From the article: Living with Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Living with fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome is hard -- what helps you cope? Has something helped you come to terms with your diagnosis? Maintain your relationships? Get through the day a little easier? Share it here, so your experience can help someone else! Share your experience!
restless legs
- Physical Therapist taught me to use a rolling pin to relieve restless legs. (Do not do if you have large varicose veins, but minor vv are okay) Start at bottom of foot, put rolling pin on ground and roll arch over it from front to back. Then work the ankle to knee area, always rolling up (towards the heart) gently roll about 6 times in front, 6 at each side and 6 in back. Repeat with thighs. I find this really helps. Wish I could use it when I get restless 'legs' in my stomach!
- —Guest weeroo
Improves my energy level
- A friend introduced me to a nutritional product that helps my energy level and reduced my inflamation. It increases the body's glutathione level. it is called Maxgxl and is available from discover-max.com. It's not a cure, but definately has improved my quality of life!
- —Guest Kevin
Vitamins
- I have started using a new vitamin regimen and it has given me a whole new outlook on things. Also, naps help a lot!
- —Guest LoveBus279
exercise ball
- I have been using a large exercise ball to gently stretch and tone my "core" muscles. Taking it easy there is almost no risk of injury or "overdoing it pain flare", which happened when I used a treadmill. Inevitably, tendonitis set in my knee and that was the end of that.
- —Guest kathy
Feel Better
- To get to feeling better, You have to be patient and be up and about every day. However, you have to listen to your body and rest when needed. I got a fivorce 2 and a half yrs ago and I was wiped out. My fibro and CFS was the worst that it had been in a long time. I am just now, this summer, up to the peak of my health. I still have CFS and Fibro, but as long as I listen to my body I am able to work a 36 hr week. But am down the rest of the time. I also got alot of relief from Secreatogouge Gold with L-Carnitine.
- —Guest KCRN63
"Negative and Positive"
- Try to avoid anything or anyone that has a "negative" affect on you regarding your condition. Do things that you know will have a positive outcome for you... Otherwise, the "20 Things" List is has pretty much covered it all! Thanks Linda Dee
- —Dee1127
Some useful tools for dealing with FMS
- Like so many others, my road to diagnosis and treatment has been long. Several approaches that have helped me are: 1. Soma, taken at night, provides deep sleep. Although I still get tired during the day, I felt a huge difference in general functioning once I was given Soma. 2. Working with a pain management team who coordinated my initial (confused, exhausted, and hurting) care, plus ongoing treatment with them that includes counseling, some trigger point injections and pain meds, PT occasionally, and especially their being truly attentive, caring professionals. Just lucky, I guess. 3. Movement and exercise, which I will always have to monitor. This includes walking, lots of stretching, and some weight training. Easily overdone, but better done than not! 4. Giving in to the need to rest.
- —Guest JD
Fibromyalgia help
- Trying not to have so much stress in my life knowing that it's stupid to stress over this and that
- —loveallcats1960
Meditation Has Helped My Fibromyalgia
- During my two hour daily beauty rest, I listen to Guided Imagery and Progressive Relaxation CD's. I practice gentle chair Yoga and Tai Chi or Qhi Gong plus attend an American Arthritis Foundation water exercise class at my YMCA. The warm water is relaxing and the exercise builds endorphins to cheer me. I wake each day thanking God for the gift of life then plan to do only one thing that day which will make me the happiest I can be. Love yourself, put yourself first.
- —charmagnelaprise
life with fybro
- I have had fibro for 4 years and am 57. I have found that I did need some sleep aides to help. I am on trazadone and noretryptiline. Also exercise, gardening, and massages once every 2-4 weeks helps quite a bit. I golf and live mostly a full life. Retiring from a a very stressful job sure made a major difference too. w
- —Guest Eileen
Thanks..
- I've recently been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and feel a bit overwhelmed right now. I have had problems for years but always blamed them on my bad back. I find that I feel very emotional and don't want to talk about it even with my friends. Sometimes the chronic fatigue is hard to explain, simple things don't get done and it's embarrassing to admit that even a minor phone call can be overwhelming. But I am learning to pace myself and get plenty of rest. I am lucky because I do consulting work and can work from home which allows me lie down on for breaks and even nap at lunch. And I have a WONDERFUL doctor who really "gets me" and is willing to listen and help. Thanks for all your comments and suggestions, I need all the advice I can get.
- —Guest New to this
No more wine (whine!)
- Unfortunately, I've found that my pain is worse the day after having a glass of wine or a cocktail at dinner.
- —dollface297
Alternative was the way to go for my FM
- I was diagnosed in 2000 and went through all the 'fixes' the conventional doctors had and some alternatives also. Nothing worked. However in 2004 I went to some alternative doctors who did neural therapy and prolotherapy. After the nueral therapy my FM pain lessened greatly--for me that was a miracle. They also prescribed Xyrem for my lack of sleep. That really, really helped a lot too. Later in 2004 I also had my amalgams removed as well as 3 root canals pulled. I know when I had the root canals pulled, I came to and my brain fog was gone! In 2004 I went on a strict diet to eliminate gluten, eggs and dairy which were shown to be bad intolerances for me. I also take a large amount of supplements, too numerous to mention here. It is now 5 years later and I am pretty much pain free from the 24/7 pain I had had. However, I still get pain if I am touched. But I can surely live with that.
- —Guest Jassyone
What helps with Fibro?
- Doing volunteer work when I am able helps me focus on others and not myself!
- —Guest Cheryl
acceptance and avoidance of shame
- I have lost alot of abilities that I once had in my life as all of us have I got to the point were I realized that I am a disabled person there are things that I can not do.The shame of it still surfaces at times, many many times, this is when I need to tell myself that this is what is occuring and that I must not feed into it I do this by phoning someone to talk about my feelings or journaling them onto paper the best that I can, sometimes I just rest and know that it is all I can do for now, yes, Rest is a big part of pain and fatigue management it is my responsibility to rest when I have to. Try to enjoy less symptamatic times and KNOW YOUR OWN LIMITATIONS.
- —Guest Renee NJ
1-15 of 36Next
