1. < Fibromyalgia

Managing fibromyalgia

Posted by mrs artavia @mrsartavia, Aug 29, 2013

Hello everyone, I am looking for anyone who suffers from fibromyalgia and can suggest healing methods, medication and I would like to compare symptoms. Mine feels as if I had the flu, headache, joint aches, terribly tired, pain around the glands, stomach pain, low back. If lyou can please write with any comment or suggestion for relief, or any idea what causes it I will appreciate it thank you.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Fibromyalgia Support Group.

1langla | @1langla | Jul 21, 2016
In reply to @jharsh "I am 50 and was diagnosed with fibro a year ago at Mayo Clinic in Rochester...." + (show)
@jharsh

I am 50 and was diagnosed with fibro a year ago at Mayo Clinic in Rochester. The first thing I got under control was sleep. Generic Lexapro was prescribed after my PCP at home was confident I didn't have other sleep disorders. I have proven to myself this works best combined with adding a soak in an ultraviolet half sauna as part of a pre-bed nightly ritual.

After a year I finally have more days not in denial. I have been trying to improve my eating by focusing on what to eat. My cholesterol is ultra high (up to almost 400 at times) and I am trying to control it without meds at this point. I started with 3 fruits a day, 2 veggies at each lunch and dinner, fish once a week, eating out no more than once a week.

I started walking 5 minutes every other day a year ago and worked up to 30 minutes 4/5 times a week now. I continually fight myself on routines but have proven to myself that if I could focus on one thing only that us key...it is to drill the word "routine" into every fiber of my being. It's hard. At times I just want to be defiant to the whole idea.

I finally changed jobs to something manageable long term. I worked full time managing a call center for a magazine company. I was patient to find a part time accounting job that fits me and it had taken since the first of the year to adjust. Against, routine.

I started yoga once a week faithfully a year and a half ago. After a while a realized its value. Routine! I've tried swimming and tai chi, both I see will be great but I haven't been able to regularly incorporate them yet. I could tell it's too much.

I started chiropractic on December and added massage to compliment. It's been painful but improving my shoulder, neck, hips tremendously. I'm trying to find a sweet spot as far as scheduling frequency right now.

Pain became horrendous lately. It came on suddenly and now Jeff just as much so. It is always something, as other normal symptoms have taken over. I want to get a handicapped parking permit for that one day in many that the walk in our parking garage is oh so tough. I want to purchase a cane to have at home for those times when my walking is unstable and my knees buckle without warning. I put it off though because I'm fearful its acknowledging defeat in one battle of this war in my body. I plan to discuss it with my PCP next month.

My doc at Mayo is recommending magnets and acupuncture to try.

Jump to this post

How sad!I'm sorry.I've other types of pain besides the FM.So,it's challenging.Now,my chiro.'s office's a ways away since we moved recently.So,makes life sorta hard.I understand about meditating.I mean,4 anxiety.Sometimes I've 2 take med.4 it.Thx!

REPLY
disgusted | @disgusted | Jul 21, 2016
In reply to @colleenyoung "@disgusted What did you GP do that helped? What is your diagnosis?" + (show)
@colleenyoung

@disgusted What did you GP do that helped? What is your diagnosis?

Jump to this post

This in reply to 1langla, who wrote - Can I ask,'Did you have 2 wait a long time for your diagnosis?'I don't remember how long I had 2 wait 4 that since it has been so long.

It took me about six months of agony, including three useless trips to Mayo Clinic, before I was diagnosed. Once I did find my doctor he got right on my case and had me diagnosed within a week.

REPLY
1langla | @1langla | Jul 21, 2016
In reply to @colleenyoung "@disgusted What did you GP do that helped? What is your diagnosis?" + (show)
@colleenyoung

@disgusted What did you GP do that helped? What is your diagnosis?

Jump to this post

Pretty long!That's 2 bad!That's good.Hopefully,getting help or treatment 4 it now.

REPLY
ladyjane85 | @ladyjane85 | Jul 21, 2016

I was thinking this was my support group for fibro and back pain . Have<br>heard some diff meds, altho I never respond well to anything. But thank<br>you @disgusted (that's the way I have felt for 30 years now with 5<br>surgeries on back and all the diff procedures which do not work. @ladyjane85<br><br>

REPLY
7 replies
disgusted | @disgusted | Jul 21, 2016
In reply to @colleenyoung "@disgusted What did you GP do that helped? What is your diagnosis?" + (show)
@colleenyoung

@disgusted What did you GP do that helped? What is your diagnosis?

Jump to this post

In reply to 1langla who wrote - Pretty long!That's 2 bad!That's good.Hopefully,getting help or treatment 4 it now.

Actually, I think that was fairly fast. I have a cousin whose wife suffered terribly from fibromyalgia for over twenty years and her doctor never did figure out her problem. She eventually died in great pain and agony. I count myself very fortunate that I have been able to function fairly normally for nine years now.

REPLY
disgusted | @disgusted | Jul 21, 2016
In reply to @ladyjane85 "I was thinking this was my support group for fibro and back pain . Haveheard some..." + (show)
@ladyjane85

I was thinking this was my support group for fibro and back pain . Have<br>heard some diff meds, altho I never respond well to anything. But thank<br>you @disgusted (that's the way I have felt for 30 years now with 5<br>surgeries on back and all the diff procedures which do not work. @ladyjane85<br><br>

Jump to this post

In reply to layjane85 who wrote - I was thinking this was my support group for fibro and back pain . Have
heard some diff meds, altho I never respond well to anything. But thank
you @disgusted (that's the way I have felt for 30 years now with 5
surgeries on back and all the diff procedures which do not work

Yes, online support groups are good. I realized that after I posted my reply. What I meant was having a live support group. That also helped. I also had one back surgery which did not work, so I know how you must feel. My heart goes out to you for your suffering for so long. I hope you have a supportive family.

REPLY
ladyjane85 | @ladyjane85 | Jul 21, 2016

@disgusted I do not have as much pain at night anymore, but often have<br>insomnia from RLS. I use melatonin and valerian root (supplements) and<br>occasionally an o/c PM med. But I can still have a no sleep night for no<br>reason, or only 3 to 4 hours. Gabapentin makes me drowsy all day with no<br>pain relief. from @ladyjane85<br><br><br>

REPLY
1 reply
ladyjane85 | @ladyjane85 | Jul 21, 2016

@disgusted I just get an email with each one's message separately. So<br>do not know what came before - prefer to answer thru the separate email<br>than to go on to line to the chat room with the 16 or more msgs I rcv each<br>day on my gmail from the Mayo chat. Rrealised it was not a response to<br>something I wrote.<br>from @ladyjane85<br><br>

REPLY
1 reply
disgusted | @disgusted | Jul 21, 2016
In reply to @ladyjane85 "@disgusted I do not have as much pain at night anymore, but often haveinsomnia from RLS...." + (show)
@ladyjane85

@disgusted I do not have as much pain at night anymore, but often have<br>insomnia from RLS. I use melatonin and valerian root (supplements) and<br>occasionally an o/c PM med. But I can still have a no sleep night for no<br>reason, or only 3 to 4 hours. Gabapentin makes me drowsy all day with no<br>pain relief. from @ladyjane85<br><br><br>

Jump to this post

In reply to ladyjane85 who wrote - I do not have as much pain at night anymore, but often have
insomnia from RLS. I use melatonin and valerian root (supplements) and
occasionally an o/c PM med. But I can still have a no sleep night for no
reason, or only 3 to 4 hours. Gabapentin makes me drowsy all day with no
pain relief.

I am fortunate that my insomnia was unrelated to RLS or even pain (that developed after the insomnia, but became a major contributor to the insomnia). I don't take the Gabapentin for sleep, but i agree with you about the side effect of daytime drowsiness. I have often taken a nap during the day as a result, but try to limit them to mornings if I can. For my sleep I have found temazepam to be really helpful. It causes me to go into a state of relaxation in which I simply stop moving. It sounds really odd, but if I don't happen to get into bed in time sometimes I will fall asleep while reading and wake up at midnight or later when my clock strikes, only to find that my head has not nodded off and I am still holding the open book. Then I go into slow mo to get to bed.

The bottom line, as my sleep doc told me, is that there are a lot of drugs for insomnia out there. He started me on his plan A nine years ago and it is still working. So, keep trying and hoping that something will work for you.

REPLY
disgusted | @disgusted | Jul 21, 2016
In reply to @ladyjane85 "@disgusted I just get an email with each one's message separately. Sodo not know what came..." + (show)
@ladyjane85

@disgusted I just get an email with each one's message separately. So<br>do not know what came before - prefer to answer thru the separate email<br>than to go on to line to the chat room with the 16 or more msgs I rcv each<br>day on my gmail from the Mayo chat. Rrealised it was not a response to<br>something I wrote.<br>from @ladyjane85<br><br>

Jump to this post

I know. It is certainly confusing. I decided to copy and paste the<br>message I reply to. I hope it makes it simpler for people to understand.<br>Some of the posts seem to be unrelated to others around them.<br>​<br>

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.