Jen's Health Journeys

  I am trying to deal with a lot of side effects from my pain meds for fibromyalgia and it's quite a struggle right now. The Celebrex causes quite a bit of constipation, it's pretty uncomfortable and even painful at this point. When I go to the rheumatologist I need to bring this up with them. I can fix it because I can take stool softeners and/or laxatives if needed. I can also have a big cup of coffee, like 16oz or more and that also helps loosen it up. I think it is also affecting my appetite because not being able to go makes me feel full. The Lamictal can also cause appetite issues and it affects my sleep so I struggle taking it, I can't figure out if I should take it in the morning or at night. I'm beginning to think that taking it at bedtime when I also take my muscle relaxer is the best idea. Another issue is that my Advair Diskus causes chest pain/tightness, coughing, wheezing, and basically aggravated asthma symptoms although not always to an asthma attack lev...

  This week I want to talk about chronic illnesses and the effects anxiety-filled, stressful, and even traumatic experiences, and hormonal changes have on them. My experience with them was a couple of weeks ago, I had a bad, stressful, and even traumatic time with my boyfriend and some bad habits he has had and friends he indulged in them with making him be mia from me that week. He wasn't coming home, answering calls or texts, or calling/texting me, worrying me sick. I was so anxious, panic-stricken, scared, worried, hurt, frustrated, and angry that I could barely function. I wasn't taking very good care of myself at all, barely eating, not sleeping, missing my medications and it caused all of my chronic illnesses to flare up badly. I was in so much pain from my asthma, migraines, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and fibromyalgia that it was just miserable. I was nauseated from the migraines and IBS that just getting through each day was a struggle. I had an appointment with my pulmo...