Anyone else have fibromyalgia?

[olygirl 0]

Hi Everyone!

I was just wondering if anyone else has fibromyalgia and if you have any suggestions for dealing with the pain when you try to start exercising,also has weight loss helped with your symptoms? Does anything help with your symptoms? I've been trying to exercise to kick my metabolism in a bit but the pain is just ugly.

Thanks

Marguerite

308/275/145

banded 11/14/05

33 down 130 to go:)

[leatha_g 4]

I have systemic lupus and yes, in the beginning the pain was hard to deal with, due mostly to the weight, I believe. However, i started out slow and worked up. My pain is minimal now. Yes, the weight loss has helped tremendously with my symptoms completely.

[NeenBand 7]

I have Fibro! I also have PCOS and the PCOS has but 100 lbs on me, and made the Fibro much worse.

SO I am hoping the weight loss will help many of the symptoms. I'm just a little nervous about inflammation , infection and reaction to meds, because you know we can have trouble with those things.

[Dody 0]

I've had fibromyalgia for years and years...back when doctors thought it was just in "your head". Thank God they now realize the pain is very real. I can tell you it doesn't get any better. My heart just broke as I got older and it affected my legs........but the good news is that an antidepressant called Celexa helps a great deal with the symptoms and how you feel. I thank God for it every day. Muscle relaxers only put me to sleep. This is the first thing that has helped. Good luck to you.

[Trying2live 1]

I have been told I have fibro more than once by my doctor but I guess I am kinda in denial about it since it has no cure. Nothing has worked for me so far not even my weight loss. Trish

[Guest Kira M]

I have systemic lupus and yes, in the beginning the pain was hard to deal with, due mostly to the weight, I believe. However, i started out slow and worked up. My pain is minimal now. Yes, the weight loss has helped tremendously with my symptoms completely.

That's very encouraging. In addition to fibro, I have a connective tissue disease. Exercise is almost impossible, but my hope is that as the weight comes off, I will be able to ease into exercise and improve my symptoms.

Good luck to all of us!

[cookiebaby 0]

Water exercise and swimming are the only things I can do that don't kill me. I have Fibro in addition to needing a knee replacement. I do ride my recumbant bike right now and yes, it hurts like heck. I can't get into the Water yet because I still have a little bit of scabbing at my incision site.

I have also lifted some light weights. I don't think people understand the pain. They will say that of course it hurts to exercise. Here's what I do - wait until they have the flu and complain that their whole body hurts and they want someone to shoot them. Then, politely tell them that is how you feel most of the time. They get it then.

[maddy 0]

I have fibromyalgia and was almost bedridden until 2 years ago when I was diagnosed w/bipolar and put on lithium.

This helped so much w/the depression and fatigue, I am able to be up, dressed, and out w/others 5 out of 7 days(most weeks).

The pain is still there, but with most of depression lifted and fatigue at bay (lithium can cause heavy feeling, not tiredness), I am more optimistic about both diseases than ever. When 1st diagnosed w/fib, gp told me to increase salt intake as I woke up exhasted and had low bpressure. This was to no avail.

Weight gain/loss hasnt affected pain much, maybe little worse. The cycle of stress, depression, fatigue, pain can be viscious. Antidepressants cause more depression and weight gain for me.

Exercise DOES help immensely. It seems to have a negative effect on moods at times, drains my energy(sounds crazy!).

Everyone with this terrible disease should never give up looking for correct med or med combo for improved quality of life! I was bedridden until my family stepped in and sought the help/treatment to function normally again. Help is out there.

maddy

[Myst51 0]

I have had Fibro for at least 15 yrs. Tried many meds.I had my lap band done 11/08. Have lost 83 lbs. need only to lose 17 more.I am on Lyrica (3X a day) & a couple of other med.s. The weight loss has helped.Still gets really bad with damp,chilly, or cold weather.I do walk (on good days) 2 mi. a day.GOD Bless!

[BetsyB 9]

I've had fibromyalgia for ...oh...almost 30 years! I was first diagnosed when it was a junk diagnosis given to anyone whose pain syndrome could not be identified, but it's since been confirmed. For me, it was a consequence of trauma, at least in part.

Yes, easing in to exercise can be painful. But over the years, I've come to the conclusion that I am in pain whether I exercise or not--and the other benefits gained from exercise far outweigh the drawbacks.

There can be a fine line to tread between a "good" level of exercise and one that pushes the envelope; while no real damage is done physiologically, we all know how harmful it is, psychologically, to be thrust into a huge flare--so toeing the line is important.

I am preop, so obviously I have not conquered everything--but the one thing I do, without fail, is walk twice a day, at a brisk clip, for an hour. If I didn't have an insistent Lab-shepherd, I would likely do it once a day, but twice is really nice. Being outdoors, seeing neighbors (pain can cause a degree of self-isolation), being in nature....it is EXCELLENT for the depression that can accompany a fibro flare.

And over time (and it did take a long time), my body has responded very positively--to the point that I really do feel better when I exercise.

Trickier is finding the right balance for strength training---that is much more of a crapshoot, and involves a good deal of listening to the body. Still, its benefits outweigh the drawbacks most of the time. When in a severe flare, I ease off.