My advice for living with fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is characterized by widespread pain and fatigue, with no known cause, a variety of different symptoms, and no one-size-fits-all treatment. I consider myself very fortunate in that I do not take medicine, I rarely take sick days, and I have managed to carry on with changes to my lifestyle. Today I am going to offer you my top tips with links to more reading on each tip.
And how I cope with fibromyalgia flares
I just left my doctor’s office for my annual physical and was given a clean bill of health. Well except for my fibromyalgia, that is. That ugly beast is still with me. My doctor rewarded me with not having to do blood work this time. No needless poking! I also received my last Prolia injection! In six months I will switch to a different medication for two years, and then should be done with medication for osteoporosis.
It’s a nice feeling to think you are doing something right with your health.
Continue reading “Spring Fibro Update”Fatigue is a debilitating, all encompassing feeling of exhaustion.
This guest post has been written by Ann-Marie D’Arcy-Sharpe, a Pain Educator and Blogger at Pathways Health Ltd. She and I both live with Fibromyalgia; she also lives with Arthritis and Bipolar disorder. Her article is so timely for me, as I have been suffering from the daily fatigue that comes with living with our condition. Please enjoy reading her tips!
One of the primary symptoms of fibromyalgia, along with widespread pain, is fatigue. Fatigue is a debilitating, all encompassing feeling of exhaustion. Personally I find fatigue one of the most difficult symptoms of fibromyalgia to live with and to push through. It can feel as though your entire body is being weighed down. Every action feels like an extreme effort. It can even make you feel as though you’re thinking through a fog.
We’re all individuals so we will each experience our symptoms, including fatigue, in different ways and to different degrees. My fatigue is a symptom I experience daily, even when my pain levels and other symptoms are well managed. Over time I’ve had to learn how to cope with fatigue so that I can function in the best way I can in spite of it. I wanted to share five coping tips I hope could be useful for other fibromyalgia warriors.
Continue reading “Fibro Fatigue: 5 Coping Tips”Flare-ups can happen without warning.
We’re in the midst of a global pandemic. There is a Sahara dust storm that made its way all the way to the U.S., triggering all kinds of reactions. It seems like it is always cold, flu, strep, or allergy season here in Texas. Even before coronavirus, I religiously wiped down grocery carts and washed/sanitized my hands constantly when in public places. No matter the circumstance – weather changes, travel, exposure to other people and their germs, stress, staying in, eating out – all of those things can add up to a compromised immune system. So when I start feeling like I am coming down with something, I have to pause and think – Am I getting sick? Or is it just a Fibromyalgia Flare?
“Flare-ups can happen without warning and are mostly likely to occur if a person with fibromyalgia is stressed or under a lot of pressure.
A flare-up can last anywhere from a few days to weeks at a time.”
From How to Recognize a Fibro Flare
My Inspired Fibro Life 