Aspartam in diet beverages

The aspartam in diet beverages opens up the pain receptors in the nervous system and adds on pain. Anyone who has fibromyalgia and who uses diet beverages with aspartam and who has pains that could be linked to the use of aspartam might want to consider excluding all aspartam in his or her diet. I have stopped using aspartam and I now drink mineral water and have much less pain than before.

The Children of Cyberspace: Old Fogies by Their 20s - NYTimes.com

The Children of Cyberspace: Old Fogies by Their 20s - NYTimes.com

Why People Don't Like Video Chatting - TIME

Why People Don't Like Video Chatting - TIME


omg - is it really allowed to feel this way? Because I feel this way too!!! Thanks for this article!!!

Sleep deprivation

Have woken up every 1 - 2 hours last night, either due to attacks of asthma or having to reload the washing machine in order to prevent its water pipe from freezing. (it is idiotically planned and done and not by us.) We have been hitting the cold records of this winter daily; thanks God the water pipes are not frozen yet!

I don't know how long I can go on like this: asthma shows no signs of improvement, I wake up due to it, can't sleep... I feel I am typing half-asleep, soon sleeping while sitting... they want to examine the thyroid still, must go to lab once more on Monday. Must go back to bed, I am sleepy and falling off the chair! And once I hit the pillow, the coughing starts again...

Steroids

Steroids improved my outhaling (PEF) values remarkably although they are still very poor, about 50% of the optimum. But it is better than yesterday's 20 - 25 % which means continuous feeling of suffocating and unability to do anything at all. Had several asthma attacks though. This morning (by 9 a.m. which is the time now) I have already had 3 - 4 attcks. Feel weak, tremble from all medication but am able to breathe. For once I am grateful about steroids. I feel the improvement. I have slept a bit better though not a bit longer... How would life feel with a decent sleep? There are things that confuse me and confuse my husband too but he is a great supporter and encourager. Yesterday I opened one social media site which I had not been using for ages, and I found tens of Christmas and New Year greetings from there - it felt like Christmas once more! I had also received messages, and I have found at least yet one who is praying for me - a total stranger but because he is a Christian, he does not feel like a stranger. During this disease, I have been betrayed and let down by one of my closest friends, and therefore it is comforting to see that God is taking care of me - other old friends are there, and complete strangers are used by God to provide me with prayer support. I am completely dependent on other people's prayers, I feel they are holding me above the surface and I feel every prayer in my being. I was praying, together with a friend, to see what plan God has for me because He has "mislocated" me in a country where I don't survive the outdoor air and weather without special equipment. I was praying for me to see some meaning in getting this seriously ill, weak and helpless. And God is answering: first, to show me that I cannot trust one of my best friends... second, that He is taking care of me in the form of even complete strangers, in addition to true good friends and family. Further, that I must and can rely on other people - something I have never been able to do. And still, that it is only Him I need, He will take care of the rest. God bless you all!

Depressed, happy, depressed....

No matter how I reason and try to be brave, I cannot help feeling depressed about having to be on steroids again - and looking out of the window and knowing that without special equipment, the out-door air would kill me. Have been shopping with my daughters today and I feel good that I can do it, that I still have income and can take care of their needs, and mine, and my husband's... Lots of wonderful things have happened today and yesterday and I want to say thanks to all of you who recognize yourselves here. You make the difference in my life. Yet there are people who seem to think that I cannot see through lies, and that I don't recognize indifferent attitude when I face one, even if it is masked. That I am ill does not mean that I am an idiot, or somehow immune to indifference. I am not. I could even tell I am nore sensitive than normally, recognize more nuances than I normally do. I pay attention to both good and bad things, and feel deeper about both. Perhaps this disease and this difficult situation was given to me to be able to see clearly - to be able to see who is the real friend and who is ready to let me down, for whatever reason.

My condolences

I would like to express my deepest condolences to the victims' families and friends and my sympathy to all those affected by the shooting incident in Espoo.