How much approximately do you spend m... - Fibromyalgia Acti...

Fibromyalgia Action UK

59,343 members66,390 posts

How much approximately do you spend monthly on complementary therapies and supplements to help manage your Fibromyalgia symptoms?

Mdaisy profile imageMdaisy267 Voters

Please select one:

41 Replies
Carole1234 profile image
Carole1234

It’s not so much therapies (£25) it’s paying for all the jobs etc I can’t do! That costs a fortune!

Loopylaury13 profile image
Loopylaury13 in reply to Carole1234

Exactly the same for me :(

abracad profile image
abracad in reply to Carole1234

That is my biggest thing .

Sashagurrey profile image
Sashagurrey

Supplements and water therapy oh I forgo petrol to hospital @£10 a time

Billypil profile image
Billypil in reply to Sashagurrey

Apart from the cost of fuel about $1:50 / litre here now, parking can cost $30 or more if a person has to wait a while for an appointment. Many are given the same time and your appointment time is just the luck of the draw. As an add on to my earlier comment I have now been told that my problems are likely to be genetic. I followed up on some investigating I did for myself and found that high Homocysteine in a persons blood is an indication of a possible genetic problem with the MTHFR gene. This I had and its called Homozygous T667T, but I was also told that I have auto-immune problems that are probably caused by other genetic problems that can not yet be investigated. I would suggest that you approach supplements very cautiously.

Once more don't be discouraged but be very cautious about making any practitioners wealthy for no result.

If you are sure it works use it, with care, but your own mind could supply the best treatment - even though its is difficult to manage.

Regards Billypil.

LesJames profile image
LesJames

Acupuncture, tens equip

Rachelle400 profile image
Rachelle400

Unfortunately can’t afford to spend much. 😢

Blono profile image
Blono

Same here X

Hopechurch profile image
Hopechurch

Sorry have no cash for anything but essentials😊

Al10 profile image
Al10 in reply to Hopechurch

Been there. Health suffered badly. Couldn't even afford a decent diet. When I got a bit more money, I realized it had to be spent on my health.

Ardfert profile image
Ardfert

I am a GP in Dublin and I have over 50 Fibro patients. They come to me for lowdosenaltrexone, otherwise known as LDN. This is a cheap drug but on average it reduces pain by 30%. A few get no benefit and some get up to 90% relief. It cannot work with opiates as a rule but some can take tramadol at a different time. 70% of Norwegian GPs prescribe LDN - in UK is it almost unknown. See lowdosenaltrexone.org.

Shazzzy profile image
Shazzzy in reply to Ardfert

Thank you for information, would tha5 mean I would need to come off the ibuprofen and tramadol to try this ?

Ardfert profile image
Ardfert in reply to Shazzzy

You would not have to come off tramadol and paracetamol is ok too. Many take LDN in the morning and tramadol at night or vice versa. It does not work for everybody.

Shazzzy profile image
Shazzzy in reply to Ardfert

Thank you for reply

marouska-10 profile image
marouska-10 in reply to Ardfert

It’s so forward thinking of you. I’ve known about it a while ago now and I used LDN during a cancer episode which I recovered from. But now with full on fibro and an unusual failure of the Baroreflex arc my BP is volatile so can’t use I’ve been advised, Also I believe with the autonomic disease on top I’m having to research to get to the bottom of things. As I have an enhanced response in the sympathetic branch of NS and a stress dependent BP response, I’m beginning to look at central desensitised disease.whereby some fibro patients with autonomic disease exhibit this hyper sensitivity to stress, chronic widespread pain , cold, fatigue, neuropathy, terrible insomnia.

Does anyone know of this or have any idea

fenbadger profile image
fenbadger

like many of the above, spending isn't much of an option. The condition hasn't helped me with a good job so cash is tight. I have a tens machine, but its effectiveness is dubious. Heat pads similar. So I have spent a little, but not regularly

Cuddles1979 profile image
Cuddles1979

My spend is variable, so calculated this on what I am at my worst....thankfully spring/summer was kind to me this year else I'd be bankrupt! Therapies work wonders but keeping up with the cost is something else entirely so my goal this year is to learn some other techniques for my own self healing in an attempt to keep the costs down, well a bit at least 😉💜✨

Newquay profile image
Newquay

Can't afford anything only get £109 a week each and we have to pay everything out of it even 3/4 poll tax at £63 a month, food, water, elec.gas.

Used to before they stopped my PiP because we paid for our self to have a walk in shower put in.

Great Try to make life easier for your self and get punished.

Can't even get universal credit as we have worked most of our life's and get our ESAS on a contribution rate.

Sometimes it make you wounded why we even bother.

roses123 profile image
roses123 in reply to Newquay

So true

Newquay profile image
Newquay in reply to roses123

Yes it is so true.

Sheila-Squirrel profile image
Sheila-Squirrel in reply to Newquay

You can get free prescriptions etc through a HC1 form. Boots opticians have the forms. It’s for supporting low incomes. I’m on EESA as well and use it. You get a HC2 certificate that lasts a year. You have to think about renewing it about 3 weeks before so you keep your cover. Worth looking into.

Newquay profile image
Newquay in reply to Sheila-Squirrel

Can't get nothing we have tryed we are just over the limit because we get the higher ESAS of £109.60 a week, because we worked most my life I am 61 and get prescription free but have to pay dental.

Would have had my pension if they hadn't put age up have to be 66 now.

Trust me it's hard

Sheila-Squirrel profile image
Sheila-Squirrel in reply to Newquay

I’m on contributions based ESA after working all my life and I qualify for the HC2 certificate. I get prescriptions, dental and glasses. It also covers for transport to hospital costs and any medical devises such as wigs and orthotics.

vonni17 profile image
vonni17

I buy heat pads

hand warmers

Heat wraps

Hot and cold gels

Then my prescription pain medication cost too

Bath soaks but not every month and cost varies from which store has what in stock and any offers sometimes an item that is 3-2 etc saves me and I have an extra month of supplies

vonni17 profile image
vonni17

But my list of things is not monthly as like many of you it cost s fortune with little relief

Also my mum and family get me products for me ☺️

Danniie profile image
Danniie

I buy CBD oil every month which has greatly improved my fatigue. I also buy Epsom salts for bath, magnesium spray, monthly prepaid prescription card direct debit and probiotics etc

helenstaton profile image
helenstaton

wish I had the funds to experiment what therapies may work for me but unfortunately I just don't have any spare cash, the cost of living is ridicules and so much of my money go's in just keeping me warm to ease my pain and on paying for all the jobs I fail to do these days

Elay profile image
Elay

Sorry I forgot to engage brain beforehand I should have chosen £1 - £25 per month as I buy 2 bottles of MSM and there are 120 caplets in each and I take 4 per day which is 30 days

Shazzzy profile image
Shazzzy

Bowen therapy or body massage when I am able, can only afford this now I receive pip, had it stopped before. Also Epsom salts, arnica cream and co enzyme q10.

Sheila-Squirrel profile image
Sheila-Squirrel

I pay for a Bowen therapy session once a month as it’s not available on the NHS.

lizard57 profile image
lizard57

Deep tissue massage - once a month £30

Slimming club - £20

Supplements- £10

Would like to do more - yoga - swimming

- reflexology - hydrotherapy - Chinese medicine - (this has helped before but cannot afford a full session)

Dinkie profile image
Dinkie

Supplements as can't take prescription meds £20

chiropractor once every 2 months (should be more often but too expensive) £45

hynotherapy every 3 months (again wish could be more often)

epsom salts/wheat bags/tens machine and various bits of equipment to make life easier all adds up - scary!

shazmill profile image
shazmill

Pilates, yoga, tiachi, petrol + food (no dairy or eggs )

shazmill profile image
shazmill

I also have a care package which i make a contribution to

skit profile image
skit

I consider I take enough stuff.

Complementary therapy could be my exercise? If that is the case then 2 terms a year I may spend between, swimming , pilates and my bowls it could be as high as £60 depending on how many games of bowls I play!(NB I sit down in between each end I play & generally am only on the green for 2hrs and I only bowl 2 or 3 wood in team setting)

peck profile image
peck

I'm not sure in £ but in USD approx. $75.00 monthly in health insurance, $20.00 for prescription co-pays and I try and buy me anything that makes me feel better about myself maybe a new lipstick or a nail polish.I feel I deserve it.Take care, Peck 🐤

Billypil profile image
Billypil

I stopped spending on Fibro. a long time ago, as most Naturopaths can't agree on what should work & conventional doctors are even worse and anti-depressants only make it harder for me to function. After having several of both types of medical people try to get me to buy lots of different supplements costing between $100 & $200 each time I visited and offering all sorts of treatments that verged on the Witch-doctor type of treatments I cut my losses and manage on heavy pain killers to do what they will. I believe that unless a person has a specific problem that currently nothing works for me if it is sold as a Fibro treatment. I don't wish to discourage anyone if they get a result, but I think a real Fibro. treatment is still over the horizon.

Regards Billypil. .

Mads3696 profile image
Mads3696

I take CBD oil but I’m not convinced of its benefits yet and I’ve been taking it for 3 months.

Sunnydays1 profile image
Sunnydays1

Wish I could afford them rather than taking all these dam tablets :-( :-( :-(

Gab-Gordon profile image
Gab-Gordon

I take vitd and probiotic pills

Gab-Gordon profile image
Gab-Gordon

Probiotic pip and vitd plus do tai hi and exercise class both cost a lot