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Posted 11/1/2009 7:11 PM (GMT 0)
Does anyone else tend to finds themselves self medicating with food when the pain gets bad? I have been doing so well and had even lost some weight but since I started having a flare again, I find myself eating myself into a stupor. I feel like I can't get full until the pain is gone. I caught my self doing it 2 nights ago and got upset. It is amzing how it takes forever for each pound to drop but it takes a second for them all to come back! Ughh...
Posted 11/1/2009 7:26 PM (GMT 0)
I'm right there with you. I think it is a pretty common thing for people with chronic pain. I try to eat moderately, but sometimes, nothing distracts me from the pain like a big piece of chocolate (or cookies, chips, etc.) *sigh*

Hugs - Austen
Posted 11/1/2009 7:58 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Sharmedimsure, welcome to the forum!

I think we all use food at sometime to help ease our pain. I find that when I am flaring
I crave my comfort food, choclate, mashed potatoes and gravy, chips and salsa.

The big thing is that you recognize that you are using food as medication. Finding
something you enjoy to distract you from the pain helps. I know I struggle with the weight
on a daily basis and get upset when I begin to self medicate with junk food. I just lost 10
pounds, but i know how easy the 10 pounds can come back.

Excercise is good even when you are flaring. You actually feel better. Sitting too long
only makes you feel more achy. Be careful not to overdo. I always have water next to me,
and try to drink as much as I can. I also know the calorie values of the foods I crave
and ask myself is worth it. Set mini goals for yourself, it is easier that way.

Hope your flare ends soon!

Robin
Posted 11/1/2009 8:28 PM (GMT 0)

I just ate four chocolate chip cookies and didn't even realize it until I was chewing the last one.  I hate it when that happens...just grabbing something when your fibro fog mind is on something else.  They only reason I know I ate four is because there were six left in the box this morning.  I probably would have eaten them all if I hadn't caught myself!

I blamed my chocolate cravings on the Lexapro I took (never ever again) for two years but I have been off it for over a month so....OINK!

Donna

Posted 11/1/2009 9:21 PM (GMT 0)
I read an article somewhere about foods that are "warm" according to oriental medicine ... I remember cinnamon was one of them. But the idea was that Fibro is worsened by eating too many "cold" foods and eating "warm" foods would help the body "warm up" internally and relieve the effects of the "cold" foods.
Posted 11/1/2009 10:35 PM (GMT 0)
That is very interesting. I just read up on it and I found it very helpful. It is funny because I usually crave spicy/ hot foods. It seems to make me feel better. I guess our bodies  know what we need, just like in the summer, I only crave fresh fruit and cold sandwiches. I just had a bowl of chili before I read this post and was feeling better. I guess all those onions, chilis, and peppers do make a diffence!
Posted 11/2/2009 4:41 AM (GMT 0)
I crave spicy Thai food almost every day.
Posted 11/2/2009 11:34 AM (GMT 0)
I love warm comfort foods. Soup, Chilli, grilled cheese. I also love milk chocolate. It gives me a little energy boost, and makes me happy. I am sorry to say I have not lost any weight in a long time, but I haven't gained any either so I guess that's not so bad.
Posted 11/2/2009 1:29 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry girls but I'm the opposite and tend to lose my appitite when I'm in a lot of pain. However, the more I hurt the more I smoke, like my brain thinks there is something in cigarettes that will help the pain.

 

I guess we all have our vices.

 

luv and hugs

Marlee

Posted 11/3/2009 5:52 AM (GMT 0)
I only crave salty things, but that's because I have low blood pressure. My doctor told me to just eat more salt, so I eat tons of salty foods, and that's just to keep my blood pressure at a normal level. If I don't get enough salt my blood pressure drops and I can pass out or just collapse and be unable to move. I don't think about it much, so when my body needs more salt it lets me know!

My tooth enamel is also degraded, so sugary foods make my teeth hurt really badly and I think that helped stop me from craving them as comfort food. My comforts now are peanuts, crackers, Sun Chips, and when I'm up for dairy I like mozzarella sticks too. And, very rarely, ice cream.

All in all I don't have food cravings often because I typically have no appetite at all. I'm convinced that my stomach decided to be anorexic without telling me, because I never want to eat (except sometimes when I do boredom eating) and have to remember to make myself eat little snacks throughout the day. I also drink Ensure when I'm feeling okay with dairy to make sure I'm not going to kill myself by forgetting to eat.

-Sandi
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