Fibromyalgia Support thread

[Rhymenoseros]

Hi, I have recently been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, having suffered for four years. I have searched MN for a support thread but have not found a specific support thread, so I thought I would start one.

We could use this space to share tell our story, share idea's and resources, and to discuss our problems and triumphs

so here is my story, to get started. I had to drop out of uni after my first year as I got so ill. this was not just fibro, but also my first manic episode of bipolar, which has also taken a long time to get a diagnosis.

I was diagnosed a few weeks ago as having Fibro, after a long battle to get the doctors to listen. The doctor who diagnosed has put me on amitryptiline (sp) and told me to inform myself and pace myself. I am going to a local support group tomorrow if I am well enough.

I think the worst thing about this condition is that it hurts to hug

Heya, have a gentle, fibro, hug.

You will have periods of time where you are fibro 'free' you get periods of time where you are 'functioning' then you will get times where flare ups render you useless. Just remember that you get free time and hang on to that.

I was diagnosed aged 14 after a bout of 'flu and have found the very best thing to do is to keep going. Pace yourself, but don't stop. When I stop I struggle to get going again, so don't stop your daily activities just slow them down a tad.

Thankfully the drug treatments avaliable are so much more now than they were 15 years ago. I've been on amitryptiline, diclofenac, opiates, lyrica and now am on nortryptiline. Cognitive behavioural therapy is also good for people with fibro. You just have to find what works for you.

Dietary wise you can help control things by minimising citrus and dairy and minimising wheat intakes - more or less the diet of a person with IBS (the two are linked).

Good luck and if you need any help there are loads of lovely ladies on here who are very knowledgable about Fibromyalgia, or, give me a PM if you want.

This is a good idea.
I was back at rheumy last week for the first time since my diagnosis in 2005. Their advice -
don't go to bed or lie down when you're tired
don't stop when it gets too much, keep going it's better for you
as much as exercise as possible, even if it's so bad you cannot walk
get rid of walking stick
Increase Anti depressants to 75 mg of each, stop all painkillers except co-codamol (which is as much use a fart in a spacesuit)

Hi guys. I wanted to get in contact because this disease has been not widely supported or known about. My mum has probably suffered with this disease for 2 decades but was only diagnosed around 12 years ago. I am a personal trainer/sports massage therapist and I have just started a business focusing on neck, back and leg pain. Please visit www.yikon.co.uk, I would be so interested to work with a couple of people suffering with fibromyalgia to see if the treatments i offer would be of any benefit. There are a lot of testimonials to say the technology I use is beneficial. But I'd really like to find out for myself. Please email me if you'd be interested in trialling my product at no cost to yourself.

hi thanks nearly some great advice there, i didn't know that about the dietary stuff, will give that a go with the wheat although I have always had problems with both dairy and citrus so I do avoid them

saltire how do you feel about the doctors advice? I have been trying hard to avoid using walking stick but its easier said than done, same with the exercise, most days i can do some,ie a short bike ride, but I would say about a quarter of the time it is simply too painful to move to get to the toilet let alone anything else! should I be exercising on the very bad days despite the horrendous pain?I don't fancy that much!

I think generally I am managing my conditions a lot better than say, a year ago, I am learning to pace myself and I know what to expect if I over do things

thanks shitmagnet will have a look, will look at yikons page as well, shitmagnet its awful having to drop out due to being ill isn't it. I was headed for a first and by now would have had my degree had I not got ill, oh well,can't live life on the 'what if's' but it is frustrating, i feel so useless! am hoping to do some work towards my degree with the OU but I can't study my chosen subject (Marine Biology) with them

Having a bad day today, my feet are killing me for no reason so I am off to soak them in hot water.

Bumping up. How are you all today? I'm in a fair amount of pain today, think it's a combination of having had sinusitis and the cold weather.

ohhh sinusitis is so nasty, hope you recover from that soon. the cold weather is definately making my symptoms a lot worse. i have invested in some thermals and heat packs, hot water bottles to help me through the winter, I am dreading it!
feel like absolute crap today but plodding on. managed to drag myself out to the corner shop and back and it feels like i ran a marathon, at least i got out the house, something which i am trying to do each day inspite of the fibro.

bump