My Health & Wellness Journey

      I seem to have fit the typical biographic of the millions of us who suffer and struggle against Fibromyalgia.  I was diagnosed in 1994, at the age of 30.  Looking back, I had symptoms many years earlier, at least back in the mid to late 1980s. 
     My symptoms were aggrevated by my labor intensive job as a Fisheries Management Technician, both while conducting Fisheries Population Research at Kellogg Biological Station in the '80s, and most severely when I began my last job with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources in 1993. 
      I was originally diagnosed by my personal physician as having Lupus, based upon my negative bloodwork for Arthritis, and my family history:  our father was being treated for Lupus, as well as a maternal aunt. He had never had a patient with Fibromyalgia (that he knew of) at that time, and Lupus was the diagnosis that 'fit' my symptoms and bloodwork he had done.   I told my physician that I hoped he wasn't offended, but I was going to schedule an appointment with my father's Rheumatologist.
     My father's Rheumatologist performed many of the same tests which my family physician had done, plus additional tests, most memorable being the Trigger Point test.  I literally jumped off the examining table several times and was totally shocked by my body's response and this new exam.  Several minutes later he returned with the blood work results and told me "You don't have Lupus. You have Fibromyalgia." I immediately asked "What's THAT?" and he handed me several brochures by the American Arthritis Association etal.
     Several prescription attempts and changes over a period of approximately a year to a year and a half later (because the meds and/or original doses caused nausea throughout the day, or increased grogginess/exhaustion to the point of my fighting not to fall asleep at the wheel) and I finally found some consistent relief with a pain med and muscle relaxant, which used together at night, allow me to get to sleep in a more reasonable time period (not HOURS of tossing and turning to find a comfortable position long enough to get to sleep), and being able to STAY asleep for longer than 1 to 1 1/2 hours at a time before waking due to pain and starting the whole cycle again.
     NOW TO MY RECENT PAIN RELIEF & OTHER BENEFITS I've experienced since 'accidentally' discovering the 90ForLife products which have gotten me to where I am today.  On April 13th, 2015 I was on the phone with Kade Bearnson, son of Lisa Bearnson, to sign up as a CEO for Anthology when he told me about the wonderful 90ForLife products that he, Lisa and his other family members have been using.  After our discussion I immediately went to the Youngevity website and began reading about the products that his family and so many others have utilized, found relief from many medical conditions, and/or simply feel SO much better and are experiencing life to the fullest since using these products.
  My first order of supplements was the HEALTHY BODY START PAK, available here:
                    www.scrapstreams.buyygy.com/90forlifestore/en/healthy-body-start-pak-original
  My second order, on May 15th was the HEALTHY BODY WEIGHT LOSS PAK, which has the same 3 core products (Osteo fx, BTT, and EFA), but also contains ASAP (As Slim As Possible), which allows our bodies to burn the adipose (abdomenal body fat) tissue as a source of energy. It does NOT give me the sweats or make me shaky like the otc weight loss supplement that I tried in the past.  Again, I have not used asap perfectly, to the point that I still have one dose left, and the items are generally packaged in 30 day doses. (It took me 3 months to use my first bottle.)

May 16, 2015 at Crop For A Cure

August 26, 2015 Same locatiot & clothes, now very baggy!

  

   

August 29, 2015  Decided to try on my 'skinny jeans'... they fit!

     I have continued using the core 3 products, only ordering items that need to be replenished.  Since my hubby ordered the HEALTHY START CEO MEGA PACK, which includes enough product that the Osteo alone will last me 3 months, we just order whatever else we want to try, or restock Wesley's "kidz (Watermelon) Sprinklz", the vitamin supplement he now takes daily, and the Rebound fx which he drinks during and after his soccer games.  it is similar to other 'sports' drinks, but is LOADED with vitamins and minerals, and is better for us than the typical sports/energy drinks on store shelves.
    I had already noticed a decrease in my everyday (burning) Fibromyalgia pain across my shoulders and up my neck , so I took my Lyrica on the morning of July 1st, and didn't take another until July 4th, which was my LAST LYRICA (just 10 WEEKS after beginning to take my supplements)!  I feel better now than I did before I began taking it!  I've been on it for approximately 9 years! I considered offering my remaining 14+ day supply to someone, but ultimately FLUSHED it down the toilet!!!
     And for any doubting Thomases out there, I would gladly show you printouts of my prescriptions filled for the past 2 years.... just sayin'.
     After convention in September, I am going to start weaning myself off from my evening pain med and muscle relaxant, one at a time, to see if and which one, or both, I can stop taking!

Sept. 20, 2015  24 lbs lighter than I was in

 the May photo!

October 4, 2015

      Update:  It is now October 2nd, and I have lost 20+ pounds, with approximately half of that being lost BEFORE I stopped taking my Lyrica!  Taking all three of my core products (Beyond Tangy Tangerine aka BTT, Osteo fx, and Essential Fatty Acids aka EFAs) each morning has had a cascading effect over time, with me not feeling hungry for several hours, greatly reducing my sweet tooth, and continuing to increase my energy while decreasing my pain. 
     I do not expect for the numbers on the scale to decrease as quickly in the future, since I am attempting to rebuild much of the muscle tone that I have lost over the past 15+ years, and muscle tissue weighs more than fatty tissue.  That number on the scale is also not my most important factor to consider in the future, as I will continue to pay attention to  1) how I FEEL  and 2) how I look over time.

October 24, 2014  Size 4/6 skinny jeans & size small Team Lisa shirt!

     My most recent version of Tangy Tangerine is the ULTIMATE Tangy Tangerine, one of the products in what is called the Pig Pak, which Doctor Wallach suggests for anyone suffering with Fibromyalgia (aka "Stiff Lamb Disease" in domestic farm animals).  He has found that we are lacking in Selenium, Manganese and Magnesium (in some specific forms, so if interested please search on youtube or the Dead Doctors Don't Lie cds for Fibromyalgia/Stiff Lamb Disease).  I have not ordered the complete Pig Pak yet because I have plenty of Osteo fx and EFAs to tide me over for a few more weeks.
     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqv60kMW12I&feature=youtu.be
     Feel free to ask me anything.  If I have not used a specific product, or cannot answer your questions, I wil find out who DOES know, or knows where to find the information.

My 1st layouts utilizing the NEW TREASURED LAYOUTS V2 by 3 BIRDS!

     At last!  It has literally taken me all afternoon, on and off, to get these to post!  It was worth it though.  I see my monitor jumping around again, so I may have to save this and come back to edit!

Alright, let's give this another try, shall we??????

     3 Birds Scrapbooking & Paper Crafting kits have been my fave for a couple of years now.  They are continuing to create wonderful kits at great prices!  Since they began the ESTATE COLLECTION series of kits, I can't get enough of them.  I have atleast 2 of each Estate Collection kit! 

     Even though I am not a cardmaker, I have purchased their cardmaking kits in order to utilize the awesome embellishments (many are 3D!) that are included, working them into my scrapbook pages.  I also utilize the cards themselves as journaling blocks (both hidden by using the entire card, or visible journaling blocks by cutting them down), or even as photo and embellishment mats.

     My most recent obsession has been in creating these pages as part of a LARGE gift project.  The pages above are part of my own album, which has grown to 5+" in depth!  The pages themselves are approximately 9x6.5",  CUT BY HAND (I have NEVER liked having to cut by hand, but I want these to fit the album shape and size) in order to fit the same-shaped album covers that I fell in love with (Teresa Collins).  I am making 2 more of this size, as gifts for my 2 nieces who are giving birth to the TWO, YES TWO grandnieces being born within 3 months of each other.  This is a big deal in our family, as we women are outnumbered 2 to 1 by the men!  I am ALSO making several more mini-copies of these albums for the grandmas, etc.  Those albums are also utilizing Teresa Collins album covers, but they are approximately 5.5" wide, allowing me to get 2 PAGES FROM ONE 12" PIECE OF CARDSTOCK/PATTERNED PAPER.  This has saved me a fair amount of money, but even so, I have spent well over $200 on this project so far.  I believe that I will be making 9 albums in all!

    I realize that I may be rambling on a bit in regards to this project, but it is important to me, and an UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY for me, since I am the mother of an 8 year old boy, and prior to having our own son, I created a lot of pages about and for my nephews.

      I have been trying to decide how to go about posting the creation of my pages.  I have hesitated videotaping their creation until I learn how to use the high speed play back ability, & am researching how to put still shots of the pages into a narrated video.  Ultimately, I believe that I will end up posting step-by-step still shots with typed info below each photo, thus allowing me to atleast get some of them posted.

      I am in awe of the amazing number of ultra-talented women (& men) who are creating such wonderful works of art.....yes, paper crafting is an art, as are most things we are capable of doing.....I literally "ooooh" and "aaahhh" over the beautiful, innovative creations that I accidentally find on a nearly daily basis.

     I know that my family appreciates the effort & time I spend on my hobby, and my hubby encourages me to find a way to earn some 'extra' income for my hard work.  I would LOVE that opportunity to 'fall into my lap' as they say, but in the meantime, I am sooo lucky to have had ACCIDENTALLY STUMBLED UPON SCRAPBOOKING while reading a general crafting magazine which I bought immediately after we were engaged.  It has literally been  A GODSEND, helping me through the loss of my job as a Fisheries Management Technician for the state of Michigan, and my continuing struggle with FIBROMYALGIA, as well as trying to be the best mother I can be for our son.

      On that note, I think I will once again try to endure the high humidity and heat of our home (we are dealing with an a/c problem tonight) and make another attemt at sleep. 

       GENTLE FIBRO HUGS TO ALL and goodnight from HUMID NW MICHIGAN!