Day: January 27, 2018
Call for Submissions: Telling Our Stories About Invisible Illness Creatively
I love Christine’s idea! I plan to participate – how about you? 🙂
I was looking at the top of my dresser yesterday and noticed how all my jewelry, cosmetics, brushes and combs have been pushed aside to make room for creams, ointments and lotions to treat pain, muscle cramps and improve sleep. It was a stunning visual image that really brought home for me how much my life has changed over the last year as I learn to live with fibromyalgia.
This image has stayed in my head and has planted a seed about a possible series exploring what it is like to live with an invisible illness told in photos, artwork, poetry, prose, short fiction, essay and other creative mediums. I think this could be a great opportunity to educate, to entertain, enlighten and express ourselves creatively. If you are living with an invisible illness or are caring for someone living with an invisible illness I hope you will consider participating…
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“Charlie the Ranch Dog: Charlie’s Snow Day (I Can Read Level 1)” by Ree Drummond
Charlie the Ranch Dog: Charlie’s Snow Day (I Can Read Level 1)
by Ree Drummond
Genre: Children’s Books/Beginning Reader/Animals
Ree Drummond (also known as The Pioneer Woman) and Charlie the Ranch Dog return in this snow-filled I Can Read title.
When Charlie wakes up to a world covered in snow, he can’t wait to go outside. He even takes a break from patrol duty to go sledding with his friends Walter and Sister. But when Walter goes missing, it’s up to Charlie to take control of the situation and bring his buddy back.
Charlie the Ranch Dog stars in bestselling author Ree Drummond’s I Can Read title, just right for reading on your own snowy day! Charlie’s Snow Day is a Level One I Can Read book, which means it’s perfect for children learning to sound out words and sentences.
“Pride and Prejudice (AmazonClassics Edition)” by Jane Austen
Pride and Prejudice (AmazonClassics Edition)
by Jane Austen
Genre: Classics/Romance
FREE at time of posting!
Love is in the air when five sisters discover that a wealthy and eligible bachelor is suddenly within reach. But it is his friend, the haughty Mr. Darcy, who becomes smitten. Unfortunately for him, the object of his affection is not so easily swayed.
One of the most popular characters in English literature, Elizabeth Bennet is intelligent, witty, well-spoken and ahead of her time. If the terrible rumors about Mr. Darcy are true, he doesn’t stand a chance. Yet not all gossip is to be believed when marriage, money, and reputations are on the line. Will Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy circumvent her haste, his ego, and society’s expectations to find love?
Written more than two centuries ago, Jane Austen’s enduring story of manners, family, and love continues to delight new generations of readers.
AmazonClassics brings you timeless works from the masters of storytelling. Ideal for anyone who wants to read a great work for the first time or rediscover an old favorite, these new editions open the door to literature’s most unforgettable characters and beloved worlds.
Revised edition: Previously published as Pride and Prejudice, this edition of Pride and Prejudice (AmazonClassics Edition) includes editorial revisions.
Testing for Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a tough disease to diagnose. That’s because it leaves few obvious markers that doctors can use to determine if a patient has fibromyalgia. So if you have fibromyalgia, it’s difficult to get the diagnosis you need to begin finding a useful treatment. So what kinds of tests can you ask your doctor to run if you think you have fibromyalgia?
Tests For Fibromyalgia
The primary way that doctors test for fibromyalgia is still by testing the 18 tender points around your body. And after discussing your symptoms with you, they will press their finger into these points and ask if they hurt. This is the most reliable way to look for fibromyalgia.
The other symptoms of fibromyalgia can also be things like chronic fatigue disorder, which causes a constant feeling of exhaustion, similar to the fatigue of fibromyalgia. The best way for the doctor to rule out other diseases is to run tests. While fibromyalgia can’t be detected by most forms of medical tests, things like arthritis or chronic fatigue disorder can. Your doctor may want to test you for these diseases before they conclude that you have fibromyalgia.
They will also ask you about your symptoms to determine if your pain has the marks of fibromyalgia, which are that the pain is widespread and has been present for at least three months.
There’s really only one test for fibromyalgia that a doctor can actually run in a lab. Your doctor can order a blood test if they suspect you have fibromyalgia. They will then test your blood for an increased number of immune cells. While this isn’t definitive proof of fibromyalgia, it can help rule out other possible diseases.
What Can You Do To Find Out If You Have Fibromyalgia?
There aren’t really any effective tests available for fibromyalgia, which means that diagnosing the disease requires doctors to judge based on your symptoms. It’s important to keep up with your symptoms and remember when they started, as well as where they were located.
It’s only by being very specific and honest with your doctor that you’ll be able to get an accurate diagnosis. And remember that if your doctor doesn’t know what is causing your symptoms and you feel that you might still have fibro, there are many doctors who specialize in the disease.
The most important thing is to be aware of your symptoms and not be afraid to go to a doctor. Fibromyalgia is not curable, but there are many ways to treat it. You just have to be proactive about finding something that works for you.
The preceding article is from FibromyalgiaTreating.com and posted here for sharing purposes only. No copyright infringement intended. For additional information, please visit their website or consult your doctor.
“The Language of Flowers” by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
The Language of Flowers
By Vanessa Diffenbaugh
Genre: Women’s Fiction/Psychological/Sagas
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
The Victorian language of flowers was used to convey romantic expressions: honeysuckle for devotion, asters for patience, and red roses for love. But for Victoria Jones, it’s been more useful in communicating mistrust and solitude. After a childhood spent in the foster-care system, she is unable to get close to anybody, and her only connection to the world is through flowers and their meanings. Now eighteen and emancipated from the system with nowhere to go, Victoria realizes she has a gift for helping others through the flowers she chooses for them. But an unexpected encounter with a mysterious stranger has her questioning what’s been missing in her life. And when she’s forced to confront a painful secret from her past, she must decide whether it’s worth risking everything for a second chance at happiness.
Look for special features inside. Join the Circle for author chats and more.
“The Truth as told by Mason Buttle” by Leslie Connor
The Truth as told by Mason Buttle
By Leslie Connor
Genre: Facts of Life/Difficult Decisions/Special Needs/Bullies
Mason Buttle is the biggest, sweatiest kid in his grade, and everyone knows he can barely read or write. Mason’s learning disabilities are compounded by grief. Fifteen months ago, Mason’s best friend, Benny Kilmartin, turned up dead in the Buttle family’s orchard. An investigation drags on, and Mason, honest as the day is long, can’t understand why Lieutenant Baird won’t believe the story Mason has told about that day.
Both Mason and his new friend, tiny Calvin Chumsky, are relentlessly bullied by the other boys in their neighborhood, so they create an underground club space for themselves. When Calvin goes missing, Mason finds himself in trouble again. He’s desperate to figure out what happened to Calvin, and eventually, Benny.
But will anyone believe him?
Nesie's Place 