Tag: fibromyalgia

Dogter Zuc

by Alfredsson Jane, posted in Dogter Zuc

Hello, I am Alfie’s older (and smarter) brother. I help mom do research and cool things like that online. Yesterday we spent a few hours looking things up about fibromyalgia. First I would like to explain what fibromyalgia is because I know some people don’t really understand.

Fibromyalgia is described as widespread pain. That’s a simple way to just sum it all up. It’s really a very broad and somewhat scary diagnosis, especially since humans don’t know what causes it or how to help those affected by it. Have you ever grabbed a fiberglass stick and immediately regretted it because your mouth stung like a million little bees were in it trying to escape? I think it feels like that in your muscles, all over, all the time- that’s what I’ve gathered from mom’s experiences anyway. So a fibro person suffers all day long in pain- that pain can only be tolerated for so long before it starts to effect other parts of the body. “Fibro fog” is a state where you just feel like you’re not with it. There’s like a haziness to your brain. You can’t remember where you hid your bone, or even if you hid your bone already. This happens from the fatigue. When you’re in pain your body has to compensate for that. It’s working in overdrive and before long you run out of the energy to do other things because your body has to focus on that darn pain and trying to get rid of it. Along with the pain and mental impairment things like anxiety and depression may manifest. We also see IBS, restless leg, and other types of syndromes. People with FMS have these tender points on their bodies- if you so much as touch these spots sometimes the person will yell out in pain. I always forget where they are and step on mom’s. It is not a good day when that happens.

Overall fibromyalgia is not an illness we can see. If we pay close enough attention we can see these people suffering and that is how we know for sure it is a real thing. There are so many people out there suffering, we need to help. I will help by making sure to always notice when mom is in pain and doing what I can to help her. We will also continue our home research and maybe someday we will be able to take it to the next level.

I Keep Getting Locked Up!

by Alfredsson Jane, posted in Alfie Stories

So, on Tuesday, Mom and Brooke wanted to do something fun. It was raining. A nice, sloshy, drizzly rain that I loooove to go play in. Side note: guess who didn’t get to go play in it. Yup, me. Anyway, they decided to go to the mall to get pedicures and watch movies. (Uh, hello, you can do that here and still let me run in the rain!) Mom wanted to see Baywatch and Snatched. They both sound super boring to me. Brooke decided they would see Baywatch first and then Snatched all in the same day, but had to give up their pedicures because Brooke had to go home for work on Wednesday. They locked us up and went on their way. I obviously need to work on my puppy-dog eyes. They don’t seem to be working! I keep getting locked up!

Dad got home before them. Mom came running in from the wrong side of the house! I thought something bad was happening so I got up and ran to meet her. My fur was standing straight up! She started giggling and I knew it was okay so I tried to play with her. She loved it. She told dad she was trying to beat his friend to the door because she realized he was following her and drove super slow. Mom can be a meany sometimes. Brooke came in huffing behind her. She had lots of bags that smelled amazing. So many different smells! I shoved my head right in to poke around and got a swat on the butt. This always happens but I can’t stop myself. Brooke started complaining about how mom couldn’t tolerate sitting in those movie theater chairs for two whole movies so they only ended up seeing Baywatch. Mom smelled a little sick. I could tell her tummy hurt and she was stiff now that all of the excitement was over.

Mom and I cuddling
Dumb Baseball Games

Brooke had to leave right away so she would be home in time for sleeps since she had to work the next day. I was sad and waited at the window for her to come back in for a little while. Mom kept telling me she’d be back but not for now. So we went and made food for dad and his friends- his brother came over too. All they did was play dumb baseball video games. I wish they would go outside and play real baseball. The kind where I chase them is my favorite. But while dad, his friend, and his brother all ate mom didn’t. Her tummy was too upset and she was sore all over. So we crawled into bed and watched Chopped until dad and Zuc came in for sleeps.

Please! Increase the dose! 

by Alfredsson Jane, posted in Alfie Stories

Mom’s friend Brooke came to stay for a couple days. Zuc and I went sleeps before she arrived on Sunday so we didn’t even know she was here! When the bedroom door opened I burst out into the living room and rubbed my wet little nose allll over her! She smelled like my friend Briley and all kinds of yummy restaurant food! (She works at one) Brooke is fun. I like her. The four of us went for a walk and Mom seemed to be doing pretty good today. But then when we got back they locked us up and left! I could not believe it! 

When mom and Brooke came back they smelled like diner food. DINER FOOD! And they didn’t even bring me any back! I pouted for a long time. They didn’t even care though. They both took a nap! When mom woke up I heard her call the doctor and ask them to increase her dose of Cymbalta. I hope it doesn’t make her too drowsy. When dad got home from work he made them go away. I think he knew I was upset with them. They came back with all of those plastic bags filled with food- none of it was for me though. 

Mom’s groceries compared to Brooke’s beer. She found a lot of kinds that she can’t get at home!

After that, they all left again, even dad!! I couldn’t believe it. I did notice Mom took some Ibuprofen before going outside though. 

Mom and her friend Brooke going to dinner

They did leave us bones and a Kong toy but those just aren’t good enough for me. I wandered around and found those dumb sticks that Mom puts in our mouths to clean our teeth. Zuc and I both HATE those sticks. So, I did what any puppy would do with a stick, I chewed it! I chewed ALL OF THEM. My breath can stink all it wants. I was proud. Of course, then they all got home and Mom found them and laughed. That is not a good sign. That means she has more of them. Then she did the most surprising thing everrrrr, she gave me her left over steak fat! Maybe I should chew those sticks up every time! 

Stick #1 I made sure those bristle things wouldn’t work.

Mom and Brooke sat down on the couch and fell asleep again. I was so disappointed. I hope the doctor does what Mom needs so she can keep up with everything again soon. 

Leading up to Rainy Days

by Alfredsson Jane, posted in Alfie Stories

It’s a sleepy, rainy day. I haven’t been on for the past couple of days because mom has been in some serious pain. While she did get on WordPress, she just couldn’t fight through her flare and fibro fog to get anything written down and published! She takes Cymbalta for the nerve pain, Provigil for the EDS (and narcolepsy), and some supplements like vitamin D and B12 (recommended by her doctor). Most days she takes these and feels like a new lady. When she took them on Friday they sorta helped for a little while. Saturday was a whole new realm of pain though. Those medicines she’s been taking for almost a year now did absolutely nothing.

Vitamin D
Vitamin B12

Now while I felt horrible for my mom I still need to go for walks and play. I’m a puppy. I can’t help it. On Friday mom took us to the park but didn’t play with us again. I couldn’t figure out why since it was so BEAUTIFUL out. We cuddled on the couch for a long time but let’s face it I can only cuddle so many days in a row. I brought her my ball and she threw it across the living room. We did that for a while until she couldn’t throw well. That’s when my nose started to search around. Remember, I’m a puppy. I can’t help it. My nose found the garbage and I found a swat. It took mom a couple minutes to get up and over to me though so I did score some pretty tasty leftovers. I felt bad I made mom get up so I cuddled back up with her despite my urge to run around like a crazy-head. Mom did a lot of napping.

Saturday is mine and Zuc’s favorite day of the whole week! Dad stays home with us! He took us for our walk and mom came along. It was another BEAUTIFUL day outside! But she still didn’t play with us much. Once we got home she didn’t move for the rest of the day it seemed. She took Excedrine like it was Beggin’ Strips (I love those things). Dad got her big white thing that’s filled with rocks I think. It smells pretty, like lavender, and he heats up hot. Mom spent the day having dad heat it up and then putting it all over her body, mostly on her neck. The only time I think she got up was when we ran a bath with Camomile Epsom Salts. She soaked for a loooong time while I stood outside the tub lifeguarding. I also attacked some bubbles when she wasn’t paying attention. After that we curled up in bed until dad came in for sleeps. That was when I had to get on my own mattress and mom cuddled with dad instead.

This morning was totally different! Even the weather was different- grey, cool, and rainy. These are the days mom usually seems to feel bad but this morning she felt better than she did yesterday! We did yoga after we woke up. We do this most days except when it hurts her to do. Then mom had to clean the kitchen because dad left such a mess from having to cook for himself yesterday. I like it when dad cooks. I get all kinds of stuff that falls on the floor and then even more the next day when mom cleans. He leaves stuff everywhere on the counters! It’s the best! Now we’re just resting since it’s such a gloomy and wet day. I would looooove to splash in some puddles but mom and dad won’t let me! Maybe I can convince them later on.

Rainy Days TB
This is Tiger Balm. I hate this stuff SO much. I even tried to get rid of it once. Mom LOOOOVES it. On Saturday when she felt so bad she was covered in it. Cuddling with her was difficult. 

 

Fibro Flares Can Hit Hard 

by Alfredsson Jane, posted in Alfie Stories

Mom couldn’t get out of bed again today. I didn’t even try to help her wake up. She was a hot mess even while she was asleep. After dad left for work I did my best to cuddle up close to her and keep her from moving around too much. Zuc was too nervous to stay on the big bed with us so he curled up on our smaller dog mattress (yes we are totally spoiled). When she did finally wake up Zuc came back to the big bed and we both tried to make mom feel better with kisses and cuddles. I had to go bring medicine to her. After a little while she was ready to get moving. It was a late morning and I reeeeeaaaallllyy had to pee. As soon as mom opened the door I didn’t think and darted for the grass, pulling on my leash. Unfortunately mom was still in a lot of pain and I hurt her more. She cried out and I stopped dead in my tracks. She looked at me with such a mean face I was sure I’d be in trouble but instead she just walked into the grass with me and waited while I peed. Then we went for a walk. At the dog park she didn’t play with me like usual. She just occasionally threw the ball and waited by the gate. It makes me sad when mom can’t play with us.

The rest of our day was spent on the couch or laying on a blanket in the sun. I wanted to run around and sniff things but I knew mom needed me. Most of the day I laid on her legs and feet. It’s a boring life but I’ll never pass up a nice nap!


Around dinner time mom took some excedrine- surprisingly it helps sometimes. It gave her enough energy to make dinner and eat! I’m not sure she was able to pack it all up and clean though. We laid down on the couch again to cuddle. I doubt we’ll do much else today. Poor mom, if only kisses made it better.

Mmm I smell cake

by Alfredsson Jane, posted in Alfie Stories

Today was dad’s birthday! Mom woke up really late this morning. I tried to wake her up a couple times but even licking her feet did nothing! I knew it would be a struggle day so I tried my very best to be patient for her. She told me to get her medicine but I got confused because it wasn’t in the normal place. I felt really bad but she told me it was okay. We went for our normal walk and I didn’t even pull the whole time. I’m such a good puppy. Usually when we get back on days that mom doesn’t feel good she just lays back down on the couch for a while. When she walked into the kitchen and started doing things I could barely believe my nose! She was baking! She never bakes on struggle days. Normally I would run right into the kitchen when my nose starts smelling. I don’t know how it happens but my nose kind of controls my body. Today I fought the urge to follow my nose. Mom was actually staying up and doing stuff. I didn’t want to be the reason she laid down. Plus if I’m extra good she might share.

I. Smelled. Peanut Butter.

That was it. I lost control of it and my nose brought me right under moms feet. Then my whole butt started wagging and I couldn’t make it stop! She was making the biggest mess ever! I was so excited I just had to get Zuc. We licked and licked and licked until all of the cake mix was off the floors and cupboard doors. Mom didn’t even stop us. She actually thanked us by giving us peanut butter frosting! BEST DAY EVER.

I could tell it wasn’t mom’s best day ever though. She started out strong but was slowing down. I knew she was in a lot of pain. It’s just one of those things Zuc and I can sense now. We sat down at her feet under the kitchen table. She was drawing with frosting on top of cake. It was chocolate cake. I know I shouldn’t eat chocolate but I just can’t help but try to. The smell is soooo delicious. But I wasn’t just talking about cake… I think I was telling you about her pain. As she continued to frost the cake she took breaks. Her fingers and wrists must have been throbbing because she kept shaking them out. She also couldn’t seem to decide if she wanted to sit or stand. This made Zuc and I confused about whether we should sit or lay or stand. Zuc left after a while but I couldn’t leave mom to suffer by herself.

Just before dad got home mom finished the cake. It smelled magnificent. Dad must have thought so too because when he came in he gave mom a huge hug and kiss. I expected mom to just lay down for the night after all that hard work. She did, for a little bit, but then she got up and made dinner. Don’t get me wrong, mom makes dinner most nights, but tonight she was like a zombie. She rarely makes dinner when she feels this bad. I guess she had to though because a bunch of dad’s friends came over. I was in heaven. They all played with me and gave me treats! After dinner mom laid down and dad and his friends took care of things- mostly just the cake things. When everyone finally left I decided mom could use my heat and body weight. I laid down on her legs and will probably stay here until we get up to go to sleep. I hope it comes soon, I’m tired!

Long time, no bark!

by Alfredsson Jane, posted in Alfie Stories

Hello, my name is Alfie. I know mom started this thing about a year ago. She wasn’t herself for a long time but now she’s finally starting to be normal again! We’ve been through a whole bunch of changes since she posted on here last. Have you ever heard of fibromyalgia? It made my mom really boring and sad. She whined and complained. We didn’t even go on our normal walks! Can you believe that? I looooove those things! Dad did everything he could to help her but she just didn’t get better. Sometimes I would climb up on the couch with her and lay on her legs or back. She really liked it. We still do it sometimes when she starts to feel bad again. I like it when I can help. Right now mom keeps telling me to go get this weird little bottle with what sound like treats in them. They must be treats since she opens it up and takes one whenever I get it to her. I get treats too- not her treats, but mine smell way better than hers anyway! I think it’s a pretty cool trick since none of my friends at the dog park know how to do it. I’m such a good dog.

Well anyway, now that I’m like 2 years old and I’m totally mature now (unless I meet someone new or I see a bird or stuff like that) mom told me to take over for her. She wants the world to understand that fibromyalgia is a thing. She also wants them to realize it doesn’t have to rule your life. Mom and I spend lots of time on the computers learning about it. We also try new ways to relieve her pain and give her more energy! She’s also in nursing school now and doesn’t have tons of extra time. If I don’t post for a while again it’s because we’re spending her extra time together playing!