I've had fibromyalgia for 20 + years. Any helpful advice?

Question

I've tried so many things and spent so much money. Doctors, drugs, test, I need all the help I can get. I'm 39, married, 3 kids, house wife.

Answer 1

Sometimes it will go into remission. More often it just stays with you. Don't waste your money on unproven treatments. Just try to live healthy, eat right, get some aerobic exercise, and stay happy.

Answer 2

Yes! Yes! Yes! THERE's HOPE!!! I have advice for you! Fibromyalgia is being overly diagnosed right now all over the country, the truth is, you probably are like many others who are being misdiagnosed. Fibromyalgia- do you know what it is, all it is is a list of symptoms. Doctors just call it "fibromyalgia" , probably because you have so many symptoms they don't have time to figure out what it is that could help you. are you so misunderstood?>

Ever heard of LYME DISEASE? Do a google or yahoo search, look at the symptoms. see if this could be you. Then find a Lyme Literate Doctor that can treat you.

Feel tired?...extreme fatigue? feel like you have the flu all the time?
aches.. excruciating pains?
headaches?.. nausea?
joint pain?... do you have trouble focusing? loss of memory /short term memory
feel like you can't stand? exercise probably isn't even in the question. Can you barely wash your hair? or get dressed?....I could go on all day with how Lyme could be affecting your body and mind. but I won't I'm going to let you check the symptoms out for yourself.

If this is what you have long term antibiotic therapy will probably be want you will need to get better

This is a horrible, horrible disease. I understand that you are probably misunderstood often, but don't let the doctors/nurses, friends/family members discourage you. You will get better, I wish you the best, May God's blessings shine on you.

I know this illness through my own experience and others I know and have known.

Answer 3

I'e probably had it for a lot longer than from the time I was diagnosed but I've learned a lot since then. The most important thing for me is not to get too tired. Sleep is my most potent helper. I'm not talking about more than the usual 8 hrs though. I'm 61 years old and work 7 hours a day at a very stressful job. After work, I come home and "relax" in the garden, eat dinner and go for a walk. That walk is very important. Most of the time I really don't want to do it either! But it's one of the key elements in getting and staying better. I also have polyneuropathy in my feet so that doesn't make the idea of a walk attractive either! I take Neurontin for that, a small amount of Ativan at night time since I have a lot of trouble sleeping and good old Aleve for pain. I don't want the heavy pain drugs......can't function on those. I understand that with 3 kids it's hard to stick to an exercise regime but please try to. Good luck to you and yes....you will find ways to get better.

Answer 4

I've only had fibro since 1996, not diagnosed till 2004. But, neurontin was the changing factor in me being able to start working again. I've been busting my butt since then, trying to exercise, good diet, low stress. I can do 7 hours a day at work, hopefully by the end of the year I can do 8.

It's all about listening to yourself, if something doesn't make you feel well, don't do it. You have to take care of yourself. And just remember that sometimes you can do everything right, and you are still going to feel like hell. Don't let it get you down, you are not alone, you can fight it.

Answer 5

Darling I've got the same thing only a lot longer. Use coedine, don't lay down for the day (while your kids are at school), don't sit for hours at the computer or for anything else. Exercise using your legs for leverage not your back. Do take a rest in the afternoon approx. 1 hour. Force yourself to get up, (yes it's tough, do it anyways). In a couple of weeks you'll be able to handle it.

Answer 6

Thanks for the info on Reliv, Michael. I will definitely check it out.

I first started showing signs of FMS eight years ago, when I was 27. I didn't get a definitive diagnosis until three years ago, and I've only found real pain relief for about the past two years from OTC meds. I take 800 mg. Aleve and a 1000-mg. flaxseed oil capsule every night at bedtime, and I take Arnica (a homeopathic herb available in tablet form) as needed for flareups.

Answer 7

A good friend of ours at church has fibromyalgia. She has been taking a natural product we sell called Reliv for a couple of months and is doing a lot better. She likes her results so much that she just became a Reliv distributor herself, because she wants to tell others they don't have to just settle for what life has dealt them. The media is also singing our praises, we have been featured in BusinessWeek, Forbes, Fortune, and this month in the St. Louis Business Journal, and cover to cover in Success from Home magazine. I would be happy to tell you more, just drop me a line.

Have a great day,
Michael
[e-mail]

Answer 8

I have FMS and unfortunately what works with one patient doesn't work with another. It is really trial and error. Learn moderation in your activities and what you do, sitting or remaining in one position you know already makes you stiffen up and hurt, I fidget a lot. I personally swear by a B multi complex vitamin, it helps me so much better than medications. Check out the website fibrohugs.com, its the best website in the world for us. Its free and full of ideas and support.

Answer 9

What kind of diet are you eating? You might have a "Leaky Gut" - conquer that and you might improve the symptoms of your illness. Raw organic vegan diet is best to get the body to work as it's supposed to.

Answer 10

You can find some useful info at my website