I used to have it, fibro that is, and also CFS/ME along with IBS. Five years of torture. I had 6 years of lower back pain, and carpel tunnel (for a while), prior to fm and me.
When my youngest son started full time school, I started swimming in a warm pool, not swimming exactly, but relaxing, floating and stretching, using the sauna and steam room. This helped me to recharge my batteries, just enough to get up to school and back again. It did help, my muscles were a little looser and I felt almost refreshed. I tried to get there everyday.
On diagnosis I was recommended Tramodol (not sure if this is the right spelling) by the Fibromyalgia association , I took one at night and found that this did help to relax the extreme tension in my muscles. Not quite so much pain. The drug seemed to divorce my head from my body, I was aware of the pain, but it wasn't shouting at me. I found that they didn't have much effect after a while, they are like morphine and are addictive. Some doctors won't prescribe them. Tramodol did give me some relief.
What helped me the most was sports medicine/sports physiotherapist. I am a well and pain free woman again. This physiotherapist was able to identify and treat my unstable sacrioiliac joint and lower lumbar spine, with manipulative physiotherapy.
I was in rehabilitation for 5 months, my spine was realigned and my muscles retrained to keep my spine in place.
I was given gradual and tailored physiotherapy and exercises to do everyday. These were pilates exercises.
I had to strengthen my core muscles before I could work up my spine to my neck and shoulders.
At times it was not easy. I do not live in pain any longer.
My candida took a while to settle down. I cut out wheat from my diet. I eventually found 'Dr Joshi's 21 day detox diet" a small easy to read paperback. This was excellent. After I finished the 21 days, I was recommended to take acidophillus, as found in live yogurt and this has cleared it.
Excess stress and can bring on a candida attack, but never as bad as before and now is under control.
I didn't take antidepressants but a friend of mine does. Her prescription of amitryptiline was gradually increased from 10mg to 75mg. She has had a bad reaction to them. All her hair has fallen out. The Doctors guidlines do not tell them that this is a side effect, the patient leaflet however does.