Category: Medical

Celebrate Life · Chronic Illness · Health and Wellbeing · Medical · Men & Womens Health

Can a Chiropractor Help with Knee Pain?

Looking for the LightLeave a comment

If you’re living with a knee condition, you may wonder if a chiropractor can help treat your knee pain. The answer is, it depends.

Knee pain is a common concern that frequently occurs due to aging, injury, or overuse. Mild, acute knee pain usually subsides within a few days using home treatments. However, chronic and severe knee pain requires treatment to ease discomfort and prevent it from worsening. 

One treatment option for knee pain may be chiropractic care, which uses holistic methods to treat your whole body and improve overall well-being. A chiropractor may be able to treat some knee pain and address underlying issues.

However, this method may not be for everyone. Chiropractic treatment is ideal if you prefer a natural healing approach, and if your knee pain is not caused by an injury or condition that requires surgical intervention. 

In some cases, chiropractic care may be enough to help ease knee pain. In other cases, you may use it alongside conventional medical treatments. 

Read on to find out more about common causes of knee pain, how chiropractic care can help, and what to expect during sessions. Plus, you can learn about the risks and considerations of treatment.

What is a Chiropractor?

Chiropractic care is a type of complementary medicine that focuses on your body’s natural healing ability. It is based on the belief that aligning the body enhances the functioning of the nervous system and overall well-being.

A Chiropractor is a healthcare professional who diagnoses and treats musculoskeletal conditions, including chronic pain. They use a holistic approach to address your primary concerns and consider contributing factors, including injuries, movement patterns, and lifestyle habits. 

Chiropractors use soft tissue and manual therapy techniques to realign your spine and joints. Treatment may help with movement, ease discomfort, and improve function. Chiropractic care may also increase your range of motion and ease tension, helping you feel more relaxed and less stressed.

What knee conditions do Chiropractors treat?

Chiropractors can treat several painful knee conditions and concerns, especially those that get in the way of mobility.

Knee conditions that chiropractors treat include: 

  • Osteoarthritis (OA): OA occurs when the articular cartilage of the knee breaks down due to age or an injury. The bones then create friction that leads to pain, stiffness, and limited mobility. 
  • Rheumatoid arthritis (RA): Symptoms of this inflammatory autoimmune condition include swelling and stiffness. Over time, RA can cause bone, joint, and cartilage damage. 
  • Meniscal injury: Meniscal tears occur due to aging, arthritis, and forcefully twisting or rotating your knee. 
  • Patellar tendonitis: Patellar tendonitis is a repetitive injury that causes inflammation and weakness in the patellar tendon, which connects your kneecap to your shinbone. Often, this condition occurs in athletes.

Other common causes of knee pain

Chiropractors may also treat other causes of knee pain. However, for more severe knee injuries and chronic conditions, you’ll also want to consult a doctor. 

Chiropractic treatment may also be suitable for postsurgery rehabilitation as well as overuse and athletic injuries, including sprains and strains.

Having too much body weight is a common cause of knee pain. Being overweight puts extra pressure on your spine, hips, and knees, which results in inflammation. 

Additional causes of knee pain include: 

How do Chiropractors treat knee pain?

Chiropractic treatment for knee pain will depend on the cause, symptoms, and contributing factors, which may include excess weight, poor posture, and workplace ergonomics.

To create a treatment plan, your chiropractor will determine if your knee pain is due to a primary cause or a compensatory cause. A compensatory cause is when your knee’s alignment or function is compromised in order to make up for another issue, such as tightness in another area of your body. 

The chiropractor will also consider your accompanying symptoms, including inflammation, stiffness, and weakness. 

Treatment will usually include other areas of your body, including the neck, spine, and hips. Tightness and misalignments in these areas can contribute to knee pain. Plus, you may have developed poor posture and movement patterns in order to reduce pressure on your knee. 

Common chiropractic treatments for knee pain include: 

  • Manual manipulation: This hands-on technique involves aligning your spine and joints to reduce stress, improve posture, and boost mobility. 
  • Traction: This technique involves stretching the knee to reduce inflammation and boost mobility. 
  • Ultrasound: The massaging effect of sound waves can alleviate pain, inflammation, and stiffness. 
  • Electrotherapy: A stimulation device, such as a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) unit, delivers tiny electric pulses to reduce swelling, ease tension, and boost blood flow. 
  • Cold laser: This treatment helps with inflammation and speeds healing. 
  • Infrared sauna: Infrared heat can help reduce pain, ease stiffness, and boost blood flow. 
  • Home exercise program: Your customized plan will include rehabilitation exercises and stretches to strengthen your knee and its supporting muscles.

Chiropractors may also recommend: 

What to expect from your Chiropractic sessions

During your initial chiropractic session for knee pain, your chiropractor will ask about your personal and family medical history, lifestyle, and occupation.

Your chiropractor will ask how and when your pain began and which activities make it feel better or worse. Be ready to explain the type, location, and frequency of pain.

They will perform a physical examination to check your heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing patterns. If necessary, they will take an X-ray. 

Usually, you will stand, sit, or lie down on the table during treatments and can stay fully clothed. Wear comfortable clothing that allows you to move freely. Thin, loose fabric is preferable to stiff, thick, and bulky fabric. You can wear tight clothes if they are stretchy. 

Avoid wearing jewelry and accessories like belts, which can get in the way during adjustments.

To determine the cause of your knee pain and create an appropriate treatment plan, your chiropractor may apply light pressure to tender areas. They may feel the joint as you move and listen for sounds, including grinding or clicking. 

Your chiropractor will let you know how many treatments they recommend. Typically, sessions are more frequent during the initial weeks. 

A chiropractor does not prescribe medications or perform surgery. If they are unable to treat your condition, they will refer you to a suitable healthcare professional.

Risks and considerations

Chiropractic care for knee pain is generally safe and poses few risks. However, it is not suitable for everyone. If you have concerns, share them with your Chiropractor or a healthcare professional to decide what is best. 

Since it’s beneficial to relax during treatments, choose a Chiropractor with whom you feel comfortable. 

You may experience mild discomfort during your treatment, but it should not be painful. If you feel intense pain, speak up immediately. After treatment, it’s typical to have soreness, headaches, and fatigue. 

If you have an inflammatory condition, it is not advisable to have an adjustment during a flare that affects your spine and joints. However, a Chiropractor can perform adjunctive therapies to treat the surrounding tissues and other areas of concern.

Chiropractic care may not be suitable if you have any of the following: 

  • broken bones
  • ruptured ligaments
  • osteoporosis
  • bone cancer
  • spinal cord disorders
  • bone marrow diseases 
  • a high risk of stroke

The bottom line

Chiropractic care is a natural, holistic treatment that can help with musculoskeletal concerns, including knee pain from a variety of causes. The goal of treatment is to improve mobility and function so you can move with ease. 

You’ll also learn to implement healthy lifestyle changes, including stress reduction techniques, physical activity, and a healthy diet.

I love my Chiropractor!

Melinda

Reference:

https://www.healthline.com/health/can-a-chiropractor-help-with-knee-pain?utm_term=roundup&utm_source=Sailthru%20Email&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=fibro&utm_content=2025-05-06&apid=36735751&rvid=7f053d6ecf820dccd09e4914833cbd49bdfe95bb517404ee9b41601767d1bace#what-to-expect
How to Afford Your Insulin If It Costs Too Much
Chronic Illness · Health and Wellbeing · Medical · Men & Womens Health

How to Afford Your Insulin If It Costs Too Much

Looking for the LightLeave a comment

Insulin prices have risen steadily since the 1990s. In fact, between 2012 and 2016, the cost of insulin increased by 20.7 percent every year. Increases have been slower in recent years, but costs are still on the rise. 

A 2018 survey on insulin affordability from the American Diabetes Association (ADA) found that 39 percent of respondents had seen their insulin prices go up between 2017 and 2018. 

Insulin is a lifesaving medication for people with diabetes. Access to affordable insulin is imperative.

The rising cost of insulin

The rise in insulin prices in the United States may be due to a few factors. One major reason for the cost increase is that the insulin available in the United States comes from only three manufacturers:

  • Novo Nordisk
  • Eli Lilly
  • Sanofi

This allows those manufacturers to set prices and keep those prices high.

The role of pharmacy benefit managers

Prices are also driven up through the use of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). PBMs are companies that create and manage the lists of prescription medications that insurance companies cover. These lists are called formularies. 

PBMs give priority to prescription manufacturers that offer large rebates. Manufacturers that offer large rebates are placed on more formularies and are favored by insurance companies. 

More expensive prescriptions can offer larger rebates because their starting costs are so high. This has driven the price of insulin up dramatically.

How this affects people with diabetes

The rising cost of insulin makes it difficult for many people to afford it. According to the ADA survey, 27 percent of respondents said the high cost of insulin changed how much insulin they were able to buy or use. 

For many respondents, these changes included using less insulin than their doctor prescribed by regularly skipping doses or rationing their supply. 

Rationing insulin or skipping doses is very dangerous. It can lead to serious complications such as diabetic ketoacidosis. This complication, which can be fatal, is more common if you have type 1 diabetes and ration your insulin.

However, there are resources available to help you afford the insulin you need. We’ll be discussing several of those resources below.

Pharmaceutical assistance programs

Insulin manufacturers offer pharmaceutical assistance programs to help people afford their insulin. Each major manufacturer has its own program. You’ll need to meet set income requirements to qualify for these programs.

Lilly Cares Foundation Patient Assistance Program

The Lilly Cares Foundation Patient Assistance Program provides free Eli Lilly insulin products for people with a limited income who have Medicare Part D or no insurance coverage. 

The income requirements depend on your state and the specific Eli Lilly insulin your doctor has prescribed. You’ll need to reapply for this program every year.

Novo Nordisk Patient Assistance Program 

The Novo Nordisk Patient Assistance Program assists Medicare enrollees and people with no insurance who have an income at or below 400 percent of the federal poverty level. 

The program provides up to 90 days of free Novo Nordisk insulin to participants. It also offers discounts on insulin once the 90 days are up. Exact prices depend on the specific Novo Nordisk insulin your doctor has prescribed.

Sanofi Patient Assistance Connection

The Sanofi Patient Assistance Connection provides free Sanofi insulin products to people with an income at or below 400 percent of the federal poverty level. 

The program is open to Medicare Part D enrollees and people without insurance. You’ll need to reapply for this program every year. 

Copay coupons and drug cards

Manufacturers also offer copay savings cards. These cards can help reduce the amount you pay out of pocket for your insulin. Unlike patient assistance programs, copay savings cards are available regardless of your income. 

It’s worth noting that Medicare enrollees can’t use copay coupons or drug cards. 

  • Novo Nordisk. Novo Nordisk offers a savings card that reduces the copayments for its products. Your exact savings will depend on the insulin your doctor prescribed, but copayments when using the card range between $5 and $25. 
  • Eli Lilly. Eli Lilly offers the insulin value program. With the program, you can get most Eli Lilly insulin products for $35 per month. You can use the program with or without insurance, and there are no income limits. 
  • Sanofi. The Sanofi copay savings card is for people with insurance. It reduces copayments for Sanofi insulin to between $0 and $10. Those without insurance can join the Valyou Savings Program, which allows people to purchase Sanofi insulin for $99 per month.

Program matching services

Many programs that provide free or low-cost insulin are only available to people who use specific insulins, fall within income guidelines, or live in certain areas. 

You can find the programs that best fit your situation by using one of the matching services below. These services don’t provide direct aid or supply insulin, but they can connect you with resources that will help. 

GetInsulin.org

GetInsulin.org is a service that can match you with ways to afford your insulin. You’ll enter your prescription, income, insurance information, and location to get matched with programs that can help you get the insulin you need. 

The program can also match you with urgent insulin support to get emergency insulin. 

Medicine Assistance Tool

The Medicine Assistance Tool (MAT) is similar to GetInsulin.org. You’ll enter information about your prescription, income, and insurance to get matched with programs that will help you get free or low-cost insulin. 

The MAT can also help you find programs to cover any additional prescriptions you take.

NeedyMeds

NeedyMeds is a database of healthcare information and resources. You can search by your location, condition, and more. Its list of diabetes resources can help you find low-cost or free insulin. 

RxAssist

RxAssist can match you with patient assistance programs that can help you get free or low-cost insulin. You can search for your insulin prescription to get started. 

RxHope

RxHope works just like RxAssist. You can enter your insulin prescription and get matched with patient assistance programs. You can apply for any program you find directly from the RxHope website. 

Coupon sites

Coupon sites, which are free to join, can help make sure you’re always getting the best available price for your insulin. They can reduce your cost significantly.

You can then present a coupon at the pharmacy by using your smartphone or by printing it out. Most coupon sites also offer discount cards that you can present every time you pick up a prescription.

Some popular coupon sites include:

  • Blink Health. Blink Health will help you find the lowest prices for your prescription and can arrange for your insulin to be delivered to your home.
  • GoodRx. GoodRx offers coupons and discount cards.
  • Inside Rx. Inside Rx allows you to search for coupons and sign up for a discount card. 
  • SingleCare. SingleCare allows you to search for prescription coupons that you can bring to the pharmacy with you.

Government assistance

Some states offer pharmaceutical assistance programs. These programs help people with limited incomes afford any prescriptions they take, including insulin. 

Not all states offer these programs, though. In states with programs, the eligibility requirements vary by state. You can check for a program in your state on the Medicare website.

Other ways to save

There are a few other options to help you save money on your insulin. These include:

  • Walmart’s ReliOn Insulin. Walmart carries over-the-counter insulin for $25 per vial. This insulin is an older form of insulin called synthetic human insulin, and using it requires sticking to a strict eating schedule. Talk with a doctor before making this switch.
  • Community health centers. Community health centers often have sliding scale options that allow you to get affordable insulin. You can locate a community health center near you by using this interactive map. 
  • Pharmacy loyalty programs. Your local pharmacy loyalty program can help provide savings.
  • Your insurance company. If you have insurance coverage, you can call your insurance company and ask them what their preferred insulin is. The cost may be lower if you’re able to switch to the preferred insulin.
  • A doctor. A doctor might be able to provide you with emergency insulin to tide you over. They might also be able to switch you to lower-cost insulin. 

Legislation and the future of insulin affordability

There are multiple efforts underway to reduce the cost of insulin. Lawmakers and advocacy groups alike are working to help people afford insulin. 

The ADA has endorsed three possible pieces of legislation that could affect insulin affordability if they were passed. These are:

  • The Insulin Price Reduction Act. This act would provide incentives for manufacturers to lower the cost of insulin.
  • The Safe Step Act. This act would eliminate insurance company “step therapy” programs that can drive up costs.
  • The Chronic Condition Copay Elimination Act. This act would remove copays for medications used to treat conditions such as diabetes. 

These acts may not pass and become law. However, they’re among the current suggestions to help bring down the cost of insulin. Broader healthcare laws and acts that aim to bring down the cost of accessing care in the United States could also affect the cost of insulin.

The bottom line

The cost of insulin has risen dramatically over the past few decades. Many people have difficulty affording the insulin they need to manage their diabetes. 

However, there are discounts and programs available to help you find free or low-cost insulin. You can also find coupons to help lower your copayments and overall spending.

Melinda

Reference:

https://www.healthline.com/health/diabetes/how-to-afford-your-insulin-if-it-costs-too-much?utm_term=roundup&utm_source=Sailthru%20Email&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=alzheimers_carejourney&utm_content=2025-05-06&apid=36735751&rvid=7f053d6ecf820dccd09e4914833cbd49bdfe95bb517404ee9b41601767d1bace#government-assistance

Causes of Nighttime Foot Cramps and How to Get Relief
Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Medical · Men & Womens Health · Self-Care

Causes of Nighttime Foot Cramps and How to Get Relief

Looking for the Light6 Comments

Foot cramps at night can be painful, but they are rarely cause for alarm. Certain lifestyle changes and stretches are usually all you need to resolve them.

A foot cramp can strike out of nowhere, waking you from a sound sleep. You may suddenly feel the muscles tighten or knot up from a few seconds to a few minutes at a time. 

Up to 60 percent of adults report getting nocturnal foot cramps. Spasms may happen just once in the night or result in repeat episodes that lead to insomnia and lingering pain.

The good news is that these cramps aren’t usually a reason for concern. While they can be associated with certain medical conditions, like diabetes or hypothyroidism, stretches and lifestyle changes may help ease them or make them go away entirely.

Keep reading to learn about the potential causes of nighttime foot cramps and how to get relief.

Potential causes of foot cramps

Inactivity

Sitting for long periods of time or otherwise being inactive may make the muscles in your feet more apt to cramp at night.

Sitting with poor posture may also inhibit blood flow to your feet or lead to nerve compression — two risk factors for developing cramps.

Your sleep position may also be a factor in circulation and nerve issues. Consider the following:

  • Try examining how you sleep to see if it might be contributing to nighttime cramping. 
  • Sleeping with your feet pointing downwards may contribute to poor circulation. 
  • Try sleeping on your back or side with a pillow underneath your knees. 

Overexertion of the muscles

Working the muscles in your feet too hard may make them vulnerable to cramping.

The muscle fibers in your feet continually contract and expand to allow movement. If you do too much of an activity too soon, or work your feet too strenuously, you may experience fatigue in your muscles. 

Fatigue depletes your body of oxygen and allows waste products to build up throughout the day. This buildup can cause cramping and spasms at night.

Improper footwear or hard surfaces

Wearing poorly fitted shoes or shoes without enough support throughout the day may tax foot muscles as well. Standing or working on concrete floors or other hard surfaces can have a similar effect.

The foot muscles work extra hard to support the weight of your body. Improper footwear may also impair the foot’s circulation, cutting off blood and oxygen, and producing painful spasms even when you’re off your feet.

Dehydration

Another possible cause of foot cramps at night is dehydration. You may not be drinking enough water during the day, or a bout of diarrhea or other illness may be dehydrating you. 

Even exercising in hot weather can dehydrate you quickly, draining your body of precious fluids, salts, and minerals, such as potassium, magnesium, and calcium.

When your body gets low in fluids and electrolytes, your muscles become more vulnerable to spasms and cramps. You continue sweating and losing fluids while you sleep. This is why your foot cramps may arise at night.

Nutrient deficiency

Deficiencies in vitamins B-12, thiamin, folate, and other B vitamins may lead to nerve damage.

Magnesium and potassium deficiencies may lead to leg and foot cramps.

If you suspect you may have a nutritional deficiency, talk with a doctor or medical professional. A simple blood test can reveal your levels and indicate to your doctor if you need any supplementation or other treatment for underlying conditions. 

Note that taking too many supplements may actually cause more harm than good, so see a doctor and get tested before adding supplements to your diet. 

Excessive alcohol use

Drinking too much alcohol may lead to nerve damage and a condition known as alcoholic neuropathy. Symptoms include anything from muscle cramping and weakness to numbness and tingling in the arms or legs.

Heavy alcohol use may also contribute to dehydration and nutritional deficiencies in important B vitamins. 

Just as with other nutritional deficiencies, lacking these vitamins may impair nerve function, which may worsen symptoms like muscle spasms.

Pregnancy

People who are pregnant are more susceptible to leg and foot cramping at night, particularly in the second and third trimesters. 

Researchers don’t know exactly why. Possible reasons may include: 

  • extra weight on the feet as baby grows
  • dehydration
  • nutritional deficiencies, particularly in magnesium

Health issues and medications

Medical conditions associated with nighttime foot cramping include:

Certain medications may also make you more susceptible to cramping. These include:

If you’re on dialysis, this can also make you more prone to cramping.

How to treat and prevent nighttime foot cramps

There are no specific treatments doctors recommend to treat overnight foot cramping. Instead, it’s best to treat its underlying cause. 

If you exercise regularly, keep it up! Regular movement may help prevent leg and foot cramps in the day and night.

New to exercise? Speak with a doctor or medical professional for recommendations on a plan that may work for you. Try brisk walks around your neighborhood (wearing supportive shoes) or other low-impact activities to start.

Anecdotal evidence from a 2012 study suggests that a few minutes on an exercise bike or treadmill before bed may help with nocturnal leg and foot cramps.

Stretch and soothe your muscles

Be sure to stretch each day to keep foot muscles loose, especially before and after you get in a sweat session. 

What if you’re having a cramp at night? Stretch your foot gently, but forcefully to relieve the cramp by flexing your foot and pressing down on your big toe.

Walking around and jiggling your leg may also help with both foot and leg cramps. Taking a warm bath or shower, or using ice may ease any lingering pain. Deep tissue massage may help in the long term.

Examine your shoes

Wear supportive shoes that are comfortable, especially if you walk a lot on hard surfaces.

The part of your shoes that help nest your heel in place is called a heel counter. Shoes with a firm heel counter may be better in terms of providing support throughout the day. Well-fitted, well-supporting shoes may also help you avoid nocturnal foot cramps. 

If you’re having trouble or don’t find any comfortable shoes, your doctor may refer you to a podiatrist for custom inserts.

Drink more water

Experts recommend that men drink 15.5 cups and women drink 11.5 cups of fluids like water each day. Keeping your muscles hydrated can help prevent cramping.

A good rule of thumb is that your urine should be light yellow to clear. If it’s darker than that, consider drinking another glass of water.

People who are pregnant or breastfeeding may need additional fluid each day to meet their hydration needs. Speak with a doctor if you have concerns about hydrating your body. 

Eat well and supplement

Eat a well-balanced diet that includes plenty of calcium, potassium, and magnesium. If you have a diagnosed deficiency, address it with your doctor’s supervision.

There are multiple studies that support magnesium supplementation as a means to help with cramping. Ask your doctor about dosage and brand suggestions. Supplements are available in your local grocery store, health food store, or online. 

Foods rich in magnesium include:

  • whole grains
  • beans
  • nuts
  • seeds
  • unsweetened dried fruits

Bananas and leafy greens may also help balance electrolytes.

Lower your alcohol intake

Limit alcoholic beverages, like beer, wine, and mixed drinks. These beverages can dehydrate you.

In the case of alcohol-related nerve damage, seek help if you’re having a hard time quitting drinking. Consider reaching out to your doctor, a friend, or a local support program.

Conditions like alcoholic neuropathy can lead to permanent and progressive nerve damage. Early treatment is key in preventing this.

Practice self-care

You may be able to prevent nocturnal foot cramping with some simple self-care practices: 

  • Untuck the covers from the foot of your bed before you go to sleep so that your feet aren’t confined. 
  • Take a warm bath before bedtime to relax your muscles. 
  • Practice some light stretching throughout the day so that your muscles aren’t tight before bed. 

Essential oils 

You may also want to try massaging some topical essential oils onto your feet before bed. Oils such as geranium, chamomile, coriander, and ylang-ylang oils have anti-spasmodic properties. 

Aromatherapy with lavender or mint scents may also provide a calming sleep environment, which could decrease cramping. 

During pregnancy

Let your doctor know if you’re experiencing nighttime foot cramping (or any severe muscle cramping) during pregnancy. While many of the same self-care measures may help you, your doctor can provide additional guidance.

Stretch your foot when a cramp strikes and elevate your legs to keep cramps at bay. Staying active, getting a massage, and taking a warm (not hot) shower or bath may also help. 

Remember to take your prenatal vitamins each day to prevent nutritional deficiencies. Your doctor may recommend a magnesium supplement if the cramping is keeping you from sleeping. 

You may find that the cramps go away on their own after you deliver your baby.

Frequently asked questions

How do you stop your feet from cramping at night?

Foot cramps can happen at any time of the day or night and for different reasons. The best way to stop feet from cramping at night is to address the underlying cause. This may include poor posture or gait, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, long periods of inactivity, using feet and leg muscles too hard, alcohol use disorder, inadequate foot support, or dehydration, among others. Massages, stretching, new shoes, and regular physical activity may help. 


What nutritional deficiency causes foot cramps?

Foot cramps may result from deficiencies in magnesium, potassium, and vitamin B complex. A healthcare professional can perform blood tests to confirm nutritional deficiencies or explore other possible causes of foot cramps.


What do foot cramps indicate?

Foot cramps may not be a cause for concern in most cases. Sometimes, persistent cramping may indicate nerve damage, medication side effects, metabolic challenges (kidney disease, anemia, thyroid disease, or diabetes), and circulatory problems.

Takeaway

Foot cramps tend to go away on their own with home treatment, such as stretching or lifestyle changes, like drinking more water. 

Talk with a doctor or medical professional if your cramps are causing severe discomfort, or if you notice any swelling, redness, or other changes to the foot or surrounding structures. 

You may also want to make an appointment if the cramps are happening frequently and don’t improve with changes to your routine.

Melinda

Reference:

https://www.healthline.com/health/foot-cramps-at-night?utm_term=feedcontent&utm_source=Sailthru%20Email&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=fibro&utm_content=2025-05-06&apid=36735751&rvid=7f053d6ecf820dccd09e4914833cbd49bdfe95bb517404ee9b41601767d1bace#takeaway
Lyme Disease Awareness Month-My Experience
Chronic Illness · Health and Wellbeing · Infectious Diease · Lyme Disease · Medical · Men & Womens Health · Tick Borne Illnesses

Lyme Disease Awareness Month-My Experience

Looking for the Light12 Comments

Before my diagnosis of Lyme Disease, I would have looked at this graphic and paid no attention. After 18 months of IV Antibiotic Therapy, experiencing unbelievable pain, and cognitive dysfunction. I would be the poster child for the graphic. Lyme Disease kills and it can take you down slowly. I’m blessed to be in remission.

Testing is inaccurate because doctors have The Western Block test, which tests for several strains of Lyme, but only use one or two of the tests available. Interestingly enough all of my tests for Lyme came back negative until years after I’d been in remission.

When you read about Lyme you will hear about the Bulls-eye rash, yes some people do have a round puffy rash emerge but it’s only about 30% of the time. Don’t be bullied into thinking no rash, no Lyme. BS. I did not get the rash and I’m not sure where I picked up a tick.

If you catch Lyme early a 2-4 week treatment of antibiotics will kill the virus. If not caught early, the Spirochetes make their way into your blood-stream looking for an organ to play host. At this point, you’ve entered the Chronic Lyme stage. Your journey will be the fight of your life.

The CDC does not ackowledge Chronic Lyme exisist which means medical insurance companies will not pay for your doctor visits, IV Therapy and many of the other drugs you need. Some of my prescrptions were covered but not any of the suppliments recommened.

When choosing a doctor, look for a Lyme Literate Doctor or an Infectious Disease Doctor. If you run into problems finding the right doctor, visit the ILADS website and request a referral. They are tight with the information because many of the doctors are being targeted for treating Chronic Lyme.

You and your family do not have to go down the rabbit hole. If you firmly believe you or a loved one may have Lyme go directly to one of the most comprehensive lab testing companies, IGenex. It’s worth every penny spent because my treatments cost over $150,000 and caused us to take a second mortgage.

Be Lyme and Tick-Borne Illness aware. Your health depends on it.

Melinda

Looking for the Light

Reference:

www.lymedisease.org

Babesiosis on the rise in the Mid-Atlantic region of US
Celebrate Life · Chronic Illness · Health and Wellbeing · Infectious Diease · Lyme Disease · Medical · Men & Womens Health · Tick Borne Illnesses

Babesiosis on the rise in the Mid-Atlantic region of US

Looking for the Light2 Comments

A newly published study in the Journal of Medical Entomologyhighlights the growing presence of babesiosis in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States.

Researchers documented human cases and detected Babesia microti in local tick populations.

Historically concentrated in the Northeast and Upper Midwest, babesiosis is now emerging in areas where it was previously rare.

Key findings indicate that locally acquired babesiosis cases have been reported for the first time in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

Additionally, Babesia microti was detected in ticks collected from Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and D.C., marking a concerning expansion of the disease. The study also presents Ixodes keiransi as a potential vector—a first in babesiosis research.

Click here to read the press release from the Entomological Society of America

Melinda

Looking for the Light

Lyme Disease Org

Lyme advocate Julia Bruzzese remembers when Pope Francis blessed her
Celebrate Life · Chronic Illness · Climate Change/Global Warming · Health and Wellbeing · Infectious Diease · Medical · Men & Womens Health

Lyme advocate Julia Bruzzese remembers when Pope Francis blessed her

Looking for the Light2 Comments

Ten years ago, then-13-year old Julia Bruzzese was unable to walk, due to complications of Lyme disease. Her family took her to JFK airport, to see Pope Francis, who visiting the United States at the time.

She made the national news, when the Pope stopped and blessed her.

Now, after the death of Pope Francis, Julie recalls how that moment changed her life. See this report from ABC7 New York:

Melinda

Reference:

https://www.lymedisease.org/bruzzese-pope-blessing/

May Awareness Month
Celebrate Life · Chronic Illness · Communicating · Health and Wellbeing · Medical · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

May Awareness Month

Looking for the Light2 Comments

May is packed with awareness topics and there are too many to list, you can find the entire list HERE.

ALS Awareness Month

American Stroke Awareness Month

Arthritis Awareness Month

Bladder Cancer Awareness Month

Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month

Brain Cancer Awareness Month

Fibromyalgia Awareness Month

Gardening for Wildlife Month

Lyme Disease Awareness Month

Melinda

Looking for the Light 

Reference:

https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/may-awareness-days-months

Managing Fibromyalgia In Children
Celebrate Life · Chronic Illness · Family · Health and Wellbeing · Medical · Self-Care

Managing Fibromyalgia In Children

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By Brent Wells, DC, a chiropractor and founder of Better Health Chiropractic and Physical Rehab

If your child feels tired and achy, you may not worry initially. After all, there’s nothing urgent about what seems to be mild, general discomfort. However, if your child is constantly in pain, exhausted, having trouble sleeping, and experiencing intense moods, he/she may have fibromyalgia.

This condition is fairly common in adults, but parents and clinicians may overlook the possibility of juvenile primary fibromyalgia syndrome — that is, fibromyalgia in children.

JUVENILE FIBROMYALGIA SYMPTOMS TO WATCH OUT FOR

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by pain and fatigue. According to experts, children will often describe this pain as “stiffness, tightness, tenderness, burning or aching.” This pain can last for months and is often accompanied by other symptoms that affect a child’s overall well-being, energy level, and emotional health, including:

  • Tender spots on muscles
  • Difficulty sleeping and fatigue
  • Aches, including stomachaches and headaches
  • Lack of focus or memory
  • Anxiety and depression

If your child is experiencing these symptoms, you should see a doctor. There’s not one test to confirm it, so he/she will go through a range of tests to rule out other conditions.

Unfortunately, there is no one “cure” for fibromyalgia, which can be frustrating for patients, especially children. If left untreated, symptoms can lead to issues at school or making friends. Many parents describe this as a “vicious cycle” where symptoms continue to feed the condition.

Experts still aren’t sure what causes fibromyalgia or how it develops in the body. Some believe that mixed-up pain signals in the brain cause greater pain chemicals and/or overactive pain receptors. Others think it might be triggered, in part, by an emotional event like an illness, injury or psychological stress. But even if the cause involves emotions, the pain is still real.

HOW CHILDREN CAN COPE WITH FIBROMYALGIA

It’s important to create a support team and get your child’s primary care doctor, pain specialist, psychologist, physical therapist, and teachers on board. The more people are aware of your child’s condition, the more they can help him/her cope with symptoms at home and school. You may also want to look for pain support groups near you, for both your child and you as a parent.

Your doctor can help you decide whether medication, such as anti-inflammatories, antidepressants, or nerve pain medications, may be right for your child. He or she also may recommend therapies like injections or topical creams. In conjunction with these interventions, your doctor will probably prescribe treatments like physical therapy and behavioral changes, which are crucial to long-term management of fibromyalgia.

Let’s go over some nonpharmacological strategies for coping with fibromyalgia.

FIVE STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVED SYMPTOMS

Although fibromyalgia may disrupt your child’s life, affecting school and friendships, you may be able to improve your child’s quality of life with these natural therapies and changes. Of course, there’s no cure for fibromyalgia, but by managing symptoms, you can help your child get back to some sense of normalcy.

  1. Get moving!

Exercise can be incredibly valuable for managing your child’s fibromyalgia symptoms. Exercise can relieve muscle stiffness and tire out the body physically so that your child can fall asleep more easily. In particular, pool exercises have been shown to help patients because the warm water can have a soothing effect on pain and also promote blood circulation.

Consider signing up your child for swim class to get regular exercise that is both fun and good for symptoms. Start with limited intervals of exercise at first, and slowly increase them as symptoms allow. Aquatic physical therapy can be extremely beneficial for patients whose fibromyalgia is too severe for regular pool activities.

  1. Incorporate meditation methods

While your child may not be interested in meditation, try to incorporate some of the practices in your child’s daily life. After playtime, encourage your child to take a moment to relax and reset. In addition, teach your child how to use relaxing breathing exercises when he/she feels overwhelmed during school or before bed.

Studies show that meditation can help reduce fibromyalgia patients’ stiffness, anxiety and depression. In the least, promoting a stress-free environment and creating a sense of relaxation will help your child feel less anxious.

  1. Say goodnight to fibromyalgia

Your child’s sleep routine is essential for improving fibromyalgia symptoms. Chart out the best routine for your child together. Make sure he/she goes to bed at the same time every day and start “sleep-ready” habits an hour before bed. This routine could include a break from screen time, reading a story together, listening to a relaxing song and/or taking a hot bath. Promoting a relaxing environment will help your child get to sleep.

Make sure you’re not giving your child food late at night, especially items with any caffeine or sugar. Also, be sure take away tablets and cell phones. The blue light can wake up your child instead of helping him/her get sleepy. Sufficient sleep is essential to managing pain.

  1. Change your child’s diet for success

Some experts recommend following an anti-inflammatory diet to prevent aches and pains. In general, an anti-inflammatory diet is based on the Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes fish, fish, vegetables, whole grains, and olive oil.

Update your child’s lunch to include a handful of nuts, or add an apple for a snack. Anytime you can add fruits and vegetables to his/her diet, do it! This boost of nutrients will fuel your child for success. Try to limit junk food as well, which has no value and could actually inflame your child’s pains.

  1. Schedule your child for a physical therapy session

Your child could benefit from seeing a physical therapist or chiropractor near you. Recent studies show how physical therapy or chiropractic can have a positive impact on fibromyalgia patients. Finding the right physical therapist is important. Call in advance to ensure they have experience with fibromyalgia and/or with children. Specific exercises in physical therapy can help to improve your child’s core strength and incorporate techniques to soothe muscle aches and pain. Similarly, regular massage therapy sessions with an experienced masseuse can improve your child’s exercise, sleep and mood.

TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR

A fibromyalgia diagnosis can be challenging, but doesn’t have to take over your child’s life. It’s a good idea to talk to an expert to come up with the most effective care plan for your child, one that ideally includes a diverse range of strategies, like those listed above. Together, you can talk about your child’s specific issues and needs, and figure out the best way to improve symptoms.

About Dr. Brent Wells

Dr. Brent Wells is a graduate of the University of Nevada where he earned his bachelor of science degree before moving on to complete his doctorate from Western States Chiropractic College. He founded Better Health Chiropractic and Physical Rehab in Anchorage in 1998. He became passionate about being in the chiropractic field after his own experiences with hurried, unprofessional healthcare providers. The goal for Dr. Wells is to treat his patients with care and compassion while providing them with a better quality of life through his professional treatment.

Melinda

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Unconventional Treatments To Tackle Menopause
Health and Wellbeing · Medical · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health · Self-Care

Unconventional Treatments To Tackle Menopause

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The media plays a role not only in misinformation about menopause but also in how it portrays women with menopause. Tune out the riff-raff and look for real answers. Menopause has been a woman’s curse long before I knew what it was and how it affected the lives of women. There are thousands of books on the market about menopause and I thought maybe it was time to look at the unconventional ways women deal with the debilitating symptoms.

Let’s look at unconventional options to help with menopause

Acupuncture

Acupuncture involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body to balance energy flow. Some women report reduced hot flashes, night sweats, and improved mood after regular sessions. While scientific evidence is mixed, it might be worth a try if you’re open to alternative therapies.

Herbal Remedies

  • Black Cohosh: Often used for hot flashes and mood swings. Some studies suggest it can be effective, but it’s not suitable for everyone.
  • Red Clover: Contains plant-based estrogens that may help with hot flashes, though results vary.
  • Evening Primrose Oil: Known for helping with breast pain and hot flashes. Always consult a healthcare provider before starting any herbal supplements.

Yoga and Meditation

These practices can help manage stress, improve sleep, and enhance overall well-being. Yoga, in particular, can increase flexibility and strength, which is beneficial during menopause.

Dietary Changes

Adopting a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins can help manage symptoms. The Mediterranean diet, known for its anti-inflammatory properties, can be particularly beneficial.

Essential Oils

  • Lavender Oil: Known for its calming properties, it can help reduce stress and improve sleep.
  • Peppermint Oil: Can provide a cooling sensation, which may help with hot flashes.

Biofeedback

This technique involves learning to control certain physiological functions, such as heart rate and muscle tension, with the help of a biofeedback device. It can be effective in managing stress and related symptoms.

Hypnotherapy

Some studies suggest hypnotherapy can reduce the frequency and severity of hot flashes and improve sleep quality.

Remember, it’s essential to consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatments, especially if you have underlying health conditions.

Health-Related Reading Material

Understanding the Connection Between Menopause and Heart Rate Changes

Why Does Menopause Increase Your Risk of Heart Disease?

Natural Treatments for Menopause Symptoms

Maybe you can find something that works for you or at least reduces the symptoms.

Melinda

Reference:

https://copilot.microsoft.com

Healthline

https://www.webmd.com/menopause/menopause-natural-treatments

Blogger Highlight-The Mindful Migraine
Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Medical · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

Blogger Highlight-The Mindful Migraine

Looking for the Light5 Comments

Thank you for all the great feedback on the Blogger Highlight series. I’ve enjoyed meeting each blogger and sharing their blog with you. This week, I highlight The Mindful Migraine.  

The Mindful Migraine

I’ve had migraines on and off since I was 11 years old. More recently, my ‘episodic hemiplegic migraines’ began to merge together, and I was diagnosed with ‘chronic migraine’. Chronic migraine reduced my ability to parent, work, study, travel and socialize. It is a debilitating condition, which is not yet fully understood and is not currently curable. It’s more than ‘just a headache’ – it’s a ‘full body catastrophe’ – and perhaps not surprisingly, can lead to isolation and depression.

Remember it’s ‘your brain – your pain – your journey’ and since every body and every situation is different, you should always work with your health care support network on which strategies will best suit your individual condition.

Questions I Asked Linda

M. What is your favorite post and why?

L. My favorite post is probably “The face of (dis)ability” – it aimed to show that people with chronic illness are still capable – we might be down but we’re definitely not out. It was one of the rare posts that I include a photo of myself, and in it, I’m celebrating my successes (showing myself as a uni student and a new blogger) AND acknowledging my limitations (I’m wearing my brain-fog shirt and my invisible disability lanyard). I think it’s a nice reminder that life is complex and there’s often more to everyone than meets the eye.

M. Looking back at your blogging experience, what stands out the most to you personally?

L. By far the greatest joy to me has been the sense of community that Blogland provides. When I first started blogging, I was lonely and felt as if my chronic illness had left me on the outside of my local community (no one I knew had chronic migraines, so no one really “got it”). Reading other blogs, commenting on their posts, and replying to their comments on my blog soon saw a network of bloggers grow around me. Those that had similar experiences helped me feel seen and understood, whilst those who were not annoyed by chronic illness helped me feel part of the wider world. Imagine logging on each morning and hearing from people like yourself, positioned all over the world!! What a wonder!! That same network now helps me stay motivated to keep writing, keep reading, keep encouraging others to speak their truth and be there for others

One of my favorite posts is Foot yoga for migraines. I shook my head at first, then realized it made sense.

Be sure to visit Linda’s blog, say hello, and enjoy her archives.

Melinda

Looking for the Light

 

A mother’s story: When “just anxiety” was really Lyme disease
Chronic Illness · Infectious Diease · Medical · Men & Womens Health · Tick Borne Illnesses

A mother’s story: When “just anxiety” was really Lyme disease

Looking for the Light3 Comments

By Whitney Goetsch

I was a young mother living my dream life when everything changed. At a wedding, I absentmindedly pulled a tick off the back of my leg, crushed it into the pavement, and moved on.

I never realized that tiny creature would alter the course of my life.

Not long after, my health began to unravel. Crippling symptoms emerged, yet every doctor I saw dismissed them as anxiety. But deep down, I knew something was terribly wrong.

What followed was a terrifying descent into medical uncertainty, a relentless fight to uncover the truth while my body continued to deteriorate.

For five years, I battled through a system that refused to listen, all while my family suffered alongside me. I suspected Lyme disease early on, but each time I voiced my concerns, I was brushed aside. “It’s just anxiety.” “You’re overreacting.” “Maybe it’s depression.” The gaslighting was endless.

Finally, after years of searching, I received the diagnoses that changed everything: Lyme disease, multiple co-infections, and alpha-gal syndrome. By then, the damage had already been done.

Documenting every struggle

Throughout this journey, I kept a journal, documenting every struggle, every setback, and every moment of resilience. In 2023, newly diagnosed and still fighting for my life, I turned those pages into a book—because this cannot not keep happening. Not to young mothers. Not to fathers, children, or anyone else. The cycle of medical dismissal and gaslighting must end.

I wrote my book while still in the fight, in the trenches of this disease, so it would be raw, real, and relatable. So others would know they are not alone.

You are not Lyme. You are not a burden. Lyme is the burden placed upon you.

Today, my battle continues. In the summer of 2024, I began SOT therapy for Lyme disease. This winter, I started SOT therapy for Babesia and Bartonella, alongside herbals and methylene blue.

Recent tests have revealed demyelination and autoimmune markers resembling those seen in multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s — the result of years of untreated infections.

To help heal my brain and reduce inflammation, I will soon begin peptide therapy. My medical team is also exploring stem cell therapy in Europe. The road ahead remains steep, but I refuse to give up.

Because this fight is not just for me. It’s for every person who has been dismissed, misdiagnosed, and left to suffer in silence.

For more information about Whitney Goetsch’s book, click here: Waves: A Memoir of Perseverance in Battling Chronic Lyme Disease. 


Melinda

Reference:

https://www.lymedisease.org/just-anxiety-lyme/

Robert Kennedy Jr. Is On My Last Nerve With His Latest Autism Project-Not A Rant
Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Medical · Men & Womens Health

Robert Kennedy Jr. Is On My Last Nerve With His Latest Autism Project-Not A Rant

Looking for the Light11 Comments

This post is not a rant; it’s based on facts that may set you ablaze, too.

Here’s a brief overview of how he is taking private medical records without permission to gather information and track people with Autism.

  • Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is amassing private medical records of Americans for a new autism study
  • This includes data from pharmacy chains, lab tests, smartwatches and more
  • The HHS secretary is also launching a registry that will track Americans with autism

What is next? Americans with no right to privacy?

This is appalling, and it opens the door for our government to use and misuse our private information.

Be sure to read the article in full; the information was taken from an interview on CBS.

Melinda

Reference::

https://people.com/rfk-jr-to-launch-autism-registry-using-private-health-records-11720156

First Aid Tinture & Wound Spray
Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Medical · Men & Womens Health · Self-Care

First Aid Tinture & Wound Spray

Looking for the LightLeave a comment

Together, these herbs create a potent skin-healing and infection-preventing preparation that is great to have on hand.

You Will Need

Digital scale

0.5 oz. yarrow

0.3 oz thyme

0.2 oz lavender

5 oz vodka: 120 proof

Glass jar

Parchment paper: unbleached

Fine-mesh sieve

Cheesecloth

Large bowl

Dropper bottle/spray bottle

Melinda

Reference:

Wolllow & Sage by Stampington

Blogger Highlight-Adjunct Wizard
Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Medical · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

Blogger Highlight-Adjunct Wizard

Looking for the LightLeave a comment

Thank you for all the great feedback on the Blogger Highlight series. I’ve enjoyed meeting each blogger and sharing their site with you. This week, we highlight Adjunct Wizard. Paul has a varied background that results in great and sometimes quirky posts. He is also the caregiver of his wife, who has Parkinson’s Disease.

Adjunct Wizard

I write this for me but I am always interested in other’s thoughts about life and dealing with chronic disease.

My favorite quote: Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.  —  Emerson

Questions I asked Paul

M. Looking back, what experience shaped you into who you are today?

P. Being fired from a job… makes you a better person by forcing you to understand importance of self.

My little post about it is “Don’t Sit On The Sticker Bushes”

M. What is your favorite post and why?

P. Black Underwear

Black Underwear

Why ? That day when I wrote it and later as I refer to it, it is a metaphor for the strong love I have for Cheryl. In the early days of her dementia I felt like I was always scrambling to quickly find out how to help her and be there with her because she could appear “just fine” to her friends and family. I quickly wound up doing all the household chores — it is easy to get lost in all that and forget that the disease was not Cheryl. The laundry that day bought all those thoughts to the fore.

My favorite recent post is Is This Fly Shit or is it Pepper? I could immediately relate to my career. As I said, I’ve had anought Fly Shit to last a life time.

Stop by Paul’s blog, say hello, pull up a seat, and read through his archives; you will find a nice mix of topics.

Melinda

Looking for the Light

 

Feeling emotionally exhausted? 6 things you can do to release your stress
Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Medical · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

Feeling emotionally exhausted? 6 things you can do to release your stress

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IDEAS.TED.COM

Jun 10, 2021 / Emily Nagoski PhD + Amelia Nagoski DMA

Stocksy

In their book Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle, coauthors (and twin sisters) Emily and Amelia Nagoski reveal that completing the stress cycle — finding a way to let our bodies know we’re no longer threatened or in danger and we can stop being stressed — can be the most effective way to avoid burnout and emotional exhaustion. Physical activity or any kind of physical movement is one great way to do this, but there are several other ways. 

Here are 6 evidence-based strategies to help you complete your stress cycle:

1. Breathing

Deep, slow breaths down-regulate the stress response, especially when the exhalation is long and slow and goes all the way to the end of the breath so your belly contracts. Breathing is most effective when your stress isn’t that high or when you just need to siphon off the very worst of the stress so you can get through a difficult situation.

A simple, practical exercise is to breathe in to a slow count of 5, hold that breath for 5, then exhale for a slow count of 10, and pause for another count of 5. Do that three times — for one minute and 15 seconds of breathing — and then see how you feel.

Casual but friendly social interaction is the first external sign that the world is a safe place.

2. Positive social interaction

Casual but friendly social interaction is an external sign that the world is a safe place. People with more acquaintances are happier. Just go buy a cup of coffee and say “Nice day” to the barista or compliment another customer’s earrings. Reassure your brain that the world is a safe, sane place, and not all people suck. It helps!

3. Laughter

Laughing together, and even just reminiscing about the times we’ve laughed together, increases relationship satisfaction. We mean belly laughs — deep, impolite, helpless laughter. When we laugh, says neuroscientist Sophie Scott, we use an “ancient evolutionary system that mammals have evolved to make and maintain social bonds and regulate emotions.”

Aarm hug in a safe and trusting context can do as much to help your body feel like it has escaped threat as joging, and it’s a heck of a lot less sweaty

4. Aceptance

Sometimes, a deeper connection with a loving presence is called for. Most often, this comes from a loving and beloved person who likes, respects and trusts you, whom you like, respect and trust. It doesn’t have to be physical affection (though physical affection is great). A warm hug in a safe and trusting context can do as much to help your body feel like it has escaped a threat as jogging a couple of miles, and it’s a heck of a lot less sweaty.

One example of affection is the “six- second kiss” advice from relationship researcher John Gottman. Every day, he suggests, kiss your partner for six seconds. There’s a reason behind the timing: Six seconds is too long to kiss someone you resent or dislike, and it’s far too long to kiss someone with whom you feel unsafe. Kissing for six seconds requires that you stop and deliberately notice you like this person, you trust them and you feel affection for them. By noticing those things, the kiss tells your body that you are safe with your tribe.

Another example: Hug someone you love and trust for 20 full seconds, while both of you are standing over your own centers of balance. Research suggests this kind of hug can change your hormones, lower your blood pressure and heart rate, and improve mood. It doesn’t have to be precisely 20 seconds. What matters is you feel the stress easing, or what therapist Suzanne Iasenza describes as “hugging until relaxed.”

Of course, affection doesn’t stop with other human beings. Just petting a cat or dog for a few minutes can help complete the cycle too.

5. A big ol’ cry 

Have you had the experience of just barely making it inside your home — or bedroom — before you slam the door behind you and burst into tears for 10 minutes? Then you wipe your nose, sigh a big sigh and feel relieved from the weight of whatever made you cry? You may not have changed the situation that caused the stress, but you completed the cycle.

Have a favorite tearjerker movie that makes you cry every time? Going through that emotion with the characters allows your body to go through it, too.

You might experience completing the stress cycle as a shift in mood or mental state or physical tension, as you brethe more deeply and your thoughts relax.

6. Creative expression 

Engaging in creative activities today leads to more energy, excitement, and enthusiasm tomorrow. Like sports, the arts — including painting, sculpture, music, theater and storytelling in all forms — create a context that tolerates and even encourages big emotions. Arts of all kinds give us the chance to celebrate and move through our big emotions.

P.S. How do you know you’ve completed the cycle?

It’s like knowing when you’re full after a meal or like knowing when you’ve had an orgasm — your body tells you. You might experience it as a shift in mood or mental state or physical tension, as you breathe more deeply and your thoughts relax.

It’s easier for some people to recognize than others. For some people, it’s as obvious as knowing that they’re breathing. That’s how it is for Emily. Long before she knew about the science, she knew that when she felt stressed and tense and terrible, she could go for a run or for a bike ride and at the end of it she would feel better.  She has always been able to feel it intuitively, that shift inside her body.

Don’t worry if you’re not sure you can recognize when you’ve completed the cycle. Especially if you’ve spent a lot of years — like, your whole life, maybe — holding on to your worry or anger, you’ve probably got a whole lot of accumulated stress response cycles spinning their engines, so it’s going to take a while before you get through the backlog.

All you need to do is recognize that you feel incrementally better than you felt before you started. You can notice that something in your body has changed, shifted in the direction of peace.

“If I was at an eight on the stress scale when I started, I’m at a four now,” you can say. And that’s pretty great.

Excerpted from the book Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily and Amelia Nagoski. Copyright © 2019 by Emily and Amelia Nagoski. Used by permission of Ballantine, an imprint of Random House Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

To learn more about the stress cycle and burnout, watch Emily and Amelia Nagoski’s TED conversation: 

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Emily Nagoski PhD is the author of “Come as You Are: The Surprising New Science That Will Transform Your Sex Life.” She has a PhD in health behavior with a minor in human sexuality from Indiana University, and a MS in counseling, also from IU, including a clinical internship at the Kinsey Institute sexual health clinic. A sex educator for 20 years, she is the inaugural director of wellness education at Smith College.

Amelia Nagoski DMA Amelia Nagoski holds a DMA in conducting from the University of Connecticut. An assistant professor and coordinator of music at Western New England University, she regularly presents educational sessions for professional musicians discussing the application of communications science and psychological research, including “Beyond Burnout Prevention: Embodied Wellness for Conductors.”

The spacing is wacky this morning; the system will not allow me to save the changes.

Melinda

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Bachelorette star Angie Kent reveals how her lactose intolerance affected her mental health
Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Medical · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

Bachelorette star Angie Kent reveals how her lactose intolerance affected her mental health

Looking for the Light2 Comments

NEWS.COM.AU

Sophie Goulopoulos

Trust your gut, as they say!

From about eight weeks old, Angie Kent couldn’t have breast milk. As she grew older, she realised lactose products were “ruining her whole day”, so she listened to her body and made adjustments. 

There are so many lactose-free dairy options out there now. But when Angie Kent was growing up, not so much. There wasn’t even much information about lactose intolerance, which she now realises was the reason she couldn’t take breast milk after about the age of eight weeks and why, after noticing how eating regular dairy products brought on discomfort and pain, she made a “conscious effort” to research her symptoms and seek medical advice.

Body+Soul: You’ve spoken often about your journey with being a coeliac, but not of your lactose intolerance – why is that? 

Angie Kent: Coeliac disease can be a life-threatening disease for many people and I felt it was important to bring attention to how serious this intolerance is. By comparison, for most people, lactose intolerance symptoms can often be managed.

How does drinking/eating lactose make you feel? What are the major symptoms for you? 

Eating and drinking lactose gives me overall discomfort. I feel as if my digestive issues have the power to ruin my whole day. I don’t feel my best, and I don’t feel like I can be relaxed or active due to my physical pain from bloating, toilet troubles, and skin breakouts.

When did you first learn of your intolerance, and how did you get diagnosed? 

I was a colicky baby and was not able to have breast milk from eight weeks old. As a child, there wasn’t much education around being lactose intolerant and as I got older I could no longer deal with the pain and needed to do something about it.

I started noticing a pattern after eating dairy and experiencing consistent symptoms, so I made a conscious effort to listen to my body, researched my symptoms, and learnt more about lactose intolerance, and then sought medical professional advice.

How did avoiding lactose affect your social life/general diet/ability to eat what you wanted/mood? 

I find catering to my dietary restrictions these days is much easier with the increased number of alternative milk and lactose-free options, as well as the amazing vegan products that are now on the market.

Being lactose intolerant has just made me more conscious of what I am putting in my body, but I don’t feel like I have to make major sacrifices in my life.

You can still eat cheese even if you're lactose intolerant. Image: iStock.

How has knowing about your intolerance improved or changed your general wellbeing? 

My overall well-being improved when I got a handle on my symptoms and felt more myself again. I certainly know when something my body doesn’t agree with has snuck into my food, because all hell breaks loose with all different types of symptoms. I’m a sensitive soul.

What is the worst thing possible for you to eat/drink for your lactose intolerance? 

I don’t consume any dairy milk, yoghurts or creams because of my intolerances but I am a sucker for cheeses! With so many lactose-free dairy products out there, I can now enjoy lactose-free cheese without all the stress on my body physically and mentally. If you’re feeding your gut something it can’t process or handle, your mental health suffers too. It’s important to know your gut is your second brain. Why do you think people say ‘trust your gut’ so often?!

What non-dairy and dairy alternatives are you able to eat with your lactose intolerance? 

So many dairy products have lactose free options nowadays that I don’t necessarily have to seek dairy alternatives, my favourite brand is Liddells. But knowing that most coffee shops always have a range of reliable dairy-free alternatives always makes things really easy for me.

What does your average day on a plate look like now? 

I am mainly veggie-based so I will make myself a smoothie in the morning with my herbs, supplements powders, dairy-free yoghurt, bananas, blueberries, and almond milk.

For lunch I try to have a salad with lots of greens and maybe some kind of seafood. Dinner I love to make myself a veggie dish or fish curry! The options are endless.

For snacks, I can now snack on some lactose-free cheese singles, avocado, and tomato with rice crackers. I am mad about it! Plus lots and lots of herbal teas.

Melinda

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Dietary Changes That Can Help Reduce Inflammation and Ease Chronic Pain
Celebrate Life · Cooking · Health and Wellbeing · Medical · Men & Womens Health

Dietary Changes That Can Help Reduce Inflammation and Ease Chronic Pain

Looking for the Light7 Comments

The benefits of changing your diet when living with chronic pain have long been debated. But while a diet full of processed and high sugar foods isn’t great for everyone in general, is there actually any truth in a diet curing chronic pain?

While changing your diet can eradicate your pain levels and cure you, there is some truth in looking at what you eat and how you can greatly impact your pain levels. However, because everyone experiences pain differently and lives different lifestyles, there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to using diet to manage health conditions and pain. All you can do is an experiment and see what works for you if anything does at all. That being said, there have been numerous studies into an anti-inflammatory diet improving symptoms and pain levels in fibromyalgia patients, meaning they can improve their quality of life by making some easy dietary changes.

Photo by Polina Kovaleva on Pexels.com

Take It Slowly

The main thing to remember when making any dietary changes is that it can take time and patience to find what works for you. For example, cutting out many food groups won’t alert you of anything specific instead, it will further restrict your diet.

So try removing one food group at a time and see if it makes any difference before trying something else.

Best Foods For Inflammation

If you want to try some foods linked to good health, you can find some recommended foods for people with chronic pain. But doing your research into what works for you, especially if you lead an active lifestyle, can give you a better understanding of the nutrients you need to support your body the way it needs it.

Peas and other plant foods that include a pod, including beans and garbanzos (also known as chickpeas), white beans (also known as navy or cannellini beans), and hummus are examples of great foods for people with chronic pain.

Nuts and seeds are further examples of foods that fall into this category. Nuts include walnuts, almonds, pecans, and peanuts, along with sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, pine nuts. Peas and soybeans are a type of plant known as a “legume,” which is produced in a pod. Sugar snap peas, ordinary peas, roasted soy nuts, edamame, and any form of tofu are all acceptable options.

Berries, pomegranates, and cherries are examples of dark-colored fruits, which are beneficial in the prevention of inflammation. Drinking fruit juice should be avoided, or a small glass should be consumed and mixed with equal water. Fruit juice contains a high concentration of sugar, which exacerbates inflammation.

Yellow, orange, and red peppers, as well as tomatoes, are examples of vegetables. Arugula (rocket or roquette) and a variety of mixed greens, particularly dark leafy greens, such as spinach, chard, and kale, as well as leaf lettuce and romaine lettuce. Purple and green cabbage, onions, garlic, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower are among the vegetables you should try along with radishes, cucumbers, green beans, and green onions too. 

When it comes to changing your diet to reduce inflammation, you need to experiment with what world for you and allow your body time to adjust to the changes and rid itself of any irritants to fully benefit from the changes.

This is a collaborative post.

Melinda

Repost

Multiple Sclerosis vs. Fibromyalgia: Differences in Signs and Symptoms
Celebrate Life · Chronic Illness · Health and Wellbeing · Medical · Men & Womens Health

Multiple Sclerosis vs. Fibromyalgia: Differences in Signs and Symptoms

Looking for the Light5 Comments

Both MS and fibromyalgia may cause chronic pain and fatigue, they are very distinct conditions. A correct diagnosis is important to ensure proper treatment.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune neurological condition that destroys the protective coating (myelin) that surrounds the nerves. MS destroys the myelin and eventually causes the nerves to no longer be able to function as they should. 

Fibromyalgia is characterized by musculoskeletal pain that affects the entire body. In addition to chronic pain, fibromyalgia causes increased drowsiness and fatigue, as well as mood and memory issues. 

They are very different conditions, but they sometimes share similar symptoms.

Both conditions require a variety of medical tests for a diagnosis. Before you begin any tests, you may be able to distinguish your symptoms and decide if they’re signs of one of these conditions. Your doctor can help, too.

What are the symptoms?

While these two conditions share some symptoms, they also have distinct symptoms of their own. These include:

SymptomFibromyalgiaMS
chronic pain✔✔
fatigue✔✔
memory issues✔✔
difficulty walking✔
slurred speech✔
vision problems✔
numbness and tingling✔✔
trouble concentrating✔✔
depression✔✔

Fibromyalgia symptoms

Pain associated with fibromyalgia is chronic and widespread. It’s described as a dull, aching pain. To be classified as fibromyalgia, a person must experience the chronic pain for at least 3 months. Also, the pain must occur on both sides of the body, above and below the waist.

Other symptoms of fibromyalgia include:

  • Memory issues: “Fibro fog” is a term applied to the confusion, difficulty focusing and concentrating, and changes in memory that people with fibromyalgia often experience.
  • Mood changes: Depression is not uncommon in people with fibromyalgia. Also, people with fibromyalgia sometimes experience sudden shifts in mood.
  • Chronic fatigue: Fibromyalgia causes a great deal of fatigue. People with fibromyalgia are prone to long periods of sleep and rest. However, many people with fibromyalgia also have sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome.

MS symptoms

MS destroys the protective coating around your nerves and eventually the nerves themselves. Once damaged, the nerves may not be able to feel or experience sensations as well as healthy nerves.

The symptoms associated with MS vary depending on the amount of nerve damage and which nerves are affected. It’s common for people who have MS to have significant chronic pain, eventually experiencing numbness and weakness in affected areas. Tingling and mild pain can occur, too.

Other symptoms of MS include:

  • Difficulty walking: You may develop an unsteady gait and have trouble walking. Coordination and balance are also challenged.
  • Slurred speech: As the myelin is worn away, communication from the brain may slow down. This can make speech seem more difficult, and you may have a harder time speaking clearly.
  • Vision problems: Vision disturbances like double vision and complete or total vision loss can occur. Eye pain is common, too.

Diagnosing fibromyalgia and MS

Diagnosing either condition can be difficult for doctors. In many cases, a doctor will come to one or the other condition after they’ve ruled out other possible causes for your symptoms.

Diagnosing fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is diagnosed if your doctor can’t find any other explanation for your whole-body pain. The pain will also need to have occurred for at least 3 months.

There’s no specific test that can be used to diagnose fibromyalgia. Instead, a doctor will make a diagnosis off a group of symptoms, one of which is widespread pain. 

Doctors often also use “tender points” to diagnose fibromyalgia. What this means is that people with fibromyalgia feel additional pain when a doctor applies firm pressure to these sensitive points on the body.

Diagnosing MS

MS isn’t diagnosed with a single test or procedure. If other conditions are ruled out, an MRI can detect lesions on your brain and spinal cord. Additionally, your doctor may conduct a spinal tap. 

During this procedure, your doctor will remove a small sample of spinal fluid and test it for antibodies that are associated with MS.

The differences in treatments

Once a diagnosis has been made for either fibromyalgia or MS, your doctor will suggest different treatments to help treat symptoms and improve your quality of life. Just as the two conditions are different, treatment options for the two conditions differ.

Fibromyalgia treatment

There are a variety of different types of treatment options for fibromyalgia, including over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, prescription medications, and alternative treatments.

OTC solutions include:

Prescription medications include:

  • antidepressants, such as duloxetine (Cymbalta)
  • antiseizure medications, such as pregabalin (Lyrica)

Alternative treatments include:

Lifestyle changes include:

MS treatment

As with fibromyalgia, there are a variety of treatments available for those with MS. These prescription treatments can reduce the inflammation and slow or change the course of disease progression. 

Other treatments can help with symptom management and improve a person’s quality of life. These include OTC medications, alternative remedies, and lifestyle changes.

OTC medications, which are used to help relieve musculoskeletal pain, include:

  • aspirin
  • acetaminophen (Tylenol)
  • ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)

Prescription medications and interventions include:

  • injectable medications, such as Avonex or Extavia
  • oral medications, such as Aubagio and Tecfidera
  • infused medications, such as Lemtrada
  • high doses of Solu-Medrol (a steroid) for relapse management
  • physical therapy for rehabilitation
  • speech language pathology

Alternative treatments include:

  • acupuncture
  • stress management
  • cognitive behavioral therapy

Lifestyle changes include:

  • eating a nutrient-dense, well-balanced diet that includes omega-3 fatty acids and is high in fiber and low in saturated fat
  • exercising regularly, including stretching

No matter what method of treatment you’re currently on, discuss any new changes in your treatments with your doctor before you start them, even if they’re considered “natural” or “safe.” These could interfere with treatments or medications you’re currently taking.

Outlook for each condition

Both MS and fibromyalgia are currently chronic, incurable conditions. Though treatments can alleviate symptoms and improve your overall quality of life, there are no cures available for either condition, and both tend to advance with time.

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is not fatal. Because medications are limited, lifestyle and alternative remedies are an important part of treatment management.

In general, people with fibromyalgia who adapt to necessary lifestyle changes coupled with the help of medications can experience significant improvement in their symptoms.

MS

Most people with MS will have an equivalent or almost equivalent life expectancy to that of the average person without MS. However, this isn’t generally the outlook for rare cases of severe MS. 

People with MS may develop cancer or heart disease just like people without MS.

Symptoms in people with MS can be unpredictable, though most will see some amount of disease progression as time goes on. People with MS who experience more time between symptom attacks and relapses tend to do better and experience less severe symptoms.

Takeaway

Though they sometimes share similar symptoms, MS and fibromyalgia are two very different conditions. Understanding the differences can help you and your doctor start testing for the right condition earlier.

If you have unexplained symptoms that resemble one or both of these conditions, make an appointment with your doctor. They can begin investigating your symptoms to diagnose the cause and get you the treatment you need.

Both of these conditions are likely to be life changing. As is true with many other conditions, getting treatment as soon as possible can help increase your comfort and quality of life. It can also potentially slow down the onset or advancement of symptoms.

Melinda

Reference:

https://www.healthline.com/health/multiple-sclerosis/multiple-sclerosis-vs-fibromyalgia?utm_term=feature&utm_source=Sailthru%20Email&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=fibro&utm_content=2025-04-01&apid=36735751&rvid=7f053d6ecf820dccd09e4914833cbd49bdfe95bb517404ee9b41601767d1bace#takeaway
10 Tips for Managing Nighttime Joint Pain
Celebrate Life · Chronic Illness · Health and Wellbeing · Medical · Men & Womens Health

10 Tips for Managing Nighttime Joint Pain

Looking for the Light3 Comments

Joint pain may worsen during the night due to fluid buildup or chemical processes in your body that cause inflammation. But at-home treatments and adjustments to your daily and nighttime routines may help you get a good night’s sleep.

If you have a condition that causes joint pain, you may have found that the pain can be worse at night. Joint pain at night is not usually a medical emergency. But it can severely limit your ability to get a good night’s sleep.

Most joint pain is due to arthritis, inflammation of the joints. This includes:

According to the Arthritis Foundation, 4 in 5 people with arthritis have trouble sleeping.

But other common conditions can also contribute to joint pain at night, such as:

Cytokines

At night, some of your cells release cytokines, small proteins that help activate your immune system. Some cytokines help to make you sleepy. But they can also generate inflammation, which can increase joint pain.

Body position

Your sleep position can put pressure on joints, making existing joint pain worse. For example:

  • If you have hip or shoulder pain on one side of your body, try to avoid putting pressure on that joint by sleeping on your other side.
  • You can worsen wrist pain if you sleep with your wrists bent.
  • Neck pain may worsen if you’re a stomach sleeper and your neck remains twisted to one side for hours at a time.

Mattress and pillow

Your mattress and pillow may also be part of the problem. A too-soft, unsupportive mattress may not provide enough cushioning to support the proper alignment of your spine. This can put pressure on tender joints.

If your pillow is too high, too low, or lumpy, it may force you to hold your neck and shoulder joints in an unnatural position while sleeping. This can irritate your nerves and generate joint pain.

How can I manage joint pain at night?

The underlying cause of joint pain may determine how best to manage it. For example, if you have jaw pain due to a temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, wearing a night guard might be a good way to reduce it.

You can typically manage joint pain at night with at-home treatments. A trial-and-error approach may be needed before you learn what works best for you. Here are 10 things to try:

1. Exercise 

Strong, supple muscles help take pressure off of painful joints. Exercises like stretching and yoga can help people with conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis. Other good choices include:

You may consider working with a physical therapist on exercises for specific joints and muscle groups.

2. Apply heat 

Some people find that using heating pads or compresses on painful joints before sleep provides nighttime relief. You may also find that taking a warm bath before bed reduces pain and provides relaxation.

When you apply heat to an aching joint, the blood vessels in that area increase in size. This increases blood and oxygen circulation in and around the joint, reducing stiffness and pain.

If your joint pain is due to an injury, check with a healthcare professional before using heat. For injuries, applying cold during healing may be a better choice.

3. Apply cold

Cold packs decrease blood flow to the joint, reducing swelling and inflammation. The numbing sensation caused by applying cold or cool compresses can also help reduce pain.

Try using a cold pack directly on the painful joint for 10 to 20 minutes before going to sleep. You can also try immersing yourself in a cold or cool bath for as long as you feel comfortable.

4. Try over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication

OTC pain relievers, including those that reduce inflammation, may be helpful. These include acetaminophen (Tylenol) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin or ibuprofen. Look for extended-relief versions that last for 8 hours or more, so your pain doesn’t return during the night.

Make sure to follow package directions and don’t overuse. If OTC pain meds aren’t enough, talk with a healthcare professional about prescription drugs for pain.

If you have high blood pressure, heart disease, or kidney disease talk with a doctor about which OTC pain reliever would be best for you. Some may cause you to retain water, which can cause kidney problems or raise your blood pressure.

5. Use topical treatments

Topical treatments are medications you apply directly to your skin. Some ointments can provide targeted pain relief. Look for gels, sprays, and lotions that contain active ingredients such as:

  • Menthol: Menthol can provide a cooling sensation to your skin, helping to mask pain.
  • Camphor: Camphor can provide both cool and warm sensations to your skin and numb nerve endings.
  • Arnica: Arnica has anti-inflammatory properties and supports enhanced circulation.
  • Capsaicin: Capsaicin reduces the amount of a specific pain transmitter in your nerves.
  • Salicylates: These plant-based chemicals can help reduce inflammation.

6. Consider glucosamine and chondroitin supplements

Glucosamine and chondroitin are compounds found in cartilage, the connective tissue that cushions and surrounds your joints. Research into their benefits for joint pain has produced mixed results. But some people find that taking these supplements as directed helps to reduce joint pain from osteoarthritis.

Since the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate supplements, be sure to look for the “USP-verified” mark on these products. That means it’s from a trusted manufacturer.

7. Meditate

If joint pain wakes you up at night, it can be hard to go back to sleep. But research suggests that meditation may help you manage chronic pain of all types, especially during the night and before bed.

A 2018 review of studies found that meditation changes the way your brain processes pain signals, reducing your sensitivity to pain. It can also reduce anxiety and help you relax.

Many gyms and yoga studios offer classes and workshops in meditation. There are also meditation apps to guide you through long and short meditation exercises.

8. Upgrade your mattress and pillow

If your current mattress is too soft or older than 8 years old, consider getting a newer model suited for joint pain relief.

You may also benefit from a pillow designed to reduce knee or neck pain.

9. Create a soothing sleep environment

Proper sleep hygiene habits won’t necessarily reduce joint pain, but they will make it easier for you to fall asleep, despite it.

Ensure your room is dark, cool, and quiet. Turn off electronic devices at least 1 hour before trying to sleep. You may also benefit from listening to relaxing music, meditating, or reading a good book before you turn the lights out.

Aromatherapy may also be helpful for soothing sore joints and for promoting relaxation.

10. Move and stretch when you wake up

Morning stretches won’t necessarily help you with nighttime pain, but they may help relieve stiffness and pain when you first wake up. Moving right when you wake up helps to move fluids out of inflamed joints and reduces swelling.

Try stretching your arms and legs and flexing your fingers and ankles before you get out of bed. You can do this with your knees bent, lying chest-down, or sitting.

When to contact a doctor

Chronic nighttime pain can cause sleep deprivation and exhaustion. It may also significantly reduce your ability to partake in daily activities and enjoy life. Let a healthcare professional know if your joint pain doesn’t respond to at-home treatments.

See a doctor if you notice any of the following symptoms:

  • You have intense joint pain that lasts for several weeks or longer.
  • Pain is waking you up from sleep consistently.
  • You experience sudden swelling or warmth around the joint or can’t move it easily.
  • Your joint pain is accompanied by fever.

A doctor may prescribe oral, topical, or injected medications to help reduce your symptoms.

Takeaway

Joint pain at night has various underlying causes, from injuries to arthritis. It can be exhausting and debilitating. But you don’t need to live with pain.

Many at-home treatments, such as OTC medications and heat or cold compresses, can help. Lifestyle changes like exercising or improving your sleep hygiene can also help.

If your joint pain is severe or doesn’t respond well to at-home treatments, visit a healthcare professional. They can assess your symptoms and provide further treatment options.

Melinda

Reference:

https://www.healthline.com/health/joint-pain-at-night?utm_term=feature&utm_source=Sailthru%20Email&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=fibro&utm_content=2025-03-18&apid=36735751&rvid=7f053d6ecf820dccd09e4914833cbd49bdfe95bb517404ee9b41601767d1bace#takeaway
Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Health and Wellbeing · Medical · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health · Moving Forward · Trauma

Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Looking for the Light2 Comments

Sexual Assault Awareness Month is significant to me because I have been assaulted. I know the pain and anger that followed; it took many years of therapy to work through the trauma. Women and men experience sexual assault, and it’s important to reach out for support to process your assault.

Horrifying Statistics from RAINN

  • Every 68 seconds another American is sexually assaulted.1
  • 1 out of every 6 American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime (14.8% completed, 2.8% attempted).4
  • About 3% of American men—or 1 in 33—have experienced an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime.4
  • From 2009-2013, Child Protective Services agencies substantiated, or found strong evidence to indicate that, 63,000 children a year were victims of sexual abuse.5
  • A majority of child victims are 12-17. Of victims under the age of 18: 34% of victims of sexual assault and rape are under age 12, and 66% of victims of sexual assault and rape are age 12-17.6

What was the survivor doing when the crime occurred?7

  • 48% were sleeping, or performing another activity at home
  • 29% were traveling to and from work or school, or traveling to shop or run errands
  • 12% were working
  • 7% were attending school
  • 5% were doing an unknown or other activity

Most of the time, loved ones of survivors want to do anything they can to help— but aren’t sure what to do. Whether someone you love has disclosed to you already, or you just want to be prepared for the moment someone does, taking the time to proactively learn how to support a survivor as they disclose can make all the difference. When the time comes to support a survivor in your life, remember this important acronym about how to TALK. Learn more from RAINN’s Family and Friends Toolkit.

I know it’s difficult to reach out for support, but it’s the first step to dealing with the trauma and healing.

Melinda

Reference:

https://rainn.org/?_ga=2.150011316.349518786.1742834594-2015321522.1742834593

Lyme Resources To Help Figure Out Your Next Move
Celebrate Life · Chronic Illness · Health and Wellbeing · Infectious Diease · Lyme Disease · Medical · Men & Womens Health · Tick Borne Illnesses

Lyme Resources To Help Figure Out Your Next Move

Looking for the Light2 Comments

One of the most important things a person with Lyme disease needs is clear, concise information.

Here’s a list of useful resources to get you going in the right direction.

LymeDisease.org is one of the foremost Lyme patient advocacy organizations in the United States. We provide a wealth of information on our website–about ticks, Lyme and other tick-borne diseases, prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

Special features include:

Symptom Checklist: Patients can answer a series of questions, print out the filled-in form and take it to their doctor. The printout describes basic facts, explains the two standards of care for Lyme disease, and endorses the ILADS guidelines. It’s a way to help your doctor help you.

Physician Directory: Find a Lyme-literate practitioner near you.

Our blogs keep the Lyme community up to date on news, analysis, and opinion.

Social media. We spread the word via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

Our free weekly email newsletters keep you informed on Lyme-related developments. Click here to sign up.

US National Lyme Online Support Group: Information and emotional support for people dealing with Lyme and other tick-borne diseases.

MyLymeData patient registry: This big data research project allows patients to privately pool information about their Lyme disease experiences. So far, more than 17,000 people have enrolled in the project, providing millions of data points on Lyme disease demographics, tick bites, diagnosis, symptoms, lab tests, co-infections, treatment and quality of life. Add your Lyme data to MyLymeData to help find a cure for Lyme disease.

Lyme disease posters

Children and Lyme disease

Basic info about children with Lyme disease 

Gestational Lyme disease LymeHope, a Canadian Lyme advocacy organization, has taken a particular interest in the issue of mother-to-fetus Lyme transmission.

LymeAid4Kids–Financial assistance for Lyme treatment for those under age 21.

Lymelight Foundation–financial assistance for Lyme treatment for children and young adults through age 25.

LivLyme Foundation–Financial grants for children with Lyme disease (under 21).

Mothers Against Lyme–Advocacy and education about congenital and childhood Lyme

Video: Lyme Disease & Pregnancy: State of the Science & Opportunities for Research

Book: When Your Child Has Lyme Disease: A Parent’s Survival Guide  by Sandra Berenbaum and Dorothy Kupcha Leland.

Book: Brain Inflamed: Uncovering the Hidden Causes of Anxiety, Depression, and other Mood Disorders in Adolescents and Teens  by Dr. Kenneth Bock.

Book: Protecting Your  Child From the Child Protection System, by Beth Alison Maloney

Book: Finding Resilience: A Teen’s Journey Through Lyme Disease, by Rachel Leland and Dorothy Kupcha Leland.

Article: Healthy Mom Best Prescription for Healthy Baby (The Lyme Times) (PDF)

Wrightslaw.com–Website with information about Special Education law.

PANS/PANDAS

ASPIRE: The Alliance to Solve PANS and Immune Related Encephalopathies

New England PANS/PANDAS Association

Northwest PANDAS/PANS Network

PANDAS Network

Moleculera Labs

Three books by Beth Alison Maloney:  Saving Sammy,  Childhood Interrupted: The Complete Guide to PANDAS and PANS, and Protecting Your Child from the Child Protection system (The author of these books is the mother of a child who healed from PANDAS. She is an attorney/advocate for the recognition and treatment of PANS/PANDAS, and advises parents about legal issues related to PANS/PANDAS and other complex medical conditions.)

Parenting with PANS

Ticks

Types of ticks

How to protect yourself from ticks

Find the repellent that’s right for you (EPA website)

Help! I’ve gotten a tick bite. Now what?

TickEncounter Resource Center—University of Rhode Island

Tick testing. There are various places to get ticks tested. Here are several: IGeneX, TickCheck, Ticknology, Tick Report

MilTICK—free tick testing and identification service available for ticks removed from Department of Defense (DoD) personnel and their dependents. 

Mast cell activation syndrome and food-related issues

MCAS, when your immune system goes haywire

The agony of mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS)

Healing from mast cell activation syndrome

What to eat when you’re allergic to everything?

Severe weather can worsen mast cell activation syndrome

Alpha-gal syndrome

There is growing evidence that certain types of tick bites can trigger alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) a life-threatening allergy to red meat and meat-related products.

Alpha-gal syndrome–symptoms, diagnosis, treatment

Tick-Borne Conditions United

Alpha-gal Information Website

Other Lyme-related symptoms & issues

Lyme carditis and heart block

Lyme disease can affect the heart in complicated ways

Lyme disease and cognitive impairments

Gastrointestinal manifestations of Lyme

Psychiatric manifestations of Lyme 

Lyme disease and hearing loss

Lyme and multiple sclerosis 

Lyme and allodynia 

Medical marijuana and Lyme disease 

The dreaded Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction

How Lyme disease can affect your vision

12 ways you can help yourself manage chronic pain  

Morgellons

The Charles E. Holman Morgellons Disease Foundation

Morgellons: The legitimization of a disease (book review)

Skin Deep: The Battle Over Morgellons (documentary film)

Treating Lyme disease with disulfiram

What is disulfiram and why does it spark excitement in Lyme community?

Treating psychiatric Lyme symptoms with disulfiram

Co-infections

The Lyme Times Special Issue on Co-infections (PDF)

About Lyme disease co-infections

Co-infections poster

Mold

Lyme and mold 

Survivingmold.com

Dealing with Lyme disease and mold illness at the same time

Mold Testing Guide (How to test your home for mold)

Your guide to mold in your home

Clean indoor air on a budget

Are you unknowingly ingesting toxic mold?

How to donate blood and tissue for Lyme research

Lyme Disease Biobank

Lyme and pets

Basic information about Lyme and pets

Parasite prevalence maps Educational website includes a US map down to the county level, showing where dogs have tested positive for Lyme, anaplasmosis, erhlichiosis and other diseases. Also, information about protecting your pet from tick-borne diseases.

Companion Animal Parasite Council website has comprehensive information about how to protect your pets from ticks and other parasites.

Books (Treatment, healing modalities, family life)

Brain Inflamed: Uncovering the Hidden Causes of Anxiety, Depression, and Other Mood Disorders in Adolescents and Teens, by Dr. Kenneth Bock

CHRONIC: The Hidden Cause of the Autoimmune Pandemic and How to Get Healthy Again, by Dr. Steven Phillips and Dana Parish

Conquering Lyme Disease: Science Bridges the Great Divide, by Brian A. Fallon, MD, and Jennifer Sotsky, MD

The Deep Places: A Memoir of Illness and Discovery, by Ross Douthat. The New York Times columnist delves into his personal years-long battle with chronic Lyme disease.

Finding Resilience: A Teen’s Journey Through Lyme Disease, by Rachel Leland and Dorothy Kupcha Leland. Based on the journal Rachel kept during the worst years of her illness, with additional insights from her mother, Dorothy.

How can I get better? An Action Plan for Treating Resistant Lyme and Chronic Disease, by Dr. Richard Horowitz

The Lyme Diet, by Dr. Nicola McFadzean. What to eat while healing from Lyme.

Recovery from Lyme Disease: The Integrative Medicine Guide to Diagnosing and Treating Tick-Borne Illness, by Dr. Daniel Kinderlehrer.

TOXIC: Heal Your Body from Mold Toxicity, Lyme Disease, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, and Chronic Environmental Illness, by Dr. Neil Nathan.

When Your Child Has Lyme Disease: A Parent’s Survival Guide  by Sandra Berenbaum and Dorothy Kupcha Leland.

Why Can’t I Get Better? Solving the Mystery of Lyme and Chronic Disease, by Dr. Richard Horowitz.

Books (History, Policy, and Science)

Bitten: The Secret History of Lyme Disease and Biological Weapons, by Kris Newby

Cure Unknown: Inside the Lyme Epidemic, by Pamela Weintraub.

Lyme: The First Epidemic of Climate Change, by Mary Beth Pfeiffer.

Film and Video

I’m Not Crazy, I’m sick, Lyme documentary, available on various streaming services.

The Quiet Epidemic, documentary film about chronic Lyme disease, available on various streaming services.

Under Our Skin, award-winning Lyme documentary film.

Under Our Skin 2: Emergence (sequel)

The Red Ring, documentary takes a global look at Lyme disease.

Your Labs Are Normal, feature film based on real-life experiences.

Financial assistance

LymeTAP.com–Lyme Testing Access Program. Financial assistance for Lyme diagnostic testing.

Needymeds.com–Clearing house for information about various kinds of financial assistance for obtaining medication.

Lymelight Foundation–financial assistance for Lyme treatment for children and young adults through age 25.

Lyme Treatment Foundation–financial assistance for Lyme treatment. No age restrictions.

LivLyme Foundation–Financial grants for children with Lyme disease.

LymeAid4Kids—grants for young Lyme patients (up to age 21).

Partner in Lyme—grants for Lyme treatment for residents of Connecticut.

Applying for Social Security benefits for Lyme disease

Outside of the United States

ALCE Asociación de Lyme Crónico España (Spain)

Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation

LymeHope (Canada)

LYRI (Mexico)

Lyme Disease Action (UK)

LymeDiseaseUK

Lyme Disease Association of Australia

Karl McManus Foundation (Australia)

France Lyme

Tick Talk Ireland

Lyme Poland

Association Luxembourgeoise Borréliose de Lyme (Luxembourg)

Onlyme-aktion.org  (Germany)

Lymevereniging (Netherlands)

TOUCHED BY LYME is written by Dorothy Kupcha Leland, LymeDisease.org’s Vice-president and Director of Communications. She is co-author of When Your Child Has Lyme Disease: A Parent’s Survival Guide. Contact her at dleland@lymedisease.org .

Melinda

5 Things I Didn’t Know About Taking Mood Stabilizers
Chronic Illness · Health and Wellbeing · Medical · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health · Mental Illness · Moving Forward

5 Things I Didn’t Know About Taking Mood Stabilizers

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Written by Sally Buchanan-Hagen

Mood stabilizers help keep my bipolar symptoms in check, but they still affect some areas of my life in unexpected ways.

In a previous blog, ‘6 Things I Didn’t Realize About Taking Antipsychotics’, I wrote about some of the impacts that taking antipsychotics can have on your life. But I don’t just take antipsychotics for my <a href=”http://DON’T GIVE UP, MARY! I have had so many bad days, weeks, months, and years even, but when you stick it out, things always get better–sometimes much better than you ever imagined. I encourage you to contact the SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE at 1-800-273-8255. They also have an online chat here: http://chat.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/GetHelp/LifelineChat.aspx. I’ve been in that space before, Mary, and it gets better. I PROMISE! Depression tricks us into believing the world is better off without us, but I PROMISE YOU, THE WORLD IS BETTER OFF WITH YOU IN IT! Please stay…and please stay in touch. bipolar disorder. I also take mood stabilizers. I have been taking mood stabilizers since my diagnosis, but it took two years to get the combination right. 

I now take two different mood stabilizers and am happy to say that I am euthymic. Although I experience few side effects from mood stabilizers, taking these medications still impacts some areas of my life.

In a previous blog, 6 Things I Didn’t Realize About Taking Antipsychotics, I wrote about how antipsychotic medications have affected my life. But antipsychotics aren’t the only medications I take for bipolar disorder — I also take mood stabilizers.

It’s worth noting that while mood stabilizer is a commonly used term among clinicians, it’s not an official classification of medication. For bipolar disorder, this category typically includes anticonvulsants and lithium.

1. Tremors

In the beginning, the tremors caused by my mood stabilizer really bothered me. I was on such a high dose of one particular medication that I had to choose between managing my maniaor dealing with wild tremors. It was frustrating, but at the time, the higher dose was necessary to keep my symptoms in check.

I remember being a student nurse on my mental health placement and meeting a young man my age who was on the same mood stabilizer. His tremors were so severe that they made daily tasks — eating, brushing his teeth, writing, brushing his hair, and even getting dressed — incredibly difficult. It took him so much effort just to do things most of us take for granted.

I had no idea then that, just a few years later, I would be struggling with the same challenges — while also trying to write a thesis and work as a nurse in the emergency department. The tremors exhausted me, and I was embarrassed by them. What was hardest was that I couldn’t play the piano or cello, something I truly love. On top of that, the constant tremors felt like a visible reminder that I had bipolar disorder.

Every time my dose was lowered, I would become elevated. During a particularly severe manic episode, I was prescribed an additional mood stabilizer. That second medication, combined with my original one, finally helped keep my mania at bay. More importantly, it allowed me to reduce the dose of my first mood stabilizer without destabilizing my mood. As a result, my tremors are now very mild.

It’s important to point out that the tremors caused by mood stabilizers are different from tardive dyskinesia, a potential side effect of antipsychotics. While both involve involuntary movements, they have different causes and feel distinct from one another.

2. Thirst

Need I say more? Mood stabilizers make you really thirsty. As I mentioned in my previous post, antipsychotics can cause a very dry mouth. Combine that with the thirst from mood stabilizers, and it’s not exactly a pleasant experience.

3. Regular Blood Tests

Some mood stabilizers can make you toxic if they’re over the therapeutic range. To measure this, routine blood tests need to be taken as the level of medication shows up in the blood. I don’t know how many blood tests I’ve had since commencing mood stabilizers, but there have been lots.

When first starting on mood stabilizers, blood tests have to be done very frequently while the dose is titrated up to a therapeutic range.

When I’ve been hospitalized for mania, I would get a blood test every morning. Once the optimal dose has been established for the individual, the blood tests become less frequent, but levels still have to be monitored. I usually get blood work done every two months, but if my dose changes, testing ramps up again. 

When that happens, my Saturday morning routine begins with a trip to the local pathology clinic and for a blood test. Fortunately, I don’t mind needles, but I can see how this could be a real challenge for someone who does.

4. Fluctuating Blood Levels

Sometimes, the levels of mood stabilizers in my blood fluctuate. I can always tell when they get too high: I struggle to concentrate, I feel weak, my tremors worsen, and I experience nausea, dizziness, and hot-and-cold flushes.

The first time this happened, I had no idea what was happening to me. I was studying in the university library and seriously considered asking a colleague to take me to the hospital. I didn’t — but looking back, I probably should have. It happened a few more times before I finally made the connection that my medication levels might be too high. Blood tests confirmed it, and my psychiatrist adjusted my dose.

Now, it doesn’t happen often, but when it does, it’s always when I’m dehydrated — which makes sense since dehydration can increase blood levels. Because of this, I have to be extra careful when exercising or on hot days. If my levels spike, it can completely wipe me out for a day or two.

5. Minimal Side Effects

Aside from toxicity — which is extremely serious and requires immediate medical attention — I’ve been surprised at how few side effects I experience from mood stabilizers, especially compared to antipsychotics.

When my tremors were at their worst, I wouldn’t have said this, and I know not everyone has the same experience. But of the three types of medication I take for bipolar, mood stabilizers are the ones I prefer. I owe my quality of life and mentally healthy mind to them.


Sally Buchanan-Hagen

Sally lives in Victoria, Australia. She was diagnosed with bipolar disorder two years ago when she was 22, however she has been dealing with extreme moods since she was 14. When she experienced her first episode of depression, she was too embarrassed to get help even though she knew that something was wrong. Throughout high school she battled depression after depression, each one getting worse. At university she continued to have depressive episodes and when she wasn’t depressed she was extremely happy, incredibly driven and unusually energetic. Everyone thought this was her normal mood, herself included and so the elevated times went unnoticed. The turning point was in her final year of university when she was referred to the university counsellor. She was diagnosed with depression but after many failed treatments she saw a psychiatrist who diagnosed her with type II bipolar disorder. However that quickly turned into a diagnosis of type I bipolar disorder after a psychotic manic episode. She is currently completing her honours degree in nursing and works as a nurse in the emergency department. She blogs for The International Bipolar Foundation and has written for several publications. She also volunteers for a mental health organization where she delivers presentations about mood disorders to high school students. Although relatively new to this world, she is passionate about mental health promotion and thoroughly enjoys writing about mental health.

Melinda

Reference:

https://www.bphope.com/blog/5-things-i-didnt-know-about-taking-mood-stabilizers/?utm_source=iContact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=bphope&utm_content=Best+-+Mar18+-+Stabilizers

April Awareness Months
Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Medical · Men & Womens Health · Moving Forward

April Awareness Months

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April includes many important topics that need more awareness. The complete list is available by clicking on the link at the bottom of the page.

Earth Month

Alcohol Awareness Month

Autism Acceptance Month

National Cancer Control Month

National Child Abuse Prevention Month

National Counseling Awareness Month

National Minority Health Month

National Parkinson’s Awareness Month

Paralyzed Veterans Across America Month

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month

Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month

Stress Awareness Month

Testicular Cancer Awareness Month

Melinda

Reference:

https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/april-awareness-days-months

Mental Health Resources In America
Celebrate Life · Chronic Illness · Health and Wellbeing · Medical · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health · Moving Forward

Mental Health Resources In America

Looking for the LightLeave a comment

Mental Health Resources

NIMH.NIH.gov

ADDitude Magazine

CHADD.org

ADD.org

New Method Wellness

Addiction Rehab Treatment

Addiction Group.org

D’Amore Mental Health

Addiction Rehab Treatment.com/mental-health/depression/ 

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance

International Bipolar Foundation

Mental Health America

MentalHealth.gov

National Institute of Mental Health

National Institute on Aging

National SuicidePreventionLifeline.org
1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Press 1, Veterans Crisis Line USA
Press 2, Se Habla Español
LifeLine Chat

CrisisTextLine.org
Text 741-741
Facebook.com/CrisisTextLine

IMAlive.org Crisis Chat

TheTrevorProject.org (LGBTQ Youth)
1-866-488-7386 (24/7/365)
TrevorChat (7 days/week from 3PM–10PM ET / noon–3PM PT)
TrevorText — text START to 678-678 (Mon–Fri, 3PM–10PM ET / noon–3PM PT)

VeteransCrisisLine.net

Brain & Behavior Research Foundation (BBRFoundation.org): Awards grants for scientific research. Keep up to date on latest research

International Bipolar Foundation (IBPF.org): Bipolar research. Care and support resources for individuals and caregivers. Erase stigma through education.

MentalHealth.gov: US government mental health resources and information.

MentalHealthAmerica.net (MHA): Address needs of those living with mental illness. Promote mental health.

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI.org): Build better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH.nih.gov): Federal agency for research on mental disorders.

NeedyMeds.org: 1-800-503-6897. Educates and empowers those seeking affordable healthcare.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA.gov): Reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities.

To see the complete list of resources click here.

Melinda

Addiction Resources In America
Celebrate Life · Communicating · Family · Health and Wellbeing · Medical · Men & Womens Health

Addiction Resources In America

Looking for the Light3 Comments

Addiction Resources

 SouthJersey Recovery

Addiction Center

 RehabSpot.com

Recovery Ohio

Addiction Rehab Treatment

Greenhillrecovery.com

DetoxRehabs.net

StartYourRecovery.org

Addiction Group.org

Local Non Profit Addiction Treatment Directory

AddictionResouce.net

Addiction Center.com Find Rehab Clinics In Your Area

Recovery.Org Find Addiction Treatment Near You

Rehab Centers Nation Wide (Insurance Specific)

Help Guide.org – Addiction Information

Drug Abuse Resources for Parents

SMART Recovery.Org – Self Management and Recovery Training

To see the complete list of resources check out Organizations That Can Help.

Melinda

Elder Care Resources In America
Celebrate Life · Communicating · Family · Health and Wellbeing · Medical · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

Elder Care Resources In America

Looking for the Light7 Comments

Elder Care

For a complete list of resources visit Organizations That Can Help.

Melinda

Blogger Highlight-Taking Each Day Free
Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Medical · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

Blogger Highlight-Taking Each Day Free

Looking for the Light7 Comments

Thank you for all the great feedback on the Blogger Highlight series. I’ve enjoyed meeting each blogger and sharing their site with you. This week, we highlight Taking Each Day Free. Liz’s writing is inspiring, and will leave you wanting more.

Taking Each Day Free

My name is Liz and I have been blogging a good number of years, whether its using the WordPress or Blogger platform.

I decided to write this blog, to share some of my life journeys. 

Taking each day as it comes is the only way I can tackle life and it has been this way for some time. Each day I am free to do as I please. I have no one to answer to, but myself. So hence the title of this blog, “Taking Each Day Free.”

Liz has had a long and difficult journey to getting a cochlear implant.

For my cochlear implant, everything is under the tag “My-Cochlear-Implant-Journey. At the moment, I don’t have my CT scan results. So until I have those, I don’t know if it will still be happening. It all depends on my CT scan results.

I have added the link below for my tag link:

https://takingeachdayfree.wordpress.com/tag/my-cochlear-implant-journey/

Questions I asked Liz

M. How has blogging changed your life?

L. I have been blogging for much longer than the years, writing my current blog. But it’s always served the same purpose:

• Being therapeutic

For keeping in touch with friends near and far.

M. What is your favorite post and why?

L. My favourite post is a hard one to pick. But I think my favourite post is one I wrote this year, “What makes you feel good?” This one is my favourite post because it serves as a reminder to me what things I need to keep doing that make me feel good both physically and mentally, along with my other physical exercises I do that I have mentioned in other posts.

https://takingeachdayfree.wordpress.com/2025/02/12/what-makes-you-feel-good/

Be sure to stop by Liz’s blog, say hello and enjoy reading her archives.

Melinda

Looking for the Light

 

When Lyme patients must fight to be believed by doctors
Chronic Illness · Health and Wellbeing · Infectious Diease · Lyme Disease · Medical · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health · Tick Borne Illnesses

When Lyme patients must fight to be believed by doctors

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By Nancy Dougherty

llness invalidation by medical professionals—sometimes called “gaslighting”—is an underappreciated and understudied problem in Lyme disease.

Many Lyme disease patients complain not only of fighting to recover their health but also of fighting to be believed by health care practitioners.

Expecting to receive understanding and proficient care from medical professionals, many instead experience having their persistent debilitating symptoms dismissed, minimized, disbelieved and/or psychologized.

How common is the occurrence of medical gaslighting in Lyme disease? Is illness invalidation by medical professionals related to disease severity? Are there specific constituencies who are being affected more than others?

These are some of the questions that a team of researchers led by Alison Rebman, MPH, Assistant Professor in Medicine and Director for Clinical and Epidemiological Research at the Johns Hopkins Lyme Disease Research Center at Johns Hopkins Medicine, set out to identify and quantify in a cohort of well-characterized Lyme disease patients.

Invalidating encounters

The Johns Hopkins study, published in August 2024 in Scientific Reports, finds that invalidating encounters with medical professionals are common for post-treatment Lyme disease (PTLD) patients, particularly women and younger patients, and also are linked to higher illness severity.

Lyme disease is the most common tick and vector-borne disease in the US with about 500,000 new cases per year. Lyme infections are expanding geographically, and acute and chronic cases are on the rise in the US and Eurasia. Lyme infection-associated chronic illness affects around 2 million Americans and can be difficult to properly diagnose and effectively treat.

A Lyme infection can affect multiple body systems including musculoskeletal, neurologic, and cardiovascular. Patients with early diagnosis and appropriate treatment usually get better. However, about 10-20% of patients even when treated promptly with standard of care antibiotics do not return to health and are functionally impaired by persistent musculoskeletal pain, crushing fatigue, and cognitive dysfunction, known in the research setting as post-treatment Lyme disease (PTLD).

Patients frequently refer to this as “chronic Lyme.” Misdiagnosis and delayed treatments further increase the risk for PTLD as well as for more broadly defined community-based Lyme infection-associated chronic illness or “chronic Lyme.”

Women and younger patients

In the Johns Hopkins study, 49% of the PTLD patients reported a lack of understanding and 29% experienced discounting from medical professionals. Additionally, women and younger patients were at higher risk for experiencing more invalidation than men or older age patients.

The study found, “Before their initial diagnosis of Lyme disease, approximately half (51.3%) had first been told that their symptoms represented another illness or condition. This high rate is consistent with the hypothesis that diagnosis and treatment delays, and possibly exposure to inappropriate treatment, may be risk factors for PTLD.”

Women more often received alternative diagnoses (such as another contested illness like fibromyalgia or ME/CFS and/or a psychological illness) which in turn correlated with more discounting and lack of understanding. PTLD patients who reported the highest levels of illness invalidation were discovered to have greater symptom severity, lower quality of life, and less trust in physicians.

The pervasiveness of Lyme disease illness invalidation and the consequential negative effects on illness burden and health outcomes are not broadly known by medical professionals.

Improved physician education is needed to help engender more patient-centered paradigms that incorporate the patient illness experience and better recognize how that experience may impact the healing process.

National Academies look at IACI

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) has helped validate infection- associated chronic illnesses as being significant public health problems that need greater national attention, a coordinated strategy, and considerably more federal resources.

NASEM held its first national workshop on infection-associated chronic illnesses (IACI) in June 2023 to explore overlapping symptoms and biologic pathways for IACIs including Lyme disease, long COVID, ME/CFS, MS, and others.

In July 2024, a follow-up NASEM meeting focused specifically on Lyme infection-associated chronic Illness. Both forums discussed the importance of listening to and incorporating patients’ illness experience perspectives into improving diagnostic and treatment approaches. For example, patient-driven data such as MyLymeData can be leveraged to improve research and clinical care. It is vital to listen to patients especially when diagnostics are problematic, treatments are inadequate, and the science is contested or evolving.

Building upon insights and collaborative momentum from the NASEM IACI meetings, a coalition of advocates (patient, scientific and medical) are now calling for the creation of a new National Institutes of Health (NIH) office to help strengthen and coordinate research across infection-associated chronic conditions and illnesses including Lyme infection-associated chronic illness, Long COVID, ME/CFS, PANS/PANDAS, POTS/dysautonomia and others.

Listening to patients will be key to advancing solutions, reducing invalidating patient-practitioner encounters, and improving health outcomes.

Nancy Dougherty is an education and communications consultant for the Johns Hopkins Lyme Disease Research Center. Other research investigations at the Center include Pilot Treatment Trials and the SLICE Studies.

Melinda

Debunking Common Misconceptions About Sleep By Guest Blogger Damon Ashworth Psychology
Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Medical · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health · Self-Care

Debunking Common Misconceptions About Sleep By Guest Blogger Damon Ashworth Psychology

Looking for the LightLeave a comment

Damon has exciting posts that always make me stop and think. Be sure to stop by and say hello.

Debunking Common Misconceptions About Sleep

Melinda

How Can You Measure Stress?
Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Medical · Men & Womens Health · Mental Illness

How Can You Measure Stress?

Looking for the Light5 Comments

Excessive stress is associated with health complications. Are there ways to accurately measure stress levels?

Although stress is a natural and inevitable part of life, many people feel that they’re experiencing excessive stress levels. 

However, there’s no objective way to define “excessive stress.” Many people find it hard to express or quantify their stress. 

There are a few methods for measuring stress. These look at certain biomarkers — in other words, physiological responses — to assess how your body responds to stress.

How can you measure stress?

There are two components of stress:

  • Stress triggers: the factors that cause stress
  • Stress response: how you respond to stress triggers on an emotional, biological, or cognitive level

When we talk about measuring stress, we tend to be talking about measuring triggers or responses. Measuring stress triggers can include taking stock of the major life changes you’ve been under. 

However, everybody responds to triggers differently. Events that might be very stressful for one person can be easily manageable for the other.

The following ways to measure stress look specifically at measuring your stress response. These methods of measuring stress look at your body’s physiological responses. They record stress biomarkers such as your heart rate and brainwaves to assess how stress affects your body.

Heart rate variability (HRV)

Heart rate variability (HRV) analysis is a common way to measure stress. It involves recording the variation in time between consecutive heartbeats. In other words, it doesn’t just look at how fast your heart is beating, but how the time period between heartbeats changes.

HRV is controlled by your autonomic nervous system (ANS). The ANS includes your sympathetic nervous system — responsible for fight-or-flight response — and your parasympathetic nervous system, which takes charge when you’re relaxed. 

When you’re chronically in fight-or-flight mode, your ANS is unbalanced. This imbalance can show up in your HRV. HRV is lower when you’re in fight-or-flight mode and higher when you’re in a calm state. High HRV is associated with stress resilience and improved cardiovascular health. 

A healthcare professional can check your HRV via an electrocardiogram. Personal wearables, such as chest strap monitors, can also measure HRV.

Brainwaves

Electroencephalography (EEG) measures brainwaves. Research suggests that brainwaves can be an accurate way to measure stress response. 

In particular, a 2020 study found that alpha asymmetry — an imbalance in alpha brainwave activity on different sides of the brain — could be a potential biomarker for stress.

Mental health practitioners who use neurofeedback can measure brainwaves and train the brain with positive feedback when the EEG finds that treatment goals are being met.

Hormonal testing 

Two hormones associated with stress are adrenalin and cortisol. 

When you’re stressed, your body will produce adrenalin to give you energy to handle your stressor. It’s a part of the fight-or-flight response, and it’s why you might feel restless when anxious. 

In times of stress, your body also produces cortisol, which assists with the fight-or-flight response. Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal gland.

Cortisol is also involved in regulating: 

  • blood sugar 
  • inflammation 
  • metabolism 

Your cortisol naturally ebbs and flows during the day. Neither cortisol nor adrenalin is “bad,” but when cortisol is chronically high, it can harm your health. For instance, it can lead to the following:

  • acne 
  • difficulty concentrating
  • fatigue
  • headache
  • high blood pressure
  • irritability
  • mood problems
  • muscle weakness
  • weight gain 

Lab tests can assess your cortisol levels via urine or blood samples. You can purchase home cortisol testing kits, which usually involve testing cortisol through urine.

The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)

The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) is a questionnaire that was developed in 1983. It’s used to assess the amount of stress that you feel you’re under. 

Unlike the above-mentioned methods of measuring stress, this tool relies on your own perception of your stress. The questions don’t focus on the events you’re currently experiencing, but your emotional and mental state. 

It could be helpful to use the PSS to check in with yourself. It’s available in PDF format.

What are stress trackers?

There are at-home devices that claim to track stress. Usually, these devices track stress by measuring your heart rate and heart rate variability. Many fitness trackers, including smartwatches and chest strap monitors, have stress analysis features. 

Are wearable stress trackers accurate? It’s not easy to say. There’s a lack of research into whether these are accurate. However, because these trackers only use one variable — typically your heart — they don’t give a complete picture of your body’s stress response. 

What are “normal” stress levels?

Stress is a part of life, and it’s natural to feel stressed from time to time. However, excess stress can be harmful to your health.

When is stress considered excessive? There’s no objective answer to this question. However, if you’re experiencing physical symptoms of stress, or if you feel unable to relax, it may be an indication that you should speak with a healthcare professional. 

Similarly, if you feel like you can’t cope or feel overwhelmed most of the time, you might benefit from speaking with a doctor or a therapist.

Symptoms of unhealthy stress levels

The symptoms of high stress levels can vary from person to person.

The symptoms can include:

Although these issues can be caused by other factors, it’s worth speaking with a doctor or a therapist if you believe that stress is causing physical or emotional symptoms.

Tips for managing stress

There are a number of ways to manage stress in a healthy way. 

  • Try exercise: Find a form of exercise or movement that you enjoy. Yoga, in particular, is associated with stress reduction, but other forms of exercise can also be helpful. 
  • Practice deep breathing exercises: Research from 2018 suggests deep breathing can activate your parasympathetic nervous system, putting you in a relaxed state.
  • Limit screen time: Excessive screen time can harm your mental and emotional health, according to 2018 research. Try to find breaks throughout the day to walk away from your screens.
  • Spend time with others: Research from 2020 suggests that spending time with others can help you feel less lonely and stressed. If you don’t have loved ones nearby, join classes, religious services, or meetup groups to get a regular dose of human interaction. 
  • Try meditating regularly: Research shows that meditation can lower stress and improve overall well-being. If you’re not sure where to start, try a guided meditation.
  • Spend time in nature: Being in nature can reduce stress and improve your emotional state, according to 2020 research. Try walking in a local park or natural space, taking up an outdoor sport, or simply eating a meal outside every day. 
  • Find support: If a particular stressor feels difficult to cope with, consider joining a relevant support group. For example, if you were recently bereaved, a grief support group might help you process your emotions.

If you’re often stressed, you might find it helpful to speak with a therapist. Anybody can benefit from quality therapy — it can help you build resilience to stress and process stressful events in a supportive environment. If the cost therapy is a concern for you, consider other affordable therapy options.

Let’s recap 

Stress is a natural part of everyday life. Numerous methods of measuring stress, such as heart rate variability analysis and hormonal testing, could help you find out whether you’re excessively stressed. 

However, you don’t need to measure your stress levels in order to justify reaching out for help. If you feel that you could benefit from handling stress better, consider speaking with a therapist or using stress management techniques to improve your well-being.

Melinda

Reference:

https://www.healthline.com/health/stress/stress-measurement?utm_term=roundup&utm_source=Sailthru%20Email&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=fibro&utm_content=2025-03-04&apid=36735751&rvid=7f053d6ecf820dccd09e4914833cbd49bdfe95bb517404ee9b41601767d1bace#ways-to-manage-stress