Fibromyalgia Community

Hello and welcome....MiMi in NC....so sorry that you are dealing with so much pain....I think most of us can say that we have been there done that...I do hope that you will check out the info under "tips" and "resources"...you will find some good "tools and tips" that perhaps you have not thought of trying...

Living with the wrath of the dragon, aka FM....is hard for a lot of us...but there must be something out there that will help you cope better...you just have to find what you need...and this does take a trial and error process...

I would like to encourage you to be sure and ask your doctor to check your Vitamin D level....which is so important for a lot of people these days...low Vitamin D can cause additional pain and it can also affect other illnesses as well...it is a simple blood test...but you MUST ASK the doctor to run it..

We, FMer, have to learn how to pace, pace and pace even more....do 15 minutes of what you need to do..and then rest 15 minutes...(a timer helps)...have you tried using a pillow behind your back at work?...get a thin one...I have to drive with one behind my back...and I sit on pillows in my recliner all the time...

Have you tried a heating pad...a lot of us FMers...use them as needed....(a moist one is better)..drinking a lot of water also is important...as is watching your diet...doing gentle exercises or stretches is also good...(GENTLE, is the key here)...

I have learned how to *control my FM pain* by taking vitamins and supplements and doing other things as well...I am NOT painfree though...and I also have NOT found anything that has helped the chronic fatigue that I have most every day...

I hope this is a starter for you....learn all you can about dealing with FM...it does take time...there are no quick fixes that I am aware of...

Take care and good luck..


MiMi

It sure is difficult to do things, isn't it?

Be sure to try different cushions/chairs at work. It is helpful to change positions every 20 minutes or so.

Vacuuming has become one of my hardest chores with FM. That pushing/pulling motion does it. If I could, I'd buy a cleaner that's really light and self-propelled. My standards have really dropped lately. Cat hair piles up. Oh well.

Definitely talk to your doctor about adjusting your medicine if at all possible. It's got to be hard to go to work and come home and clean!

Redhead,

I understand what you are going through. I no longer work and that helps, so I don't have the problem of pain at work anymore. I do have the vacuum issue. It is tough to to any house work. It takes me 3 days to clean my house now. My DH does the vacuuming for me. I love the phrase, "I cleaned my house last week. Sorry you missed it." I too have lowered my standards for a clean house. Lol. W have a dog and a cat to by the time I do sweep and the vacuuming gets done, I can build a whole new pet with all the hair.

I take Tylenol 3 for the pain and that just takes the edge off most days.

Hope you feel better! And please talk to your doc about your pain level.

Kim

Good Morning,

Remember that we talk about, we are never pain free*, there is always going to be issues we just turn the volume down so life can happen.

For me, I can not do laundry and a vaccume in one day. My large triggers of food shopping, laundry, linen change and even a dinner party....have to be spaced well. I do one trigger at a time. Maybe laundry early when I have my wellness window then a rest for quite a bit...then the dinner party.

I am lucky that I have a househelper for years now, the major house cleaning is done by her. Every two weeks. Used to be 50.00 now up to 100.00 but it is magic to come home to a house that is straight, clean and smells good.

There are times I have to do the house in a few ways and I pace it, time it and plan it.

Maybe that is in here....you need to look at the triggers you are doing. If work has you so bad...then the house waits. Laundry waits for no one, so that is first to deal with. I got front loaders as they stopped the pulling involved that I saw was so bad for me.

I often speak to of using different muscles at work......like thinking of it as execise. Yesterday I had terrible spasm to the flank muscles...I tried the door jam to rub on, no good...got a warm blanket and leaned on that. How about using a thermacare to your back at work. Lean into it and see if it helps the sensations.

Bring your stop pain lotion with you.....I have used my sombra at work too.

This is a condition that wakes you up to being inventful to survive. I hope it doesn't win and you give up. Working is a distraction med that is so helpful to keep you moving and displace soem of the issues. I know right now it seems overwhelming but maybe a flare is in place.

Try a massage (gentle) from anyone....movement of blood and stimulation to the skin may be beneficial. There were times I could throw up from the pain, but I did it anyway as I knew (for me) it gets better afterwards. I respond well to manipulation.

I wish you luck little redhead..........hope today is a lower pain day, Nancy B

Hi, I just wanted to let you know neither of these answers have been an option for me for 8 years although I have definitely thought about it. I keep searching for help and trudgeing the best I can through my days and have learned to do what I can and ask for help with the rest. I take generic SOMA (muscle relaxer) after work but will make you more tired than what you probably already are so be careful.
God Bless
Kathi