Fibromyalgia: Helping You Cope

Do you struggle to get out of bed every morning because of the pain in your body? Have you slept several hours but feel like you have slept none? Are you running to the washroom constantly? Have you been diagnosed with fibromyalgia?

I am not a doctor but I do have fibromyalgia. I know what it is like to suffer from chronic pain and fatigue, to irritable bowel syndrome, to depression, to frequent headaches and constant ringing in my ears. I have suffered for eleven years now. Or, should I say, I have been afflicted for eleven years? I suffered for five years but now I am in control of my illness; my illness does not control me.

I know it is hard to convince people that you are ill when they cannot see your pain. I know what it is like to fight for financial assistance due to my disability. I know what stress, weather and over-exertion can do to a fibromyalgia wracked body. I have also learned a lot and I can share with you how to learn how to live with this illness.

First, know your limitations, pace yourself, take frequent breaks, rest up if you have an event that you feel you must attend. And don’t be afraid to say “no” to someone who asks you to do something for them. Sometimes I think that’s what got us in this position to begin with – our Type A personalities, our need to please, the busy-ness and stress of life, work and family.

Do your research. There are groups who can help you, especially online. If there is a support group in your area try to attend. You will make friends who know how you feel. You may also be exposed to different practitioners with knowledge and experience who can inform you of the many different treatment options. We have had doctors, lawyers, massage therapists, reflexologists, naturopaths, chiropractors and more, speak to our group.

We have a library of books and newsletters with information to help our members understand their illness, and to help loved ones better understand what we are going through. Many people may not believe you are ill and you could lose friends over this. I did. Those are not the kinds of friends I need. Be wary of people and organizations who say they have a cure for fibromyalgia. There is no cure for fibromyalgia. There IS treatment.

You may not want to take prescription medication. I have heard of people on many different medications and that just makes them feel worse. It will take lots of trial and error as one medication may help one person but not another. We are all different people with different bodies. You must find out what works for you. I tried 8 different anti-depressants until I found one that works for me.

I exercise. I know it is hard to do but you must start slowly and build it up over time. I currently walk 3 miles in an hour. Sometimes it hurts, sometimes I have to slow down until the pain eases and then pick up the pace again. Sure, I feel pain in my legs at night but I am going to feel pain anyway so I might as well get the blood pumping, the muscles moving and the endorphins flowing from my brain. I have lost 35 pounds since my diagnosis and because of that my body cannot handle the large doses of pain killers I was taking in the beginning. I used to take 6-8 Tylenol 3 tablets a day. I now take 1-3 a day. That is a great accomplishment as far as I’m concerned.

Exercise is spiritually, physically and mentally beneficial. Taking care of yourself is a number one priority. You can fight depression with the proper medication, with exercise, reducing stress and finding something you enjoy – a hobby that brings you happiness, satisfaction, builds self-esteem and does not put stress on your body.

There are many supplements out there that will help. People with fibromyalgia are severely lacking in magnesium, a mineral which aids in over 300 bodily functions. Magnesium will help with your pain. Magnesium with calcium is excellent, as is magnesium with malic acid. I take both along with a multi-vitamin, B-Complex vitamin and Acidophilus. To assist with bouts of irritable bowel I drink aloe vera juice and Eaters Digest Tea (which contains a combination of peppermint, chamomile, licorice and other organic digestive aids). When these are not available, like when I am traveling in a car, sucking on peppermints help. You will most definitely have to alter your diet.

What you mustn’t do is lie around feeling sorry for yourself letting your muscles atrophy. Be pro-active. Exercise, educate yourself, pace yourself. If you have to stop working then stop working. The stress will make your symptoms worse. You will not find a cure for fibromyalgia but you can find treatments and ways to manage the illness so that it does not manage you. Don’t get me wrong, you will still have some bad days or weeks, and you may have some good days or weeks. You cannot control the weather and sometimes you cannot control the stress. You do the best you can. You need to take care of you.