Fibromyalgia: How do you cope?

@sandymom I,d like to add my wellcom to you as @parus did .I've had fibromyalgia since the 90,s and it is a chore to have The ups @downs I've had all the meds out there known researching different fibro groups I came across a group that said clinical evidence says we need more magnesium then normal people So I found a product I've been taking for years that helps me called Fibro Malic I get it from Vitacost.com It's not perfect as I still get flare ups but keeps me comfortable for the most part

@lioness
I did a search on Vitacost for the Fibro Malic and it did not come up. Can you clarify for me what it is you take or send me a link to it please. Thank you.

@sandymom I was forced to retire was doing private duty when I fractured my L2 couldn't work anymore on top of fibromyalgia since the 90,s so went in a different direction just not stopping found other things to do I love connect as this gives me an outlet to use some of my knowledge as a nurse I can't take the fibro meds they don't work but Fibro Malic does ,chair exercise,warm pool ,Tens unit ,ice ,heat Dr. put me on Tramadol when I fractured back that was the last med left me on it I still take it 1 from 4 then Meloxican for arthritis Hope some of this helps Biggest is to say No listen to your body fibro warriors we are

@lioness, I got some of the Fibro Malic and have been taking it for several days now. I am not sure but I do think it is working a bit. I also stepped up my turmeric with bioprene and am taking more of that as well. I take gabapentin (neurontin) and pristiq along with norco and belbuca. I still have pain but I am hopeful this Fibro Malic may help like you say. I have not been diagnosed with fibromyalgia but I have most of the symptoms. My mom had it as well. My doctor said she doesn't want to put it on my records because that causes some doctors to be a little hesitant about treating you as it is so difficult to treat. She doesn't want me to have a stigma attached and she said she doesn't know if I have it or not. She does believe it is real and just believes that medical science just has not figured it out yet and that is why it is so difficult to diagnose and treat. I appreciated her honesty regarding how doctors often view a fibromyalgia patient. Have you found this to be true? I have been to so many doctors over the years, I cannot even name them all. But thanks for the tip on the Fibro Malic.

Good afternoon @bastersmom and @lioness. I have to jump in here. Not only is it problematic to enter the diagnosis of fibromyalgia, it is sometimes an insurance issue. I was given a "suspected" diagnosis once and my disability insurance which was provided by the company I worked for, was canceled. They told me I would have to get my own private disability insurance.

I set up the personal coverage application, got all my records, completed the tests and was denied coverage because of that one word, "suspected". I can't imagine what would have happened if it was a confirmed diagnosis. Be careful. Be joyful today.

@artscaping @lioness
I did not know it was such a problematic issue with the insurance, etc.
I have been with this doctor for a long time and she is a very good internal medicine doc. I guess she is protecting me. She said she believes that fibro is real but that they just have not figured it out yet. She knows about all of my symptoms and I was just trying to figure out what is wrong since I keep going in to her with these symptoms. She did a massive amount of blood work and urinalysis and everything is perfectly normal. Testing for some autoimmune things too and nothing. I was reading a link on a website called The Mighty and it had an article called "Little Known Symptoms of Fibromyalgia" or something like that. It described a couple of things that have been happening lately that are new like hot flashes and sweating as well as redness on the cheeks and tenderness on the scalp. I just recently started having these in addition to all of my other symptoms and so it made me think even more that maybe I do have fibro.

I guess it is something we just are left to figure out on our own, sad to say.. I am getting ready to start some water exercise and PT in the pool. Hopefully that will help as well. Thank everyone for the information and all the best to you.

Have you ruled out neuropathy via skin punch biopsy? I had many symptoms that mimicked fibromyalgia but the Rheumatologist said nope it's not that. Later I was diagnosed with Small Fiber Poly Neuropathy with biopsy. You spoke of symptoms I've had all along. Redness of face/neck/chest, tender scalp, inconsistent body temps. I sweat if I fold warm laundry and have a hard time acclimating between temp changes...neuropathy characteristics. Also, I've read that Fibro seems to cross over to SFN. Just a thought.

@artscaping @lioness
I did not know it was such a problematic issue with the insurance, etc.
I have been with this doctor for a long time and she is a very good internal medicine doc. I guess she is protecting me. She said she believes that fibro is real but that they just have not figured it out yet. She knows about all of my symptoms and I was just trying to figure out what is wrong since I keep going in to her with these symptoms. She did a massive amount of blood work and urinalysis and everything is perfectly normal. Testing for some autoimmune things too and nothing. I was reading a link on a website called The Mighty and it had an article called "Little Known Symptoms of Fibromyalgia" or something like that. It described a couple of things that have been happening lately that are new like hot flashes and sweating as well as redness on the cheeks and tenderness on the scalp. I just recently started having these in addition to all of my other symptoms and so it made me think even more that maybe I do have fibro.

I guess it is something we just are left to figure out on our own, sad to say.. I am getting ready to start some water exercise and PT in the pool. Hopefully that will help as well. Thank everyone for the information and all the best to you.