Managing fibromyalgia

I've had Fibro for 25+ years and what I do faithfully summer,fall,string or winter.... I use a heating throw blanket and a heating pad. Showers hurt when the water touches my skin and baths are out of the question due to medical problems, so a shower just long enough to get clean and wash my hair. The heat helps my joints and when I'm sitting in my recliner that throw is turned on and I put the heating pad on my neck.
I've also started trying Acupuncture and I was skeptical but I can tell a difference! Also everyday I take a Probiotic once a day and it has tamed my gut down where I have Irritabl Bowel Syndrome and it helps me stay regular. I also use a wheelchair as I can't walk far due to swelling in feet.
I hope this helps! Best of luck to you!

Hot water bath for 1 hour helps a lot, massage also helps and yoga
Physiotherapy for the fibrozed joints

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea in 2004 and was prescribed 15 mg zopiclone nightly and a Cpap unit. In 2009, I was tested again and no longer had sleep apnea but was diagnosed with chronic insomnia. Since 2010, I have been prescribed at bedtime: 15 mg zopiclone, 100 mg Trazodone, 50 mg Quetiapine, and 50 mg Elavil. In 2011, It was discovered that I developed left bundle branch block. I began showing symptoms in 2018 of shortness of breath, fainting, dizziness, fatigue and muscle weakness. I am now wondering if all the medication that I am taking for insomnia has contributed to my heart problems. Any thoughts on this would be welcomed.

Hi Ken, it sure sounds like you might need a review of your medications with your doctor and/or cardiologist. I'm not a medical professional and therefore not in a position to weigh in on the cause of the left bundle branch block. However, you do want to make sure that it is being treated appropriately and that the medications you are currently on are not worsening your cardiovascular issues.

Is your cardiologist aware of the current drugs you take and the history of diagnoses and treatments? I'm also curious that you posted your message to a discussion about fibromyalgia. Do you also have fibromyalgia?

I was just curious about fibromyalgia and the symptoms, some of what I’m feeling. Thanks for replying to my email.
I obtained my health records through the “freedom of information act” and looking through the letters from doctors is certainly enlightening. Some phrases such as: wide QRS complex, subclinical atherosclerosis, nonischemic cardiomyopathy, left bundle branch block, inflammatory arthritis, osteoporosis, chronic insomnia. Amazing why the doctors involved failed to mention many of these results. I have an appointment with a cardio internist this week and will be asking many questions, including about medications. Thank you for your comments. I will keep you updated.

Did you meet with the cardio internist? What did you learn?

Runners with fibromyalgia: 1. Is running up hills extremely painful? And 2. When I stop running, I have an overwhelming pain that runs through my calves for about 10 seconds to a minute. It is excruciating and worse than the pain running up hills. Does this happen to anyone else.

Hi,
I have been suffering from fibromyalgia for years and I have been to many doctors and done many tests.
The most important problem that torments me is muscle stiffness. Although I have taken and am taking many medicines, I still have this problem.

Now my question is, has a new drug been made for this problem that will reduce some of the problems of fibromyalgia patients?
Thanks,
Saeed

About 35 years dealing with fibromyalgia---and several other issues, but for just the fibromyalgia, no one seems to know the cause; that's a given. As for treatments. I've tried several prescriptions; they do not help me, though they may help some people. A few years ago I was prescribed Tramadol for back pain; it does nothing at all for that, but I discovered that it greatly helped the fibromyalgia aches! So, I take one when I wake up, and another in the afternoon, when I really need it. It does NOT help the fatigue, of course. I do take a green tea capsule as soon as I wake up, which usually helps my body to function for a few hours. I wish you the best in dealing with this very uncomfortable issue.

Dr. Johnson at nashvilleprolotherapy says connective tissue disorder is sometimes labeled as Fibromyalgia. Here is something from his website article that may help ... "people, usually women, who present with “multi-site connective tissue pain without trauma.” That is they have pain in several sites without an injury to account for the connective tissue damage. These people have often been told that they have “Fibromyalgia.” ... Treatment of these people requires more than triggering healing in damaged structures. In addition, the factors that are keeping their connective tissue healing syste from working must be identified and, if possible, rectified. This may be as simple as stopping regular use of NSAIDs, or it may require hormone testing and Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement, or it may involve more extensive testing and treatment. In most cases though, these factors can be rectified and healing can be accomplished."