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Posted 4/2/2009 4:26 PM (GMT 0)
I am having my first full blown flair up. I have had small ones previously, but this is by far the worst. I am dealing with some other stuff in my life right now and I think the stress of it is causing my fibro to act up. My whole body just aches, it hurts to move, to sit, to lay, to do anything. I'm only 23 and don't know how I am going to live with this for the rest of my life!
Posted 4/2/2009 4:36 PM (GMT 0)
cbrown,

I know just how you feel. And I'm sure everyone else here does as well. Yes, the pain is intense, and unbearable. But IMHO, I think you need to see a Rheumy, and get on some pain meds! Or Lyrica. Or something! You say you can't live like this for the rest of your life, and I agree. You need to DO something about it! You are only 23, and have a long life to live. And you need to live it well. Good luck, and take charge of your life-don't let Fybro get the best of you!

BTW-I think marlee is the best bet for advise. I haven't been here long, but she sure knows what she talkin about!

scool

Posted 4/2/2009 4:36 PM (GMT 0)
Hi cbrown and welcome to our family!

Here...<extending hand> take my hand and together with this wonderful family we will show you how to have a wonderful life in spite of fibro. No, it's not easy but it can be done.

I think you are probably right that the stress is making your pain worse. Time to work on relaxing and de-stressing yourself. Again...not easy but you can do it. I would first try warmth. It's a fibro's best friend. A heating pad or very warm soak in the bathtub. Light some nice candles, put on some soft music and soak in the tub until the hot water tank run out...lol Is the stress something you can work on? Usually it is but often it's something that will take time.

Also, weather changes...especially cold weather...is miserable on fibro pain. That's something we can't do much about but we can keep out of the cold and stay warm and dry.

Do you have a good doctor? Are you on anything for the pain? If you can share a bit more maybe we can offer other suggestions that might help. Feel free to email me if you'd like to chat. Just click the little envelope over there <--- under my name. We'll make it...I promise!

Chutzie
Posted 4/2/2009 4:43 PM (GMT 0)

Major flares are hard because you feel like they are never going to end and the pain is so constant.  I usually lose my appetite and get more tearful (like PMS), when I'm in a major flare.  I am acually in one now and went home during my lunch break yesterday to take hot shower and may again today.  I do agree that stress can trigger them. 

I do hope you feel better soon.  

Posted 4/2/2009 4:55 PM (GMT 0)
Hi C-Brown,
Aww.. I know your pain all too well.
Stress and fibro don't seem to get along too well. Chutzie's 100% right about what she said. First you need to learn how to relax. It's hard to do but you will find "your thing" that will help you. Some find yoga helps others try to do some exercise.. like gentle walking to help. I enjoy anything that has to do with nature. So I like to go birdwatching.
Keep posting and check out the 2nd thread on the forum called Fibro 101.. there's lots of helpful stuff on there, whether its coping or stretching or natural med.. there's lots to help you there.
We're here for you.
Take care,
Posted 4/2/2009 5:06 PM (GMT 0)
Hi C,

I am so sorry that you're experiencing your first full blown flare. NO fun at ALL!! Stress can definitely make fibro worse, so I have to echo what others have said and encourage you to find healthy ways to de-stress. Also, warm moist heat like baths and bed buddys are very helpful during flares, as is taking it easy and being gentle on yourself.

I do hope you get to feeling better soon. {{{{gentle hugs}}}}
Posted 4/2/2009 7:48 PM (GMT 0)
Cbrown, I am sorry you are going through this & as the others have said, Yes, stress is not our friend. There are ways to de-stress & you have been given alot of good things to try. I know that it hurts & it seems like your life is one big pain but it will pass. Learning all you can about Fibro will help in learning to de-stress. Also, as time goes on you will learn to priorities your life & you will also learn what is worth stressing about. There are many things people stress about but we have learned that small things can be best managed with as little stress as possible. Some thing I have just totally let go of. I used to have about 60 house plants & stressed about watering them, about them needing re-potting, their dying. So, I gave most of them to new homes & my friends loved it & I don't stress over them, I let them go. Some things can be mentally put up until we can handle them without causing a flare. Things that need done immediately, should be done as quickly as possible because procrastination will cause a flare. I learned along time ago that if you are stressing over & over again about doing something like cleaning the bathroom, you will use exactly the same amount of energy you would have used had you just gone in & cleaned it. Yup!! So, if you stress & stress over it because you have no energy to do it, well that stress is going to cause you a flare. Pace yourself in everything. When you are in a flare, take care of yourself as best you can. Those warm bathes & rest really can help. Hugs, I hope you feel better soon. You are so young to have to deal with this. I am 56 & didn't get this until I was in my late 40's. Take care please, come here often & get to know the people here. Gentle, soft hugs, Denise
Posted 4/2/2009 7:59 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, cbrown, and welcome!  I'm so glad you found us and joined in.  I know fibromyalgia can be quite overwhelming at times.  But the good news is it waxes and wanes.  My bad period with fibo will be coming up soon because I live in Florida and the rainy season will be starting in June.  This happens to me every year so I know to expect it and what to do to help me control my pain.

 

I use ibuprofen with food and extra strength Tylenol for pain and I also take malic acid/magnesium supplements for pain and fatigue.  These don't help everyone but many on the forum have gotten relief from them. 

 

I just started taking more vitamin D also.  For some, it helps with pain and fatigue.  I am noticing that I don't have as much discomfort as I usually do so I don't need as much ibuprofen.

 

Many use a Bed Buddy.  You can find these at Walgreen's and other places or you can make your own.  Take a tube sock, fill it 2/3's full of raw rice, and tie a knot at the top.  You pop this in the microwave and it gives off moist heat due to the moisture in the rice. 

 

Find a doctor that believes in fibromyalgia.  There are still doctors out there that don't.  Many use a rheumatologist but I use a board certified Internist.  If you are looking for a doctor, be sure to ask if they treat patients with fibromyalgia.

 

Have you checked out the Fibro 101 thread...the second thread on the forum....yet?  There are links to good information about fibromyalgia in there, including information about malic acid/magnesium supplements and how they work in your body.  You will learn a lot about fibro from that thread.

 

You do need to keep moving with fibromyalgia.  If you sit or lay too much you will be stiff as a board.  I walk and swim as my main exercises.  I also do gentle stretching exercises.  There is a link to them in the Fibro 101 thread.  These can be done while sitting down.

 

Again, welcome!  Read back post and ask questions.  Our members love to help each other and will jump in and help you out.  I have had fibro for 22 years and have had a full and enjoyable life with it.  You just need to learn how to handle the pain.  I am never without pain but I focus on other things and it tends to fade in the background.  You will learn to face fibro head on and work around it to live the life you want to live.  Try to keep a positive attitude and look forward to each new day.  That does help a lot.  A good sense of humor helps too...especially with fibrofog!   shocked    We are here for you so just ask and we will be there to try to help you.  I hope to hear more from  you soon.

Sherrine 

Posted 4/3/2009 12:43 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone for the warm welcome and your replies!

The stress I am dealing with at the moment isn't something that I can make lesser or just forget about. I will probably be dealing with it in some form for the rest of my life. I guess I just need to get better at managing it.
Posted 4/3/2009 3:42 PM (GMT 0)

Hi cbrown and Welcome-

I have learned over the past year that stress and cold weather do not mix with fibro! Lots of good advice the other members have given, and I hope this first major flare eases up soon for you- when you are hurting this bad it's hard to imagine living like this the rest of your life, I know. One day at a time- you are very young and they are figuring out more and more about fibro-

Hang in there!

GamJill

Posted 4/4/2009 2:52 AM (GMT 0)
<<<<<<<<<<<<<soft, gentle huggs coming your way>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Vickie
Posted 4/4/2009 11:00 AM (GMT 0)

Hi cbrown, and welcome.  I'm sorry you are having such a hard time.  A major flare can be such a difficult thing to deal with both physically and emotionally.

This is a struggle I have too, but try to remember that you don't have to deal with the rest of your life today.  You only have to deal with one day at a time.  I get all freaked out too when I think about "how am I going to deal with this for the rest of my life," so I try not to go there. 

The intensity of my fibro symptoms do vary.  Some days are much better than others.  While you are going through a really rough time right now, more than likely you will have better days.  When do you get one of those better days, grab it by the tail and enjoy it.  It helps me cope with the bad days to live the good days as normally as possible without worrying about impending bad days (does that make any sense to anyone but me? lol).

I wish you much peace.

Hugs - Austen

Posted 4/4/2009 2:00 PM (GMT 0)
Hi cbrown and Birdy and welcome to the family. You have been given sooo much great advice there isn't much I can add. Life happens and unless we want to lock ourselves away from everything and everybody we can't stop it but we can change how we react to it, there are some days I would like to run away from my family and that's okay to do once in awhile too. The same with weather, we can't change it. I live in central Illinois and right now the weather is changing everyday and it is hard on the fibro body.

 

Like some have said we have to weed out our lives not only the things that take physical energy that are not necessary but the things that take emotional energy. Sometimes that may mean cutting ties with people that drain us. I use to think I had to be there for anyone that had a problem, I can't do that anymore so I pick and chose what I want to take on.

 

Distraction is great. I'm going to hurt no matter what I do so I can sit and concentrate on how much I hurt or I can do something enjoyable and try to get my mind off the pain. Shopping is a great distraction for me but we all have different things.

 

I have held out for all most six years now since being dxd without taking narcotics. I have vicodin in the cabinet and there are days when I think why don't you just take one and see if it helps instead of suffering but I also have a med phobia that stops me from taking a lot of meds that may help me.

 

I do use a TENS unit to interrupt the pain signals to the brain when things get bad.

 

Hang in here with us and you will get lots of help.

 

luv and hugs

Marlee

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