Do your homework when buying a memory foam mattress topper. Be sure you’re buying a topper that is actually made of memory foam, not just an egg crate topper. Also, check with the foam is made of. Some are made of  fibers that can aggravate allergies. As with anything else there’s better made toppers which cost more money. Read, research and check with your doctor or chiropractor to see what is recommended.

You may want to use a topper instead of a memory foam mattress though as some toppers are made specifically to allow air flow so it doesn’t trap your body’s heat as some memory foam mattresses do. This may be the way to make a decision if you want to purchase a memory foam mattress also. If you have back pain or other chronic pain you may not want to put a lot of money into buying a mattress until you’re sure you’ll be comfortable. Giving the topper a try may be your best route.

I’m often in bed when I’m sick and I want to have bedroom furniture that makes me feel comfy and more healthy. My bedroom is like a haven for me so it’s important to have things around me that I like. My night table has a pull out shelf so I can place all the things I want close to me. I love the paintings on my wall. I can lie back and meditate while looking at them. The dresser holds our TV which is handy when I want something to watch to keep my mind off of things.

All of the bedroom furniture I have is something I’ve chosen (with my husband) that looks good, serves a purpose and is calming to me. Even my lamps are have a soft lighting. The blinds are easy to reach from my bed so I can look out the window, or get some sunlight into my room. All in all, bedroom furniture is important to someone who is often sick.

When you have a number of chronic illnesses you often feel that you’re always at the doctor, but keep your check up appointments. Don’t put them off because you’re feeling well. There’s a reason for these type of appointments. You’ll probably have some tests done and your doctor will do a quick exam.

I put off my check ups in particular one with my eye doctor. I thought I was doing fine. I got some bad news though which I’ll go into later when I feel better about dealing with it. So please take my word for it and see your doctor for your check up appointments.

I’ve been researching if a memory foam mattresses will help me sleep better. Having chronic pain and other health problems is causing me to have insomnia and I need my sleep. I’ve read some information online about memory foam mattresses. I learned that this type of mattress contours to your body and since it takes a while to go back to it’s regular shape it’s as if it “remembers” your body shape.

There’s less pressure against your body so having a memory foam mattress might be the best thing to reduce pain for me. They are often used by people with bad backs so I think all over chronic pain will be covered. My problem is that we don’t need to purchase new bedroom furniture soon, but purchasing a new memory foam mattress shouldn’t be an issue. I can add one to my old bed. Now to get my husband to agree to sleeping on a memory foam mattress.

April is almost done so before I forget I need to do my annual post about Sjogren’s Awareness Month.

Sjogren’s is pronounced SHOW-grins. It is a chronic autoimmune diseases which affects the moisture producing glands. It causes dry eyes and dry mouth, but has other symptoms that can be serious. The best place to learn about Sjogren’s Syndrome and how to live with it is the Sjogren’s Syndrome Foundation in my opinion. They also raise money for research and legislation to help people with Sjogren’s.

This illustration (from Sjogren’s Syndrome Foundation) portrays the many ways that Sjogren’s can affect your body:

Often when you have been diagnosed with Sjogren’s Syndrome, you have other connective tissue disorders also. That is the case with me.

There is no cure for Sjogren’s but there are many treatments available. Be sure to find a doctor that is your partner and treats you as a whole person since there are so many body symptoms that can be involved. Often a rheumatologist, an opthamologist and dentist are your primary doctors.

Please feel free to leave a comment about Sjogren’s Syndrome. I’m not a doctor, but I’m a person living with this disease.

I am involved with a number of health related non-profits and I help raise money for them. Since I’m affected personally by chronic illness and have family members who are too, I want research done and a cure found. I research non-profits to learn how they spend their money before getting involved. Once I do though, I try to help as much as I can.

A lot of the fundraising I’ve done for these types of non-profits includes an awareness portion. You’re not only raising money, but educating people about a disease, the symptoms, the effects and treatments available. You can provide that information in written form and includes support for the patient and loved ones. Don’t get bogged down with answering questions though as your main goal is raising funds. Allow people to get the material they need and leave their address or phone number for contact at another time.

You’ve probably seen cheerleading fundraisers. Go for that type of atmosphere. Bring on the spirit! Smile, greet people and let them know quickly what you’re raising money for. If you can do this outside a large store where there will be lots of people coming in and out, you’ll have good success in raising money.

It’s always helpful to be aware of as much information on fundraising that you can handle, especially from the non-profit you’re working with. Never do something without their permission because you are using their name and raising money for that group. Pass your ideas along to them and get their approval in writing before you proceed. Most large non-profits have large fundraisers that go on across the country at the same time. This way people are aware and it makes it easier to approach someone about donating money.

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