Happy Holidays and All The Best

Today I need to take a few minutes and give my readers an update on life. Life has been a struggle for others recently, I have taken time out from writing, authoring, and blogging to actually assist family in their time of need. I actually had to return to my previous position before I became unwell 6 years ago, to assist my father. Let me tell you, I THANK THE STARS ABOVE, that I am well enough to do so.

Then the flu hit. Let me tell you, the flu this year is no joke. Welcome to my world of fibromyalgia, and mast cell activation. I actually had to see my primary care doctor Friday before last. After over a year of not NEEDING to see him. The news is beyond AMAZING. 

First, it was his assisting nurse that asked what I had been doing to be 30 lbs lighter than what I was the last time I was in. I told her I went all natural with my treatments with supplements and things. No extra exercise, with the exception about 6lbs of that was because I have to go into a workplace from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. where I am forced to walk, at least a mile a day, not too much. Sometimes, I just choose to be “out on the floor” to get some exercise if I feel motivated to.

I can’t rave enough about the fact that my neuropathy has not been much of a problem, except for a few days. Those few days happened to start after the flu, and now I’m dealing with the mast cell inflammatory response to an upper respiratory infection, dual ear infection, and now laryngitis. To be honest, I didn’t know humans could produce that much mucous, but here by body is, being an over achiever and giving it the old Guiness Book of World Record try.

The other astounding results that my practitioner noticed is that my blood pressure was a cool 152/92 or somewhere in that neighborhood when I was there meeting with them. ”Slightly elevated” yet a darn good improvement over the last 4 to 6 years where I was in cardiac crisis most of the time 220/182. I’ll take that! 

The coughing and lack of sleep has stressed my body out more than normal lately along with the laryngitis, so that has been a task to handle this week before a holiday, along with other obligations that I have to help others take care of. That being said, I have noticed a pickup in the neuropathy in my feet. My artillery of supplements has pretty much stayed the same. I did add Saffron a little more regular, and there is a new one that I am trying and will let you know if it’s worth a try as well. I just started it today, so I cannot even give you a full review of it as of yet, but that is Cayenne Pepper, and since the neuropathy started in my feet today, I’m very well hoping that it shows me improvement in pain. I also know when I do not get a proper amount of sleep my nervous system has a tendency to go into overdrive.

If you are reading this, I wish you the best during this holiday season. I am grateful for my health as well as the ability to help others with theirs. If you have made it through this year and headed into 2024, let me say congratulations! No matter the circumstances you have been through, you made it, and there is always hope, help, and love the next day! Proud of you! Much love this Holiday Season from Your Author to you! –Misty Romack

Why do we not know about this? Black Seed Oil

A few days ago, I ended up with this lovely sinus migraine. Now remember, my journey is slightly different than most. Mast Cell Activation can make all kinds of things swell and inflame when they are agitated. My ears were feeling clogged, my drainage tubes in my neck hurt, my whole head hurt. Not acetaminophen and sinus worked, not an OTC migraine medication with caffeine worked, nothing. I even took a nap to kick it. Still nothing.

The powers that be showed up with an Amazon package after my nap that had this Black Seed Oil** in the package. I had ordered it, seeing a video clip on the world wide web about a woman fighting breast cancer, and I was curious. I didn’t really look much up on that day, but I had ordered it, and it showed up. I thought, oh well, something else for science, so I popped one in my mouth, and grabbed my drink, and down the hatch it went.

What is Black Seed Oil**? It is of course black cumin seeds crushed. Mainly known as Nigella Sativa, but the active component that is garnering the most attention is the thymoquinone (TQ) it contains. This has been studied as a therapeutic agent in just about everything. However, I found no specific articles for Fibromyalgia itself, all the comorbid conditions and inflammatory conditions that Fibro can cause have been studied.

 “Nigella sativa (N. sativa), commonly known as black seed or black cumin, belongs to the family Ranunculaceae. It contains several phytoconstituents, thymoquinone (TQ), thymol, thymohydroquinone, carvacrol, and dithymoquinone. TQ is the main phytoconstituent present in N. sativa that is used as an herbal compound, and it is widely used as an antihypertensive, liver tonic, diuretic, digestive, anti-diarrheal, appetite stimulant, analgesic, and antibacterial agent, and in skin disorders,” states the PubMed website.

One caveat, please learn from my mistakes. NEVER take it on an empty stomach. You have been warned, you will belch it a lot. However, 20 minutes later, my headache was gone, my ears and sinuses drained, and that was that. I only took one, and the dosage says to take two on the bottle! I was hooked, and pretty darn curious. I went on a research deep dive to find out all we needed to know.

There’s SOOOO MANY STUDIES ON THIS stuff…. it will blow your mind!!!! It’s actually known as the Gold of the Pharoah’s. It’s actually mentioned in Greek Medicine, it’s been used for more than 2000 years for “many diseases except death”. For example, it has been studied for the stress-sleep-immunity axis where patient’s sleep and immunity improved after 7 days. Antifungal activity, because it helps kill Candida. Used in treatment for polycystic ovarian syndrome, and fertility in male and female. Kills oxidative stress, been tested for its use against ischemic stroke. If you use it a salve, it promotes wound healing, and if taken by mouth helps heal and aid with things like eczema.

You think I’m done yet? Not hardly, Black Seed Oil** is also an antioxidant. Helps heal dry eye too (a common comorbidity to fibromyalgia). It’s actually been used for arthritis, osteoporosis, and another one common to Fibro, peripheral neuropathy! Read that again! Oh, and bonus points for diabetes 2, inflammatory neurological disorders and diseases as well, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s. Are you convinced yet? Not to mention there is some anti-allergic properties as well, obviously by the whole sinus experience. Then I found the article on Pulmonary effects.

Let’s talk about cancer for a minute, physicians are already using it in some places in conjunction with chemotherapy, and I’m talking about many different cancers, like breast, lung, and gastrointestinal, including pancreatic.

Also found a study where they proved that it had no toxic effects on liver, kidneys, blood serum levels at all after 8 weeks of taking it 3 times a day. There were no ill effects except for your cholesterol LDL levels were going to go down, along with your BMI, and your HDL cholesterol will go up a smidge to balance out, and it helps your blood pressure to regulate. So, I’m on this journey. I jumped this bandwagon, and along for the ride, adding it to my arsenal of vitamins I’m already on.

“Because the biological characteristics of TQ mainly include anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties, nanocarrier delivery of TQ may play a key role in the treatment of chronic diseases caused by sustained inflammation. In addition, a recent study demonstrated the killing activity of TQ against COVID-19. TQ may thus represent a new approach to developing a new class of anti-viral drugs. Therefore, the targeted delivery of TQ combined with biological nanomaterials will become a research hotspot to treat various kinds of human chronic diseases,” states the MDPI website on Molecular Sciences.

You read that right! Black Seed Oil** is an anti-viral too…. on several viruses that have been tested so far. Remember, I follow the science. I’m not a doctor, I’m a patient. I’ve been on it a week for 3x a day so far, and all I’ve seen so far is I don’t have a sinus infection whereas I would have already been to the doctor to help me calm down the inflammation that is blocking my sinuses and ears holding it all in. I’ll take it. Oh, and a bonus points to my cousin who had an infection in his tooth the same day and that his face swelled up with chipmunk cheeks then after taking it, swelling went down. I’m game.

**I am an Amazon Affiliate mainly for the convenience of sharing easily the products I use in a convenient way to my readers so that they can easily gain access to it. I do receive a small commission that goes towards helping keep my blog running. Typically, a few cents if you order by the links provided. I highly recommend when adding or changing any regimen you discuss with your primary physician and pharmacist before making changes. I personally, have went all natural in treating my fibromyalgia and co-morbid conditions to avoid reactions to pharmaceuticals. I hope you find wellness in your journey! –Wellness Wishes from Your Author!**

Fibromyalgia, Showers can and will overexert you!

No I’m not full of it.

I decided that it was time to put my research to work, while I was finishing the book, and continue working toward my end goal of December. I’ve been up to a lot recently, I started writing articles as a Newsbreak contributor to assist others with the information that I’ve found, it seems to be gaining just a bit more traction for people to find me.

My focus has been on the current research and medical clinical studies of what’s up and coming on the market for the various illnesses that people suffer. Chronic Neuropathic Pain is a thing, even though you see a smile on someone’s face doesn’t mean that they aren’t feeling pain somewhere else in or on their body. Fibromyalgia and small fiber neuropathy is a thing for me. I cannot stop it unless I take a medication that literally makes me feel drunk all the time, so I opt to do things naturally to at least ease things. I have not resorted to cannabis as it’s still “illegal” in my state. I do know that it will help me though, as recent clinical studies for a few drugs based with THC/CBD are currently being tested for approval.

I’m going to share a few links to these articles I’ve written. Most interestingly, the Showers overexerting you is intriguing. The first time I noticed, explained a lot, especially after I shared it with my neurologist. “Why does the water feel like needles on my skin?” It’s a thing, and it is so very real for me, some days a shower is all I can do.

https://original.newsbreak.com/@misty-romack-1637118/2986538730314-fibromyalgia-and-cfs-showers-can-overexert-you

The spoon theory is the best way to describe how I feel on a daily basis. Some people can wake up with a handful of spoons, and use them for each task, brushing teeth, showering, styling their hair, doing their makeup, making breakfast, working, and so on and so on. For people who have Chronic Systemic Illness, I’m lucky if I wake up with five spoons or less. I know other’s just like that as well. So we have to spend our spoons VERY wisely on that day. Neuropathy especially small fiber neuropathy is activated in my skin, from extreme temperature fluctuations to something rubbing my skin the wrong way can send me into overdrive and suck up my spoons quickly.

Writing is Therapy/ Journaling is What I Do! image cred: mohamed_hassan/Pixabay

It is definitely not a fun way to live. However, it is my life, and I strive daily to improve my wellbeing and help others in the process of my experience. After all, knowledge is power, and NO ONE can take your education away from you. So as I research to help myself, I share for others. So after four hours of reading and research, here are some up and coming neuropathic pain therapies in clinical trials and studies. If you enjoy the articles, you can follow me as an author once you’ve downloaded and registered the app. Have a great day everyone!

https://original.newsbreak.com/@misty-romack-1637118/2991927943454-chronic-neuropathic-pain-up-and-coming-new-therapies

Brain Fog, Memory Loss: Memories and how to keep them…

Why Neurogenesis and taking notes are so very important.

“But I love it!” The boy is grasping his paper tube roll with all his might. It is now his prized possession. Kids are hilarious, you can buy them a $50 toy but they would rather play with the boxes they came in, or latch onto the wrapping paper tube that supplied the paper you wrapped said present in.

One of our dearest friends gifted our little man with a wrapping paper tube. This was now his only source of fun. Also, a source of annoyance and bacteria. Talking into the tube, shouting at people, using it as a megaphone of sorts. Poking people, using it as a cane, just like “Dr. House” on the television. Sticking it in muddy floorboard water in the vehicle on the trip home and licking it like an ice cream cone. Arguing that now he needs to SLEEP with it. Arguing he wants to take it everywhere with him, oh to be four again.

These are memories that would have been forever lost for me had I not written them down. Also a habit that once I formed it, I continued to do even when I was sick. They are scattered about in notebooks, stored in files on my NOTE on my phone, and various other places. Had I not formed this habit early on, I wouldn’t be able to supply you with the valuable history and information in how I navigated my chronic illness and beat my death date of 5 years. It’s been an entire YEAR from the date I was supposed to meet my demise.

I also began a log of sorts for my kids when I was given the approximation, I only got a few pages in for both of kids at home, logging memories for them that I had scattered about, until I “forgot” about that project. In hopes that if I did meet my demise, that they would have cherished memories I had written down in my own handwriting for them to keep forever. Out of all the advice I can give you parents, I pray that you listen to me on this. If you are not doing that, I beg of you to do it now, because as the old adage goes, “TOMORROW IS NEVER PROMISED.”

Yep, this is my brain, with all the black voids.

The really cool part is, I had enough gumption to keep a running list of medications, and supplements I was managing, and a list of all my doctors, neatly typed on a few sheets of paper stapled and attached to any new business cards or information I had to add to the list in my “drug purse” at all times, to take everywhere with me. This came in handy for a few ER visits, and every doctor visit I had to attend by myself, when there wasn’t a caretaker with me. It would have also been even handier had I been totally incapable of doing anything or communicating at all. **Another piece of advice for you or your loved ones if you are suffering from chronic, systemic, or fatal illness. ** My goal was to stay alive long enough, to figure it out, even if no one could do it for me. I had given up a lot of hope that anyone was going to be able to save my life before my demise, so with what little energy I had, I put all my effort into figuring out my body for myself, with my regular practitioner along for the ride. (His file on me cannot even fit in a 4-inch binder.)

Solidly I can contribute my survival on my desperate need to figure out the answers that no one seemed to be able to give me. They could placate symptoms with a ton of different drugs, but I wasn’t okay with dying, not yet. Neat little fact for the ones who don’t personally know me, I was in the automotive field for years, I have a mechanical engineering type frame of mind. If there is one thing I know for certain, there has to be a CORE issue to what was causing ALL of these issues, and even with the MRIs it still took me two years to conclude, that first and foremost my brain damage, could wholly be my issue. A friend in the medical field mentioned to me once that they had read, scientists had figured out how to regenerate brain matter. Shortly after there was another friend who birthed a son. No one knew until he started walking that something wasn’t “quite right” he had a limp. Several tests later and an MRI shown that the frontal cortex of his left brain was entirely missing, he was born that way. However, funny thing, nothing else seemed to be wrong, his brain started to rewire itself around what he was born with. If you need a sign, that was the sign I needed to not give up. I went to work researching like a mad woman, and I had the attention span of a gnat, and the big words confused me, most of it didn’t make sense, but when something did click, you bet your ass, I was taking notes on it until I came to a conclusion or a dead end, or I found a supplement to TRY to see if it would get me anywhere. I REFUSED to listen, I REFUSED to submit to a fate that I did not want, and here I am.

One thing I had to be careful about supplements was not falling for all the combination supplements out there. I had Interstitial Cystitis, I had to be very choosy about the things I put in my body, as to not aggravate my bladder. Funny thing, my bladder was the source of my heartburn, but it was also the source of my asthma. I VERY rarely ever have to use my MONTEKULAST (but I still keep it on hand, just in case) or my rescue inhaler in nearly four years. Even through the pandemic, I didn’t even need it when I got the second strain, my symptoms were very mild and short lived. I always choose supplements which I know the composition inside and out, and trust me, my feeds were blowing up with “miracle” supplements for everything. It seems so much easier to take ONE PILL, right? Nope, not this girl who’s allergic to ALL THE BULLSHIT.

My focus became figuring out how to repair my nervous system and create neurogenesis. (Or at least simulate it.) Again, I’m not a doctor, and I won’t even know until probably next year whether or not I really did anything to the white matter that is missing in that thick skull of mine. However, I do know, that I am a100% a functioning human compared to where I was at in 2019. I still do have massive migraines and headaches from time to time (I like to think that it’s just brain matter growing back, I don’t care if it’s denial. I’m stubborn). Mast Cell Activation will be a thing forever as far as I know. I still have fibromyalgia (at times) it keeps getting less and less though, Interstitial Cystitis may be something I will have forever, and a little neuropathy, I am able to navigate all of these successfully without outside help of prescription medications, and I’m damn proud of that. I’m here TODAY in the process of writing a book, a blog, and teach others there is HOPE, and you don’t always have to submit to placating yourself with a bunch of crazy medications the doctors hand you if you don’t really have to or want to. My favorite part of all of it, I can read and understand, and REMEMBER everything except TWO years, where I have to almost rely solely on most of my notes. MIND OVER MATTER PEOPLE!!! Quite literally, I have more mind than matter, I believe. Ha!

“NEUROGENESIS – DEFINITION

the birth of new neurons. Although most neurogenesis occurs before birth, it is also recognized to continue into adulthood in at least two areas: the hippocampus and the subventricular zone.”

https://neuroscientificallychallenged.com/glossary/neurogenesis

ANTIHISTAMINES – Receptor Blocking

H1, H2, H3, H4 Receptor Blockers

” Histamine receptors are located throughout the human body and have been classified into categories H1, H2, H3, and H4.Generally speaking, H1 receptors account for neuronal and nervous system sites, H2 are more related to stomach and digestive function, H3 receptors are found in the brain, and H4 are found in organs and bone marrow. Both H1 and H2 receptors are found in airway tissues, skin tissue, and immune cells.” Found on this website — https://www.optimusmedica.com/otc-antihistamines/#:~:text=Histamine%20receptors%20are%20located%20throughout%20the%20human%20body,H4%20are%20found%20in%20organs%20and%20bone%20marrow.

What has worked for me is in immediate flare of a critical reaction, I choose to take a Generation 1 antihistamine which is Diphenhydramine (Benedryl). However, long term use has indicated that it can cause or create dementia/Alzheimer’s or at least exasperates symptoms. I had been using Diphenhydramine for years, because the allergy shots never worked, and I’m allergic to steroids and Prednisone. So I gave that up. I had to do something.

Once I verified exactly what symptoms I was suffering from, and then figured out what receptors I needed to block, and what drugs coordinated with the ones I searched up. What worked for me was H1 and H2 blockers, which was Cetirizine (Zyrtec) and Famotidine (Pepcid AC)

Since I already was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, and Neuropathy (even my feet were killing me and I wasn’t on them) along with my GI tract flaring, I knew that the only way for me to calm down my whole body was to block my H1 receptors and H2 receptors from antihistamine. My skin was reacting as well by the time I was diagnosed. Showers felt like whole body tattoos all at once, even the water hurt my skin like tiny needles. Each person is different, and each person will have different results and responses.

**Note: I was a guinea pig, and my primary physician was on board. He told me, “a serving suggestion is very literally a suggestion, you can take MORE of a antihistamine than what is suggested, so it took a lot of trying one , and upping the dose. My dosage is 4 times a day. 30 minutes before eating , Morning wake-up, Lunch, Dinner, and then 30 minutes before bed, to account for the histamine dump while I sleep to fight the insomnia and night sweats, when I forget to take them.

**Always check with your primary physician when taking OTC or Prescription medications. They are not pharmacy technicians, but it is important to discuss uses if you are on any other medications as well!**

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Pissing my Pants Laughing

A NEW DEVICE to add Amusement to our days! Muscle Pain Relief for Fibromyalgia!

I woke up with a migraine yesterday. This is a normal thing that happens occasionally, and when I first started seeing a neurologist, he asked me if I had experienced dramatic migraines. When in fact, I hadn’t as frequently as he said I should have by the point, and condition that my brain was in. I do however wake up with the sinus headaches, and then the muscle tension migraines.

Yesterday, happened to be one of those muscle tension migraines that literally had every muscle in my shoulders tensed up that sent pain shooting into my neck and brain. I was in dire straits, that I was desperate enough to call and recruit my mom to accompany me to the massage parlor (I affectionately refer to them as “happy ending places”) to get the kinks worked out. My downfall, she had already seen her chiropractor the day before, but she texts me back with, “I’ll be there in a few minutes.” Wouldn’t you know it she showed up with this neat little device.

I’m telling you, while this thing is marked down, you literally just need to buy it, even if it’s for comedy relief. This little device, the Cervical Vertebra Massager rocked my world, and let me tell you how.

Insert a knock at my door, my mother coming to my rescue, telling me this is the best thing since sliced bread, it will save me from the pain I was enduring. This was one of those all my shoulder and back muscles were so cramped that any pain had to be better than the pain that I was enduring and pulling on all the headache muscles in my brain. I was down for anything.

She pulls out this little sticky patch with “electrodes” and then snaps this cervical device that can be recharged by USB, and slaps that puppy on my back right across the base of my neck. Now we aren’t doctors, but I’m going to tell you, we don’t play around when it comes to this kind of pain, we go to the ROOT of the problem always. She hits a button and asks, “You feel that?” “Nope, nothing.” I reply. She hits a button again and says, “how about that?” I said, “Nada.” She hits a button again and as I’m proceeding to say, “Is it on?” a jolt of electricity buckles me over, throws me forward and pops my neck in an instant, as I scream a slew of profanities, crossing my legs and praying I don’t pee all over the floor.

“What the hell you put on me, that hurts worse, than a dog shock collar!” as I am screaming, laughing, and trying not to pee myself. It’s pulsating the electricity through my muscles with fierceness. With laughter and tears in her eyes, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to turn it on that setting! Do you want me to shut it off? Oh my God!” as we continue to laugh until we are crying. “No, No, I’ll be fine, just leave it on, the worst is over.” The laughter continued.

I vaguely remember accusing her of damn well knowing what it would do, and that she should have videoed that mess to which we laughed some more. I’m pretty sure that if I had an Echo Show with Multiple Camera Views set up I am telling you though, that was probably the most relief I have felt from Fibromyalgia and Neuropathy pain in years. After removing the device and 12 minutes of therapy, I suggest you apply some Lidocaine of some-sort to the area, just to relieve residual pain, especially with neuropathy, so your skin doesn’t hurt. Icy Hot is a good resolve to that dilema.

Later that night, as my husband was arriving home and I was collecting the box from the counter I received a text from my mom. “Warning, Do not use it as a torture device!!!! LOL” My reply, “LMAO how’d you know? David just got home!” She just KNEW that I was going to torture my husband just for giggles. Little did I know, the joke would be on myself AGAIN before the end of the night.

Fast forward after I showed my husband the power of said device, that I had to charge it. Then I applied it to my right shoulder that was still acting up just a tad bit. Turned it on, but when the patch that I applied to my skin that holds the device in place came up a little, I reached back to readjust while the device was on, and my finger got stuck on the pad electrode, and I was grounded in a complete circle, so my arm was flexing glued to the pad, sending and electrode from my shoulder to my fingertips and back through, leaving me screaming, “Help, Help, Help me David, shut it off!”

I highly advise, never use this device without an extra pair of hands handy to shut off that button in places you can’t reach. If you need new sticky patches, you can order those too! I’m telling you, I’m the test subject here, and if it’s working for my mom, and myself, as long as you have assistance during use. You got to have this in your artillery. My hubby also pointed out, this thing is powerful enough, if you were brave enough to apply it to your abdomen, it’d probably give you a heller ab workout as well, but that’s not what it’s made for.

***NOTE: There are two versions to this Massager, the battery operated and the USB charged one. Battery operated has less jolt and less power to it, however, USB charging is what my mom used on me. We have both, so for a tame less shocking experience I suggest battery operated, but for those massive muscle cramps, only USB will do for DEEP TISSUE massage.

Never Listening = Natural Remedies

So with no meds…. where do I go from here? My search for healing starts with Amazon…

You are going to see ads for the things I’m using, and feel free to do the same research that I did. I’ve spent hours, days, months, but feel free if you would like to start reading the medical journals like I did.

If you have gotten to this blog, and you’ve followed all the blogs since I have started, you are going to realize that I have a HOST of ailments, along with Mast Cell Activation, Fibromyalgia, and Neuropathy, Paresthesia, and Interstitial Cystitis of the bladder, so this woman has literally been researching all the systems on Google and reading the articles, to find NATURAL remedies that didn’t require me to ingest allergens, and acids. Neat little fact, I’m allergic to peanuts, trees, grass, oh and some fungus (due to the mold) and YEAST, yes, I’m allergic to the yeast that grows in our own bodies. Wrap your mind around that!

I’m not a webpage editor or anything, so if you just follow the links to the things that I found that help me, you can order them directly.

When you need a little pick me up…

Green Coffee Extract provides Polyphenols important for Hypothalamus Function in your brain!

And when it comes to my brain I’m all about neurodegeneration and repair, so if you read up on this link, you’ll find why Polyphenols are important to me as well!

Nutrients for hypothalamus and pituitary gland production (medicalnewstoday.com)

For Urinary Tract Health 1-2 tsp in warm water a day… is just as beneficial!

I really wish I would have learned about Forest Flame Tree powder also known as Butea Monosperma years ago, the benefits are amazing. Read up on the link below if you don’t believe me. It tastes similar to instant powder tea, so if you can make a shot in warm water and drink it quickly, it’s not so bad. You can visit the article link listed below, if you want to see the benefits for yourself.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333973413_Butea_Monosperma_Phytochemistry_and_Pharmacology