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Elizabeth W.
Elizabeth W. Sendmail

Any one know here deal with Fibromialgia or know some one who does!!!!?

posted 8 months ago | Report

I have recently been diagnosed with Fibromialgia and i will be damned if I am going to let it win! I am not in shape but also not out of shape if that makes sence! I am an active mom of 3 kids so i am always up and moving but I am still not where i would like to be! I know staying active will keep me healthy so I am hoping it will help with the Fibromialgia! Do any of you know on things i should do or not do!? Do you know of things that may help me!? Just needing some information and hoping any of you can help! THANKS!! :D

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  • Joe H.
    Joe H. Sendmail

    not me but my internet friend kitkat is and she's badass
    http://krazykitkat.blogspot.com/

    posted 8 months ago

  • Elizabeth W.
    Elizabeth W. Sendmail

    Thank you so much for sending me her link! She is badass and she is very inspirational!!

    posted 8 months ago

  • Elizabeth W.
    Elizabeth W. Sendmail

    Thank you so much for sending me her link! She is badass and she is very inspirational!!

    posted 8 months ago

  • Joy R.
    Joy R. Sendmail

    Elizabeth - first, good for you for having such a positive outlook and wanting to stay active.

    I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in 1998 and went through a period of years that I had flareups and difficulties. My last flareup was in 2008 and that was after a decent stretch of time where I hadn't had any problems.

    What I've noticed:

    When my weight was higher and I was more sedentary I had more problems. I was told when I was initially diagnosed that it was totally counter-intuitive - especially on the days that I was really tired, foggy, or achy - to keep moving but it was super important.

    High stress situations cause flareups. My last flareup in 2008 was when my husband's father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. It was a really chaotic, emotionally difficult 6 weeks - I was feeling tenderness and soreness in tender/trigger points that I hadn't felt in years.

    Good sleep is ESSENTIAL. If I start to go through a phase where I'm not sleeping well (independent of needing to get up for kiddos) I usually take a sleep aid to get me back on track.

    I keep track of my "marbles". Sometimes I need to track them more closely - others I don't track them at all, but I envision the whole of my energy levels, my emotional state and how I'm feeling overall as a clear glass bowl full of marbles. Marbles get added or subtracted depending on how my day goes - but at any time if i tell my husband (which thankfully at this point is pretty rare) that my marbles are low, he knows exactly what I'm talking about.

    I've been fortunate that, again, I haven't had any difficulty since 2008 but it was also around that time that I got my act together, got a gym membership, got back into shape and really took control of my life for the first time. I think the biggest thing you can do is stay active and increase your activity as you can - but also pay attention to your body. Back in 1998 I never could have imagined that I'd be running like I am now and basically flareup free.

    Good luck!

    Joy

    posted 8 months ago

  • Elizabeth W.
    Elizabeth W. Sendmail

    Thank you Joy! At least reading this i know that maybe the flare ups will stop! I have always been active, even my job is very active, I am a skating car hop at sonic! I try and let my family know that my stress level has reached my nose or eyes so they know we allneed to chill!! Right now i am helping a friend with her kid so thats alot more stress on our whole family! Along with just moving in and we got a new dog before we took on the kiddo, things got really chaotic all at once!

    I really want to stay active and keep my flare ups to a minimum! I really am tired of it you know! Sad thing is that I cant pin point a time in the past few years that's been normal for me! I know we can handle whats given to us and everything happens for reasons!

    When you were working out during your flare ups what helped you deal!?
    Do you ever worry that you may flare up do to your work out? That scares me!
    I am not overweight but not normal weight! I am a mom of three kids so i got some extras, so my excersizing is more for maintaining the pain and hoping that i can get some help by staying active! I do alot and prolly more than i should but i do it all for my family!! :D

    Thanks again, Joy!

    posted 8 months ago

  • Trish H.
    Trish H. Sendmail

    This is so neat. I just posted on another forum that I was new to dm and was looking for advice on where to begin with it. I also have fibromyalgia and have had it for almost 20 years. The better shape I'm in, the less flare ups. This is probably the worst shape I've been in at 53, and I've had more flare-ups this past year and pretty much been debilitating. I'm at the point where my doctor has told me I need to get healthy, lose weight, get my cholesteral down, it's at 978 right now, and do some drastic changes or I'm not going to be around. This is the most I've ever weighed and feel horrible. I know I can't just start running, so I've started off with walking so far. Is anyone has any advice on what else to do to speed things along, I'd like to hear them. I do know the more weight you have on you, the worse the pain is.

    posted 8 months ago

  • Joy R.
    Joy R. Sendmail

    Elizabeth & Trish: Swimming. Swimming or water aerobics were good for me because it got me moving but was really low impact on my joints, which - during a flareup was what I needed. Even just walking in a pool is great for you because of the added resistance.

    And to answer your question, Elizabeth: I'm not as worried about my working out causing a flareup as I used to be - and that's because most importantly I'm where I need to be physically, but also as the years have gone on I'm more aware of my limitations. I know when I can't push myself and I don't. I've also gotten real good at asking for help. I know if I push it, I'll pay for it later.

    Good luck to you both - and if you think I can be of help in any other way, let me know.

    Joy

    posted 8 months ago

  • Christopher H.
    Christopher H. Sendmail

    Elizabeth, I have looked after quite a few people with fibromyalgia.Mostly women which is common. All the advice I have read here, especially from those affected is really sound. I quite regularly ask some of the people whom have been diagnosed for a long time to have input into the newly diagnosed patients.
    I think you will do really well.Firstly you have a really good positive mental approach. Keeping moving and staying physically fit is really important. Alot of people suggest a sound diet too. I think this is true but likely part of the whole looking after yourself thing. If it hasn't happened already ask your DR to refer you to a specailist.The consultant will usually have a specialist nurse you can call with any questions and will follow you up for the first few years.
    Low impact exercise is good. Some people seem to get alot from yoga or pilates. Cycling and running is something you can also enjoy but there are no limits see what suits. You could involve your family in this if they are old enough which will help with motivation.
    Get involved with a group.
    Keep your positive attitude.
    Push through the hard days but give yourself a break you are not superhuman (even if you are a mum of three)
    Good luck and keep up the good work.

    posted 8 months ago

  • Stacey
    Stacey Sendmail

    I have fibro.. main thing is dont over do it. try to do low impact exercising and LISTEN TO YOUR BODY..

    If you need support, feel free to add me.

    posted 4 months ago

  • Stacey
    Stacey Sendmail

    I have fibro.. main thing is dont over do it. try to do low impact exercising and LISTEN TO YOUR BODY..

    If you need support, feel free to add me.

    posted 4 months ago

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