Fibromyalgia Support Group
You're not alone in your pain. Fibromyalgia is a condition that can be difficult to diagnose and manage. If you're trying to cope with pain throughout your body, sleep problems, general fatigue, or other common fibromyalgia symptoms, you're in the right place. The community is here for you to talk about therapies and share your challenges.
Good morning. So much for sleep. Bloody stupid fibro settled into the arm that was sprained last summer in saving MOm from rolling into traffic in her wheelchair (for those not enlightened: Assume getting one's arm sprained from neck to wrist takes a looooong time to really calm down....).... Then had the "gotta get up and use the toilet every ten minutes" issue b/c these da*n broths are.... Well.... TMI.... Whine whinge moan groan sniffle stomp, okay, tantrum kinda sorta over...
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What was my day like... For starters, I spilled a cup of hot chocolate, and did so on a book ironically or perhaps karmically titled "Spillover". Full cup. No chocolate, no book. For freaking real, no joke. Only thing more fitting would've been "The Flood" or maybe "The Life of Milton S. Hershey"...?
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So to make myself grateful I watched a bunch of episodes of a show called "Naked & Afraid", to remind myself I am blessed in having food and clothes and so on, and it mostly worked. I also kinda wanted to strangle a few people, but that's b/c anyone who is in a survival situation and claims any expertise but *ignores cattails* is essentially an idiot. I'm a novice and I know about that. C'mon already. Sheesh. See? Improved my mood. I feel alllll superior now. Seriously, tho', I can't imagine any reason to volunteer for a survival challenge show where they take your clothes, and leave you one "survival item" (how about my shoes?!) and drop you in Zambezi or the Amazon. The show's producers have been bitten by deadly-venomous snakes, attacked by swarms of killer bees... All this for.... Uh.... Someone getting the bragging rights of surviving "21 days, Naked... and Afraid!"...
And if I had a tenner for every time someone strides onto the show saying, "I'm gonna make Nature my bitch"... I could afford the doc visits I needed this last month. Nature is no one's "bitch". Especially if you walk into Nature stark freaking naked, carrying a little hemp-woven bag that holds maybe a machete or a fire-starter. The production crew is there in case of medical or safety emergency (e.g., flooding or appendicitis), but.... You naked. Shoeless. In Nature. Yeah, good luck, Captain Caveman.
I say all that smugly for two reasons. One, I don't even (or didn't used to) do even a few hours of hiking on a well-known trail without enough in my little daypack/bookbag type backpack to sustain me at least 24 hours, with 3 days' worth of meds. Every year, wherever I've lived, there's at least one or two if not more "And they found the body" reports of people who didn't do that, and were *on familiar ground*. Second, I'm not dumb-ass enough to think I'm getting anywhere with anything minus my clothes and shoes and gear. Nope nope nope. I got the mental toughness, maybe, but I prefer to never need to find out.
And I rant on because I"mt oo tired to even think of trivia beyond what spins in my trivia-laden brain.
Like: Who the hell cares if you're a great hunter with a bow and arrow or gun? You're naked. You are unarmed. Bows and arrows you buy at th estore are *not* what you can make out of "whatever I find handy". Mighty hunter, meet reality. And reality is, you will be happy to catch frogs. Yech.
Or: If these people have primitive survival skills, then how the hell do they not realize a steel blade on their precious machete is... only in need of a fine-grained crystalling mineral type stone? You don't need flint, even. Anything fine-grianed works, particularly *quartz*, a very common rock. Or just keep trying rocks that are the right kind of hardness and texture. If---and if---you really have skills, then this is the kind even a *lousy* Boy Scout used to learn in Hubby's day. But no. It's hand drills, bow drills, fire plows, blah blah blah... And I'm sitting here thinking.... "You have a flipping machete and you're by a creek bank covered in rocks to try. Hello? Why spend hours sawing two sticks together?"
And: What is the obsession with eating tons of meat? MOre calories wasted hunting than gained, and they walk right past non-animal food sources. Obvious ones. No one can live on, say, bananas and coconuts alone.... But for 3 weeks? Cope.
THen: What idiot says fast-running water is cleaner? Who invented that myth? Water is clean only when it falls out of a cloud into your mouth, no stops in between, or you boiled it. That's it. No negotiation. Zip. Zero. Zilch. Ain't no clean water where anything peed or pooped. Aeration kills *some* things, but not all things. And if you've got a pool of water, I don't care how clean it is to start, once your nasty naked body wades around in it up to teh waist, you have contaminated it. Ew. Drinking where you washed your bits? Yuck!
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And thus I close on... Don't you feel glad you have clothes, faucets, et cetera? I sure as heck do!
Go forth and be at ease:-)
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88FIn 1969 we decided to get married without a big wedding. Most of our friends and family liked large over the top for the time kind of weddings and I did not. First, I didn't see why spending so much money for one day when we have the rest of our lives to live. I have never regretted not having a big formal wedding. Another issue is not liking all the attention. Also, we have gone to big...
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We're all troubled.WSo, to remind ourselves we're not at rock bottom (this is a reverse optimism thing I learned as a kid):We are not living on the island of Krakatoa when the volcano goes boom!Yeah, okay, that sucks.***Toay in 1942, Pierre Laval announced that the way to free France was for Germany to win WW2. Pierre did not win a lot of friends. When the war ended, quite quickly he was tried...
My bodys striking against me and screaming at me. I am so drained. Beyond drained. Three hours of eye tests yesterday (seperate post i made on it) has my eyes still hurting from the strain. I am just starting the steroids in a few mins. Hoping they help my back i know they wont the fibro but my backs the worst right now.
Angela, I hope you find relief for your back. Steroids bring troubles of their own, but they're usually pretty effective in the short-term. Prayers for you.
I'm in tremendous pain right now. My arm and shoulder are hurting so much it's hard to type. I need to get a walk in, even if I have to crawl. It's 60 degrees outside already, which is not common for Cleveland, OH in March. But the pain and the fatigue are giving me a really bad case of "Don't Wanna."
Wish you all a great weekend. Tomorrow is my husband's birthday but money's so tight I don't think we're celebrating it at all. I'd like to but he's so stressed out over debt it wouldn't be a present for him. I have to realize that the way I want my birthday celebrated isn't the way he wants his celebrated.
Have a wonderful weekend.
I'm managing this morning. Running on about 6 hours of sleep. Planning on taking a nap later, although lately those don't seem to be helping as much.
The weather here in Kansas is insane. I am not at all exaggerating when I say we have had days that go from 80 and sunny one day, then 55 and cloudy the next day, and then 28 and snowing the next. This is not helpful for my fibro, sleep, concentration...hell, anything.
Lately I have been having a lot of issues with my hands. Well, my hands AND feet, but my hands are worse because I need them. I think I have broken 3 plates recently? I just cant seem to close my hands all the way. the pinky finger is numb, but my palms feel very deeply bruised even though nothing happened to them. I had to go the grocery store and push the cart with my forearms. On top of it, I couldn't even close my hands enough to get cans from the shelves, so I had to scoop them against me and then drop them in the cart. so embarrassing.
Angela I'm glad yo hear you made it to the appointment. Sorry your eyes and back are giving you trouble. I hope the steroids help some.
Zombie I'm sorry you're in so much pain. I am trying to be grateful as well. I am especially greatful for the supportive husband and wonderful four legged fluffy child of mine. I hope you and your husband are able to enjoy his birthday tomorrow. Mine doesn't like to celebrate his much either. I buy him a half gallon of his favorite ice cream, make him a pan of lasagna and he plays video games or watches tv all day. That's it. Men are interestingly odd creatures.
I am trying to be nice to my body today so I am prepared for work and all of its stress on Monday. As prepared as I can be anyway. I keep trying to remind myself that it is temporary and I am looking for a new job. So far that hasn't changed my increasing anxiety the closer Monday comes. And of course the anxiety makes thwnfibro symptoms and random sharp pain in my side worse.
I am grateful that my body is cooperating enough to see some today. Finishing up my nice soft fleece poncho! I'm so excited to have it done; it's my first price of clothing I've made. :-) As always I'm thankful for this group. I'm also thankful for my heat pack and warm cup of tea while I take a sewing break.
Angela, I hope the steroids help you. I'm glad you finally got them, it was about time. I need to read your separate post about the eye test, wow that is a long time.
zombie, I understand the money tight situation and adult birthdays. We don't do much for our Birthdays these days b/c of money. I hope you still have a good weekend. I hope your pain eases up and you get that walk today.
des10, hi neighbor. I'm here in Oklahoma and we get some of that up and down weather too, but we haven't had any snow this winter, kind of strange actually. I don't mind. :-) My hands and feet are bad, but it's the opposite for me I need my feet and legs to walk and they hurt so bad. I hope you have a good weekend and your hands cooperate.
Maynard, I always have more anxiety on Sunday and Monday in anticipation of going to back to work, and b/c I'm more active on the weekend. It sucks how that happens. That's great you made a soft fleece poncho. Your husband sounds like mine on how he would like to enjoy his day, except he would want a pan of cookies and brownies with nothing but video games. LOL. I hope you don't have as much anxiety on Monday.
We did our walk last night and about halfway through my left knee feels like it's bone on bone and hurts so much. It's been doing that when I walk just a half mile nonstop w/o stopping. I don't know what that means. It's fine on a day-to-day basis. I made the girls a large tent out of sheets last night in their room and they slept in it all night. LOL. This morning I'm taking my mom to Kohl's, then I told my husband I would go with him to look at shoes at the mall, then I have a birthday party for my nephew. Yep, anxiety and pain from just thinking about it.
I hope everyone has a good day.
Leo, interesting distraction you chose. I've spilled hot tea twice this week, thankfully it had a lid. Burned my arm though. Funny about the book title. Hope your arm improves. I'm sorry that has reared its ugly head.
Angela, glad you're getting help for your eyes. When my back hurts, which is quite often, it throws off everything. I hope the steroids help.
Zombie kitten, hello fellow Clevelander. I use the Metroparks as my fall back when we need to save money. Can't resist a short walk and sitting near the water with a picnic. Always feels special. I hope your pain and fatigue give you enough of a break to enjoy the weather.
Des, I'm with you on the hand pain. Been there with the grocery cart. So much with that single chore that uses the hands. Do you have someone who could help?
Maynard, stress is hard to escape. I get random sharp pains in my side too. Wonder what that is? I plan to do a little sewing later. Is the poncho for you?
My hands and feet are a mess. But I think I can deal with it. Especially if I can park my butt and not do any standing today.
I hope everyone has a low stress day.
Leo I am sorry that you are in so much pain and no sleep.
Angela I hope your eyes calm down and give you a break.
kitten I hope your pain lets up so you can do the things you need to do but rest as much as possible. It sounds like a hard bout of the fibro has ahold of you. Air hugs.
Des don't be embarrassed by things you can't control. I know that is easier said than done but at least you are trying and that counts in great measure.
Maynard so glad you are resting today. It sounds like your anxiety is up and pain as well. I hope that being home will help with both. Good job on the poncho. I tried to sew yesterday but my hands cramped so bad I couldn't do more than a few minutes. I hope your day is a good one.
I am so thankful for this group of special people. I hope today gives you the love, care, and rest you all so deserve. May you find small joys along the way. Blessed be.
Trying to figure out what to say, but honestly, just big big big hugs to everyone....:-)
I am seeking the humor, let me tell ya. WHerever I can....
Angela, I dreamed about you. We were hanging out at your place, both having pain with fibro issues, you know. But we were in good spirits. And we were lounging on your couch browsing recipes in magazines. You were showing me which ones you liked best. I think we were planning on making something. Your mom was around, but since I don't know what she looks like, I didn't see her face. Cool dream, right?
Twin, really cute that you made a tent for the girls and they slept in it lol. Sounds like you have a ton of stuff to do today. I get scared when I read someone has a lot to do and worry about their pain.
Zombie, that's not a tiny accomplishment. That HUGE! I feel accomplished if I can walk all the way aorund the block LOL. Yay!
Hubby and I went out on a dinner date last night, initiated by me... I wanted some alone time with my husband and space from mom who spent the whole day with me (ugh). No, mom didn't invite herself to our date :)! My IBS flare flipped around to the opposite end of the yo-yo yesterday and I was going to the bathroom a lot, made us late for our date. I worried it would ruin the date, but I was OK actually. The restaurant was a bit loud for me, their music was crankin and the people were trying to talk over it so they were just as loud. I thought my headache was going to come back, but I survived. My husband wasn't bothered by it at all, and looked at me funny when I asked if it was loud. Gee, what's it like being normal? I should have shot a funny look back at him!
My husband is going to home depot today to pick up a lattice for our passion fruit vine to grow on. We are positioning it in the back yard between us and a nosey neighbor (he's new) who likes to sit outside, smoke and watch our house (and other neighbors). What a creep!! At least it will give a little, not much, privacy (gag). I guess that will be our project today.
Back in a bit...
Zombiekitten YAY for the walk. Good for you it is nice to get out in the fresh air.
Miki I am glad that you got some much needed sleep but sad that it took a cocktail of meds to get it. Time will help you get through things and sleep will find a rhythm of it's own I hope. Good that you were able to go to spin class. I am amazed that you can do it but happy that it helps.
Leo I am like you seeking humor wherever I can find it. Sending healing thoughts to you and gentle hugs.
I managed to do the dusting so now I am spent. I feel great that I was able to get it done. The rest of the day I am going to just "lay like broccoli" a little woman quote. Speaking of broccoli I am making homemade broccoli cheese soup for dinner. I love it and my partner tolerates it. She is so picky that if I don't try to sneak some things I like in once in awhile I would be so bored. The clouds are thickening up so rain is soon to follow but at least I got the morning to love the sun. I hope each of you will take a few minutes out of your day to enjoy the little pleasures in life like CHOCOLATE! Hugs to all.
Very down today, frustrated in pain and my blood sugars are realy high with the steroids. But its only day 1 of 6 and sugars could stay high for 10 days total from them. I am not suppose to nap but am about too. take care all sending you all hugs.
Des10, I've had pain in my hands before too and yes, I've been embarrassed when that happens in public too. I think you're OK as long the store manager doesn't come up to you and start asking questions, like the one time that happened to me (awkward). Can anyone go shopping with you next time?
Maynard, that's really cool that you made your 1st piece of clothing. I have yet to try that. lol
Bobbii, wish your hands and feet weren't buggin you so much. Glad you don't have much to do today.
Autumn, I'm glad you were able to get your sunshine this morning. I had some too :). I love it when the rays are out in the morning, warms your stiff, aching joints. Yes, I wish I could put a 7 foot wall of passion fruit vine up in the back (and it go all the way around the side too)... but the land lady told us the HOA has a dumb rule and I'm totally ticked about it... basically your back wall / plants / etc can't be anymore than a certain height! Who came up with this garbage rule so your neighbors can peep on you?? GAH! Stupid pervs!
Miki, sorry you're stressed about your ex and that you're in a lot of pain too. I'm glad you did get some sleep, though, and the kitties were teamed up at comforting you. I hope your day gets better for you.
I have been really sick since last night. Both ends and terribly painful intestinal cramps. Little cat naps in between the multiple bathroom trips. I am up briefly to try to eat some yogurt , drink water, and some hot decaff green tea. I seriously need a shower but I cant stand up long.
I hope everyone gets good sleep and low pain levels.