I have just been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, and every morning I wake up feeling like I have been hit by a Mac truck. Every bone and muscle in my body is throbbing! So, what does my Doctor tell me to do?? Exercise! I am writing to brag that even though it hurt, and even though I don't see the results yet (but I will!), I have taken a good walk almost every day this week! Gotta go..time to walk!

Mom,
Sorry to hear of your diagnosis! From past experience with related problems might I suggest you try a natural or raw diet. It takes some getting used to, but can be extremely helpful. Too, have you checked to make certain you do not have food allergies or sensitivities you are unaware of? One of the most common is to sulfites, a preservative in many foods, also found it wine and chocolate. If you want more info just let me know. Oh, one clean diet that might be worth trying can be found at:http://flowdiet.blogspot.com
Wishing you great luck...! Angelpoems - Vicki

I was recently diagnosed with both Fibromyslgia and Ruematiod Arthritis.Also, I was in an elevator accident and have injuries from that. I always feel "like I have been hit by a mac truck". A light bulb went off when I was told there was a name for how I felt. I have all the sympoms regularly. The all over exhaustion is the worst. Unfortunately excerise is out for me. I talk a combination of meds that somewhat helps- depends on the day- It is great to hear you are able to excerise.Keep it up! The little walking I do kills me.

I also have a chronic pain desease I've been living with for going on nine years now. Its called RSD. I've been on pain meds the whole time so I do have a better quality of life then if I wasn't on the meds. I keep them down to the bear minimum. I can walk thank God. But if you can't maybe you can try some easy yoga or begining pilates. I've done both and it makes you feel good to stretch. You should try it. Good luck to you.

I understand your situation as well. I have had neuromuscular problems for almost 20 years now and have had difficulty walking along with fibro . I cannot walk much more than a block now without a walker. I also have problems breathing . I am overweight and told to exercise but have no strenght or breath to do it. It's a terrible circle. I buy magazines and read about excercises good for this and that being done by very healthy thin women. When are we going to see overweight women with health problems and the inability to get down on the floor (I haven't been able to do so for 45 years due to some knee surgery in my teens) doing these well talked about and wonderful exercises to "get rid of belly fat". TV ads for exercise equipment are also done by slim fit people. Sure it is easy for them.
I have 2 new grandchildren and I am not able to get down on the floor with them and I was yelled at by an 80ish lady telling me to get out of the handicapped parking spot on one of my bad days.
I would love to walk but between fatugue, pain and depression from the first two it doesn't get done.
Any suggestions?

Hi to all, I was reading your posts and feel for you all, I too have fibromyalgia, I also have Lupus chronic pain syndrome and osteo arthritis in my knees hips and ankles. I am on morphine and percocet,and other various meds but if I actually took the amount the doctors wanted me too I would be in a coma lol, I grin and bare the pain I have too my family just doesn't get it and will not help me so everything is left for me to do so if I don't do it, it doesn't get done around the house.It doesn't matter if I am having a lupus flare and my fibro is bad they both act like a double whammy attacking my joints and muscles and mind. I look like the Hunch Back of Notre Dam walking, no hobbling around the streets never mind walking the dogs or shopping for the 3 at home playing video games or working in his "hobby room". Sorry kinda got off topic, you need to try to keep your muscles moving even a little or they will get stiffer when it comes to fibro, try to to little stretches when your watching tv or if your up to it lift light weights or a can of soup while watching your favourite show, the less you do the less you want to do thats what i find happens and vice a versa.

Hi! This is my first post here. I have many of the symptoms that others have. I have found that a "caveman" diet works best for me. But it's sure difficult to stay on. I have a little disabled Bichon that loves to go on walks. So as terrible as I may feel, I try to take her on a walk for 1/2 hour. Sometimes in the afternoon we will go on a short 5 minute walk, where she runs and I walk! LOL!
Hubby and I are Canadians living here in
Kentucky and don't have any family near. Hubby works long hours so he leaves it up to me to do everything and that's where comfort food comes in! It's been difficult for me to make friends being so ill. But I enjoy my walks and lots of people wave to me or honk their horn. I think that they recognize my little white 3 legged dog! So if I get nothing else done in a day, I'm always proud of myself for at least going on a walk!!!

Jan

Hi All! It really breaks my heart to hear of so much pain that we endure. I too have fibro since the end of 2002. I was going through a very bad divorce and didn't knot what was going on with my body. The doctor I had first just treated me like I was just one of these crazy ladies and gave me a lot of medication. I have since change m.d.'s. I don't have solid answers but swimming helps me. No touching the ground or my feet hurting. Find a good heated pool with a group class of water aerobics or swim laps if you are like me. I use to swim on a team so I'm use to it. It really does help if you can get past the whole bathing suit issue. My physical therapist told me to get over myself because I was just going to get worse if I didn't get out there and do something. It's very difficult. God Bless You All!

Jan,

Just wanted to stop in and say HELLO. You can see a basic intro of me over in the "looking for excercise videos" thread. I too LOVE dogs. I have fibromyalgia among umpteen other health issues. Your little bichon sounds like the most adorable little thing! Winters are the absolute worst. The bitter cold really does me in and is why I moved back to my native Houston from Oklahoma City--which I really loved living there, but due to all my health issues, etc, I didn't have much of a choice but to come back home. Hope your holidays are blessed and relatively pain-free. If you need any suggestions like websites or other resources, don't be afraid to drop me a line. I have a little database here of MANY resources I have found over the years on the web. Smiles.

ERGH.... silly me...should have read ALL the entries first hahahaha!

JosieP....your situation sounds so much like mine. if you can find it over in the looking for excercise video thread....

I think its time I do a little introduction. My name is LeAnn, but friends call me Le. My net handle--just about everywhere--is DeafEskie. If that sounds familiar it means some of you either ran into me on another forum or saw me on Animal Planet's "Pet Story, Eskie Railroad". (I do volunteer work for Heart Bandits American Eskimo Dog Rescue--I am their nationwide transport coordinator). Currently I reside in Houston. I moved back to my native city from Oklahoma City in July due to all my health issues, and some other things, I felt it was time to come back home. I really do miss Oklahoma though. My hobbies include the rescue work, scrapbooking, reading, enjoying HGTV/Amimal Planet shows, hanging out with friends and hubby or Mom, keeping touch with my friends who are now scattered all over the country. I am also looking into starting loom knitting or some type of paper craft that I could actually make the things then sell them. But gotta wait until I am on CPAP therapy for my sleep apnea. I love animals. Really would love to work with animals but do not see HOW due to all my limitations. I was born and raised here in Houston. No brothers/sisters--am an only child. There's lots more but I think this is good enuf. I have two dogs--Miss Blossie (hearing dog heading FAST for retirement), and little Meriko, a deaf-blind albino mix.

I identify with so many of you that express concerns of chronic pain. And here is why--the following is just about every diagnosis I have so far, and I am sure that a couple more have not even been found yet, :-P They are as follows--and warning...its a mouthful!--
Born Deaf-Blind & with cataracts, Patin Ductus Arteriosus & Pulmonary Arterial Stenosis due to CRS--Congenital Rubella Syndrome...current components/conditions that challenge me today: Psoriasis, Psoriatic Arthritis, Major Depression, Glaucoma, Endometrosis (most removed via hysterecomy 2003), Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), GERD (Acid Reflux), Fibromyalgia (FMS)/Chronic Myofasicial Pain Syndrome (CMP), Osteoarthritis of the spine, hands, ankles, feet, knees and possibly hips...Schuermann's Disease, 90 degree curvature of Kyphosis, Lordosis, (yes I have two types of scoliosis in my spine), Premature Ventricular Contractions (PVC's), Narcolepsy (a sleep disorder), OSA--Obstructive Sleep Apnea (yet ANOTHER sleep disorder), Hypokalemia (low potassium--unknown cause-they can't utilize the proper test due to being on duretics), Hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), post-surgical menopause, Hypothyroidism and fully recovered from Congestive Heart Failure--just am praying it is NOT trying to come back.....

One little reminder to all of us, including me--remember to love yourself. Pamper yourself. Put you FIRST.

Happy Holidays!

does anyone have a way to explain fibromyalia to family
and friends? You can't see this debilitating disease and
I have found that it is very difficult to explain how much
pain I am in, when I "don't" look in pain>

One way I described it to my not- so very understanding brother( and some others) was.... Like in the movie "Ghost"- when Patrick Swayze- jumps into other peoples bodies and effects them. It is just same with Fibro, The body looks the same old great/ok way, but the fibro has invaded it and is taking over. I told them to imagine their worst case of the flu- where every inch of their body hurts including their hair- and magnify that by 50- that's a good day for some. In the beginning, my husband was a little leary. I thought I was going insane.At first- It was just called" chronic pain due to a tramatic injury to the spine". But 4 years later and a great set of Doctors I have been diagnosed with fibro also. My husband is extremely understanding I am no longer "Superwoman" and my kids do most of the time. Your family and "true" friends will come around. Tell them to read the web.I feel your anguish. We can only take it day to day. When i get a chance i will list a few of the websites i found useful.

Hello to All. I have for quite a while felt like I was so misunderstod or thought of as someone looking for sympathy with my Fibro but now I see so many people who suffer much worse that me. Sometimes I feel like I need a massage therapist and house keeper and some other things to keep me focused on getting on with my life. (The massage would probably render me bed ridden.) I have been blessed with probably mild Fibro compared to some of you. I can do some things, many things but my whole life has changed and I just have to accept it. I still have much to be thankful for. My heart goes out to all of you and I will remember you in my prayers. God Bless you all.

I also suffer from fibro. A few years ago I started taking a class in deep water aerobics. You do not have to know how to swim to be in this class. A belt around the waist keeps you where you are suppose to be. I cannot tell you how much this helped me. It gave me back my life. Exercising in warm water is very good for pain. After taking the class for six months I became a water aerobics instructor. I have seen this help so many people with fibro, weight problems, knee problems, arthritis, etc.

quote:

Originally posted by MsDaisy:
Hello to All. I have for quite a while felt like I was so misunderstod or thought of as someone looking for sympathy with my Fibro but now I see so many people who suffer much worse that me. Sometimes I feel like I need a massage therapist and house keeper and some other things to keep me focused on getting on with my life. (The massage would probably render me bed ridden.) I have been blessed with probably mild Fibro compared to some of you. I can do some things, many things but my whole life has changed and I just have to accept it. I still have much to be thankful for. My heart goes out to all of you and I will remember you in my prayers. God Bless you all.