Digestive issues and fibromyalgia

@gastrochic, you're not alone. Members like @shilo2pp @bjintn @leslie324 @woot @pedrito @mindfulness and more have talked about managing fibromyalgia as well as GI issues and can offer their experiences.

You might also find these related discussions helpful:
- Acid Reflux: How do you get relief?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/acid-reflux-1/
– Have you found anything to successfully treat fibromyalgia pain? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/dealing-with-fibromyalgia-pain/

@ gastrochic. I have all the gastro problems you have and more. I have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia after 15 years of having my symptoms dismissed by multiple Doctors. I am almost bedridden now. To answer your question. I find it hard to separate the 2 problems. I feel one just aggravates the other. You didn't mention your age but the younger you can find good Doctors to help and listen to your concerns, I would think the better you will find ways to cope. I never had that privilege. Best wishes to you. Wish I could have been more help.

@gastrochic @diceanna21 you are not alone. I also have all the problems you have, and after several years was finally diagnosed with fibromyalgia.

I find having the head of my bed raised on bed risers (available on Amazon and linen and bath stores) helps with the reflux, along with a Prevacid at bedtime. I stop eating and drinking by 9:00 p.m. the latest.

For constipation and irritable bowel I take two tablespoons of generic brand Metamucil (psyllium fibre - make sure it’s the whole husk kind and not the very fine powdered kind which gels before you can drink it down). I started with one teaspoonful and worked my way up to two tablespoonsful. That has made a world of difference with constipation. It takes two or three days to start working and you can’t skip a day.

I'm 46. Had problems for years. My GP never said fibromyalgia, my neurologist did. But I knew with all my complaints I baffled my DR. I'm glad my neurologist at least put the pieces for me, and with that everything makes a little more sense to me. But I also accept I have a lot more to learn, I just found out early November of this year. Thank you for your respond. I appreciate it and God's blessings to you.

Thank you for your response. Yes!! You were helpful any tips are helpful. I just been diagnosed in early November of this year so I have much to learn. With the Metamucil husk thing, do you put it in water? Or is there another drink that goes better? I'm not a fan of water. I never tried to bed thing but maybe I should. 🤔 my teeth have all ready gone, I truly believe from the acid. I also want to believe it caused my hiatal hernia, but I'm not sure. Your information I find very valuable and thank you again. God's blessings to you.

Just want to give a tip about psyllium husk for constipation. If you don't like water, I don't either, I buy this in capsule form at Walmart. Its 100% husk. I take 3 a day, plus eat lots of whole grain wheat toast. It helps that I love toast. Maybe some don't like it. I tried raising the head of my bed for acid reflux but it didn't help. I take 20 mg pepsid in a.m. and keep tums by bed for middle of night heartburn. Blessing to all.

Oh wow, thanks I didn't know it came in a capsule!! I definitely will look for that. Tha contaminated city water where I live gave me a chlorine allergy as the levels coming into my house I have had so much exposure to chlorine even in flour. I will look if there is a unbleached flour wheat bread! That would be awesome if there was.

@ gastrochic. I forgot the most important thing I have found for constipation. Keeping my fingers crossed. It really seems to be working. I read it on line on a website. I have always read that you need to keep G.I. tract oiled up. (My layman terms.) I also found this at wal mart. I take one a day. Pretty big pill but so far has really worked for me. The brand is,Spring Valley. Fish,flax,borage oil. Most diets for constipation advise use of flax but I couldn't figure out how to use it in cooking. So when I found this online,I figured it gave me the oil,and flax in one pill. Don't know what the Borage was for but didn't think it would hurt me. 😕 so far after 2 weeks, I have had regular movement each day. I still take the psyllium husk capsules to be on safe side. Hope this helps you. It's very inexpensive, so that helps. 🙌 blessings to you.

@gastrochic you can use juice instead of water or any other flavoured non carbonated water, but since you would be drinking two glasses of liquid (one with psyllium mixture then a second glass of plain liquid) you might find it too sweet. I prefer unflavoured so I have no problem with it.

The brand name, Metamucil, comes in a couple of flavours as well as un flavoured so you might prefer that, although you would be mixing it with water, and the second glass would be plain water. That way, you will have to drink only one glass of just water.

I am also on the neuropathy forum, because my original diagnosis was fibromyalgia, but have been found to have small fiber neuropathy. Anyway, I suffer from reflux, with esophageal spasms if I don’t keep it under control. I have a great gastroenterologist who has helped me control that, and my constipation. I take prescription omeprazole, 40mg, every morning. For the constipation, I have settled on Mirilax. I can use it morning and night if needed, and tailor the dose by adding more or less to my water. I also just read a reference to Colon Max on the other forum. I’m going to read about it.
As far as water goes, I’ve always been a big water drinker. With the neuropathy, I carry water with me everywhere. I seem to need a swallow every 30 minutes or so throughout the day. I can put my Miralsx in there. You could do the same with the Metamucil.
I would recommend that you find a liquid that you enjoy - it could be anything - to take your supplements with, and make sure you are hydrated enough for them to work.
I’m going to research that Colon Max!