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Anyone who's been diagnosed
with fibromyalgia knows there isn't one definitive fix,
cure, or even symptom. Everyone I know who has fibromyalgia
deals with similar, yet distinct manifestations of this
"trash can diagnosis" — a term one of my many physicians
used that's pretty accurate. If you hurt, and they can't
figure out anything else wrong with you, the "FM" label is
applied. My diagnosis came almost a decade ago. During that
time, I've tried numerous prescription drugs, eating and
exercise programs, counseling, and traditional remedies,
hoping to alleviate my pain and other symptoms. I ended up
with reactions to most of the drugs and my state of health
continued to decline.
In the last decade, I've hit
rock bottom a few times (not a place I like to visit!), but
I've also learned about a number of holistic and alternative
treatments that I continue to follow. In the coming weeks
and months, I plan to address these with the hope that
others can benefit. I still have rough times, but just this
past summer, had my best month in over five years, and
that's something to celebrate!
I love books. Always have.
Over time, my personal library has slowly evolved from boxes
upon boxes of romance novels to a wide variety of
non-fiction reference books, and only a few keeper romances
or ones I have yet to read.
To start, I decided to talk a
little about the books I currently reference most often.
These are ones, if I were going out of town for an extended
period of time, would be packed right along with the
chocolate and Great Divide CDs.
Each of these volumes, when
warranted, will receive their own introductory article and
page; others, I may lump together. Either way, I hope that
some of what I share can help you or a loved-one cope a
little—or a lot!—better!
Larissa
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