The Frizzy Fibro
Fighting fibromyalgia & humidity daily.

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My Sunblock Success

Queen of Sunblock

Two back-to-back vacations have me BEAT! I apologize for being a bit MIA lately, but 7 days in Cabo followed by 3 days in the Catskills had my life in a constant state of chaos. My fellow fibros know that deviating from your schedule for even a day can bring on symptoms, so you can imagine how 10 days of travel over the course of 13 days has left my body feeling!

Now that I am back home, I wanted to share some of my recent favorites in the sunblock department. SPF is essential for everyone, but its a matter of life or death for my fair skin. I am always layered in it whether I’m on vacation or simply running errands because I have a family history of melanoma. As such, I am always trying new sunblocks and have 3 current favorites that I wanted to share with you all. All products are linked!

For full body coverage – Alba Botanica Hawaiian Sunscreen Coconut Clear Spray SPF 50

I am obsessed with this spray lotion. I am typically not a fan of spray lotions, as they can be sticky, leave a residue, and can dry out the skin – but not this one! This coconut clear spray lives up to its name, going on clear and smooth and leaving without a trace. I like at least SPF 50 on my body at all times and this spray makes application easy (FYI spray lotion should ALWAYS be rubbed in after spraying to ensure even application and absorption into the skin). Besides the efficacy of this sunscreen, the brand is also free of synthetic fragrances, harsh sulfates, artificial colors, parabens and phthalates. They also do not test on animals and are free of ingredients identified to have potential adverse impact to coral reef . BONUS PERK – it may depend on your area, but I can get this lotion at Costco pretty much all the time in a value pack that rocks.

For your face – La Roche-Posay ANTHELIOS ULTRA LIGHT FLUID FACIAL SUNSCREEN SPF 60

This facial sunscreen has been my go-to since I got a sample from my dermatologist like 5 years ago. I have never been burnt with this on my face – even on an off day where I forgot to reapply. It goes on super light and leaves your skin with a satiny-matte finish. It is also great under make up if you have an outdoor event like a wedding or graduation. Due to its light nature, this is the sunscreen I apply to the part in my hair as well, since it doesn’t leave my roots greasy. It’s very easy to forget the part of your hair and unfortunately that is where many women later develop sun-related issues. Make applying sunblock to the part in your hair a part of your pre-sun routine!

For body after a few days of sun – HAWAIIAN TROPIC SHEER TOUCH ULTRA RADIANCE LOTION SUNSCREEN SPF 50

After a few days of sun, sand and chlorine, my skin is often dry and itchy. Two of my travel companions were using the SPF 30 of this all week long and swore by its conditioning properties. I grabbed a bottle from the pharmacy in Mexico (in SPF 50) and fell in love. It is so luxurious on the skin and leaves you smelling heavenly. This was perfect for my last 2 days where all I did was sit under the umbrella and read, while this moisturizing lotion helped to revive my skin. It’s important to wear lotion even if you’re covered by shade because not all umbrellas have SPF and you can get burned through them. I loved the way my skin felt and smelled, plus it leaves a little shimmer on the skin that ups the vacation glow factor.

I am always trying new lotions. Leave me a comment below with some of your favorites!

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Acupuncture Answers Here!

acupuncture treatment
In my happy place 🙂

If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me about my acupuncture treatments or stopped me on the street about my cupping marks – I could probably pay my many copays and still make a profit! Eastern medicine is unfamiliar to many in the Western world, invoking intrigue or mystique when mentioned.

As someone who has been receiving acupuncture treatments for close to 5 years (even before I developed fibromyalgia), I am a huge proponent of the benefits acupuncture can provide. I have seen different practitioners and have been with my current acupuncturist for 2 years. I plan to do a few more posts about acupuncture and the other treatments I have done with my acupuncturist, but I figured to start I would do an FAQ of sorts. So let’s dive in!

“Does it hurt?”

Yes and no. This is all going to depend on the area of the body you’re having acupuncture done and how tense the muscle is. Some needles go in with little to no feeling and some have a slight tinge that I find less painful than a finger prick or paper cut. What is more noticeable than the actual needle entering your skin, is the feeling you get when the needle reaches the muscle. The way I describe it to friends is that you get an uncomfortable tenseness for a few seconds (not unlike when you are on a foam roller at the gym) and then the muscle relaxes and you feel the muscle relax. Overall, I have never found acupuncture to be explicitly painful, if anything the few seconds of discomfort are outweighed by the immense relief the treatment offers.

“What are the appointments like?”

I have had different experiences with different practitioners, but overall the experience is the same: you will be lying on a table with needles in you. Depending on what areas you are targeting you will either be face up or face down (side treatments are also an option!) and may be required to undress to a certain degree. They may cover you with blankets or towels and heat lamps may utilized as well. Typically when I go in, my acupuncturist asks what I would like to focus on and then together we decide how I should position myself on the table and what articles of clothing need to be removed. It is important that you find an acupuncturist that you like and trust because you will need to communicate with them more than a typical doctor.

“What happens once the needles are in?”

Most appointments will be about an hour. Putting in the needles takes a few minutes and you are laying on the table for the remainder of the appointment. It is important not to move too much, as you can hurt yourself and you will feel discomfort when you move a muscle that is being treated. While you are on the table, your acupuncturist may place a heating lamp over an area that needs extra work or utilize an electrical stimulation device on some needles. These e-stim devices send a pulse through the needles that activates the muscle that the needle is inserted into. It feels pretty funny because the muscle twitches and you aren’t moving it, kinda like an eye twitch on a much larger scale. My acupuncturist has recently integrated noise cancelling headphones with nature sounds and meditations into my treatments and I love it. Sometimes I even fall asleep during the treatments.

“Does it work?”

I feel like this depends on many things. First, consistency is key with acupuncture. The first appointment may offer some relief, but if you aren’t consistent, you won’t see progress. Second, you need to be realistic about what acupuncture can treat and consult your acupuncturist about what kind of progress you can expect. For example, acupuncture definitely helps to reduce my pain from fibromyalgia, but it does not completely go away. Acupuncture is one part of my preventative care and treatment plan that contributes to my overall well-being. Finally, you need to know what you are working with, so its important to get seen and diagnosed by a Western Medicine professional so that your acupuncturist can work in conjunction with that diagnosis.

“How expensive is that?”

I have seen a lot of variation here so I wanted to share what I have come to expect. There are certain insurance plans that will cover acupuncture treatments (for specific issues) and I have been lucky enough to find providers who take my insurance. In terms of regular pricing, I would expect an initial visit to cost somewhere between $85-$120 and follow ups to be anywhere from $70-$100. Do you research and definitely ask about insurance/pricing before you go for your fist treatment.

“Where can I find one?”

I found my first ever acupuncturist via the good old fashioned google search for “acupuncturists near me”. I think word of mouth is the best way to hear about any kind of doctor so perhaps ask around or pose the question on Facebook and see if anyone in your social circle has someone they would recommend. My current acupuncturist April was volunteering her services to cancer patients when my mom was in treatment for breast cancer and we both stuck with her afterwards.

“How do I know if I found a good one?”

As I said before, you should feel completely comfortable with your acupuncturist. They will be seeing you at varying levels of undress and they will be dealing with you in your must vulnerable painful states. My acupuncturist April of Bronxville Acupuncture has a beautiful and comfortable office that makes you feel comfortable when you walk in. She is very easy to talk to and listens to you and your body. She makes me feel like we are a team in my treatment and believes me when I tell her what I need. April also has made other treatment recommendations and has suggested herbal supplements for various maladies.

If you have any further questions be sure to drop them below!

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My Migraine Journey

Migraines are, quite literally, a pain in the neck (and head. and stomach. and even just face in general). They’re also like snowflakes, no two are the same and everyone experiences them to varying severity. These debilitating neurological events can last days at a time and severely affect the quality of life of the sufferer. Before I dive into my experience, I want to make clear that everyone experiences migraines differently and what works for one may not work for another. In this entry, I am going to talk about the medicine I have seen success with, but I also utilize MANY holistic/alternative treatments as well (to be covered in a later post). Also, that if you’ve ever told someone currently experiencing a migraine that you “also get headaches” when you’re nursing last night’s self-inflicted hangover, there is a luxury box with your name on it in hell.

I started experiencing migraines in middle school. I think my first one probably hit me when I was 13 or 14 and it was no where near as severe as the ones I have gotten as an adult. My mom had been a longtime sufferer of migraines, so when I developed a headache that felt far more severe and localized than any I had experience before, I knew it was likely a migraine. Those first few years of migraines were sporadic – no clear triggers, and few and far between. The first time I developed consistent migraines was in college, when I had an undiagnosed thyroid issue for nearly an entire year. In addition to the myriad of other baffling symptoms, I was experiencing severe migraines that lasted 24-30 hours in length, required me to seek dark cover, and would not respond to over the counter pain medication. Once, I went to the grocery store by myself to pick up a few essentials and was hit suddenly with a very strong migraine. The vision in my right eye became so obscured I did not feel safe driving home and had to call my sister to pick me up. It was my first brush with an aura – the terrifying phenomenon that migraine sufferers are familiar with. Symptoms can include tingling in the hands/face, vision disturbances, flashes of light, and many others.

With my hypothyroidism in check, my migraines dropped back down to a casual occurrence. That is, until late 2017. I was working in a high pressure environment and under stress from what felt like all avenues of my life (including my at-that-point-undiagnosed fibromyalgia). These migraines were far worse than anything I had experienced before. The once aberrant auras became a mainstay in my migraine experience. By the summer of 2018, my migraines became a constant hindrance in my daily life and were impacting my work, relationships and quality life. At 24, not being able to have a sip of alcohol or stray from a strict routine, made me feel isolated. Outside of the emotional ramifications, I was in agony almost every day. There were times where I genuinely thought that the pain inside my head was going to kill me. I would go to work, but between the fluorescent lights and computer screen, I was alternating over the counter pain and nausea meds just to be able to function.

In the month of July 2018, I had migraines for 27 of the 31 days in the month. I had reached the end of my rope, but was fearful of seeking treatment, as the migraine medications I had tried in middle school ad college had left me with more side effects than relief. I sought treatment from a strongly recommended neurologist, one I selected because her bio mentioned her holistic approach to her patients. She agreed that the number of days/severity of my pain warranted preventative care. After discussing some traditional preventative medications, she introduced Aimovig – a ~relatively~ new monthly injection that is the first of its kind. I won’t get too into the science before it (definitely talk to your doctor and do your own research), but essentially it blocks calcitonin gene-related peptides from attaching to their receptors and studies have indicated that these CGRPs play a role in causing migraines. She also helped me pick a reactive treatment (for when I develop a migraine) to complement my proactive treatment plan.

Just a girl, her jammies and her two monthly injections

I have been on the shots for 7 months now, with zero side effects (negative ones that is). My migraine monthly count is as low at 1 or 2 some months, with most months averaging around 4, which is a huge improvement. The first time that I had a cocktail out at a restaurant and didn’t have to rush home with no vision in one eye, I had to rush home because I was crying tears of happiness. My entire world changed with the weight of constant migraines lifted off of my shoulders. People ask if giving myself the injections hurts or is intimidating, but I remind them that there have been times in the past where I thought my head was going to explode and I would have done anything in the world to stop that pain.

My advice to fellow sufferers would be to seek out a good neurologist, one who is knowledgeable about or specializes in migraine/headache treatment and one who will take the time to discuss multiple options with you. Keep a journal of your migraine days and triggers so that you’re prepared to inform them on all the data they need. While I’m not sure that I will ever be fully migraine-free, I can accept the relationship I have with them now – one where I have control.

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Tips and Tricks for Cold/Flu Season

November to March in the Northeast is a terrible time period for several reasons. It’s cold, dark, rainy, and, worst of all, a veritable petri dish for all things communicable. As someone with a weakened immune system, I dread this time of year.

In college, I basically accepted that I would be sick and rolled with the punches. However, as a working adult, being sick and taking a day off is not always something I can afford. Now 3 years out of school, I have figured out what helps limit my interactions with germs. Below is a list of tips and tricks for reducing your chances for getting sick (unfortunately there are no guarantees in the world of immunity).

Surrounded by germs – you have to fight to survive!

Sanitize your cell phone

I cannot stress this one enough – your phone goes EVERYWHERE with you. It is exposed to so many germs because you touch it when you’re out and about and not washing your hands. We are all guilty of being on our phones while we eat and that results in germ transfer. In a perfect world, we would do this every day, I typically use a Clorox wipe or an alcohol wipe.

Wipe down your work station

First thing in the morning, I use a Clorox wipe to clean my mouse, keyboard, desk surface, and phone. This was a tip I picked up at a previous job where there was an open office plan and people often worked at others’ desks. While I now have my own office, I have continued this practice. We spend all day at our desks and without thinking can touch our faces while working on something. Many eat lunch at their desk as well and should try to reduce the germ contact with food.

Take your vitamins and consider herbal medicine

I am a huge proponent for preventative care, so vitamins are always a part of my regiment. Another option to consider (with the guidance of a professional) is traditional Chinese medicine. There are several herbal supplements that are designed to be taken at the first signs of imbalance in your health and in my experience, have prevented the onset of illness.

The “train glove”

When I was commuting on the subway, I saw an older, sophisticated-looking woman do something that I immediately put into practice. In the middle of the summer, she reached into her bag and from a plastic baggy produced a leather glove which she put on the hand that she used to hold on to the pole. My germaphobic heart loved her efforts. I never fully adopted this methodology, but I always carried tissues and adopted a similar style of avoidance. I did occasionally get a judging glare from a fellow commuter, but I did my best to summon the aura of the fabulous woman I had observed and be resolute in my decision to avoid the germs as best as I could.

And if all else fails, STAY HOME!

If you think you are coming down with something, work from home if possible or take the day. You might be able to nip the virus in the bud by resting and giving your body a break. Additionally, I find coming in to work when you’re under the weather to be unprofessional. There is no benefit to coming in when you’re under the weather because you’re only extending the time you’re going to be sick for and you’re potentially spreading what you have to other people. Obviously, not every work place has the same sick time and rules, but do what you can to take care of your health.

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