Self-management is the secret of coping with fibromyalgia

[phlebo123]

The advice given to me by a friendly physio has been by far the best given to me by any other health professionals :-

Learn to be "in control" of your FM rather than letting your FM "control you".

To manage your symptoms you must try and balance the following on a daily basis:

1 Relaxation (try and relax for 20/30 mins each day)

2. Managing activities of daily living (pacing, planning, setting priorities, learning your limits)

3.Gentle Exercise (short walks, swimming, yoga)

4. Coping with your feelings (it's good to talk, express your feelings, be positive and knock negative thoughts out of your head, deal with and minimise things that cause you stress, be realistic)

5. Healthy eating

6 Sleep ( keep regular hours, wind down before bed ( e.g read, music, warm bath ) don't take your worries to bed.

I am now following this routine on a day-to-day basis and I have now learned to "control" my FM -- it needs you to be very determined, very strong and positive, and not let others "push you around". You also have to learn to say "no" to others that expect too much from you. It is the most difficult "thing" I have ever done in my life, but at least I now have a life worth living. I know that my FM is here to stay but I now know that I (and only I myself) can deal with it. I hope that you all can learn to "move forward" -- sending you all tons of encouragement to overcome this and adapt to a lifestyle that helps you manage your FM.

[Extremelygrumpy]

Hi 5 years ago I would totally have agreed with you in fact I was even better than that I was cycling driving decorating running all with fibro just an occasional flare of ibs and chostochondritis .. The problem is when other illness creep in at an early age .. I think I was lucky my fibro was mild... So when arthritis hit at age 43 and stopped me in my tracks within 3 weeks I was in a wheelchair 4 years on I have progressed to sticks and a mobility scooter cant do anything of the things listed above , that's when fibro hit hard, I have tried coming off my night meds many times in the past 4 years without I don't sleep with I do so that's a no brainer for me. ... Pacing yup takes me two hours to get washed and dressed every morning then I rest before tackling the two little jobs I set myself for the day along with things I like ... Playing piano badly using iPad for mental games. I also use relaxation tapes at bedtime. I sleep most nights and wake as stiff as a board and have to be helped put of bed at 7am whether I am ready to get up or not cos that's when my OH leaves for work. I am convinced that some peoples fibro can be managed in the way you suggest exercise diet pacing..etc. But when you get other illnesses it all goes pear shaped

I am so glad you have shared this as it may help the people on here newly diagnosed with fibro as their only condition and maybe some of us with other illnesses can adapt these ideas to fit round our lives.

VGx

[Celticmoon]

Hi there

I agree with verygrumpy... A good day for me is one where I'm not in constant & terrible pain, one where the overwhelming exhaustion means I CAN wash and dress and where I'm not limited beyond my total control by a body that just doesn't work and a brain that has trouble keeping up!! Although I've tried to relax, meditate, manage my activities, eat healthily, cope with my emotions and get some rest there are many many many times where this just isn't possible.

I completely agree & support that the holistic approach really does have a positive major impact upon bad health and used it to very good effect throughout my own cancer journey and other serious health issues. However, I now feel that I've gone beyond being able to have the luxury of being in control of this pain... I try my best to manage it but on days like today where I'm writhing in the chair, bed and thoroughly exhausted, tearful and don't quite know what to do with myself "being in control" just seems like something that happened to me a long long while ago now...

Yep, it's managing many severe conditions in the one body that makes this an impossible dream...

xx