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Posted 9/10/2008 3:33 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone!  I'm so happy to find all of you.  I've had fibro for about 6 years now however I was formally diagnosed about a year ago.  It took that long because I've never had any depression with this.  My doctor kept fighting the fact that it could be fibro because I'm such a happy person. sad

However, I knew it had to be fibro and here I am.  40 years old with the best husband and 2 daughters who are the love of my life.

I know each one of us is different and the fibro affects us differently however my question is this:

Does your fibro "flare up" or affect you worse during a certain time of year?  Every year now I get what I call a flare up around September/October and it lasts into January/February.  The rest of the months I'm doing great.  It's funny because this is my busy time with my girls in school, working full time, president of the PTO, running to soccer & basketball games every night now until February, etc.  I don't take any meds and just learn to deal with it.  Many days I just want to stay in bed but I can't give into this.  I just started feeling sore all over this past week.  I swear if I was stranded on a deserted island I'd know what month it was according to my fibro.

I look forward to learning lots from all of you! 

Posted 9/10/2008 3:49 PM (GMT 0)
Hi M&M and welcome. Could it be that the extra activity is causing the flare during that time??? It can be stressful keeping up with everything and fibro loves stress. I'm the mother of three grown sons and I was healthy when they were growing up and it still got hectic and tiresome with all that was going on.

 

Read the fibro 101 thread, second on the first page, there is a lot of great info in it.

 

Read all you can and ask questions, we are here for you.

 

luv and hugs

Marlee

Posted 9/10/2008 3:58 PM (GMT 0)
Hi M&M! I feel worse during the fall/winter months too. Winter really hits me hard, although summer was no walk in the park this year. I also have lots of other stuff going on, so I take lots of pain meds, unfortunately. I tried the no med route for quite soem time, but what with the abck damage & Crohn's, no way!

Hope to get to know you better with time.

P.S.  I odn't have depression either.  Thankfully!

Posted 9/10/2008 4:05 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, M&M, and welcome to the fibromyalgia forum!  I'm glad you joined us!  Yep!  My flares come in the summer months for me.  I live in Florida and the rain and humidity do it to me every year.  The autumn, winter, and spring months are much better for me pain-wise so you are not alone.  Fibromyalgia is really weird and affects everyone differently.

 

Ahhh, another positive person!  I don't suffer from depression either and, believe me, I am soooo thankful about that.  I did go through a bad depression with my husband died suddenly and I never want to experience that again.  Keeping a positive attitude is so helpful with fibromyalgia.  Looking at all the blessings and good things in your life helps keep the stress away, which in turn keeps some of the pain away.  Keeping busy and focusing on other things helps the pain fade in the background, too.  But, you might need to try pacing yourself a little and that could help with your autumn pain.  You are taking on a lot.  I didn't give up living my life, but I did have to slow it down a bit to avoid the painful flares.  

 

I take ibuprofen (with food), Tylenol, and malic acid/magnesium supplements to help with pain and fatigue.  I just bumped up the thread about malic acid so you might want to read about that and see what you think.  Also, as Marlee said, check out the Fibro 101 thread.  There is a lot of good info about fibro on that.  

 

Meanwhile, I hope this helped you and I am looking forward to hearing more from you soon.

 

Sherrine 

Posted 9/10/2008 4:22 PM (GMT 0)
M&M,

 

First of all, welcome to the family!  I hope you'll feel comfortable here.  We really do try to support each other as best as we can.  Also, feel free to post as much (or as little) as you want, OK? :-)

 

Since I'm currently living in SoCal, I usually don't notice if the weather affects my fibro.  But, lately, it's been a little more humid (yes, it CAN get humid in CA, LOL), and I am absolutely miserable. cry   I am trying to move home to SC after 14 years, and I know that the weather there will be a factor.  I have also heard from doctors (and they know everything, right? eyes ) say that the barometric presure may have something to do with it, too.

 

I am very jealous that you can manage to deal with this without any meds.  But, I hope that IF you need something for your pain, you won't force yourself to suffer or just "suck it up."  Everyone with fibro deals with pain differently, so only YOU know how you feel.  Just know that there is no reason why ANYONE should have to endure real pain.  LOL-yeah, I guess I'm kind of an self proclaimed advocate for pain management. blush   I've seen too many people who are in actual pain be told to "get over it."  I've even dealt with that kind of ignorance myself. sad

 

Anyway, sorry to rant.  It's just something I'm passionate about.  I do hope you'll find that we really are a supportive group.  I've found some people here who I feel closer to than my own family.  I hope you are lucky enough to find the same. :-)

Posted 9/10/2008 5:14 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks everyone for your replies!  It's good to know that some of you don't have depression either.

Kelly71 - I'm not against meds at all - it's just that so far I've been able to deal.  I have a great job and I'm able to take a day off here or there if I dont' feel good.  That's interesting what you say about the barametric pressure.  I live in Vermont so when the cold air moves in during this time of year I feel it.  As a matter of fact it is suppose to drop down in the 30's tonight!!!

Sherrine - I'm so sorry to hear about your husband.  And to see how positive you are now - you truly are an amazing person!

Marlee2 - yes I'm positive it is my extra activity that makes these flare ups happen.  Even though I'm not depressed I think I'm stressed just buzzing through each day with a million things on my plate to do.

I'm really feeling it today in my neck upper chest area - no fun!

Posted 9/10/2008 5:23 PM (GMT 0)

I think weather plays a big part in flares too. summer an winter hit me the hardest. The humidty of the summer, and the cold of the winter gets my back and knees cuz i have arthitis as well, So those are my rough months.

Welcome to the forum, there are a lotgrat people here Im sure you can relate with very well. smurf

Posted 9/11/2008 6:55 AM (GMT 0)
I'm on the same page with you sheryl. Winter is the "bad" time for me. Between the general hurt of the fibro along with the arthritis...ugh. That's all I can say, it's just UGH.

I seriously believe that barometric pressure may effect us. It has already been somewhat linked with the arthritis pain, and it wouldn't surprise me if it affects us in ways that we're unaware of.
Posted 9/11/2008 2:38 PM (GMT 0)

Hi M&M-

I'm too new at this as I just got diagnosed this past spring and not sure what the fall and winter will bring. I live in Minnesota and the winters are brutal even on a nonfibro body. Just wanted to welcome you and hope you can get those seasonal flares under control- GamJill

Posted 9/11/2008 3:25 PM (GMT 0)
M&M I know it's hard to give up the things that mean so much to us. I was on the PTO board, I think the principal of the boys school had my number on speed dial cause he could count on me to do whatever needed to be done. I did not have fibro back then so I could deal with it and so few parents get involved with their children's schools. But with fibro we do have to do some reorganizing of our lives and rethink our prioities. So don't think you are a bad mother if you have to give up or delegate some of the work to others.

 

luv and hugs

Marlee

Posted 9/11/2008 4:01 PM (GMT 0)
Hi M&M,

I just wanted to welcome you to HealingWell. I too have problems with the on coming winter and pain. The barometric pressure is changing so much right now with the hurricane season upon us. We are suppose to get rain tomorrow sometime, so I am sure that the pain will increase before hand.

I hope that you have a wonderful day,
hugs, Karen
Posted 9/11/2008 4:05 PM (GMT 0)
Hi M&M lover! If your name reflects a true passion of yours, you better keep them hidden when I'm around because they are one of my biggest cravings of all! tongue   However, I'm not some nutty celeb that has to have all the green ones removed before I'll eat them.....you know.......I mean.........Just in case you were to offer me some! turn

I don't really seem to be weather/seasonal sensitive except for maybe on the hottest days. High temps and I don't do well together! My flares just seem to occur whenever they darn well feel like it. Even strenuous activity doesn't seem to be a trigger. But stress now, on the other hand, most definitely IS. The more stress I feel, the worse I feel. Stress is one of fibro's best buds so beware of it. skull

Oh......I am so sorry......please don't feel stressed about my first comment to you......I promise to leave your M&M's alone (fingers crossed behind my back)! smilewinkgrin

Gentlest of hugs,

John

Posted 9/11/2008 8:33 PM (GMT 0)

Hi John (or Jev) - I got you!!  Although I do like M&M candies I'm a lover of my two daughters Megan & Macie wink I thought that was a tricky name to use.  I'm not picky...brown, red, orange M&M - I'll eat them all!

Marlee - Yes I am getting better at delegating.  Like you, I am very much "needed" at school helping out at this and that.  In fact the call I got today was "next Saturday is the soccer tournament at school can the PTO do a food table?"  I will never forget about 6 years ago I was doing that very thing setting up a food table at the soccer tournament and that was the very first time I experienced fibro.  I remember telling my girlfriend that I didn't feel good, I hurt all over.

GamJill - I'm from the Northeast so I know exactly what you mean about brutal winters!!

Many thanks everyone!  I can tell this is the beginning of a great cyber friendship yeah

Posted 9/11/2008 8:47 PM (GMT 0)

Hi again M&M! Yes, you DID get me on that! nono   Megan and Macie.....beautiful names dear! And, please pardon my faux pas for not extending a warm welcome to you.....I missed the "New" before the word member! smilewinkgrin   Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!

Gentlest of hugs,

John

Posted 9/11/2008 9:17 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your warm welcome John!  I love your signature - Gentlest of hugs - how appropriate!!
Posted 9/12/2008 3:45 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome!
I am a mom of 4 and I know how hectic it gets around the school year.
Carolyn
Posted 9/12/2008 4:13 AM (GMT 0)
Hi and welcome! I'm not so sure that the weather affects me as much as others. When it's nice I'm outside pushing my self beyond my limits and in pain. In winter the cold and lack of movement get me. Life is a constant flair..lol Ain't fibro fun...NOT! If I'd learn to slow down it might help but I keep telling myself...when this one project is done then I'll take a break.. Hasn't happened yet but if I were to sit I'm afraid I'd stove up and not move again along with feeling sorry for myself. I know the medical community does say that moving and gentle exercise is the best thing for us and I'm sure it's true. We just have to find our own comfort level. I do wonder tho if some of those researchers have fibro???

Hugs,
Chutzie <---who is obviously babbling and getting tired
Posted 9/15/2008 1:34 PM (GMT 0)

Chutz said...
Hi and welcome! I'm not so sure that the weather affects me as much as others. When it's nice I'm outside pushing my self beyond my limits and in pain. In winter the cold and lack of movement get me. Life is a constant flair..lol Ain't fibro fun...NOT! If I'd learn to slow down it might help but I keep telling myself...when this one project is done then I'll take a break.. Hasn't happened yet but if I were to sit I'm afraid I'd stove up and not move again along with feeling sorry for myself. I know the medical community does say that moving and gentle exercise is the best thing for us and I'm sure it's true. We just have to find our own comfort level. I do wonder tho if some of those researchers have fibro???

Hugs,
Chutzie <---who is obviously babbling and getting tired

You know Chutzie I totally agree with you.  I keep on doing, doing, doing and keep saying I'm going to slow down.  I do think it helps because I feel like I'm not "giving into" this awful thing that we all have.  Thanks for your welcome!
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