During the previous two programs on Fibromyalgia, I have been encouraging you to think about and determine what is making you sick. In today’s interview we will look at why it so often happens that a major factor can be the stress of a job, family issues or virtually everything in your life! I know when I got so sick, it was all of those things combined.

If you’re suffering with physical stress, you need to take some time off and probably relax.

If you’re being bothered by mental and emotional stress and anxiety, you need to relax because your perceptions about this topic are housed in your mind, but often expressed in your body.

If you don’t relax and allow your system to re-balance itself, you will be headed towards worse illness symptoms of some sort. One person may suffer migraine headaches; the next, a backache. The next, Fibromyalgia or more. Think of the 3-legged stool we’ve talked about so often. Work to balance yourself in body, mind and spirit.

Now, I can hear you, “I don’t have time to relax. It’s two days before Christmas!” Well, I’m here to tell you that you can and should relax. As a matter of fact, time spent in rest and relaxation is a wonderfully positive way to make it through the holidays and start off your new year without feeling that you’re climbing out of the gutter!

Please join me today in welcoming and interviewing Mr. Dan Howard to the Health Matters Show about this topic of Intentional Resting.

(Today’s podcast interview is 18 minutes 2 seconds long.)

Today instead of thinking about some abstract “cause” of Fibromyalgia, let’s concentrate on what we do know: it’s crucial that YOU make it through the holidays (no worse for wear) and begin 2012 on as positive health note as possible. If you take this ands-off and indirect approach to your problem of “being sick with Fibromyalgia,” (or any illness), you may get further ahead faster. Listen to today’s podcast and hear Dan Howard and I talk about how to lower mental and emotional stress by using his “Intentional Resting” technique.

Your body wants respect, time spent “honoring” it and the necessary components that bring about your long term, good health. If you become less distracted with the stuff in life that does not matter, you have a better chance of getting this right and getting healthy again. Surely better health will follow you right into the 2012 New Year.

Speaking of that, be sure to keep tuned in to all that’s going on here at the Health Matters Show. I’m starting a new Newsletter and I will be interviewing Dan Howard for a longer, tell-all seminar. I can’t wait! He has so much more to tell us. Today on the broadcast, he goes over “why” his fabulous Intentional Resting technique works. In the longer seminar, he’ll share more goodies, plus help you learn to self-practice intentional resting. As I said, stay tuned right here.

Okay, that’s it for today. Congratulations, dear ones, for making it as well as you have this year. By listening to, following and acting upon what Dan Howard has to offer you, such as his 30-day email Intentional Resting program, you will be several steps ahead and moving forward towards your good health and eliminating a whole lot of mental and emotional stress. You need to relax and there is no better time than now.

Many blessings, Cinda Crawford
Your host of the Health Matters Show

As you and I approach the Christmas season with a goal of surviving it, one thing you may be asking yourself was hinted at last week: if Fibromyalgia Syndrome is not a terminal condition, then why am I still sick? There could be many reasons for whatever answer you come up with. It’s true that some people get over the condition and go on with their lives, while others keep right on suffering. Many people even get worse over time and watch their health decline further! Let’s change that and start now during the Christmas season holiday.

(This audio podcast is 6 minutes 21 seconds)

Okay. Let’s start off by playing a what-if game… what if the quality of your life eroded and got worse, the drama in your life story intensified and your future changed for the absolute worst? Unless you make the right choices now (Christmas or otherwise), you might never get another opportunity to come back and do it right again. Such a time as the Christmas season can be the very event that preempts and precipitates your life and symptoms either tunneling down into the trenches of ultimate pain and agony -or- spiraling upwards towards renewed hope and a re-invigorated life!

The truth is that we all complain sometimes. As soon as you can, though, make a point to lay aside being negative. Lay aside looking for some magic, cure-all drug. Lay aside thoughts that you’ll only be happy when and if… . Instead, put all of this out of your mind because instead you’re concentrating on bigger, better and different things. Things to help you succeed. Things to improve your health and help you get healthy again. I know you want to do whatever it will take to feel better and reclaim your life! Being negative and dependent will not get you where you want to go.

And as for the fluffy stuff? I’m talking about anything that promises you symptom relief or a cure, but isn’t doing the job for you. *In 2012, I’ll be offering you something special which I and lots of people are finding to be priceless. Stay tuned. Personally, I find that few supplements (or drugs) conquer Fibromyalgia. Help maybe, but not really slay the symptoms.

SUGGESTION: Take a few minutes to add up what you’re spending on Fibromyalgia, both on drugs and over-the-counter supplements. After you make a comprehensive list, tuck it away where you can get to it easily. We’ll get back to this. I promise…in a couple weeks, I plan to have all of the data in place to tell you about something F-A-N-T-A-S-T-I-C!!! I’ve got my fingers crossed, too, and I am very, very excited!

Your to-do assignment from last week began with your making a personal list of who or what might trip you up this holiday. When you sat down to make that list, what life points did you focus on? People? Places? Did you concentrate more on emotional problems that could trip you up? Are all of these items really important now that you’ve listed them or did you include any points that actually don’t matter that much?

If you have a few of the latter on your list, go ahead and cross them out now. You can return to the smaller issues later. Today instead, concentrate on what’s crucial in YOU making it through the holidays and working positively on your health. Resolve to get to the crux of the problem NOW. Why not? If you become less distracted with the stuff in life that does not matter, you have a better chance of getting this right. Better health will follow.

Now go ahead and keep working on your list, but save it. Especially, put it up where no one will see it if you’re writing down and thinking about some very personal issues. Then check back next week to compare your answers to mine. Just don’t stop this process. It’s too important. This is your health we’re talking about. Your future depends on you getting this right!

Plus, I’m hoping that you come up with some ideas that I don’t think of. If so, submit and share them in comment form. Get recognition for your hard work while you’re growing and getting control over your Fibromyalgia.

Thanks. I’m Cinda Crawford, host of the Health Matters Show and thanks for attending “Fibromyalgia: Christmas Season Broadcast 2 of 3″

If you suffer with Fibromyalgia or CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), you likely have a major symptom that drives you bonkers at times and it’s called memory problems. It’s much more than an occasional lapse in memory. Today let’s explore a way to look at this that will make better sense than thinking you’re dumb, getting old, losing your mind, or not able to remember anything! And, if we’re successful at this, you should come away with useful knowledge and lesser degree of feeling frightened and helpless with what this illness symptom implies.

(Audio podcast is 8 minutes 45 seconds long)

“I felt so dumb when it was happening…so helpless. My mind just wasn’t there, you know…with me. It was like it had checked out and left my body. And worse than that, I had no idea what to do to get out of the trouble I was in. Plus, I couldn’t figure out why everyone was looking at me so strangely.” At that point, she cried and we hugged a long time.
~~~~~

When I, personally, was so sick for fifteen long years, I found myself in situations like the one my client described many times. I would feel scared, humiliated and definitely worried to the bone, worried that I might lose every cognitive ability I had ever had. In the beginning months, all I could do was read and retain the meaning of the headlines in the newspaper. Sentences strung together in a paragraph no longer made sense and forget about remembering the content. I was lucky to keep general impressions only; details were non-existent.

If this sounds like similar memory problems that you have experienced, ask yourself the following questions, but do so in the comfort and security of your home or in a quiet moment. These are thought provoking, for sure, and you’ll want to take your time to answer them.

I know I’m not crazy, but WHY has my body and brain apparently stopped working together?
WHAT has happened to drive them so far off course? Like the connection between them has been broken?
And WHEN will I feel better and more like myself again? Or will I be in this condition…forever??

The answers to what is going on, what to do about it -and- if it’s possible for you to get significantly better are not simple. Scientists actually have few answers to memory problems. But even so, I urge you to keep reading the following, important background information.

At birth a newborn infant’s immune system usually functions well, maybe even for several months before the first taste of sickness arrives. Doctors tell us this is a carry over of the biological influence and immunity of the mother. As the baby grows and matures, that immune system protection dissipates and, in some cases, the baby’s own system doesn’t function as efficiently. If so, sickness ensues.

Your and my health, as we keep growing from babies to older children, to teenagers and finally to adults, encounter times when the immune system is negatively affected by tough and sometimes virulent disease-promoting entities, like viruses, bacteria, spirochetes, mycoplasmas, etc. And when one of us gets sick, a common symptom is some degree of cognitive impairment of the brain. [Whether we're talking about disease mechanisms actually attacking tissues of the brain (e.g. a herpes virus) or simply the person's central nervous system not working well (e.g. a functional breakdown of the cerebral process, nerve conduction and pathway damage such as what is seen in cases of Multiple Sclerosis), a sick person can be left at one end of the spectrum with a short, mildly dysfunctional physical situation all the way to a totally dysfunctional memory system that would disturb the hardiest of souls!]

And getting back to you, if you have Fibromyalgia or CFS, know that memory problems are extremely common problems. Not rare, not occasional nuisances, but very common problems. If you’re fortunate, the symptoms may come or go, but when significant cognitive dysfunction appears, you, the patient, feel as if your brain is barely functioning. As mentioned in the last paragraph, this could be from the inflammatory process of the body and brain fighting a (example) herpes virus or it can be something else entirely. Either way, your immune system is likely on guard, active and sometimes too active.

Your best bet is aiming to improve and bolster the functionality of your immune system while calming it at the same time. Think about it. In this case, y our immune system is doing the hard work, all the heavy lifting here. Your brain is simply the organ that is most affected when you suffer with significant memory problems. *To find out more about how I help clients successfully refine and re-tune their immune system, I invite you to visit my Free 15 Minute Health Consultation page. I’m happy to help you if I can.

Thank you for joining the Health Matters Show today,
Cinda Crawford, your host

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

Brain fog is the term most people use for cognitive dysfunction, the medical term. It’s a common symptom of Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Infection is a symptom seen in both illnesses, too, but more so in CFS. Check out the following, upcoming scientific symposium & listen to my podcast today. There was surely a link between these two symptoms for me!

(7 minutes 30 seconds)

Find this study at this link. Let’s hope some good information comes out of this symposium and they are able to make even clearer decisions about the obvious (to the patients) link between brain fog, Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Also, I wrote about brain fog symptoms yesterday and there’s a good link and list there, too.

Thank you for visiting the Health Matters Show today. Feel free to leave a comment if you are troubled with any of the aspects of brain fog. Other folks will want to know how you cope with this aggravating symptom.

Cinda Crawford, your host

As I do my third interview with Janice Lynne Lundy, the Buddha Chick, we talk about self-compassion, self-blessing and how these two “self” practices are vitally important if you want to stay well from Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or any illness. Today’s Goal: learning how to take care of yourself in more ways than simply the physical.

I urge you to read about and listen to Janice, a lady who has walked through her own deep, illness valleys (including Chronic Fatigue) and went on to regain her health. Reason? To become a teacher capable of helping others in special ways.

Metta phrases are like soothing phrases, depending on what you’re feeling in the moment. Example: ‘May I feel relaxed. May I feel safe.’

(19 minutes 14 seconds)

Note: If you and I don’t have a safe place of stillness in our lives, we cannot navigate the hills and valleys of them well at all! Instead…engaging in this type of personal practice can evoke previously felt emotions of safety and other healthy feelings. As you practice saying metta phrases, you are promoting your own health and healing! (Without side effects or additional costs.)

QUESTION: As you talk to yourself today, are you being loving and kind or are you fussing at your body for failing you?

Instead of fussing and complaining, love your body; love your whole self in return. During today’s audio podcast, Janice explains why this is such a powerful, healing concept and then she instructs you how to do it. Wow! In addition to great info today, she and I will offer you additional audio interview on Friday, July 22nd, and then on Friday, July 29th, when we do a video interview! That’s when Janice Lynne Lundy will skillfully take you through some marvelous meditations (she promised she would!). Then she’ll tell you about her brand new program Buddha Chick Training for Women with Health Challenges, which begins in September. Take a moment to review the details and I’ll see you back here next Friday. You’ll find the info on this program below:

Thanks so much, Cinda Crawford
Host of the Health Matters Show

I have two- Yes 2! Health and Happening Updates for you today. I know that you want to stay in the loop of what’s going on.

#1: Starting July 26 through July 31, the “Everything is Energy” team is running an online course that you can’t afford to miss. Truly, don’t miss the Everything is Energy World Summit.

Have you heard me say how important it is to consider everything about your energy makeup, if you want to have a chance at healing completely? If you’ve been following me for awhile, you know that’s a core belief for me, my work and what I try to teach my clients.

No matter what the health topic is– Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Lupus, Lyme, migraine headaches or any and all chronic illnesses– energy is both the root of your life blood supporting a healthy “you” and the root of all your health problems! If you don’t really understand or have a good handle on this topic, then you’re at the right place at the right time today. It’s time to get serious and learn what your “energy” is all about so that you improve your chances of getting healthier!

I’ll be there and I hope you will, too.

#2: This Friday, July 15, please return for my “FREE” interview of Janice Lynn Lundy on the Health Matters Show. (If you’re listening here online or at i-Tunes.) You won’t want to miss this third in a series of five interviews about mindfulness and how it can positively impact your health. Friday we’ll be talking about “metta practice” and how self blessing is a major part of self love…two very important self practices. (Access the first interview and the second one from here, if you need to catch up quickly. Friday will be here soon!)

Janice is the creator of the Mindful Makeover Kit, a fantastic resource for learning more about yourself, gaining skills to deal with your ever-changing and challenging life needs and then how to develop subtle but powerful ways to kick your life and health into a gear that promotes sustainable and comforting results.

We all want to live our lives at a level of achievement that is meaningful. And, we want to gain the skills of how to enjoy them in a more healthy state. Alive and kicking can be more than a phrase!

*See Jan’s link to her Mindful Makeover kit below. I truly love what she’s doing with it in helping so many people!

See you back here Friday for the third interview of Janice Lynne Lundy. And thanks for checking in here at the Health Matters Show for our health updates.

Cinda Crawford, your host

**In this Interview: What is a Mindful Makeover?, I am interviewing Janice Lynn Lundy, the Buddha Chick and discussing mindfulness. In case you missed last week’s Health Matters Show, she was my honored guest. Today we will discuss in more detail, what is a Buddha Chick and explain “how” you can be one! How fabulous is that? In Janice’s own words…

The Mindful Makeover Kit empowers women to live physically calm, mentally clear, openhearted lives, handling life’s challenges with ease. It includes 10 Modules, 12 hours of downloadable recordings, Workbook, Buddha Chick™ Affirmation Cards, and private mentoring support. Nothing short of a complete life makeover with mindfulness and self-compassion.

I believe in these concepts so much that I am working on my own Mindful Makeover. One can always learn new and improved skills for being healthier and enjoying a better quality of life.

With Janice’s expert guidance, she encourages you and I to do one thing at the time and be fully present (inside and out). Get rid of your tendency towards mind-less living. Begin to sense how the world is really impacting your life. What feelings (good and bad) are you most aware of? In your sickness, which feelings and awarenesses have you blocked out and chosen to ignore?

I urge you to “make over” your life for the better starting right now. How? By making better choices. Wiser choices. Learning the techniques and tools that Janice teaches will help you arrive at a place of balance and a better quality of health.

Today, you can hear Janice talk about the “Magic Formula” for inner peace… .

(17 minutes 27 second broadcast)

1. What is the magic formula for inner peace?
2. Learn how clarity can come to your world more clearly.
3. How wisdom arises through love, gratitude and calmness.
4. How through the 50 audio course, you can master self-pacing and find the support that you need to be healthy.
5. Learn the life-long benefits of manifesting self-compassion and gentleness towards yourself.

Yes, it turns out that mindfulness is a kissing cousin to self-compassion. As you grow in mindfulness, you can lead a life full of loving kindness. As you tap into your body’s innate wisdom, know that you didn’t ask to be sick from Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or any illness. But you do gain advantages from living with it, if you choose to be mindful.

It’s time to embrace yourself with self-compassion and love. Do this for YOU! Discover exactly…what is a Mindful Makeover with the Buddha Chick.

Cinda Crawford, Health Matters Show

The month of July 2011 on the Health Matters Show will be an extra special one as I am interviewing Janice Lynne Lundy. She is a phenomenal lady and someone who has a lot of knowledge, wisdom and tools for helping each person not only recover from Fibromyalgia, conquer Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, but also useable, comprehensive tips for being as healthy as possible.

Today I start off with the first of our five interviews for the month of July. The first four will show up each Friday as that week’s podcast.

The fifth will be a video interview. Read more about it below and how you can get involved and get your questions answered. Be sure to catch every one of them, if you can!

(If you do happen to miss one or you’re new to my audience, simply scan down the left side of the page until you find the podcast you’re looking for -or- check the “Broadcast Shows” tab on the top navigation bar. Each Health Matters Show broadcast is accessible there. Once on the page, click on the ‘title’ link.)

On the fifth Friday, July 29th, I will offer you a video podcast/ seminar where Janice and I will wrap up the month by summarizing the main points we’ve covered and answering any questions that you send. Please submit them this month by leaving a comment here at the Health Matters Show or email them directly to me at cinda@getwellhealth.com. Plus, plus, plus…by tuning in for the fifth and final Friday in July special broadcast, you will also get access to a special deal than Jan is offering each member of my audience!

And yes…I’m sure that you will be convinced like me, Janice Lynne Lundy is the real deal. Hear how she recovered from serious illness. She knows how much it means to suffer with chronic fatigue, chronic pain and exhaustion. She knows what it takes to struggle and finally attain a precious renewed state of health. I urge you to find Janice’s websites, products and services main link below, plus learn more about her special July 7th class called, The Fundamentals of Fear Control. And now for today’s Health Matters Show interview… .

(17 minute 50 second show)

You’ve probably guessed by now…Janice is the Buddha Chick! Click on the image above or go to the the Buddha Chick webpage. See the Events tab to learn more about her July 7th class about fear. Can’t we all learn more about this controlling emotion and how to handle it better in our lives? Of course the answer is YES! (She accepts donations to attend this 90-minute class.)

Thanks so much. Mark your calendars and leave your questions!
Cinda Crawford, host of the Health Matters Show

Know that in interviewing Janice Lynne Lundy, I am honored to be able to bring you quality information and help for healing what is injured and needs help within you. Whether you’re trying to recover from Fibromyalgia or seeking to conquer Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or some other illness, you want to learn about how to be as healthy as possible.

]]> http://healthmattershow.com/interviewing-janice-lynne-lundy/feed/ 5 http://healthmattershow.com/saying-yes-when-we-really-mean-no/ http://healthmattershow.com/saying-yes-when-we-really-mean-no/#comments Wed, 22 Jun 2011 15:49:06 +0000 Cinda Crawford http://healthmattershow.com/?p=23493

We all make sacrifices from time to time and we feel them acutely when we’re saying yes when we really mean no!

How do you survive Fibro or CFS with outside pressures?

Such is the case for a lot of women and men who are ill. Imagine this…you’re asked to do things that go wa-y beyond:

1. What you feel like doing. *You’re closer to having someone do for you instead of you doing for them!
2. What your intuition says you should do. (e.g. What is wise for you?)
3. What your body, mind and spirit can tolerate without you going off the deep end. *If you’re near a ledge, don’t jump. Keep reading.

I’m headed soon for a trip with ‘family’. I thinking it will be a challenge to be in the car for such a long time with people who don’t understand computers that well, don’t see the need in being “social” over the Internet, don’t understand the illnesses that I lived with for 20 years nor how some symptoms can flare up when certain conditions arise- like extended time sitting in the car. What do I mean by the statement, “They simply do not understand”? I’m betting you have some understanding because of challenges you live with in your own life.

Just as nothing this moment will get me past those anticipated hours in the car, I hold out hope that maybe the experience will bring me closer to my family members. Maybe, I will be able to retain my person power and not lose it foolishly, vociferously, or uncharacteristic of a lady. Wish me luck that I can hold my tongue and instead drink in the learning experience. After all, God has placed this particular one in my path for a reason… .

Take a look at the snippet of Diane Wing’s article below. It is posted at BizyMoms Expert Advice. See if you don’t agree with all of these principles. At least, pick up some great answers to help you the next time this type of situation rears it’s arbitrary head in your life.

We have all done it – given away our personal power to those around us – to family members, significant others, bosses, and friends. We submit to their needs, even to the detriment of our own. We say yes when we really do not want to or push something aside that we wanted to do for our personal gratification so that we can give the time to someone else. There may or may not be a thank you or any semblance of appreciation for your sacrifice, and it makes you feel like it wasn’t worth it, regretful that you missed out on the thing you really wanted to do, or worse, resentful of the other person for making demands on you. You feel exhausted and ineffective as you move through life helping everyone else with their needs and neglecting your own.

~~~~~~

Catch Diane’s whole article for more of her thoughts at this link. See if you don’t relate to portions of it. And, either way, even if you’re not vocalizing your heart, you have an important goal in mind and a method to achieve your long term growth. Is it sainthood? Who can say. Life requires that everyone of us grow and change toward some degree of maturity, wholeness and light. So what is today’s goal for us? To be more whole, healthier and more in control even as… we’re saying “Yes” when we really mean “No!”.

Blessings,
Cinda Crawford, host of the Health Matters Show

]]> http://healthmattershow.com/saying-yes-when-we-really-mean-no/feed/ 0 http://healthmattershow.com/balancing-life-and-fibromyalgia-video-tip-series-2/ http://healthmattershow.com/balancing-life-and-fibromyalgia-video-tip-series-2/#comments Fri, 10 Jun 2011 14:45:24 +0000 Cinda Crawford http://healthmattershow.com/?p=23322

Balancing life and Fibromyalgia together is a constant physical, mental, emotional and spiritual battle for most people who are ill.

• If that’s you, it is likely that you constantly struggle with physical tasks. Can you do this or that? Will you fall down and get hurt? Will your body cooperate and have enough stamina to complete the job?
• Mental challenges can either be tough -or- totally un-doable because of the difficulty of using your brain totally overwhelmed with brain fog (e.g. Fibro fog or cognitive dysfunction).
  

  “Trying to think through Fibro fog is like slogging through a mud bog or a severe head cold for which the head congestion never goes away.”

• Emotionally you may be tired of waging the daily battle, but what choice do you have? If you want to get well, you have to show up and fight everyday.
• And spiritually, you may be having a tough time holding on to your faith, but your Creator is always there beside you to help you. He will provide you the love and support that you need.

Today, let’s talk about the art of balancing the multi-areas, the multi-tasks of life. When did you ever have the luxury of only handling one thing at the time? Please leave your comments below. It would be such a nice, multi-task gesture!

BALANCE (or the act of balancing) implies that you have the ability to multi-task and do several things at once.

I think that women are fairly good at multi-tasking when they’re feeling well; men, not so much so. However, on bad days when a Fibro flare has raised it’s ugly head, no person with Fibromyalgia can usually handle more than one task at the time. You’re probably doing good to get one thing accomplished without triggering a headache or severe fatigue.

On days when you’re sub-par (even more brain fog than usual) mentally or physically, back off. Choose your most important or most rewarding task and tackle it first.

If you get it done and you’re proud of your accomplishment, revel in the glory. If you can’t finish it, put it at the top of your to-do list for the next available day or time slot. Remember: slow and steady wins the race! The rabbit probably is still panting by the side of the road!

Thanks so much and don’t forget to leave a comment with your own tips for “balancing life and Fibromyalgia”! Brain fog is one of its tougher symptoms…for sure.

Cinda Crawford, show host

]]> http://healthmattershow.com/balancing-life-and-fibromyalgia-video-tip-series-2/feed/ 4 http://healthmattershow.com/when-life-runs-over-you/ http://healthmattershow.com/when-life-runs-over-you/#comments Tue, 24 May 2011 16:10:57 +0000 Cinda Crawford http://healthmattershow.com/?p=23231

Many people who either are or have been sick with an illness like Fibro or CFS know what I mean before I even explain the phrase, “When life runs over you!” That’s because each person who suffers with Fibromyalgia (Fibro) or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) does good to simply keep his or her head above water and not drown in the rapids. Yes, LIFE, even when it’s hum-drum and uneventful, can still be very tough.

Today, I encourage you to share with my Health Matters Show blog what part of your life seems to be on a runaway freight train.

If you’ve been doing better, but then got hit with a super stressful situation, tell us how it affected you. How did you come out of it? If you’ve only been barely scraping by enough to be labeled human, then share away.

What is always best at a point like this is to share freely, but leave everyone who reads this post and your comment with something positive. Something you learned or re-learned about your life or your health. How are you surviving? How will you get ahead of this and enjoy better health in the days or weeks ahead?

Then on Friday, I’ll tell you how I recently had to “face” this topic personally: When Life Runs Over You. Boy, did I ever! On the Friday podcast, I’ll share. I’ll let it all hang out and I’ll hopefully leave you with more hope and help for your future days ahead.

Now, leave your comments below. Leave other people with a little bit of your experience and your wisdom. We all need it and want it!

Thanks so much,
Cinda Crawford, host of the Health Matters Show

]]> http://healthmattershow.com/when-life-runs-over-you/feed/ 2 http://healthmattershow.com/celebrating-earth-day-3-projects-you-can-do/ http://healthmattershow.com/celebrating-earth-day-3-projects-you-can-do/#comments Fri, 22 Apr 2011 13:34:03 +0000 Cinda Crawford http://healthmattershow.com/?p=22968

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

]]> http://healthmattershow.com/celebrating-earth-day-3-projects-you-can-do/feed/ 0 http://healthmattershow.com/emotional-health-chronic-illness/ http://healthmattershow.com/emotional-health-chronic-illness/#comments Fri, 08 Apr 2011 14:39:21 +0000 Cinda Crawford http://healthmattershow.com/?p=22881

When you think of emotional health, you do not naturally think of chronic illness, but today we’re doing just that. Why? Because this issue is a tough nut to crack for anyone suffering with long term Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Today, I talk some about the people I run into with these illnesses. Not by name, of course, but by general description, what’s going on in their lives and what you and I face on a day to day basis.

I encourage you to get in on this conversation, the Health Matters Show Friday podcast. (If you listen to it on i-Tunes, please rate the show. The Health Matters Show needs your support in this manner. It would be a treasured show of support.)

We all want good emotional health. When we were healthy (e.g. pre-illness), we did all we could do to boost our emotions while staying strong and steady to the pressure of life’s demands. After illness, the challenge is probably 1000% tougher. Why do I use such a percentage? Because that’s what it feels like! You’re trying ten times harder than a normal person just to stay in place…much less move ahead.

(12 minutes, 56 seconds audio podcast)

When you’re really ill, the world seems to race by at a prolific speed. Sometimes what happens makes no sense. You perpetually worry about…

• whether you’re keeping up,
• whether you should even try,
• and on bad days, where is the next stopping point to get off of this horrible merry-go-round.

Because of this, people with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome are almost universally challenged with emotional health issues. Anyone who says they are not challenged emotionally at all is probably offering you a whopper of a fib.

As for the chronic illness part, the rub comes from the fact that the day to day challenge of living and surviving can turn into a monthly, yearly, decades long contest that you’d rather not compete in at all. “Let me out of these Olympics!”

Again, where do you go to get off this crazy ride? How do you conquer your own emotional health issues? And finally, how do you get well and leave chronic illness behind you for good?

Join me today on the podcast where I reflect on the past with friends and look forward to the future of better days ahead…from emotional health issues of chronic illness.

Thanks so much.

Cinda Crawford, host of the Health Matters Show

]]> http://healthmattershow.com/emotional-health-chronic-illness/feed/ 0 http://healthmattershow.com/men-and-cfs-nine-symptoms-to-consider/ http://healthmattershow.com/men-and-cfs-nine-symptoms-to-consider/#comments Fri, 25 Mar 2011 14:16:45 +0000 Cinda Crawford http://healthmattershow.com/?p=22688

The topic of men and CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) may be seldom discussed, but it exists. I believe that’s because of several reasons that are not so hard to understand once you look at the nature of men and how they differ from women. Remember the old saw about Venus and Mars…women are from Venus and men are from Mars? In this way, men and CFS exist in a similar off-beat relationship. Maybe more so.

The words men and CFS should not exist in the same sentence,
should they?
Isn’t CFS a woman’s disease?
It doesn’t turn out to be that way at all.

Today, I’m thinking about how men and CFS get along and don’t get along with each other. That’s because men are supposed to be the dragon slayers of life. That’s how our Creator designed them to work. They function as the macho protectors and the high-handed, unrealistic notion is that they should not nor will not get sick in life. They can’t afford to fall ill if they are to protect the family, bring home the bacon and provide everything that everyone needs, right?

Learn more about this below and the nine CFS symptoms you need to consider:

(12 minutes 2 seconds)

The answer is no, they can’t always be the dragon slayers, especially when a horrible illness like CFS hits. As a health problem, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome has the capacity to knock the props out from under any man or any woman. In an article written by Dr. Mark Rosenberg, he states,

unlike women who suffer from CFS, managing the illness can pose unique problems for men. First of all, most men do not express their feelings easily, even when feeling sick, and visit doctors less often causing them to suffer in silence.

Secondly, men’s perception of their worth is typically tied to their career, earning potential, and/or their ability to take care of themselves or a family. When a man starts having chronic symptoms, he may feel less masculine, afraid, or try to ignore his symptoms. In some cases men may push even harder to maintain a private and public expectation, which only adds to their fatigue.

(Here is the link if you later want to read this article in its entirety.)

This illness can leave you with the following 9 CFS symptoms:

• #1 Fatigue: A person with CFS has “persistent, life-altering fatigue not related to exertion, not relieved by rest.” Most men are unfamiliar with feeling tired all the time. They typically go through life with all the energy they need. If they get to the point of feeling too tired and not having enough energy, they may recoil and retreat to a sick bed for a day. However, the bedrest will not help that much with this particular illness and it’s not long before the man realizes that something is really wrong. That can lead to more confusion and emotional unrest.

To have a diagnosis of CFS, a person (man or woman) must also have four or more of the symptoms listed below.

• #2 Short term memory impairment: That means the memory is ailing, too, especially when you try to recall recent events. I used to describe this symptom as if my memories just didn’t stick to the sides of my brain. Instead, they just fell off! Sometimes I could retrieve them after being prompted. Other times, it was as if I had never made the memory at all.
• #3 Impaired mental function, lack of concentration, brain fog, depression: This is a big category, but basically it means you have trouble thinking, can’t concentrate and the whole situation is about to get the best of you! Like women, men don’t do well when they don’t feel in charge of their life, but I think more so. Men have an urgency within them to always be in command of what they’re doing and how they are accomplishing their perceived tasks. If they can’t be in charge or feel in charge, depression often sets in and must be battled as an additional problem.
• #4 Sore throat, Swollen lymph nodes or Low Grade Fever : A sore throat is something that anyone can tolerate for awhile, but a relentless sore throat? That’s another story. Men are not that used to putting up with small health problems and they don’t possess much natural sensibility about paying attention to their bodies. (In many cases, they are commended for ignoring pain and suffering!) If swollen lymph nodes are present along with a low grade fever, men will seek out the care of their doctor. They may walk into his office quicker than a woman, but few doctors naturally suspect CFS is the culprit and will regard their symptoms as stemming from other causes.
• #5 Muscle or joint pain without redness or swelling: When muscles and joints hurt for a long period of time, some type of muscle or joint disorder may be diagnosed. Blood tests and x-rays can be given to confirm the finding. But when they don’t come back as expected and other ideas fail, Fibromyalgia may be the logical diagnosis. Few men ever get it. When joints ache and swell, some other rheumatological problem may be diagnosed as the cause of the dysfunction, e.g. osteoarthritis. The truth is that these are symptoms of CFS in both men and women; few doctors recognize them. In addition, there can be a concurrent health problems going on or it may simply be another symptom of CFS.
• #6 Unusual headaches for you: If you begin to have headaches that are different in severity or type, these headaches may be a symptom of CFS. They may get classed as migraine headaches or some other type.
• #7 Sensitivity to smells, noise, light, medications, food: Gaining a sudden over-sensitivity to the world around you is a very common symptom of CFS. If you notice that everyone in the room is talking too loud and you want to get out of there, this symptoms is present. If you can’t stand the smell of a food cooking, notice the symptom. If prescription or over-the-counter medications begin to cause side-effects in you or they cross-react with each other, you indeed may have this problem. (Now this can be present in healthy people, but it is an extremely common symptom in people with CFS.) Also, a sensitivity to light may also be present and either bring on or aggravate those unusual headaches listed above.
• #8 Sleep dysfunction: Some people with this illness sleep too much or not enough. They may want to sleep for extremely long periods of time and at inappropriate times, like during the day. Later on, they feel the need to stay up all night. It is easy to get out of a normal sleep cycle, if you keep up this pattern too long. The problem can throw off other rhythms in your body and that can be damaging also. It is not uncommon for sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome or periodic limb movements to show up as additional sleep dysfunctions. If nighttime sleep difficulties become too severe, a man and wife may not be able to sleep together and be forced to seek out the refuge of a couch or another bedroom in the house.
• #9 Immune System dysfunction and impairment: Most people with CFS exhibit immune system irregularities. It may be a bit weaker and show a man’s susceptibility to every germ that passes his way. It may be overly functioning and cause him to be more prone to allergies or autoimmune symptoms. Either way, the immune system is not balanced and functioning normally. When men exhibit this symptom, it may make them feel weak “as a man” and even inadequate, as if there is nothing they can do to stay well and healthy. This can be disheartening and either promote or interact with ongoing depression. Such a reality or attitude does not work to help a man improve his functionality and therefore his overall health. Such negative emotions further depress the immune system.

I hope this discussion of the 9 CFS symptoms help to further explain what can be going on with men and CFS.

Cinda Crawford, host of the Health Matters Show

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