How is everyone else's day going?

I really hope that everyone is feeling better than I am- the weather in the DE/PA region has not been the greatest (rainy, humid, breezy), and has totally set me off. I had to go out last night to do errands (my mom took me to fill my meds, and got me something to eat. When I am with her, she always makes sure to get me something to eat, because she worries I am not eating enough).

Being out in the rain and gusts of wind set me off terribly, and now I am pretty much in bed for the rest of the day. I was going to fold clothes, but I just don't have the energy/am in too much pain. These are the days that it really sucks.

Out of curiosity, what are other triggers that everyone else has experienced besides cold? For me, it's water, cold, blowing air of any kind, touch, and the bedsheets. We have come up with many inventive ways to help beat the triggers- thick hiking socks, warm UGG (or the like) boots, Scuba booties and pants for swimming in the water. What have you done to help you? Any other suggestions on what I can do to avoid these triggers?

Anyway, just wanted to wish everyone else a pain free day- I really hope everyone else is doing better than me.

Hi Brittany,
I'm sorry you are having such a painful day. I do understand. I live in PA and the weather has been crappy. I have all the same triggers as you do but anything too hot also sets me off. The thing that does not bother me yet are my bed sheets. I had one episode of pain with them the other night but so far that is it. I use all the same things you do to help. I actually brought my Uggs 1/2 size big to wear slipper socks with them. Unfortunately, I don't remember what it feels like to have a pain free day anymore. My amount of pain seems to be growing. Well enough of that, my complaining isn't going to make you feel better. Try Chocolate! Hope this weather breaks so and you feel better
Hopeful

Brittany and Hopeful,
I'm in PA too, and it is a Nasty day!
It's not cold driving rain or snow, but, it's a low barometer. I notice that I feel worse when the barometer is actually falling, rather than when it's just low.
I have no clue why, but I'm actually feeling kind of good today. (I've made some homeade iced tea, and have had two glasses, yum). I don't usually tolerate caffeine well. (I'm starting to shake).
I figure I'll pay for this later, but I'm cleaning and doing wash, and looking forward to scrubbing myself up fresh now.

I'm listening to a "genius mix" on iTunes9 (get it!), and it's giving me lots of Jimmy Buffett in this mix, which, always reminds me of the FLA Keys, and I smile!

I want to send along some "feel Good" Vibes, to you, and Anyone who's not up to themselves today.
I know you need 'em too, DEW!

Feel Better !!

Pete

Just wanted to say i hope you are able to have a better day tomorrow. When I am hurting it is very hard to make my self do it, but if I run an epsom salt bath it always help immensly. It has never let me down. Feel better , cz

Thanks everyone for your awesome vibes.

Hopeful- I did the same thing! I only have one pair of actual UGGs, but the pair I have are the "heavy duty" Ultra UGGs, which have really soft lining in them. When I went to get sized (they were a birthday present), the sales person thought I was nuts for getting them larger! I have actually started buying the Minetonka's that are often at DSW- they are the same quality, a little cheaper, and do the same thing! Just a suggestion And yes, chocolate makes everything better, especially dark chocolate...yummm!

AintSoBad, I have never actually paid attention to whether the change in barometric pressure makes a difference- I will have to check that out. I am actually listening to music on iTunes of some of my favorite feel-better-pick-up music (gulp, I am actually listening to Spice Girls!) while I type on the computer. And fresh homemade Iced Tea is so good! My dad's family is originally from the south, so I grew up with homemade sweet tea...love that stuff.

CZ, I will have to try the epsom salt bath. We don't have any right now, but we will pick some up the next time we are at the drug store. I have a whole bunch of yummy smelling bath melts/foams/bubbles, because my fiance knows I like hot baths after a horrible day to help me relax to get to sleep, so he gets me all sorts of them to try. My favorite right now is the 3-in-1 Buttercream Cupcake from Ulta...oh it smells so yummy and good!

Man that tea sounds good Pete! And that bathwater sounds good enough to drink with a straw too! MMMMMM Buttercream Cupcake!!!

Im with Pete with the barometric pressure, it starts hitting me hard once it starts falling. But once it kinda levels off so does my pain from that, although the cold, wind, icy conditions do keep the pain coming.

We are having a mini heat wave out here in Ca, it is supposed to be around 94 today, and be near 105 by the middle of next week! Summer just doesnt want to let us go. The heat messes with me too, makes me feel light headed, dizzy, and generally bad all over.

I just hope we dont get robbed of the nice 70 and 80's before the cold sets in, now that would be a bummer LOL!

Maybe if I think hard enough I can force some of this nice warm weather towards PA. After all that rain you can imagine your in the tropics!

My Dr. wrote me a script for a "tent" ..it's a lift that you place under your top sheet of your bed to keep the sheets from touching you...Ever heard of it:confused? It is very helpful for who have a sensitivity to the sheets touching our bodies.

Hi all..I too am in PA and the weather here has been crappy but it's getting better now. It has been absolutely crazy weather. Awfully chilly for this time of year. I wasn't ready for it yet! The cold and I do not go well together and I'm sure most of you can relate. I also don't do well when it's damp. I too have issues with the barometer. When storms are coming through and the weather is changing..I KNOW IT! I can feel the change and I hurt all over! I get in a huge flare and I was told that it's due to the barometric changes..it totally affects RSD patients. Lucky us!

Right now I'm in a huge flare this week. It was a beautiful day last Sunday and hubby and I decided to head to the park for a festival that was going on. We were there a whole 10 minutes when I got stung by a bee while walking along. Of course I'm severely ALLERGIC to bee stings! Yea, UGH! I was stung on the right arm of course (my bad arm) by a yellow jacket. My husband knew this was NOT good! He started to assess the situtation and told me "not to panic". I didn't have a purse with me so I didn't have my epi pen..oops! I was trying not to panic but the pain started coming on..OH MY then my heart racing. I started feeling dizzy and he had to help me walk to a picnic table to sit down. I remembered I had an inhaler in the car and at this time I was having some trouble breathing. I was starting to wheeze and cough. Hubby went to the car to get the inhaler and a woman sat down next to me. She saw I was having trouble and I told her what was going on and she had a friend run for help. I told her my husband was going to the car. A Sherriff came running over calling for first aid help. At this point I was coughing and wheezing pretty bad and my entire body locked up and was in burning pain. I couldn't move. She was trying to get me up and told me that she wanted me to "walk to the ambulance" . THe woman next to me was telling her not to move me and bring the ambulance to me. My husband then saw the ambulance heading in my direction so ran quickly because he knew then it was ME! When he got to me they had brought oxygen that was doing nothing because my airways were closing up. He said I was incoherent and he tried handing me my inhaler but I couldn't move my arm or respond to him. He did it for me. I don't remember much of what happened from then on. I was put on a stretcher and into an ambulance. Then rushed to the hospital. It was NOT the day I had planned! The medic in the ambulance administered epi and 2 nebulizer treatments and an IV. He had a rough time but got me stable by the time I got to the hospital. I was monitored than released after a while. They discharged me forgetting to put me on prednizone..yea ...not good! By Sunday night I was itching like crazy and still having trouble breathing. Monday I was using my albuterol inhaler like crazy and my lungs HURT! I still itched so I called the allergist first thing Tuesday morning. He couldn't believe they sent me home with no medications or instructions. I have been a mess! I'm feeling better now but still itching and having some trouble with breathing here and there. I've had a crappy week. I haven't slept good at all. My nerves are going crazy! I went to the grocery store yesterday and wanted to cry! I had to pretty much run through the store and trying not to freak out because it was so darn cold in there! I don't know if I'm coming or going!

I'm also upset because the Dr put me on Cymbalta in June and I have gained weight from it. I was doing so well before all this mess. I was at the gym and had lost 10 pounds. Now it's all back and then some. I can't exercise either. I tried and it flares me up so bad. I can't handle it yet.

Good news is ..I have been cleared for Ketamine treatments which should start soon (I hope). I just hope it works. I want some of my life back.

I have started a blog if anyone is interested...

http://updatesbytammy.blogspot.com/

I'm trying to keep myself busy and the blogging has also helped. I can't always sit at the computer though which makes it tough. I do what I can.

Hope all of you are having a better day and looking forward to a pleasant and relaxing weekend!

In Colorado, our weather has been crazy all summer. May was rainy all month, June leveled out and July was ok, but we only saw 2 days the whole summer that was over 100. Highly unusual for us. August was rainy and cold. I actually used my heat two nights. We are already seeing trees turned completely. They started turning in August.

The change in the barometer does a job on me too. Because the summer was not too hot, I did pretty good. I can't stand the heat anymore then the cold usually but this summer was ok for me.

Today, it's cool out, I was actually trying to decide wheather to wear shorts or long pants this morning. It will warm up a lot though later on in the day. In Colorado, you have to carry long pants and a coat with you at all times if you are traveling to the mountains or to Colorado Springs. The nights turn cool.

Bobber, stress and lack of exercise is bad for me too. I have a treadmill that I use. I can't walk in the heat nor the cold so I use the treadmill.

Brittany, I do hope you start feeling better. Hopefully the weather will change to good for awhile anyway.

Ada

Oh my goodness! I was going to post the same thing too!!!! I live in the Eastern Panhandle of WV and the weather has been nasty here too. Also we have had a lot of family stress as my SIL is 30 weeks pregnant and in the hospital for pre-term labor and severe high blood pressure. They are trying to keep the baby in as long as possible. I have had a hard time sleeping and between that and the weather, I pray that I am not going into a full fledged flare. Have wonderful weekend....I'm getting in a tub of epsom salts!