I dealt with my symptoms of pain, IBS and fatigue by changing my diet to an all organic diet and by taking supplements. The organic food (really, the elimination of all artificial chemicals from my body) was what really helped minimize my pain. Within a week or so after the diet change I realized that I wasn't hurting any more. It was only when I ate some "bad" foods that I had decided not to eliminate that I hurt... so it was easy to then decide to eliminate them. Digestive supplements especially enzymes help with my IBS. I don't really have problems any more (unless I make the mistake to eat without them). Fatigue began to go away some with the dietary changes, but wholefood supplementation is really what has given me more energy and clarity of mind... they have given me a quality of life that I thought impossible two years ago. Hope this helps... and I wish you the best of luck.

Welcome! I am sorry to hear of your issues. I am fairly new here and want to tell you, the people here are wonderful. I wrote last night in a moment of anger, and i really settled down when I read my responses. They hwlp and care! So, #1 if you don't have a great support system, stay here and visit often.
#2 Call social security and check on what you need to do
#3 if you have a prior employer do they offer unemployment or long/short term diability you may not be taking advantage of?
Finances are a huge pressure and hope you can get disability approved.
There are several resources online and at the fibro websites offering suggestions.
I hope you feel better soon, at least temporarily!
Hang in there, and have a lovely day!

I do believe a good diet helps the pain, as well as making sure you stay in shape. The heavier I am, the more I hurt. Plus exercise helps lower your blood pressure! Also, heating pads will become your best friend. They are the only reliable thing for the pain. What kind of meds are you on? I take elavil, flexeril, and ambien cr at night and I wake up refreshed and in less pain. elavil is an antidepressant and it lowers the pain, not sure why. Flexeril is a muscle relaxant, and those work wonders! And of course Ambien CR is a sleeping pill. Magnesium supplements also help prevent spasms. I recommend taking magnesium with vitamin C because that helps it absorb into your body. You should also talk to your dr about getting a pain killer for breakthrough pain. Also, see if you can try Lyrica. If your pain is from nerve pain, this will work wonders! Let's see, hot baths everyday helps. And doing something like Yoga or Tai Chi helps relax your body and decrease pain levels. You just have to be creative and openminded. I'm 20 years old and have had fibro my whole life, but only got diagnosed last year. The most important thing I have to tell you, is that you are not alone!

I've had fibro for 10 years and am still trying to figure out what works. I have recently begun myofacial trigger point therapy (a specific type of therapeudic massage) and one on one counseling. Both are great and through counseling I am finally learning to be more assertive and say "no" and not feel guilty. I also like heat, I stay away from straight-backed &/or hard chairs, bumpy roads, and try to change positions often. I'm interested in trying the organic diet that was mentioned too. Wouldn't it be great to feel better and be doing something so good for your body at the same time?

Hi and welcome.You need to call SS and get a application>i also suggest getting a lawyer right away and they can help you with the paperwork.Remember it is along process so get started asap.Feel free to message me with questions anything I can answer i wil be glad to help you with.And glad your here hugs to you

I would have to agree that you need to apply for disability asap,financial pressures really add to the pain. Atleast in my state all that you have to do is call your disability office or talk to your doctor some doctors will guide you in the right direction, you need to inform your doc as well as they will be necessary later on in proving you claim of disability. I too have fibro, and since then have developed hbp, right now I am pregnant and am unable to manage any of my pain symptoms but I just focus on what's positive for now, I've found a little release in music and using this site it's very comforting to know there are others out there like me

bre5, the main thing in getting disability is that you have to have really good medical records to back up your claim. If you don't know what is in your records, request copies and read them to make sure they cover all your symptoms and that your doctor supports your claim for disability. If the doctor doesn't support you, it will be virtually impossible to get approved.

Next, call SS and start the application process. It takes time so you have to be patient and prepare to be turned down a few times before you get approval. You just have to keep appealing in the time limit to keep the process going and your case open. You will eventually need an attorney, but most will not take your case until you have been turned down twice. Although I have heard of some companies out there that are helping people get disability and they will assist you from the beginning. I wish I knew the names, but I didn't go that route. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help with the disability process, I am pretty familiar with it. Hugs, Fern

I was unemployed for 2 years when I finally applied for SS Disability. I handled my own application. It's about on a level with filling out a 1040 income tax form. If you have trouble with that, you might need a lawyer. It think it's worth a try alone. I was approved on the first go-round. Of course, after 2 years unemployed and REALLY ill at the time, may have been the reason. Are you aware that you can get up to 1 year of back payments when you are approved? That happened for me and I was kicking myself for not doing it earlier. Like many people with FMS, I was a care-taking, type A, do-it-all person who had always supported myself and HATED to accept that I was truly disabled. The term still insults me. But accept it I finally did and getting the financial help has taken away a lot of the stress. Good luck. Also, like others here say, it's all about the documentation, so keep paperwork on everything. If you are treated by an HMO, they have everything in one place which can help.

Am in UK, so can't really advise on disability, but a lot of others can, so you will get lots of advice and tips. I'm so sorry you are having such a bad time of it at the mo. The pain can be managed, but it can take time to find what meds and therapies work for you. I use acupuncture, pain meds, heat pads, gentle exercises, tens unit, lavender baths and good old fashioned rest to help me. I take meds for my high b/p and hrt coz of a very early menopause. Got a few things in commom here, haven't we??LOL!! You got a whole lot of good advice here already!! If you think I can be of anymore help, give me a shout ok? hope you find relief soon, hugs Owlxx

I just want to add to the few who spoke of dietary changes... I know it doesn't sound like much, but honestly, it is a HUGE step towards getting better and I am not saying that because it's what I beleive, it's what I KNOW. I've done it, it isn't easy, it's a little more time consuming, but it's a proactive and positive step to get your life back. There are ways to get through this and be a normal, functioning adult again. The problem is that it takes some motivation and effort.

Actually you can get more than a years worth of back pay. If you file within a year of being out of work, they have to pay you back to the date you became disabled. That means if it takes two years to be approved, they have to give you the full two years in back pay. I should know, I got two years worth! Hugs, Fern

How do you find the energy to buy the organic and whole foods and to prepare/cook them when you barely have enough energy to walk into the kitchen. I *know* I need to eat better, but I just don't have the energy to do more than I am doing! And then there is the whole issue about whole foods and organics costing so much more. When you are on a limited income it gets tough. There just isn't an easy answer. Hugs, Fern

I take elavil, flexeril, and ambien cr to get the sleep I need. Tomorrow is my dr's appt and I should be getting put on neurotin and get a pain killer for break thru pain. Have you ever been put on antidepressants and/or muscle relaxants? They make a huge difference. Also, moist heating pads are my best friend.
Unfortunately, I'm too young to have any idea how to go about getting disability. But I do believe a lot of people on here know how to.

For everyone looking for a solution to Fibromyalgia pain:

GUAI PROTOCOL.

brass tacks: you can pick it up over the counter as "mucinex" or cough expectorant/mucus relief generically.

Active ingredient is: "guaifenesin"

What it does:

Something about flushing the phosphates out of the cells in your body (I take about 2000mg a day, and have little to no pain now).

Apparently a doctor in California did some studies/trials on this as an FMS treatment, but the research was rejected by the medical community for some stupid reason.. so it never caught on.

I was in so much pain about 4 months ago, that I scoured the internet, until I found a youtube video of a woman in England whom swears by this; she said that in 4 days, her pain was almost complete gone. So I went to walgreens the next day, and started a regimen. And within 2 days, I started to notice a difference...

Anyway... the drug is over the counter (no prescription needed), and is called "guaifenesin".

Trust me, it works. I think anywhere from 800mg-2400mg a day is fine, depending on what works for you. I was on Lyrica, and found out it didn't work for me even at $300 a bottle.

I don't have a financial interest in any of these products, I'm just an FMS patient whom was desperate and wants to share what worked for him. So I'm basically posting this all over this board to see if it catches on.. Google it yourself!

Cheers,