Last week while getting my "steps" in on the PE field I was hit dead on while completing my crossover near the basketball net.  I am sure you're wondering "Why would you be in such a remote position knowing you have chronic health issues?" 

First let me plead my case.  I have been walking this same circular track for eight years.  I cross over the basketball net area on the backside of the course, and I am always diligent watching what court the team is rebounding.  So I may have looked up in the trees scanning for local birds flocking together in hopes of some early spring weather.  Nonetheless, as I circled the spot, I heard a warning yell and immediately felt the pain in the right side of my face which included the nose.

The sound was deafening.  It was a good, solid shot by a high school senior.  My senses were out of whack as I struggled to regain my composure.  The electrical circuit that our CNS paths run on became heightened.  Pain shot back through my skull.  It pulsed down the neck and spinal cord reverberating through my shoulders.  My arms and hands began to sting and shake uncontrollably.  It's path was relentless, sending tumultuous shocks down to my feet.   

Everything is 100 times worse with fibro.

Swelling began, but not too bad.  By the time I got home I was electrified, nerves pulsating throughout my body.  I was jittery, nervous, agitated, sick to my stomach, and had symptoms of head pressure and congestion on the right side of my face.  I slept 12 hours, woke with the same symptoms and called my doctor.

Because the swelling wasn't in need of ice at this point, I asked about the possibility of a concussion.  I explained my symptoms.  I had no time to circumvent such ideologies on the internet so I relied on my doctor for an explanation.  She said, "Were you knocked out? Well, then you couldn't have a concussion."  She ordered a CT scan that I was unable to get because my insurance regulated a simple xray first.  I knew something was wrong and spent the day arguing with the imagery site and the doctors office to get the approval through.  I did get in the next day for an xray that pointed to a small fracture to my nose.  

But, I had no doctor telling me to take it easy.  I was left with the feeling it may be my overactive CNS that is causing all this.  Meanwhile I slept 10-12 hours each day for the next four days which sustained the same symptoms.  More importantly, I went around my basic tasks, "pushing myself though."

It was during this time a friend who also happened to be a retired EMT said, "You have the classic symptoms of a mild concussion."  I was beyond pissed.   You can be certain I called that doctor's office to voice a complaint.  But in the meantime, Dear Reader, I am going to give you a bit of information in case you come into the same scenario so you will not be ringing you hands wondering what to do because your brain can't focus on the internet.  

​What Are Head Injuries?

Head injuries are injuries to the scalp, skull, or brain caused by trauma. Concussions are the most common type of sports-related brain injury with an estimated 1.6 million to 3.8 million sports-related concussions a year. A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI) that happens when the brain is jarred or shaken hard enough to bounce against the skull. This can happen when two athletes collide or when someone falls and hits his or her head. It can also result from being hit in the head with a piece of sporting equipment. In a sport such as soccer, even "heading" the ball can cause a concussion. A concussion causes an alteration of a person's mental status and can disrupt the normal functioning of the brain. Multiple concussions can have a long-lasting, cumulative life-changing effect.

You don't have to be hit in the head to experience a concussion. An impact elsewhere on the body can create enough force to jar the brain. You also won't necessarily lose consciousness with a concussion. Concussions range from mild to severe. The effects may be apparent immediately, or they may not show up until hours or even days later.

Other types of TBIs are a contusion, which is a bruise on the brain that can cause swelling, and a hematoma, which is bleeding in the brain that collects and forms a clot. A skull fracture is another type of head injury that can affect the brain. Sometimes with a fracture, pieces of bone can cut into the brain and cause bleeding and other types of injury.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of a Brain Injury?

Signs of a TBI include:

• Confusion
• Depression
• Dizziness or balance problems
• Double or fuzzy vision
• Feeling foggy or groggy
• Feeling sluggish or tired
• Headache
• Memory loss
• Nausea
• Sensitivity to light or noise
• Sleep disturbance
• Trouble concentrating
• Trouble remembering

Indications that a head injury is more serious than a concussion and requires emergency treatment include:

• Changes in size of pupils
• Clear or bloody fluid draining from the nose, mouth, or ears
• Convulsions
• Distorted facial features
• Facial bruising
• Fracture in the skull or face
• Impaired hearing, smell, taste, or vision
• Inability to move one or more limbs
• Irritability, nervousness, apprehensive
• Lightheadedness
• Loss of consciousness
• Low breathing rate
• Restlessness, clumsiness, or lack of coordination
• Severe headache
• Slurred speech or blurred vision
• Stiff neck or vomiting
• Sudden worsening of symptoms after initial improvement
• Swelling at the site of the injury
• Persistent vomiting

​
Receiving medical attention as soon as possible is important for any type of potentially moderate to severe TBI. Undiagnosed injuries that don't receive proper care can cause long-term disability and impairment. Keep in mind that although death from a sports injury is rare, brain injuries are the leading cause of sports-related deaths.

Symptoms should be closely monitored often with a moderate to severe injury and may require an overnight stay in the hospital. X-rays may be used to check for potential skull fracture and stability of the spine. In some cases the doctor may ask for a CT scan or an MRI to check on the extent of the damage that occurred. More severe injuries may require surgery to relieve pressure from swelling. 

​Guidelines urge doctors to be conservative in treating sports-related brain injuries and to not allow someone who has been injured to return to activity that involves risk of further injury until completely free of symptoms. That usually takes a few weeks. But symptoms of severe injury could persist for months or even years. A person with a moderate to severe injury will likely require rehabilitation that may include physical and occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, medication, psychological counseling, and social support.

It did take a week for symptoms to abate.  But, there is still a sense of fogginess and slight pressure that makes life activities a nuisance.  I'm sure I'd be better off if my prognosis was correct and treatment plan was clear.  ​

These are the months I feel the most fatigued.  I live in Florida and when the sun is at it's lowest and cool air abounds us, I fall into the sickly category.  These months are the most common days when a new chronic illnesses abounds and is diagnosed officially.  

This year I've tried something different.  Besides placing coconut oil in my shakes, I've taken to the habit of ingesting a teaspoon twice a day.  This is only during the months of December to March when rain clouds obstruct my view from my outdoor hammock and grounding.

So far, so good.  No sickness to take of note of and the fatigue is not as bad.  Remember, you must consume cold pressed extra virgin coconut oil.  Once I am reunited with my sun, I will resort back to just my smoothies in the morning. I will keep you posted after I've reached the end of March.  

While coconut possesses many health benefits due to its fiber and nutritional content, it's the oil that makes it a truly remarkable food and medicine.

Once mistakenly believed to be unhealthy because of its high saturated fat content, it is now known that the fat in coconut oil is a unique and different from most all other fats and possesses many health benefits. Coconut oil has been described as "the healthiest oil on earth."

Published studies in medical journals show that coconut, in one form or another, may provide a wide range of health benefits. Some of these are summarized below:

* Kills viruses that cause influenza, herpes, measles, hepatitis C, SARS, AIDS,
  and other auto immune illnesses. 

* Kills bacteria that cause ulcers, throat infections, urinary tract infections, gum disease and cavities, pneumonia, and gonorrhea, and other diseases. 

* Kills fungi and yeasts that cause candidiasis, ringworm, athlete's foot, thrush, diaper rash, and other infections. 

* Expels or kills tapeworms, lice, giardia, and other parasites.

* Provides a nutritional source of quick energy.

* Boosts energy and endurance.

* Improves digestion and absorption of other nutrients including vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. 

* Relieves stress on pancreas and enzyme systems of the body. 

* Improves calcium and magnesium absorption and supports the development of strong bones and teeth. 

* Reduces inflammation. 

* Supports tissue healing and repair.

* Supports and aids immune system function.

* Helps relieve symptoms associated with chronic fatigue syndrome and FMS.

* Has no harmful or discomforting side effects.

* Is completely non-toxic to humans. 

 

​Those who deal with chronic pain issues need a bit more guidance than your average Joe.  For those sufferers, friends and family members often leave an unintentional deaf ear when needed the most.  It is not that these individuals intend to leave us astray, but rather they can't fully comprehend the daily tasks of trials and tribulations that leave us drained and anxiety ridden. 

It is at these times that prayer is most needed.  By allowing your life's path to be by guided by God takes the onus of control off your back.  As you well know, life offers no control.  If we have control for the moment, it is often fleeting, leaving us without a moment's notice.  After all, there are times in life we must go with the flow, drift on the river of intent, and hope it leads us to peaceful grounds.  By questioning and admonishing what is happening to us only leaves us with a life of regret.  And, as you well know, stress causes more pain, and that you can do without.  Put your pain in someone's arms, allow your life to be guided, ask God to come in, and pray each moment you need him most.  You will be amazed at how often your prayers are answered and peace is blessed upon you.

If you need some spiritual inspiration, God's Message Today offers a Monday's Blessing Blog.  I write this blog, too, as an outlet to aid my own spirituality.  I realized at the onset of this illness I needed a higher power to get through life's daily nuances prayer has amazing attributes and can help you battle that fire in our souls.

Dr. Mehmet Oz offers this advice, "Regardless of what motivates people to pray, there's no denying that a lot of people do it. One study shows that 36 percent of people use complementary and alternative medicine, but that number almost doubles when prayer is included in the definition. Those respondents say they use prayer for their own health and to help others. Even more telling: Of those people who said they prayed for
health reasons, 70 percent said that prayer was helpful. Why? Seems like it may work through several different mechanisms:- It relaxes: A form of meditation (no matter what your religious preferences), prayer helps to slow breathing and brain activity, and reduces heart rate and blood pressure. All relaxing, all good.
- It's positive: Let's face it. When you pray, you typically don't finish feeling like you want to rap somebody's ankles with a wooden spoon. You leave being filled with peace, joy, and other emotions that are worthy of being printed on holiday cocktail napkins. There's some evidence that these emotions lead to positive physiological responses throughout the entire body. Our stress hormone levels prepare for a peaceful existence. Perhaps more importantly, our immune system becomes less agitated so chemicals like proinflammatory cytokines, which act like kerosene on a fire, are not driving our joints and arteries to overreact to every biologic stress inside us. The result: A less inflamed, more beautiful place to live.- It's better than nothing (i.e. the placebo effect): I'd be remiss in my reporting if I didn't say that some of the benefits derived from prayer can simply be accounted for because the person feels like it's helping, whether it's physiologically helping or not. Placebo effects have been shown to account for 70 percent of the benefit
in some procedures. My stance here is that thinking you're doing something to help yourself is a big part of prayer anyway." He recommends reading You Being Beautiful.

These 3 Ingredient homemade paleo pizza crusts or bases are an easy, delicious and low carb alternative to traditional pizzas! Made with just three ingredients and on the stovetop, these keto Pizza crusts are naturally gluten free, grain free, high protein, low calorie and have a nut free option! 


3 tab. Parmesan cheese
3 large eggs
1 tab. olive oil
4 1/2 tab. Mozzarella cheese
1 1/2 tsp. oregano
1 1/2 tsp. basil
2 pinch salt
Mix all ingredients in a bowl.

With pancake scoop, fry circles of approximately 5 inches in a bit more olive oil. Turn with slightly brown.

Top with your favorite pizza ingredients and bake at 400 degrees for 5-8 minutes.

Air Fryer Hasselback Potatoes are simple and they bake faster and crispier than in an oven. A great potato side dish that even the kids will like. Slice up these pretty potatoes for your next dinner.
​
4 potatoes - russet
4 tab. olive oil
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper


Peel the potatoes and slice very thinly but not all the way through.  

Place the potatoes in the air fryer and brush with half the oil.

Air Fry at 350°F for 20 minutes.

Move the potatoes if they are browning in one spot more than the other and brush with more oil.

Air Fry at 350°F for another 20 minutes.

Remove from air fryer and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

​We all should have one of these simple reminders in any place we frequent often.  The simple act of breathing correctly stimulates oxygen to play a vital role in the circulatory and respiratory systems. When we breathe, oxygen that is inhaled purifies our blood by removing poisonous and waste products that are circulating throughout our systems. Irregular breathing will hamper this purification process and cause waste products to remain in circulation. Digestion will then become irregular, leaving tissues and organs undernourished. Improper oxygen consumption will thus ultimately lead to fatigue and heightened anxiety states which may cause fibromyalgia. Irregular breathing can make it hard to cope and contribute to general deterioration of health. By careful control of our breathing pattern, we may not only rejuvenate our systems but counter the unhealthy effects of stress and muscle tension.

Many people in pain, unknowingly, practice paradoxical breathing.  This is short shallow breathing in which your belly is going in as you are breathing in.  Regular controlled breathing should have your belly going out as your lungs expand to take that nourishing breath in.  Try it.  Lie on your back and place your hand on your abdomen.  Does your belly swell as your lungs take in oxygen?  Or is there barely a lump noticed when you inhale?  This one simple exercise makes a strong mental note as to your intake of precious oxygen.  Now try this exercise:

*Lying on your bed

*Place your hand on your abdomen

*Breathe through your nose fully.  Fill your belly with air feeling it expand and lift your hand upwards. 


*Repeat three times.

*Mentally make a note to practice this throughout the day in sitting positions too.

Trigger points can be aggravated with out essential intake of oxygen.  On your bad days take special note of your breathing activities.  Practice more regulated, correct breathing to lessen flare-ups.

​Perpetually single Johanne -- tired of the constant comments on her relationship status -- starts a 24-day hunt for a boyfriend to bring home for Christmas.

​A strong-willed father navigates the stress of the holiday season when his daughter brings her new boyfriend home for Christmas.

​A Christmas reunion becomes a gateway to the past in this three-part series that explores the intimate complexities of one family's history

​The wildlife scientist Delia Owens has found her voice in Where the Crawdads Sing, a painfully beautiful first novel that is at once a murder mystery, a coming-of-age narrative and a celebration of nature…Owens here surveys the desolate marshlands of the North Carolina coast through the eyes of an abandoned child. And in her isolation that child makes us open our own eyes to the secret wonders—and dangers—of her private world.

In a recent blog I mentioned my yearly optometrist screening and how I was referred out for glaucoma testing.  When you peruse the internet you'll immediately find:

Glaucoma tests are a group of tests that help diagnose glaucoma, a disease of the eye that can cause vision loss and blindness. ... The extra fluid causes an increase in eye pressure. Increased eye pressure can damage the optic nerve. The optic nerve carries information from the eye to the brain.

But that wasn't the most important concern on my list while speaking to the specialist.  I was remembering a short jaunt ago's visit for pupil dilation.  It was not a great experience to say the least.  The most prominent memory being that my eyes were burning for sometime while drops were put in, during the testing, and for a time afterwards.  I placed emphasis on the fact that it is due to over active nerve pain by nature from the fibromyalgia.  It was not a pleasant experience to say the least.  So it was only natural that I would be a bit apprehensive pertaining to my upcoming screening that could include many various tests in one sitting that would need several dilation eye drops. 

​There are several types of glaucoma. The main types are:

• Open-angle glaucoma, also called primary open-angle glaucoma. This is the most common type of glaucoma. It happens when the fluid in the eye doesn't drain properly from the eye's drainage canals. The fluid gets backed up in the canals like a clogged sink drain that gets backed up with water. This causes an increase in eye pressure. Open-angle glaucoma develops slowly, over a period of months or years. Most people don't have any symptoms or vision changes at first. Open-angle glaucoma usually affects both eyes at the same time.
• Closed-angle glaucoma, also called angle-closure or narrow-angle glaucoma. This type of glaucoma isn't common in the United States. It usually affects one eye at a time. In this type of glaucoma, drainage canals in the eyes get covered up, as if a stopper was put over a drain. Closed-angle glaucoma can be either acute or chronic.
  • Acute closed-angle glaucoma causes a rapid increase in eye pressure. It is a medical emergency. People with acute closed-angle glaucoma can lose vision in a matter of hours if the condition is not treated promptly.
  • Chronic closed-angle glaucoma develops slowly. In many cases, there are no symptoms until damage is severe.

Why do I need glaucoma testing?If you have open-angle glaucoma, you may not have any symptoms until the disease becomes severe. So it's important to be tested if you have certain risk factors. You may be at higher risk for glaucoma if you have a family history of glaucoma or if you are:

• Aged 60 or older. Glaucoma is much more common in older people.
• Hispanic and aged 60 or older. Hispanics in this age group have a higher risk of glaucoma compared with older adults with European ancestry.
• African American. Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness in African Americans.
• Asian. People of Asian descent are at higher risk for getting closed-angle glaucoma.

Closed-angle glaucoma can cause sudden and severe symptoms. If not treated promptly, it can cause blindness. Symptoms include:

• Sudden blurring of vision
• Severe eye pain
• Red eyes
• Colored halos around lights
• Nausea and vomiting

If you have any of these symptoms, seek medical help right away.
What happens during a glaucoma test?Glaucoma is usually diagnosed with a group of tests, commonly known as a comprehensive eye exam. These exams are most often done by an ophthalmologist. An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who specializes in eye health and in treating and preventing eye disease.

A comprehensive eye exam includes:

• Tonometry. In a tonometry test, you will sit in an exam chair next to a special microscope called a slit lamp. Your ophthalmologist or other health care provider will put drops in your eyes to numb them. Then you'll rest your chin and forehead onto the slit lamp. While you are leaning into the slit lamp, your provider will use a device on your eye called a tonometer. The device measures eye pressure. You will feel a small puff of air, but it won't hurt.
• Pachymetry. As in a tonometry test, you'll first get drops to numb your eye. Your provider will then use a small device on your eye called a pachymeter. This device measures the thickness of your cornea. The cornea is the eye's outer layer that covers the iris (colored part of the eye) and the pupil. A thin cornea may put you at higher risk for getting glaucoma.
• Perimetry, also known as a visual field test, measures your peripheral (side) vision. During perimetry, you'll be asked to look straight ahead at a screen. A light or image will move in from one side of the screen. You'll let the provider know when you see this light or image while still looking straight ahead.
• Dilated eye test. In this test, your provider will put drops in your eyes that widen (dilate) your pupils. Your provider will use a device with a light and magnifying lens to look at your optic nerve and check for damage.
• Gonioscopy. In this test, your provider will put drops in your eyes to both numb and dilate them. Then your provider will put a special hand-held contact lens on the eye. The lens has a mirror on it to let the doctor view the inside of the eye from different directions. It can show if the angle between the iris and cornea is too wide (a possible sign of open-angle glaucoma) or too narrow (a possible sign of closed-angle glaucoma).

Will I need to do anything to prepare for a glaucoma test?While your eyes are dilated, your vision may be blurred and you'll be extra sensitive to light. These effects can last for several hours and vary in severity. To protect your eyes from bright light, you should bring sunglasses to wear after the appointment. You should also make arrangements for someone to drive you home, as your vision may be too impaired for safe driving.
What do the results mean?Your ophthalmologist will look at the results of all your glaucoma tests to figure out whether you have glaucoma. If the doctor determines you have glaucoma, he or she may recommend one or more of the following treatments:

• Medicine to lower eye pressure or cause the eye to make less fluid. Some medicines are taken as eye drops; others are in pill form.
• Surgery to create a new opening for fluid to leave the eye.
• Drainage tube implant, another type of surgery. In this procedure, a flexible plastic tube is placed in the eye to help drain excess fluid.
• Laser surgery to remove excess fluid from the eye. Laser surgery is usually done in an ophthalmologist's office or outpatient surgery center. You may need to continue taking glaucoma medicines after laser surgery.

If you've been diagnosed with glaucoma, your ophthalmologist will probably monitor your vision on a regular basis.

I was fortunate enough to get into an office that houses a good team.  They were very explanatory through all the testing.  Best of all, I was informed immediately that these tests would not hurt.  It was standard procedure to begin with "numbing drops" before any actual dilation drops were utilized.  What a relief that was!  Deep breathing was less accelerated after hearing this.  

Luckily there was no definitive diagnosis of glaucoma for me.  But, the optical nerve was enlarged and must be monitored yearly to ensure there is no degeneration of the nerve that will result in glaucoma. 

I encourage you to keep up with yearly eye screenings.  You never know what is going to pop up on these routine medical tests that can result in preventative maintenance.    

People often write me wondering what can they do for a sweet craving while Paleo dieting?  This one is top on my list.  It is sweet and contains the antimicrobial aspects that a coconut can harbor.

Give this one a try today, you won't be disappointed.  On a positive note, these can be whipped up in minutes!

6 apples
1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
cinnamon to taste

Remove core to 1/2 inch of the bottom of the apples.

Place in Air Fryer basket.

Fill cores with coconut flakes and sprinkle with cinnamon.

​Bake at 360 degrees for 10-12 minutes.