From the article: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia & Grieving
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!
Holiday Overload
- I know my diet changes have helped me by eliminating potatoes, bread, rice, any kind of these. But Thanksgiving and two years of none of these and I ate my Thnaksgiving dinner and leftovers for 5 dyas. Now I feel terrible. I should have stuck to the foods that work for me. Major flare time..
- —HopeDen1
My experience with Fibromyalgia
- I can very well understand what is going on with you. I am in the same boat. I miss the crucial support of a spouse since I am sole caregiver to my bipolar, ageing husband. Life is mostly like a hot tin roof and there is no let up for me. I am blessed with 2 very loving and giving kids but they live in another country. So it is entirely up to the Internet to furnish my daily dose of humour, hope and pep talk. I am 4 to 5 years old with FM but still am unable to cope easily, get easily depressed and so on. I had to give up my job as a senior journalist working for a media chain in the country. I miss my true life and calling as only someone who loves it can. Have tried to shape my professional life again thru smart changes in writing choices but cannot sustain it in the light of the burden of caregiving. Do I sound selfish? Dont mean to but since I am myself here with FM, I need to review my life choices. Hope you can help me.
- —Guest betashe
Careers for the disabled
- About 2 yrs ago my life turn completely upside down. I had been a professional reaching for the stars so to speak. Then illness left me with several disabilities that brought my career to a screeching halt. Trying to recover left me without my career and life I once known. I not only found myself in the midst of an economic downfall, but, newly added personal challenges as I sought employment. I wanted to let you know I found a company called J.Lodge out of Ft Meyer, Fl. I was so thankful I found this job working from home…so far I have been pretty happy. I am not sure you know about them.. so I wanted to let you know about this company. People can apply thru their website at http://www.jlodge.com/careers/ Allison
- —Guest ALLISON
Surviving Fibromyalgia
- Being a Male with Fibro is very difficult, I lived with constant pain for years and I always was told that my problem was my back/ Finally I went for a CAT Scan and there was no disk or bone problems causing my pain. Basicly I went from walking 4 - 5 miles per day to not being able to walk 100 feet. I was in so much pain after 3 years my Nervous System totally disconnected. My resting Heart Rate went to 130 bpm. and my blood pressure was 170/110 this lasted almost 3 months. I was put on ACE blood pressure pills. Coversyl.I also was diagnosed with Fibro by my Rheumatologist. At that time I was 16 / 18 on pressure point test/ My doctor put me on Tramadol 100 mg .ER for 1 month and then up to 200 mg ER per day. Now 9 months later my blood pressure is 124 / 80 . On an average day I have improved 75 percent allowing me to work daily. My point to all of this is that you need to allow time for your system to adjust to the Tramadol Hydrochloride ER
- —Guest Larry
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
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