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I feel like I’m an absolute mess- how to get healthier?!

23 replies

LukeSkywalkerBoots · 28/10/2018 21:52

I don’t know what to do.

I have fibromyalgia and cannot bend to do anything, even wash my ds’ hair in the bath or hoover the floor without making my shoulders and back ache. My legs are aching constantly.

I have acne and blocked pores all over my face and neck and back and chest.

I have indigestion every single day and get through Gaviscon like the clappers. And I sometimes get bloating.

I have excema on my legs and hands.

I have itchy watery eyes and sinus congestion constantly.

I have to wear special glasses for a rare visual syndrome.

I struggle with anxiety and depression and have done for years.

I’ve seen the dr/ specialists about all the above things and got nowhere satisfactory. I feel such a mess. I try to eat well and get lots of fruit and veg and water. I take medication. I don’t know what else to do to get myself healthier.

I’m only 39 and feel pretty useless living such a sedentary lifestyle- the most exercise I can do is a smidge of yoga and a walk. I’d like to do charity work or something one day but I get achey laid out on a sofa let alone sat at a desk.

How can I feel better or get healthier?!

Ps in case it matters to the above I’ve been through a huge amount of stress the last few years having gone NC with my horrible family.

OP posts:
haverhill · 28/10/2018 21:56

Bless you. The huge stress will have triggered or exacerbated some of your problems for sure.
Just off the top of my head, how about excluding gluten and processed sugar from your diet for a while? They can cause digestive upset and skin problems. Even if there’s no change, at least you’ll know.
Do you take any supplements? Perhaps a chat with a nutritionist might be useful.

8FencingWire · 28/10/2018 21:58

Heal your mind, your body will follow.
Have you ever tried mindfulness? Doesn’t work for everybody, but it’s worth a shot.
Get some counselling/CBT if you aren’t already.
Eat 3 square meals a day, try avoiding too much sugar.

Can you walk? Even if it’s just 10-15 minutes, go outside.

Get into a routine. Routine helps.

Read. Be curious. Talk to people.

Hope you feel better soon.

lettuceWrap · 28/10/2018 22:08

Skin problems, itchy eyes, digestive problems. Lots of pain.

Two things spring to mind. Gluten/wheat sensitivity of some kind, and histamine sensitivity (google that!).

Have you had a coeliac test recently (if not within the past couple of years, worth repeating, negative then doesn’t mean negative now)?

If coeliac test is negative, try a gluten and wheat free diet for a couple of months. It MIGHT change your life (it changed mine), if not, you’ve lost nothing, and ruled out a potential cause for your issues.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

LukeSkywalkerBoots · 28/10/2018 22:26

When you say avoid processed sugar, does that include honey? I like honey with fruit once or twice a day but I don’t tend to have much sugar outside of that.

Yes I can walk, just not up hills or my calves ache like hell. Must get out for more walks.

I’ve just started taking a probiotic food supplement so hope that might help. I wonder if my tummy issues are partly down to my cocodamol painkillers constipating me.

I am pretty much gluten free as I know it doesn’t agree with me. Sometimes for a special occasion I’ll eat some like cake or whatever but 95% of the time I’m free of it. I do eat a LOT of cheese though.

I had a coeliac test which was negative.

I’m into mindfulness and must do more of that.

I just want to live life to the full and have fun.

OP posts:
haverhill · 28/10/2018 22:48

Honey is just sugar; although it can have health benefits I would exclude that too while you are trying to figure out the cause of your health problems.

PeaPodPopper · 28/10/2018 23:06

Fellow Fibro here, albeit somewhat older than you.

Re your indigestion - I had it quite severely too. The best thing my GP did was suggest I try the FODMAP diet, look it up on google. Within a few days my digestive system felt better than it had for years. I still follow it, and it has contributed to my well being in so many ways.And yes, you CAN have honey with it. So maybe give it a go? Gaviscon has never been seen in my home since!

I also found gluten, dairy, sugar and soya a major problem, but with all the recipes there are for food/meals now, it wasn't a problem. Even though Gluten free bread made me ill too, I found a fab recipe for flat bread which takes 5 mins to make and its perfect. Even though your coeliac test was negative, you could possibly be intolerant to it, as am I.

Excercise - Please, please keep this up. I was fine until I got through the menopause then came up against major problems with my muscles. I sit down a lot in my work and caused a lot of trouble with major muscles in my back and upper legs. I have now adjusted things so that I can stand to work as much as possible, (this keeps me straightened out and those muscles working), then sit down for a break, then short walk around the garden, then back to work etc. Keep those muscles working as much as you can - but gently.

Sort yourself some simple stretching exercises and start to do them NOW. One rep per exercise per day to start with is good, and build up as you can.

Walk every day if you can - doesn't have to be far, but try to establish a short route to begin with. Once you can easily do that, add on maybe another 50 ft. per week/month, whatever feels right for you. You say your calves ache, so start them off on a gently slope, and be kind to them afterwards with a massage and maybe rest them the next day
I can now walk over a mile a day on my good days, and climb a pretty steep hill near where I am. On my lesser days I drop it to half that, and on bad days I don't do it.

Massage your arms, legs, wherever it hurts. I know it may hurt to massage, but it's hurting because the tendons are tight. Do it regularly, and the pain will lessen, and you may feel able to do more.

With all of this, the temptation is to stop once you feel good, but don't, keep it up - though of course if you have a bad day or few days, then of course stop and rest. But don't let those few days slide into weeks and months.

You say you get achy on the sofa or sat at a desk - fibro hates the same position for more than a few milii seconds! So I break up my day into bite size pieces. Eg work a bit, rest a bit, repeat. Go out for a walk, rest some more, work some more, etc.

Like you I had major stress in my life which I've now removed myself from, and it has helped enormously.

So be kind to yourself. Listen to what your body tells you. Feed it what it needs, not what it wants (in my case chocolate) Rest when you need to, but exercise when you can. Enjoy the small things. and yes, live life to the full your way

thereallochnessmonster · 28/10/2018 23:08

If you get achey walking up hills, isn’t this a sign that you’re unfit and need to do more?!

LukeSkywalkerBoots · 29/10/2018 05:32

@peapodpopper what great advice! Thank you so much! I’m going to make note of what you said and put it into practice. Now you mention it, I’m sure a dr once mentioned FODMAPS to me years back. I’m encouraged to read this has all worked for you so I’ll try it too.

@thereallochnessmonster no, it doesn’t work like that if you have fibromyalgia.

OP posts:
Tatiannatomasina · 29/10/2018 05:43

Come join us on the low carb boot camp thread, we have just finished week 2 so its not too late. Low carb with moderate protein and fat has given me back my mojo while losing 10kgs over 4 months and the best part is I eat cheese, lots and lots of cheese everyday. Have a look at Dr Ken Berry on youtube, he explains everything in a way that really makes sense.

PeaPodPopper · 29/10/2018 11:04

@LukeSkywalkerBoots You're very welcome. Feel free to PM me, and ask anything at any time. Fibro is awful, but it can be managed to enable a decent quality of life.

PeaPodPopper · 29/10/2018 11:08

@thereallochnessmonster when I got fibro I was a very fit /active person. Did a lot of sport, cycling, motorbiking etc. When fibro hit me it reduced me to less than a baby mouse in terms of strength. EG, when washing up I could manage to stand long enough to wash maybe 2 things, then I'd have to sit down for an hour.

It is not about being unfit and needing to 'get fit'.
It's about dealing with a condition that seriously affects every fibre and system of the body.

EspressoButler · 29/10/2018 11:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PeaPodPopper · 29/10/2018 12:30

Hi Espresso

Flatbread - think I found it on the BBC good food website.

200g gluten -free SR flour (+ little extra for dusting)
150ml natural yoghurt (I don't eat dairy, so use either sheeps or coconut yoghurt, both are very good).
1/2 tblsp caraway seeds - or any other you prefer.
Pinch salt
Water

Heat grill to medium.
Dust baking sheet with a little flour.
Mix flour, salt and seeds in a bowl
Stir in yogurt as much as possible, then add water a few drops at a time until you have a soft dough.

Divide dough into 4 pieces.
Shape into circles no more than 1/2 inch thick.
Grill on baking sheet for 3-5 mins each side until golden brown.
Serve warm.

PeaPodPopper · 29/10/2018 12:47

Forgot to say that I don't store the bread - make it fresh each time!

LukeSkywalkerBoots · 29/10/2018 15:53

@peapodpopper I started FODMAPS today- or rather I aimed to but made a booboo and ate celery and hummus both of which are banned. So as of that mistake I’m on it. It’ll take some adjustment as I eat a lot of apples, sweet corn, peas, asparagus, garlic, mushrooms etc. May I ask what sort of meals you eat now?

OP posts:
PeaPodPopper · 29/10/2018 17:04

It took me a while to get the hang of the FODMAP thing, but I identified a few foods to avoid. Apples I found I can still eat thankfully, as I really do love them.

So, meals -
Breakfast is usually homemade museli made with FreeFrom oats, pumpkins seeds, sunflower seeds, walnuts. and grated apple, served with coconut milk and yoghurt.
Lunch - today was flatbread with olives and tomatoes.
Dinner - tonight will be chickpea and veggie hotpot.

It's simple but it works. When I started the FODMAP I too ate garlic, mushrooms and the rest, but didn't realise just how badly they affected me - Pain throughout the digestive system, diarrhoea, general aches and pains throughout the body in muscles etc. . My worst food is sugar, so anything containing it is a definite nono, and as I love chocolate that's a hard one.

LukeSkywalkerBoots · 29/10/2018 17:20

@peapodpopper what guidance are you going by for the FODMAPS? Because the website I looked at included chickpeas and apples on the list of forbidden foods. The list was looooooong.

OP posts:
BagelGoesWalking · 29/10/2018 17:37

Lonely advice already given. I'll just add my 2p with re eczema. Have you had any creams/ointments from the GP?

I like Diprobase, Avène Xeracalm Balm and cream. I don't like the really thick, emollients (thicker than Diprobase) as I get that "smothered" hot feeling with them.
Recently got Protopic ointment from GP (basically had to bully him into it but didn't want more steroids like Betnovate as bad used for years and they weren't having any effect anyway). It can itch and burn (didn't for me) but stubborn patches I've had for years have disappeared after 3 days.

Cooler showers, cotton fabrics, lower central heating etc. Don't touch Aqueous cream with a bargepole. Remember that GPS have woefully little training on skin issues and even dermatologists are often very stuck in their ways and out of date.

Would you be able to take a probiotic, Vit D and Omega 3/B12? I know there are varying opinions about need/effectiveness of supplements but, from what I've read, these seem to be the most important.

PeaPodPopper · 29/10/2018 17:38

The diet gives a list to follow before then trying each of the forbidden foods to see which work for you, and which don't. I'm ok with apples and chickpeas, but garlic and artificial sweetners make me really ill. I'm also ok with coconut milk, but not soya. The FODMAP was how I worked out what I could and couldn't eat.

This is the one my GP recommended I follow

[PDF]Stanford University – Low FODMAP Diet Handout - Living FODMAP Free
fodmapliving.com/wp.../02/Stanford-University-Low-FODMAP-Diet-Handout.pdf

PeaPodPopper · 29/10/2018 17:39

Try again -

Stanford University – Low FODMAP Diet Handout - Living FODMAP Free
fodmapliving.com/wp.../02/Stanford-University-Low-FODMAP-Diet-Handout.pdf

PeaPodPopper · 29/10/2018 17:40

sorry it wont link, looks like you'll need to copy and paste.

LukeSkywalkerBoots · 30/10/2018 14:30

Thank you!

I have zeroderm and aveeno cream for my excema, they seem ok, it’s just the itching is just one more issue to deal with!

OP posts:
EspressoButler · 30/10/2018 16:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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