It almost went unnoticed. I am battling depression and anxiety and have been for some time. Been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and last year had Covid 3 times and 4 chest infections , my Asthma got worse and I lost a dear friend very suddenly, and my Mum. In a desperate attempt to save myself after feeling I might die I gave up smoking and took up running, something I have not done since I was at school 45 years ago. That sounds dreadfully dramatic but that’s what it took for me to get more active, haha!
I had to repeat a few runs and found week 9 very difficult so did only one run per week this month. One run was easier than usual, the sun shone and I felt capable and able from the start, however the others have wiped me out, feeling as if I have flu by the afternoon and then having to sleep for the best part of 3 days before I can think about the next time. I’m not working because of the depression so it does give me the opportunity to do this. It’s just me, running around my local field, listening to the great Steve Cram and crying, tears rolling down my cheeks, pretending to the dog walkers that it’s the wind.I am really hoping that I can continue running and I will gradually get fit enough that it doesn’t send me crashing each time. My doctor said that people with Fibromyalgia who regularly exercise fair much better than those who are inactive. I hope to complete a park run before Xmas, though even getting out of bed that early in the day is a challenge at the moment.
Anyone else out there with Fibromyalgia?
All advice welcome, thank you in advance lovely fellow runners.
Written by
Rustyhoumous
Graduate
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My heart aches for you. I don’t know about fibromyalgia but I do know about depression and anxiety. You’ve been through so much and you’ve still managed to complete Couch to 5K. A huge well done to you for that, you are an inspiration.
I’m sure you realise by now that you can run slowly and still gain all the benefits from running. Have aims - but don’t be too ambitious with the timescales or push yourself too hard! Be a snail runner 🐌 it’s a most prestigious club (of which I am a member!)
I hope you manage to get to parkrun, they are so welcoming and if you don’t feel like running, you could volunteer. Good luck!
What an awful time you are having, but, you ran so be proud. If a 30 minute run wipes you out why not try a 10 minute one? See how you feel later in the day, have a day's rest then go again, it's harder to find the motivation to run in winter but if you can get through the cold months doing regular shorter runs you might find that you can increase the time a bit on good days. I'll see if I can find the list nk for a graduation badge.
Sending best wishes, and hope you manage to keep running.
Hopefully this is the link to get graduate put next to your name .
Thank you for your advice Sue. I have said to myself not to keep the 30 minute runs and go shorter duration but I’m afraid I’m quite stubborn and desperately wanted to complete it. I knew if I didn’t it would set back my mental recovery. You are talking sense of course and now I’ve finished the couchto5K I will try to free up my thinking and not be so concerned with the times.
It’s because it takes such a big effort that I feel it’s more worth while to run for longer.
You have smashed C25K in spite of all the challenges. I don’t know about fibromyalgia but getting out there helps my mental health for sure.
All you can do is listen to your body and don’t put pressure on yourself. Celebrate getting out there even for a short run. No run is a failure. Some days are harder than others and some days you feel you can run for ever. I’ve never quite worked out why ( if I ever do I’ll bottle it and sell it).
Thank you for your kind words, they mean a lot to me and I will try to follow my body’s needs and try not to pressure myself.
I find I do need to push myself a bit or I would never get out there but I like your idea of any run being a success.
I remember the days when I was young and just being able to run easily for as long as I wanted. I’m waiting for that day and if/when it comes it will be beautiful.
don’t be to hard on yourself just take it so easy if it’s hard slow down take your time. As for the depression and anxiety see your go get prescribed some treatment it will lift eventually I’ve seen thousands of people in our hospital with what must be similar type symptoms they do lift in the end just believe it will easier said than done but believe me it will . Running will boost your endorphins which in turn will lift your mood just remember where you were and we’re you are now well done very well done keep going you will get there in the end good luck
Thank you so much for taking the time to reply with your good advice. I have been reading these replies and they have helped.
Running does lift my mood as you say but not for long. I’m hoping that if I can run regularly it will lift for longer and it’s very encouraging to know you’ve seen it happen so many times.
I have fibromyalgia (diagnosed several years ago), have suffered with depression in the past and still suffer from anxiety now. Running is the one thing that helps me to manage both the fibro and anxiety. Sometimes it’s really hard to drag myself out there to run, but I know I will feel better after. I found that longer gaps between runs helps (listen to your body) and using the jeffing technique (run/walk) really helps with managing the after effects from fibro. I also found that adding yoga stretches on non-running days also helped with any pain or discomfort. It took me almost 4 years to join the local park run due to my anxiety - and now I love it ! Some of us just take a little longer to get out there Good luck with your journey - do it at your own pace - your GP was right!
I was interested to read that we share the same illness and it’s hopeful for me to read of your success in finding ways to keep going with it. We are similar for sure. I can manage yoga and go once a week, just started again. My teacher was ill for a couple of months so I definitely missed it.
Definitely leaving longer gaps between runs helps. I was worried that I’d lose any fitness by waiting but it seems like it’s the best thing to do, to recover, when you have Fibromyalgia. Best wishes X
I was also worried about losing fitness between runs at first, but I found that wasn’t the case. Admittedly, if I have left a gap of a couple of weeks, I can’t go back to a long run immediately, but I can do a short, slow run and then quickly build it back up again. Definitely listen to your body and let it guide you. Wishing you all the best and hope things get easier for you 🤗
So sorry to hear everything you have went through and continue to go through you are an inspiration to others and congratulations in finishing C25K what a journey!
When I first started C25K like you I had never ran in years, I decided I needed to motivate myself so I would set out my gym clothing the night before where I could see it each morning and I still do it now each night.
I used to dedicate my runs to people living or who had passed I was doing my run for them.
I googled lots of inspirational / motivation quotes and wrote one each day on a post-it note stuck it on my bedroom mirror (my mirror was covered in colored post- it’s.
I ordered metal running tags for the laces of my trainers - the left saying “when you feel like quitting” and the right says “ remember why you started” big meaning to me which now makes me smile every time I wear them.
I did have to hang up my running shoes after TKR but they are back sadly not for running but I use the gym and love walking especially outdoors.
I hope you find little things that motivate you each day, that pushes you to get out there to exercise no matter what you do or just to enjoy the fresh air think nice thoughts and recall nice memories of the people you have in your life and have lost.
Wishing you all the very best in your next chapter and whatever you next accomplishment may be.
Deedee I have read and re-read everything you have written. It has brought tears to my eyes. Thank you. You are a kind compassionate person, I wish you all the best 🙏🙂
Thank you Rustyhoumous, hope you are doing well, how is your health and are you still running etc ?
I must say I did try a little slow run the other day 🤫 even though I’ve hung up my running shoes. Running was the best thing I did for my weight loss and my mind, but I googled it and running after TKR can be done but not advisable, as long term running may do damage to the implant and loosen it, so I’ve stopped again as I really don’t want to have any issues with my knee.
I’m swimming, doing weights, walking and using the bike so I’m happy. I used to use the rowing machine before my TKR recently I wanted to try this out too so I decided to give it a go, well ……. omg I got down onto the rower with no problems just easing myself down holding onto the bar and keeping my leg straight out in front of me I managed to row with the bend that I have not great but something. Then when it was time to get up I had nothing to hold on to the bar wouldn’t take the weight standing up from my position and the hamstrings are not good enough yet so I had to roll out of the bloody machine onto the floor mat, roll over to get into a downward dog pose then walk back up on my hands omg in a mixed gym with 100 eyes on me what the hell was I thinking……I clearly wasn’t.
Anyway hope you are doing well, keep smiling and take care.
Not unnoticed here. A huge well done to you , you have had to work extra hard with so many things that have held or have knocked you back. I’m sorry you’ve had and continue to have a difficult time.
I do hope you manage to keep up your fitness over the dark, cold days ( we are so nearly at the shortest day, it turns around quite quickly after that) so that your health can benefit long term.
Do watch the Japanese slow running video as it may inspire you to ‘go slow’ and could possibly help lessen or alleviate the exhaustion you are getting post runs.
I applaud you for being able to run with fibromyalgia, well done! I've recently suffered with PMR (polymyalgia rheumatica) and during this I'd hardly be able to walk let alone run. I'm just getting myself back on track since being off the meds for 18 months now, but running is still off the cards, not that I used to run much before anyway but it is what it is. I try to walk most days if I can. Good luck to you, and again I take my hat off to you. Give yourself a big pat on the back!
hi Rustyhoumous …so sorry to hear what you’re going and have been through…sounds to me like you really do need running in your life…but, there’s absolutely no pressure to it at all…completing C25k is amazing for anyone, let alone someone who is going through the mill like you…what you need to do now is consolidate those runs with some no pressure running…just repeat week 9 a few times …at a really steady pace and let your head go…and the tears flow…I have run with tears rolling down my cheeks pretending it’s the rain…so I obviously needed to be out there and able to do that…and that is fine…
I wouldn’t put the ‘want to do a parkrun before Christmas’ pressure on yourself either…what’s the rush? The parkrun will still be there in January if you don’t..
Be kind to yourself and just enjoy your new way of life x
well done for getting on with life when you face such tough challenges. Any chronic condition is so hard to manage but you are managing it. Slow steps are better than no steps - enjoy being a snail runner - it’s still running
It’s hard to see sometimes that exercise is benefitting your mental health but I give myself a score - how I feel no when I drag myself out and how I feel an hour later - I almost certainly feel at least marginally better and usually significantly better so take the small wins
Maybe look at an upbeat running playlist - mine is very much about keeping me going and once Axl starts on his Rocket Queen I know I’ve got 1k to go which is a great motivator!
Be kind to yourself and take each day as it comes - accept the bad days are inevitable whatever your circumstances but slowly celebrating the wins will get more frequent. Good luck
Oh Rusty you've achieved so much and you sound so sad! I don't have fibromyalgia but I have experienced those flu-like feelings after a run, when I first tried to run after I had covid. So I wonder if you have a form of long covid, or another post viral fatigue.
It might be better to swap your one 30-minute run a week for two 15-minute runs a week. That way it will be less of a shock for your body (I find only running once a week really hard work) but the shorter run should be more manageable.
When you get to parkrun, don't push yourself to run more of it than you are comfortable with. It's perfectly ok to walk sections of it (or all of it!) Or you can start with a good long warm-up walk, or you can run-walk it (jeffing).
The running and getting outside will be good for you and your mental health if you adapt it to work for you, and never feel you are failing if you need to do less than you expected.
I say this to everyone, but Pilates is a wonderful way to build strength, tone and fitness but staying gentle on the body. It's a perfect companion to running on one of those non-running days. Find a reputable coach who will make sure you are using your body correctly for best results.
Yes - I have fibromyalgia so I can completely relate to what you're saying. The way I help manage my fibromyalgia is to run and swim but you must make sure you pace yourself. I often feel like I have flu if I have over done it. Perhaps don't follow the couch to 5k so rigidly - do what you can then have a break. I was diagnosed during lock down so it was hard to come to terms with this and I felt very alone. Have you joined the Healthunlocked Fibromyalgia group? Lots of help and listening ears there. You have been through such a lot lately and low mood / depression can go hand in hand with fibro. What sort of treatment / help are you having from your doctor? Ask about a Fibromyalgia management course that you can do - I did one online last year and it has really helped.Take care and don't be to hard on yourself.
keep going rusty, I’ve had stress and depression since my wife passed away but slowly very slowly getting there. The K25K helps as it takes my mind off things. Keep doing what’s seems right on the day you do it. If it means 3 day gaps so be it
That’s what I do but I always get up and walk but that’s just me, it might not suit you
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Good luck with your journey - do it at your own pace - your GP was right!
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