Is fibro fog real?

Yes, yes and yes it is real. In the beginning you think you are losing your mind or people in your household are playing mean tricks on you. Hiding things, acting like you never told them to do something or better yet looking for your cellphone while you are on the phone with your girlfriends/mother.

Like being in pain all day everyday wasn't enough now the Gods want to throw in memory issues with a partner of fatigue. "Why body have you forsaking me????

Although researches and studies are yet to confirm the exact causes of cognitive dysfunction or fibro fog, there are several factors that are currently believed to be the roots of this condition. 

A few things that can be contributing to the fibro fog can be:

1. Lack of Restorative Sleep

2. FMS Medications

Most of the common medications for fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome are believed to potentially cause brain/ fibro fog or cognitive dysfunction. Some of these medications are allergens that when taken into the body would easily trigger immune reactions, causing autoimmune disorders that affect the normal functioning of the brain.

3. Abnormal Cranial Blood Flow or Volume

Imbalances in the amount of blood flowing into and out of the brain may negatively influence the way you functions. 

4. Mental Distraction due to Pain

Fibromyalgia is itself associated with widespread pain in the body. This pain may largely distract your mental power to concentrate or solve simple problems or keep information in memory, which are symptoms of fibro fog.

Studies show that chronic pain can adversely affect the brain. Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) found that in persons suffering chronic pains, the brain’s front part that is majorly associated with emotions is always active. As such, the areas affected fail to shut off when they are supposed to, therefore the neurons get exhausted and the balance of the brain, as a whole, is greatly disturbed.

5. Brain Abnormalities

Mental abnormalities caused by factors such as premature brain aging, brain injuries, or even substance abuse can also be causative toward fibro fog. 

Symptoms and Effects of Fibro Fog

There are several fibro fog symptoms ranging from mild to severe. The symptoms are:

1. Hardship in Word Use and Recall

2. Short-term Memory Problems

3. Multi-tasking Difficulties

4. Directional Disorientation

5. Confusion and Troubled Concentration

6. Number and Math Difficulties

Dealing with fibro fog can be very stressful on a person by expecting to much from yourself.

Largely, fibro fog is seen to be directly caused by non-restorative sleep. As such, trying the best into having great and quality sleep is essential. Besides looking for professional aid (possibly doctor-prescribed sedatives), one could try other plans conducive to enjoying quality night’s rest. They can try to adhere to regular sleep routine (going to bed and waking up at the same hour daily); limit food and caffeine consumption toward bedtime; sleep on comfortable mattresses; try to reduce pain by using pillows for cushioning sore spots, inter alia.

Other tips to help alleviate fibro fog impact are:

1. Repeat Yourself

Repeating things to yourself over and over again is one other great way of keeping thoughts and memories fresh and etched in your mind.

2. Getting Treatment

Acupuncture is really great some insurance will cover it, if not there maybe a small fee of about $50. Investing in a TENS unit will be the best investment of your life.

3. Staying Active and Engaged

Moderate physical activities do help increase your energy and circulation. Walking had great benefits for the body plus it helps clear you mind and relax. Tai Chi is another great active to add to your daily or weekly routine.

4. Go Slow

Avoid taking on too many task. Ask for help and if help isn't available then let it be or take care of it another day. You put to much stress on yourself trying to complete tasks that are only important to you.

5. Supplements and Dietary Change

Supplements, according to doctors and former patients of fibro fog, come in handy in lifting the fog and improving cognitive function. B vitamins, Choline, Omega-3 found in fish oil, Carnitine, 5-HTP, Theanine, SAM-e, Rhodiola, and St. John’s Wort are some good supplements.

You can also do dietary changes to include brain friendly natural foods, from which some of the above supplements are drawn. Fruits and vegetables, carbohydrates, eggs, canola or walnut oil, and fish would greatly help.

#fibrofog  #brainfog #fibromyglia #autoimmunedisorder #autoimmunebeauty #chronicpain #chronicillness

Don't for get to follow me on instagram @contourskindiva and FB @autoimmunebeautiesandwarriors

Sending you Love and hugs!!

Autoimmune Beauty

Hair struggles while dealing with autoimmune disorder

One of the big things that people who have an autoimmune disorder may discover is hair loss or hair thinning. This problem is cause by many factors: medications, the disorder itself (side effect), nutrition or the current products that you have been using is no longer working.

This hair problem is very depressing and plays with our mental health. Our doctors seem unconcern about our lost hair when we mention it to them because hair loss is a aesthetic issue and not a health issue. So, we are left out in the wind google products that may help our hair loss.

The first thing the needs to be address with hair loss is for you take a look at your nutrition or food that you are eating. Are you eating enough fruits and vegetables of your daily requirement? Are you getting the minerals and vitamins that your body needs? Are you taking a powerful multivitamin daily? If your answer is yes just to one of these questions, then you need address this immediately. Minerals and vitamins take about 30 days to feel and show results so be patent.

The products that you are using to maintain your hair, when was the last time you changed your products? Have you been using the same products since you were in high school or college? Sometimes we stick to products that have work for us in the past when we had a hair issue i.e.. dry hair or oil hair or damage hair. We never changed over to a new product once our hair issue was resolved. So, basically you are damaging your hair over again but swing to the opposite problem. Example, if you have dry hair and using products for dry hair within a month or two your hair should be back to normal but you keep adding oil to your hair which now becomes oil hair issues. See?

I even recommend co-washing your hair( washing with shampoo one time and the next time with condition only)

Now that we have update our hair products and added the daily recommended vitamins/minerals to our life style we need to take a 30 days and see if we still have hair loss. If you still have major hair loss then you can move on to purchasing products that can help your hair growth.

Where to begin? There are a lot of products that state they promote hair growth. Let's start with the less expensive because we know (people with autoimmune disorders we are on a budget for luxury things…have to pay for those meds lol.). B complex, is 9.99 at GNC. I have tried and I love it! This little baby you get a lot for your money…it boost your metabolism, which is great for weight loss and energy. It helps with reducing your stress…lord know we need that when dealing with all our health issues and family members. The hair growth is crazy…besides growing hair on your head remember is promotes hair growth EVERY WHERE. I have tried Wal-Mart brand B complex which is a dollar cheaper and I didn't NOT see any results. Just pay the extra dollar and go with GNC.
*** I will do a more in depth blog on the wonders of B Complex***

Biotin is another great product, its more money then B complex . It just focus on skin,nails and hair which is great if you manage your stress and have perfect weight.

I tried hair infinity because I seen it all over the internet…from the reviews and my personal experience I would not recommend this product. Yes, your hair does grow but it grows in thin…who wants thin hair. For me, after 2 weeks I became sick because the product interact with other meds and vitamins that I was on. So, I throw that product out and I wasted my $35.00

The Mane Choice manetabolism Plus, I have to say is my ALL TIME FAVORITE! I recommended this products hands down.  I wear my hair natural and tied up, even thou I wash once a week I didn't notice anything the first week.I have only been on it 3 weeks and my hair has grown a lot. How do I know this? Well, I got waxed and within 3 days I had to shave again. The 4 th day after waxing I ran to the bathroom and washed my hair and flat iron it. Yep, my hair grew about 1 inches…PLUS my hair feels healthy as heck and smooth. Yes, I have been taking my B Complex with the products so I do  know if it gave the hair vitamin maximum boost but who cares!  The results pics of other people using this products can be found on The Mane Choice instagram page…you will be AMAZED from the results on ALL hair types.

I can not wait to buy another bottle for the second month…I can't wait to see how long and healthy my hair is going to be by Dec. 2015.

Now, I just need something natural for my grays…..


Much Love!
Autoimmune Beauty

Instagram :@contourskindiva
FB: @autoimmunebeautiesandwarriors
Twitter: @autoimmunebeaut

#hairgrowth  #hairloss #themanechoice #autoimmunehairloss #autoimmunebauty #lupus #sacoidosis #wellness #health

Insight into to who I am...

After many many years and people telling me that I need to tell my life story, I finally broke down.

I think nothing special of my self, I think I am like everyone else. But over and over the years, people have told me "Wow, were do you get your strength" or " I look towards you for strength"  and from a few of my doctors " Sartee, you are amazing and you still have a positive out look and laugh".

Wow…what was all these people seeing over the years that I didn't see?

Well, here is a quick run down of my life, if I went into detail lord know we can be here. Just by looking at me, you would not see anything special or noticeable as a matter of fact my look - I'm 8 on the  app that rate people looks, my image betrays as people and friends tell me-high end, I hold a BS degree in Computer Science and I am the running joke in the family that I am a professional student (I love to learn). 

Listening to my friends and strangers, I look like my stuff together and life is good!

But, the true story is…..

I was sexual assaulted

I was in 2 abusive marriages

I have 3 uncurable autoimmune disorder(s) - Sarcoidosis, Fibromyaglia, RA

I suffer from depression and anxiety

I had once double my weight within in a few months due to medication ( I gain an extra 125 lb and I got to experience the life as a very over the weight person). All I am going to say is , society is very mean to over weight people and disable people.

I lost the 125 lb and now I have saggy skin all over my body. I am talking about true saggy skin. LOL

I have 2 children. I have a FOREVER 12 year son, who I lost back 2011 4 days after is birthday. He was playing the choking game. I also have a 21 year daughter who has mental issues, from the death of her brother, the abusive of her father but takesBLAMES ME for everything wrong with her life. She drop out high school 3 month before graduating and ran away from home, all this was done 2 months after my son, her brother past away.

Two years ago, I was diagnose with PTSD..oh great, like I don't have enough health issues.

Last year, all my teeth decided to fall out within a year due to the meditation was giving…Once again,…Oh, hell..really? My teeth?

To top things off, I was  diagnose  trigeminal nerve The suicide disease….COOOMMMMMEE OON!

I know my faith says, that God will NOT put no more on you then you can handle but sometimes I feel God is trying to kill me LOL.  I see God, has ALOT of FAITH in me and see something that I don't.

Last year, I got married to a wonderful guy who has 2 kids. We had dated 3.5 years so he was with me when my son past, we were only 5 months in dating. My husband, step up to the plate at the funnel and told me " He will always be her for me". Some how those words were so magical to me… I was so lost in my faith, the world, myself.

As I said, I can go on and on about my life….but as of today, I still do the BIG cheese smile (even with missing teeth, I tried to smile different but I found out it's not me, why should I change), still optimistic and still have my faith, which  has gotten stronger.

I am still the free spirited person, just with new clean glasses on when viewing the world.

To everyone who reads, I see you….

XOXO

SRM

Autoimmune Beauty

www.autoimmunebautiesandwarriors.com

www.facebook.com/autoimmunebeautiesandwarriors

Instagram: @Contourskindiva

Twitter: @autoimmunebeaut

Insomnia Nights

As you can tell I am up and wide eyed at 1:25 am. I feel my body doing it's roller coaster of up and down of my autoimmune disorders symptoms. I knew it was short lived but I did have 1 month with no hip/leg pain and my energy level was high. Two weeks ago I had a visit my new lung doctor for the first time.

 God, I hate meeting new doctors, I have to explain my long drawn out history of my conditions and what meds I can not take and what has only work for me. I call this section of meeting the new doctors, the Tangle. After our first dance, if we click…then I am off to find a new doctor. I don't have time to be a doctor paycheck or experiment.

I have to get it in the doctor head, that she needs to listen to me and hear me out about my body and autoimmune disorder, The new plumbery doctor was nice and listen to me and agreed with me only doing 10 mg predesion a day because that is all that my body will take, My doctor wants to wait and see what the Rhemutologist has to say about my condition, since I am not text book and I almost died  a few times from the side effects of the meds that the doctors want to throw at.

I also went to my acupuncturist for treatment for sciatic pain, which he fits in one treatment. My acupuncturist ask me how did I feel about starting the predesign again? I told him that I did not want to lie to my doctor and I don't feel good about taking it. I know we needs to get my liver enzyme down, my inflammation levels down and get my sarc down from 106.

My acupuncturist agreed that I can see him to be treated for my active sarcoidosis with assistant from the Western doctors, prednisone. So, right now I will be doing my acupuncturist every 2 weeks for now.

Well, I been on 10 mg for a week and a half,,,in the beginning I would just get the hot flashes. My energy starting to lower to fatigue and now my sciatic nerve is coming back, As a matter of fact, I think taking the prednisone my health issues started coming back very slowly.

I was doing fine without the ,prednisone,sleeping good, energy level high, feeling good, very creative etc. Now into my second week, I can't sleep, I am angry,, irrupted, broke out 3 times on my face.

I see my acupuncturist in 2 days for treatments. I will be adding cryotherapy back into my treatment plan plus the oxygen chamber this week. The thing that I need to master is the cause of the inflammation which cause all the pain. I will also be adding 3 deep breathing treats each day as well.

I have 4 weeks to get this done and on faith and the power mind of matter and center my body. I know my numbers will be down.

My body doesn't like chemicals and is hypersensitive to chemicals, etc. I had or trying to balance my body back out and to take those stupid steroid pills just screws everything up. The Neuro doctor was to do something to my spine….ALL HECK NAW,

Just from my past since 2004 dealing with doctor I end up with more issues then I started with,

My faith is carrying me through and putting a smile on my face.

Thanks for letting me do late venting session!

xoxoxo

Autoimmune Beauty

The demon of breathing issues with Sarcoidosis

Having sarcoidosis isn't a fun thing, and at time cause issues in your life by keeping you away from doing the simple things . I remember when my jour any started, I was in the ER at less 3 times a year from abdominal pains. I was having them so much, I just started calling them  episode it event was an unknown unpredictable high intense event.
Every time, I went to the ER I would get the same old explanation, your blood work is fine and everything is normal. This went on for 5 years, I did have a few doctors that told me it was stress and that my current situation I needed to either leave my husband or get maid etc. I remember thinking to myself, "ok stress, everyone has stress this isn't an real issues".

Five years has past when I started to know that I was having breathing issues walking up steps. Hmmmm, maybe it's because I am getting older?" this was my thought of a 25 year old. Funny, how I thought 25 years old was getting old. Anyways, this went on for a few months and I decided to go see my intern doctor because I was having those abdominal pains. She decided to do a CT scan of my abdominal and when the results where in she called me. "Well, your liver,stomach looks fine but the radiologist noted that you have nodels on your lower lungs. The radiologist got a second option because he was concern but the lead radiologist told him, that the models where on the previous scan and it's nothing new".
What the heck!!!!! I told my intern doctor. "Are you serious?" This is/was the first time I heard of this with my lungs. Lord, knows I was hot as hell……to know a conversation and a decision was made on my health without consulting me, At this point, I told my intern doctor"This is my life and my body, I will make the determine factor if this issue is important or not". My intern agree with me and set me up for a biopsy of my lungs.
The results came in…had had sarcoidosis of the lungs.

As patients, we give doctors that power over us to determine what's important with  our health. This is know as the GOD SYMPTOM. The doctors are people just like us…..they don't call Practice Medicine, Practice for nothing.

This event in my life was just a peek into how the bulk of doctors look at their patients and how as patient we give them control. At the end of the day, if they make a mistake with your health it only effects they pockets(money). As far you go, you get to live with the mistakes they have made. Money can not fix, the pain you suffering or scars you are life with for the remaining of your life.

Insight:
You have been with your body from the beginning and know one knows more about your body then you do. Stand up for yourself…the doctors work for you, if they doctor does not meet find ONE THAT MEETS your demands.

XOXO
Autoimmune Beauty

#autoimmunedisorder #autoimmiunebeauty #hoilistc #sacoidosis #takecontrol #synergyofaesthtics

Tasty Protein Shake (The Slender Blend-Protein World)

Yeah, I just got my protein shake chocolate mix from Protein World. I have been watching this company on instagram for awhile and their insttagram site is pretty interesting and appealing. What made me buy the protein mix is because its has its non-gmo, no aspartame and the bulk of their products are vegetarian friendly.

I order the slender blend because I have a bad habit of not eating or eating very late in the date which is very bad for your body.

The website is very simple and very informative and doesn't overload you with fancy terminology. The reviews for this company and their products are positive reviews.

So, I decided to give them a try.

Cons:

It took almost 2 weeks for me to get the product. So, my excitement had fade away and I almost forgot that I had order it. Fibro Fog is no joke LOL.

To mix the shake by hand is a pain in a half. IF you suffer from fibro or have RA, good luck because it took me about 5 min. to get it mix to about 95%. There is still little chucks. So, now a cheap blender is on my list.

It does have whey in it (The Slender Blend)

Pros:

When the company send you your products, they also give you a booklet with receipts, nutritional value. They even put a thank you card, with your name hand written. Just the little things go long way.LOVE that!

The taste is GREAT, it doesn't taste like cardboard. I purchase chocolate and mixed it with coconut milk. It taste just like chocolate milk shake.

I got the slender blend (they have different types of protein blends). It's a nutritional meal replacement and helps aid in weight loss and management PLUS improves skin,hair and nails. A girl gotta love that!

It states that I should see results within one week, if I follow the directions.

My final thoughts are I have tried a few protein drinks and this is FAR the BEST one and  I will be adding this to my diet. So, far I have been drinking it for about 30 min and I have not felt any intolerance issues. So, I think I am good!

Two tubs up for #Proteinworld!

#autoimmunebeauty

XOXO

#autoimmunedisorder #synergyofaesthetics #wellness #holisticfoods #autoimunebeautiesandwarriors

Gluten Free foods you sneaky little devil

The first thing that people think about when going gluten- free is how bad the food is going to taste or there isn't a large selection of organic foods that I am going to like.

This is a false judgement, did you know that you have eaten many gluten-free foods and snacks.

I know everyone has eaten a bag or two of Doritos or eaten a few Hershey chocolates kisses. Guess what? They are gluten free.

Mission Restaurant Style tortilla chips with On the boarder medium salsa on a Friday night…guess what? Gluten- Free. Now the beer that you might be drinking with it isn't gluten free but heck, you have to start somewhere…Right?

Happy hour at TGI Fridays…your order the TGI Fridays cheddar and bacon potatoes skin…gluten free.

Butterfinger…gluten free.

Jelly Belly Jelly Beans….gluten free.

That Saturday or Sunday morning hangover or just cooking breakfast for the family..the Eggs…gluten free.

The list goes on and on, so see you have eaten on many gluten free snacks and you enjoyed. Be open and try more gluten free, even organic foods and snacks. Your body and mind will thank you for it!

"Free your mind and the rest will follow"

#autoimmunebeauty

XOXO

#autoimmunedisorder #wellness #holisticfoods #weightloss #glutenfreefoods