Hints for dealing with fibro
I’ve seen lists of 50-100 fibromyalgia symptoms. That’s a lot to deal with in just one body. Then there’s all of the side effects of the medications to fight the symptoms. I have no idea what that list looks like. I know that a lot of people that take Lyrica really worry about weight gain & whether exercise will help them work it off or if they’ll need a product like Leptovox.
There is just so much going on & so many things that cause pain & hundreds of symptoms to fight or deal with. This has really got me thinking about the little things that make me feel better. I just realized that almost everyday I try to lay in the sun. I’ve been doing this ever since I got sick & never really noticed that it was fibro related. My friends always joke that I’m like a cat, even though I hate cats.
I don’t know if it’s because Utah is really cold, but if I find a sunny spot on the sofa, my muscles start to relax after about ten minutes. It’s not a huge difference or cure. I stil can’t lift boxes or even leave the house, but it does make the pain that much more bearable. What are some of the little things that you do to help with fibro pain?
January 19th, 2009 at 9:34 pm
When my hands get cold, the pain really starts to radiate from my fingers and up my arms. This can cause a full blown flair. Since I type a lot for work, it can actually happen often. Recently I tried trying with soft, fingerless gloves. They allow me to work and keep my hands much warmer.
The other little thing I do is carry a small pillow (travel size); if I start hurting while in a vehicle, at a friend’s house, at work, etc. I have it with me. I can rest and arm on it, put it under my head, or so forth. I REALLY makes a difference.
I think this is a GREAT idea to post the little things we do!
January 20th, 2009 at 2:02 am
Thanks for mentioning this! Also, I was on Lyrica for about 6 mths and it did NOT work for me. It actually made my life generally worse just because even on 50 mg it made me drowsy… on 100 mg I couldn’t even function, I was soooo drowsy!! So it definitely doesn’t work for everyone. And I think I gained about 10 lbs on it, but have since been able to lose it.
One of the little things I find to help is just to learn to read my body and what I can/can’t do anymore. Setting realistic goals and expectations for myself has been HUGE. But really other than that, I’m still fairly new to this (2 yrs) and am still learning a lot. So I look forward to coming back and checking out other people’s little things suggestions! Thanks!
January 26th, 2009 at 12:29 am
I have been reading you for a while but this is the first time that I am commenting, so I will start with a big harrah for you and this site. Thanks for all the suggestions and such. First I would like to say as a male with the illness things are difficult. You don’t really know how good that was to get out. I have been fighting doctors for what seems like eternity, even though I have a family history (mom has it). Sorry to get off topic a bit there just needed to get that out somewhere. As for the little things I do, I find that when things get worse then normal, if I focus on just breathing slowly in through my nose and out through my mouth that it seems to let a little of the tension out of my shoulders and legs. While it is not huge, sometimes even a little bit seems like it is a god-send.
Keep up the good work, and thanks for your blog!
January 26th, 2009 at 2:28 am
I’m very glad I found this blog. I have many, many small tips that help me to live with Fibromyalgia (FMS). Just looking through your blog reminded me of a simple one. Prior to my diagnosis of FMS, I never watched t.v. I was always out with friends, at work, walking my dog. I just never took the time to sit down, I was always going & going! When I started losing that ability, I was at a loss for how to entertain myself. I was very restless at first. I decided to join Blockbuster Online and, after watching the movie Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, decided to look into the Gilmore Girls. As many of you know, it is very hard to just sit with your pain. I needed something to take my attention away from that constant, gnawing reminder of how much my life had changed. As silly as it may sound, the good writing, humor and wealth of knowledge that came through this one television show gave me hours upon hours (7 seasons to be exact) of time when I could focus on something other than the pain for a little while. I’m not saying Gilmore Girls is the new, ultimate pain reliever, but I am saying that if you find a t.v. show, movie, etc., that you just fall in love with, it can make dealing with FMS just a little less impossible.
January 29th, 2009 at 4:36 pm
I have been fighting doctors for what seems like eternity, even though I have a family history (mom has it). Sorry to get off topic a bit there just needed to get that out somewhere. As for the little things I do, I find that when things get worse then normal, if I focus on just breathing slowly in through my nose and out through my mouth that it seems to let a little of the tension out of my shoulders and legs.
January 30th, 2009 at 10:50 am
Like others have mentioned, the key is to find your niche. Things are getting overly saturated now, which makes it harder to break in. Great tips, though, thanks!
January 30th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
So I’m curious. Does a constany tempature make a difference. Like mexico, cuba, arizona. I live in vancouner canada and I feel terrible. I’m also looking into hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Does anyone know anything about this treatment. I suffer from fm and myofascial pain as well.
February 11th, 2009 at 8:46 pm
After looking for blogs that speak to fibromyalgia I found yours. It’s good to know that others feel as frustrated as I do. AS for cold hands. I knit fingerless gloves that have made a world of difference for me… I wear them at work, in bed, in the house – the help a lot … and are simple. Thanks for addressing fibromyalgia in a blog!
July 20th, 2009 at 3:04 am
cold hands are crucial for keyboard players like me. its really ahrd to play when you feel uncomfortable. so hard.
June 24th, 2010 at 4:04 am
Some doctors just laugh when you tell them you think you have fibro. Searching the internet you will find there are a ton of people with the same symptoms. My belief, it is our bodies stuck in overdrive. As hard as it is working out and stretching helps a bit during the day.