Book Review – “From Fatigued to Fantastic”

I’ve been trying to read From Fatigued to Fantastic for months.  I’ve heard wonderful things about it, and the author, Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D.,  a board certified internist and leading researcher in the field of chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia.  Read many articles on his web site endfatigue.com.   I finally got the chance to finish reading it this weekend, enjoying some great weather here in AZ!

His treatment plan is customized for each person by having you answer questions at the end of each chapter and marking off recommendations in an appendix, and also stresses that you should be working with your Dr. in choosing the right treatment path.  If you don’t have a Dr. that is willing to treat your fibro, you need a new Dr.!  There are suggestions in the book for that as well.

The recommended treatment options center around the S.H.I.N.E. protocol.  Sleep, Hormones, Infections, Nutrition, and Exercise.  His claim (based on over 30 years working with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue patients) is that by following this protocol, it will alleviate the symptoms associated with severe fatigue and body pain.

    SLEEP: Get adequate sleep, preferably eight to nine hours a night. Sleep replenishes the body's energy and heals its muscles. Inadequate sleep will leave you exhausted and in pain.

    HORMONES: Get tested for hormone deficiency and treated if needed. Hormone deficiencies can contribute to fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.

    INFECTIONS: Get treatment when symptoms of infections occur. The lack of restorative sleep in CFS/FM leads to dysfunctional immune systems. Underlying viral, bacterial, bowel, sinus and yeast infections are common and can be a contributing cause or result of CFS/FM.

    NUTRITON: To maintain normal health and optimal energy levels you need to be sure you body is getting a proper balance of nutrition, particularly as nutritional deficiencies can result from CFS/FM. Vitamin B-12, magnesium, Acetyl L-Carnitine, glutathione, as well as your basic A, B, C and D vitamins are especially vulnerable to depletion from this.

    EXERCISE: Exercise as able. After 10 weeks on the 4 steps above, you will be able to slowly increase your exercise-without being wiped out the next day!

Each chapter goes into detail in each of these areas and is backed by scientific studies and the latest research.  I learned A LOT about the body reading this book.  I am very motivated to try and focus on each of these areas with my Dr., in order, and try to improve my life even more!

You can “like” Dr. T's facebook page and ask questions directly to him, as well as connect with others following his recommendations, and keep updated on the most current information.

I bought this as an actual book, not on my Kindle this time and I’m glad I did.  It made taking the quizzes easier.  You can find it on his web site endfatigue.com or look for it on Amazon if you prefer used, or Kindle edition.

I HIGHLY recommend you read this book if you have fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue.  It is extremely educational and great to have on your shelf for reference whenever a symptom of these conditions is bothering you.  And the best part is the custom treatment plan that will get you moving in the direction to better health!

Photo Friday!

You are welcome to download and use this photo with my watermark.  Share it on Facebook, Pinterest, or use it as a screensaver. (photos are not to be sold, or used for advertising, please link back to my shop when using photos online)  If you would like to purchase a print without the watermark, visit my shop on Etsy.  Discount prices for Friday Photos!

Have a restful restorative weekend!!!

Overwhelmed – What do You do?

Stacked - watercolor - Rebekah Bell (miniature in a series about being overwhelmed)

It’s been a busy few weeks for me.  I thought I was handling things well, but the past couple days I have just needed to stop.  No the pain isn’t bad, but it’s there at the end of the day.  The fatigue has caught up with me a few times.  Too many things demanding attention and I’ve not been managing my energy as well as I can.  I wouldn’t say I’m in a “flare” but definitely walking the line.  So here I sit with my to-do list crossing off everything that doesn’t NEED to be done, and a few things that DO.  Frustrating to say the least.  Especially knowing I will let people down, I have already let myself down.  I’m sure you all have been here, sitting where I am today.  So where do we go from here?   Where do we turn to keep this from spiraling down into a flare, or depression? 

First, we need to look in the right direction.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

Next, think “Big Picture.”

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;  persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.  We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.” 

2 Corinthians 4:8-10

Believe that God can and will restore you.

“Do you not know?

    Have you not heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God,

    the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired or weary,

    and his understanding no one can fathom.

He gives strength to the weary

    and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary,

    and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the Lord

    will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

    they will run and not grow weary,

    they will walk and not be faint.”  Isaiah 40:28-31

I hear Jesus calling me when in Matthew he says “Come to me…”  So I will be spending my day with Him.  And it will not be a wasted day, it will be a day of rest and restoration!  What will I do?  I will read his word, I will pray, I will journal and I will do some art.  I will take care of my little one and play, pick kids up from school, make meals for my family and in Jesus' name, not let this day take me down!

“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” 2 Tim. 1:7