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Kelli’s Fight Like a Girl Story (Fibromyalgia)

by 24 Comments
Jul
01
2011
Kelli's Story (Fibromyalgia)

My name is Kelli. I am 17 years old and I am a junior in high school. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in April 2010. It was blessing as well as a curse. A blessing in the sort that I knew what was wrong with me. A curse in the fact that I know what lies ahead of me. I have been told many times the pain is in my head and I can control how I feel, by doctors, family, friends, etc. I only go to school on half days and sometimes I struggle to do that. I have good days and bad days. Mostly bad days, it seems here lately. I found this Fight Like a Girl Club on Facebook and I have been reading article after article and I have learned so much already. I feel alone in my fight with fibromyalgia, although I have awesome friends and my family to support me - they can only do so much with words. Being 17, I get looked at extremely funny when I tell people what my disease is. I am known as the 'sickly' girl at school and now around my family, too. I really hope I find people on this website to … [Read more...]

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Can Women Taking Tamoxifen for Breast Cancer Benefit From Fish Oils?

by 3 Comments
Jun
18
2011
Breast Cancer, Tamoxifen, and Fish Oil

Women who have breast cancer and those who are at high risk for the disease sometimes take the anti-estrogen drug tamoxifen. Tamoxifen is a medication that binds to estrogen receptors and blocks the action of estrogen on breast cancer cells. When estrogen is blocked, the breast tumor doesn’t grow as rapidly, as long as a woman has estrogen-receptor positive breast cancer - the most common kind. Now researchers have discovered that women taking tamoxifen for breast cancer may also benefit from fish oils. Fish Oil and Tamoxifen for Breast Cancer Fish oil supplements have become a popular among Americans, because they reduce inflammation and lower the risk of heart disease. They may also help to boost the cancer-fighting power of tamoxifen. In the laboratory, researchers induced breast tumors in a group of rats. Some of the breast cancer induced rats ate a diet consisting of 17% fish oils, while others ate a diet rich in corn oil as a control for two months. Some of the rats … [Read more...]

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Riley’s Fight Like A Girl Story (Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia)

by 18 Comments
May
31
2011
Riley's Story (Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia)

If I ever had any doubts about whether God truly existed or if he really heard my cries, those were all erased the day Riley was diagnosed. I witnessed the healing hand of God. Next week we celebrate four years of LIFE with Riley that wasn't promised to us. I've been asked before if this story is made up. Trust me, I WISH! Riley was diagnosed on October 28, 2006 with a rare blood disorder. There is no cure. She had a hemoglobin level of 2.9 and near heart failure. In the past four years, Riley has underwent surgery, chemotherapy, blood transfusions, medications, tests and numerous hospital stays. We've been told by doctors that 'medically speaking', she shouldn't be alive. She IS and God has given her one heck of a testimony along the way! I have seen many things in the past four years since Riley's diagnosis. Most of them have been while walking the road we are on. I have watched my daughter fight to overcome so much, beating the odds, SURVIVING, fighting back from setbacks and … [Read more...]

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Linda’s Fight Like A Girl Story (Rheumatoid Arthritis)

by 5 Comments
May
22
2011
Linda's Story (Rheumatoid Arthritis)

Rheumatoid Arthritis hurts! I found that out 3 years ago when I was finally diagnosed - the pain had a REAL name! RA has forced me to leave my job as a teacher aide in a home for very disturbed youth. I am permanently disabled now and miss working with kids I really enjoyed helping. I can't do many things that I once took for granted - holding, opening, pulling items that are used daily. I have been on many meds, Prednisone, Methotrexate, Humira and Remicade to name a few. Unfortunately, their side effects outweighed the benefits. Life is tough, but I am tougher!! We, as women, need to support each other no matter what the illness is. We are the Sisterhood of Support for all those who suffer! Linda New York Submitted 3-20-11 The informational content of this article is intended to convey a personal experience and, because every person’s experience is unique, should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional healthcare advice. … [Read more...]

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May 12 is Fibromyalgia Awareness Day!

by 10 Comments
May
07
2011
12

Fibromyalgia, in a large part, now controls my life. In fact, it gives chronic pain to more than 10 million Americans, and 3-6% of the global population (most of whom are women, but can also effect men and children).  Fibromyalgia is also common in families, and my family is no different.  My father and several aunts and uncles either have diagnoses or suffer with the same complaints. These people are often stigmatized by those in the population (including healthcare) who are uneducated and believe the illness is just: faking it, being lazy, etc... Fibromyalgia sufferers are often left without adequate pain management and with emotional abuse from their doctors. A portion of us are truly disabled and yet do not receive any kind of disability support from the government. Research is being done, but there is still very little known about the underlying causes, despite the finds of many overlapping symptoms. According to the National Fibromyalgia Association, "most … [Read more...]

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The Battle Against Childhood Cancer

by 3 Comments
Apr
28
2011
Me and Braden, the Inspiration for Braden's Hope Foundation

In the battle of childhood cancer, we see kids and their families, nurses, and doctors who are on the front lines every day.  It’s important, however, to recognize and acknowledge those behind the scenes- those out of the direct line of fire who make the fight possible.  Although overlooked in importance and, I believe, underappreciated for what they do, childhood cancer organizations are utterly passionate about helping kids like me.  They bring a personal and sincere quality to what they do and ease the cancer journey for kids and their family. Backing up the children on the front lines are organizations that offer direct services to families affected by childhood cancer.  An organization that is near and dear to my heart is the Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation.  TBCF provides immediate support to families and has impacted my life personally.  Through every step of the way- both during and after treatment- they were always there to provide us with what we needed.  The mission … [Read more...]

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Betsy’s Fight Like A Girl Story (Thyroid Cancer)

by 2 Comments
Apr
22
2011
Betsy Thyroid Cancer Story

It’s been just two days since my doctor uttered the ugliest word imaginable. Cancer. It’s almost impossible for me to wrap my mind around cancer. I am a healthy, 34 year old, wife and mother with possible thyroid cancer. There it is again, cancer, it sounds as ugly today as it did yesterday. My first cancer scare began in 2008, when I was diagnosed with Graves disease and a multi-nodule goiter. I know it sounds gross. It reminds me of some wicked witch, with a huge hairy goiter sticking out of her neck, but I assure you it sounds worse than it looks. I underwent a Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) in 2008 to determine malignancy. A few days felt like a lifetime, but at last the results were in! Benign! I dodged the bullet. I did a little happy dance and didn’t think about cancer again. I would struggle with thyroid issues for three more years before my endocrinologist recommended having my thyroid removed. The nodules in my thyroid release their own hormones … [Read more...]

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Dodie’s Fight Like A Girl Story (Muscular Dystrophy and Ovarian Cancer)

by 5 Comments
Apr
22
2011
Dodie Muscular Dystrophy Ovarian Cancer Story

I’m 45 yrs young, married for 22 yrs to a great man, and I have a 21 yr old daughter. I was born with Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy. Ended up with scoliosis from the LGMD.  Then diagnosed in Feb 2007 with Stage IIIC Ovarian Cancer - had 6 rounds of chemo, was declared cancer-free on Aug 15, 2007.  Went 10 months cancer-free only for a small spot to show up on my liver in June 2008.  Went through 3 rounds of chemo, new cat scan showed no cancer, but had 3 more treatments to stay on top of it. Stayed in remission 10 months again and I had a second recurrance. Started chemo again in Sept 2009, had a severe allergic reaction on Nov 4, 2009 (almost died), finished chemo in Dec 2009.  Had remission for a third time. Back on chemo for the 4th time since June 2010. Hope I’ll be back in remission for the 4th time - real soon. Bad thing is the chemo is making my muscular dystrophy progress faster than I ever wanted it to. With the hand that I’ve been dealt in life … [Read more...]

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It Worked For Mona Lisa

by 8 Comments
Apr
19
2011
girl-world-in-hands

I had a doctor growing up who nicknamed me Mona Lisa. He said I hid behind my smile. I was a mystery to some doctors partly because if they asked how I felt, I would grin and respond with, "I'm fine". He would say that he could see the wheels turning in my head, and the burdens I would carry behind my eyes. I'm not sure if it was my age at the time or just my strong will that kept me from giving up. Through my younger years I felt if I smiled through pain it would keep my family and friends from hurting along with me. I truly thought I was protecting them. I faced multiple health challenges as a young child. I did it with innocence, humor and a positive attitude. Don't get me wrong, there were tears when the pain hit it's various peaks, but I would always try to keep that upright arch on my face. I was never a very good liar, and to be honest despise people who do, but I sure learned to mask the pain. Now as an adult only 3 years into my diagnosis with Ankylosing Spondylitis, I have … [Read more...]

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When A Loved One Is Addicted

by 2 Comments
Mar
31
2011
Addiction

When someone you care about uses drugs—and this includes excessive alcohol use—it can wreak havoc in your relationship and in your life. After all, if you care about this person, you are enmeshed with him or her mentally and emotionally. You may be physically bonded through blood, marriage or living together, and your finances may be entangled with this person’s as well. What is more, if someone close to you is using, any negative repercussions he or she experiences cannot help but resonate in your life too. Addiction is defined by experts as any behavior that a person keeps repeating in spite of strong negative consequences. It doesn’t matter if the substance is not considered addictive in the classic sense (the classic sense being the person suffers intense physical withdrawal symptoms if he or she doesn’t ingest the substance). If the person keeps using a substance in spite of negative consequences, he or she is in the thrall of an addiction. A simple example is a … [Read more...]

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