we all know 99.9% of the time Fibro can be sh***y for us, but is there anything positive Fibro has taught you?
for me, it’s been that if I was to be diagnosed with any condition I am thankful Fibro isn’t terminal and that is won’t cause my death, it’s not a death sentence like other conditions / illnesses. Gotta be a good thing right?
It's made me slow down and not go through life at a whirlwind pace. I take more pleasure from small things like being warm and snug and the opportunity to just chill and read a book.
It's made me understand comfort is important. I feel grateful I have a snuggly coat and padded boots when winter is with us.I have learned to take time out for crafts and hobbies
Nothing like those layers! I even have layers on when it’s not as a comfort thing so I am totally with you on that
Nice,
Any craft I can do in bed I do, Hubby is putting my desks up (He promised) so I can do my mini albums and cards 😀 I have many hobbies
I do a lot of exercise as this is supposed to be good for fibromyalgia. I've got really into it and am now fitter and stronger at 47 than I have ever been in my life before.
Indeed, what excercise do you find helps? I take gentle walks and try to swim. Not quite ready for the 100m hurdles yet! Ha ha!
So pleased you have found a positive with Fibro
I do very intense cardio, combat, lots of weights and swim. I should do a lot more stretching than I actually do though. I box too, thinking about getting a home boxing gym thingy for Christmas, I'd like my kids to use it but I suspect it will be just me...
Whoah Cat00 that’s incredibly impressive. The most I can do is walk and swim. I did the gym some time ago but came home in tears from the pain and the fact it lasted days and days after! So I cancelled,cannot be easy for you but I imagine you push yourself - amazing!!
Start small and slowly build it up, with fibro you have to go slower. The pain puts us off exercise, which means our muscles atrophy, so too our ligaments our facet joints. Bodies were designed to move, if you don't move you hurt more in the end. As you age your muscles can't support your skeleton, your organs. With fibro you have pain regardless so you might aswell move and at least have strength and pain rather than just pain. Bit by bit you get stronger, you slowly build a better relationship with your body.
I have multiple pain conditions, pain has driven me to nervous breakdowns on at least 4 occasions. The last was over 10 years ago, I lost it completely, I don't sleep for days driven mad from the pain, I was 38kg in weight for the 3rd time, damaged my spine in the process, took almost 2 years to recover from that one, but never give up, change can happen.
Having said all that I do think it's different for people with chronic fatigue type of illness, you can't necessarily push through that, but pain is different but it takes time, a lot of time, more than for everyone else.
Been there, I'm thinking I'll try chair yoga? I totally miss my gym days, I stretch and I'm exhausted,
Yes, I'm the same. I do a lot of physical work for clients (gardening and cleaning) plus a mix of yoga and pilates regularly. I'm significantly stronger and fitter now at 58 than I have been for the last few decades. Yes, I get physically exhausted and often end up in pain but my pain and tiredness thresholds have definitely been raised. The more I do (within reason) the more I'm able to do. Unfortunately I've gone down with a very nasty cold which has knocked me off my feet for 10 days so far so that will be reducing my fitness levels so going back to work will be really hard and painful!
You can do it! Us Fibro people are stronger than we get credit for.
Having a cold or flu just sets you back doesn’t it? Take it easy, it’s about balance.
I am constantly exhausted and I am much younger than you but I take you as a role model, if you can do it I can too
Thank you for your kind comments. I try to take the knock backs in my stride but it can be very hard sometimes. I know that if I stopped being active the pain would take over again. I'm lucky as my clients are very understanding and appreciate what I do. At least being my own boss I can choose who I work for! I'm an RHS qualified gardener and have knowledge on my side when up against much younger, inexperienced gardeners!
It is incredibly hard to really deal with the push backs, I really am with you on that one. Our bodies like the gently exercise which helps us but then we are under pressure to keep up with that or our bodies scream! Well mine does anyway !
I bet you have some amazing talent in gardening and yes it’s definitely an advantage to work for yourself. I am not self employed I have mentioned my conditions to employees before some I haven’t as they wouldn’t be very supportive so I just sucked it up. all about the facade!!
Totally agree with "the more I do the more I'm able do"!!
One good thing fibromyalgia has given me is my friends from my arthritis group, if I wasn't diagnosed with fibromyalgia and arthritis then I would have never met my amazing friends who have seen me through the worst years in my life, especially when I lost my brother and my mum and ending up in hospital with the doctors debating wether or not to remove my very infected leg. When you suffer a lot in life and in pain then it teaches you too help those who are going through the same pain, surely that is a good thing.
Thoughts with you sweepsooty on the loss of your family members. It’s at those tough times and times where people are diagnosed with conditions you really know who your friends are and the new ones you find during that time are keepers!
Loved that you posed this question. Like other respondents I am glad it is not terminal, relieved I am not going mad, enjoying exercise and weightloss, loving early retirement and hugely appreciating comfort and the care I get from my partner and support from friends.
There are always things in any situation that make us reflect on what we can be grateful for aren’t there. Thanks for reminding us of that today.
Enjoy your Sunday - my roast dinner is imminent!! Worth the pain of preparing abs cooking it hopefully 😂
x
Awwww bloody ‘ell Ellen I love this! My eyes filled up reading it.
You banged the nail right on the head. Never will I say having Fibro is easy it’s impossible some days but there are still so many things to seek comfort in.
I am actually writing this laying in bed having just been sick from the pain. not a good day but tomorrow may be better.
Have a lovely roast dinner!
Not totally sure If It's positive?? Depends on where your stood,
Since Fibro crept up,Suddenly those so called friends and family that do all they can to stop coming to see me or contact me, I have found more support,advice and comfort from those I see as Fibro family on here and a special friend and Sis,
I've never met any of you all and yet I have shared pieces of my life that I wouldn't normally,
I have a new found love of reading again, where I turn a paper page and lose myself in the story, I have found a way of communicating that doesn't end in total mental breakdown,
Last but not least I talk (write) too much 😄😄😄
Positive but pooped!!!!
Dizziness
Calling all Doctors with Fibro.
Just need to sleep.
New here
