Last week I wrote about my sleep troubles, and how I hope to overcome them by the end of the summer. In that post I gave many tips that I hope will help me (and anyone else suffering with sleep deprivation) to get more sleep. Some of those tips are going to be easy for me, and others are going to be more difficult, but I plan on conquering this. As someone who lives with chronic medical problems, I know how important sleep is for my overall wellness (and I want to be as well as I can be).
At this time, my sleep issues are just about trying to get a little more of it. It’s not to the point that I’m unable to function. But if it did get to that point, I wouldn’t be shy about reaching out for help from my doctor or a sleep specialist.
Most of us can catch-up on our sleep when we’ve had a couple nights of not enough sleep. But it becomes much more serious when it’s ongoing — night, after night, after night. The big problems develop when we don’t get that chance to catch-up on all the lost hours of sleep.
The question then becomes…How do we know if our sleep deprivation has gotten to the point that we should seek out professional help?
Here are a few warning signs of a sleep disorder that may require a doctor or sleep specialist …
Are you one of the millions of Americans not getting enough sleep? When was the last time you had a good night’s sleep? Can you even remember?
I can remember when I stopped getting enough sleep. It was in my early twenties, when I started working night-shift as a nurse. I didn’t do it for too long (off and on for a few years), but once my body learned it could stay up all night, things would never be the same. That was well over twenty years ago. Today, I can be exhausted all day long (and I usually am), but once ten o’clock rolls around my body seems to get a second wind. And since getting to bed by 10pm is just about impossible, I find myself seeing 11pm, midnight, 1am, and if I’m lucky by 2am I’m able to fall asleep. Most nights I’m not so lucky and I manage to hit the hay around 3:30am.
We all know that it’s important to get enough sleep. But do you know why?
Too little sleep can cause:
Memory problems.
Anxiety, stress, and depression.
A weakening of the immune system.
An increase in the perception of pain.
Driving Impairment.
Weight gain or loss.
Enough is enough. I’m committed to turning my viscous cycle of sleep deprivation around by the end of the summer. Here are a few of the ways I plan on trying to do that…
Imagine how hard it would be to suffer with daily pain that can effect your entire body, unrelenting fatigue, headaches, sleep problems, along with depression and anxiety? Now try to imagine feeling this bad only to have friends, family, and even doctors tell you, “You don’t look sick!” or “It’s probably all in your head”. Sadly, this is what it’s like to be a person who suffers with Fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia is a misunderstood, complicated, painful, chronic medical condition that affects millions of Americans, and May is devoted to bringing more awareness to it. It’s not known why, but women are diagnosed with Fibromyalgia much more often than men. Many women are not only suffering and living with Fibromyalgia but they are also blogging about it. You can learn more about this disease by reading some of the funny, frustrated, and sometimes heartbreaking posts written by these incredibly strong women. I hope you’ll take some time to check them out and show them some love.
How many times in the course of a day do you put yourself first? Let’s face it, women have a lot of trouble doing that. Somewhere along the line we became convinced that putting ourselves first was taboo, and rather than see the benefits of taking time for ourselves, we instead chose to feel guilty about it. In the long-run this type of behavior can catch up with us in the form of poor health, chronic illness, and even cancer.
The American Cancer Society wants us to stop ignoring ourselves, and start caring about ourselves and our health. But that’s easier said than done. So to help, they’ve launched the Choose You campaign, and it’s all about helping us keep our individual commitments to healthy living.
So…What is the Choose You campaign all about?
Choose You is a movement created by the American Cancer Society that encourages women to put their own health first in the fight against cancer. The movement challenges women to make healthier choices, and supports them in their commitment to eat right, get active, quit smoking and get regular health checks.
The Choose You Movement shines a light on a hidden issue: that while one in three American women will get cancer in her lifetime, about 50% of cancer deaths could be prevented if more emphasis were placed on early detection and healthier lifestyles including maintaining a healthy weight through diet and exercise and avoiding tobacco.
Ellen Pompeo, star of Grey’s Anatomy, is the official ambassador of the Choose You campaign…
Would you like to know how you can get started? It’s easy and fun, here’s what you do…
January was Thyroid Awareness Month, and since an estimated 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease (and up to 60% of them don’t even know it), awareness is more important than ever. Could you be one of the millions unknowingly suffering from this complicated medical condition?
Unfortunately, thyroid disease can be very hard to diagnose. Not only can blood tests be inconclusive, but the symptoms are often associated with other health problems.
Knowing the symptoms and risk factors for thyroid disease is the best place to start.
This is a re-write from something I wrote back in January 2007…
Finding Empowerment Through Adversity
When we are suffering it is very difficult, if not impossible, to see the light at the end of the tunnel. But it is there. We will get through it. And in time, our wounds really will be healed.
Can something good come out of adversity? Often in the face of adversity, we are unable to see anything through our pain. The only thing we can think about are questions. Why is this happening to me? How will I go on? How will I survive?
Although we may want to, we should not turn away from our pain. It is very important that we feel all of our feelings during these times of adversity and heartache. Denying our pain, or denying our feelings, will not benefit us in any way. In fact, it will likely prolong our troubles. But if we look at our situation, and face our problems head-on…we will triumph.
We may sometimes feel like we are losing the battle; but when we push through the battle, we come out on the other side the winner of the war. That’s because we are empowered when we conquer life’s toughest battles. Only at these times of empowerment do we grow into the people we are meant to be. Think about that for a minute. Who would you be right now, if it wasn’t for the adversity you have been through in your life?
For me personally, I wish I had never had to go through many of the painful events of my life – loss, divorce, illness, betrayal, just to name a few. But I also know that I would not be the woman I am today, had I not. My past heartache and my past pain, are what make me the compassionate person that I am today. And in retrospect, I don’t think I would want to be the kind of person who knows no hardships. It is because of these hardships that I appreciate every thing I have, even the little things, the things that many people often take for granted.
I can now see that my past adversity, has truly been a blessing in my life. And although I don’t look forward to future adversity, I do know it will come. And when it does come, I will have the knowledge of my past strengths to help me overcome, and once again triumph.
My hope for everyone, is that they are able to one day look past their pain, to find their empowerment.
The latest research on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome has it linked to a cancer-causing retrovirus…
Last week I was reading a lot about the latest research linking Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) to the XMRV Retrovirus. Some of the articles even implied that people suffering with CFS (like myself) should be excited at the possibility that this news could lead to better diagnosis and treatment of CFS. But, it’s not exactly good news for CFS patients, especially for patients hoping for a cure. Here’s why…
Collected here are the top 10 most frequently provided answers to question number 22, “What is the one thing you’d like your family/friends to really understand about CFS?” Responses were limited to 100 characters, and some were stated using different words, but I’ve tried to capture the “essence” of the most consistent responses with a few direct quotes as well. READ FULL POST ATLIVING WITH CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME
Below is a video PSA for chronic fatigue syndrome…
Do you suffer from a chronic illness with no known cure? Like Multiple Sclerosis, Lupus, or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome? If so, you probably wish every day that you could find a cure and finally be healthy and well.
Why is it that just about every illness without a medically proven cure, has loads of people “claiming” to know the cure? Not only is it disingenuous to promote cures to desperate people suffering with chronic illness, but it also minimizes the seriousness of these conditions.
For instance, I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), and many people believe the cure for this condition is as simple as getting more sleep (and oddly enough, more exercise). Guess what? CFS has nothing to do with how much sleep someone gets, and exercise often exacerbates Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. There is no cure for what I have, but the Internet is full of sites that claim to have “sell” the cure. Don’t get me wrong, I believe that there are many alternative modalities of healing that can benefit the symptoms of this disease, but they should not be mistaken for (or touted as) cures.
We all know that in order to be healthy (and happy) we need to get enough sleep. But still, most of us either don’t get enough sleep or our quality of sleep is lacking. Let face it, if you’re a mom you probably don’t get enough sleep. If you work you probably don’t get enough sleep. If you worry, you probably don’t get enough sleep. And if you’re a mom who works and also worries, you may have already forgotten what it means to get a good night’s sleep.
I don’t know about you, but I am tired all the time. I guess it doesn’t help that I stay up till all hours of the night doing my blog posts.
Whether you are suffering from a chronic illness, pregnant, or just getting older. Keeping a personal medical journal, is important, and can really come in handy. Some may want to do this on a weekly or monthly basis, others on a daily basis, this will depend on the severity of your health issues.
STEP ONE: Just go out and get a notebook that you can use for this purpose alone. This journal will be helpful to you, as well as the medical practitioners you are working with. Especially, if you move, need to change doctors, or are hospitalized. Which reminds me, if you go on vacation, or extended holiday, bring your medical information with you, it will make it much easier if you need to see an unfamiliar physician, or be hospitalized.
What do you do when you need a medication, but the cost is more than you can really afford? Even with insurance and a prescription drug plan, this has happened to me on several occasions.
I’ve always had a real problem getting enough fiber in my diet, and (as you can imagine) that can be problematic…But, I won’t bore you with the details of my regularity.
Over the years I’ve been told by many doctors that I should be taking fiber supplements. So, I’ve tried various supplements. However, no matter how perfected these powdered fiber drinks have become, they are still disgusting to me. In comparison, irregularity doesn’t seem so bad.
I had a GREAT time at BlogHer ‘08 in San Fransisco. But, like all good things, it has come to an end. Now, not only do I have the Post BlogHer Blues, but I’m also feeling very sick. I’m totally exhausted, with a headache, sore throat, stuffy nose, and my ears feel like they are going to explode.
Healthy Living: Can Yoga Help Reduce Symptoms of Chronic Illness? — by Catherine Morgan (cross-posted at BlogHer)
Back in March, I told you about yet another invisible illness that I’ve had the pleasure of being diagnosed with. Fibromalgia. It was also at that appointment where I learned of the 20+ pounds I had put on in less than a year. And it wasn’t like I was at my ideal weight before that time either. For the first time in my life, I actually weighed more than I did when I was pregnant. It was then that I decided I must begin to take eating healthy more seriously. Aside from not being able to fit into my skinny jeans, the extra weight was exacerbating all of my invisible medical problems.
Fibromyalgia: An Invisible Disease? — by Catherine Morgan (cross-posted at BlogHer)
I try not to be a complainer, but last week I was seriously not feeling well. I actually resorted to sending a message to the other women in my community to ask for help (and I’ve never done that before).
I thought I would take tonight’s post to talk about what was wrong with me last week, because I know many women are suffering with the same problem.
The good news is, I finally found a doctor in Florida that believes in my diagnosis. I was only changing doctors because I needed someone closer, I had long since given up on finding a doctor that actually understood or had compassion for my condition. So, you can imaging my shock when I went in for my initial appointment, and the doctor told me that not only did he understand what was wrong with me, but he wrote the book, literally. Can you believe it? What are the chances of that happening? I have to admit, my first thought was…This guy can not be from Florida.
Living and Blogging with Chronic Illness — by Catherine Morgan (cross-posted at BlogHer)
I was surfing the BlogHer Health and Wellness Blogroll, looking for something to write about tonight, and I came across a new blog on living with autoimmune disease. As you might already know, I live with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and other chronic health problems…So, I decided to do tonight’s post, on living with chronic illness.
My name is Michelle and I decided to start a blog about my illness and my life. I became sick about 2 years ago and at that time I didn’t know what was happening to me. 2 doctors, 3 neurologists, and 1 rheumatologist later I now know that I have a couple of autoimmune diseases; still working on a definite diagnosis… So far I have Mixed Connective Tissue Disease, Dermatomyositis, and most recently what they think is the early stages of Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Here is a 30 second PSA on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome by the CDC…
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Finding Acceptance When You Have An Invisible Disease — by Catherine Morgan
When you have a chronic illness, acceptance of your diagnosis is key to your successful treatment. But for patients with CFS, acceptance doesn’t come easily, and that’s because they are surrounded by people that minimize their condition. Even though the CDC has said that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is as debilitating as MS and Lupus, when you tell someone you have CFS, they either assume you are lazy or that you just need to get more sleep. Everyone from medical professionals to friends and family, have advice about what you should be doing or what you are doing wrong.
A patient with CFS ends up fighting not just the disease and it’s symptoms, but also the stigma of this disease. That might not sound like a big deal…But people with chronic illness, are generally much more successful at managing their disease, when they have support from the people in their life (friends, family, doctors). However, many patients with CFS don’t have the luxury of a strong support system (or any support system at all), due to the stigma surrounding this diagnosis. For this reason, the sooner this disease is legitimized by the medical professionals, the better it will be for those of us who suffer with it.
Tides are turning, and more research is being done…Where there was once no hope, there is now a glimmer.
Imagine if you knew you had an illness but other people didn’t believe you, including your doctor and your loved ones. Such is the experience of many people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). Because it is difficult to diagnose, those with CFS have to fight to have their condition recognized. A new study interviewing 14 people on the psychological experience of CFS finds two major obstacles to acceptance (Dickson, Knussen & Flowers, 2007):
1. Negotiating a diagnosis
Many found their symptoms were trivialized – they were even diagnosed with a different condition such as depression. Doctors were generally cynical about their condition and this prolonged distress at not receiving a diagnosis. A diagnosis meant legitimization.
2. Negotiating CFS with a loved one
Other than the doctor, those with CFS faced the greatest problems with their loved ones. Partners appeared not to believe the condition was real. There was a perception that CFS was being used as an excuse to avoid planned activities. As a results those with CFS felt abandoned and isolated. — read full article
A disturbing story came to light this week, from CNN’s Planet In Peril series. Our children are being exposed to such high levels of industrial chemicals, that studies are showing many of them to have up to seven times greater levels in their blood than their parents. Think about that for a minute. If their levels are this high now…How high do you think they will be by the time they are adults?
With so many cancers and chronic illnesses being blamed on environmental causes…How sick do you think these children might be by the time they are parents? How many might be unable to be parents? We are talking about chemicals that are known carcinogens, and known to be in products we and our children are using every day. It’s a much larger problem than I had ever realized…especially for our children.
Of course, we can not be sure how these exposures will affect our children’s future health, only time will tell. But, if these studies are any indication, the future is very troubling.
Redefining Yourself From Healthy and Successful to Successfully Living with a Chronic Illness — by Catherine Morgan (cross posted at Living With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome)
This issue is so important, and that is because; When you suffer from chronic illness, although you are being treated (even successfully), going back to your former life before you were sick may be impossible. I hear this all the time from others suffering with CFS and FM, and I am certain it holds true for many others suffering with chronic disease as well. The biggest problem, is that many of us “define” ourselves through our work, or what we do for a living. Quite frankly, this is a bad idea even if you are a healthy person. None of us “are” our work. Our work is not who we are, it’s simply what we do. But, we all know it doesn’t always feel that way, especially when out of nowhere, we are unable to do what we do.
My name is Catherine Morgan...I'm a writer, nurse, and mother. I'm also a contributing editor for BlogHer Health & Wellness.
Welcome to my blog...I write a little bit of everything with an emphasis on healthy living, inspiration, nutrition, and health news. I hope you'll find topics that interest you here, and I would love to know what you think in comments. Thanks for stopping by.
