It is never too late!  It really is never too late to makes changes in your life?  Changes in the way you think, what you eat and how you feel.  That is what I have discovered over the last eleven weeks.   I have tried so many times to improve the fibromyalgia I have lived with for 20+ years.  After so many failed attempts, I just gave up.  I decided I felt as good as I was going to feel and all I could hope for going forward is to not get any worse.  Now I think HOW STUPID WAS THAT?   Well maybe not stupid but I was so wrong.  It isn’t too late to change the way I feel and I am living, breathing, feel-good proof of that.

My pain level is at a 2.  A TWO!!!!!!!!!  The changes I made in my eating habits were drastic but I am at a 2.  In just eleven weeks I went from an 8 to a 2.  Any person that is reading this can make an improvement in the way they feel.  It is not too late.  Little changes can yield big results.  No matter what you are suffering from or where your pain level is, it can be done.

Today may be the day you should make an appointment with your doctor to discuss an alternative treatment.  Maybe you follow my lead and find a doctor that practices alternative medicine and get another perspective on your condition.  Perhaps you can research supplements to see if one that I have discussed might be right for you.  Make a small diet change.  Cut out wheat, cut out sugar, maybe change from mostly soft drinks to mostly water.  Stop at your local farmer’s market and buy some fresh vegetables to eat this week.  It doesn’t have to be a major change but do something.

Do something just for you.  If you think that it is too late, you are so wrong.  I use to tell myself that I would love to get up one day and feel like a “normal” person, even if it was for just one day.  Well today I did that and it felt great.

I do want to give you an update on my co-workers and I after completing eleven weeks of healthy eating.  Lisa has lost 30 lbs for a total of 40 since January.  She feels so much better and she loves telling everyone how much better healthy eating feels.  She is following a Gluten Free diet and loving life.  Biggest problem she is having now is her shopping.    She cannot be trusted to go shopping and get the right size clothes for herself.  She can easily wear a 10 now but she comes in with her “new” pair of size 14 pants that are clearly way too big for her.  She is banned from shopping on her own from now on.

Jami wasn’t really over weight to start with but she is down to the weight on her driver’s license.  That was a loss of about 5 lbs and she couldn’t be happier.  She gets up every morning and runs before coming to work.  She simply eats healthy food and drinks lots of water.

I am down 27 lbs and my fatigue is better, my pain level is better and the inflammation in my body is much improved.   I continue eating the yeast free/dairy free diet and I don’t really even miss the things I was sure I could never give up.

For something fun to do this week, get out your driver’s license and see what you have listed for weight.  Jami got back down to her driver’s license weight and was so excited.  Lisa and I on the other hand, don’t expect to achieve that goal….but then again, it is never too late to try.

I want this blog to be an inspiration to each of us to improve our pain level and better deal with this diagnosis so until next week, please sign up at www.lindygolden.com to get email updates of my blog.  Next blog I am going to write about what started this new journey and changed my life.

I can’t wait to write this blog.  I have had a couple good things happen this week and weekend that I wanted to share with you. First let me say that I just finished nine weeks into the journey and I continue to do so well.  My pain level is down to a 3 and to tell you the truth, I considered actually making it a 2.  I would say 2.5 and how exciting is that?  Coming from an eight to a three in nine weeks  is nothing short of a miracle for me.

I wonder how many fibro patients are like me.  They worry about everyone else and put taking care of themselves on the back burner.  The doctor told me nine weeks ago that eating healthy would better enable me to cope with the stress in my life and that less stress would equal less pain.  I immediately thought yeah, right!  Not only do I work a high stress job that requires long hours but I feel like I was put on this earth to take care of everyone that I come in contact with that needs me.  Probably a lot of people that don’t even really need me (or maybe even want me).  I don’t talk much about me when I interact with people; instead I usually focus on them and what their problems are.  This brings me to the first of the good things that happened to me this week.  I ticked someone off this week (imagine that) and they told me I was heartless.  I looked at them and thought, really, are you kidding me.  I can think of a hundred adjectives to describe me but heartless would never, ever make the list.  I am the one that always says hi, glad to see you, I am fine and then immediately proceed into a conversation about you trying to determine what I can do to help you.  I have laughed a lot about that comment and maybe the laughter has helped improve my pain level but it did get me thinking.  Yesterday I went to a birthday party and saw several people that I had not seen for a few months.  As we were exchanging hugs and asking each other “how are you”, I would say great, I feel great.  It happened to dawn on me that I have said that for 20+ years when I didn’t feel great at all.  I didn’t even feel good most of the time.  It was always easier to get into a conversation about them than to start talking about me.  But yesterday it was different.  I said I felt great and actually meant it. What a blessing, I was giddy inside.  I FEEL GREAT!

And the next good think that happened to me, thanks to my friends on Facebook, I figured out how to swallow my Cod Liver Oil.  It works great.  Can you believe there is even a youtube video on how to take Cod Liver Oil?  Lisa and I watched it and took out a big spoon, held our noses and down it went.  That worked so much better than mixing it with yogurt.  Here is the link if you are interested http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/video-how-to-best-swallow-cod-liver-oil/.    If I could encourage each of you to take one small step toward a lower pain level and better control of your Fibromyalgia, the Cod Liver Oil would be my tip.  Not only is it an anti-inflammatory, but the other health benefits are numerous and it is something that requires very little effort.  Let me know if you already use it and how it has improved your health.

Until next week, please sign up to receive email updates of my blog.  And by all means, please continue to leave comments.  One little comment or idea from you could be all it takes to lower someone else’s “Fibro-Meter”.

I am two months into this journey, can you believe it?  When it first began, each day seemed like an eternity and now the days are just flying by and I am reaping the benefits everyday.  Yes my pain level is still at a 4 but my energy level has improved by leaps and bounds.   The reality of living with Fibromyalgia is that most likely we will never have a pain free day but a 50% improvement is huge.

I wanted to share the results of my doctor visit with you.  It has been 2 months since I last met with her and about 7 weeks since I started the detox.  She was very surprised with my progress.   She immediately noticed my weight loss which turned out to be 20 lbs and just icing on the cake for me.  I explained to her that my pain level had improved by about 50%, my blood pressure was down to 119/72 and my BMI was down 3.5 points.  We discussed all my concerns.  She explained that since I did the yeast detox and have been following a yeast free diet, she feels like the yeast should no longer be a problem.  I asked her about adding some fruit to my diet and she agreed that would be fine.  She told me to consume fruit like I do the starchy vegetables and limit them to 3-4 times per week.   She thinks adding fish oil (which she recommends liquid cod liver oil) to my diet could improve my pain level even more.  I still have quit a bit of inflammation in my back.

Now let’s talk about this liquid cod liver oil.  She so highly recommends this form of fish oil and the people in her office are convinced it is the best but I am having a hard time convincing myself.  The bottle said that it is the oil from the cod’s liver prior to any processing and I am thinking that was not really intended for this girl.  The bottle said 1 teaspoon but she told me I should take 1 Tablespoon.  Lucky me! She also said I could have one container of yogurt each day and I could mix my oil with the yogurt to get it down.   Now if she says to “get it down”, it ain’t good.   I hurried to the store and got my favorite strawberry yogurt and got home and realized this wonderful oil was lemon flavored.  All week I have looked at the bottle, which needs refrigerated.  I have even taken the bottle out several times, but I have yet to break the seal.  Tomorrow is the day.  Lisa, my co-worker, bought me some lemon meringue yogurt so tomorrow we are both going to try the cod liver oil in our lemon yogurt.  Heck yes I am dragging her into this.  She said she didn’t want me to go through this alone so I am very generously going to share it with her.  I will let you know next blog how this is going.

My tip for today comes from my most important mentor.  I have learned this and so much more from J.B. Glossinger, my Morning Coach and my friend.  His daily coast cast has drastically changed my life.  He recommends we make improvements 1% a day.  Just 1%!   We can all do this.  Just making one little change in our diet, our level of exercise, or our attitude can make such a difference in the way we deal with fibromyalgia and in the way we manage our pain levels.  The changes we have discussed in my blog have been drastic and the results have been also but if each person reading this will just start today by making one small change, before we know it another two months will have passed and the results could be huge.

Next blog I am going to begin giving you some tips to making the little changes in your diet so much easier.  Please sign up to receive email updates of my blog.  And by all means, please continue to leave comments.   I have received so many comments from both men and women all over the world that are suffering every day with Fibromyalgia.  Hopefully we can begin to lower their Fibro-meter also.

Well, today is Friday.  I have thought non-stop about what to do.  I have decided to try it.  I think I have myself in the right frame of mind to do it.  Today I am going to talk with Lisa and Jami.  I am going to suggest they not do it.  Randy and I are going to visit our kids this weekend and I am going to use the two hour drive to tell him all about it.  Unless he has a good reason why I should not try it, I will start on Monday morning.

As you can see, my pain level has been OMG all week.  I think the combination of the stress from my job and the stress from this decision is not helping me at all.  I am beyond lack of sleep.  I am almost not sleeping at all.  I often say that fatigue is the worst of all my symptoms.  I can deal with the pain but the fatigue is horrible.  I practiced my speech for the girls and I am going to do it first thing.  I am going to stop now and will finish today’s blog after I talk with them.

Well, that went well.  I gave them all the speech.  Jami and Lisa are bound and determined that they are going to do this with me.  I feel so bad that they are going to do this.  This is a drastic detox.  Not eating and only drinking water or vegetable juice for two days is extreme in my book.  I know they are doing it for support and I am so appreciative that they are but I do worry about them too.  The third girl in the office, and the one I have worked with the longest, thinks it is too drastic for all of us and wants no part of it.  I did want her to understand that the three of us were going to try this, and wanted all of the girls to know that we were going to be so cranky and so tired for two weeks.  We made a pack that we would not take anything personal and that anyone could stop at anytime.  Mandy and Sarah are so excited that two co-workers are going through this with Mom.  They think I will be so much more successful doing it with someone else.  I think I am truly lucky to have two people willing to help me through this.  It will help me so much.  I am going to stop again and will finish on Sunday after I talk to Randy

Well, I think I spent most of the two hours down and back from seeing the girls discussing this with Randy.  Not only does he think it is a good idea, he will support me in any way he can.  He will even stop drinking Sprite since I have to.  I know it sounds crazy but I will miss my sprite the most.  I am addicted to carbonation.  No carbonation is going to be hard.   I don’t think I told you the four things I have to eliminate from my diet after the detox is complete.  Yeast, Sugar, Carbonation and Dairy.  Honestly this is everything I eat and everything I drink.  I absolutely detest water.  This will be so hard.  I can because I think I can and I am determined to go through with this.

Each of you reading this will be such a help to me.  I think keeping you updated will help me stick to this.  I appreciate your joining me and please share this with your friends and family members.  There are 5 million people in the United States with Fibromyalgia but think of all the people in the world that  suffer from many other illnesses and health issues that would be helped if they could change their diet and life style.  I hope through this journey we can help some of them also.

The journey will begin on Monday.  Please sign up below if you want to receive my blog via your e-mail.  I don’t want you to miss this adventure.  Please post your comments also.  Interaction is always good.

You know the one thing I pride myself in is keeping my pain level, lack of sleep and my Fibromyalgia in general to myself.  Most of my co-workers and even many of my close friends do not know that I even suffer with this terrible thing.  The ones that know do not have any idea how bad it really is.  They have no idea that I struggle every day to get out of bed and get through the day.  I want it that way.  Family, friends and co-workers don’t want to listen to me whine all day.  They all have issues to deal with in their own lives without worrying about me.  My only problem is that my Fibromyalgia is getting harder to hide from my family and closest friends.   And honestly hiding it is exhausting.

One of my closest co-workers came into my office yesterday first thing to find out how my appointment went.   I told her about the detox and the diet and that I had to read more about it.  I heard her telling the two other girls in the office and they were sure it was a good thing for me to do.  Are they flipping crazy, did they talk to Mandy?  There is nothing about this that can be a good thing to do.

Here is how we are going to do our ten day detoxification.  Days 1-2 will be only water and vegetable juice; days 3-4 we will add any green raw vegetable; days 5-6 we will add any other color raw vegetable; day 7-8 we will add any cooked vegetable and legumes; and finally on day 9-10 we will add any meat, chicken or fish.

I work with some very special people.  Two of them decided that it would be easier for me, and a good thing for them also, if they detoxed with me.  I have to tell you that it was nice of them to want and support me but I wasn’t happy about it.  If I did decide to do this, I really wanted to stay low keyed.  I didn’t want to bring any attention to what I was doing.  If I failed, I didn’t want anyone to know.  If they didn’t know what I was doing, they wouldn’t know that I failed.

At 9:00 a.m. the doctor called.  She said that I had one of the lowest levels of vitamin D she had ever seen.  They like it to be at least 50 and mine was under 12.  She wanted me to begin taking 10,000 units of vitamin D each morning.  This was the maximum amount anyone should take.  She said at this low level, it was going to take time to get it back in range.  Getting it up should approve my overall health.  Ok, I think.  Maybe this will be all I need to do.  She also had the results of my thyroid test she didn’t feel it was that out of whack but she did want me to start taking 30 units of the Armour Thyroid.  She told me again that she really felt that I needed to do the detox.  Give it a chance; she said she thought changing you’re my diet could change your life.  If you go through the detox as prescribed she said, you will quickly notice that you will not crave sweets and carbs and you will begin feeling so much better.

I told her that I was still thinking about doing it.  I hadn’t talked it over with Randy, my husband, yet but planned to do so this weekend.  She encouraged me to seriously consider it and said that she would be there for me if I needed any help along the way.  I really like this doctor.  I am so stressed by my job and hurting so badly today, I am exhausted and have so many things that need done for the new business.  I honestly am thinking seriously about doing the detox.    What I know for sure is that you can if you think you can.  I need to convince myself that I can.  Both daughters, Mandy & Sarah think I must.  My co-workers Jami and Lisa think I can.  I still have the most important person to get past.  Maybe Randy will be my out.  He is so practical.  I will explain the detoxification process, the diet change and ask him to think about it.  He will weigh the pros and cons of attempting this and then he will decide that it is too much for me to tackle.  Surely he will.

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Well, today  is Tuesday and I met the doctor yesterday afternoon.  I survived the appointment and am trying to digest everything she told me.  First I have to say that she weighed me and took my blood pressure and didn’t even touch me after that.  We just talked.  She asked me questions, I asked her questions.  That was kind of different for me but I really liked it.   She told me that first they have discovered that many pain patients have low Vitamin D levels.  She would do a simple blood test to determine my level and then prescribe Vitamin D if I needed it.  Next we discussed my thyroid.  I told her that I have been on thyroid medicine (a very low dose of Synthroid).  She told me that she preferred Armour Thyroid.  She would do another very simple blood test and do an extensive thyroid screening.  She would then change my prescription.

Mandy (My daughter who began this journey through her intervention) was on the edge of her seat waiting for the ball to drop and I was so excited that nothing had yet been mentioned about diet.  The doctor asked me if I took any vitamins and I told her I didn’t.  She felt I should take fish oil, a mega multi vitamin and vitamin C.  Ok I could live with all this.  Could this be enough to make a difference?  Could this be enough to take down the Fibro-Meter?  Could this get my pain level down, improve my Fibromyalgia and do something to improve my lack of sleep?  Oh please, let it be so.  Please don’t ask me about my diet.  My mind was just racing with what was coming next.

Do you drink much soda she asked, much, well, that is all I drink.  Next question, do you eat many sweats (oh no, I just saw the ball come through the ceiling)…I love my sweets I answered my day begins and ends with them.  Do you eat many carbs came next.  (The ball just crashed through the damn floor).  I had to tell her that cereal, bread, pizza and pasta were the staples in my life.  I could tell this was going just where I did not want to go. I looked over at Mandy, she was trying not to smile but she couldn’t hide the sparkle in her eyes.  At last, we were going where Mom would never go before.

She told me that most Fibro patients have way too much yeast.  She said that all three things above convert to yeast in the body and that if I would eliminate the yeast it might just change my life.  How do I do that I asked.  Well, first we will do a ten day yeast detoxification.  They will give me the paperwork as I check out.  After you detox you will follow a yeast free diet.  For one month I would take an anti-fungal prescription that would also help me get rid of the yeast.  She said that many people just flat out wouldn’t do the detox but did take the medication.  Due to the severity of my pain, the detox was really warranted.   Oh great I say.  All of the sudden my pain doesn’t seem that bad.

Last but not least we would check all my hormone levels.  If there was an issue with any of the hormones, we would begin a regiment of compounded hormones that would help with all of my symptoms

I left the office with my fish oil, vitamin C, and the mega multivitamin, the kit I would send in with $99.00 to test my hormone levels along with the detox information and the diet I would follow for the rest of my life.  I sat in my car and quickly glanced over the paper work.   I can’t do this.   No Way! Maybe I need to read it slowly and carefully and it won’t be as bad as it looks at first glance.  I pull into Arby’s and get me a roast beef and cheddar and a large Sprite.  Oh my does this Sprite taste good.

Tomorrow we will check out the paperwork in more detail.  Don’t leave me.  Stay with me and together we will figure this out.   I know you feel like never reading this again but stick with me and maybe it isn’t going to be so bad.

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Well, today is the day. Monday April 16, 2012.

First of all it is starting off as an OMG! day.  I feel like I have been run over by a Mack truck.  I think I can feel the tire marks on every inch of my body.  It is 4:30 a.m. and I wish my very long day was not starting out like this.  In the kitchen I go.  First order of business is to take my meds.  Among the 4 pills I take in the morning are my cymbalta which should help me deal with the pain associated with Fibromyalgia and 2 Zi Xiu Tang Bee Pollen caplets.  As I said before, I have tried a variety of bee pollen. At first I felt like they really helped but that was short lived.  I have tried several other versions but continue to take these because I have several bottles of them.  I don’t think they hurt me any and maybe they help some.   Then I crawled in the Shower ( I typed jump but then I thought really, I wouldn’t exactly call what I did a jump) I listen to my daily dose JB and off to work.  I am only  working until noon today so I will go early to make up my time.

You see about four weeks ago I went to an event in Fort Lauderdale that was sponsored by J.B. Glossinger from www.morningcoach.com.  My daughter and son-in-law went with me.  At 32,000 feet when we were discussing the new business, they informed me that our entire family had talked and decided they were going to do an intervention for me or on me.  An “intervention” you say.    Let’s see, can I repeat what I was saying under my breath?   Don’t think so.    And just what kind of an intervention did they have in mind?  Well it seems that they have done some research and if I make drastic changes in my diet they feel my “Fibro-Meter” will come down drastically and that I should see some measurable improvement in my pain and fatigue levels.  The clouds were thick and the turbulence was quite frankly more than I like to experience.  I think the excitement of the event along with the flying conditions put me in a weakened state and I agreed to try whatever they had in mind.

Mandy, my daughter had been looking for a medical doctor that specialized in natural remedies for many diseases including fibromyalgia.  She searched within 100+ miles and low and behold, two came up. Surely I could see that this was a “sign” she went on to tell me because one of them was only minutes from her house.  Imagine my surprise as I mumbled more sailor talk under my breath.   The plane is jumping and jerking and the fasten seat belt sign was blinking faster and faster and now on top of all of that, a “sign”.     She couldn’t wait until we landed to call and schedule my appointment.

I was waiting in baggage claim and so anxious to get outside to begin enjoying sunny Florida when she came running up to tell me that she got me an appointment on Monday, April 16, 2012 at 2:30 p.m.  Oh my, I could hardly wait.  I was sure there was no backing out of this one.   And guess what else, there is more????  She had already made herself an appointment with the doctor and she talked to the doctor about the entire family, especially good old Mom.  They were sure they could help me but I would have to give up soda, sugar and probably gluten.   I guess I should tell you know that I am a stress eater.  We all know who we are and when we stress eat, we sure don’t eat vegetables.  I drink two things, Sweet Tea and Sprite.  You can sure see where this is going for me.  But I am not going to whine about it.  I want to take on this new opportunity with the business and so if I have to give up every last thing that I like to eat, I will do it. ……..

Well today is the day that I meet the doctor.  Mandy is going with me for moral support (she thinks I will run out as soon as he says no sugar).  I am committed, no matter how drastic the diet change is going to be, I will make every effort to give it a chance.  I am getting ready to make the 2 hour drive to his office.  Let’s see what happens.   I really appreciate your coming along with me on this journey.  I think that if I know you are keeping tabs on me, I will be more apt to make a concerted effort to change.  Feel free to comment on my blogs.  I will need your help to stay on the straight and narrow.  Also please forward them on to all your Fibro friends.

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I need to catch you up quick because the “real” journey begins tomorrow.  In my introduction I explained that I have been struggling for 22 years with Fibromyalgia.  My pain level most days is high and usually is not confined to the normal pressure points the “experts” define.  The lack of sleep or should I say lack of quality sleep leaves me so fatigued and that is probably what I struggle with most.

My daughter and son-in-law have started a new internet business at www.healthykids.com.  They have asked me to be the E-Commerce manager for the business and I am so excited.  We attended the International Home Show in Chicago in early March and together selected some wonderful products to feature on their web site to help busy parents raise healthy kids.

Now in my real life I am the Human Resource Manager for a Manufacturing facility here in West Virginia.  I love my job and quite frankly I think I am very good at it.   Problem is that I drive 57 miles in each direction to work every day and on top of the two hour commute, I work nine to ten hours a day.  My husband says I try to be “wonder woman” which explains how I have developed this position into a very high stress, demanding job.

Because of the fibro, every day is an effort.  My day starts with a struggle to get up because I am so fatigued and so stiff, I get through the day often times taking several Aspirin Free Excedrin’s (which have now been taken off the market) and then go home eat and go straight to bed.  I take medication to help me go to sleep at night and then I take medication in the morning to help me deal with my pain.  Not sure any of the 5 prescription meds I take help but I am afraid to stop taking them just in case they are.

I don’t want to bore you with this stuff because I know it is the same thing all of us go through each day but I need to give you a little background into why I am starting this new journey.  I am hardly making it through the day now and I have taken on this new exciting opportunity.  Something has to change for me to successfully do both jobs.

The one constant and wonderful thing in my life aside from my family is that every weekday morning I listen to my mentor, JB Glossinger at www.morningcoach.com.   He is a life coach and teaches personal development and he has completely changed my life.  His positive life lessons have taught me that I can live a productive life even with this terrible diagnosis.  One thing I know for sure is that no matter what hand you have been dealt in life, your cure or your improvement always begins with your mental outlook on the problem.  You Can When You Believe You Can.

Tomorrow the journey begins.  Please join me as I embark on the most challenging step I have taken since being diagnosed in 1990 with Fibromyalgia.  Up to this point everything I have tried and every medication I have taken has been on my terms.   I have always felt the pain was bad enough that I shouldn’t have to sacrifice anything else to possibly make a difference.  But I think that will all change tomorrow.

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So why read my blog?

I am going to begin a new journey in my life.  I would love for you to join me and perhaps together we can improve our quality of life and learn some things along the way.  I know before I even get started that this journey is not going to be easy for me but together we will have some fun along the way.  I will share the good things along with the bad.  With me, no matter what I am involved in, there is always something that will leave you laughing and wondering what in the world I was thinking.  But in the end, I know I can add something that will leave you glad you came along with me.

According to www.Cure4Fibromyalgia.org , there are 5 million of us in the United States.  Most of us are woman but 10% of us are men and children.  Most of us were or will be diagnosed in our 30’s or 40’s (I was 34) but a whopping 35% of us are diagnosed in our 20’s or between the ages of 50-65.  30% to 40% of us have either stopped working or had to change jobs because of this illness.  What I am the saddest about is that 28% of us are going to have children that will develop the disease.   That makes me so sad to think that perhaps I will pass this dreadful “thing” on to my wonderful children.

5 million of us have fibromyalgia which means that probably 15 million people in the United States are directly affected by this illness.  I know I spend time every day trying to assure my husband, my two daughters, my co-workers and close friends that I am OK.   That gave me the idea for the Fibro-meter.  When my daughter checks on me she always says on a scale of 1-10, what is your pain level?  Below is the “Fibro-Meter”.    Each blog I will mark in pink just where my level is that day.  My goal as I progress through this journey is to see it drop.