Living with Fibromyalgia: Introduce yourself & meet others

I am new to both this site and Fibro. I am 76 years old, and female. I've been in much pain and have tried Naproxen, Meloxicam and Diclofenac to no avail. Lately, I've been taking LYRICA, which has been hailed as a new treatment. It doesn't work for me. I've been on CYMBALTA for many years for depression, and it obviously doesn't work, either. I have been under tremendous stress, which I believe caused the disease and has exacerbated it. The big problem is that my husband is on oxygen and can do nothing, so I've sort of taken over chores and things he used to be able to do. And it's killing me. Some days I can hardly walk, am exhausted and very irritable. I've got to find something that alleviates the pain!
I am a Mayo patient for years but have yet to see a specialist as I spend winters in Florida and summers in Illinois (which is closer to the clinic). I intend to get appointment this summer, but I have to function till then. I am excited to perhaps learn some coping strategies from you people!

Iam73 yrs old. I am 5'8'' , 135 pounds. i go to trainer 2 times per week and do cardio at home. had car accident, fely pain all over for couple days. then had tramatic stress event that resulted in full fibro now more than 15 yrs. ago. I have more than a dozen tender points on my body, which don't bother me. when I have a flair up the pain type varies, burning, sharp, achy. I also have places of pain that linger, like left rib area, etc. I feel fatigue that is'nt helped with my meds, I get urinary frequency from feeling of urgency, my sleep is interrupted, I get a feeling of depression, Have bad brain fog with bad flair up,, have modified my activities due to less stamina, stopped going to meetings at night, don't like to be out passed 9:30 which has caused a major problem of worrying if I will have energy for daily activities, I try not to talk about my pain and get upset if husband asks? Who wants to have a partner like that! I have found cardio will help me feel better, unless bad flair up. I have headaches and sinus problems. intermitent IBS . Sounds like classic case. I havr tried, savella, gabapentin, lyrica, cymbalta which did not change symptom pattern. I was given adderal which helps me focus better and will give me energy to live, unless bad flair, then I try cardio when that doesnt offer relief I nap. IN the beginning I was in bed alot until I felt like this is what a dying person does so I started looking for treatment. Now I know at this point there is no tratment. They don't know what it is or the causes I do a lot of research. I know if I am worried, or over work it flairs. I take 2-4 tylenol every day, evening brings worse pain. I don't want to get addicted to pain meds so I use them sparingly and never take a full dose. I have tried ice baths, accupuncture, meditation, etc. etc. , just bought accu mat so I don't know, but it doesn't relivev tender points.
Went on blog once but everyone was so down I stopped... Good luck to everyone and I just reccomend being in tune...

Iam73 yrs old. I am 5'8'' , 135 pounds. i go to trainer 2 times per week and do cardio at home. had car accident, fely pain all over for couple days. then had tramatic stress event that resulted in full fibro now more than 15 yrs. ago. I have more than a dozen tender points on my body, which don't bother me. when I have a flair up the pain type varies, burning, sharp, achy. I also have places of pain that linger, like left rib area, etc. I feel fatigue that is'nt helped with my meds, I get urinary frequency from feeling of urgency, my sleep is interrupted, I get a feeling of depression, Have bad brain fog with bad flair up,, have modified my activities due to less stamina, stopped going to meetings at night, don't like to be out passed 9:30 which has caused a major problem of worrying if I will have energy for daily activities, I try not to talk about my pain and get upset if husband asks? Who wants to have a partner like that! I have found cardio will help me feel better, unless bad flair up. I have headaches and sinus problems. intermitent IBS . Sounds like classic case. I havr tried, savella, gabapentin, lyrica, cymbalta which did not change symptom pattern. I was given adderal which helps me focus better and will give me energy to live, unless bad flair, then I try cardio when that doesnt offer relief I nap. IN the beginning I was in bed alot until I felt like this is what a dying person does so I started looking for treatment. Now I know at this point there is no tratment. They don't know what it is or the causes I do a lot of research. I know if I am worried, or over work it flairs. I take 2-4 tylenol every day, evening brings worse pain. I don't want to get addicted to pain meds so I use them sparingly and never take a full dose. I have tried ice baths, accupuncture, meditation, etc. etc. , just bought accu mat so I don't know, but it doesn't relivev tender points.
Went on blog once but everyone was so down I stopped... Good luck to everyone and I just reccomend being in tune...

Justin Thank You!, I numbered these as it will make it easier to read. I have had fibromyalgia for 28 years and below are symptoms & coping mechanisms that I hope will help others. God Bless You all and praying for you all that have this. It is not an easy road.

1) Fibro can cause burning, aching, pain to the touch, stiffness, muscle spasms, migraines, IBS, daily headaches. brain fog, deep pain that even feels like its in the joints....buts its the in the fibrous tissue & muscle. Extreme fatigue. Chronic Fatigue Sydrome & Fibromyalgia go hand in hand. Us Fibro folks are also sensitive to a lot of things that other people are not.

2) Thyroid Disease tends to go along with Fibromyalgia, so please get all of your thyroid levels checked: TSH, T3, T4 & Thyroid Antiglobulins & Antibodies. You can have more than 1 thyroid disease. I have Hashimotos & Graves Disease.

3) Arthritis tends to go along with Fibromyalgia.

4) I find rest is helpful, hot bath soaks in Epsom salt or a hot shower if you can't get into tub, heat packs (Bed Buddy on Amazon), Voltaren Gel rubs (a few times a day) and I use Flexeril 5 mg for spasms. I take a lot of supplements. Magnesium is good for Fibromyalgia. Make sure that your D3 and B12 are in check and you are not low as this can cause pain and more fatigue.

5) Extra strength tylenol 650 mg as I cannot take NSAID such as Motrin, Advil, Aleve or prescription Mobic. I have tried so many meds and I can't tolerate most of them for Fibro.

6) Somedays a short nap with heatpacks helps. I turn the ringer off on the phone. I may feel good for an hour and then start hurting all over and become exhausted for no reason. Crazy, isn't it?

7) I cannot overplan my calendar. If I am invited to something, I say, "I'll see how that day is going for me". It's hard to commit to something with fibromyalgia.

8) Keep moving even if you don't feel like it or you will get stiffer. Stretch in the morning when you get up. If you can tolerate a massage, it helps.

9) If you see a change in the fibromyalgia, see your primary physician as other things can mimic fibro such as: Lupus, MS or RA.

10) Birthdays for family & holidays can be hard as you have more to do. Try and pace yourself (I am a type A and this is hard for me!) and do a little something each day to prepare. Order gifts online. Use gift bags instead of wrapping...that aggravates my hands (I have arthritis in my hands).

11) Order groceries online and bring bags in the house making more trips rather than fewer or you can flare yourself up. There are actually some grips you can put on grocery bags to take the strain off of your hands. I think Amazon has them.

12) Try to avoid stress (I know!) and a steady diet of negativity such as the news & people that always have so much drama in their life. Emotional turmoil can cause a flare up. Extreme weather change can cause a flare. Also, caffeine & sugar are not your friend. If you have extra weight on you, try and get it off. This has helped me greatly and I still have a few pounds to go. 1 pound of extra weight is 4 pounds extra on your knees!

13) Women are more prone to fibromyalgia than men. I believe that having Epstein Barr and chonic sinus infections for many years triggered this for me.

14) COVID ramped up my fibromyaglia a lot.

15) Wear good supportive shoes.

16) When I have a good day, I cannot over do it or I will have a flare up. Pace yourself on the good days! Mornings are the worst time for me and so I try and not plan early morning appointments.

17) Laugh! Be around people that are postiive and make you laugh. "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine....but a broken spirit drieth up the bones" Proverbs 17:22

18) I have 2 dear friends that have fibromyalgia and we talk a lot and pray for each other. It feels so good to unload sometimes.

19) Do things that relax you. I love crossword puzzles, music, singing, writing, Pinterest recipes, journaling, sitting in the sunshine, watching birds, baking, writing cards to others to gets my mind off of myself. Pain can consume your thinking. Be others minded. On days I am able, I make extra soup for my family so I can drop off some at someone's door that has COVID, the flu or other illnesses.

20) Most of all, I love reading my Bible, Praying for others. My personal relationship with the Lord all these years is what has sustained me and kept me going. Chronic suffering has changed my prayer life to trust Him more and pray for others fervently that are suffering.

21) When I have a pity party (and I do) I must get out of that kind of thinking really quickly. "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he" Proverbs 23:7. I remind myself there are others a whole lot worse off than me.

22) I'm getting ready to try red light therapy and possibly try a chiropractor. Stay tuned....

23) Find at least 5 things daily you are grateful for.

24) Cooking huge meals is something I no longer can do. The standing is hard for long periods of time. I keep my meals at home simple and use the crock pot a lot.

25) If I have a doctors appointment or errands for that day, I get a takeout meal and bring home if I do not have leftovers. I know that I will be exhausted.

God Bless You All Greatly. I empathize. I care.

Hi. I am nu to this site! Im sooo releived 2 hav a group wif sum 1 like mee. I waz en a car acksident a wile bak so pleez 4giv me spelin i reellee kant help it. So than u 4 Ur understandin:} If u du not understan wat im tyoin pleez jus ask I will du mi best 2 cleer it up. I hav a brain enguree, fibro,, Ijus shake sum timez, pain all tha time, drpreeshun I get reelleecold whin a drink sumthin cold (Brrrr)< sumtimez it iz hard for mee 2 undrstand, i kant sit tooo long, mi bonez hert, mi skin b so sensitive I kant evan stan 2 b touch bi anee thain, anee bodee or mi self & sum othor thingz. i do hav aself kleenin vacuum tii help mee. Gosh mi flarez last 2 to 3 weekz at a time!!! Thay ware mee ot! im jus kummin off 1 now. but im a fighter. In not gonna let Fibro WIN!! I think i need 2 swich dr1

@kimmee Welcome to MayoClinnicConnect! I’m glad that you found the site. It took me a few minutes to understand what you were writing, but once I got it, it was a breeze. I understood everything! Do doctors know about your flares and how long they last and the pain? Have they prescribed anything? I always ask too many questions so now I’ll let the members share their experiences.