Fibromyalgia and Arthritis

First of all, I want to again extend condolences to Andrea Boeschaar on the loss of her mother to cancer this past week.  Diana, Teresa, and I ask our readers to continue to pray for Andrea.  Diana and I know first hand how difficult a time this is to get over our mothers’ deaths. 

Weekend topic: Fibromyalgia

If you missed Andrea Boeschaar’s post on dealing with fibromyalgia, go back to Monday of this week.  She has a lot of wisdom about dealing with a chronic illness.

When I first got diagnosed with arthritis and told I had fibromyalgia (later confirmed as RA) I was urged to get Arthritis Today   the magazine of the Arthritis Foundation.  I am surprised by the number of people who do not know about this premier source of information about arthritic inflammatory conditions, including fibromyalgia.  The issues are usually pretty evenly balanced among the various types of arthritic conditions.  There are a bunch of great resources within the website, including one for ease of use products   You can also sign up to follow them for dailytips from the Arthritis Foundation on Twitter.

If you are someone being treated for fibromyalgia, keep in mind that many people with this are eventually diagnosed as having sero-negative Rheumatoid Arthritis.  And don't listen to people, including medical doctors(!) who refer to the condition as a waste-basket diagnosis, as someone recently told a friend of mine.  One way to keep up-to-date with the research is to get the magazine and to also check the website for the Arthritis Foundation. 

Thank you, again, Andrea for opening your heart and sharing your story with us.  And we will keep praying as your continue your journey in overcoming, through time, with God's help.

Our winner will be announced Sunday afternoon in the comments section below.

Carrie Fancett Pagels Interviews Andrea Boeschaar

Andrea Boeshaar is the author of Threads of Hope, book one in the Fabric of Time series, as well as the author of the acclaimed 4-book series, Seasons of Redemption. In addition, she co-authored the popular devotional Be Still…and Let Your Nail Polish Dry. Find out more about Andrea and her books at: www.andreaboeshaar.com

I met Andrea through some online groups, including ACFW, an organization that she co-founded.

Andrea, welcome to Overcoming Through Time.  Would you share either the most difficult thing in your life you have had to overcome, with God’s help, or the most tragic situation or circumstance one of your characters has had to get past?

I’m going to be blatantly honest here. I have fibromyalgia and something called small fiber neuropathy, which, I’ve been told, is a cousin to MS. While multiple sclerosis patients have problems with their “main power sources” I have trouble with my “electrical outlets.” In either case, things don’t work properly. Furthermore, and contrary to what some doctors think, small fiber neuropathy isn’t always a result of diabetes. My blood sugar is not high. I am not pre-diabetic. With me, physicians have to think outside the box and it’s difficult to find one capable of doing that. Personally, I think my chronic illnesses began after my thyroid was removed in 2000 due to thyroid cancer. My endocrinologist finds my theory interesting, although there are no studies to prove it.

I write all this to educate and not complain, although I confess that there are days when my pain is so severe and so distracting that I cannot even think of writing. I can’t concentrate. I can’t think. I can’t plot or plan. I feel overwhelmed. Sometimes all I can do is crawl into bed, turn on the heating blanket, and watch Little House on the Prairie reruns. I feel so pathetic!

BUT GOD is greater than my feelings! I find that when I stay close to the Lord, I can claim His promises so the devil doesn’t get a foothold in my life. I believe I’m called to write – and write stories and devotionals that will encourage other Christians. I believe there is a spiritual battle going on – a battle for the souls of mankind and one to cripple believers. Our “sword of the spirit” is the Word of God. 

What is your favorite bible verse and why?

I have so many, but one of my favorites is 2 Corinthians 10:4:  For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.

I believe there are many reasons for believers to struggle with chronic illnesses. God works them together for our good, to draw us closer to Him, it’s true. But they can also turn into strongholds and what I mean is this: A person can become so preoccupied with his or her chronic illness that he/she becomes narcissistic and useless to God. They look inward instead of upward. I will admit that I’m tempted sometimes to dwell on my infirmities and not God and His sovereignty.

Disability friendliness:

Is this latest release available in audio format or do you have any other works available on audio?

My books are not yet available in audio format; however, my more recent titles are available in e-book formats. Some of my books have been published in large print editions.

What has been the most important thing you hope your readers will get from your books and why?

Chronic illness, no matter what form it takes, is real. Accept it. Strive to understand it. But don’t allow it to consume you. Some days will be better than others.

As you researched your books, did you learn anything that particularly touched your heart?

I realize more and more the hardships our great, great grandmothers endured. With my medical history, I would have never survived in the 1800s. But that’s why I wasn’t born back then!

In this latest work, do you have any topics useful for bibliotherapy, or therapeutic influence through reading about a disorder or situation?

In Threads of Hope, my hero Sam Sundberg’s mother suffers with a debilitating illness that cannot be diagnosed. I modeled it after fibromyalgia, which was unheard of back in 1848 so I didn’t give it an actual name. Mariah Sundberg is a Native American who uses natural remedies to help many others, including my character Kristin Eikaas, and yet herbs and medicine don’t help her. But she states in the book that she uses her times of illness to look up and speak with God. I hope I can always use my “down time” in that way.

Thank you Andrea for agreeing to answer these questions.  Have a blessed day and keep on writing!!

My pleasure. 

Andrea's books can be purchased through CBD, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other booksellers.

Giveaway: We are giving away an ebook copy of one of Andrea's book this week. Andrea is giving away a paperback copy of one of her books this week, also.  thanks, Andrea!