I'm twoenty years in and managed so far to keep moving, but it took time. The first few years, all I did was *hurt* and try to find a way to manage. Yoga and stress management and a few meds later... I do about 80 percent of what I used to. The other 20? It's the trail hiking with a pack on my back, it's the running, anything that required "average" recovery time and now is simply too painful and destructive to consider. (Also, I'm 20 years older. Ouch.)

Biggest changed was needing to not kill my hubby for naysaying it until the rheumy set him straight. I dind't wait long. It was, "C'mon, we're going to have *the doctor* tell you this!"

I think the biggest thing I notice as a change is that I *have* to pay attention. I did anyway, by "normal" standards, but now I journal everything medical and so on. And I stand up for myself *more* with doctors.

I've had fibro for about 14 yrs now. I got it when I was in the military and I went from being super active and gung-ho to being bed ridden and sleeping 12-20 hrs a day. Of course the military kicked me out because of that. But back then aside from a not so major back injury (busted disc + sciatica) they didn't know what was wrong with me, and figured I was faking a bunch of stuff to get out of duties (the usual accusation females get).

Anyway, like Leo said, it has taken me years to go from a completely ill train wreck (fibro completely controlling me) to learning how to get a better hold of it. Move around better, pace myself, learn my limits, which meds work and which ones don't, walking and light swimming verses other exercises that didn't work, etc. And I'm still a work in progress. I try to move a little each day and get a good balance between not being too stagnant, but not moving too much, but you want to move enough. It's a delicate system. LOL.

It really helps if you read books, articles, etc. The more informed you are, the more you know what to do for yourself (and what to ask your docs because half of them don't really know what they are doing).

I have been diagnosed for about 3 years, although I think I probably had it 15 years ago, then it went into remission for about 12, but not too sure. Anyways, for about the first 2 1/2 years I struggled. I gained 40 lbs and tried every medication under the sun. I am sure some of those attributed to the weight gain, but so didn't being sedentary. In the past 6 months I have finally managed to be able to move a little more and exercise more. Last year at this time I could hardly make it 1 time around the HS track because the pain was so bad.

Like Leo and Blue said, you just have to pass yourself. I still have lots of aches and pains, but I am trying more to control them than having them control me. In the past 3 years I think I have been on short term disability for a week or 2 at a time about 3 times. Those breaks away from work really helped a lot.

We hust have to keep on keeping on.

Toni Bernard has a good book about living with chronic illness, and it's from a Buddhist perspective. I think you have to tune in to your body sometimes, and figure out what other symptoms, like exhaustion, mean. For me, the exhaustion is from the high level of pain signals in the brain, I think.

It's important to distract yourself from the pain, also. Taking a restorative yoga class with others is a good distraction, and you'll probably feel better afterward. Getting outside in nature and going for a ten minute (or five minute) walk will make you feel accomplished and will refresh your mind and make you feel positive about your day.

I push myself out the door by telling myself that it's my anti-Type II diabetes therapy. And my nature therapy. If I am in pain, I do less.

You have to start very slowly. On your worst days, just do some stretching (always a good idea) and as soon as possible, go for a walk. Start with 5 minutes and increase a minute per day, if you can.
Good luck to you.

Thanks Guys for the comments. It makes me very hopeful. I've been eating healthy. The only white sugar I have is a little in my coffee in the morning. I am going to try walking again then maybe jog.

Like many here, I went from being extremely active to taking things in fits and spurts. I rest a lot, things don't get done within the time-frame to which I had been accustomed, and my pace is a hell of a lot slower when I pace myself at all. I've put on a few pounds, but have been able to maintain a decent weight by walking on the treadmill each day. I've discovered neat tools for doing housework, plus my family really pitches in. I don't go out as much as I'd like, but when I do, I try to take it easy. I keep telling myself there are worse things, and try to keep positive. I'm always tired. I think I could take the pain better if I wasn't so darned tired all the time.