Hi,

How can you be diagnosed with Fibromyalgia if you have not been to the Doctor to be diagnosed with Fibromyalgia? Did you diagnose yourself? I am not clear on your post. I hope you can clarify.

So you have not been to the Doctor and have had no blood work done to either include or exclude any other condition and you are short on Magnesium? How do you know this? Just wondering.

Take care.

Hello. Welcome to the group. I'm sorry you were diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. It is a hard illness to accept. There are other treatments than pain pills. There's alternative medicine such as Acupuncture.

there are so many symptoms and doctors tend to want to give you a pill for each symptom.

Everyone is different, and it takes time to find what works best for you. It sounds like you found some things that already help you, so that is a great start.

Again, welcome to the group. Lots of good people here to give support, as this is not an easy illness to cope with.

I'm so sorry you've got all-over pain---and must echo---I hope you did indeed see a doctor for the dx. I am not thrilled by MDs in general myself, but your pain could have a *lot* of causes other than FM---and for your health's sake, it's best to rule out all other potential causes. And I do say that as a true cynic about the medical profession.

Also, magnesium is one of the four fundamentals that help regulate heart and/or kidney function, so please, do not take a sup for it unless you are *low*. Calcium supps are really the only ones you can safely take without checking first. When it comes to magnesium, potassium, and sodium, you can very easily screw up too much by taking too much. They regulate each other, for one thing--- so if you boost your intake of one, it can affect how your body absorbs and/or processes the others. (OK, sorry, my inner nerd had to do that.)

That said, welcome to the forum.

Welcome to the group!

Fibromyalgia (FMS) is a Neuro-muscular disorder which is why doctors use prescription medication to treat it. Only certain classes of prescribed medications are effective. OTC medications and supplements are usually not effective for the type of pain caused by FMS. A key point to remember is that the longer a chronic pain cycle continues, the harder it becomes to manage or stop. While I can appreciate using some alternative methods to try and manage FMS, you are placing a great deal of stress on your body.

Do you take anything for sleep? FMS interrupts the deep sleep cycle with short bursts of high intensity brain activity. Your muscles require deep sleep in order to repair themselves from the days activities. No deep sleep means higher levels of pain. These days, most doctors recommend that people with FMS have a sleep study done. This pinpoints the exact sleep disorder and in turn the medication needed to allow the patient to get restorative sleep. This is a critical part of managing FMS.

I have used acupuncture which was pretty helpful. Eating healthy, and taking vitamins and doing low impact exercise are all positive things as well. That being said, I also take prescription medication to manage my FMS so that I can enjoy a better quality of life. Health issues impact the entire family unit not just the person who is affected.

I would like to suggest that you consider ordering the book "Fibromyalgia for Dummies." It will give you a comprehensive overview of this complex illness and a lot of ways to try and manage it. If nothing else, it will give you a better understanding of the basic mechanics of Fibromyalgia. You can order it online at Amazon. Knowledge is power.

Based on your introduction, I think that the best doctor for you to see would be an integrative medicine specialist. They are also called a functional medicine specialist. This is an MD with a strong interest in holistic medicine. Most of them take insurance. I got my best help from a functional medicine specialist. I use a mix of conventional (prescription) medication along with some supplements to manage my FMS symptoms and underlying health conditions. At some point, you have to make peace with having FMS. No amount of mind over matter and supplements are going to beat it.

Good luck to you and take care.

Thank you all for support as I cope with Fibromyalgia. Some days are easier than others, and one should not rely on earthly doctors and prescription meds for a cure. The best cure above all is the power of prayer, and I know my body as well as what I can do and try to overcome this condition. All I ask for is continued to support and a lack of judgement. Thank you.

I have to echo what DaidyGirl said, Are you diagnosing yourself?
I hope not because many of the symptoms of Fibromyalgia can also be the symptoms of other or more life threatening illnesses. Please reconsider going to a doctor.

Plus, I must say that your post sounds to me like you are an ad for Vitacost.com.

I hope that prayer does work for you, but I would not hold my breath waiting. Many of our group are firm believers and very active with prayer, but thus far, they are still here. I do not pretend to know what god has in mind for any of us, but perhaps this illness for them and you is a lesson of some sort to teach you something or just your cross to bear.

And, as sorry as I am to have to admit, yes, I am judging, because your post sounds like an ad to me.

I'm going to have to go along with everyone here who has said first, you need to get a proper diagnosis, if you haven't done that. People have, quite literally, died thinking their symptoms were "just fibromyalgia."

Proper treatment is important once you have a diagnosis. as Fantod said, the longer a chronic pain cycle continues, the harder it is to beat. Pain changes the brain, and untreated the changes can be profound. There are good treatments available, and in my experience, most people do best with a combination of medication, lifestyle changes, and alternative therapies. The "cocktail" of those things is different for each person, but that there is a combination is pretty consistent to those who manage to get their lives back.

For what it's worth, your post comes across as judgement to those who take medication. Symptoms can vary widely, from those who bounce back to a place where they can run a 5k, to those who are wheelchair bound. Your pain is not their pain. Karma is a bitch. I used to be one of those people who looked at those parking in the handicapped spaces and thought "you don't look handicapped...." Yeah it's a bitch.

There are also many "believers" among our group - I use that word because we have as many faith traditions as can be imagined, along with the random atheist. None of got here because we didn't pray right, or go to the right church, or read the right book.

You ask not to be judged - that goes both ways.

I don't know why everyone is asking if you diagnosed yourself, unless they misread your post.
I read that you were diagnosed and now you don't want to go to doctors because all they want to do is right a bunch of prescriptions rather than treat the illness.

I agree with Peace. No one here is judging you. We are offering an opinion based on personal experience and many years of experience. Based on your description it doesn't sound like your solution to the problem is working. There is not some elaborate conspiracy on the part of the medical profession to "drug us all up." The intention is to alleviate some of the pain and make our lives bearable. Being medicated prevents changes to the brain from high levels of chronic pain. You are heading down a very difficult road without proper treatment. But, you are welcome to your own approach just as the rest of us are to ours. Take care.

I think it's hard for a newly diagnosed person with fibromyalgia to understand and accept it.
Some things you will come to learn are: There is no cure.
There are treatments but no cure.
Someone suggested reading "Fibromyalgia for Dummies" I agree that's a good start.
Fibromyalgia is such a complex illness, a lot more complex than you probably realize right now.
The best thing you can do right now is read and learn as much as you can about fibromyalgia.
Again, welcome to the group, sorry for the reason you are here. Everyone is here to share their experiences, well most are( some people never share their stories and just come on here and ask questions, and post websites and definitions, etc.)

Thank you to those who understand and know how to read my posts. You are greatly appreciated. God bless you.

Eklord, some people who come here are in fact self-diagnosed and it turns out that they have *not* consulted a doctor or any medical professional---and they have something that is potentially lethal, degenerative, etc., but not fibro. We also see a lot of people diagnosed by chiropractors, a massage therapist, et al., and so when some of us read "diagnosed" followed by "I refuse to go to doctors", it does worry and (yes) confuse us. I at least meant my queries out of concern, since my sister died from "self-treatment".

Hi am sorry that you have been diagnostic with fibro. I am glad that you have found some relive. I am being treated through Doctor and meds.

I'm still confused. But I'm drugged up and I don't read well.

Are you saying you were diagnosed by a doctor?