As I complete each final essay for this closing semester, I keep getting distracted by "what's next". I've heard & read a few times this past semester, on podcasts and Pinterest , that Aries are very good at starting projects but not always following through to the finish. I feel that. I am that.
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I am so anxious for the spring semester that I haven't focused 100% on my final tasks in the current semester. I have two final papers to complete by Friday; same thing happened last semester, one major paper so close to the deadline to turn it in. I don't know why I get myself into this situation each semester, I probably did something similar in the OAD program too. It's unnecessary stress. I am good at writing these papers, I love to write and research the subjects. I earn good grades, I am proud of my accomplishments in IWAP thus far.

I've been listening to empowering, girl power (mode),  and self-loving music this month. Here's my Aries playlist. 

​The podcasts have come onto my radar this month:
Aries Today With Caitlin Keats
Mayim Bialik's Breakdown
They & Us
​You and Me Both with Hillary Clinton
Your Magic

Today is the three year adoptaversary with my beloved Chihuahua, Miley. She belonged to our niece but couldn't give the full attention that she required anymore and our niece knew that Miley would be very happy with me. 

Miley was an honest to goodness gift, especially three years ago. I was still undiagnosed and was home everyday and in pain often. Miley is the perfect little companion; she stay up all night to comfort me when I don't sleep properly, she'll cuddle me when I am unwell, and she will make me laugh when I need it most. She is always near by, right now, as I write this entry, she's at my feet resting on my backpack under my desk. I love to spoil her. I love dressing her up in cute collars or pretty dresses.

Just recently on the Fibromyalgia Podcast by Tami Stacklehouse, she did an episode dedicated to therapy animals: Service Dogs & Emotional Support Animals. I love this episode and the valuable information shared about Emotional Support Animals. Miley is that for me. I would love to research the Canadian version of ADA to make Miley an official Emotional Support Animal for me.

I am so grateful for Miley's smiley face, each and everyday. She's added joy in my life when I was struggling the most (when I was undiagnosed) and she's still a big part of my daily happiness. Without her my life was darker and sadder and I am grateful I was chosen to love her. She has given me a new brighter life.

Happy birthday to my birthday buddies (Aaron, Aliina, Charles, hm, I swear there was more of us March 25th birthdays).
In 1997, I celebrated my birthday with friends at Brazil Coffee House during our lunch hour and spare; while we were at Brazil, Dilip got the call that Kristina had her baby girl (Aliina) and we celebrated that too. I didn't know Kristina or her significant other, we didn't meet til the next school year when I transfered to West Ferris from Algonquin. It's always been a sweet, funny memory for me... that I celebrated a tiny human and her family before I knew them and it was so wonderful to watch that family grow. ​
​💛💛💛💛

Today, I had my follow up on my adrenal testing from February. I am trending on the low end of normal levels. It appears that my body wants to work properly, the pattern is shown in the adrenal testing, but my levels peak so low and never rise high enough to be energized and refresh after I slept. We have a couple things to try from now until my next appointment in April/May. I will be purchasing Pink Himalayan salt; I will be learning more about the benefits and I am looking forward to trying something new. We also discuss the benefits to trying a supplement name Adrenergyn. 
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Patrons of Brazil Coffee House would remember this delicacy: the muffin torte. 

As I am writing this, I am overwhelmed with my course load assignments; I need to stop, take a break (a short one) then assess which ones are priority, and get my work completed. I know I got this, it just looks worse than it actually is.

In the middle of all this chaos, I am thinking ahead to the next semester. This spring semester would be my final semester for the Office Administration program that I started in September 2019, but put on hold last May because of COVID-19 and personal issues.

I am super grateful for the support of my mentor, who also happens to be the faculty coordinator for the Office Administration program. She has such a great positive spirit and understanding to her students. On the second day of school, I approached her and the other (primary) teacher for the program, to tell them about my condition with Fibromyalgia and how I cope or not cope with the illness. My mentor was a nurse before she became an instructor at Canadore College, so she KNEW exactly what I was talking about. She was one of my cheerleaders and a big support in my new adventure (in 2019), being 39 years old and going to college for the first time, with Fibromyalgia, some limitations, and a family with some stressful circumstances.

My mentor has helped me get registered for the spring semester and hooked me up with a missing course; I tried to register for it in the fall and winter semesters with no positive outcomes from the admin office.
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​I am beyond grateful for my mentor's help getting me setup for this upcoming semester. It's super important to me to complete this program, it will be my first college diploma and I look forward to hanging that certificate on my wall with my IFCI certified advisor program certificate. I am beyond excited, I added Class of 2021 back onto my website's page called Goals.

Today, we found out (unless there's another COVID-19 outbreak and we return to a red or grey zone), that culture camp is a go for April 6, 7, 8. I am so looking forward to seeing my classmates (and instructors) in person. I believe we have a unique bond even though we are strictly video-conferencing our classes. Some amazing friendships are being built and they are all amazing people.
I am excited to wear my ribbon skirts. I own yellow colored skirts for the fall time and I had ordered some blue & turquoise colored skirts for spring time. I really hope that my newest skirt(s) arrive in time for culture camp.​

3/30/2021 - My final parcel arrived today. It looks beautiful. I am anxious to share the beautiful ribbon skirt and which shirts I have decided to coordinate as my ensembles for the culture camp. Can't wait to see my classmates & friends, next week!

As a woman who needs medical appointments for maintaining care (and possible) treatments for Fibromyalgia; who has no access to family physicians or nurse practitioner practices in my immediate local (I can't travel outside my city limits because I do not drive). I have to think outside my medical team "box" and pick and choose alternative health care solutions. Your medical team could include your GP/FP, a nurse practitioner, physiotherapist, message therapist, acupuncturists, and/or any specialist(s) that you need for your chronic illness care and maintenance.

Before I was diagnosed, I had an amazing physician who believed in my struggles and worked along side of me to find solutions; trial and error with prescriptions, tests such as ultrasounds, x-rays, CT-scans, MRI, and she referred me to different specialists. It was a long process of the elimination game to zero in on the "real culprit". In November 2018, she diagnosed me with fibromyalgia. The rheumatologist confirmed her diagnosis with additional blood work and a single consultation that I do, in fact, have Fibromyalgia.

My lovely doctor closed her practice in the summer 2019; my family was transferred to another physician within an umbrella of medical services but when he closed his office in April 2020, he did not refer us to another GP within that umbrella and we lost many needed services.

I was more likely to click the second over the first one for many reasons, but my #1 why is that I don't even have a waiting room to get to, there is no GP available and online services seem to begun a new health care system in its own.

I must note that this services look like they are coming from the private sector (Loblaws)  and most, if not all, have fees associated with them. To speak with a GP, it is $49 (please see gallery of screenshots from their PC health app. I read on the reviews page that PEI will assist or repay the fee to see the GP, if you do not have one to consult. I do not live in PEI, please verify with your health care department from your government agency.

With PC health services, there is an option to book an appointment with a chronic pain physician. I was most impressed with the variety of appointments.

As I have stated before, I am without a family physician; I have been without OHIP covered medical services for a year. Any services I have gotten since May 2020, I have paid out of pocket for physiotherapy, a consultation with a naturopathic doctor, and my adrenal function test. As a person who has no GP/FP (and on a waitlist), I am considering this alternative to find answers and continue to maintain care.

 Today is the day, I've been waiting for this test since learning about adrenal function last summer when I was taking the International Fibromyalgia Coaching Institute's  Fibromyalgia Advisor program. I was doing some research and I came across this article about adrenal fatigue and I believe that I have issues with adrenal function, not necessarily fatigue but they are not functioning properly.

Exhausted? 10 ways to know if you have adrenal fatigue, and what to do about it by Margaret Floyd Barry 

1. You’re a “night person” (you have trouble getting up in the morning and you have trouble falling asleep at night, even when you’re exhausted) ✓
2. Your blood pressure is either above 120/80 or below 105/70 ✓
3. You get a headache after exercising ✓
4. You clench or grind your teeth
5. You get dizzy when you stand up quickly ✓
6. You crave salty foods ✓ 
7. You perspire easily, regardless of the temperature
8. You’re always tired ✓
9. You need to wear sunglasses outside during the day ✓
10. You don’t stay asleep at night ✓

I got 8/10 in that questionnaire. According to the article: "If two or more of these describe you, you most likely have some degree of adrenal dysregulation."

I spoke to my new naturopathic doctor about my issues and she agreed that we should get the tests done. I had to pay out of payment for this testing, but I believe that it will be worth knowing if I have issues with adrenal functions and steer my treatments and dietary changes to meet any of those needs from the adrenals working overtime. Next up in my testing is a new set of blood work and looking at factors that were overlooked when I was working with GP. I am still without a family physician and I hope that I can see the college clinic doctor for things that can be covered by OHIP and be easy on my pocket book. I am grateful I can put some money towards naturopathic treatments.

If you suspect that you may have issues with adrenal functions, please get in touch with your general practioner for a discussion and possible testing.

For my 40th birthday, I received my first IPSY Glam Bag subscription. I love ISPY because I can be clueless when it comes to makeup and skin care regiments. As a preteen and most of my teenage years, I didn't wear much makeup (or none at most days). I feel that I was a tomboy and felt good to dress casually & add a baseball cap, and sometimes when I did feel girly, I loved wearing crop top but I would get shy and cover up with a cardigan.
I love that I can pick and choose my colors and what type of products can be included in my Glam Bag. I discovered my favorite face creams thanks to my subscription with IPSY. The monthly subscription is $12 USD and you have the option to add more products for a great discounted rate. 
My favorite items to receive in my Glam Bag are lipsticks & lip-glosses, eye creams, face cleansers, and nail polishes. Last March, in my first IPSY box, I received my favorite face cream that I use in the morning, Tatcha Dewy Skin Cream. The following month, I received my favorite night cream, Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Mask.

I created a Pinterest board with my favorite glam bags & products I received since March 2020. You can see it here. Happy pinning!

I wanted to share my favorite products I use on a daily bases for my self-care and products that ease my pain during recovery from a flare or daily pains.

Every night before I fall asleep, I use Yves Rocher Anti-Fatigue/Anti-Tiredness Foot Soothing Iced Gel & Yves Rocher Light Legs Fresh Gel. I just discovered these Yves Rocher products this month and I love them very much, I don't hurt as much in the morning.
My favorite pain relief topical cream is by Mind Body Matrix. I was gifted a sample size bottle last summer when I joined the International Fibromyalgia Coaching Institute. I was so pleased that I felt immediate relief in my back, neck, and shoulders (or wherever else, I had applied it for pain relief). It is a pricey item, but I believe it is worth the cost, for it's an alternative to prescription medication that I don't have access to.
I use an essential oil called Worry Not, I apply it at bedtime on my wrists, breathe in the aroma and peacefully fall asleep.
If I have a headache, I use a frozen eye pillow created by KrumaCreations, either on the back of my neck or over my eyes.

My top apps for tracking my fibromyalgia symptoms, pain, and moods:
Bellabeat
Daylio
​GeoPain

​For my 38th birthday, my family got me my beautiful Bellabeat leaf, in rose gold; it's a smart jewelry on premium blackwood that gives an earthy/nature look that I adore. The bellabeat tracks activity, sleep, meditation,  reproductive health, and smart alarm. I decided that this was the product for me because of the sleep tracking and the beautiful design.

​Recently, I saw that Bellabeat has a waitlist for their new edition. It is called Ivy Bellabeat and it tracks heart rate, resting heart rate, respiratory rate, sleep quality and duration, and more. I love that the Ivy has these new tracking options, but I am not sure I am in love with the design/the look of the Ivy.

Daylio is a fun way to track moods. I use it everyday for almost every activity I do each day. I discovered this app two years ago; it compiles your data and the stat reports are great to go over and see what improves mood and what doesn't help improve mood, there's cute badges "achievements" to earn, and weekly mood reports that show you last week vs. this week mood chart.

GeoPain is fantastic for tracking daily medication and has a great pain chart; it has a great design and 3D body chart. It was easier to track my headaches, I could draw on the actual area that hurts, and see the different headaches (sinus or migraine). On GeoPain, under treatments, you can list your medication and supplements, and so much more.

Please comment below, let me know your favorite health & wellness tracking app?