Fibro (WHAT?) myalgia, again?

Does the image on the left here resembles you in any way? Have you feel the tightness around the shoulder? A knot in the musles?
Well, you could very well be a candidate for Fibromyalgia diagnosis. Find out what I had to go through before I was diagnosed with it.

I was struggling with my shoulder pain,mostly, for a very long period of time. I blamed the initial pain to the ergonomics, as in the improper posture at my workplace and when I work from home, especially. After complaints to the Environmental,Health & Safety coordinator, I was given a under tray for keyboard and mouse to neutralize the positioning of my arms close to my body . That makes it better for a while. But,being that the damage was done, my arms continued to feel the pain and numbness and my shoulder cramps hardly subside. I furthered my symptom validation with the doctors and to ease the numbness of my hand, I was diagnosed having a Carpal Tunnel Syndrome,for which I had to undergo a minor surgery. While I was home recuperating, I felt the pain on my shoulder was slightly better.

For the first time in my adult life, I tried body massage. Ohhh,that felt heavenly when the masseus manage to hit the right spot and tried to undo the 'knots' of the muscles...oh yeah! The massage helped and not to mention,the fact that I was away from computer for couple of weeks helped me to resume my work as normal for a while. However, as I hit extensive work schedule, the pain returned. I survived with massaging every month or so, but it seemened ridiculous for me spending RM100 p/m on it! My quality of life was severely impacted. I was feeling tired-lethargic even, and I just wanna lay down when I'm back from work without moving my body cos I'll feel so exhausted and dont want to aggrevate the pain. Imagine asking your mom or siblings to rub your back each time you feel you can't stand the pain! It was getting to annoy them as much as it annoyed me. There had to SOMETHING that could be done, right?

To make matters worst, my eyesight was giving me problems. It was dry, it was sore , it was sooo strained! I could literally feel my eyeballs burn when I pour on the eye drops.Having headaches and coupled with the non-stop shoulder (upper back) pain, affected my mood. I got easily agitated though I try to calm myself as much as possible from snapping at everyone.My trip to General Practicioners resulted in them suspecting I have migraine issue. The pain killer they gave, helped to an extent that I believed that, that could be it. But as usual, the pain comes back, regardless if I wear my spec (which I recently had to acquire to due an asticmatism diagnosis), or not.

If you have been reading this far, you'll be confused as to WHAT is the main cause of my problem since my pains seems to be widespread -from head, to dry and sore eyes, to arm and the neverending shoulder /upper back pain- right? Well, so thought a GP and he diagnosed me with a Ankylosing spondylitis ,which seemed quite accurate at that moment - with the joint pain and all. So I was referred to a hospital for further tests. It was after few MRI sessions that I was then re-diagnosed with Fibromyalgia-when they couldn't find nothing wrong with my brain,bones/spine.

You can find more information about Fibromyalgia here. Basically fibromyalgia is related to a widespread of pain related to muscles. It would impact your sleep, your quality of life and even your eye-sight if left un-treated. It's a nerve issue where your brain has an increased perception of pain. The doctor who treat you would prescribe nerve vitamins , muscle relaxants and sleep aids to help you recuperate. Here are list of medications I was dispensed with :

• Neurontin (GABAPENTIN) -100mg < a powerful drug,causes drowsiness and makes me sleepy
• NEUROBION - This is nerve vitamins B1,B6,B12 all encompassing
• AMITRIPTYLINE-10mg -only to be taken at night.
• CONTROLOC Pantoprazole - this is for gastric patients , to be taken b4 meals

Be sure you to take note on the pains you are experiencing and the symptoms and be sure to tell your doctor ALL about it, regardless of how silly and un-related it may seem. You could just save yourself further torture and get the right medicine to help make you feel better. The medicines, along with physiotheraphy sessions will help you feel much better in short period of time.

End your suffering. Get treated soon.

May you scintillate!

How Islam Honours Women

Assalamualaikum, May Peace be with you.

Islam, a religion that wishes PEACE as greeting to muslims and strangers alike, are accused of being the religion that ill treats people and condones war. *smirk* Such blatant lie and every man with an unsound mind will believe it to be true. Cos only they can believe such a fake propaganda. For one with a sound mind will say 'no religion teaches bad thing'. That is what I told a friend when he asked me to verify the story which was written by the Egyption born muslim women who later converted to Christianity.

Well, the essence of that article basically say how women are opressed in Islam and how Islam encourages violence. It's funny for me to read about the author who CLEARLY mentioned that it was her UPBRINGING which led her to believe that all Jews are bad. Now, did she point out a line in Quran that says Hate them jews? Heck, for anyone who ever read Quran, will know that Jew's are among the People of the Book - the members of the religions who abide by the Divine Books revealed by God. Throughout Islamic history, the People of the Book have been always treated with tolerance in Muslim societies. This was particularly evident in the Ottoman Empire. It is a well known fact that the Jews, whose rights were denied and were exiled by the Catholic Kingdom of Spain, took refuge in the lands of the Ottoman Empire.

I am no scholar to be talking much abt this. What I wanted to quote here are verses from Quran that shows how women should be regarded.

Men are allowed to marry 4 PROVIDED they can be justful to all of them:
004.003
YUSUFALI: If ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans, Marry women of your choice, Two or three or four; but if ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one, or (a captive) that your right hands possess, that will be more suitable, to prevent you from doing injustice.

Marrying a women WITHOUT their consent is not permissable:

004.019
YUSUFALI: O ye who believe! Ye are forbidden to inherit women against their will. Nor should ye treat them with harshness, that ye may Take away part of the dower ye have given them,-except where they have been guilty of open lewdness; on the contrary live with them on a footing of kindness and equity. If ye take a dislike to them it may be that ye dislike a thing, and Allah brings about through it a great deal of good.


Punishment to women should they DISOBEY their husbands should never be HARSH
004.034
YUSUFALI: Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has given the one more (strength) than the other, and because they support them from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient, and guard in (the husband's) absence what Allah would have them guard. As to those women on whose part ye fear disloyalty and ill-conduct, admonish them (first), (Next), refuse to share their beds, (And last) beat them (lightly); but if they return to obedience, seek not against them Means (of annoyance): For Allah is Most High, great (above you all).


Women CAN get a DIVORCE
004.128
YUSUFALI: If a wife fears cruelty or desertion on her husband's part, there is no blame on them if they arrange an amicable settlement between themselves; and such settlement is best; even though men's souls are swayed by greed. But if ye do good and practise self-restraint, Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do.

Islam DOESN'T condone ADULTERY
017.032
YUSUFALI: Nor come nigh to adultery: for it is a shameful (deed) and an evil, opening the road (to other evils).

Anyone who wants to ACCUSE women of adultery shall have 4 witness (its not a rule imposed only if women wants to accuse their men!!)

024.004
YUSUFALI: And those who launch a charge against chaste women, and produce not four witnesses (to support their allegations),- flog them with eighty stripes; and reject their evidence ever after: for such men are wicked transgressors;-
024.006
YUSUFALI: And for those who launch a charge against their spouses, and have (in support) no evidence but their own,- their solitary evidence (can be received) if they bear witness four times (with an oath) by Allah that they are solemnly telling the truth;
024.007
YUSUFALI: And the fifth (oath) (should be) that they solemnly invoke the curse of Allah on themselves if they tell a lie.

Women are RESPECTED, men are NOT to slander women at will!
024.023
YUSUFALI: Those who slander chaste women, indiscreet but believing, are cursed in this life and in the Hereafter: for them is a grievous Penalty,-


As for how Islam advocates peace, there are many verses for that too. I happen to find a website that this is also answered there..so please browse 'em through there. Some excerpts are here :

1. Behave with courtesy :
Consider, for instance, the following verse, which is supposed to instruct Muslims as to how they should deal with non-Muslims in the midst of hostilities (such as war): 9:6 And if any of the Idolatries (who are fighting you) seeks thy protection, grant him protection, so that he might [be able to] hear the word of God [from thee]; and thereupon convey him to a place where he can feel secure:
If Muslims are to behave with such clemency and magnanimity vis-a-vis the infidel during times of war and conflict, how much more should be expected of their interactions with non-Muslims during times of peace?

2. Respect his freedom of choice to be a "Disbeliever" - as this is a right bestowed upon humanity by God:
Quran 18:29 proclaims, "The truth is from your Lord": it is the free will of any person to believe (in God) or to be an Infidel (Un believer).

3. Even if a Muslim should be convinced that someone is a non-believer, still he must accept that his fate is in the hands of God alone, since no one human can condemn another - this must be left to the judgment of God.
Quran 88:25-26 for behold, unto (ONLY) Us (means God) will be their return, Then it will be for (ONLY) Us to Judge (humans).
22:17 Those who believe (in the Qur'an), those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Sabians (can mean an ancient religion or people with no specific religion), Christians, Magians, and Polytheists,- God will judge between them on the Day of Judgment: for God (alone) is witness of all things.


http://www.islamforpeace.org/quran.html


I think the above have helped to shed some light. Please feel free to add on or correct should I misquoted/misstated anything. Allah is all knoweth. May HE bless us all with peace and mutual respect. Insya Allah


Wassalam,
~Nisha~


original-June 3 2010

'Peace' of your Joy

May Peace Be With You.

Recently,I have come to acknowledge how profound the need to have peace in ones life. You tend to neglect this crucial aspect of life as you join in with the chase of the world; in your pursuit for fame and fortune. How easily we overlook the littlest thing that makes our living worthwhile - like family and friends, like calm and peace.

Have you stopped to ask yourself if you are really HAPPY with your life? Are you proud of your achievements thus far? And if you had say "Yes" to either of the question, then answer this too ; Did you have to sacrifice your loved ones time or happiness along the journey of your quest? Think hard before you answer...cos I'm pretty sure, someone had to take a back-seat while you were focused on the front.

My entry today is not to condemn your need to succeed. Granted, for you to rise in this fast paced world, you need to stand out among the rest. However, I just want this entry to tap into your thoughts and shift it to your loved ones - parents, spouse,children, guardian, friends; i.e The ones who always have to be sacrificing their wish and wants in spending quality time with you -taking a stroll,going for a movie, having dinner or just talk- simply because they want you to strive for what you deemed, was important for you.

You see, I have constantly heard people saying that their loved ones are the main reason for them to be seeking wealth in the first place. But what good would a wealth do if you never get to spend it with your loved ones, while they are still here, breathing? If you go out before the sun rise and return home after the moon is out, where is the quality of your life? Of your family's lives, rather? Do you realize that by thinking you deserve to be given credit for the hard-work you been doing for your family,that you are refusing to acknowledge-if not belittle- the time your family member had to forego in solitude while waiting for you? Who's to say that a wife who is a home maker are having it easy? Try spending a whole day at home sitting and slouching, watching TV and cleaning the house from sun up to sun down and answer if that was 'easy'?

It saddens me to watch aging parents never catch a glimpse of their child anymore while they sit in fear counting the last day of their lives. It's heart wrenching to watch a child who was rewarded with a STAR from his teacher for his 'artistic' crayon smudge had to first share that news with the chauffeur who was designated to pick him up from nursery. It's torturing to watch a romantic love story when your other half was rarely in sight anymore. These are just some random cases of the sacrifices people are making silently while we go around making money in the name of our loved ones. Ironic, We are blinded to the suffering of the very same ones we thought we were caring for!

So I ask you today, to stop feeling victimized in not getting the right 'appreciation' and turn to appreciate the ones who deserve it no less than you too,instead. You can never fail to feel contend watching the spark in your parents eye while you hold their hand and take them for a walk, the pride in your childs eye when you pat them in delight for their 'gigantic' achievements and the tears in your wife's eye when you wrap your arms around her and say 'thank you' for all her effort in managing your home. Better yet, if you seal it with a kiss ;)

Go on, go try it. You could never go wrong when you make someone happy. The real success in life is when you strike a balance between LIFE and work ; not the other way around.

You'll understand what peace is when you know you brought joy to others.


May you Scintillate!