry hair)
Tea tree (for dandruff)

TO CLEAR BLOCKED NOSE:

Bergamot
Eucalyptus
Ginger
Rosemary

A quick and easy way to get the benefits of essential oils is to add a few drops to your usual body lotion or moisturizer and then rub it into the affected area.

AROMATHERAPY MASSAGE

Rubbing healing oils into your skin allows their active ingredients to pass directly into the tissues of the affected area, while healing massage strokes also work to alleviate pain and stiffness, as well as improving circulation.

I hope and pray that this information has helped someone today. Have a pain free day.

Fibro Viv

9 Symptoms Not to Treat Yourself

Get to the doctor or an emergency room immediately if you have any of the following symptoms:

1.   A feeling of pressure or squeezing in your chest;
2.   Severe pain, especially in the head, chest or radiating down one arm;
3.   Blurred vision;
4.   Trouble talking or swallowing;
5.   Weakness or paralysis on one side;
6.   Dizziness and confusion;
7.   Blood in your urine or stool;
8.   Unrelieved depression;
9.   Shortness of breath, fever and/or a cough with a yellow-green discharge.

I hope and pray this information has helped some individual out there seeking help and answers.

Fibro Viv

Help lower family’s risk of catching and spreading colds or flu- take preventative steps:

Give Staying Healthy A Shot

An easy way to help prevent your kids from getting the flu is to give them a flu shot. The flu shot can reduce the average child’s chances of catching the flu by up to 80% during the flu season. The CDC’s Flu “Fact Sheet” recommends that people who are at “high risk” for catching the flu, those between 50 and 64 years of age, and those who can transmit the flu to people in these categories, should get vaccinated each year.

Practice Good Health Habits
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the following for helping to prevent the spread of cold and flu:

* Avoid close contact. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to help protect them from getting sick too.
* Stay home when you are sick. If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.
* Cover your mouth and nose. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.
* Clean your hands. Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. Your kids need to wash their hands for at least 30 seconds to effectively kill germs. Kids can measure the time by singing “Happy Birthday” song twice.
* Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.

Keep Your Home Clean AND Disinfected

Germs can live on surfaces for long periods of time. Cleaning with soap and water only removes dirt, it does not kill germs. Use some type of disinfectant spray or sanitizing wipes to kill germs on commonly touched surfaces throughout the home.

Disinfectant Spray

* Kills 99.9% of germs on commonly touched surfaces around the home (when used as directed)
* Easy to use in every room
* Keeps germs off areas your family comes in contact with every day

Sanitizing Wipes

* Kills 99.9% of bacteria and viruses when used as directed
* Now with Micro-Lock™ fibers that trap and hold the germs instead of pushing it around
* The convenient way to clean and disinfect your household surfaces, no sponges and no mess

Ask your doctor or nurse. They can give you the vaccine package insert or suggest other sources of information. This guide is provided for informational purposes only and it is not intended to diagnose or prescribe for the cold or flu.
Have more questions about the flu?

* Click here to visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for more information or call 1-800-CDC-INFO.

Household Germ Holders or “Hot Spots”

* Doorknobs
* Toilets handles
* Telephone Receivers
* Countertops
* Faucets
* TV and Game Remotes
* Keyboard

This year, make some resolutions you’ll want to keep! Vow to live healthier—you’ll be happier! Try our tips for staying healthy, including starting a diet and exercise program that’s right for you.

Practice Good Health Habits Every Day
Photo of CLEAN & SMOOTH® Antibacterial Liquid Hand Soap, Any type of Disinfectant Spray and Sanitizing Wipes

* Try to wash your hands as much as possible to prevent the spread of germs that can lead to illness. Try CLEAN & SMOOTH® Antibacterial Liquid Hand Soap to kill germs and bacteria, leaving your hands smooth and clean.

* Kill household germs. Soap and water alone won’t do the trick—try disinfectant spray or sanitizing wipes to kill 99.9% of bacteria and viruses* on commonly-touched surfaces.

Eating Right

* Before starting any diet, consult with your physician. He or she can help you decide what program is right for your health needs.

* Take it one step at a time. Start by making small changes in your diet—like adding two more fruits or vegetables to your daily meals or cutting down on snacks.

* Always eat breakfast. Eating in the morning can help you stay satisfied until lunch and prevent you from overeating the rest of the day. Avoid sugary cereals that will leave you wanting more—try oatmeal or a low-calorie breakfast bar.

* Take it home. When dining out, ask for a doggy bag as soon as you get your meal. Pack up half right away so you won’t be tempted to eat the whole dish in one sitting.

* Skip dessert. Okay, you don’t always have to miss out—but just don’t indulge every day! And when you do sneak in some sweets, eat a smaller portion or share with a friend.

Get Moving!

* You don’t have to be a marathon runner to exercise a fast walk in the morning and an evening stroll can help you burn lots of calories.

* Find a plan that works for you. Whether it’s joining a gym, jogging, taking aerobics classes, or riding your bike, do what you enjoy. You’ll see better results in the long run if you find activities that you can keep doing over time.

* Even after you figure out what works for you, don’t be afraid to try some new things! Take a new class, exercise with a friend, or try a different machine at the gym. You’ll keep your routine fresh and interesting!

* Don’t give up. Miss a few days of exercise? Don’t throw away the whole week! Today’s a new day—give yourself another chance to improve your workout routine.

I hope and pray that this information is helpful to someone today and in the future.

Fibro Viv

I know it is difficult to keep your house clean, read on…

The fastest way to fake a clean house: (Just in case someone calls and is going to drop in on you within a few minutes)

Drizzle a few drops of orange-scented Pine-Sol on a clean cloth and hide it in a bookcase. It’ll give the room that just-been-scrubbed smell…minus the work. Just in case someone calls and is going to drop in on you within a few minutes.

I hope this small tip helps someone who is unable to keep their house clean because they are disabled or lack energy due to fatigue. I know I try to keep my house clean, but when you are chronically ill and fatigued, it is difficult to keep your house clean.

I hope and pray this information has helped someone today.

Fibro Viv


Tips on Using Lemons and Lemon Juice for Natural Cleaning

Here are some ideas on using lemons and lemon juice for natural cleaning that does not bother people with chemical sensitivities.

1).   Lime-scale attacker:

Hard water can cause buildup called lime scale in your bathroom
sinks. To eliminate, cut a lemon in half and use it to scrub the
area. This will help cut through the scaling. Then use a scrubby
pad and water to clear leftover debris.

2).   To clean the glass in your shower easily:

Apply lemon juice to the glass with a sponge. Then, take
newspaper and wipe the lemon juice off the glass. It will be
clean and sparkle with no scrubbing!

3).  Brass Cleaner:

Mix lemon juice and baking soda.
Make a paste the consistency of toothpaste.
Rub onto brass with a soft cloth and rinse with water.

4).   Surface Cleaners:

Keep this combination ready in a squirt bottle. The weak acids
like vinegar and lemon juice are good at cutting grease.

5).   Toilet bowl Cleaners:

Use mix of 1/2 cup borax /1 gal. water to clean and deodorize.
Let 1 cup borax sit in the bowl overnight. Coat stains in
toilet bowl with paste of lemon juice and borax. Let sit about 20
minutes and scrub with bowl brush. Clean frequently with a
solution of baking soda and water; sprinkle baking soda around
the rim.

6).   AVOID lemon-scented bleach. It smells attractive to children.

7).   Cleaning Copper:

Polish with a paste of lemon juice and salt.

8).   Stains Perspiration:

Pretty tough, but try on fabrics sponging stain with a weak
solution of white vinegar or lemon juice, and water.

I hope and pray that this information has helped someone today. Have a pain free day.

Fibro Viv

Target Heart Range Monitoring Aerobic Exercise

There are ways to monitor aerobic exercise intensity by taking your heart rate at different times while you exercise (usually before, during and after you exercise). You can determine if your heart rate falls within your target heart rate range.

To calculate your personal target heart rate range is accomplished by taking a percentage of your maximum heart rate based on your fitness level.

CALCULATING YOUR TARGET HEART RATE

A. Locate your pulse two different ways:

1. Radial - thumb on the side of the wrist, palm up
2. Carotid - groove of the neck

B. Count 10 seconds and multiple by 6 OR count 6 seconds and multiply by 6.

220 - Age = N
Minimum Heart Rate
N x .60

Average Heart Rate
N x .70

Maximum
Heart Rate
N x .80

TIP: If you are able to talk, then you are O.K. When it is difficult to talk, you are moving too much.

Training Considerations and Exercise Modifications

a) Strengthening programs can improve or prolong function in working muscles, especially if your muscles are weak from lack of use.

b) Use only moderate intensity exercise and prevent over fatiguing muscles. Do not exercise to the point of exhaustion.

c) Depending on your present capability and other demands in your life, your exercise and physical activity will vary greatly. Try to be consistent.

Also keep in mind you have to take care of your feet. I have linked this post to the links listed on the right hand side of my posts named “FOOT HEALTH”.

I pray and hope that this post has helped someone today. Have a pain free day.

Fibro Viv


Tips for Fighting Fatigue

Eating a well-balanced healthful diet is one step towards helping your fatigue. Going without eating the right source of fuel will ultimately cause chronic tiredness. Try eating fewer and smaller meals throughout the day and not eating a large dinner. You can upset your sleep pattern by eating late, fat foods, caffeine and alcohol. Drinking caffeine can throw off your sleep pattern for up to ten (10)hours. Many people try eating sweets to boost their energy when they should actually eat proteins and complex carbohydrates.

I hope and pray that this article helps someone today.

Fibro Viv

Try a variety of strategies to help your condition

Taking an active role in learning about your illness may help you find benefits from different treatment options/programs that include some of these strategies:

  • Moderate exercise
  • Relaxation techniques
  • Stress management
  • Visualization
  • Stretching
  • Yoga
  • Healthy eating
  • Massage
  • Use of medications to manage specific problems such as sleep, pain and psychological disturbances,
  • Use of organic products to replace your traditional medications.

When possible I have tried all of the above strategies. Sometimes our own lack of or poor health insurance keeps us from trying some of these treatments.

Massages, medications, doctor visits, therapy and even some organic products are not cheap. Prior to losing my job I was able to take medical leave and had health coverage that allowed me to participate in a Rehabilitation Program offered in our city. Unfortunately, not all the program was covered, so I only have information on what I was able to participate in. I will share this information with you as quickly as possible on my posts. Please check my blog daily.

I will also research old notes when I visited various websites that offered free information when I was trying to figure out what was going on with my body, the aches, cramps, cognitive issues, pains, etc.

Since I had been with my PCP for so long and only suffered from asthma and the occasional flu, colds, etc., he knew I was not a hypochondriac. When I came to him with all of these symptoms, he started to try to eliminate one at a time. It was a long process. My PCP was also trying new and different medications. As many of you know, medications affect people differently. We can all share what we have tried and our experience with the different strategies and treatments.

My mission is to share this with as many people as possible, please share your experiences with us all.

I pray and hope that this post has helped someone today.

Fibro Viv