manage my fibromyalgia

was the mind, body, spirit connection and surrounding myself with people who energize me, not drain me.
Also doing things for me and not caring just for others around me. I still need to remind myself of that.

I need to eat right, and get enough sleep. There is just so much my brain wants to take in, it’s hard to shut off.

when I’m out of this house.
Interesting?

I still need to make sure I rest or I can still kick my own butt.

I was almost looking forward to getting laid off, too…

Just the news that I may be stuck here another six months until I get my severance is enough to make my physically sick. :p

I had some worrying side effects develop, so I’m on Cymbalta now, and it is going much better save for one thing: I’ve gained weight. Darn, this is supposed to be an appetite suppressant but now I have a constant case of the munchies! Oh well, worth the tradeoff. I think I will stick with this one.

I’m convinced, personally, that medicine will advance enough eventually to subdivide fibro into several different syndromes with different modes of treatment. The things that work for different people are so wide-ranging that it seems unlikely that we all have the same underlying mechanisms going haywire.

For now, I’m taking Zoloft, eating right, exercising, taking supplements and taking hot showers/soaking in hot tubs. I drink homemade bone broth twice a day. I know I need a better sleep schedule, because that makes a huge difference. So far, this is enough for me to still function at my job. I’m contemplating some very radical lifestyle changes to help take the load off my system (I think hatred for my job added a lot to my symptoms). I feel optimistic about where things are going from here.

at the moment.

Just beginning. Help!

Fibromyalgia & Fatigue Centers I think I found the link here at 43T.
I’m fortunate that they have a center here in Los Angeles. I had my first appt and they took a ton of blood from two different veins.
They pretty much have the same philosophy about FM that I do. Many of my bloodwork readings are on the borderline other peoples “normal” but that may not be ok for my normal.

Many of the vitamins and supplements that they gave me are the same that McSmarty and I have found have been helpful over the past 13 years of trial and error with me being the guinea pig. One of the new ones they gave me McSmarty came home with that same night with because one of his co-workers had recommended.
Once I sit down and make a nice LONG list of everything I’m on I can share them with you. I’m up to three full boxes with Sun-Sat like your grandma uses for her meds. AM- Noon – Night plus some powered stuff I have to drink that is just putrid! :P

I was napping less until I got this dumb cold so that was a very good sign :)

that they still have Chronic Fatigue listed as this whole separate thing. The only big difference between CF & FM if with FM you have pain.But really all of the autoimmune symptoms overlap with each other so it is really hard to pinpoint what is what.
It kind blew me away just now when I read that you can compare the symptoms to: “The suffering that can be experienced by a patient with ME/CFIDS has been likened to an AIDS patient in the last two months of life and/or a terminal cancer patient.” Yes, It is easier just to a take nap then to push myself for one day, because I do feel week and lifeless for three days for that one day of fun and it sucks! :(

You have no idea how much I HATE taking naps! I want to go hard all day like I used to & not have it kick my butt!

I just went to an open house to see one of my creative memories friends who I have not spoken to in a while. Her Mom had FM also and she just passed away in March at the age of 60. I asked if she had Lupus and she said she did not. It is all so messed up! She also saw one of the Dr’s I saw for the Guifenisen therapy and did get some relief.I went for 2 years and did not. She also started having symptoms at the age of 30 just like I did. I guess the last time we spoke I was still at the point where they still thought that I was Chronic Fatigue because my pain still had not kicked in because I was still teaching classes. There are so many wonderful people I have stopped talking to since my health went down hill because I just hate hearing the simple question,”How are you doing?” Now I just say,”Hanging in there” When I really want to say,”I feel like $h!+. How are you doing?” :)
It really was good seeing her and I plan on keeping in touch. I also met some other nice women while I was at the open house today too I will be contacting more people I have not spoken to in a while.