How Guided Meditation Can Help with Chronic Pain

I DO Have A Typo On This Graphic.  The correct FB address is:  facebook.com/Amymullholand70

Today, I Want To Talk To You A Little Bit About Guided Meditation

Living with chronic pain can be debilitating, affecting all areas of life from work to relationships. For those who experience it, chronic pain can be a constant struggle, leading to feelings of frustration and hopelessness. Fortunately, there are ways to manage chronic pain, and one option that has gained popularity in recent years is guided meditation. Guided meditation can be a powerful tool in managing chronic pain, helping individuals to find relief, reduce stress, and improve overall well-being.

In this article, we'll explore how guided meditation can help with chronic pain, and provide tips and resources to help you get started.

Understanding Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is a complex condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It is defined as pain that persists for more than 12 weeks, beyond the normal healing time for an injury or illness. Chronic pain can be caused by a variety of factors, including injury, illness, or ongoing health conditions such as arthritis or fibromyalgia.

Chronic pain can manifest in many different ways, from constant aches and pains to sharp, shooting sensations. It can be difficult to describe and often varies in intensity from day to day. Chronic pain can also significantly impact mental health, leading to anxiety, depression, and other emotional issues.

The Benefits of Guided Meditation

Guided meditation is a form of meditation that involves listening to an instructor or recorded voice who guides you through a specific meditation practice. It is a popular form of meditation, particularly for beginners, as it provides structure and support.

Guided meditation has many benefits, including:

• Reducing stress and anxiety

• Improving sleep quality

• Increasing feelings of relaxation and calm

• Reducing symptoms of depression

• Improving overall wellbeing

Types of Guided Meditation

There are many different types of guided meditation, each with their own focus and intention. Some of the most common types of guided meditation include:

• Body scan meditation: a practice that involves focusing on each part of the body, from head to toe, and noticing any sensations or feelings that arise.

• Loving-kindness meditation: a practice that involves cultivating feelings of love, kindness, and compassion towards oneself and others.

• Visualization meditation: a practice that involves creating a mental image or scenario, such as a peaceful beach or a calming forest, and focusing on that image to promote relaxation.

• Breathing meditation: a practice that involves focusing on the breath and using it as a tool to calm the mind and body.

How Guided Meditation Helps with Chronic Pain

Guided meditation can be a powerful tool in managing chronic pain. By focusing the mind on the present moment, guided meditation can help to reduce feelings of anxiety and stress, which can exacerbate pain. Guided meditation can also help reduce pain perception, allowing individuals to better cope with their symptoms.

Studies have shown that guided meditation can be effective in reducing chronic pain. A 2016 study published in the Journal of Pain Research found that mindfulness meditation, a type of guided meditation, was effective in reducing pain intensity and pain-related distress in individuals with chronic pain. Another study published in the Journal of Behavioral Medicine found that guided meditation was effective in reducing pain intensity and improving mood in individuals with fibromyalgia.

I cannot begin to tell you how much it's helped ME since I started using guided meditation. It's been a significant help for my pain levels and my overall mental health as welll!

Guided Meditation Techniques for Chronic Pain

If you are interested in using guided meditation to manage chronic pain, there are a few techniques that may be particularly helpful:

• Body scan meditation: This technique can be particularly helpful for those with chronic pain, as it allows individuals to focus on each part of the body and notice any sensations or feelings that arise. By bringing awareness to the body, individuals can better understand their pain and learn to manage it more effectively.

• Breathing meditation: This technique can be helpful in reducing stress and anxiety, which can exacerbate pain. By focusing on their breathing, individuals can calm their minds and promote relaxation.

• Visualization meditation: This technique can be helpful in reducing pain perception by promoting relaxation and shifting attention away from the source of the pain. Imagining a peaceful scene or scenario can help to reduce stress and promote feelings of calm.

• There are many more meditation techniques out there, but I'm just dropping these here for you now to help get you started on your OWN research!

Guided Meditation Apps and Resources

There are many guided meditation apps and resources available online that can help you get started with using guided meditation. I am also available! I'm a Certified Meditation Coach and Facilitator. I can work with you one on one via Zoom meetings. In the near future, I will be offering GROUP sign-ups for a one-session guided group meditation. When I host group sessions, it's a good way for you to see that you aren't alone. We know other people hurt too, in the back of our minds. But when you're in a flare, it's easy to lose sight of that and start feeling as if no one else could ever understand. With a group session, you can see and talk to other people in your exact same spot. You can also hear just how much-guided meditation is helping, by chatting in the group with people who have experienced the help of guided meditation!

You can reach out to me to book your personal guided meditation session by DM'ing me on IG @Amymullholand or on FB: facebook.com/Amymullholand70

Additional Ways to Manage Chronic Pain

While guided meditation can be an effective tool in managing chronic pain, it is important to explore other treatment options as well. Some additional ways to manage chronic pain include:

• Physical therapy

• Acupuncture

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy

• Medication

• Exercise

• As an NLP Practioner, I incorporate CBT techniques along with NLP practices to help control chronic pain and flare-ups. If you're interested in my services as an NLP Practioner don't hesitate to reach out to me!

Success Stories: Real People Who Found Relief Through Guided Meditation

There are many stories of individuals who have found relief from chronic pain through guided meditation. One such story is that of Sarah, a woman who had been dealing with chronic pain for years. After trying various medications and treatments with little success, Sarah decided to try guided meditation. She began practicing daily, using a body scan meditation technique, and noticed a significant reduction in her pain levels. She also found that her overall mood and well-being improved.

Another success story comes from John, a man who had been dealing with chronic pain due to a back injury. John had tried various treatments, including medication and physical therapy, but had not found relief. After starting a daily guided meditation practice, John noticed a significant reduction in his pain levels and an improvement in his overall mood and well-being.

My Closing Thoughts

Guided meditation can be a powerful tool in managing chronic pain, helping individuals to find relief, reduce stress, and improve overall well-being. By incorporating guided meditation into your pain management plan, you can take a proactive approach to manage your symptoms and improving your quality of life. Whether you are new to meditation or an experienced practitioner, there are many resources available to help you get started.

I have personally been down the road of doctor and specialist after doctor and specialist. Prescription drug that didn't work after prescription drug that didn't work. I finally started really looking into alternative therapies. I read and researched. Even though I had heard of CBT techniques for chronic pain ...and even attempted to apply a CBT technique to my life that I ran across in a magazine article, I didn't do it right. It didn't help. I wasn't fully vested at the time in making sure I was doing it right. Seeking help. After doing my due diligence and really researching everything, reading one trial after another, I started applying multiple alternative therapies to my life. I was shocked at how much they actually helped me! -Relieved, but truly shocked lol. That is when I KNEW, beyond a doubt, that I was supposed to learn as much as I could and gain certifications in these fields so that I'd be able to help so many more people than I already have through the years. This was just the next logical step for me to take, building upon my blog and my burning desire to help other people!

I'm closing out now, hoping that if you haven't given alternative therapies such as guided meditation, NLP practices, CBT techniques, etc a try that you will now be open to it! Even if you have tried it in the past without successful results, give it a try again! My youngest daughter, who's 27 now, had tried guided meditation a few years ago for her anxiety and it didn't help right off the bat, so she gave up on it. She went back to it a few months ago and now she can't go a single day without listening to a guided meditation. Usually, she does one a couple of times a day. Not only has it relieved her anxiety, but it's also helped her insomnia a ton, too! She keeps saying how grateful she is that she gave guided meditation another try lol.  

A Dose Of Cuteness

Meet Max.  Max is my mom's new Shi-poo baby.  Max likes to dig holes.  In the mud.  All the time.  This little guy is a mess, but an oh-so adorable mess!  If you're having a bad day, hopefully his muddy little mug will make you smile.

I'm Proud To Be A Spoonie

I'm Proud To Be A Spoonie.

I'm Strong, Independent, & 

Fearless.  I Wake Up

& Put One Foot InFront Of The Other.

I Stare Pain &

Fatigue In The Eye.

I'm A Warrior.  I

Fight Every Day

Because That's

The Only Choice I 

Have.  This Isn't The 

Life I Asked For, But

I Face It With Grace.  I

Never Give Up HOPE

Because I Am A Spoonie.

This shirt is available in a women's t-shirt, a men's t-shirt, or a unisex tank top with multiple color choices available!  The wording is printed on the back of the shirt and front is plain.  Proudly let the world know that you're a Spoonie!  Place your order, by clicking HERE!!

The Joy Of Cooking

Before fibromyalgia and all of my spinal and arthritis conditions, I loved to cook!  I never loved the clean-up afterwards, but cooking brought me such joy.  So much joy, that I even used to own a little "eatery".  I call it an "eatery" because it was inside of a mall, not a real restaurant.

As all of my conditions have worsened over the years, it's become so hard for me to really cook.  The pain is excruciating.  Some days, it brings me to tears to stand long enough to even fry an egg.  Therefore, I don't do a lot of real cooking anymore.  This truly makes me sad.  As I'm sure most of you know, fibro steals so much of our happiness.  Even the small things that people take for granted, such as cooking, are taken away.

I am SO proud, because I cooked a meal tonight.  A good meal.  I zested lemons, and chopped potatoes, and prepared 2 whole chickens.  I made lemon-pepper chicken, chunked potatoes, baby carrots, and fresh grean beans.  I had real, alive, eating, breathing people over for supper!  My daughter and her boyfriend, my son and his fiance, and a 12 year old boy who's parents are good friends of the family was hanging out with me today.  

In the middle of making this delicious meal, I was in so much pain I was fighting back tears.  Part way through the preperations I wildly wonderded what in the heck I'd been thinking, to undertake this task!  When the timer went off, I had to have my son take it out of the oven, and there's no way I could've ever carried the platter to the table so my daughter graciously did that task for me.

I hate to say it, but I was in so much pain that I wasn't even hungry.  Still, I forced myself to eat a little and indulge in the victory over fibro tonight.  I may still be sitting here hurting so badly that a handful of vicodin sounds like an amazing dessert  ....but I did it!  I beat fibro today!  I did something that I used to love to do, and I enjoyed it with my family!

**Disclaimer -the "vicodin" reference was thrown in to try to be funny, as I don't take any narcotics for my fibro at all.  I've refused them since diagnosis because I know that fibro is something I'm going to have to live with for the rest of my life and I don't want to become addicted to narcs.  I also realize that once I take one kind for so long, they'll stop working and there's only so many drugs out there.  I don't want to be in my 60's or 70's and in double the pain I'm in now, with nothing left to take because my body has built up a tolerance to all of the pain killers out there.  Some days (like tonight for instance haha) I wonder if the time has come to start taking something for pain, but alas I just pop a diclofenac 2x a day, grin, and bear it.  :)

Healthline's Best Health Blogs Contest

Healthline is running a Best Health Blogs Contest and I was honored to be nominated!  For the next 32 days voters can cast a vote once a day.  First place is $1000, second place is $100, and third place is $50.  If you've enjoyed my blog and facebook page, I ask that you cast a vote for me each day through January 15th.  It's simple and quick.  Just click HERE then in the search bar type The Fibro Frog, then click on the magnifying glass.  That will bring my entry up.  Then, just click "vote".  That's it!  :)

Thanks in advance for voting for The Fibro Frog and sharing the link for more votes!  Sending gentle butterfly hugs to you all!

Love,
Amy

I Need Heat!

I detest asking for any kind of help when it's for personal reasons, but I don't have a choice.  With my health conditions, going outside in the winter is hard enough on me, let alone living in a cold house, without a working furnace.

A couple weeks ago I went to bed with the furnace working fine.  The next morning when I woke up, it was chilly in the house.  I turned up the heat to take the chill off, and nothing happened.  I then realized something was wrong with the furnace.  

I have a friend that lives in another state and her husband owns a HVAC shop.  Her husband called me, and tried to walk me through some steps to see if he could figure out what the problem was.  He deducted that it wasn't something simple and said I'd have to have a technician come look at it.

After posting on a local garage sale site, a certified technician said that he'd repair it for me, just for the cost of parts.  He finally was able to come look at it this past Monday.  It turns out that I need a new inducer motor, control board, and something with my vent for the poisonious gases.  He looked up the price of the parts in front of me, and they're around $900  ...and I do believe that was before taxes.  He said a brand new furnace would run about $2000.  

To say this made me physically sick, is an understatement.  I'm disabled due to chronic neuroimmune health conditions and I live off of $721 a month.  That barely runs my household and buys food.  It's impossible for me to come up with the money on my own.

I contacted our community agencies and there's only one program that could help me out, but I don't qualify because you have to have insurance on your home.  I bought this house at sheriff sale and due to the number of years it sat empty without insurance, plus it's age, the cheapest home insurance quote I could find, was $387 a month.  No way in the world I could afford that, so the house isn't insured.  

I'm using an electric space heater, which scares me to death that it will cause a fire, and an electric blanket.  The heater is keeping it about 56 degrees in here right now, and we have colder weather that moved in today.  Next Tuesday on my birthday, November 18th, the high is only going to be in the 20's.  I live in NW Ohio, and it get's cold here!  

If I can get the money to repair the furnace, I'll do that.  If donations exceed the repair and are enough to replace my old furnace, I'll replace it.  If there's anything beyond that, I'll fix the hole in the roof in my back room, that's letting cold air pour in through it.  

Please help me spread my campaign by sharing it across your social media networks. You can click HERE to view or donate to this campaign.  Thanks so much!

Arthritis Pain Relief Cream

This is a sponsored post 

Finding Good Quality Arthritis Pain Creams Online

Either as a person ages or if they have a chronic illness, arthritis pain can be extremely uncomfortable to debilitating. Arthritis is typically defined as joint pain that may arise from the joint's wear and tear over the years or an autoimmune inflammation over the joint area.

As a very common medical condition, arthritis has been a historically recognized human ailment since ancient times. Back in the B.C. era, many ancient cultures would create oil compounds that were given decades of oxygenation in order to soothe the area of the inflammation. In the contemporary era, modern humans can live well into their 70s and 80s. This can often increase the likelihood of arthritic pain across their backs, shoulders, hands, and hips.

Taking off where ancient cultures left, modern medical industries have mass produced a wide range of Arthritis Pain Relief Cream that is part of the over-the-counter market. These topical creams utilize numerous chemicals that try to relieve some of the pain and swelling associated with arthritis pain. Although these creams do not cure the person of their arthritis, they can at the very least go through the day without experiencing the pain that stops them from living their lives fully.

Although arthritis creams are sold at one's local pharmacy over-the-counter, the best ones may not be available for the particular person. This is because some creams work better than others and that will mostly depend on the type of pain the person is going through. If the topical creams at the local pharmacy can't cover the pain well or if the best quality creams are very over-priced, then the consumer is a tough situation. Thankfully, the internet gives consumers amazing options at the click of a button.

Customers can go on the internet to find vendors across the country that will carry a larger inventory of arthritis creams at more competitive prices than a local pharmacy. The customer can pick and choose which cream might work best for them and they can pay for and ask the cream to be shipped to their mailing address. This entire mechanism of ordering goods online is thanks to e-commerce programming. E-commerce is the main reason the internet is the newest commercial platform; with e-commerce programming, customers can buy goods through an online business and have the product shipped to their mailing address.

No should have to live with the debilitating pain of arthritis. In addition, no one should be limited in their consumer choices when it comes to arthritis creams. Look online for the best vendors that can provide high quality arthritis creams to help ease the pain. 

April's Off To A Great Start With Play2Shop

I've been in flares with pain, insomnia, and depression for weeks now, so I've been spending a lot of time on the game site to help me take my mind off of things.  Here it is only April 1st, and I've already accumulated 4 first place tournament wins, and 2 auction wins.  I had several 2nd and 3rd place tournament wins for points too that doesn't show in the "rewards" section of my dashboard.  Take a look at the screen shot below, to see what my wins are so far, when the month has just begun!

If you'd like to play FREE games without any downloads, shop for cash back, use free points you earn from playing games to bid on auctions, trade in points for rewards, or have something to do to take your mind off pain or pass the endless hours of insomnia, then click HERE to sign up FREE!  Make sure you verify your email address after you sign up!  If you don't see the email verification in your email, make sure to check your spam folder!  I honestly can't tell you what a blessing, for many reasons, P2S has been for me!!

I'm Getting On My Soap Box

Earlier this evening, I posted a picture (which I'll include below) on The Fibro Frog's facebook page.  As you can see, it's a large brown box.  I was extremely excited when UPS pulled up today, and I watched the driver unload this big, huge, box.  It was a prize I'd won on the game site I play at.  Here's the picture:

The box contains a children's picnic table with umbrella.  My son has 3 children, and I'm giving it to them for their Easter present.  I could never afford to go out and buy this gift out of pocket, and it's something that I know the grandkids will really enjoy.  Therefore, I was super excited to win it by using my points in an auction on the game site.  See, one of the things this game site does, is to put nice brand new items up for auction.  You use your points to bid, and like any auction, the highest bidder wins.  I don't really care how many points I have to bid, because I earn the points free from playing the games.

Now, a bit ago someone commented on my photo and put "don't post this stuff on here".  Whhaatt?!  Really?!  First off, it's *my* facebook page.  Second of all, this game site is a big part of my life with fibro.

Let me explain a little as to *why* this site is a big part of my life.  My fibro is so bad, that some days I can hardly walk from my bed to my computer chair.  It's only about 25 feet between the two.  I don't get out of my house much.  I'd estimate that I'm housebound at least 95% of the time.  Hmm ...if you hurt or not, bordum naturally sets in.  This site, helps me pass the days upon days that I'm stuck sitting at home.  It was free to join and the games are free to play.

Free.  That's a key word here.  I can't afford anything I have to pay for.  Not only am I getting free entertainment, but I'm getting free prizes by either taking 1st place in game tournaments, or by winning auctions.  Prizes that I couldn't afford to go out and pay for.

I've always been open and honest on this blog.  I may not tell you guys absolutely everything, because some stuff is just down right embarrassing and humiliating, but I come pretty damn close to telling you everything.  I do that, because I want DHAC's (people who don't have a clue) that come across this blog, to see just how honestly fibro (and other chronic illnesses) can ruin a person's life.  The "rah-rah" blogs out there won't get it.  If people think that having fibro isn't so bad, then why should they be compelled to help advocate for further research?  For a treatment plan that will work for everyone this affects.  For a cure.  No, the truth of the situation needs to be know.  

When my heart was broke from my husband leaving me due to my chronic illnesses (or his excuse to leave anyway), I blogged about it.  When I've been in the spirals of depression from fibro, I've blogged about it.  I've blogged begging God for mercy from pain flares.  When I've found relevent info on fibro, I've blogged it.  One thing I have not blogged much about, is how insanely poor this illness has made me.

For months & months now, I've lived off $350 a month.  That's it.  No food stamps.  No going to a food bank for help.  Just $350, that's it.  I've lost a little over 50 pounds in the past year, and I'm still wearing the clothes I wore 50 pounds heavier.  So it's hard to even see all of my weight loss underneath the baggy clothing.  I take a few steps then hike my pants up.  I did break down and bought 3 new pair of underwear because I just couldn't deal with how big the leg holes were anymore.  I was dx'd awhile back with diabetes.  I can't afford to go buy the proper foods to eat, to try and keep it under control without meds.  I have to eat whatever I can buy cheaply.  Whether it's essentially junk or not!  Awhile back one of my local grocery stores had Eckrich Smoked Sausage on sale 10 packs for $10.  I bought ten.  That's 10 meals I can make for $10, compared to chicken breasts at $7/pound for 1 meal.  My only saving grace has been that I don't have a rent or house payment.  My house was bought about 4yrs ago at a sheriff sale and we paid cash for it.  I *am* behind in my property taxes though.

Why am I coming clean right now about the embarrassing fact of how poor I am?  No, not because I want you to feel sorry for me.  To show *why* little things like having free entertainment and winning free prizes mean so much to me, and excite me.  Also, to show how fibro can completely destroy a person's life.  Before I became sick with so many chronic illnesses, I at one point was a single mom to 4 kids.  They were ages 6yrs, 4yrs, 2yrs, and 3 months when I became single.  I had just enrolled in nursing school, before my husband walked out.  I stayed in nursing school, plus went out and got 3 part-time jobs so that I could support myself and my kids.  This is how my weekdays were:

6:30am get up and wake the kids.  Get them dressed and fed them breakfast.

7:15am Leave the house.  Drop the kids at daycare, then drive across town to the community college.

8am-4pm Take classes

4pm Drive across town to pick the kids up from daycare, then drive home.

5pm - 8pm Start supper.  Feed the kids.  Help oldest with homework.  Play with the kids.  Bathe the kids.  Put the kids to bed.

8pm-9:15 Cram in studying and homework for myself, and get ready to leave for work.

9:15pm - 2:45am was spent driving to work and working.

3:15am Get home from work and sleep until 6:30am.

Some nights I had to be at work at 8pm instead of 10pm.  Those nights really threw a wrench in the cycle.  On weekends, I worked longer hours because I didn't have school.  I was not a lazy person.  I'm still not in my mind, my damn body has just failed me.  I don't choose to not work.  I don't choose to be poor.  Fibro has just ruined my life as a *normal* person would view life.  I've said it before and I'll say it again.  Not only would I give anything to work for the money, but also for the social interaction.  I MISS having friends.  Having people to talk to IRL.  Having the opportunity to meet a guy and fall in love.  I miss EVERYTHING about a *normal* life!

I wrote an article for the latest issue of the quarterly emag Living Well With Fibromyalgia.  The article was about how to utilize the online support that's available to you.  In that article, I said that if you belong to any online support groups or facebook pages, to comment and post as much as you can.  Sharing things with others truly does help.  For those on The Fibro Frog facebook page, I encourage you to post any detail of your life.  In fact, I often make a status asking if anyone has any fun plans ...or if they have anything they're excited about.  I LOVE to hear exciting, positive things that you have going on in your life.  If someone's having a bad day, it can even help lift their spiritis to read this kind of thing.  Therefore, if *I* have something I'm excited about, I should be able to share it as well.  I was excited about this prize.

I shared the link for others to sign up, on the photo of the box when I shared it on the facebook page.  I did so, because yes, I *do* receive points for refering a friend, but the main reason is because it may end up being a refuge for someone else too.  If I'm having a bad pain day ...or I'm having a bad fog day ...I can sit and play these mindless games to take my mind off it.  A few days ago, I used the games to help take my mind off the debilitating charley horse type muscle spasms I was having every 10-20 minutes in my mid-back.  I had them from the time I got up at 8:30 until I woke up the next morning.  That is one type of pain I just mentally can't take.  On top of the spasms, the sides and front of my upper legs felt like they'd been beat with a baseball bat, and around the inside part of my knees, felt like someone had a match sticking into them.  I can't tell you when I've been that close to mentally breaking from the pain.  I was ready to start screaming and crying and I truly understood why some people sadly end it all with suicide, that have chronic pain.  Believe me ...anything to try and take my mind off the pain for a few minutes at a time, was welcomed.

I know I can't be the only one in the world, who has had their finances affected by their illness.  So maybe winning some nice free prizes would benefit someone else in the way it has for me.  That's another reason I have posted the link, and why I will continue to post the link.  Everything doesn't have to have malicious intent to it, as this commenter made me feel this evening.

I've posted before, how I started this blog, for ME.  I didn't know if a single person would ever see it or read it but it didn't matter to me.  I did it to have my own place where I could write out my feelings about living with chronic illnesses, and how they effect me day to day.  How I survive and cope living with them.  I've posted that I feel blessed that people have found it, and that the facebook page has grown into what it is today.  When I get a message from someone, or someone comments on a status and thanks me for the blog and/or page, and says how it helps them survive every single day, it's a mind-blowing surreal feeling for me.  It makes me feel so very blessed.  Ultimately though, it *is* my blog and facebook page, and I WILL post ANYTHING that I feel may help someone else.  Yes, a silly irrelevent game page helps me.  A children's picnic table excites me.  I will share my dark dismal feelings, and I will share my excitement and blessings.  That's just how I am, and what this blog/facebook page is for.  I would honestly rejoice in anything that helped any of you, or made you feel happy and excited so I hope you guys can rejoice with me when I have these feelings too!  

I'm off my soap box now, but I'm going to close this post out by sharing what wonderful items I've been BLESSED with through the game site, for 1st place tournament and auction wins for the month of Feb and so far this month.  Maybe then you'll understand why I love this site so much, where I can't go buy gifts for people, or things for myself, on my own right now.  Then, I WILL be sharing the link incase this site will help anyone else the way it has me.

In February I won a Keurig and a Garmin GPS Sports Watch (a birthday present for my oldest son, who wouldn't have gotten a present from me this year if not for me winning this).

So far this month (March) I've won:

Sit and Play Picnic Table w/Umbrella

3,000 points in a points tourny

$10 JC Penney Gift Card

$10 Jo-Ann Crafts Gift Card

Essential Home (from K-Mart) 6pc Kitchen Tool Set

$10 Walmart Gift Card

$25 Home Depot Gift Card

$20 Macy's Gift Card

I'm holding 1st place in several other tournaments right now, for more prizes.  If you'd like to sign up, just click HERE. 

Win A Samsung Galaxy Tab 3

Hosted by:

NYSavingSpecials

Co-hosted by:

The Stuff of Success, MOMenvy Blog, 

Crazy Stepford Wives, 

DownshiftingPRO - Your Family, Your Home, Your Life, 

The Neighborhood Moms, Purple Monster Coupons, 

Simply Sherryl, Capri's Coupons, 

Barbara's Beat, Writer Wonderland and Charis by Design

My son and daughter both have this tablet, and love it! This is a great prize for whoever wins! One lucky winner will win

a

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 – 16GB – White with one year insurance

Dates:

March 5 12:01am to March 26 11:59pm

All entries are optional

Continental US resident only

We appreciate the support of our co-hosts and bloggers promoting, please show your support by following them on their social media pages.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: The Fibro Frog is not responsible for the awarding of the prize.  If you have any questions about this giveaway, please email the host at nysavingspecials@gmail.com

Check This Out!!

We're only 2 days into March ....and on the first day of March I had already earned $45 in gift cards from the game site that I'm an ambassador on!

Last month, I won a new Keurig and a Garmin GPS Sports Watch!

If you'd like to win prizes for free too, sign up for free HERE

*I do receive free points for sign ups*

Careful What You Wish For

There was this girl who had fibro.  We'll refer to her from here on out, as FG ...short for Fibro Girl.  She also had COPD and some other ailments.  FG had caught a bad cold last week and as we all know, when a person has fibro, everything is worse.  She drug her butt around sniffling and sneezing, and blowing her sore red nose.  Gasping for breath through a completely plugged nose she'd think "Boy, if only I could get over this cold".  Monday, she stopped sneezing and her head felt normal again but now her lungs were clogged.  She'd cough and wheeze and curse her crappy health.  

FG started to feel depressed.  Depression is a common co-condition of fibro, and FG deals with it from time to time. FG would sit around with tears welling up in her eyes.  She felt sad, and lonely, and depressed.  She wondered why she has to live day to day in pain.  She wondered why she only has a few friends that she can ever get together with.  She thought about how crappy of a person her ex-husband is, for leaving her just because of her health conditions.  FG even wondered if she'd now be alone for the rest of her life.  FG's latest idiotic saying lately has been "I couldn't even buy a date to McDonald's.  Some dude would take my money then through me out of the car before he turned into the parking lot".

Being nice, the boyfriend of FG's daughter told her last night not to make plans for supper tonight because he was going to take her out to eat at a buffet, with him and FG's daughter.  Today came and FG was so tired and fatigued, that she wasn't sure she could go out to eat.  Thinking it may do her more good than harm though, FG forced herself to go.  

FG was still in a funk.  It was so bitter cold.  Her muscles and joints started aching as soon as she walked out the door.  She was determined though, to enjoy herself for once.  

Shortly after arriving at the restaurant, FG was sitting there eating.  Her daughter and the boyfriend started whispering and giggling.  FG asked them "what's going on?".  FG's daughter said "just a minute" then pulled out her cell phone and sent FG a text.  It said "That creepy old man sitting diagonal from us won't quit staring at you mom, and he keeps smiling".  FG tried to be extremely casual about it, but looked over her shoulder to see a gentleman dining alone, openly staring at her.  FG just kind of shrugged it off.  

A bit later, FG got up to go get some more food.  She could feel eyes burning into her back all the way to the buffet tables.  Walking back to the table, Creepy Older Man was staring at her, looking her up & down, and smiling at her.  FG kept looking straight ahead, and found her seat.  

Now, FG has always had a kind heart for the elderly.  Always smiles and nods, or stops and talks, when she comes upon the elderly.  This gentleman though, was not that elderly.  He probably had a good 15 years on FG, but FG is over the hill only 43 years old.  So in the eyes of FG's 18.5 yr old daughter, he was an old man.  In FG's eyes, he was just an older man.  

FG was trying to eat, but she could feel eyes buring into her with every bite she took.  She couldn't help obviously non-chalantly glancing to see if her ever over-active imagination was taking over, or if her every move was being watched.  For once, she wasn't completely delusional.  Creepy Older Guy really was staring at her constantly.  By constantly, I mean only looking away to get food on his fork, then staring as he forked it into his mouth.  He'd smile the creepiest smile as he stared at her. It became unnerving.

By this point, FG was feeling self-conscious with every bite she took, herself!  FG saw Creepy Older Guy finally stand up and grab his coat, out of the corner of her eye.  She froze, half-scared that on his way old Creepy Older Guy would stop at the table and say something.  An audible sigh of relief was heard coming from FG's lips, as the gentleman passed the table without stopping.

The entire ride home, FG's daughter made little jokes about Creepy Older Man liking FG.  Once home, FG thought about the whole situation, and cracked up laughing!  Although some would think the non-stop, hyena-sounding laugh meant that FG had finally cracked and lost her sanity, FG knew it was a good sign.  Her bought of depression had finally some-what disapated.  She also had learned a valuable lesson when it came to complaining about being single and not being able to "buy a date to McDonald's".  She learned to be careful what you wish for ...because there will always be a Creepy Older Man Prince Charming out there somewhere, that you'll run across sometime in your life.

FG is in physical pain tonight.  The bitter cold makes her old bones ache and her muscles have sharp, shooting pains in them.  Still, she's thankful that she forced herself out of the house.  This has been good for her mind and soul.

Check Out My Latest Freebie!

I'm excited about winning my 2nd auction on the game site! Remember my first win was the Keurig! This time I won a Garmin Forerunner 110 Sports Watch! This watch sells for around $230. My oldest son's birthday is next month and he's a runner, so this is his present! Nice present for me not spending a dime! It came in today's mail so here's a pic of it! If you'd like to sign up for free to get free merchandise too, go here: GAME SITE

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Disclaimer: The Fibro Frog is not responsible for the awarding of the prize.  If you have any questions about this giveaway, please email the host at nysavingspecials@gmail.com

Look What Came Today!

I've had one of the most awful pain days today, but a bright spot was when my son came home from the post office with the mail.  Look what came today!

Yep, my new Keurig that I got for free from the game site!  One of the K-Cups that was in the sampler box that came with it is Celestial Seasons Sleepy Time Tea.  I've heard of it before, but I've never tried it.  Tonight, I'm going to!  

This being a horrible ...and I mean horrible, pain day, I've spent a lot of time on the game site.  It gives me something to do when I'm house-bound ...which is most of the time anymore.  My pain and fatigue levels just keep getting worse.  It also helps to take my mind off of the pain, rather than sitting dwelling on it.

There are three different prizes on auction right now that I'd like to win this time around, for gifts for my oldest daughter, youngest daughter, and oldest son.  If I win them, they'll be birthday presents this year for them.  Then, to start collecting rewards to use as Christmas presents!  Even though I like the auctions, remember that you can also use your points for "buy it now" items and not have to mess with auctions.  

Where my husband left me almost two years ago and I'm unable to work, this site with the awesome rewards they have, is helping me out tremendously!  I felt like such a low-life failure this past Christmas with the measly gifts I had for my family.  This year, I'll be able to give them presents that I'm actually proud of!

If you'd like to sign up for free and get great merchandise too, just follow this link: http://www.play2shop.com?ref=U01AQ8I000000V0

I received some flack on The Fibro Frog's facebook page from one person about posting a link to the game site on a fibro page.  Like I told her, anything I can do to help someone with chronic pain, I will do.  Over and over again.  A lot of us with a chronic health condition are on a very tight budget.  If I can help someone get some nice items without costing them, then I'll do it.  If I can help someone with a chronic health condition have a little mindless fun and help them take their mind off the pain, then I'll do it.  

I hate to lose a person over something so trivial, but I have to look at the big picture, that I may be helping someone else.  I'll always support, educate, and advocate for those with a chronic pain condition.  This is just another way to try and help give a little support.  I don't have much to look forward to these days, and waiting on this Keurig to get here gave me something to look forward to and be excited about for a change.  I hope that someone reading this will be able to feel the same kind of excitement!

Love & Butterfly Hugs To All,

Amy

An Open Letter To God

Dear God,

Why does my body have to be so broken?  What did I do to deserve this?  I've tried to be a good person all of my life.  Heck, as a freshman in high school I was even given the nick-name of Little Miss Sunshine, because I'd walk around with a smile on my face all of the time and be friendly to everyone.  I was a cheerleader, but it didn't matter what circle someone ran in, I was ready to give them a smile and say "hi" to them.

Throughout the years, I've met several young adults through my kids that weren't lucky enough to come from good homes.  I've done all I could for them.  I've even taken a few of them into my home putting a roof over their head, feeding them, and tried to be a positive role model for them.  I cared about them as if they were my own children. To this day, they still call me "mom" when they see me. 

I've always loved old people and animals.  Still today, if  I'm in a store and pass someone elderly, I can't help but to smile at them.  I've been known to stop my cart in the middle of an isle, and carry on a conversation with an elderly woman if she responds to my smile with a question or statement.  When I was doing my nursing clinicals and was doing my geriatric round at nursing homes, I had an elderly lady with apraxia that knew I'd be there on Thursdays.  She would be waiting at the front door when I got there.  Greeting me with a kind, sad smile.  She was my shadow throughout the day, and I'd talk to her between residents.  As the day would ware on, she'd start to get agitated and tear up.  When my shift was over, she'd follow me to the door holding my hand, crying, and shaking her head no.  Giving her a hug and promising her I'd be back, my heart would be breaking.  I never once saw a visitor come to see this woman.  I'll never forget that poor, beautiful lady. 

I could go on and on about the gentleness of my heart dear Lord, but you already know all of this.  You know what kind of person I am, so why; why am I stuck in a broken, useless body?  Why am I stuck in this life of hell?  Shouldn't that be the punishment for a bad person? 

I have so much that I would like to do with my life.  I have hopes, and dreams.  Desires.  Wants and needs.  I've never asked for much out of life, dear God.  I've never been materialistic. I wasn't the type of wife that would whine if I didn't get a gift on a holiday.  I never asked for flowers or complained that I didn't get a vacation. 

I do want the basics in life though.  I'd like to be able to work, for both the money and the social interaction.  My broken body has taken that option away from me though, and the mental constraints of living this way has become completely unbearable for me today.  I just don't know what to do any more. 

Loading the dishwasher earlier, has me sitting here fighting back tears.  For once, I allowed a few to fall today.  A person becomes mentally tired of being in so much pain.   Of trying to stay mentally strong day after day.  I'm sitting hunched over, to try and help with the pain.  It doesn't relieve much, but I just can't sit totally upright. 

The arrearages from child support are finally all paid off.  Now, I don't have any income what-so-ever.  It's gone.  I can't get food stamps, because once I lost my employer health insurance through my husband when he left me, I had to leave my rheumatologist.  She didn't take the insurance I then had.  As it turns out, no rheumatologist anywhere near me took it.  If they did, they weren't accepting  new patients.  To be eligible for food stamps without working, you must either be on disability, or your doctor must write a note stating your condition, that you are unable to work, and how long your condition is expected to last.  My family doctor won't write one.  She said she doesn't know enough about fibro to know if I truly can't work or not.  So, when my old note from my rheumatologist at the The Cleveland Clinic expired, I was just done. 

I've applied for disability.  A year and 7 months ago to be exact.  I was turned down on the first application, and the appeal.  I'm still waiting for my court date to go before the judge for my final appeal.  Today, I've lost hope.  Hope for everything.  Hope is the word I live by and you all see so often in blog posts from me, but I'm just done for right now.  I don't know how I'm going to buy essentials such as laundry soap and toilet paper, let alone food or to pay bills.

Oh, if only could just go out and get a job.  I truly want to work.  I've lost close to 51 pounds and my clothes are too big.  The other night, every time I'd turn over in bed, my pj pants would twist and come part way down.  When I walk, my pants sag.  My shirts are all big, so it kind of disguises the weight that I've worked so hard to lose.  Being single and having grown kids with their own lives, I crave social interaction with other adults.  My online friends and support is wonderful and I'm so blessed to have every one of them in my  life; but I need to talk to real, in person adults too.  I need to be able to get out of my house and have a purpose each day, dear Lord.  If I can't even do the basic household chores myself though, how in the world could I ever work a "real" job? 

Fibromyalgia, severe arthritis, DDD, COPD, depression, diabetes, IBS (the list goes on & on) has robbed me of a real life.  A good life.  A normal life with any quality to it.  This is no way to live, dear Lord.  Why, why has my body failed me?  Why do I have to be so broken?