Living with Fibromyalgia: Introduce yourself & meet others

Hi there,
I have enjoyed reading many of the posts here as they are very helpful. I had a gastric bypass in 2000 and was diagnosed with fibromyalgia about 10 years later. I’m talking about both because I have an interesting situation. Anybody with a gastric bypass deals with a dumping syndrome, where if you eat or drink anything very sweet or fatty, you have terrible symptoms. Symptoms include nausea, diarrhea, shaking, sweating, etc. In the last year or two I have noticed that when I eat something a little off my normal diet, I have intense pain all over like an intense fibromyalgia flare. I don’t know anyone else who has seen a correlation, and just wondered if I would find it here.

It can include just a little too much cream in my coffee or drinking my coffee too fast with cream in it. Or it could be a salad dressing I am eating in a restaurant and don’t know the ingredients well enough to realize it would cause a dumping. So while it doesn’t happen often, it is so intense that I just thought it would be interesting to track it. So I started noticing it and taking note and sure enough it happens almost every time. Anyone else noticed that? I am going to put the same comment into another form if I can find one on the dumping syndrome here. Thanks for your patience.

@orest I just found a book The Fibro Manual by a woman doctor, Ginerva Liptan. It is quite good and tells you how to begin reading it....between beginning this book and reading articles on the American Fibromyalgia Association (AFSA) I don't feel as helpless....in particular on MTP (myofascial trigger points) what they are, how to find get treatment, and more importantly for me how to not be misled by mainstream medical advice. I am not against traditional doctors but I am for doctors that can stand to have a dialog with their patients about their care and not stick to "general knowledge" which is neither cure, nor works for everyone...

Hi everyone, my name is Faith. I’m a mom, wife, and grandma, and I’m glad to have found this community.

I’ve been living with fibromyalgia symptoms since I was a teenager, but lately the pain has become especially difficult to manage. I’m having intense pain in the middle of my chest that goes across my breastbone. My legs are in constant pain, my feet are killing me, and even holding a pen to write can hurt. I keep pushing through as best I can, but it is becoming very difficult. Gabapentin hasn’t been helping, so my doctor and I are trying different approaches in hopes of finding something that provides relief.

Life feels especially overwhelming right now. I recently lost one of my parents to cancer, and I’m also caring for a parent who is losing their eyesight. At the same time, I’m helping other family members affected by cancer and trying to keep a business running. It’s a lot of responsibility and emotional pressure while I’m already coping with so much physical pain and grief.

I’m hoping to connect with people who understand what living with fibromyalgia is like, learn what has helped others cope, and feel a little less alone. Thank you for letting me share.

@faithraass Hi faith I wanted to reach out because you definitely have alot on your plate. I've also got fibromyalgia and I can sympathize with what your dealing with. Most definitely not fun. I can only tell you for me personally if I have to much on my plate the stress can exasperate my pain with fibromyalgia. Sounds like you could use a break and maybe get some help from family or friends. Sending your huge prayers.
Donna

@dmarkz0101 I agree that people who are coping with illness need to take care of themselves first -if they don't eventually they will be too affected by their own illness to be of any help to others. Many people will unknowingly take advantage of others if help is offered, when they should be trying to help themselves. I see this over and over when the "givers" give give give" to their own detriment.
Fibromyalgia is not a condition that responds well to stress, lack of rest, skipped meals and poor sleep....your new pains are saying that you need to take care of you. faithraass has been courageous in tackling others peoples issues while juggling her own- what a great heart, but she needs to become courageous for herself now...talk to the people who ask for or take help offered or volunteered from her and let them know that she has to pull back and take care of herself.

@orest Yeah this is probably the hardest new realisty for me is knowing that I have to rest more and take better care

@paulcard I have been diagnosed for over 6 years and I still forget not to overdo.....and actually be good to myself - that is so hard for many of us...

@orest I couldn't agree more. I've been there done that to the point of burn out. You sometimes have to step back and put your first. If you don't eventually it come back on you and you pay the pipper. If you don't take care of yourself first you can't take care of others. I'm only speaking from my own experience. Have a great weekend.
Donna

So for past year I have been getting worse with my fibro and how senstive I am to any kind of touches. It feels like someone is showing toothpicks under my fingernails when I try to file my nails or even to hold a pen, type on the keyboard. I am pushing through but by the end of the day I am in so much pain and I hide to cry. My love language is acts of service for my family and when I am not able to cook for them or do the gardening in my yard and green house I feel like am the a HUGE failure.

How do you guys cope and if you have any suggestions I am open, I am so tired of my whole body just hurting.Over the past year, my fibromyalgia symptoms have worsened, and I’ve become increasingly sensitive to any kind of touch. It feels like someone is sliding toothpicks under my fingernails when I try to file my nails, hold a pen, or type on the keyboard. I’m pushing through, but by the end of the day, I’m in so much pain that I often find myself hiding to cry.

My love language is acts of service, particularly for my family. When I’m unable to cook for them or take care of the gardening in my yard and greenhouse, I feel like a huge failure.

How do you cope with similar situations? If you have any suggestions, I’m open to them. I’m just so tired of my whole body hurting.

Hi, I am Wendy. I have had Fibromyalgya since I was a child, but in my 40´s I have to try with medicine (pregabalina & amiptritilina) because I had a relapse that lasted 3 months. It was very hard, I had stop working but I found a mexican doctor that studied chinese, greek-arabic and allophatic medicine. I stared a health program that implies drink electrolytes, eat until 6pm, not to eat carbs, bread, pasta, flour and that program really help me. My symptoms have improve and I stop taking vitamins, vegetal protein. I am better now.