Living with Chronic Illness & Disorders: Are You a Survivor?

Written by C. Bailey-Lloyd/LadyCamelot


Once upon a time, I was a vibrant, youthful teenager...

My First Encounter

During my first pregnancy, I had contracted chicken pox from my young nephews and niece. Though it made for an irritable time in my initial trimester, I hadn't given it much aforethought. Inrepparttar last part of my pregnancy, I noticed some weakness in my legs and arms, but naturally assumed it was part ofrepparttar 138519 gestational effects.

It was after I gave birth, that I began having more frequent physical difficulties, but again, attributed these nuisances to normal post-partum effects. As time progressed, I began losing balance & coordination; and even dropped everyday household items such as glasses, keys, and other things as well. I had finally had enough when my rib cage began to feel broken and I couldn't standrepparttar 138520 pain any longer. Over a decade later, and after numerous doctor visits, MRIs and multiple lab tests; I was finally diagnosed with Fibromyalgia.

What is Fibromyalgia? Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain illness that can cause musculoskeletal pain in various areas ofrepparttar 138521 body, is characterized by fatigue, and is often associated with Restless Leg Syndrome, Migraine and rheumatism - to name a few. Additionally, attacks of fibromyalgia seem to spontaneously come and go.

At first, I was treated with multiple 'pain aids' that did help withrepparttar 138522 pain, but made me even more tired than I was before I tookrepparttar 138523 medicines. Eventually, I went offrepparttar 138524 medications and focused on my work and simply 'ignored'repparttar 138525 illness. I figured if I had to live with it, I might as well accept it.

What I Didn't Know

What I didn't realize was that Fibromyalgia can weaken a person so much that sometimes, individuals can be more quickly injured or more prone to other conditions than those without Fibromyalgia. That's when I experienced my first real encounter with its lethal effects. While at work, I wasn't doing anything too terribly physical. However, it wasrepparttar 138526 day in and day out repititions of physical labor that not only added to my condition but wrecked further havoc on me as well - and left me susceptible to injury.

Onrepparttar 138527 Job Injury

There I was, performing my normal work activities when, 'Ouch!' and 'Oh my God!' entered my mouth. The pain was excruciating. Numbing and impairing. With a simple maneuver, I was incapacitated. Pain and tingling numbness ran down my right side. It was unbearable. Not only that, I could barely make it torepparttar 138528 office because I had to drag my right leg to get to where I needed to be.

When I got torepparttar 138529 hospital, I was told that "...you sprained your back..." That was it. No MRIs, just a quick once-over to tell me that all my pain, my lack of feeling - according to workers compensation' doctors - was merely a 'sprained back.'

I knew I had fibromyalgia, but it had NEVER acted in this sense. Not because I was 'weak,' but because my right side had gone totally numb. It was frustrating to sayrepparttar 138530 least. Nearly 9 months after my injury, and even working on light-duty while taking heavy pain killers, doctors FINALLY found that my right shoulder had been subluxated (dislocated) and scheduled me for surgery. Afterrepparttar 138531 surgery, I went through months of agonizing physical therapy to get my right arm back into its proper range of motion. Butrepparttar 138532 numbness,repparttar 138533 back pain andrepparttar 138534 lack of feeling in my legs still came and went without any signs of remorse.

Shocking Discovery

Byrepparttar 138535 time I had went through my rehabilitation, my employer 'let me go' because I was obviously unable to work. I attempted to go back to work as an office manager for a wonderful & understanding employer, (I figured it was light work.) and performed fairly well for a few months. Suddenly, I was in a hospital emergency room - this time, I came out in a wheelchair. Not only did MRI tests confirm I had a herniated disc atrepparttar 138536 C-3/4, but I also had a spinal lesion (myelopathy) atrepparttar 138537 C-1/2. Strange that workers compensation doctors coudn't find it, but numerous MRI tests this time, confirmed it.

the truth about omega 3

Written by jane stewart


Since Dr Basant Puri, a consultant psychiatrist and senior lecturer at London's Imperial College MRI unit, released his findings on Omega 3 and its effect on brain function and depression, many studies have been performed regardingrepparttar beneficial effects of this fatty acid. Studies overrepparttar 138499 past two years have consistently confirmed that Omega 3, a substance lacking in today’s “diet” is a key component inrepparttar 138500 brain’s development and proper functioning.

The notion that Omega 3 was linked to depression and other mental illnesses came about based on studies conducted at Harvard University in 1999 on people with bipolar and a 1996 study byrepparttar 138501 Journal ofrepparttar 138502 American Medical Association studyingrepparttar 138503 prevalence of depression across ten countries. The Harvard study found that fish oil was an effective treatment for bipolar. The study conducted byrepparttar 138504 Journal ofrepparttar 138505 American Medical Association was expanded upon in 1998 when it was discovered that depression was lower in countries that consumed higher levels of fish.

Omega 3 As Part Of A Healthy Diet

Omega 3 is a substance found most commonly in fatty fish such as fresh salmon, tuna, mackerel, pilchards and sardines. Overrepparttar 138506 last 100 yearsrepparttar 138507 western diet has shifted radically to include far less fish and thusrepparttar 138508 Omega 3 fatty acid. Duringrepparttar 138509 same time depression is estimated to have increased up to 100 fold.

To maintain ideal health,repparttar 138510 average person should consume five grams daily of essential fatty acids (divided between Omega 3 and Omega 6). As this is not likely to change at any point inrepparttar 138511 near future some recommendations have been laid out for those who choose to take Omega 3 supplements. These recommendations will be listed further below inrepparttar 138512 section titled, “Omega 3 Supplements”.

Omega 3 And The Brain

Whilerepparttar 138513 benefits of Omega 3 fatty acids can be noticed on many levels,repparttar 138514 biggest breakthroughs documented have occurred in improved mental functions and health. Omega 3 has been reported to be effective inrepparttar 138515 treatment of depression. Numerous studies have indicated that during double-blind tests, patients suffering from depression who take Omega 3 over a placebo report significant benefits.

Similar results have been reported inrepparttar 138516 treatment of bipolar and schizophrenia. There are theories that Omega 3 could be used to treat other mental conditions such as attention deficit disorder, borderline personality disorder, dyslexia and cognitive impairment however atrepparttar 138517 time of this writing these beliefs are unsubstantiated by anything more than preliminary data.

Omega 3 And The Body

The main reported benefits of Omega 3 forrepparttar 138518 body occur inrepparttar 138519 heart. The American Heart Association recommends eating fatty fish at least twice per week in order to reducerepparttar 138520 likelihood of heart disease.

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