The first step was to seek out a Rheumatologist and a Pain Specialist, at a minimum. Make sure you also have your internist/Primary care physician. This doctor could be your Rheumatologist (mine is both my regular doctor and my rheumatologist, just to make life a bit easier). As Fibro friends, we will have those "normal" illnesses, like the flu, sore throats, etc. That may need to be addressed by your "regular" doctor. SO, you need at least two doctors that treat Fibro!
The second step was to, hopefully, do whatever you could do to keep your job. In other words, if you can get decent treatment that makes keeping your job/career tolerable, it really is the best idea. IF you want to know the details of why, please go back to the preceding post and give it a good thorough read.
Now, let's move on, in our discussion of the practical steps necessary to live a better life with Fibromyalgia. If you are able to stay at work, you can move on to step four, but if you cannot and need to apply for disability, this section warrants a good look. You have made the decision that you cannot survive in the workplace with ANY sort of quality of life. You must make sure that your doctors agree. They will have to complete forms and their documentation will have to mirror everything that states that you cannot work at all anymore. When I stress "at all", I mean, part-time OR full-time work.
The first thing you need to do is to determine whether your employer has offered, AND you have purchased, a Long Term Disability policy. This will be very important in about 6 months from the time you are out of work. In the mean time, talk to your HR department about how many paid sick days your company may provide and beyond they will assist you in applying for temporary disability. Now, remember, this is a HUGE decision that you are making. You do not what to do this on a whim. Your financial lifestyle is going to change, somewhat or drastically, depending on what is available to you through your employer or simply from Social Security disability.
If you have NO Long Term Disability insurance, you should begin the process of applying for Social Security Disability right away! If you go to the site http://www.ssa.gov/disabilityssi/ and review all of the information and begin the application on line. There is a .pdf document that is a "brochure" which is very thorough about the process of applying for Social Security disability. My best advice is to review that "brochure" first and see if you even qualify, based on years worked and your age, for Social Security disability benefits. Then follow the instructions to fill out the online application if you do.
If you DO apply for Social Security benefits, do NOT be surprised, dear friend, if you are turned around once, twice and finally, have to go before a "judge" who will review your case, before you get approved. It takes time and they are very reluctant to give a Fibro sufferer benefits. Need I explain why? This is an area where progress has been made, and yet, in many states, the judges aren't in the boat that Fibro is "real". Very sad indeed, but true. I'm so sorry for those of you who've been through this process and turned down. It is SO wrong, so very incredibly wrong!
Now, let's move on to step four of our considerations. SO, you are now either working or have applied for disability and are being treated by the best possible physician you can find. What next?
Examine your eating habits. No, I am not kidding.
Are you the type that LOVES sugar, can't get enough carbs and just adored comfort food? Well, I'm sorry to say but those things that seem to comfort could be the worst possible things for your pain levels. I know, you are in pain, you feel depressed and now I'm telling you that a nice piece of cake, is NOT the answer for your Fibro. Don't hate me! Please. I am truly trying to help you and if you give me a chance, you will notice a change.
When I first was out on disability for Fibro, I was over 200 lbs. Now, I am only 5'5" and have a "small frame", so that isn't exactly an optimal weight, especially when I'm tired and in pain. I also became seriously anxiety ridden, however, after I left my job and went on disability. It was frightening and I felt very very alone. This, among other things, caused me to lose my appetite.
I lost a ton of weight without even trying and a strange thing happened; my pain levels lowered a bit.
Additional weight does NOT help Fibro. Aside from the health issues that we know exist because of excess weight, your Fibro pain and fatigue will be worse as you try to carry around the extra weight.
So, unless you stop eating because you are depressed and anxious as I was, you're going to need to change your diet.
Make slow changes. I am not saying to totally give up everything in one day. But here is a list of things you will need to avoid eventually ALTOGETHER and as much as you can:
- Wheat, gluten, corn and soy and their flours.
- Caffeine (I still have NOT given this up)
- Cakes, cookies, icecream, desserts with tons of sugar and white flour or ANY flour (unless it's wheat free!)
- Sweetened breakfast cereals
- Soda - diet too!
- Potatoes, Eggplant, Tomatoes, etc. (Anything that is part of the "nightshade" group of vegetables/fruits)
- Chips, pretzels, fried foods.
- Dairy ( I haven't given this one up yet, but did go to almond or rice milk for a while)
- Breads unless their are made with rice flour, flax, etc.
- French fries (I DO eat fried sweet potatoes ONCE in a while!)
- Fatty cuts of meat.
- Sugary juices. Drinks with added sugar, high fructose corn syrup
- Alcoholic beverages - don't you feel hungover already? :)
Now, you're asking, what's left? I cannot enjoy life anymore?! Oh, you can and you WILL! Once you start losing the inches and added weight that is exacerbating your symptoms, you'll enjoy life more!
******Let me be honest, folks, I DO cheat! I have a slice of cake once in a while, etc. Just make your main nutrition and sustenance some from what I list below****
Here's where your dietary focus should lie:
- Fresh (organic if possible) fruits and veggies.
- Natural unsweetened juices (only added sweetener that I can tolerate is "stevia")
- Lots of bottled or filtered water. I use a "Brita" brand filter pitcher so I have that water to drink and I keep a case of water bottles to bring with me when I go out.
- Herbal teas, decaffeinated coffee (still has caffeine!) in moderation, and other hot beverages that aren't high in caffeine or sweetener.
- Chicken, fish, eggs, nuts, nut butters.
- Treats that are made with rice, low in salt and don't have a ton of added ingredients. Take a look at the "Gluten free" section of your local grocer. There are so many new items out there. Just be sure to read the ingredients.
The way I deal with this diet is that I try to avoid things in "packages" . This means I don't eat boxed cookies, cereals, or processed foods as much as possible. I eat foods from the perimeter of the store and the lean, sugar free, gluten free items.
OK, so it seems like a death sentence, and I know it felt like that to me in the beginning. But you will find a "balance" and you may enjoy treats once in a while and eat mostly from this list rather than ONLY from the other list.
Stay focused on "whole foods" and not things that had to be highly processed before you eat them.
Once you lose the weight/or start to feel better, you will see what I mean about balance. Of course, now I will treat myself to ice cream. If I eat too much however, I feel lousy the next day.
We live in a society of highly processed, fast and convenient foods. These foods are killing us. You need to focus on what's best for your body, especially now that you feel lousy. You WILL reap great rewards from being more careful about what you eat.
Keep yourself hydrated and eat about every 2 hours and you'll see how you feel about 2 weeks from trying this "new way of life". It's not a DIET, it's a Fibro lifestyle. :)
All my best to you today. Would love to read your comments and suggestions on this very long post and any others on which you may wish to comment. :)
Mo M.
No comments:
Post a Comment