Does it take longer to recover?

[Hollyhock123]

Newly diagnosed with fibromyalgia and just starting to get my head around everything.

My question - do you find that it can take longer to recover / get over illness etc if you have fibromyalgia?

For some time now, any colds/viruses I pick up just seem to last, and last. Last week I strained a muscle in my back and although it is easing I still feel so much more exhausted. Although the plus side of that is I’ve been sleeping better! I’m due back to work tomorrow, but am concerned that just a day back at work will drain me too much.

[Fibro1966]

HiThere is no present cure for fibromyalgia at this present moment in known time.

It is a chronic and painful illness that knows no boundaries etc.

I have tried every known painkillers and the anti depressants which GPS tell you to take and none have worked.

Fibromyalgia flare ups are dreadful indeed and go beyond words etc.

I have found that sugar or artificial sweetener really increase pain ten fold.

My fibromyalgia was caused by a lower spine injury I had back in 1996,so all these years it's just been back ache but actually it's been fibromyalgia

[Hollyhock123 in reply to Fibro1966]

Sorry to hear you’ve struggled to find things to work for you. Interestingly by GP won’t prescribe any medications instead focusing on what I can change.

Like you I’m noticing that diet can really affect me.

[WendyTink]

Hi, yes I find I now take longer to recover from illnesses/ they cause me to go into a Fibro flare xx

[Hollyhock123 in reply to WendyTink]

Thanks, I suppose there are lots of things I’ve not thought about knock on effects of yet. Thankfully I have an understanding line manager. I took an extra couple of days and felt stronger for that.

[Brief_Encounter]

hi, I’ve also recently been “diagnosed” although I’ve had Fibro symptoms for 20 years. I’m putting that in quotation marks because for me the diagnosis is more of a last resort because doctors can’t find anything else. But yes, I’ve always found it takes me way longer to recover from illnesses and injuries. I sprained my wrist 8 months ago and it is still painful and weak. Waiting for a physio appointment for that right now. I’ve learnt to be patient and not try to hurry the process although it is frustrating!

[Hollyhock123 in reply to Brief_Encounter]

I’ve had rheumatoid arthritis for over twenty years, so have some experience at the pacing and frustration already. Having already adjusted ‘life’ a lot to feel much less stress for the RA, I do feel a little angry at the moment in having to make further adjustments. I’m sure it will pass, but finding a balance if tricky. I wonder how long my fibro has been there too, think I can trace back at least 4 years.

[Cat00]

My experience is it does and it doesn't. I get ill more often than my partner and I often get it worse than him in the first place but then I had Covid which hardly effected me at all whereas he was floored by it. Everyone else who had it was complaining about headaches they weren't used to. I have chronic migraines which bizarrely disappeared when I had Covid so I was actually better than normal 🤷.

[Hollyhock123 in reply to Cat00]

Thanks for your response. You win some, you lose some! I can relate to that, as sometimes I wait to ‘catch’ the bug, and whilst other do, I don’t.

[Fra22-57]

Mmm...I guess we are all effected differently. I do have other auto immune diseases plus other things but this month has been first bad cold I have had for years. Other things floor me like stomach and head bouts.if I forget morning meds I get very ill.if morning n evening I end up in hospital. Slight adjustment sends me so ill so sensitivity is my thing.I try and do what I can ,when I can as you never know when you won't again

[Hollyhock123 in reply to Fra22-57]

Oh gosh, that sounds very difficult. I feel fortunate that presently I’m not impacted by the headache aspect. I also have rheumatoid arthritis (and am full blown peri menopausal) and am learning to try and distinguish what aches, feelings etc are associated with what! And therefore what to do sometimes. Take care

[Onceabiker]

Hi, sorry for your pain. I too have fibromyalgia and to the best of my knowledge it is a permanent condition. I have had someone tell me he woke up one day and it was gone but I feel that was the exception that proves the rule.

Good luck getting relief.

R

[Hollyhock123 in reply to Onceabiker]

Wow, yes, I have a friend who says she’s ’put it to rest’ though a vegan diet. I’m looking at longer term management through various lifestyle changes.

[Yassytina FMA UK Volunteer]

Hello there , I do have CFS as well , I just seem too get over one viral and within days another one😩Winter is worse with everything going around. I hope work goes okay for you xx

[Hollyhock123 in reply to Yassytina]

I seem to constantly have cold symptoms. It was only during that first lockdown when I was ‘sheltered’ (brain fog and word loss, and can’t recall the word I’m looking for!) that my nose, sinuses were free from infection. I sounded so unlike me 😳

I spoke with my line manager, very understanding and took an extra couple of days which really helped.

[whatsername11]

yes 100% .. any virus I get now even a common cold completely floors me. I was also involved in a car crash at the start of December and the flare it’s put me into is horrific x

[Hollyhock123 in reply to whatsername11]

oh my gosh, so sorry to hear about your accident and subsequent flare. I hope you start to feel some relief soon. Take care x