How many listen to your bodies?

I dont listen to my body. I have spent most of my life blocking it out. So when docs ask when this started and how often do you experience that ... ? ...

I was recently doing self analysis about this (because I fear that it has played a role in my delayed diagnosis...and now tryng to decipher fibro from non fibro..??)

For me, I must block the symptoms as best as I can, or they consume me.
I am a low functioning fibro.

I will think more on this after I get some sleep....

I listen to my body, but ignore the pain I am in. It would be all consuming if I didn't, and I wouldn't be able to function. I do take pain meds, and they help. No side effects so far.

But our bodies tell us so many different things. I am not listening to every symptom, just the ones that stand out. It is hard with fibro. It is always there. But our bodies do need attention in a lot of things. Trying to distinguish what is what.

Interesting topic. I hope you get many poats.

Hugs, Karen

Okay, here is the sticking point for me.

You stated "choose to do a lot and when I say a lot choosing to do things you don't need to?" There are many reasons why this would happen, other than listening or not listening to your body.

You further stated "Those of you who do choose to go beyond doing what hurts, do you try to mask your wanting to live like a healthier person with medications?" This seems a different question than you originally asked.

I say this a lot, but here I go again. People come in all different shapes and sizes, needs and environments, daily lives and levels of wellness. There are all different kinds of days, and all manner of things that need to done during those days. Sure, there are things we chose to do, but there are also things we need to do. Today, I need to organize assignments and make a lesson plan for tomorrow's class. I have to do that. I want to go to the gym and do an hour workout. I need to drive home, I need to eat, and I want to ready things for tomorrow. Now, I work out because if I don't, my body gets worse. However, if I chose to skip it, I know through experience that things will be worse.

Your second statement also presumes several different things. What hurts does NOT equal what we want to do versus what we need to do. Being healthier does not always equate non-medication usage. Being healthier does not mean that we have no pain. Medication, normal, healthy, hurting... and also listening to your body. You packed a lot of different ideas into that sentence... and, they are not the same things. I'm sorry, but you also a packed a judgment about people who use medications.

I listen to my body very well. I am trained as an actor and still teach movement, voice, and acting, as well as academic subjects. I understand what it means to listen to your body and figure out what's going on. I understand how one thing can affect something else.

I would also state that wants are different than needs. There are a lot of things I need to do, and sometimes I do have to cause my body pain or low energy in order to get those things done. Yes, because I am a professional who works fulltime in a stressful job, with no children, student loans, and a partner who lives in another state, I sometimes have to do far more than I would care to do. I use medication to be able to manage my needs, not just my wants.

You further state in another post that you live in a "bubbled life." If that is works for you and your needs, I am happy you have discovered it and can both pay for it and spend the energy to set up life for yourself in that way. I am also glad that you have someone to help you take care of you, and that you have the money/time/energy to work on solutions that focus on natural eating and fewer medications. These are terrific things, and I am very glad you have found what you need in order to manage your condition as best you can.

This condition is not one size fits all, and it is not easy to manage, for anyone.

I am pretty much aware of my physical symptoms and try not to overdo...I always seem to think I can do more than I should.

Being active is part of my nature...pain is part of my day. Some days I'm busier than others and tend to go with the flow. If I don't move, I hurt all the more...so I tend to keep busy with many breaks. Today, I'm super flaring and resting more than usual but able to get a few things done.

hugs, Robin

Thanks Robin and Joy for your replies.

I try to stay active too, as much as I can. Robin, are you near the weather system? I was in a flare yesterday probably due to the edge of the weather system that went through here.

Joy, I know what you mean about having to finish a task and taking a rest in between. Joy, what helps me sometimes is soaking in the bathtub and rubbing the sore muscle.

I'm learning that posture can have something to do with the pains some of us are going through. When I'm getting more sore and tired my back tends to hunch forward, my neck too, then I become even more sore. I try to remind myself to keep my posture in check.

Thanks, Woolrow, for your reply.

I try to ignore the pain too and not think about it. Did you ever notice how laughter helps us to forget? I've heard that "laughter is the best medicine." I know it helps me.

I've mentioned in this forum before that it's very difficult for me to lay in bed due to my fibro and injuries. How I deal with that is by taking my sleep supplements at night so I'm knocked out. When I lay in bed, I think this has something to do with my numbness, I can't relax, I don't feel myself sinking down into the mattress like I did before fibro.

So sitting in a comfortable chair for a short time helps me.

Woolrow, concerning some days how you'd like to put your head in the sand and ignore everything, I get those days too. Do you find yourself acting more pleasant sometimes than you feel?

Up to 3 weeks ago, I have been ignoring my body/ pain by loading myself with pain killers and muscle relaxants for a long time... the end result is the symptoms keep getting worst.... so my body decided to make things worse for me... my recent blood test came back with signs of hepetitis (medical induced) and I've a very sore stomach (pending endoscopy).

Lesson for me is I've to start listen to my body and slow things down.... otherwise the body is just going to deteriorate further.

SimplyUs,

Thanks for explaining that to me and for sharing with me the statement of mine that you found offensive. Yes, each of us is different and it is difficult to understand how each one of us helps our own fibro symptoms. I've heard that some medications don't help our fibro symptoms in the long run, they are just band aids to help us deal with the symptoms. But we all have to do what works for us.

FibroSux, thanks for your reply. It's great to hear you could peal away those medications and recognize that you needed to look into how you needed to be helped. Medical hepetitis (medical induced) could you explain that? Thanks. You mentioned very sore stomach, I recently had an endoscopy. I have gerd. I was tried on a medication for a month, Ratidine I think it was called and came down with some pretty bad side effects. I took myself off and now I'm doing raw honey when I have an upset stomach. It works for me. Be careful of proton pump inhibitors like Protonix. I was on this kind of med years ago. I took it for several years until I heard this type of med depletes your calcium level. I had learned I had osteopenia. I took myself off of that med too. I try to control my gerd with my diet. That seems to help me a lot. Good luck to you. Let us know how it goes and what your diagnosis is.

Ozzie, thanks for sharing. I can understand how that would take all your energy. This just gives you and others something to think about. If by what I say even with my offending some in here can help some the tiniest bit, that's a very good thing.

: ) Fibro is all symptom and no data. So anything for it would, in a sense, be a band-aid for symptoms (until the research comes through with the answers we search for daily, why, what, how).

I do not take my painkillers due to side effects. I rarely take my smooth muscle relaxer due to side effects. I am stopping the first drug I have tried for fibro, due to side effects. I take only a fraction of what the doc prescribed for anxiety/tension. I use ice, heat, hot tub, for my fibro. If I have a head ache, I deal with it. No tylenol, aspirin, ibuprofen. I sleep when I can. No sleep supplements (bad side effects or didnt work).

Like I said I dont mask anything. I am disabled. Like you (I think) I am fortunate enough to have a devoted husband, and financial security. I avoid longterm meds.
but unlike you, I choose to be more accepting of others whose methods may differ from mine.

God bless you

Post Edited (~SimplyUs~) : 11/1/2012 5:33:50 AM (GMT-6)

Thanks for your reply, Myself09, just to let you know I don't see mine as the only choice, I see what I do as an option for some. There are so many out there who don't understand, who don't know there are options other than using meds or as many meds along with a healthier lifestyle.

SimplyUs, I appreciate your getting back to me. Just think how beneficial it will be to some with what you just shared. Sorry to hear you're also having such a difficult time dealing with fibro. I was tried on so many meds for a few years until my rheumatologist declared I was medication sensitive. She still tries to prescribe meds for me and sometimes I will try a few. But they don't help, they only create lots of side effects in me and sometimes make my pain worse. Some would ask, shouldn't you call your doctor when you want to come off a medication. I answer no, I cooperated too much with that dealing with late replies, dealing with being told I should try it longer and the symptoms becoming worse, and being prescribed another med....

Yes, I've been told before that I'm too judgemental but it is a way to create dialogue.

Fishchris,

Thanks for your reply. I would have to agree if my pain is just my constant fibro pain I don't act on it or wonder if I might have done something to irritate my fibro, but if it's a flare that's when I really try to figure things out or if I have a more difficult time than usual trying to sleep.

Yes, we do push on don't we and do the best we can.