Finding Your Passion: Nourishing the Soul

This is going to be a short post.  I just got back from a few days camping with wonderful friends on the shore of Lake Michigan.  This has been planned for a year.  Our group, we fondly call the Wander Woman, started the hiking/camping trips July 2018 when we did a week-long trip to South and North Manitou Islands in Lake Michigan.  My friend, Lisa, reminded me that she noticed my constant massaging during that trip.  It wouldn't be until November of that year that I fully understood that there was something very wrong with me. 

Related Post: 

• What's Wrong With Me? Part 1 
• What's Wrong With Me? Part 2
• Giving Thanks: One Year Ago

I've been planning and working towards my goal of spending the week with them.  We were to camp in Canada at Lake Superior Provincial Park. However, the border between Canada and the United States is still closed due to COVID-19. So, instead, we chose a closer state park in that we could drive to.  Not everyone who had originally planned to join us could come: some due to family commitments, one due to the death of her mom (non-virus related), some due to not feeling comfortable in doing so. 

We agreed to be logically safe and trusted that our Wander Woman cohort had been safe prior to camping.  The park was not crowded at all and so we had no issues out on the trails, at the camp, using the restrooms, or on the beach.  We chose to wear masks only inside public places (the restrooms). 

Renewed Passion:

I am so energized after these past few days.  Wonderful conversation with my friends that ignited my imagination and funny bone, as well as a few shared tears, met with empathy and love. The photos will be the rest of my description of the joy that is currently bursting in my heart.

I can't thank my friends enough for helping me get back my courage to stay in a tent after a day of hiking and swimming.  I have gotten my courage back to do this more often with my husband. I even talked my daughter into doing a short trip with me soon.  My soul is nourished and my passion blazing again.

Related Posts:

• Following My Heart-Tentatively
• Whatever Makes You Hopeful and Lightens Your Heart Just a Little...
• Lessons Learned in Mother Nature: Managing My Fibro Symptoms

Another Passion Ignited:

My blog is ONE-year old now.  I have learned a lot from doing it.  I've made friends from across the country and the world.  I've learned from other bloggers how to live well with a chronic condition as well as how to blog better.  It, too, ignites my imagination and gives me a purpose that makes me happy.

So, when I found out that I was nominated for two WEGO HEALTH Awards, I felt that this passion was also recognized by those who have watched my blog grow and those who I have hopefully helped in some way.  It's such a wonderful, supportive group that I have found through blogging.  

If you are interested in endorsing me via the link below (just being nominated is really amazing), I humbly thank you.  In my post for the end of this next week, I will be sharing out those who have most impacted my wellness journey, so that you, too, can learn from them (and endorse their nominations for WEGO AWARDS) if you should feel led.

Endorse Katie Clark for Pain FULLY Living

I appreciate this time in my life that I am able to live my life fully (filling it with purpose and passion) alongside good friends and my family despite living with Fibromyalgia. I hope that I can help you find that for yourself as well as you journey through this life. 

Thank you for visiting my blog today. 

 

I am committing to posting once a week on Fridays.  

However, as you know, my new normal means that sometimes 

I have to listen to my body and am not able to follow through as planned. 

Thank you for your understanding.

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Becoming Myself Again! My Experience with Low Dose Naltrexone-Part 2

Today is my 56th day on Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN).  I wrote about my initial experience after 13 or so days in.  I won't revisit that, but if you are at all interested in checking into this pain management treatment, I would suggest you read it.  I get into how to go about getting it, how to start it (and issues I had it), where to find support with good and specific information, and why there are not and will never be many research studies about it. (My Post: Tentatively Esctatic! My Experience With Low Dose Naltrexone Part 1) 

I now feel that I can safely say LDN is bringing me back to myself or the self I want to be. But, let me take a step back because it's not been a smooth journey and sure has had its major downturns. 

Early on, I received the advice that I needed to "Go low and slow". (See Facebook LDN group)  I didn't fully get it when it was first said. My doctor ordered the 4.5mg capsules, so I felt that getting to that level-the level that has been most researched for Fibromyalgia(FMS)-the soon was better.  I've since learned that there is no optimum level that works for every person. 

How LDN Works

LDN blocks the opioid receptors of the brain for a few hours.  When this has happened, the brain feels that there haven't been enough endorphins created in the body, so it produces more. Research has shown that those living with FMS have lower levels of endorphins in our system.  So, when the brain is "tricked" into releasing more endorphins by the LDN blocking off the receptors for 2-4 hours, it actually is creating natural pain relievers and mood booster. Also, the blocking of the receptors makes them more sensitive to the endorphins that have been created, making them more useable and plentiful. 

LDN Science explains how it works, "Since LDN blocks the OGF receptors only for a few hours before it is naturally excreted, what results is a rebound effect; in which both the production and utilization of OGF is greatly increased. Once the LDN has been metabolized, the elevated endorphins produced as a result of the rebound effect can now interact with the more-sensitive and more-plentiful receptors and assist in regulating cell growth and immunity."  The site goes on to explain that the Rebound Effect lasts for about a day.  However, being every person's metabolism is different, it can take different dosages with 3mg to 5mg working for most patients. 

When one has low endorphin production, they will experience:

• long-term pain throughout the body
• tender spots that hurt when they are touched
• muscle stiffness
• fatigue and low energy
• sleep problems
• depression

To combat this, doctors often push endorphin-building exercises such as yoga, swimming, and walking.  I  have felt this distinct change from a raise in my endorphins when I was in physical therapy.  When I showed up lethargic, hurting, and down, my PT would get me on the treadmill for 20 minutes at a rate that got my heart pumping.  Every single time, I found that I had way less pain, my mood was improved, and I had energy.  

And so, this is the effect that I am finding with LDN.  For a good 7 to 8 hours, at the current dose I'm at, I am experiencing a pain level of 2-3, I have the energy to go for walks, swim, do house projects, write, socialize, etc.  I also have clearer thinking and feel upbeat and motivated.

My Experience

However, I have had the complete opposite during these 8 weeks.  After writing my first post, I had a very difficult week.  I was moving up from .5mg by .25mg every 5-7 days.  I had started to take LDN in the morning, upon waking at 7:30am because I had gotten warnings at the medicine causing insomnia which is not something I wanted to experience. 

About two weeks ago, at 1.5mg or so, I had five days in a row where I was depressed (ready to give up using LDN), tired, and my pain levels (6-7) were higher than before LDN. I was so discouraged. I had read of the Rebound Effect that LDN created, but I really had no idea what it meant.  Fortunately, on the 5th day, I saw someone discuss this on the LDN Facebook group.  Her explanation about the blocking of endorphins made so much sense and now what others had said to me about taking it before bed became clear.  I was experiencing the blocked-receptor symptoms during my wake hours, thus causing elevated pain, depression, and exhaustion!

I went off from LDN for 36 hours, starting again with 1.5 at 9:00pm. Ever since that switch, I've been doing pretty well, and I'm actually sleeping okay without taking anything else. I'm waking up a couple of times, but I have been able to go back to sleep fairly readily.  I've been able to have my granddaughter over and play for much of the day.  Today, in a race with her from our community garden to home, I actually ran three or so blocks without feeling like a rusted Tin Man struggling to move.

Moving Forward

I'm continuing to titrate up at this point.  As they say, I need to find my "sweet spot".  I'm not fully sure what that will look like, so it may take some back and forth in dosages for a while.  Higher isn't necessarily better.  Due to metabolism, I need to find the dose that blocks while I'm sleeping and gives me the full rebound effect while I'm awake.  I don't believe I'm there yet.  If I take too high of a dose for my body, then I'll be in blocked mode for too long of a time, which will bring on the opposite effect for what I need. 

LDN Resources:

• A Letter to Your Doctor Explaining Your Interest in LDN
• ldnscience.org
• The LDN Book (Interview with Donna Gregory)
• LDN Research Trust
• Dr. Ginevra Liptan's Answers to Some FAQs on Low-Dose Naltrexone
• An LDN Patient's Interview-Carrie, Shingles and CRPS
• Conditions That Are Helped by LDN (There are many!)

I will continue to update you as to my progress.  I'm not "there" yet for sure and am not sure how long that will take.  Some have reported reaching their personal full results at 6 months or even a year.  They say to hang in for at least 8 weeks, which I have done and certainly am having wonderful results at this point. If you have questions or stories about LDN, I welcome them.  I am not a doctor, obviously,

Thank you for visiting my blog today. 

 

I am committing to posting once a week on Fridays.  

However, as you know, my new normal means that sometimes 

I have to listen to my body and am not able to follow through 

as planned. 

Thank you for your understanding.

Click link Subscribe to Pain FULLY Living Weekly Posts by Email

Writing with Fibromyalgia—Choose to Make Every Day a New Start

Wow, what an honor to have my story featured on writingandwellness.com Each day is a new start.  I'm thankful for my journey.  I've learned and grown so much.

Click the link below to read the full article.

Writing with Fibromyalgia—Choose to Make Every Day a New Start