How to cope with the extreme fatigue that come with Fibromyalgia?

[CTotoro]

Hi there, I was wondering if anyone had any advice regarding the best way to deal with the extreme fatigue that comes with Fibromyalgia? I am newly diagnosed so I would be so grateful for any advice regarding this. Over the last week my energy levels have been so so low and i don't know if me trying to force myself to carry on as normal is the best thing to be doing. I have daily routine of getting up the same time, taking a walk and checking on my elderly father and the making sure i have time in the evening to relax and get to bed. But today even getting dressed nearly had me in tears because it had me so exhausted. Any advice greatly appreciated. Thank you

[Dinkie]

Hi CTotoro and welcome to the club nobody wants to join. Early days for you so please be gentle with yourself. You will still be mourning for the old you and trying to get to grips with the new you. It is, I am afraid, very much a trial and error situation. What works for one may not work for another. If you are given prescription meds it often takes a while to get the combinations right.

What works for me, a diet free of any processed foods and refined sugars. Heat pads, weighted blankets, tens machine, biofreeze gel, trips to the chiropractor, gentle exercise and occasional visits to a hypnotherapist all have their place in my regime as I can't seem to tolerate prescription meds.

The art of pacing is probably one of the most difficult to master. On better days, do not go like a bull in a china shop and try and accomplish all those chores that have been put on the back burner because of the fatigue. If you do overdo it then sure as eggs is eggs that fibro sprite will come and demand payback and put you into a flare. All I can say is do a little bit and rest, listen to your body. Some of the contributors here try Tai Chi, CBT, mindfulness etc. Some days are better than others for me with the fatigue side of things but I certainly do notice a difference if I stray from the diet side of things. You could try keeping a diary to see if anything in particular triggers the fatigue for you.

It may be worth you asking for a referral to a pain clinic/pain mangement course or to one of the fibro clinics dotted around the Country. I went to the Guys & St Thomas's one. Very useful, one appointment, saw various specialists who then put together a report/plan of action which was sent to my GP.

[Sallybones in reply to Dinkie]

Hya Dinke just make sure your GP has done all the basic health checks and blood tests to rule out things and if not and you can afford it get some private ones done so you know for yourself if anything needs tweaking.

They aren't expensive and puts you in control.

Good luck and love

[Dinkie in reply to Sallybones]

not sure if your reply was meant for me or the original poster. If for me, yes blood tests are important and as I’m diabetic they are done every 3 months. Low vit D can cause pain as I found out when originally diagnosed. I need vit D supplement every day.

[Sallybones in reply to Dinkie]

sorry Dinkie my brain is not working this morning. It was meant for CTotoro xx

[Dinkie in reply to Sallybones]

No problem- the dreaded fibro fog - don’t you just love it. I use it for all sorts of excuses after all this awful affliction has to have one bonus😂🤣

[KimiJay in reply to Dinkie]

Wow! Thanks for writing about the vitamin D info. I shall have more. May the sun shine shine for you too as soon as possible!

[Deeb1764]

I am going thro my winter phase of fibro which i find is the hardest and the fatigue is in overdrive. Sensory the fatigue and anything else plus I have multiple autoimmune issues so it’s a bag of @@@@. I have to pace eat small meals, I tend to only eat twice, outside moments even if for 10mins just to get sun and fresh air and pace pace pace.

Every one is different so it’s trying to find what works for you and this can be by errors and just by accident.

Rest pace rest pace

[Sallybones]

Hya CTotoro just sent this to Dinkie by mistake!! (brain fog) but just make sure your GP has done all the basic health checks and blood tests to rule out things and if not and you can afford it get some private ones done so you know for yourself if anything needs tweaking.

They aren't expensive and puts you in control.

Good luck and love

[KimiJay]

I can remember that feeling years ago. I already had a good traditional acupuncturist helping my energy but then I discovered d-Ribose online. It's not like glucose or fructose but taking that also helped me live a better quality life and get out of the utterly unacceptable and distressing zombie state. It won't help everything but as long as it is not taken too close to evening it was enabling, energy wise and makes it possible to think of the occasional, short venture out into life again. Best of wishes.

[Chrisbel]

there are supplements that can help such as NMN, ubiquinol, rhodiola, and others, however the most effective, long term result that I have had is from breathing pure Oxygen in a hyperbaric chamber, for an hour a day, over a period of around 70 sessions, and there are around 60 odd chambers around the country for M.S sufferers, you can join the charity and use the facilities, I still go once a week, it got rid of my fatigue and brain fog. Changing my diet, and learning about supplements helped a lot too, as does regular controlled exercise.

[LaurieLee in reply to Chrisbel]

Hi, sorry to jump in. How long did it take before you found that the hyperbaric chamber helped. I tried before covid, but only about 6 times, I found it really difficult on my ears, so they had to do it slowly.

[Chrisbel]

I found it made me tired for about the first dozen times then I got used to it and went up in pressure to 33ft, and gradually after that I started to feel better and by the end I found it had helped with energy and my brain fog and fatigue had all but gone. So it did take perseverance.