During one of the most stressful years of my life, while battling type II diabetes, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia.
Before visiting the rheumatologist, I thought it was just joint ailments and a hint of arthritis as I was entering my 40s and I thought it was to be expected. However, when the pain of the violent electric shocks began to affect every part of my body, I sought the help of a professional. It was becoming a debilitating condition that was affecting my personal and professional life.
For several years after I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, I had been prescribed the following:
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Gabapentin
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Cmybalta
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Piroxicam
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Lyrica
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Tramadol
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Baclofen
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Steroid injections in the neck and shoulder area.
And at one point, it was 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 in the Same time.
The pain was still present and the side effects of the medications made my brain so clouded that I could barely focus on work, affecting my livelihood. Y entry.
I was taking all these pills and I was still in excruciating pain. Why? What was the point? For a while, I had my daughter to help me with the housework and help me dress, but after my daughter moved out, I hired a nurse to help me dress and bathe and a professional cleaning service to help me with housework.
Shortly after the last steroid injection, I made a bold decision to discontinue ALL medications. Nothing was working and my quality of life was horrible. My rheumatologist was not happy to say the least.
I slowly came off the medications and sought the help of a holistic practitioner that I had heard a lot about. This is where I learned how to use spices to heal my body and how to live a chemical free life on an organic diet.
I thought I was eating healthy, but no. I thought having instant oatmeal for breakfast was good for me, and a healthy choice lean cooking or frozen entree for lunch was healthy for the body. Dinner used to be a Zaxby’s salad dipped in fattening dressings. I was also using saccharin sweeteners in my oatmeal, coffee, and unsweetened cereals. She flinched when I said that last thing to her. Say ah!
I learned a lot from her about the chemicals in processed and frozen foods, and started eating only foods that I made from scratch with fresh ingredients, using the spice mixes that cured high sugar and inflammation. Some of the spices are:
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Turmeric
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Ginger
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Cinnamon
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Cayenne pepper
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Ground cloves
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Sage
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Rosemary
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curry powder
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Oregano
I also don’t eat more red meat and limit starches entirely, unless it’s ‘cheat day’ only one item is allowed – so I can’t wait to have a sandwich with bread. Hmm! J
He also instructed me to cook everything in a wok with organic coconut oil. Most of my lunches are beans or a delicious salad with Annies organic dressing. For dinner, I usually cook Asian dishes with boneless, skinless chicken, shrimp or scallops, vegetable mixes, Thai jasmine rice or Asian rice noodles, and delicious sauces.
I also learned foods that make you ‘feel’ full, like beans, any kind, black, kidney, etc. and cook also those with the spice mix. I find the sauteed kale (with coconut oil and spice mix) filling me up too!
I also found solace in the CBD oil, which helped me with some chronic pain and allowed me to restart my exercise routine, which I had sorely missed for over four years. Having a home gym makes it easy to jump at any time, and my Fitbit motivates me by tracking my steps and workouts, and cheering me on when I achieve personal goals.
In addition, I have found comfort in essential oil blends that decrease my anxiety, my appetite, and relieve pain. I have a full shelf of authentic oils to try just about anything!
Today, I am still prescription drug free and have lost over 30 pounds. I still have pain, but it is much less severe and does not paralyze me in my personal and professional life. And while managing all of these methods is a full-time job in itself, it’s worth it to me.
My hope is that this article helps inspire someone to explore other options when treating chronic disorders. You never know what can help.