Showing posts with label Facebook. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Facebook. Show all posts

May 11, 2012

Zebra FaceCaddy Giveaway for EDS Awareness Month!



I am thrilled to introduce this product to my fellow zebras and readers everywhere! I don't endorse products on my blog unless I feel very strongly about them. The FaceCaddy is one of those life-changing products that I can confidently recommend without reservation. It's a safe, med-free, non-invasive and affordable remedy for many different ailments including TMJ pain, migraines, sinus headaches and even hot flashes! Every EDS patient should have one of these on standby in the medicine cabinet.

A FaceCaddy user myself, I can attest to the quality and effectiveness of this product. The technology behind the FaceCaddy is simple and time-tested: ice and heat therapy are safe and effective treatment approaches that have been widely used by physical therapists, chiropractors and Md's for years. What makes the FaceCaddy so revolutionary is the fact that it renders hot/cold therapy completely portable and convenient: you no longer have to lay on your side while awkwardly holding a bag of frozen peas against your face for twenty minutes at a time. Instead you simply strap on the lightweight, wearable FaceCaddy and go on about your business while still reaping the benefits of hot/cold therapy which include pain relief, reduced inflammation and muscle relaxation.

As most of you know by now, I have been suffering from TMJD for nearly five years and have tried several different treatment approaches (most are costly, painful and largely ineffective) only to find myself right back to where I'd started from: with ice and heat therapy. Admittedly, when I'm in bad pain, I find it hard to muster up any patience. One of the reasons hot/cold therapy never worked well for me in the past was because I never had the patience to hold the ice or heat up to my head for long enough to relieve pain, reduce swelling or relax muscles.

Now that I wear the FaceCaddy, my impatience no longer poses a threat to the effectiveness of ice/heat therapy. If I'm having a really bad TMJ flare-up I often sleep with the FaceCaddy on. It's comfortable, soft and insulates the hot/cold packs so that they stay cold or warm for a long period of time without having to constantly re-freeze or re-heat them. A major bonus so you can truly relax while wearing it.



In honor of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Awareness Month I will be giving away a brand new FaceCaddy in zebra print with neon pink trim courtesy of FaceCaddy creator himself, John Lucas, who generously donated this product to share with my readers and commemorate EDS Awareness Month.

To enter the Zebra FaceCaddy Giveaway, simply:

1) Become a follower of my blog.

2) Post a comment below this post and tell me why you'd like to try a FaceCaddy.

*If you're already a following my blog then please post a comment on this post and any other post of your choice by May 19th, 2012.

To get one more entry in the giveaway contest (your name will go into the hat twice!) please share this post on Facebook.

The deadline to enter this giveaway is Saturday, May 19, 2012.

Good luck! The winner will be drawn from a hat and be announced here on Defying Gravity after May 19th.

In the meantime, the FaceCaddy is available online in four lovely fabrics: zebra, pink, black and paisley. Retailing at $24.99, this is one small investment in your health I promise you won't regret.

FaceCaddy is made by Caddywraps. They also make the BackCaddy which utlizes the same portable hot/cold technology and provides gentle compression (would have worked great after my appendectomy and will no doubt be my next CaddyWraps purchase!) and the EyesCaddy which works wonderfully for migraines and light sensitivity. To purchase any of the CaddyWraps products, visit CaddyWraps.com.

Sep 16, 2010

It's Dysautonomia Awareness Week!



In honor of Dysautonomia Awareness Week, I compiled a comprehensive list of resources for patients to turn to, especially those newly diagnosed. I know when my electrophysiologist first mentioned POTS, he sent me to the POTS Place website. From there I ventured onto Wikipedia and YouTube where I was relieved to find other people talking about this seemingly rare condition. The whole disgnosis thing was a little less overwhelming with resources to turn to. So, without further adieu, here is a list of resources I have turned to at one point or another:

Online Resources:
-DINET.ORG, including a very informative "POTS Place" section of website



There are also multiple personal YouTube pages worth checking out! Too many to list here!

Personal blogs on Dysautonomia and POTS are also great reads.

Facebook.com
-Demystify Dysautonomia
-12 More Pages
-The Faces of Dysautonomia
-The Dysautonomia Connection
-The Spoon Theory
-5 Awesome Potsies
-Living with Bob (Dysautonomia)

In-Person Resources, visit your local:
-Chiropractic Office
-Massage Therapist
-Physical Therapist
-Acupuncturist
-Naturopath
-Internal Medicine Doctor
-Cardiologist or Electrophysiologist
-Neurologist
-Endocrinologist
-Sleep Medicine Specialist
-Nutritionist
-Personal Trainer or Cardiac Rehabilitation Specialist
-Psychologist or Psychiatrist
-Hair stylist (to vent to!)

Yes, this list is overwhelming. And if you hate appointments as much as I do, you know what a mentally and physically draining chore they can be. However, assembling a strong team of specialists to call upon when needed is a helpful thing. When dealing with a complex illness like dysautonomia, it seems no one doctor can singlehandedly manage every symptom. Thus they refer you on to another doctor. And on. And on. Until one day the appointments finally slow down, and the doctors (if they are nice) may be reached via phone or email with questions or non-emergency concerns. My best advice is when you find a doctor that you click with, whether they are a chiropractor or a cardiologist, stick with them even if they are not a dysautonomia expert. If they are willing to listen to you, conduct some simple research and not "dysmiss" you, then chances are they are someone worth having on your team. What we all need are allies who will go to bat for us when the going gets tough (I am just full of cliches tonight!) I am not just talking about medical doctors and professionals here. One of the most helpful things for me has been building a solid network of friends and fellow sufferers to gain support and strength from. Facebook is a great place to start. There is also a program called "Meet Others" available through the DINET website.

Special thanks to talented graphic designer Rachael Rodriquez for creating the special Dysautonomia Awareness Week poster pictured above!