Healing from Fibromyalgia Step 2: Finding the Right Pain Medication

The often long and arduous journey towards receiving a fibromyalgia diagnosis is, unfortunately, just one step in the direction towards restored health. After I received my diagnosis of fibromyalgia, I was elated and felt a great sense of relief. Finally! Now the doctors would be able to give me some sort of prescription or treatment plan than would catapult me back to health. Oh how I wish I could go back in time and warn my young, naive self - the self who still believed in the omniscience of doctors - that there was still a long way to go. Upon receiving a diagnosis with fibromyalgia, I soon found out that there is no treatment plan, and that the main way most physicians treat the syndrome is through prescription pain medication. Althought, as with all fibromyalgia treatments, finding the right pain medication was trial and error. And boy, did I have to try A LOT of prescriptions before I found the one that worked for me.

From the onset of my illness in 2009, I immediately began receiving prescriptions for pain relief, and it took me two years until I found THE medication for me. Luckily, all of that painful trial and error was worth it; however, I do not wish that long of a wait on anyone. Finding the right medication to relieve pain is a crucial step in recovery. Until I received the proper pain medication, I felt as though I were waiting to die. I had no hope, no specific treatment plan to follow, and lived in continuous, excruciating pain. When I finally found that one, specific prescription to help ease my pain, I felt as though my life were back on track. Within a few weeks I was able to get up and move around. And as the pain faded, hope returned. Pain medication can be the key is restoring a sense of control and mobility in life. With the decrease in pain, I was then able to start forming a plan to treat the overall health of my body. I was able to get up, move around, and begin working towards regaining strength and stamina.

So, how do you find the right medication for you? 

Currently, there are three FDA-approved medications for the treatment of fibromyalgia pain.; Lyrica, Cymbalta, and Savella. Lyrica (Pfizer Inc) was the first medication to recive FDA-approval in June of 2007. Originally, "approved to treat seizures, as well as pain from damaged nerves that can happen in people with diabetes (diabetic peripheral neuropathy) and in those who develop pain following the rash of shingles," Lyrica was found to also be effective in decreasing the level of wide-spread pain in fibromyalgia patients. Now a popular drug, often seen in television commercials, Lyrica was the beginning of FDA-approved drugs which had positive responses in some fibromyalgia patients.

The next drug to be approved by the FDA was Cymbalta, which received it's approval one year later in June of 2008.  Like Lyrica, Cymbalta was not originally created to treat fibromyaliga patients. The original use of Cymbalta was to aide those who suffered from depression, anxiety, or diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Cymalta works to boost the brain chemicals serotonin and norepenepherine. "Serotonin and norepinephrine work together in the brain and spinal cord to tone down pain-related messages" *  Increasing serotonin and norepenephrine aide the body's ability to fight pain.

Similar to Cymbalta, Savella also works as a serotonin and norephenephrine booster. Savella was the first drug whose original purpose was created to help fight the pain of fibromyalgia patients. Recieving FDA-approval in 2009, Savella acts similar to those drugs used to treat depression and anxiety, but is not prescribed as such.

Each one of these FDA-approved drugs has the possibility of helping fibromyalgia patients, but they also have negative side effects. Typical side effects include:

1. Lyrica: "sleepiness, dizziness, blurry vision, weight gain, trouble concentrating, swelling of the hands and feet, and dry mouth. Allergic reactions, although rare, can occur."*
2. Cymbalta: "side effects include nausea, dry mouth, sleepiness, constipation, decreased appetite, and increased sweating ... Like some other antidepressants, Cymbalta may increase the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in people who take the drug for depression" *
3. Savella: " Side effects include nausea, constipation, dizziness, insomnia, excessive sweating, vomiting, palpitations or increased heart rate, dry mouth and high blood pressure" *

Although Lyrica, Cymbalta, and Savella are the only three prescriptions that have received FDA-approval for the treatment of fibromyalgia, there are many other prescriptions which have also been helpful in fibromyalgia patients. Muscle relaxants such as Xanaflex or Flexeri may be prescribed, as well as other serotonin boosters like Prozac, Lexapro, and Zoloft. In my experience with prescritption medications, serotonin boosters were unhelpful and created the most uncomfortable side effects of all those I had tried. Unlike Cymbalta or Savella (which boost BOTH serotonin and norepenepherine) prescriptions like Prozac only boost serotonin levels, which may increase energy - but does not decrease pain.

Overall,finding the correct pain medication is as hard of a journey as was getting a diagnosis. Often the medications will give you adverse reactions and side effects, and you will have to go through many until you find that one pill which gives you none. For me, it took two years, but I am hoping that for others their wait will be much less. Finding the tools to decrease wide spread pain is a fundamental building block towards rebuilding your body to total health.

This blog was sourced from the FDA website and the Fibromyaliga Network. If you would like to read their articles or look for further information, please follow the links below

1. FDA
2. Fibromyalgia Network

 Until Next Time,
Feast From Within

Healing from Fibromyalgia: Step 1 - Getting a Diagnosis

What is Fibromyalgia? To those who do not suffer from this curious illness, understanding its symptoms, treatments, and effects on a person's life can be very difficult. Debate within the medical community still persists as to the existence of fibromyalgia as an actual disease or condition. Characterized by widespread pain, unbearable fatigue, cognitive impairment (brain fog), and poor sleep, fibromyalgia is often considered the 'wastebasket' disease of the medical community. Considering that fibromyalgia can not be diagnosed using any form of medical testing (blood test, X Ray, etc) many doctors use the diagnosis of fibromyalgia as a catch-all for an explanation of their patient's symptoms. But to those of us who truly suffer from the debilitating syndrome, actually getting a proper diagnosis is incredibly difficult.

As previously stated, fibromyalgia can not be diagnosed through any sort of medical testing. In fact, the current way to diagnose fibromyalgia is through an arbitrary 'tender point test' along side a patient survey. In order to receive the diagnosis of 'fibromyalgia', a patient must respond to 11 of the 18 tender points in all four quadrants of the body (left/right, top/bottom). These 18 tender points are depicted in the graph below:

 

The tender point test and criteria for diagnosis was created in  1990 by the American College of Rheumatology, and, sadly, is still in use today. * There are many problems in the use of this test as the primary means of diagnosis. First of all, in order to meet the diagnosis of fibromyalgia, a patient must have had persistent wide spread pain symptoms for a minimum of three months. * Meaning, one must suffer and live in agonizing, full - body pain for MONTHS before a doctor will even consider to give a diagnosis of fibromyalgia. Not only must one suffer through months of pain, they must also suffer through months of randomized testing in order to rule out any other possible illness or disease which shares similar symptoms. If anyone has lived with fibromyalgia or chronic widespread pain, they may understand the extent of suffering and hopelessness that one faces while being shuffled from doctor to doctor, going through a wide array of tests, only to continue waiting for any information that may provide an explanation as to why they are in so much pain.

Not only is the tender point test subjective, but is it highly unpredictable depending on the severity of the symptoms and the competence of the doctor. Symptoms of fibromyalgia vary from day to day; therefore, multiple tender points may not register on one day, but be very evident on the next. When I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 2010, I was experiencing so much widespread pain that I could not differentiate between the pain I felt in the 'tender points' vs the pain I was feeling through out the rest of my body. To me, everything was painful, and the act of applying pressure to one specific area made no difference to the pain I was already experiencing. 

Since the tender point test is unpredictable and subjective, in 2010 "a group of rheumatologists acting on behalf of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) published new preliminary criteria on how doctors should diagnose fibromyalgia." * This preliminary criteria includes a patient survey, or 'symptom checklist', that acts as a backup to the tender point test. The symptom checklist is just as subjective as the tender point test. The idea behind the symptom survey, I'm assuming, is to provide further validation to the diagnosis of a patient with fibromyalia. As a person who has completed both tests and lives with fibromyalgia, I (obviously) find both to be extremely faulty and possibly ineffective in providing suffering people with proper medical care. However, until fibromyalgia can be diagnosed through a more effective test, like a blood test, patients suffering from chronic pain are forced to live with a flawed system. 

Unfortunately, in order to begin healing from symptoms of fibromyalgia, one needs a diagnosis. Receiving a diagnosis provides patients with some sense of understanding and allows each person to begin taking steps toward finding treatments. Armed with a diagnosis, any patient with fibromyalgia can now venture to arm themselves with knowledge of their condition and begin to regain a sense of hope for improved health. 

If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of fibromyalgia, consider consulting a rheumatologist. Most cases of fibromyalgia are diagnosed under the umbrella of being a rheumatic syndrome, therefore many of the most knowledgeable doctors of fibromyalgia are found in the rheumatology department.

An example of the symptom survey can be found at the link below:
 http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HXZYTBM

Until Next Time,
Feast From Within



Further information regarding diagnosing fibromyalgia:

1. http://www.fmnetnews.com/fibro-basics/diagnosis
2. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/fibromyalgia/in-depth/fibromyalgia-symptoms/art-20045401?pg=1

Re-defining Success with a Chronic Illness

Many days I spend time wondering if I'm working hard enough, if there is more I can be doing, if I need to be more proactive about my health, or if my health will prohibit me from achieving my goals. Before I got sick, I spent my teenage years being active in athletics, community service, and after school group activities. I was the stereotypical overachiever who wanted to be involved in any and every group possible. Back then, success meant being the 'best' and winning awards. My entire self-worth was derived from the success I felt from the outward accomplishments I could achieve. To me, the more recognition I got, the more successful and worthy I felt. But my idea of success was radically changed once I became ill.

It has been five years since I first fell ill in 2009, and I still struggle with my definition of success daily. My old paradigms of material gain and outward recognition still color my perception of how successful I feel. My emotions usually fluctuate between feeling like I'm not working hard enough, to worrying that  I will never amount to anything in my life. Recently I have realized that my current definition of success is detrimental to my personal outlook, and quite frankly it is a result of poor self-worth and self-image. In my definition of success, I'm using all of the outward accomplishments I can achieve as a filler for a lack of inner self-worth and self-love.

Self-worth/self-love is an inherently hard concept to cultivate in any individual, regardless of chronic illness; however, I have found that living with a chronic illness makes self-love even harder. It shines a harsh light on our vulnerabilities, insecurities, and true feelings about ourselves. For example, I have spent my whole life defining my success and self-worth through the eyes of others, and I only felt that I was worthy of love if I could accomplish something and get attention. And, now, living with a chronic illness I am FORCED to redefine success and how I view myself.

Living with fibromyalgia, I can not accomplish as many outward goals as others. I can't compete in physical activities, run a marathon, go back packing through Europe, etc. I have to make sure I get enough sleep, eat the correct diet, take my medication, have time to rest through out the day, and most often I have to depend on others for support. It kills me to think that there are things in this world that I may not ever be able to achieve or places I may never be able to visit, but I am slowly learning that not achieving those things is o.k. In my mind, I'm only worthy if I have traveled the world, been on adventures, made a lot of money, and achieved acclaim in my career. It drives me crazy that I still live near my hometown, that I haven't seen as much of the world as I want to, and that I haven't made an extreme headway in my career. There is something in me that believes if I do not accomplish these Type- A goals, my life will be worth nothing, or that no one will value me, or that I am wasting my life due to my chronic illness. And yes, there are things in life that my chronic illness will not allow me to do - but I'm starting to realize that all of those limiting beliefs t are bullshit.

Think about it, why are we all striving for success and acclaim? In one way or another, most of us are trying to fill a void that wasn't tended to as children. We are trying to fill that hole with material things, cars, jobs, money, etc. just because we don't believe we are incapable of seeing our inherent worthiness. We are trying to cover up our insecurities, because somewhere, deep down, most of us don't believe we are worthy of love unless we are able to accomplish something. Each day is a struggle for me to understand that I am worthy, not because I accomplish something, but I am worthy merely for just being me.

Sometimes I get lost in this world. It is hard living with a chronic illness. Each day is frustrating and painful and the fear that I am missing out on life can be incredibly heartbreaking. I believe that each person deserves to experience the full potential of their lives, and quite often, living with a chronic illness can make someone feel like their life has been taken away from them. But, on those days when my self-doubt is at its worst, I just have to stop and remember what I have and what I am capable of doing. I may not be able to do everything that everyone else can do, but I can still do a lot. I have come a long way from being bedridden. I'm fortunate enough that I have gotten a hold on my chronic illness, to the extent that I can work, I have traveled abroad once, and I am able to walk and enjoy life again.

Each day it is important to remember that we define our own success. Success is different for everyone, and it is never a replacement for self-worth. Being mindful of how we view ourselves, how we view success, and what we say to ourselves in our own heads can be incredibly enlightening if we just take the time to slow down and be mindful of our thoughts. Don't even compare your life journey to that of another. Each of us is inherently worthy to be alive and to be loved just by being us. We all have our own paths and our own parts to play in life, and the journey can take some amazing turns. Five years ago I thought I was going to die and that I was never going to be healthy again, but now I am grateful to say that I live a very blessed life with many opportunities to accomplish some of my goals - and so can you.

While this blog post might seem like I have rambled on about success, self-love, and self-worth, all I want you to take away from this is that our idea of material gain as success is usually bullshit. That we ARE worthy of being loved even though we are sick, and that there is always the possibility of things getting better. Never give up, and never let anyone define your success but you.

Until Next Time,
Feast From Within
xoxo

Book Review: The Anti-Inflammation Diet and Recipe Book

On my quest for the perfect diet that will optimize my body's ability to heal, I have come across many books that promise such results. Of course, most fall short in conveying adequate information about how the body functions with regards to nutrition, and many others are just jam packed with difficult recipes which seem better suited for a chef (which I am not). However, I was pleasantly surprised by what I found in the Anti-Inflammation Diet and Recipe Book. 

Written by Jessica K. Black N.D, trained at the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon, the book does approached inflammation through a holistic and nutritional approach. Increased inflammation in the body results in many chronic health conditions such as heart disease, chronic pain syndromes, and diabetes. And, according to the book, "seven of every ten Americans who die each year, die of a chronic disease." (pg. 39) Therefore, in my journey to optimal health and wellness, I decided to embark on learning more about this Anti-Inflammation Diet 'revolution'. 

The Anti-Inflammation diet itself stresses what seems to be an obvious approach to eating habits; no sugar, alcohol, or caffeine. Avoid possible food sensitives like gluten and dairy, but focus on eating plenty of fruits, veggies, and grains. Food habits like these are not revolutionary, but following such a diet in our over caffeinated and sugared culture is quite difficult. The diet itself can be broken down into a simple format depicted in this Anti-Inflammation Food Pyramid created by Dr. Andrew Weil.

The diet is helpful in living a healthy life and preventing chronic diseases, but it should be stated that each person has an individual biochemistry - meaning that not all diets are created as a one size fits all. And diet alone will not 'cure' every ailment. However, the information provided in this book was helpful in understanding the effects of inflammation of the body. What I enjoyed the most about the Anti-Inflammation Diet and Recipe Book is the Jessica Black added helpful charts for example meal plans as well as a substitutions chart for cooking without food such as wheat, eggs, butter, etc. Each substitution chart provides helpful alternatives in baking if one is cutting out dairy or gluten. For example, if you are trying to make a recipe that calls for milk, you can substitute the milk for any alternative such as almond milk, soy milk, coconut milk, etc. These charts are essential in simplifying the baking process and making it much easier to learn how to cook healthy, nutrient packed meals. 

Overall, I found the recipes in the book to be some of the most useful I have ever come across. They do not seem as intimidating as many other health food recipes I have tried in the past and many use simple ingredients that can be found in your kitchen or cupboard. In conclusion, I would have liked more of an in depth coverage of the properties of an Anti-Inflammation Diet and how nutrition plays a role in impacting our overall health and vitality, but the usefulness of the recipes in the back, as well as the sample meal plans and charts, saves this book from being passable. 

Finding a diet that fits your unique biochemistry and body is difficult and can often be a long journey. I do not follow the Anti-Inflammation Diety strickly because I find that I personally require more sources of protein in order to function properly, but I have committed to cutting out sources of cane sugar for my food sources. 

I do hope that this information is helpful to all of my readers out there! I will continue to dedicate my time to researching new, healthy ways to empower the body to heal itself. 

For more information about Jessica Black N.D. please visit her website at the following link:

http://drjessicablack.com/

Until next time, 

Feast From Within 

Personal Stories: Triumph Over Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

                                                                       Photo credit: Satish Kumar / The National
                                                      Alice Haine (right) with her personal trainer Emma White (left) in Dubai 

               The story of Alice Haine is one many of those with chronic illness or Fibromyalgia can relate to. of triumph. A year ago she was suffering from a range of debilitating symptoms that effectively stopped her life dead on the tracks. Unable to get out of bed or work full time, Haine was struggling to understand what was going on in her body. A mother of two living in the UAE, Haine was terrified that the life she had enjoyed as a wife, mother, and editor at The National- would be drastically limited by illness. In September of 2013, Haine was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. So, what was she to do next?

            With diagnosis in hand, Haine sought out to find treatments that would restore her heath. Researching online and joining support groups, she was devastated to see that many others with the same illness had spend years of their life restricted to a wheel chair or relying of care-givers. But Haine seemingly refused to accept that as her fate, and "just 10 weeks after [her] devastating diagnosis; however, [she] returned to full-time work. And today, 11 months on, [she] is almost fully recovered. So, how did [she] do it?' * 


          Haine credits her recovering to an fairly unknown treatment plan called, "Dynamic Neural Retraining System (DNRS) – a Canadian programme that remaps the brain away from a constant cycle of illness and back to full health over a period of six months...The programme was launched in 2009 by Annie Hopper, a counsellor and psychotherapist from Toronto, after she recovered from multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS). Using her professional experience and the latest research in neuroscience, she concluded that she was suffering from a limbic-system disorder where the brain is locked into a permanent trauma loop (or state of fight or flight), which makes it see everything around it as some form of threat." *   

What is the lymbic system and what role does it play in Dynamic Neural Retraining System?

              According to Haine's own article published at The National, "the limbic system is a complex set of structures in the brain that’s largely responsible for how we interpret sensory input. Several factors can impair its function, from exposure to chemicals, a virus, an emotional or physical trauma or accumulated stress. Once the system is damaged, it causes cross-wiring of the neuronal circuits in the brain and, as a result, distorted sensory perceptions."

              So, the theory is, if one can effectively train the brain to direct a positive focus away from pain and illness, then the patient can essentially re-wire the focus of the lymbic system. This theory, neuroplasticity, is revolutionary in the field of brain science. Neuroplasticity states that the brain is not a static system, but rather it is dynamic and always changing. It has plasticity. The  Dynamic Neural Retraining System utilizes this theory to create new, healthy pathways in the brain. Essentially, the sufferer of chronic illness would think themselves well.

              The program is completed in six months and is taught through a 14 hr DVD package. Each patient is directed to focus on positive brain training exercises for one hour each day. "To date, the DNRS programme has only treated 3,000 people – some on courses hosted by Hopper in North America and more than 1,800 through the 14-hour DVD that she created to reach those farther away."  More information about Hopper's program can be found at the her website http://www.dnrsystem.com/

             Treatments for fibromyalgia and any other chronic illness are often alternative in nature, due to the fact that the illness itself is still widely misunderstood by 'western' doctors. I, myself, have not yet tried the DNRS system and remain skeptical in nature. The power of the brain is truly astounding and I do believe that many people can will themselves into good health through the power of effective positive thinking. However, new 'miracle' treatments should always be taken under advisement before one makes an investment. Understanding how our body works is key in understanding how to heal, and the more we know the more answers we can unlock. Studying the function of the lymbic system and the power of the brain in rewiring old, negative thought patterns is a worth while endeavor and I will continue to do my own research into the topic. The most effective treatments for any illness usually involve an integrative approach to health. An approach that integrates 'western' and holistic medicine practices. Haine herself states that " the DNRS wasn't my only treatment"  But she does believe that, "The most important step in [her] recovery was being diagnosed, [and] the next was believing [she] could get better. There’s no one-stop solution for ­everybody, but treating both the brain and the physical symptoms was the key to [her] recovery."

           If you are interested in learning more about DNRS please follow the links above or below. In my upcoming posts I will be looking deeper into the program myself and learning more about the theories of neuroplasticity. 

Until next time,

Feast From Within

Sources:

For more information about the DNRS program, http://www.dnrsystem.com/Read more: http://www.thenational.ae/arts-lifestyle/well-being/the-road-to-recovery-a-first-hand-account-of-beating-chronic-fatigue-syndrome#page1#ixzz39XVr48CP
Follow us: @TheNationalUAE on Twitter | thenational.ae on Facebook

Man with Fibromyalgia Overcomes Odds

                                                          Tye Cypher | for Trib Total Media

Eight years after a quadruple-bypass surgery, Larry Shaffer (age 60 of PA), "broke state bench-press record ... and now has his eyes set on an Anti-Drug Athletes United world record. " Not only has Shaffer overcome the post-op odds of a quadruple-bypass surgery, he is doing so while battling elbow tendinitis AND fibromyalgia. 

Speaking about his condition, Shaffer stated that, “with fibromyalgia, if you let it overcome you, it will wreak havoc on your body,”  But Shaffer hasn't let that happen. He said weightlifting saved his life in 2006, the same time doctors told him he wouldn't lift again. His pure power of will allowed him to surpass the odds that were stacked against him. 

Shaffer began weight lifting later in life, beginning in his forties, and continues to do so in spite of  a diagnosis previously given by his doctors that he would never be able to lift more than forty pounds. In fact, this June, "Shaffer competed in his first competitive event since 2012 ... and his lift of 276 lbs. broke the previous state record for the 60-64 age group ... while his second lift of 282 lbs. broke the state AND national mark." 

Larry Shaffer is a testament to the power of the human mind. When you are determined to achieve a goal, the mind will destroy all obstacles that stand in your way. 

Shaffer has an important message to relay to all others who are facing challenging life circumstances. 

"“Doctors told me I'd never be able to lift more than 40 pounds,” Shaffer said. “Never let anyone tell you that you can't do something.”

Fibromyalgia is a terrible condition that is painful and debilitating to many people. I, myself, suffer from the condition and look to the success of Larry Shaffer as motivation and proof that I, too, can accomplish my goals.

I hope that the story of Larry Shaffer inspires you to believe in the power of yourself and gives you a ray of hope for a healthy future. His full story can be found at the link below.

Until next time,

Feast From Within 

Read more: http://triblive.com/sports/otherlocal/6469864-74/shaffer-lift-pounds#ixzz38xiy47Kj 
Follow us: @triblive on Twitter | triblive on Facebook

Supplements for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia - Ribose

Treating Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue syndrome is still a mystery to many doctors, but new treatments and studies are being conducted into the effectiveness of supplements and alternative treatments. Lately I have been hearing a considerable amount of discussion in the Chronic Pain Community about the use of Ribose as a way to easy pain and increase energy. Ribose, " is a naturally occurring sugar made in the body from glucose and is an essential component of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the compound that stores and delivers energy in all cells." It also occurs in RNA (ribonucleic acid), "one of the main information-carriers of living organisms"  

So basically, ribose can be thought of as a sugar and is even being used in some energy or health drinks *(so keep an eye on the labels of drinks when you are considering how much ribose to add into your diet, you may already be consuming it!) As for Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue patients, a study in 2006 done by The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, noted that, "patients who took five grams of ribose three times a day for an average of 28 days reported less muscle soreness and stiffness, better ability to overcome fatigue, and simply [felt] better." (source/ source)

It is important to note that ribose supplements have not been extensively studied and that the study done by The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine did not utilize a placebo group, nor did they do a long term follow up.

I have, personally, not supplemented ribose into my diet, but plan on implementing it into my routine.
As always, supplements are to be approached with caution and a significant amount of research. Even though they are 'natural', these products may have negative side effects depending on your own personal health and if you are currently taking any other medication. Please consult and doctor/herbalists/or dietitian.

Recommended Dosage:
5 grams 3x a day

Possible Side Effects:

• Digestive problems, such as nausea, stomach ache and diarrhea
• Headache
• Low blood sugar (not recommended for diabetics because it can lower blood sugar too much when combined with medications)

Until next time,

Feast From Within

Sources:
Dr. Andrew Weil 
chronicfatigue.about.com

Simple Ways to Stock Your Gluten Free Pantry

Going Gluten Free can be very daunting! Where to start? What to buy? How much does it cost? 

When I went gluten free three years ago I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I didn't understand how to shop gluten free, which gains contained gluten, and which stores sold the most gluten free products. Buy gluten free cookbooks didn't make it much easier. Ingredients such as 'xantham gum' and 'sorgum flour' sent my head spinning! What were these ingredients? Did I get myself in over my head? 

Luckily, major chains of grocery stores are beginning to carry a wide variety of gluten free alternatives, which makes stocking your gluten free pantry much easier!!! Now, do not be dismayed by long and complicated gluten free ingredients. Through trial and error, I have found cheap and easy alternatives for gluten free baking that do NOT call for all of those previously unheard of ingredients. However, if you are a skilled baker or cook, go right ahead and begin experimenting with interesting gluten free recipes! 

Unfortunately, incorporating and cooking with new ingredients can be difficult and expensive, especially at first. So I have comprised a list of products that make living gluten free MUCH easier than diet and cook books may allow us to believe. Most of the products featured below can be found a major food stores such as Meijer, Kroger, and Walmart. 

Here are some of my favorite brands to buy:

1)  King Arthur Flours and Baking Mixes

Pricing ranges between 5-9 dollars and can be bought in stores or online

Their website also offers gluten free recipes for baking

2). Udi's

Udi's has a wide variety of great products. Not only do they offer baked goods like breads, cookies, and cakes, but they also have selections of frozen foods that you can stock up on in your freezer. 

Check out the Udi's website for further information, pricing, and coupons. 

3) Rudis

Similar to, but not the same company as, Udi's - Rudis gluten free bakery sells organic and gluten free products. Their website offers a store locator to make it easier to find their products. My favorite Rudis baked good is their gluten free cinnamon-raisin bread. Great for snacks or breakfast!

4) Food For Life - Brown Rice Tortillas

I'm a big fan of making wraps, so naturally I just HAD to find a quality gluten free wrap to use for my lunches, and the Food For Life Brown Rice tortillas have been my favorite so far. Hard to find in stores, at least stores near me, the gluten free wraps can be bought online and shipped right to your door. I usually stock up on two at a time and keep them in my freezer. Not only do I use them for making wraps, but I also use the tortillas as an easy alternative to pizza crust when I make my home-made pizzas. 

For a full list of gluten free gains, see below or check out this article about a gluten free chef based in Chicago 

I hope these products are helpful in aiding you towards stocking a gluten free pantry that is easy on the budget and simple to follow.

Until Next Time,
Feast From Within
xoxo

Getting What You Want Won't Make You Happy

Don't be shocked by the title of this post, I am a full blown optimist! But it wasn't until after I had experienced a life threatening illness, years of clinical depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts for me to realize what the heck happiness actually is.

As a child, growing up in America I idolized material culture without even realizing it. Spending time watching TV and movies informed me that success and happiness only comes from external sources like material wealth and  'things' that we can buy. We have all heard the saying, "Money doesn't buy happiness," but I'm not sure any of us reaaaaaly believe/d it. Of course money would make me happy, it sure as hell would make life a lot easier! But living in a culture that promotes the idea of external happiness through material wealth has seriously perverted our understanding of what happiness actually is and how to attain it.

First of all, let me just say, happiness isn't attained. It just IS. Happiness is the balanced and original state of humanity and life. Think of yourself as baby, rather - think of any baby you have ever come in contact with. Babies are the purest form of life. They exist in the state that we are forced to forget. Babies don't worry about bills, about success, about society, about family, friends, work, etc. They just exist as they are. Of course, existing in your purest state of happiness is easier said than done after spending years in a perspective of the world as a harsh, unruly place that only values people who have money or objects. But happiness truly is all around us, all we have to do is SHIFT our perspective in order to see us. We have to choose to see happiness.

Growing up I experienced certain kinds of childhood traumas that left me clinically depress and suicidal for years. I had developed and anxiety disorder and symptoms of PTSD without even realizing it. Through out my teenage years I was in and out of therapists and on any kind of medication that would leave me comatose to the world around me. Of course, no one saw what was really going on. I was skilled at diverting my depression through humor and jokes - always the 'class clown'. But once I got to college, and moved out of my parents house, these symptoms of depression and anxiety magically disappear (imagine that). But at the beginning of my sophomore year of college I was whisked back home by a life threatening, and mysterious, viral infection that would leave me bedridden for a year and fighting for my life. Needless to say, THIS was the darkest period of my life. With no hope from doctors, I often contemplated suicide just to end the amount of physical body pain I was experiencing through my un-treatable illness. I won't go too in depth with what I experienced during those years of my life. Mostly because it is still fresh, and too painful to relive publicly. But it taught me the most important lessons about my life, and motivated me to inspire and empower others to take control of their personal health and happiness.

After 3 years in therapy to treat my depression, anxiety, and PTSD (the mental health toll of a life threatening illness) and years of multiple doctors visits, alternative treatments, spiritual literature, diet changes, and natural supplements - I was able to heal myself from the inside out, and this journey taught me that happiness is not something that is attained by getting that job you want, or buying that car, or taking a trip to that place - it is attained by realizing it was there all along.

Think about it, how many times have you envisioned some object that you want - maybe a car - but once you attain that object, you go right back to however you felt before. This is because you have not realized the happiness within you. Objects will never be able to sustain a state of happiness, they may make us feel great for awhile, but eventually you always go right back to the way you were feeling before.

So, how do we realize that we create our own happiness? Basically, we have to stop trying to get happiness. Give up on being happy. Giving up allows you to truly let happiness into your life. If you are striving for happiness, you are ignoring the happiness that is already there - your focus is still external to yourself. Happiness isn't always easy, and we may not live in an eternal state of bliss. But accepting the happiness within you, and making an effort to change your perspective, truly allows you to be happy NOW, rather than in some imaginary future when you have everything you want.

Now is all we have, and happiness is there for the taking!
I hope this post will inspire you to make small changes through out your day that will aide you in shifting your perspective as to allow more happiness to naturally occur in your life, everyday.

Until next time,
Feast From Within
xoxo

What is Gluten? A Basic Introduction to Eating Gluten Free

A Gluten Free diet is all the rage. Everyone from your mother to Miley is going Gluten Free, but what does it really mean?

Most people don't know what Gluten actually is. Gluten is a protein found in wheat and related grains such as barley and rye. Gluten is what gives breads and baked goods that elasticity and yummy dough. Anyone who has been to Panera and ate soup out of one of their bread bowls, or had one of the baguettes, knows how goooood gluten-y bread tastes. So why go Gluten Free?

Those who suffer from Celiac disease (an autoimmune disorder)  must eat a gluten free diet due to the fact that gluten causes inflammation in the digestive system (intestines, etc) which interferes with the absorption of nutrients. Eating gluten also causes digestive problems (diarrhea, constipation, bloating, etc.) which can be very painful.

Due to the fact that gluten is present in wheat, many people with a wheat allergy often misdiagnose themselves as being Gluten Intolerant or Celiac, however the two should not be considered the same. Those with a wheat allergy are capable of eating products with Rye or Barley with no adverse reaction, while anyone with gluten intolerance or celiac disease would most likely experience internal and external side effects.

Gluten Sensitivity and Gluten Intolerance is highly debated in the medical and wellness community. There are many dietitians and doctors who discredit the notion of being gluten intolerant, stating mainly that a patient is mostly like either celiac, has a wheat allergy, or is suffering from another form of bowl syndrome- such as IBS. However, in the health and wellness community, gluten intolerance is a widely accepted idea and is often associated with similar symptoms to that of those who suffer from celiac, however, the appearance of symptoms is much less severe.

Below is a chart of Gluten Related Disorders

(via wikipedia....of course)

As one can see, diagnosing someone with Celiac Disease or a Gluten Intolerance is very difficult and nuanced. But the main thing to remember is that a gluten does affect the immune system, which is why many nutritionist and health & wellness 'gurus' suggest that anyone with a chronic illness, autoimmune disorder, or chronic fatigue goes gluten free. 

For most people with a chronic illness, chronic pain, fatigue, or any other autoimmune disorder - going gluten free often adds a state of improved health and energy to their life, either due to the lack of gluten in their diet - or possibly a placebo effect. 

I, myself, went gluten free three years ago as suggested by a family relative. This relative also suffers from fibromyalgia, and she had seen incredible benefits from going gluten free. At first, I had no idea what gluten was or how to shop for a gluten free diet. But as the trend began to pick up, I was able to find relatively affordable gluten free alternatives. 

Overall, the understanding of how gluten affects the human body is still relatively misunderstood. As with other autoimmune disorders, more time and money needs to be allocated to researching the affects of gluten on the immune system. If you think you may have celiac disease, or a gluten intolerance, speak to your health care professional - or try going gluten free and see how you feel! If you find that your body performs better without gluten in your diet, go ahead and make the change - however, if you find that cutting gluten out of your diet has no effects, then go right ahead and continue eating it! 

Until next time, 

Feast From Within

xoxo

*This is a very brief and simple overview of gluten, leaving out complex information regrading celiac disease and gluten intolerance, meaning that all information in this article should be taken with a grain of salt. Please remember to do  your research and speak to your health care professional if you have any concerns about your diet and well being. 

Supplements - Turmeric

Using natural and herbal supplements to fight disease and support the health of the body is quickly becoming more accepted in Western Culture. Of course, Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda have been doing this for centuries, but we are just now taking notice of the positive affects here in the West. Recently (this week) I have added Turmeric into my daily supplement intake and I am incredibly happy with the results!

Turmeric is most well known for it's use in curry, but it has been used for 4,000 years to treat a variety of conditions such as digestive and liver problems, cancers, inflammation, skin diseases, wounds, etc and Dr. Andrew Weil MD suggests Turmeric for patients to treat all inflammation disorders, including arthritis, tendinitis, and auto immune conditions.

The active substance in Turmeric, Curcumin, is " a powerful antioxidant. Antioxidants scavenge molecules in the body known as free radicals, which damage cell membranes, tamper with DNA, and even cause cell death. Antioxidants can fight free radicals and may reduce or even help prevent some of the damage they cause. In addition, curcumin lowers the levels of two enzymes in the body that cause inflammation." (Source)

The following ways to include Turmeric (curcumin) into your diet include:
1) Capsules
2) Fluid Extract
3) Tinctures

I am currently taking one capsule of Turmeric in the morning with my breakfast, but am considering taking two. Positive effects of turmeric take time to be seen and felt, but I have already noticed less pain, strain, and muscle fatigue. I will continue taking Turmeric as a way to combat the inflammation that accompanies Fibromyalgia.

Before introducing a new supplement into your diet, always contact you physician first.

Until next time,
Feast From Within
xoxo

Book Review - Foods that Fight Fibromyalgia

There is a 'new' movement sweeping the Health and Wellness Community, and that movement is focused on the efforts to heal illness through food. As a member of this community, and a woman with Fibromyalgia, I am an avid supporter of the power to heal through food - hence the title of my Blog "Feast from Within". However, with this sweeping movement of healthy eating also comes a vast array of new diet books, each promising a way to magically cure your illness. Through out the years of my journey toward health and recovery I have devoured and read countless diet books, hoping that one will have that magical diet to cure all of my ailments. However, not all diet books are created equal. And I am here to guide you through each book I have read and add my personal input and perspective that will hopefully help you find the right diet plan for you.

So here we go!

The first book on my list, "Foods the Fight Fibromyalgia", is a well written and informative diet plan comprised by Dierdre Rawlings. The book is divided into two parts. Part I: Understanding Fibromyalgia and Part II: Winning the Battle Through Food.

What I enjoyed most about this book was all in Part I. This section of the book outlines six different chapters that each go in depth to discuss scientific causes of Fibromyalgia. 

The chapters are as follows:

1) The Causes and Cures of Fibromyalgia

2) Fighting Fibromyalgia Through Diet

3) Treating Symptoms with Food - Not Pills

4)  Focusing on Colorful Nutrition: We Are What We Eat

5) Your Lifestyle Guide: Shopping Lists and Eating Tips 

6) Balanced Living Principals

The Chapters in Part I are a great way to scientifically understand what is going on in your body and how to heal through nutrition. Understanding how our body functions is crucial in understanding how to heal. The book goes in depth to discuss genes, cellular energy, pesticides, water quality, immune dysfunction, allergies, pharmaceutical drugs, nutrient deletion, stress, mineral imbalances, and more! These 6 chapters overflow with knowledge that is usually limited to those who have studied medicine or the body, but now it is available to use for the public. This information empowers us to take charge of the state of our own health, and I definitely felt very empowered after I read it! 

There is also a large focus on gluten intolerance and other food allergies that is discussed in Part I. So be prepared to start considering a gluten-free diet!   

Overall, I found Part I to be very informative and beneficial. It far outweighs what appears  in Part II. 

Part II is dedicated all to recipes to try at home, and this is where I came up disappointed. My biggest problem with specialized diet books is the quality of recipes that appear. Each recipe claims to be 'simple' but is NOT. Anyone who suffers from Fibromyalgia knows that shopping for healthy, organic food takes time, energy, and lots of money - something that many of us may not have. Therefore, when I run into healthy diet books I am often left wanting due to the lack of realistic recipes and diet changes that one can actually implement into their life. There are many gluten-free options available in stores that are cheaper and easier to make/buy than most of the recipes listed in the book, and the list of ingredients may come up as quite foreign and difficult to find for anyone who is not familiar with vegan, gluten free, or diary free lifestyles. 

Overall, I was very disappointed with Part II of the book. I am still in search of a realistic and reliable diet book that lists common and well known gluten-free brands and alternatives, as well as recipes that are actually quick, easy, and simple to make. 

In conclusion, I would say that the book is worth the purchase, if only for the benefit of reading Part I and gaining a more in depth understanding of how our bodies function at the cellular and nutritional level. 

I hope this message finds you well. 

Please comment below if you have any other book suggestions

Until next time,

Feast From Within 

xoxo 

Fibromyalgia - Working 8-5

As I write this blog post, I am sitting here at my desk. The 2pm energy crash is hitting me and I am brought right back into constant awareness of my illness. It has been almost a month and a half since I started working an 8-5 job and my body has yet to adjust to the transition. Each day is a struggle against my fatigue and pain. I am lucky enough to be able to work and make it through the day, but right as I get home I crash on the couch and fall fast asleep. My life has now become a repeating cycle of waking, working, and sleeping. The only breaks I take are to eat lunch and do stretches at my desk. Oh yes, did I mention I am working a desk job? Holding a job with a chronic illness is difficult. We often can't work many hours and are limited to the type of jobs we are able to hold. Therefore, I thought that a desk job would be less stress on my energy and muscle pain; however, I am realizing that sitting in an office chair for upwards of 8hrs a day is not necessarily conducive to optimal health. I make sure to take a break each hour to get up and do my yoga stretches, but the stretches only seem to provide temporary relief to the stiffness, soreness, and pain in my muscles.
My job isn't especially difficult, it is mostly just data entry and office work and occasionally answering phones. Yet I am still fighting against my fatigue. Each day I contemplate asking to decrease my hours, knowing that I need more time to rest and sleep. But my Type A personality tells me to keep pushing, I've been through this before, and that eventually my body will adjust to the hours and working conditions. But I can't say for sure that those things will happen. As with all this Fibro - we can never know how our body will handle new challenges or day-to-day activities. But I don't want to give up. I WON'T GIVE UP!

I love my job. I work for an amazing Zoo and get to work with wonderful people everyday. It is truly a positive work environment to be in, and I am so grateful to have this opportunity to increase my own personal independence in life and to make more money. However, my absolute love for my job and my gratitiude for what it has given me is most likely what is holding me back from taking a step back and working less hours.

As many of you may know, living with a chronic illness can strip away many aspects of life that others may take for granted. Things like, social lives, education opportunity, relationships, family, friends, and jobs. Therefore, once we gain some of these aspects back into our lives, we are reluctant to let them go. I find myself clutching onto my job and the positive aspects of a social life that I have been able to reintegrate back into my life along my road to recovery.

But sometimes we have to remember to let go. Things in life come and go, and we can not control what we may or may not have at any give point. It is imperative for those who live with a chronic illness to understand when to step back, when to let go, and when to re-evaluate certain aspects of our lives in order to keep our body in a healthy environment.

I'm not sure what I will do in my 8-5 job. Maybe I will ask to decrease my hours, or maybe I will push through the transition and try to build more stamina in the face of fatigue. All I do know for sure is that every day I take conscious steps to promote health in my body through diet, spirituality, yoga, and relaxation.

I hope you are all well and treating you bodies with the peace and love they deserve.

And don't forget to Feast From Within

xoxo