The words feeling down and being sad often mean more for a sick person than the lines of a familiar song.

Feeling down can describe your mental outlook or, maybe even, your general state of health. Feelings of being sad can linger for more than an hour, a day or a week. How are you coping?

If you suffer with Fibromyalgia (FMS) or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS or ME/CFS), you may find that you go through some pretty rough times because you feel terrible and -stark truth- you may not be getting well -or- your health may not be improving. You actually may need more interaction with your caregiver- more often and on a deeper, more personal level than you normally experience together. It’s common to find solace in talking to friends, however, please don’t indulge in a lengthy pity party. Remember: your goal is to find your way out of depression or depressed mood, not wallow in its misery too long, or worse yet, indefinitely.

With much of the world getting ready for a season change, know that the fall months can sometimes trigger a change in your symptoms, too, or aggravate feelings of depression. Instead of giving into that process, I urge you to listen to today’s Health Matters Show. We’re talking about this topic and some tips for dealing with this important health issue, including how to make the best use of a caregiver or friend.

The podcast today is 7 minutes 46 seconds. Play it here or feel free to download. Then continue down the page for the rest of this post.

Should you naturally assume that you’re depressed? Please don’t. Having actual clinical depression may or may not be a diagnosis for you. It depends on many things. In the meantime, study and learn more about “depression”. If you still feel blue, contact a medical or psychiatric professional to help you handle this potentially serious health problem.

*Note: there are lots of people who would love to hear your thoughts, so feel free to write a comment below. Share how you beat mild or strong depression, how depressive symptoms are affecting your life and about your ongoing struggles with this challenging part of long-term illness => DEPRESSION. Comment if you struggle with feeling down, being sad or you want to speak out about depression. **Feel free to use a fictitious name if you like, but keep your story real. Reach out and share your struggles and your successes. If your story is meaningful, it may help other people who are struggling.

Then “share” this post on Facebook, Twitter, Digg or wherever you hang out online. Thanks so much and have a happy, healthy day!
Cinda Crawford, host of the Health Matters Show

I have constructed this Fibromyalgia Symptoms video to give you or anyone (who you want to see it) a good, initial overview of Fibromyalgia symptoms. Fibromyalgia is a complicated illness and sometimes it is difficult to know where to begin within yourself, with your family, friends or caregivers. I have high hopes that you can use this information to improve communication with your doctors.

Note: Most caregivers only know what you tell them. Suggestion? Set them in front of your computer to watch this video. It’s not overly dramatized. Simply factual and accurate. Hopefully after the presentation, you will both be open to a deeper discussion about your Fibromyalgia symptoms and how the illness affects your life!

Before you go today, be sure to grab yourself a copy of everything included in today’s Fibromyalgia video (plus I’ve included room for your personal notes) by clicking here! Feel free to make copies of this great little guide to use 1) to help you decide where you are with the illness, 2) what you need to study further and 3) how to approach your next doctor’s visit!

Yes, it’s a goodie that’s worth keeping. And finally, let me encourage you to check back with the Health Matters Show for blog posts, audio podcasts and video podcasts concerning Fibromyalgia Symptoms and more. This is one video of many!

Thanks, Cinda Crawford
Your host

When I ask most people, “What do you know about Fibromyalgia?”, I get answers from not so much -to- a fair amount. Chances are, if you’re suffering with something, you make a point of learning more about it. I hope you’re doing that here at the Health Matters Show for Fibromyalgia.

On Friday I feature a brand new video entitled: Fibromyalgia Symptoms. It’s short, precise, factual and I believe you’ll find it valuable. To get the most use of it for yourself, your caregivers and your medical support team, be sure to also grab a copy of the pdf document that will be included in the blog post. (*Your caregivers probably have a rough time understanding the necessary facts about the illness and how it affects your life. How can they figure out what to do for you, if they don’t have a basic understanding of Fibromyalgia???)

In preparation for Friday’s Health Matters Show video broadcast, if you don’t have a pdf reader software program on your computer, go ahead and grab yourself a “free” copy here, the Adobe Reader.

Thanks so much and set your schedule to return here on Friday for the video and more!

Cinda Crawford, your host and author of, “What do you know about Fibromyalgia? and the new “Fibromyalgia Symptoms video”, launching shortly.

Earth Day 2011 is celebrated today, Friday April 22nd. Here are 3 projects you can do to begin a little celebration of your own and help your health out, also.

Now…you may think that anyone who is ill from Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome may not be capable of doing a lot of celebrating, Earth Day or not. I beg to differ with you. Earth Day was developed with our whole, natural earth in mind. People who cherish our natural resources and all they add to our lives want one day a year to say, “Thanks.” That means taking the time today to celebrate everything in your world.

(audio 3 minutes 36 seconds)

Project #1: Smile. Give thanks for your world. For the people who are in it, like your family, friends and caregivers. Caregivers are some of the giving-est people around and they really appreciate your noticing what they are doing for you and how they are adding to your quality of life.

Project #2: Do something for someone else. Call them on the phone. Send flowers or chocolates. Send an email or an e-card. Go for a short visit. People love to be noticed. It makes them feel good about themselves and they will be glad you are their friend.

Project #3: Be thankful. We’re all kinda-sorta thankful most of the time. Earth Day is a good day to express your gratitude all the way around. Spread the blessings. Let others know how you feel. Rejoice in your spirit!

Yes, share the bounty of this fine planet that we live on by smiling, doing and thanking. Your caregivers will be pleased. Your family will be caught off-guard. Your whole self may feel better physically, emotionally and spiritually! (I invite you to listen to the podcast today. There are other “Celebrating Earth Day” suggestions there PLUS a very special announcement!

Have a fantastic day, Cinda Crawford
Your host of the Health Matters Show

Do you need a little help for CFS?

Could you use 4 CFS Survival Tips?

If you’re like most people, you need all the help for surviving CFS that you can get and with less stress. And, you need the help now!

4 Easy Survival Tips to Keep in Mind:

1: Except on the hottest of hot days, take a hooded jacket or coat with you wherever you go.

Most CFS folks cannot stand drafts and they sure can’t stand the cold. What is worse is trying to remember where your unbrella is or if you brought it with you at all. If you always always wear or bring along a hooded outer wrap, you’ll be safer. You won’t risk getting soaking wet or freezing cold…even in air-conditioning. Spring showers and hot, summer weather are coming!

This tip is close to a tip I’ve written about previously for Fibromyalgia…dress in layers. Dressing in multiple layers works because you can put on or take off clothes as your body’s temperature regulation needs require. This extra tip works marvelously when you’re truly sick with chills or fever -and- when you’re suffering with menopause, too!

2: Design and set up an old-fashioned, flat-type plastic box to hold your pills and supplements. Mark each section of the container with the name of the RX or OTC (over-the-counter) compound, the strength and how many times you’re supposed to take it each day. That way there will be less chance of you grabbing the wrong pill when you’re bleary-eyed and tired.

Also, if you can get in the routine of pulling out your “box” when you get up each morning, you’ll be more apt to remember to take your meds on time and as you should. *If someone else is helping you, a caregiver, he or she also can more fully understand and see what you need. Remember that being a caregiver isn’t easy and the easier you can make it for them to help you, the more satisfied the arrangement is for all concerned.

I find that a plastic box designed to hold fishing lures works great for me. I’ve always picked up cheap ones at the dollar store. They usually are designed with small and large sections. That way I can put the bigger, horse-pill-sized vitamins in the bigger sections and smaller pills in the smaller sections. Each container usually has a plastic “lock” which helps to keep it closed, but if that breaks you can use a huge rubberband to keep it shut tight. Such a box will help you stay organized for traveling.

If you use it for that purpose, too, keep a copy of your prescriptions handy if anyone needs verification of what you’re taking. Even so, that’s better than trying to travel with twenty pill bottles rattling around in your bag. This type of flat box packs easily in the middle of your suitcase.

*Remember to be especially careful to keep the case out of the reach of small children. The pretty-colored pills might be a temptation!

3: Set up some type of easy-to-set alarm function on your cell phone. I believe all cell phones these days come with an alarm function. By setting up your daily to-do’s ahead of time, even what medications you’re supposed to take when, you’ll be more organized and fell less stress. My phone also comes with a calendar function. I put in my daily, weekly and monthly appointments and regularly scheduled fun activities, like going to water aerobics. Doing this one thing alone will help to keep you more organized, too, and on target. You’ll be able to accomplish what you want to do with less stress. See how easy this is? Just take the time to learn how to do the scheduling. If you can’t figure it out by yourself, get help.

*This type of scheduling also helps when you’re suffering with brain fog and low energy. All you have to do is keep up with your cell phone!

4: Let your home computer be your extra, back-up brain. Now what I mean is…don’t try to remember everything! That high an expectation can keep you stressed out and clawing your way through the perpetual brain fog trying to find the top of your to-do piles! Instead, allowing your home computer, I-Pad or whatever to store vital information can save you a lot of heartache, worry and self-chastisement. You can be this smart and feel less stress. WHOOPEE!

Dear one, let’s face it….we all forget things. Personally, I try to remember very little. I depend on these last two survival tips in particular to boost my brain power and my productivity. I stay happier and feel more in control when I incorporate this into my daily life. They also help my caregiver, my husband. He doesn’t have to do much for me anymore, but I find that he checks up on me. It seems to ease his mind when he sees that I’m handling myself well. That, in turn, helps him and we both live with less stress.

Do the four tips always work? No, but they do most of the time. Try these suggestions and let me know how you do. And, if you have other great suggestions yourself, please comment and leave them for other readers.

We’re all in this together!
Thanks, Cinda Crawford
Your host of the Health Matters Show

Caregivers and Patient Alert: the little boy in this Felix the Cat story knew that sometimes getting help from friends, in this case Felix and an uninvited goat, can be easy at first glance, but it isn’t always what you need. Even today, being cared for, ministered to and -plain ole- loved can be a challenge. Old friends may wander toward greener pastures where new friends can keep up with them and have fun! Family & loved ones may desert you, the patient, if you’re too much of a bother, require too much care or if it gets too expensive.

If you are a person who is suffering with Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (or some similar illness that has left you depleted, in pain and chronically ill), are you coming back to your friends and loved ones (e.g. caregivers) time and time again asking for more help, deeper understanding and assitance that is above and beyond the call of duty? And you’re doing it all too often?

That could spell trouble. If there’s a chance that this is happening, I encourage you to playfully consider Felix the Cat and the little boy in this old animated, video cartoon today.

I love the old cartoons, however, this one was produced way before my time. The help the little boy believes he’s receiving is not the help that will keep him out of trouble. Just the opposite. Now… granted I am stretching the message of this cute little ditty to fit my purpose here, but I have a reason. I’m suggesting that you think twice before jumping to get your needs met. That objective goes hand in hand with Friday’s Health Matters Show post of deciding for yourself how you choose to ‘live with’ your chronic illness, how you will leave it behind you, how you finally will get healthy and how you can live a healthy lifestyle– again!

Take a moment to ask yourself if you’re getting help from your friends and caregivers that really is helping you improve your life, getting healthier and living as a happier, more well-rounded YOU! Those are the goals. Our caregivers can be valuable members of our wellness team.

Thanks, Cinda Crawford

Felix wants to swim and ask someone to go with him. The boy has to play piano. But because Felix saved a mouse, the mouse arranges other mice to play on the piano and the boy goes with Felix for a swim. Then a goat eats the boy’s and Felix’s clothes. They go home dressed in a barrel!

THE MOVIE HISTORY OF FELIX THE CAT

Felix the Cat first appeared on screen as “Master Tom” in FELINE FOLLIES released on September 1, 1919. Due to the enormous popularity of his first Felix film, Paramount Studios signed a two year deal with Pat Sullivan to create one Felix the Cat film per month. Pat Sullivan credited himself with the creation and animation of Felix., Actually, his employee Otto Messmer had the original idea for Felix and animated all of the Felix the Cat films. Felix the Cat enjoyed celebrity status and quickly became a household name in anada, the U.S. and abroad in England, Germany, Australia, and China. Felix became one of the most famous stars of the 1920′s, rivaling Charles Chaplin and Buster Keaton. The Prince of Wales picked Felix the Cat as his Polo Team mascot and a picture of Felix accompanied Charles Lindbergh in his historic solo-flight across the Atlantic. In 1923, a Felix the Cat comic strip was created and ran in newspapers until 1943. It was very popular during WWII.
In 1927, the first giant balloon in the MACY*S Thanksgiving Parade was Felix The Cat. In 1928 Felix’s popularity was threatened by the release of the first Disney sound animation film STEAMBOAT WILLIE starring Mickey Mouse. Sullivan and Messmer tried to move Felix into sound pictures, but their attempts failed because their sound effects rarely matched the action on the screen. By 1930, Felix the Cat had been replaced in popularity by Walt Disney’s SILLY SYMPHONIES series of movie cartoons.

For all the caregivers in your life and mine, I bid them to… take care of yourself.

Without you, we would be lost… or at least, badly ailing. There would be no afternoon snacks, no clean linens, no back rubs and no personal taxi services to the doctor’s door.Caregivers, take care. Bless you in all that you do. May your burdens be light, your return smiles be many and may we always say, ‘Thank you.’

Cinda Crawford

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