My week at camp

We serve an awesome God who is able to do more through us than we can even imagine! He can enable us to do things we really wondered if we would be able to do. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." -Philippians 4:13

It all started May 6th when Justin Williams sent out an email to parents stating we needed more chaperones for the youth SpringHill work trip. For 6 days, I wrestled with God over this. After all, I have fibromyalgia & have been dealing with a flare-up of nervous system symptoms. Some days I can barely walk & spend lots of time on the couch. How could I work at camp & do all that walking? How could I sleep in a cabin & be able to move the next day? Plus, I didn't know very many of these teens. These were all legitimate concerns, but it came down to one question. Would I trust God to work out all the details, obey Him & go to camp? So on May 12th I told Justin I would go!

On Sunday, June 2nd, we loaded my van & several cars & headed to camp. I was dealing with hormone issues as well as a headache & numbness. But our God is awesome! He gave me an calm attitude & I was able to just go & do!

Monday was our first work day. I led a kitchen team. We worked from after breakfast until after supper with just a few breaks. Unfortunately, I OVERDID! I know, not a big surprise. I tried to work too much & not just supervise. By the end of the day, I didn't know whether I would make it through the rest of the week. Our youth group leaders, Justin & Debby, saw how I was feeling & got after me. They told me to slow down. They also took the after supper responsibilities from me so I could rest!

After that, I slowed down! I took more breaks, let the youth do most of the work & really started enjoying the week. I'm amazed at how much the kids wanted to serve. When I stepped back, they stepped up & filled in all the gaps. My crew did better when I let them own the job & I just supervised!

I still hurt every night. I had to take muscle relaxers every evening. But my attitude was in check & I actually enjoyed the teens. God just gave me a peace about it all. He gave me the strength I needed. I came away from the week renewed in my spirit, in awe of my Creator & with a new view of teenagers.

Our youth group

So don't let your health limitations hold you back from doing something God calls you to do! He is faithful & He will provide!

 

 

 

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God is Faithful

As I've been struggling a lot with my health recently, God has been reminding me more & more of His Faithfulness! The following video has become a new favorite of mine. It's called "Never Once" & it's by Matt Redman.

Many times, we walk through trials that overwhelm us. Yet when we stop looking at our trials & look up, we see that God has been there all along! He never promised us an easy life. But He did promise that He would walk with us through each & every trial.

I've been through many trials, especially in regards to my health. I can testify that Jesus has been faithful! He walked with me through the darkest nights. Because I've seen His faithfulness to me, I know He will carry me through whatever the future holds!

Come to Him! Cling to Him! He is faithful & will see you through each & every trial! It may not be the outcome you want, but He will be with you every step of the way. God is Faithful!!!

 

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Nerve issues

Seems like every time I post, I'm struggling! This post is no exception. Of all the symptoms I deal with, the nerve issues are the worst. The numbness, tingling, pin prickles, creepy crawlies & burning sensations are so "unnerving"! I've dealt with them in my legs due to pinched nerves or in my hand due to carpal tunnel.

But these body wide sensations are driving me insane. There is nothing I can do but endure them! Not only do the sensations bother me, but all the "what is wrong with me" thoughts... This has to be more than fibromyalgia!

So I'm biding my time till Hubby's new insurance kicks in. I'm praying I don't go insane! I'm praying that some totally worse symptom doesn't kick in, especially when it's just me & kids at home. I push through... It's all you can do!

I keep reminding myself that NONE of this is a surprise to God! He knows exactly what is going on with my body. I cling to the fact that this body is not forever! One glorious day, I will have a new, perfect body just the way God intended. I yearn for that day, but until then, I keep clinging to Jesus! He carries me through! He endured far worse pain than I when He was beaten & bruised & killed for my sin! He sympathizes with me & comforts me! Praise God!

So I carry on! I endure this thorn & look forward to the future!

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FMS vs MS vs my symptoms

I have a friend who was recently diagnosed with MS. We've both been fascinated with how alike our symptoms are. So I decided to compile a list of symptoms for both diseases. It's very interesting. Below are the results complete with my symptoms too. I don't have all these symptoms at the same time. Some of them come & go.

 

 

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I overdid again!

Seems like this is the most frequent phrase out of my mouth recently. Anything I do ends up being too much!

 

Sorting Legos, too much! Washing dishes, too much! Doing laundry, too much! Cleaning kitchen, too much! So do I sit around & just do nothing? Turns out that even that seems to leave me hurting.

 

So today I decided to push myself & see if mowing puts me out of commission. My son helped some, but I did the majority of our yard myself. I'm pretty achy right now but I'm not sure if it is more than usual. So now we wait and see...

 

If it's no more than usual, then I will continue pushing myself. If it's more than usual, then I know I need to back off & quit trying to do myself in.

 

In other news, I've been reading lots of research & watching videos about research about fibromyalgia. I've said for a long time that I feel like my nervous system has gone haywire. Guess what? Research is showing just that! People with fibromyalgia have a faulty nervous system. We have increased pain receptors (Substance P). It also seems we don't release endorphins like normal people do. We never get that "runner's high" instead we only feel the pain. Also our pain receptors respond to normal stimuli like it's excruciating!

 

Another theory I find interesting is that some people think that fibromyalgia is just a light version of MS. It's estimated that about 1/3 of those with fibromyalgia go on to be diagnosed with MS.

Some of the articles I've been reading:

http://www.anapsid.org/cnd/diagnosis/brainpain.html

http://www.newswise.com/articles/fibromyalgia-and-the-brain-new-clues-reveal-how-pain-and-therapies-are-processed

http://jensupine.blogspot.com/2011/12/psychology-of-pain-fibromyalgia-can-no.html

http://brain.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2013/03/09/brain.awt053.abstruact

http://www.fmnetnews.com/free-articles/article-samples/why-head-to-toe-pain

http://www.fmnetnews.com/free-articles/article-samples/sensory-overload

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtc2JARVpPw?width=640&height=480

http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6890/12/25

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/02/26/questions-arise-over-new-diagnostic-test-for-fibromyalgia/

http://sacfs.asn.au/news/2013/03/03_10_u_opioid_receptors_impaired_in_fibromyalgia_patients.htm

http://sacfs.asn.au/news/2013/04/04_29_could_mitochondrial_dysfunction_be_a_marker.htm

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-12/bawh-rgn121912.php

 

 

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Balancing Act

I feel like coming through a fibromyalgia flare-up is very much a balancing act. How much can I do without sliding back into a flare-up? If I sort laundry, how much time should I rest on the couch? Can I go to the store or will it put me down for a week? If I do dishes will my back & arms ache all night? How much do I do & how quickly do I start doing this stuff?

So as I look to this weekend, I'm wondering how am I going to balance all that needs to be done against my health. Lots of breaks! And lots of prayers for wisdom to know when to stop & rest! And lots of help from Hubby & my kids.

 

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Sidelined by a flare-up

Life with fibromyalgia has its ups & downs. But you tend to find a new normal. You ache & weather changes make it a little worse. But every once in awhile, you have a full blown flare-up. I liken it to the tornado Fujita scale. Most time I operate at an F1 with an occasional F2 & F3. An F5 is when I'm completely bedridden & hurting so bad I'm almost sick. Right now I'm experiencing an F4! Not good!

I think this flare is a combinations of stress, overdoing & weather changes. I should have seen it coming, but I always think I'm doing good. I just think it's a little flare & I push through it. This time I was wrong.

Wednesday afternoon, my pain levels went crazy. Muscle pain & joint pain. Muscle tightness too. Body & mind fatigue. Weird numbness throughout my body. Usually it's 1 or 2 of these at a time, not all of them! I know this will pass. It always does. But while you are in the middle of it, it's so hard.

Fortunately my Hubby is taking good care of me while I'm sidelined by this flare-up. And I know lots of people are praying for me.

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