It's OK to be happy, Melody

[Guest guest]

I'm glad you're happy, Melody. It's OK to be happy. I appreciate you

sharing your philosophy on how you deal with the monster. I'm sure it does

help to think about their mind-set on their situations.

Jeanne in WI

>I take Naproxen for fibro pain - either two aleve, or full prescription

>strength depending on the severity of pain.

> As for ibs - I take probiotics and eat yogurt, and try to eat a high fiber

> diet.

> For the GERD I take aciphex.

> And the chronic sinus issues - I take allegra every day, flonase, and I do

> a saline nasal wash at least once a day, more if I'm fighting off

> sinusitis.

> Plus I go to the chiropractor every two weeks.

>

> My level of pain is much lower than most as far as I can tell, not sure if

> it's because I do all of the above, or if I'm just too hard headed or if

> I'm just a fighter, and a positive person. I consider myself a fighter

> and a survivor who refuses to give up and let this thing rule my life. I

> used to, I had to quit my job in 2000 but instead of going back

to work with a full time job, I started selling Avon so I could work

independently and work around the bad days. I used to be depressed but my

symptoms got worse and worse and worse and I was unable to eat. Out of fear

of dying, I fought harder than I have ever fought to overcome that

depression and I won that battle. It took several years and a lot of

fighting, but I did it. If I can win that, I feel I can win anything and I

will keep fighting every day for the rest of my life if I have to. That

doesn't mean I won't have a couch day when my body requires it, but that

just means I won't let this thing limit me from doing what I wish to do.

I've never been one to like being controlled, in fact I despise anyone who

tries to control me, yet this thing used to control me. One day I just said

not anymore and bore some fangs and said to it

" I refuse to be a victim to this thing anymore. " Hubby had fun with that,

because we brought out a stuffed pink monkey that I got for my 14th birthday

and I labeled my monkey 'it' and kicked and punched 'it' yelling " I refuse

to be a victim anymore " and beat the snot out of it. It didn't make fibro

go away, but my attitude sure did change and when my attitude changed, my

body thanked me.

>

> I live in pain like the rest of us. I'm in a lot of pain right now, but I

> wear a smile and I'm going to keep wearing that smile as long as I can.

> Sorry to ramble on and on like that, but I'm feeling pretty strong today.

> It's been a difficult few months with the weather and flares and bugs

> going around, and I'm feeling so good compared to that. I feel I can take

> on the world, despite the pain I'm in right now. I just feel happy and I

> know it's not the popular way to feel in a fibro group but I hope this

> brings hope to many that if I can get this far, anyone can. Because if

> you met me ten years ago you would never recognize me today. Never.