Photo by Kindel Media on Pexels.com There are certain things in my fibromyalgia toolkit that I could manage without, and then there are the absolute essentials – the things that have transformed how I cope with the condition. My infrared sauna blanket sits firmly in the latter category, and I really don't know how I … Continue reading The One Thing That Really Helps on My Worst Fibro Days – My Infra Red Sauna Blanket
Finding My Way Back to Yoga: In Praise of Chair Yoga for Chronic Pain
I've always had a complicated relationship with yoga. On one hand, I know it can be beneficial - the gentle stretching, the mindfulness, the promise of reduced pain and increased flexibility. On the other hand, my fibromyalgia and arthritis seemed to conspire against me every time I tried to join a class. During lockdown, I … Continue reading Finding My Way Back to Yoga: In Praise of Chair Yoga for Chronic Pain
Can Fibromyalgia Cause Skin Problems? My Personal Experience
When we talk about fibromyalgia, we typically focus on the widespread pain, the fatigue, the brain fog. But there's another aspect of this condition that's often overlooked - the way it can completely transform your relationship with your skin. Looking back now, I realise that some of my earliest warning signs weren't the aches and … Continue reading Can Fibromyalgia Cause Skin Problems? My Personal Experience
Embracing the Light: Summer Solstice Reflections
This coming weekend marks the summer solstice here in the northern hemisphere - the longest day of the year and the official start of astronomical summer. Across the UK, people will be making pilgrimages to sacred sites like Stonehenge and Avebury, gathering among the ancient standing stones to witness the sunrise. I've always felt drawn … Continue reading Embracing the Light: Summer Solstice Reflections
Celebrating Average in (park)running and life when you have a chronic illness
A few Saturdays ago, I crossed the finish line at a parkrun and checked my watch with the usual mix of hope and resignation that comes with chronic illness. The numbers stared back at me: I had hit the exact average time for this particular parkrun. Not a personal best, not a time that would … Continue reading Celebrating Average in (park)running and life when you have a chronic illness
Beat the Heat: Coping with Hot Weather When You Have Fibromyalgia
If, like me, you struggle with heat and temperature regulation, you may find that summer is a challenging time when the weather heats up. Photo by Bruno Scramgnon on Pexels.com While many people look forward to those long, sunny days, the heat can wreak havoc on our already sensitive systems. Temperature sensitivity is incredibly common … Continue reading Beat the Heat: Coping with Hot Weather When You Have Fibromyalgia
First Signs of Spring: Snowdrops, Birdsong, and Daily Dog Walks
Even on the greyest February days, nature offers promises of spring's arrival. As someone who walks daily with my two dogs – a routine that helps manage my fibromyalgia symptoms – I've become attuned to these subtle seasonal shifts. I really notice the difference in my pain levels on days when I don't walk (usually … Continue reading First Signs of Spring: Snowdrops, Birdsong, and Daily Dog Walks
Managing Fibromyalgia Through Journaling: How This Daily Writing Habit Has Helped Me
Living with a chronic illness often feels like navigating an ever-changing landscape of symptoms, treatments, and emotions. Since diagnosis with fibromyalgia over 11 years ago, one tool in my wellness toolbox that I’ve made use of consistently is journaling although the focus of what I write down has changed over the years. Journaling might be … Continue reading Managing Fibromyalgia Through Journaling: How This Daily Writing Habit Has Helped Me
Pacing Through the Pain: My First Parkrun
I’ve written before about doing the Couch to 5km programme that I finally managed to complete and I am still running (slow) 5Ks regularly. I’d wanted to go along to a parkrun for a while but, for various reasons, had never made it along until a couple of weeks ago. Photo by Tirachard Kumtanom on … Continue reading Pacing Through the Pain: My First Parkrun
Why You Should Snuggle Up with a Good Book: The Surprising Benefits of Reading for Fibromyalgia
If you’re anything like me, a self-proclaimed bookworm, you’ll already know the simple joy of getting lost in a great story. For many of us, reading is a cherished escape, a way to relax and quiet our busy minds. But the benefits of reading can go far beyond relaxation. Science says that diving into a … Continue reading Why You Should Snuggle Up with a Good Book: The Surprising Benefits of Reading for Fibromyalgia
Musings on Life with Fibromyalgia 