Pain Vs Exercise

I started on Gabapentin last year to help with my Fibromyalgia, it has helped to mask some of the pain, however it has made me put on over a stone in about 8 months. Holidaying in France eating cheese and drinking wine everyday probably didn't help, however the Gabapentin is known for slowing down metabolism and as I haven't really changed my diet I am assuming this is the problem.

Now, the problem with my Fibromyalgia is that it is a vicious cycle, of needing to exercise to work the muscles and help ease the pain, to not being able to do those things because the condition causes your whole body to ache for days on end. A never ending cycle of wanting to be active but being in so much pain you can't be.

However, my jeans are a little snug, so it is time to lose some weight. I had been swimming regularly since the new year to try and lose weight, but with half term and a dodgy knee, I haven't been for a few weeks. Life simply seems to get in the way.

I need to get a grip though, this isn't about me 'not needing to lose weight because I'm not fat' as I hear from friends and family so often, maybe not to the naked eye, but my body has changed shape and I am so conscious of it myself that I need to do it for me.

I try to be fibro-warrior, I try to get through the days and so if I can do that, then I can get rid of the weight I am carrying. I also think that it is probably adding to my weariness and I need to do it to feel better about me.

So, I have applied for a day pass to my local Nuffield Gym to see what it's like, I will be doing that and I will be getting back into my swimming, as well as going out for walks on my days off. You'd think that the amount of house work and running around I do I'd be fine but obviously something has changed in my body and I need to get better, for me and for my family.

Helping Me Sleep - SoeMac Review

For the last few months I have been trialling a device called the SoeMac, it is designed to help people with their sleep. The device is a non invasive alternative oxygen therapy treatment, that allows your body to have a more restorative sleep, therefore helping with a wide range of sleep and health problems, from snoring, to ME & CFS, Asthma to Sleep Apnea.

The SoeMac is the world’s first and only home use Singlet Oxygen Energy therapy device. Until now, this Oxygen Energy therapy has only been available to users by means of very expensive, large machines, which rely on the use of a nasal cannula, or mask, to deliver the Oxygen Energy to the user.

The device itself is small and fits neatly and unobtrusively on my bedside table, it comes with extra filters and a power supply.

Having suffered with Fibromyalgia for the last two years, this device seemed like the perfect product for me.  My fibromyalgia often causes me to not sleep well, usually such a light sleep that I never feel fully rested.

Not having a good night sleep affects how you function on a daily basis and also exacerbates the pain that comes with this complicated condition.

Since using this device I have most definitely had better, deeper sleep, in the mornings, my body feels refreshed and like I have actually been asleep. As the device may work differently for everyone, SoeMac have a solid returns policy, if you are not happy with the product, then within 30 days, they will accept it back for a refund. After speaking to the inventor, he told me they have had a handful back in all the time they've been selling them.

Since we have had the SoeMac, my husband has stopped snoring as much, although not completely, I would say that 90% of nights have been snore free. Which, to say I could have put the pillow over his head many a night, then this is better.

I have been using this since the end of January and it takes about 30 days for the effects of the oxygen therapy to be noticed, however since this time I have felt more refreshed in the morning and I put this down to a better quality of deeper sleep.

We went on a holiday about a month ago and I didn't take it with me, I had disturbed sleep whilst we were away, but being in an unfamiliar place and in a tent with lots of noises, that could be expected. Although I didn't fully notice the effects of not having the SoeMac on until we got back, it then took another few weeks for me to get back into the sleep routine I had found.

One thing I must mention is the light and sound from the machine, whilst I wear ear mufflers that block out low background noise there is a whirring sound from the machine, similar to that of a PC, if you are light sleeper then this may be something to consider. The red light which is part of the science behind the machine is quite bright, I know some people find this sort of thing bothersome and I was a little worried I would, however the red light is fine and I have actually found it quite therapeutic. My husband hasn't noticed either the light or sound from the machine so this is only what I have observed.

So, do I think this works? Yes, I do and whilst for me, it hasn't eliminated the pain, it has assisted with the downright struggle that was being tired. A tiredness that comes on so quickly it is like a light has been turned off inside of me.

The product itself costs £419 which is a considerable outlay, however with how much prescriptions and medicines cost to help fight some of the conditions this can help aid, then I think it needs to be seen as investment.

NB: I was sent the SoeMac device in return for my honest opinion on the product.

Starting my Fitness Journey

My health at the moment is not that great, with exhaustion like I've hit a brick wall most afternoons, I know something has to change.

So, after a chat with a colleague about running, I decided it was time to do something about this and try doing the Couch to 5K.

Sainsbury's currently have the Fitbit Flex on offer, so I bought this to see how many steps a day actually do.

It's super simple to setup and looks just like a watch, it can be worn in the shower and the soft plastic strap doesn't rub. Using the app on my phone I can keep track of how many steps I am taking, as well as monitoring my sleep, calorie intake and how much i'm burning throughout the day too.

People often label stay at home mums as lazy, assuming all we do all day is sit on the sofa or in a cafe and drink coffee.

Well yesterday I did over 12,000 steps, I walked around the park, the shops, did the school run and generally went about my day.

So I know I am covering about the right amount of steps a day but now I need to get ready for the Couch to 5k. I have some great products coming my way to make things easier so stay tuned for my progress reports and reviews.

Look After Your Back

Whilst reading #52LittleThings over on The Oliver's Madhouse this week, it got me thinking about my neck problems and how important it really is to look after your neck and back.

About five years ago I was sat at the breakfast table, I yawned and did that arm stretch thing you do, immediately a pain shot down my neck and I was pretty much stuck with my neck to one side.

Worst thing was it was a bank holiday, I managed to find a chiropractor that was open and from that point on I have seen one every month since.

Now it's a case of keeping on top of any potential problems, with my fibromyalgia being the source of most pain now it is a constant reminder of just how delicate we really are, and how important our skeleton and our muscles are.

When my son was born my husband had been in a lot of pain for months, he couldn't even move on the day our son was born. Sat in the corner he was probably in more pain than me, he'd certainly had a lot more drugs.

Years of bad trainers and sitting poorly had meant his discs had ruptured, the consultant was shocked that someone so young had such badly herniated discs! Five weeks after my son was born he had major back surgery, and it took about three months for him to fully recover.

Your back is so important and with so many gadgets these days that mean you are constantly looking down I suspect things will only get worse.

I limit the use of iPads in our house, mainly because of the position you sit in to play on them. When I'm on my phone I try and keep it held at face height so as not to be looking down putting much unneeded pressure on my neck.

Your back is so precious and it isn't until you have a bad back or neck you realise just how much it can affect your whole life.

Look after your back, it is so important. This post was bought to your from someone who had a bad nights sleep and has a sore neck this morning.

The Real Mums All-Bran 5 Day Challenge

When I saw the brief for The Real Mums All-Bran 5 Day Challenge I knew I wanted to get involved, not only did they sound really tasty but the reason for taking the challenge sounded perfect for me.

Suffering with bloating most days and a sluggish tummy the challenge sounded like a great opportunity to change something simple in my diet to try and help with these problems. 

Here is short video of how I got on…

The three flavours are all unique in their own way and there is something for everyone, whether you are a chocolate fan, fruit fan or anything sweet really.

The chocolate I think were my favourite and that of my children who I reluctantly shared with, I loved the texture of the wheat, I do like shredded wheats anyway and these were very similar except with teeny tiny chocolate pieces in. I didn’t need a lot in the bowl to fill me up and it satisfied the often sweet taste I prefer in the morning, the chocolate wasn’t overpoweringly sweet and I really enjoyed the taste.

The red berry crunch all bran offered a fresh tasting fruit option for those who aren’t keen on chocolate, great for summer days where you just want a hit of freshness in the morning, I’m not normally a freeze dried fruit fan but these just hit the spot.

And finally the golden crunch, a great alternative to the above, sweet and tasty I didn’t need a lot to fill me up and again I managed most of the morning without snacking.

Not only did this cereal taste great it really did help, after day three my stomach felt a lot less heavy and bloated and was a lot  flatter, I really noticed a change in how my stomach was by the end of the day too, be gone the six month pregnant looking belly.

This simple act of changing my morning routine has helped with how my stomach feels throughout the day, making me feel fuller for longer and helping me to stop snacking.

A happy tummy also means a happier you, did you know that 90 to 95 per cent of the ‘happy’ hormone serotonin is made in the gut? A study* of 1,000 UK women found 52 per cent experience digestive complaints, such as bloating or gas, at least once a week. Eating fibre everyday is a simple remedy for happy tums.(*Source for all research findings included in this document: Kellogg’s All-Bran Save Our Stomachs European Research Study (2014) conducted by Edelman Berland. The full report is available upon request.)

So did I feel happier, yes I did, was it the cereal? Who  knows, was it just because I felt less like a sack of potatoes, probably.

I am looking forward to wearing my swimming costume on the beach which I didn't think would be possible! I have carried on with the cereal and am even thinking of taking some with me to France!

This post is an entry for the Real Mums of All-Bran Linky Challenge, sponsored by Kelloggs. I was sent the three boxes of cereal to try for the challenge. All thoughts, opinions and pictures are my own.

Weleda Insight Day

Yesterday I was lucky enough to be invited to one of the Weleda Insight Days up at their UK head office in Ilkeston. Having worked just up the road for the last 9 years I felt terrible that I didn't know they were there.

Weleda is a brand that most of us will have come into contact with at some point in our lives, my memory is always of their Calendolon Ointment (now Calendula Skin Salve) that my mum called magic cream, it was her go-to antiseptic cream for bumps and scrapes.

On arrival at Weleda, we were taken into a lovely open space with tea, coffee and drinks whilst we chatted and waited for the day to start. An introduction to Weleda and how the business started was the first of many 'i never knew thats' from me. Rudolph Stiener, who I knew of from the Stiener schools, was the person that helped start Weleda.

Off to the gardens, again I never knew this is where they were, having driven past them several times.  We were greeted by Michael Bates who was a gardener at Weleda for 30 years before retiring, his wealth of knowledge on the plants, how they work and the whole Weleda philosophy knew no bounds.

I think we all stood in awe at the information being presented to us, I know I have much more of an appreciation for plants now than I had before. Have you ever taken the time to look at the leaves on a plant? How they change as you move from the roots to the flower, if you hold up a St Johns Wort leaf to the light it has tiny holes in it. Amazing stuff!

There were so many wonderful flowers in the garden, including the beautiful Chamomile flower, the properties of this useful flower know no bounds. I promptly had a cup of chamomile tea when we got back after hearing of its medicinal properties. On the flip side, we also saw poison ivy and a few other not so pleasant plants.

And finally onto the flower I know best, in relation to Weleda anyway, the beautiful calendula flower (part of the marigold family). The plot with them on was vibrant orange and beautifully swaying in the breeze.

Afterwards we got to see a demo with one of the other gardeners, she showed us how they take the plants and turn them into a tincture. I got to be one of the helpers and was pretty proud of my chopping.

After lunch, which was not only beautiful but from my the deli local to my work, it was divine and a lovely break in the day.

In the afternoon, we got to test lots of Weleda products, trying them out and learning about the lead plants (the one which is is the main ingredient). My favourite has to be the Sea Buckthorn. I am really excited to have found this, in fact I am hoping the Sea Buckthorn Juice might help with my Fibromyalgia and the tiredness.

All of the different smells were amazing, I am really looking forward to using the citrus hand and nail cream which we were lucky enough to get a sample of, a review will be up later of this great product and some others too.

Overall what I learned about this company and what they do has made me all the more determined to get me and my family using more if not all natural products.

NB. I was invited to the Weleda Insight Day and received a bag of goodies, however no payment has been received for this post and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Mental Health and Me

Last week I spoke to someone from the Let's Talk team in Nottingham, having suffered with unexplained pain for the last 8-9 months it has taken it's toll. There is no fuse anymore not even a short one, I lose my temper over silly things quite quickly and worry about everything, from the bee on the floor dying to sending my son to school with a grape in case he chokes.

I have no idea why I am this way or have started with these fears and feelings, but something is obviously wrong so I have been referred for CBT (Cognitive Behaviroual Therapy).

I saw a counsellor when I was at school and after the birth of my son a Perinatal Mental Health Nurse came to see me to help me with my PND.

So I guess I am predisposed to mental health problems but what with the diagnosis of Fibromyalgia (although this is something that can never be 100% diagnosed) it has just gotten to much, thoughts and feelings that I shouldn't be having are there again.

Day's, although that is all they are, where the darkness sets in and I feel close the edge of a pit I know only too well.

Staring at the ever further away light at the end of the tunnel, but I know I need to be better for my children.

I used to use my blog to post about my feelings but it got a little like I was talking to myself, but maybe that is who I need to talk too.

More to come on my journey with some CBT and Fibromyalgia and if anyone has been through CBT I would love to hear more about whether it helped or not.