intro

[Guest guest]

Peace to all,

I am newly diagnosed with fibromyalgia. As a nurse I have suspected this

syndrome for some time but did not want to admit it until the pain became so

unbearable that I had to do something.

Age range:

44

Male/female:

female

What are the symptoms?

burning stinging pain throughout the body and deep pain in trapezius, hips,

knees....

Has you illness been diagnosed?

Yes

How long did you suffer before you got help?

several years

Is there a time that you can remember when it started?

Vague symptoms for about 5 years, then symptoms worsened last Christmas.

Some of us have found lack of exercise we are overweight. Have you found

this to be a problem also?

No I am actually underweight and get plenty of exercise caring for a small

spinner's herd (3 angora goat does), chickens, a large garden and my dh. I

also work prn (approx. 2 days/wk) as a nurse

Are you on disability?

No

If you are any pointers for others trying to get on disability?

?

What have you found that helps ease the pain, warm baths, medications etc.?

I have been practicing yoga for nearly 20 years to treat a herniated disc

and congenital defect of the lower back. I also take hot baths nearly every

night and as I mentioned above I stay active. These help but I think the

most relief I am receiving is from Elavil taken at night. I have never been

one to sleep through the night, and that never was a problem for me, but my

physician asked me to take the Elavil at night to help me sleep through the

night, as this is one of the stressors for this disease/syndrome.

Do you have sleep problems? How do you deal with it?

Again I have never slept through the night. I wake up nearly every hour

from about 1 am to 5 am. Now that I am taking the Elavil I wake up only 2-3

times a night but go right back to sleep.

Do you have family that understands your illness?

Yes my family is very accepting. This is a result of my medical history

that includes open heart surgery to correct congenital defects,

endocarditis, rheumatic and scarlet fever, loosing 4 babies before a

hysterectomy. The doctors predicted on many occasions that I would not live

long and here I am 44 y/o and still active.

Dh, is as supportive as he can be, not having experiencing the pain himself.

He reminds me not to pick up 60 lb bales of hay or feed etc. But I try not

to complain too much to him.

Some have found certain foods causes problems with CFS or Fibro, have you?

What type of Doctor have you found that has helped you the most?

I am an ovolactovegetarian and eat very little. I did quit the glass of

wine at night as suggested by my cardiologist as that seemed to aggravate

the pain. I also try to stay away from refined white sugar and or

processed foods. Still I love chocolate and if I eat too much I note a

difference.

Breathe and :-)

myrrhsea ~Peaceful Life of the Heart~

MyrrhSea FibreCraft

http://www.geocities.com/myrrhsea/mfc.html

.:*~*:.:*~*:.:*~*:.:*~*:.:*~*:.:*~*:.:*~*:.

She seeketh wool and flax and worketh willingly

with her hands. ~Proverbs 31:13~