Fibromyalgia Community

Hello taralynn and welcome.....MiMi in NC....sorry that you are not feeling better....I hope though that you will check out the info under "Tips" and "Resources"....as I am sure that you will find some good "tools and tips" to try....that might help you cope better....the wrath of the dragon, aka FM...is a very ugly and mean illness...a person must figure out what the body needs to cope better...and this does take a trial and error process since we are all different...and what helps one may or may not help another...

Only you will know when you have found something that works for you....there are no quick fixes though...it takes at least 6-8 weeks of whatever you decide to try...

I am one of the FMers here who has learned how to "control my FM pain" by taking vitamins and supplements...it took me a long time to figure out what I needed to cope better also...I also do other things as well...

I take magnesium and malate combination supplement...(found at Vitamin stores) Omegas, (I take Fish Oil, Salmon and Krill) Super B Complex, Vitamin D, Calcium plus others...but these are the ones which help my FM pain the most...

I also use lavender bath salts at night in my shower right before bedtime which helps the body to relax. Sleep is so very important for us FMers..

I would also encourage you to be sure and ask the doctor to check your Vitamin D level....low Vitamin D can cause additional pain for some of us...and it is common in a lot of people...

I hope that this helps....be sure and learn all you can about FM...because the more you know...the better you will learn how to cope with "it"...keeping stress at bay is also really important and learning how to pace, pace and pace...

I can not even imagine trying to work like you are doing now...I am sure that this is very hard on your health also.

Take care and good luck...


MiMi

Hello-

I am 28 and have had FM for many years so I know what it's like to be young and plagued with this.

I did not take prescription drugs up until a couple years ago, mostly because I didn't have insurance. During that time, I tried chiropractics, which did help up to a point. I also took a lot of ibuprofen and used topical creams like BenGay. Heat is also very helpful; my favorite source is a microwavable rice bag.

After awhile, though, I needed more help. My husband and I finally had insurance so I could seek medical help. It's taken me awhile to get the right combination of meds but I feel like my quality of life has improved significantly. It's hard, especially when you're young to imagine a life imprisoned by "pills" --something just doesn't seem right about it. But, for me, I've found that I do better with the help of meds.

Something to keep in mind, too, is that the sooner you get your FM treated, the more likely you'll be able to control your symptoms. But, I'm not saying you need to take prescriptions meds. Many people, like Mimi, have found supplements and vitamins to be helpful. My only advice to you is to do something now to get your pain under control.

Another really hard thing, I think especially for us younger ones, is the concept of pacing and taking things easier. We're faced with peers who can do anything and everything, then pop up the next day and do it all again.

I hope you can find relief soon!

Thank you both for your input...before i was diagnosed i was seeing my primary and was complaining of intense pain that started in my left arm...she thought it was anything from bone spurs to carpal tunnel to tennis elbow and blamed it all on my work which was not helpful because i have to work...so for 8 months she had me on percocet which of course helped but i also have an at risk liver due to past dz so i didnt want to spend the next 50-60 years on pain killers so i set up my own apt with a rheumatologist and he is the one who diagnosed me i cant remember the name of the med but i was on it for 2 months before i ran out and lost my insurance i noticed that it didnt get rid of my pain so much as tuned it to a dull roar...i am making an appt with my new primary tomorrow and hope we can find something better than the specialist but not as risky as the past primary...i will keep you posted and again thank you so much and i will be looking into those supplements as well mimi thank you both very much