Can A Scent Improve Your Fibromyalgia?

.I've never been big on aromatherapy. I mean, how can smelling some pungent odour treat your ailments?

The constant pain of fibromyalgia makes sitting, in a relaxed fashion for an hour or so, whilst inhaling some heated herbal concoction, a no no from the start. I can barely sit for more than five minutes without having to move around, fidget, or stand up and walk around the room for a few minutes. It's exhausting being unable to relax because of the pain.

Despite my known aversion to aromatherapy I was offered the opportunity to try out a new essential oil diffuser - a stylishly designed electric diffuser with a glass bowl and fluted pipe / chimney to disperse the aroma around the room. No sticking a tea light under a warming pot - no risk of fire, no mess, no hot parts on which to burn your skin. The company which make these diffusers, Organic Aromas, claim that it can help with the pain of fibromyalgia - hence my intrigue.

Having had constant pain in my lower back for many years now, as well as varying pains elsewhere and everywhere, and having tried many, many 'remedies' from medication to massage, exercise to electronic stimulation, with little to no success, I've reached the point of 'I'll try ANYTHING - just please let it work, for just an hour, or even half an hour! Okay, I'll settle for five minutes without pain.'

I've tried creams and potions, foam mattress toppers (which actually helped ease pain AND improved my sleep!) and drugs (not the illicit kind!) The drugs definitely don't work. I take them religiously because that's how to ensure that they have the maximum benefit - even when the pain is bearable - and they have absolutely no effect whatsoever (until, of course, I don't take them for a few days and the pain gets worse - so I suppose they do work after all, just not very effectively!!) and the drugs do have side effects, some of which can be worse than the pain they're used to treat!

So, getting back to the point - aromatherapy - would it work to get me relaxed and pain free?

The Organic Aromas Raindrop Diffuser

Within ten minutes of my package arriving in the post the device was set up, primed with the supplied essential oil and switched on. Instantly the room was filled with what I described as a heady, sweet aroma - unfortunately my wife thought it sickly sweet and 'cloying'. That was the Organic Aromas Signature Blend essential oil - sadly not a great success in our house. But I was enthused by how effective the device was - once a gadget man always a gadget man - it had seemed to fill the room within a matter of moments. So I decided to invest in a different scent of essential oil - we both love lavender, our garden is full of it, so I bought some of that.

The next day, whilst the wife and daughter were out, I set about my daily chores - with the added benefit of the beautiful aroma of lavendar silently filling the air. By the end of my daily tasks I felt as if I could do them again! Usually I'm fit to drop.

Could it have been the aroma? Had it had some therapeutic benefit after all?

Some time later I was contacted by Organic Aromas who were keen to learn how I'd got on with their product and, more specifically, their signature blend essential oil. I told them I was really pleased with the diffuser but that the oil they had supplied had not gone down too well. The mark of a professional company is how well they respond to negative feedback - Organic Aromas sent me two new oils to try out - their Serenity and Purity blends.

Both blends provide a delightful scent which helps me breeze through my domestic chores during the day, whilst on an evening I find I can sit for longer than my usual five minutes without fidgeting and when it comes to bed time I am able to switch off and sleep far more quickly than I have done for many, many years.

Relaxation is key to conserving energy for people with fibromyalgia, or any chronic pain condition. Often the hardest part of living with these conditions is poor quality, non-restorative sleep. My little diffuser works a treat at bedtime - and what's more, I don't need to worry about putting out the candles before I go to sleep - this little miracle turns itself off too.

All in all the Organic Aromas Essential Oil Diffuser is a massive hit in our household!

Would You Want To Know How You Might Die?

I recently undertook a test. A simple spit test, into a vial, which was then posted off to some

laboratory in deepest, darkest Eastern Europe.

The purpose of this test was to determine, from my DNA, my risk factors for developing specific ailments in later life (at least I hope they're for later life. Much later)

Why did I do this? Who really wants to know how they might die? Not me, that's for sure. Or so I thought.

But then I considered the evidence of how my life has changed so much in the past thirteen years. How I've developed these 'conditions' which have led to such drastic change for me and my family. How limited I am now in what I can do. And I thought to myself: If you'd known fourteen years ago how bad life was going to be wouldn't you want to have had the chance to do something about it? If not stop it completely at least stave it off for a few more years by doing things differently, or changing my lifestyle, getting treatment earlier?

Now I know that that is not how it happens with fibromyalgia or crohn's disease - you either get it or you don't. I don't think there's anything anyone could do to stop or delay or prevent these conditions. But there are so many preventable conditions out there that, if only they'd been caught earlier, might not lead to such drastic consequences - ie. death.

The old adage "prevention is better than cure" kept popping up in my head.

What if? Life is full of "What if?" - "What if I hadn't smoked for thirty years?" - "What if I'd exercised more?" - "What if I'd eaten more healthily?" We're plagued by "what ifs?" and, if you're anything like I used to be, we dismiss them and think "life is for living, let's not think about that right now - pass me another ciggie and pour me another beer so I can wash down this bacon double cheeseburger and fries before I bunjee jump off this suspension bridge!"

It inevitably comes with age. The creeping doubts, like the creeping lines in your skin. What if I'm getting old?" "How much longer have I got?"  "Ouch! Where did that sudden pain come from?" The old me would say "Ah, it's nothing." The current me thinks otherwise; "it's cancer, it's diabetes, it's heart disease..." the doubts. Prevention is better than cure.

So, against my better judgement, I signed up for The Futura Genetics DNA Test. When my kit was delivered I hesitated for a short while (two days) Did I really want to do this? I did it.

I registered my kit online and completed the online registration questionnaire which asked if I wanted to know my risk of developing Alzheimers - I ticked "NO" - (As it turned out they gave me the result anyway - but that's another story!!) I parceled up my spit tube and the courier came to collect it the next day.

That was a month ago. My results came through today. I'd forgotten all about it! (Doesn't bode well on the Alzheimers front!!)

I now know I'm unlikely to die of melanoma, an aneurysm or breast cancer. I do know that my risk of developing prostate and colorectal cancer is above average and that I am 7.4 times more likely to develop Type 2 Diabetes than the average - this was by far the largest multiple on my result sheet and something I wasn't expecting - I am unlikely to develop lupus, arthritis or arterial thrombosis and I am at only slighter higher risk of developing heart failure. I am 2.4 times more likely to develop multiple sclerosis than the average.

Each result is countered with a disclaimer - that other risk factors and lifestyle choices have not been considered and that the result is based purely on the DNA sample provided and checked against a vast array of previous results from white males of my age group.

I have to say that I was scared to open the report at first - I really didn't want to know what future ailment might see me off into the great Fibro lounge in the sky - so it was with some trepidation that I finally plucked up the courage to view it.

By far the biggest shock was the risk of Alzheimers - despite my request to not be advised of this risk. (I have to say that I have spoken with Futura about this and they are working on ensuring it never happens again - it was a system failure which has now been rectified.) My risk of developing Alzheimers is quite high and I am probably going to spend the rest of my life looking out for signs and symptoms - I already have the confusion of fibro-fog and am quite forgetful - especially when it comes to remembering films I've seen in the past - my wife will often say "Shall we watch that again?" and I won't have any recollection of watching it previously!

My main concern however is the risk of colorectal and prostate cancer - I have had bowel 'issues' for a number of years now - and many polyps have been removed during the three or four colonoscopy examinations I've endured. It's probably just a matter of time before one of them becomes cancerous and I've been aware of this risk since 2007 - this test confirms that I need more regular check ups in this area and that confirmation via this test is undoubtedly a good thing. Another plus to the knowledge I now have is that I can put in place lifestyle choices to counter and reduce any potential future risks - specifically in relation to my much hightened risk of Type 2 Diabetes - I hadn't been aware of any potential risk. I'm not obese, I eat as healthily as I can and I avoid most sugary foods and drinks - though I am partial to chocolate and beer!! It has also highlighted a high risk of me developing celiac disease - which I was tested for earlier this year with negative result - this also will need to be checked regularly.

Above all, and despite the unfortunate alzheimers result, I'm really pleased that I now know the extent to which my lifestyle might impact the diseases I could develop later in life. It is reassuring to know where my risk factors are high and (sort of) comforting knowing that I have the opportunity to change things by just altering some small things in my life.

I'm glad I did it. I can either use it as a warning to change or try to bury it in the bowels of my mind and forget all about it, but then what would be the point in that? I have been given the risk probabilities. I know where trouble might lie and I can do something about preventing or delaying it - that's got to be a massive plus for this test.

Dry, Itchy & Sore Skin Conditions in Fibromyalgia

One of the many, many symptoms experienced by a lot of
fibromyalgia sufferers is dry skin and uncontrollable itching - with me this affects my hands, forearms, shins and ankles the most. I can scratch until I bleed it gets that bad.

My GP has prescribed various topical treatments - hydrocortisone being the most frequent though he has also prescribed anti-histamines too - and I've invested a lot of money in sourcing the best itch-stop cream on the market - none of which have made any difference.

So I was excited to be asked to trial a product which not only promised to treat eczema, psoriasis and itching but also claimed to provide pain relief! What better invention could a fibromyalgic scratch monster wish for?

The Fay Farm's Healing CBD Hemp Lotion is handmade using only natural ingredients - many produced on the farm itself in Seattle, Washington, USA. None of their products use parabens, alcohol, mineral oil, or phthalates. The ingredient list for the Healing CBD Hemp Lotion reads like a top chef's shopping list;  grape seed oil, apricot kernel oil, emulsifying wax, stearic acid, argan oil, burdock, calendula, chamomile, chickweed, comfrey, licorice, to name but a few. All combined into a deeply aromatic lotion that feels as good as you would expect a top of the range topical lotion to feel but with the added benefit of Cannabidiol Oil to provide effective relief from associated muscle pain.

I'm always sceptical about claims of pain relief from topical lotions - I've tried the likes of Deep Heat and Voltarol in the past and they've been about as effective as chocolate kettles. My experience of them has left me in as much pain as before I used them and stinking like a chemical factory! The same cannot be said about this Fay Farm Lotion. On smell alone it beats the best of the best lotions on the market today. As far as treating my scaly itchy patches I was surprised at how rapidly the lotion was absorbed. I thought I must be doing it wrong so kept applying it, but each time my skin felt softer and more elastic. I must have reached some sort of saturation point when the lotion simply refused to soak in any more, only then did it feel greasy! Within minutes of applying it my itching had stopped and was replaced with a gentle 'tingling'  and warming sensation. After two days of applying the lotion twice daily I began to notice the scaly patches shrinking in size and the itching gone - but what about pain relief?

Like I say, I'm a sceptic when it comes to pain relieving lotions and creams - in fact I'm a sceptic when it comes to even Morphine being effective against my pain to give you an idea of where I'm at as far as pain relief goes - but, as a sceptic, I need to be proven wrong (I pray to be proven wrong some day!)

I have to be honest and tell you that the lotion did not relieve the pain in my lower back - but when you consider that not even morphine takes that pain away then you will probably not be surprised to hear that - HOWEVER - (here's the bit where you say "Oh, he's been told to say that because he got the product for free blah, blah, blah...") HOWEVER - I do suffer badly with fibromyalgia pains in my shoulders and elbows (tennis elbow) and the lotion was effective at providing some relief from that - it didn't take it away completely but it did make things more bearable and comfortable in those areas, especially my shoulders.

Overall I can honestly say that The Fay Farm's Healing CBD Hemp Lotion is an effective moisturiser and treatment for excessively dry skin conditions. It's especially soothing for itchy skin and goes some way to relieving mild to moderate muscular aches and pains.

If I have one 'gripe' about the product it's that the scent - lovely as it is - is not particularly 'masculine' and that's fine if, like me, you spend most of your time at home with family, but if I was socialising with my buddies over a pint or two down at the Rose & Crown I certainly wouldn't want them questioning my choice of 'deodorant'!!

My primary aim in testing this lotion was to ascertain its effectiveness at soothing my eczema and for this it far exceeded my expectations. If you've tried everything else without success you have nothing to lose in giving this lotion a go.

You can find out more - and view their wide range of products - at www.thefayfarm.com - you can also  read more about their CBD Oil range and get a 10% discount and free shipping* on any order (just enter the code "fibromen") here - http://thefayfarm.com/p/cbd 

*Free shipping only available in US.

Looking To The Future.

Something turned up on my doorstep this morning. I'd been expecting it, but when it was actually delivered I began to get a little anxious.

The package has the potential to do one of two things: scare the living hell out of me, or enable me to relax for the next thirty or forty years (or however long God allows me to remain a part of this wonderful world of ours)

I'll be writing more about this delivery in the coming weeks, but for those who desperately want to know what it is here's a tantalising clue:

More to follow soon...........

For When Your Fingers Aren't So Nimble Anymore...

This is a sponsored post. I was provided with a prototype of the product in exchange for an honest review, I have been compensated for my time through the Chronic Illness Bloggers network. All opinions remain my own and I was in no way influenced by the company.

Introducing "Nimble"

On days when my pain levels are hitting the ceiling and I simply cannot be bothered with anything except to try and get through the day with as little stress or physical torment as possible, it’s often made much worse by the fact that I have to open something as simple as the foils on my tablet strips – have you tried to push them through from the front recently? – it seems as though they’ve started making the foil out of 10mm stainless steel

 – and having to prepare and cook a meal for myself can often result in the most unhealthy of meals – The Pot Noodle, 375g of dehydrated mush that looks much the same going in as it does coming back out. Opening a packet of bacon – you know the ones with the little loose corner to enable you to ‘peel back’ the plastic cover that no man (or woman) has EVER in the history of ‘peeling back’ the plastic cover, been able to complete without the need for some heavy, sharp bladed and downright dangerous, intervention! It seems as though, in the fight for ever more ‘child-friendly’ packaging, manufacturers have lost sight of the need for easy access to their products by those less able among us – the elderly and the disabled.

But wait, before you all rush off to your laptops to pen a strongly worded letter of complaint to the guilty parties, here’s something that’s child friendly AND makes opening packaging a breeze – even for my gnarled old fingers.

These aren't my gnarled fingers!

 

It’s called “Nimble” – I assume because it returns us less nimbled people back to the land of the sprightly – and it makes opening things like bacon and tablet foils SO much easier. More importantly, you won’t run the risk of stabbing yourself and bleeding out onto your freshly opened bacon.

I got my “Nimble” in the post on Tuesday, just in time to take it to work with me – I work in a retail environment where opening sealed containers is an everyday, if not every minute, occurrence, but do they supply box-cutters? Well, yes, but can you ever find one when you need it? No, and when you do it's usually blunt – and I used it during my shift to open sealed tinned and bottled goods ready for putting on the shelves. The “Nimble” sliced through the seals on crates of beer and pop bottles, trays of tinned goods and the selotaped seals of boxes with ease. I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve snapped my nails back when trying to do this without a cutter in the past! When not in use the “Nimble” slips off your finger and into your pocket ready for next time – I even developed the ‘skill’ of putting it on whilst still in my pocket so that I could whip it out, cut, and slip it back in without anyone really noticing! (Though my practicing raised a few eyebrows, especially whilst I was working the tills!))

The beauty of the “Nimble” finger cutter, as I’ve affectionately named it,  is that it won’t cut your fingers – believe me, I tried several times – the blade is so small that it just won’t penetrate your skin, but, when firmly pressed against a slightly harder surface like tape, plastic or paper it slices with the precision of a crafters knife. I absolutely loved it.

At home I’ve used it to open cellophane packaging, envelopes, crisp packets, packs of bacon (of course!) and those other ‘easy-open’ packs that never work - the ‘Tear Here’ strips around biscuit packets! It makes things so much easier!

You can find out more about “Nimble” by visiting Version 22. The product is being launched via a Kickstarter campaign today, so you’ll be one of the first to see it. Kickstarter is a fantastic way to get new products onto the market – you pledge an amount to support the project – if it reaches its goals the manufacturing process begins, you are charged what you pledged for the product and you become one of the first people in the world to take ownership of your very own “Nimble” (If the project doesn’t reach the required goal you are not charged, obviously!)

So, let Nimble point the way to an easier future. Pledge to buy one, two or three to make this product a reality for all those who struggle with packaging!!

Visit the Kickstarter Project.

Searching Health? - Don't Let Google Scare You!

I once searched "Fibromyalgia Symptoms" in my favourite search engine and it returned over thirteen million links. The first page returned included no less than four paid-for ads - where businesses pay a fee to be placed higher in the list. 

What struck me more than anything was the lack of relevance to my requested search. I had wanted a simple list of the symptoms of fibromyalgia, what I got was page after page of my kind of stuff - sorry bloggers of the world - solitary blogs writing about one of their symptoms of fibromyalgia. They appeared in the list because they'd placed 'labels' in the key words of their post such as "Fibromyalgia" and/or "Symptoms" 

So, without typing "A List of the symptoms of fibromyalgia" in my initial search I got over 13 million returns. (BTW actually typing in "A list of the symptoms of fibromyalgia" reduced the returns to a little over three million - again it included four paid-for ads at the top of the list.) Obviously, my favourite search engine has become over-crowded with irrelevant twaddle!

I don't know about you, but with my chronic pain I find typing unbearably painful at times - (I've been writing this post for three days!) - having to be so specific when entering my search criteria in to a search engine, in order to get the results I want, is not the best thing for me to do. I want to be able to type "fibromyalgia" and get all the information I need in one click of the mouse.

That's when I came across MedNexus. MedNexus is a health search engine that does exactly what you would hope a health search engine would do - give you straight answers to straight questions - no sponsored advertising crowding out the facts, no scary, turn my world upside down results like "Your itchy skin could be skin cancer." Just type in "Fibromyalgia" and the results will be there before you've even finished typing. It's THAT SIMPLE.

Why waste hours trawling through page after page of irrelevant results from Google when you can type your health query into MedNexus and get everything from the basics to in-depth articles and reviews that are current and relevant. There's everything from Asthma to Xenophobia - uncluttered, concise and categorised - without the dross. 

This is what MedNexus tells you about Fibromyalgia.

I Swear By My TENS Machine.(#)

I swear by my TENS machine. I bought it a year or so ago and it has been a constant companion when sitting and watching TV or reading. The machine works by stimulating the nerves thereby reducing pain - I'm no neurologist as you can see, all I know is that it works well for me.

The only drawback is that you have to keep it on to get any relief - as soon as I take mine off the pain resumes its normal intensity - so it's not a long term fix. 

What it is ideal for is (when used with batteries instead of the mains adapter) attending social occasions, meetings, and in my case work. The pack clips to your belt and no one can see - unless you set the stimulation level to high and then you're like jumping jack flash round the workplace!


Premier Plus TENS Machine for pain relief - Combined with Muscle & Neuromuscular Simulator with 24 clinically approved programmes 

 

My TENS machine was the best £59 I ever spent. It allows me to sit for much longer than I usually can - so I can see an entire film, right through to the end, without having to constantly move around in my chair to get comfortable - it's an absolute boon for me.

And one more thing - it can also be used for muscular stimulation - meaning you can tone your muscles too - without the inconvenience and pain of a workout.