Archive for April, 2010
April 20th, 2010 by Karla Setchel
Hi Folks,
Hope you’ve had a good, or relatively good, week since the last time I wrote! I wanted to share another “tip” of how I deal with getting through each day with the pain, weakness and exhaustion of fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue and TMJ. I do pay for someone to clean my house once a month — I would like for it to be twice a month, and hope to be able to do that at some point in the near future. I also have a friend who does my shopping and laundry.
However, I am usually able to get my dishes into the dishwasher or cook a meat (see my “How to feed your family … article) every 2 or 3 days. The best way I’ve found to get these chores done is to turn on my CD player & sing along — 90 % of the time to Bon Jovi’s “Lost Highway”. It’s very energizing for me, helps take my mind off my pain a little and everyone is happy that we have clean dishes to eat from! What music “energizes” you?
I’ve also found that it’s much more comfortable ( and takes less energy) to sit in my “rollator” – a walker with a seat, while loading the dishwasher or preparing food. Healthy people take the ability to do such simple tasks for granted. If you have severe FMS, CFS or TMJ — you have to calculate every drop of energy you “spend” and make sure that you spend them wisely in order to “get through” each day without causing a flare up. When the chore is done, I turn off the music & rest. The next time I’m ready to do a chore, I try to remember the last song I listened to & start the CD from there — it’s a good memory exercise! LOL
See what adding some “fun” music can do for you!
Here’s to Feeling Better 
Karla Setchel
www.KarlaSetchel.com
(540) 366-6134
www.KarlaSetchel.com
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Tags: CFS, Chronic Fatigue, fibrofog, fibromyalgia, flare, flare up, FMS, health, inflammation, natural, pain, TMD, TMJ
Posted in Managing Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue & TMJ, Support Groups, TMJ/TMJD/TMD | 22 Comments »
April 16th, 2010 by Karla Setchel
Hi Folks,
Here’s an article I came across that I thought might be helpful even though we’re dealing with fibromalgia, chronic fatigue and/or TMJ rather than – or in addition to arthritis. I’m not able to do any of these exercises at this time but a friend suggested that I start out sitting upright & lifting 4 oz baggies of dried beans for 1 or 2 repetitions until I can do at least 10, then increase the number of beans a little (maybe add 2 more oz to each baggie) until I can lift 8 ounce cans (cheaper than buying weights!). I’m going to start that soon, hopefully tomorrow. It’s sounds like such a petty amount but I have to start from where I am in order to rebuild my hand, elbow, arm & “core” muscle strength. Sitting up straight in a chair for a few minutes actually works a lot of muscles and is a challenge for me just by itself.
I just ordered my first pair of orthotic tennis shoes (actually running shoes because they’re lighter and the only ones I could find wide enough for my feet). I know that walking is a good “overall” exercise and I have to start that out slowly with the proper foot support but I also need tofind some way to rebuild my upper body strength after 11 years of atrophy from Fibromaylagia, Chronic Fatigue and TMJ.
So, here’s the article. I’m going to break the paragraphs into more manageable pieces for those of us with “fibrofog”, but have not changed any content. Continue Reading
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Tags: CFS, Chronic Fatigue, fibrofog, fibromyalgia, FMS, health, inflammation, Karla Setchel, natural, pain, TMD, TMJ
Posted in Managing Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue & TMJ, Support Groups, TMJ/TMJD/TMD | 9 Comments »
April 13th, 2010 by Karla Setchel
Hi Folks,
I’ve talked before about balancing out your energy so you can get the most important things done without over exerting yourself each day. But what about special events that are “beyond your normal limits” but too important to miss? Like a friend or family members wedding, funeral or graduation? How can you do this without causing your fibromaylgia, chronic fatigue or TMJ to flare? I recently attended a Recognition Picnic that was 2 1/2 hours away from my home. I started preparing for the trip the day before, did nothing the day of the picnic except the picnic, and gave myself several days to recover.
One of the things I do if I have to travel more than 30 minutes from my home is to lay on an air mattress, covered with a piece of foam, surrounded by 4 pillows rather than trying to sit in the seat. I tried 3 pillows, one under my head, one under my knees and one to lay my arm over but found I needed a 4th one between me & the driver’s seat for sudden stops! Everyone’s different, but even reclining a seat all the way back doesn’t take enough pressure off my back & hips on long trips. I have a mini van & we leave the middle seat out for my Lafooma chair which I take EVERYWHERE — even into other people’s homes! That way I don’t have to ask them to let me use their favorite recliner. Continue Reading
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Tags: CFS, Chronic Fatigue, fibromyalgia, health, inflammation, Karla Setchel, natural, pain, TMD, TMJ
Posted in Managing Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue & TMJ, Support Groups, TMJ/TMJD/TMD | 23 Comments »
April 6th, 2010 by Karla Setchel
Hi Folks,
I hope everyone is enjoying Spring! What do you do when you’re too exhausted or in too much pain from Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue (FMS/CFS) to prepare a healthy meal for your family every day? If you cook like most people do during Holidays, you probably have “left overs”. That’s great! Left overs take a lot less work than the original meal and usually taste just as good.
Before I even became sick, I read a book called “Dinner’s in the Freezer”. It was meant for busy Mom’s, not sick Mom’s however, the results work out very well for me. On days that the Fibromyalgia (FMS) and Chonic Fatigue (CFS) aren’t giving me as much trouble as usual, I will make enough food for 3 to 5 meals & freeze most of it in 2 to 4 portion containers, just keeping 2 “dinners worth” in the fridge to be eaten. I try to keep ahead so that I don’t have to use the energy I have to “cook” every day. I try to “cook” twice a week and eat left overs the rest of the week. You can get variety by alternating what you thaw.
I also use a meal replacement protein shake –even if you’re not trying to lose weight -it’s an easy, nutritious meal that even your kids can make safely & without too much mess, boiled eggs (boiled 6 at a time to save time & effort ) & occasionally have someone pick up “take out” for me.
Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue is tough on your whole family. Feeling better requires adequate rest and feeding your cells what they need (that’s right, not just for enjoyment or because you’re hungry). So keep plenty of healthy, fresh food on hand (and some precooked meals in the freezer) and supplement with a quality antioxidant juice, vitamins, minerals and herbs.
Until next time, take care!
Karla Setchel
www.KarlaSetchel.com
(540) 366-6134
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Tags: CFS, Chronic Fatigue, Eiro, fibromyalgia, FMS, health, inflammation, Karla Setchel, natural, pain, weight loss
Posted in Managing Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue & TMJ, Support Groups | 15 Comments »
April 3rd, 2010 by Karla Setchel
Hey Folks,
I got this from the local activist against “amalgam fillings” (the ones that look like silver). She has loads of info and contacts about mercury poisoning from amalgam fillings and vaccines (called Thermisol). Feel free to contact her if you have questions.
“Thanks Karla for the info. Local people do need to contact DAMS for the info packet, but I know the dentists in the area who do it safely.
It is my job to keep up with these dentists and report back to Leo Cashman at DAMS. Leo will send out a lists of dentists for VA also.
But I also tell folks in this area about one DAMS dentist in NC which might be just as close and he has good prices.
More exciting news is happening. Two of us were interviewed on the College of Wm and Mary’s radio station last week for
90 minutes about dental mercury. I am getting ready to be interviewed for a documentary that is being made on the coverup
of the FDA about these fillings. And in April I along with others will be speaking at the College of Wm and Mary’s Mercury Expo.
We will have two biological dentists, one will debate the Assistant professor from the dental school. Also speaking will be one
poisoned dental assistant, one formerly poisoned neurologist (www.scienceformulas.com), people from DAMS—me, DAMS Coordinator
from Williamsburg and the Vice President of DAMS from Philadelphia.
Why don’t you attend on Saturday and Sunday and get all the info about detox and so on?
http://mercury.wm.edu/?page_id=225 ; $40 registration. Tell your group. (April 24-25th for what you would be interested in)
Marie Flowers
(540) 890-4233″
Hope you find this info helpful!
Much Love & Many Blessings,
Karla Setchel
www.KarlaSetchel.com
(540) 366-6134
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Tags: amalgam fillings, blog, CFS, Chronic Fatigue, Eiro, fibromyalgia, FMS, health, Karla Setchel, Mercury poisoning, natural, pain, silver fillings, TMD, TMJ
Posted in Managing Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue & TMJ, Mercury in Amalgam Fillings, TMJ/TMJD/TMD | No Comments »
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