Posted 1/17/2013 9:49 AM (GMT 0)
Sorry for the long post, but here the top here sums it up (the rest is more detail)
Going out of the house for a full day is a real push for me, and afterward, I will often end up in bed for a few days.
I know that I MUST be doing something wrong.
All of you here have faced this beast, and I'd LOVE to hear your "tricks of the trade" - from how you pace yourselves, to what you do for recovery.
Please, please, please!!!!!
The Full Post/More Details which may help to find what I'm doing wrong
I've pretty much learned to balance my other health issues, but I've been lazy about learning the in's and out's of managing Fibro, and now am desperate to hear from real people (not the generic stuff on so many web pages that is one-size-fits-all).
After a major flair this last holiday, I realize I need to learn everything I can about managing fibro. I know I over-did it even though I had actually scheduled rest days. The problem is, life happened; I was needed as mom, wife, daughter, daughter-in-law, etc. So much for my plan to go out a day, then rest a day, repeat. I'm now wondering, if my plan is causing more harm than good?? Is this how I should be handling my Fibro?
My most common flair feeling I over-do:
The pain is frequently triggered from my bra (I’m a 42H), and starts as a crushing ache around my mid-back (thoracic area). It quickly reaches upward, leaving a trail of burning roped muscles throughout my shoulders, continuing to my neck area (cervical), and finally, the knotted ropes of muscles continue to tighten all the way through the muscles covering the skull (triggering a migraine). The aching, burning ropes of muscles travel down through my lower back (lumbar), and into the lowest area of my back (sacrum), as burning ropes of painful aching, muscles, crushing my siatic nerves – leaving terrible sciatica.
To either get over a flair/or try to avoid a flair:
When I start to feel that tiredness and aching in my back, I try to get home ASAP, undress, and climbed into bed, resting my body. I have to say that my adjustable temprapedic bed and 1000TC cotton sheets feel like heaven, and I’m greatful to have that haven to sink into.
Am I doing this wrong?
I have the burning and exhausted feeling, but I wonder if I need to skip waiting until I feel better and just push myself to get out of my comfy bed and take a walk even if I'm still hurting and am still extremely fatigued?
Background about me...
I'm a married 45 year old woman with 2 teenage kids (they are all very supportive, so I'm incredibly lucky). I've been permanently disabled since 2004 (Meniere's Disease, RSD, Chronic Migraines, and finally added Fibro to my collection)
I take 4 daily meds to try keeping pain and fatigue at bay: Lyrica 300mg day (for Fibro), Celexa 60mg day (migraine prevent/anti-depression/pain help), Concerta 72mg day (for Narcolepsy), and MS Contin/Oramorph 60mg day (RSD & Fibro pain).
My heavy artillery for break-through migarine & RSD pain includes: Valium, Demerol, Amerge, Phenergan, and Reglan. I try very hard to avoid needing them, but it beats trips to the ER when I over-do it, or the pain gets sneaky and blindsides me.