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Stress factor!

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Posted 1/20/2012 12:25 AM (GMT -5)
It has been so long since I had a lot of pain until this morning. I was thinking why so much pain? I am getting ready to fly to visit my dad who is dying. I realized the stress has caused my pain to kick in. Since I have been off work I have very little stress at home now. I try to keep it very simple life and it has made a huge difference in the pain. It makes me a little nervouse going down with the pain flaring. I bought some heat wraps for the plane ride. I have 6000 miles to fly with just one short lay over. What a trip! I have more empathy now for the ones that are working with Fibromalgia still. I dont know how you all do it.

Post Edited (ak angel) : 1/19/2012 10:28:38 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/20/2012 1:11 AM (GMT -5)
I wish you pain-free days while you're gone. The stress is incredible when someone you love is dying. You know what to do for yourself, and I hope you get a chance to actually do it!

And I'm so sorry about your dad....

Debbie
Posted 1/20/2012 1:25 AM (GMT -5)
 

I have not been dxd. with Fibro but I wanted to leave you a comment.

I'm very sorry to hear about your Dad.  Hopefully you will share some precious time with him before he leaves in little to no pain.

Stress from losing a Loved one can definitely make the diseases flare.  Hopefully your treatments will bring you through your journey okay.

Posted 1/20/2012 9:45 AM (GMT -5)
Angel, I'm so sorry to hear about your Dad. Of course this stress adds to your pain and traveling adds to it also. I do understand...my Dad passed almost 2 years ago and I'd fly to visit during his hospice.

Bring a good book to read on your layovers, it does help distract the pain. Keep hydrated and you can always do deep breathing and meditation to help any place.

Sorry, you are going through this...sending gentle hugs and prayers your way.

Hugs, Robin

Posted 1/20/2012 10:44 AM (GMT -5)
I'm so sorry to hear about your dad Angel! My dad just passed away Christmas Eve. We have been struggling with his illness since March. I understand all too well the stress and the pain it causes. I kept trying to talk myself out of it but it came on like a truck non the less. At the advice of many members here I called my doctor and told him about what happened. I suggest you do the same. The doctor can usually give you something to help you through this difficult time. For me it was just increasing my mg on my cymbalta and that really helped. It helped with my pain and my mood. I still grieved but didn't have the intense pain to go along with it. I was able to be there for my mother who was taking it very hard. This is the time to pamper yourself. Take a relaxing bath, eat your favorite food, watch your favorite movie,and just give yourself a break. I do work but my employers were so understanding. I had a week off work and they paid for every day well beyond their normal grievance days. They sent cards, flowers, and my boss even came to the funeral. She had to drive 2 hours to get there. It sure made me see the good in people. If flying bothers you, I know it does me, your doctor can give you something for that too. My prayers are with you.
Posted 1/20/2012 11:24 AM (GMT -5)
I wanted to let you know my thougths are with you, and I am sorry to hear about your father. I wish you a safe (and hopefully comfortable) flight, I hope you have room to stretch a bit. And I do hope that you have a good visit and can take some wonderful memories back with you.
(((gentle hugs)))
Posted 1/20/2012 11:33 PM (GMT -5)
Dear Angel,

Not an easy trip by any measure. Take whatever you need to get there in as little pain as possible. I know how hard this is, my father passed away 32 yrs ago. We lived in the same town and my DH and I took him up to NYC for his surgeries and chemo. I was pregnant at the time w/ my 1st child. I had 'morning' sickness all day, every day till he was born. My father and I had to bring 'puke bags' on our trips. It was extremely stressful but I wouldn't have missed the trips w/ him. I have had Fibro all my life, but never knew it till about 6 yrs ago.

Treasure your time w/ him, your memories will help you thru the yrs. I will keep your family in my prayers.

God bless.  Alice.

Posted 1/21/2012 12:08 AM (GMT -5)
I am sorry about your Dad, Angel.  When my father was dying last year, I was helping to take care of him and somedays the stress was so great that it truly increased my pain and I wasn't able to help out but I tried to push thru to be there for him as much as possible.  It is so difficult to lose the ones we love and stress definitely causes illness.
Posted 1/21/2012 2:18 AM (GMT -5)
I will be praying for you and your father, Angel. Please take care of yourself on the plane; if you can't get up and walk around, move your feet up and down to keep your circulation going. When my mother died, I went by my doctor's office and they gave me Xanax to help with the stress. Take care of yourself.
Posted 1/21/2012 2:52 PM (GMT -5)
I am really sorry to hear about your Dad! My heart goes out to you right now. Stress can set off a flare that will put me in the bed. At one point I had been under such stress for a prolonged time that if I would be on the phone and get anything stressful told to me that I would literally fall into the floor. My knees would buckle. I have been resting and really looking at my diet and starting to take supplements that deal with stress. I am slowly starting to come back to a 'normal' me. I went off of my cymbalta to wellbutrin and I did better, but due to my other health issues and my cholesterol going out of control, I saw where those meds can make it go up. I tapered myself off of the wellbutrin and now I am about 6 months 'clean' LOL and I am starting to feel like the old me.

Stress can still set off fibro pain, but I seem to be dealing with it better.

Right now during this crisis time in your life, still try to remember to take care of yourself. Find a few minutes here and there where you can walk away to regroup and have a few quiet moments to if nothing else do some slow breathing and praying if that is your belief system. Once you have calmed down a little, then you can go back and do what you need. Also, don't forget to eat properly even if you aren't hungry due to sorrow or stress. You body needs the fuel to help counter attack the flare.

(((Angel)))
Posted 1/21/2012 5:32 PM (GMT -5)
Akangel - Loving thoughts to you! I too am sorry to hear @your Dad. I just read a great book yesterday about our love ones still being w us in spirit & I really believe it! Idk if it'll help but called Born knowing by John Holland. If you have a kindle, nook or Ipad you can get it digitally delivered. My heart is w you!
And yes, stress always causes me to flare - even positive stress (like vacation ..& this isn't that 4 you) So take care of yourself, bring music, try to visualize happy times/places, know your Father is in a happier place & wants you to be happy too.
Posted 1/22/2012 12:46 PM (GMT -5)
Sorry about your dad that is tough one on anyone. Stress is a huge factor in our pain levels. I know in my last job I was constantly stressed out and in pain all the time. They didn't care and didn't understand. If I mentioned something about being in pain or not feeling up to par on a particular day, that's when my supervisor would want to clean up the office or do some ungodly chore. It was awful. I finally had to quit. I just couldn't take it any more. Since I have been off for a year now my pain is much more manageable. I still have some rough days here and there, but I have fewer of them and fewer headaches. So, it was so worth quitting. I normally don't quit unless i have something else lined up, but hubby said it was ok, and could tell how miserable I was. My body was screaming at me to take a break. I would eventually like to get back to work, but I will never ever work full time again. I'm thinking maybe three days a week would be perfect.

Hope your travel plans go smoothly
Posted 1/23/2012 2:58 AM (GMT -5)
Thank you for all the support! I made the long flight and have been awake over 26 hrs now. My father was so glad to see me, he said I thought I might die before you came. The first night I just layed next to him and enjoyed the I pad. I showed him so many things he liked. He is hooked on the I pad. We had a great night together even though I haven't been in bed in 26hrs. The pain seemed to calm down. It's a heat wave hear in the 60's. I just left -20 temps. I might have to break out the shorts. The guest bed is a expensive memory foam. I think I might like to keep ths bed. It seems funny I am sleeping in my old childhood room. I hear thunder! We dont have thunder in anchorage. Hopefully I can get some sleep.
Posted 1/23/2012 11:31 AM (GMT -5)
That was a precious time with your dad you will always remember. Glad you got there safely.
Posted 1/25/2012 10:12 PM (GMT -5)
I'm so sorry about your Dad but am happy that you are getting to see him. My Dad passed away last summer a thousand miles away from me. You are blessed that you have been given the chance to see him before his time is up. Your Fibro may flare up from the stress but it too shall pass and is a small price to pay. Hugs to you and your Dad.
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