What advice?

What is the best advice you would give to someone who is new to fibro?

[hazelcats]

Try not to panic. ( easier said than done I know for a fact ). Be kind to yourself, you didnt ask for this to happen, its not your fault. Learn to listen to your body ( and mind ) go slowly and with consideration to your symptoms.

Learn from others who have fibromyalgia - we know and understand!

Individuals respond so differently to methods which try to help symptoms. If you are going down a medication way, research from reputable sites first as to what you and your gp think you may benefit with. Look at others hints and tips some may help you.

Theres no quick fix, but gradually, slowly you will find ways that work for you as an individual.

Its not plain sailing - Im no angel, I get things wrong and hit a flare. But ive learned not to beat myself up about it.

And stay in touch with like minded people, for good solid advice and support.

[Hidden in reply to hazelcats]

Thank you, it helps to hear from someone who has experience.

I will come back to your post in future if i need to..

[moo196]

the absolute best thing I have ever done wrt pain is to give up diet coke and everything else with artificial sweeteners in. Much more difficult since the sugar tax and need to check everything from yoghurts to ketchup and tonic water but worth it. I no longer need to take any pain killers.

[Hidden in reply to moo196]

Who would have thought....

How did you work out that artificial sweetener would make a difference?

[moo196 in reply to Hidden]

just a little bit of research online. It's well known for toxicity

[Hidden in reply to moo196]

OK thanks for that...

Have a good day..

[Cat00]

Exercise, exercise, exercise would be my advice. Tried all the drugs, nothing helped that much but did get lots of unwelcome side effects. Exercise changed everything for me.

[Hidden in reply to Cat00]

I agree, exercise is the biggest help for me...

[Cat00 in reply to Hidden]

Yes I basically spend 50% of my life in the gym now 😄

[Hidden in reply to Cat00]

I do quite a bit myself... 😅

[Cat00 in reply to Hidden]

I have found the more exercise I do the less fibro pain I feel, partly bc it's replaced by DOMS pain instead maybe.I can get very stiff the next day but short intense cardio usually fixes that and then I can get back to strength training and things like martial arts. It helps my sleep too, which is generally appalling, and my IBS to a degree.

I don't pace personally I do as much as I can, so I would argue the opposite of pacing but as you can see that is most definitely not for everyone. I have other pain conditions too, like chronic migraines, so it's often pretty tough first bit of the day, but I rarely leave the gym feeling worse than I went in.

[Hidden in reply to Cat00]

I weight train three times per week and cardio 2-3 times plus go out walking... I used to do martial arts too.

It all helps with pain for my arthritis and keeps my ibs in check, I don't get to stiff either which is great, I'm a pt but I don't find it all as fun as when I did it for pleasure, it sometimes feels like a chore now because I have to do it..

But that's life!

It good it helps you, I'm really happy to know that... 😊

[Cat00 in reply to Hidden]

Ooh what martial art? I'm Wing Chun. Yes hard to work your passion, I'm an artist. I make no money!

I've tried not being an artist but my health has been at times been catastrophic, down to 38kg a few times. With art you can put it down and pick it up again, with no boss to answer too you don't have to explain why.

Fitter than ever now though, want to get my spinning back kick down before I'm 50, which is sooner than I'd like 😄

[Hidden in reply to Cat00]

I used to do ju jitsu, kick boxing, judo and boxing, haven't in years though... Have you been doing it long?

I do art too, I'm not great at it but it's enjoyable, I tried to do some pouring art today but made a mess of it... I've always done art in one way or another since u was a child... Do you specialise in any particular kind?

I play guitar a bit, I used to in my youth so I'm trying again, it's harder than I remember and a bit frustrating but it's enjoyable...

You do take a day or two off per week or are you at it every day? 38kg in weight?

I'm in OK shape for a 55 year old, I try not to let ailments get in the way, I do need to improve in some things though, which I will do.

😀

[Cat00 in reply to Hidden]

Ah my gym buddy did Ju Jitsu, I did Wing Chun when I was at Uni then had a long break, illness, recovery and children. Started again when my kids took it up, typical story really, been back 4 years now. Tried some other Chinese forms along the way, Pray Mantis that sort of thing and Japanese forms like Shotokan, wouldn't do anything that wasn't Wing Chun now though. Husband did Muay Thai he doesn't feel pain, I couldn't box I'm too delicate! I'm better at hitting than being hit if you know what I mean 😁I'm a screenprinter, I specialize in semi abstract monoprints of scuba diving, or rather being underwater. I grew up abroad, learned to dive.

I'm 50kg now, just got very underweight periodically when all my collection of illnesses gets to much. Hopefully that's behind me now my bones are damaged from it so have to keep the wait on, build that weight bearing ability back up.

[Hidden in reply to Cat00]

I'm not sure I'll do martial arts again.. My son is black belt in ju jitsu and he also does Muay Thai.

I did boxing in the army it was in the 80s and quite rough, def wouldn't do it again 😅

I remember doing screen printing in school and loving it, maybe I'll try it again someday. I bet you are really good at it.

Yes get the muscles strengthened and it works wonders... 50 kg sounds much better.

[Fibrooh]

In one word - Pacing. Don’t over exert yourself mentally or physically on relatively good days, Fibro will come back and bite you on the bum.

[Hidden in reply to Fibrooh]

Everything in moderation then?

[keokar]

Hi Naturistdude, having had it for 15 years with chronic fatigue, just get to know your own body. Don't push it too hard, do a bit at time, trial and error with things like exercise and pain meds. Get to where you can manage things and keep to it, then it will feel better. Everyone is different with it, some worse than others, so don't beat yourself up, about it. Don't let people tell you it's not real or stress you out, as it will only make you worse. Take time to breathe and relax, and ask for help if needed from the people that will listen. Take care. x

[Hidden in reply to keokar]

Hello Keokar

Thank you for the very sound advice..

Have a good day... 😊

[saxcat]

Pacing. ( I need to tell this to myself too)

Listen to your body.

Learn to say No more often.

Keep away from stress. (Harder said than done)

[Hidden in reply to saxcat]

Don't overdo things then?

[saxcat in reply to Hidden]

Aye.

Don't feel bad when you rest and do nothing, you are doing something you are taking care of yourself

[Hidden in reply to saxcat]

That makes sense thank you 😊

[KraziekLou]

Hi, Fibromyalgia is hard work, ask as many questions to help you. Especially in this community, you will have so many different symptoms and sadly whatever non-sufferers say take no notice. The only person who knows your body is you. Medication only takes the minutest edge off if it works at all. Fibromyalgia makes us warriors because the pain, the exhaustion and your emotions have tried to battle for so long, you still try every day.

Just ask we all have travelled the road

[Hidden in reply to KraziekLou]

Thank you, it's good to know there are people who can help.

[KraziekLou]

We all can in our own way, you take what you want and forget the rest. Try and remain as positive as you can, that’s hard we all know, between gritting our teeth, and silently saying (screaming) nothing. If you itch like an insect is climbing on you and there’s nothing there (that’s fibro playing with you, If your jaw aches that’s usually fibro, if you find that you have to turn up the telly or ask someone to repeat what they have said, (that’s been a new one for me) it’s fibro. Just take care of yourself

[Hidden in reply to KraziekLou]

I know a few of those feelings..

Im not diagnosed yet but have suspected for a while that I could have fibro 🥴

Thanks again...