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.
I ask myself this every. Single. Year. I *hate* winter. So why on earth do I stay in New England? I've only lived in NH and MA, and I went to college in Maine for 2 years (not a permanent residence but I guess it counts). And that's probably part of the reason-I hate change. Plus I have a great job I'm not likely to find somewhere else, or even here. I know I complain about work often but really it's mostly Karen and covid related issues, and I have had some *terrible* jobs before this. I worked somewhere that was so cheap they made us wash out syringes used to draw blood and use them for oral meds (and the owner would fish them out of the trash, I started putting them in the trash and putting a paper towel over them to hide it), they'd reuse surgical instruments without autoclaving them in between patients-they just switched out the scalpel blade/handle and suturing instruments, they sold expired *seizure meds* (which are controlled substances, the fine for that would be enormous if they were found out, but she wanted the money from selling them even though we didn't sell them often enough to use a whole bottle before it expired-most places script them out). I worked somewhere that was so in debt that they had to get meds and supplies from new companies every other month because the reputable suppliers cut them off for nonpayment, and then started turning *no one* away, all while paying 3 peole to literally sit there and do nothing because they kissed the owner's ass. And very few vet tech jobs paid a wage you can live on as a single person without a second job until covid came along, and now it's only because they're desperate. Not to mention at my current job, my health insurance is paid for 100%. That's unheard of and I sure as hell couldn't afford to pay for it. And I also remind myself that I do like NH most of the year, and I basically have no chance of affording to move unless I sell my house at a profit and use the money to move somewhere less expensive to live, which circles back to I'm not going to find a job like mine anywhere else.
Sorry for the rant. I'm in a weird mood and stressed about life, but my brain is focusing on how I want winter to be over.
TW: body issues/weight
I actually hit my weight loss goal from like 2 years ago (I gained like 15 lbs during the first part of covid, which doesn't sound like a lot but it was enough for me to notice and I have serious body image issues even though I'm not overweight). Normally I'd be more excited, but I plateaued for almost a year and I only broke through it because Noah died and I got covid, and I barely ate for a couple weeks-I just had no appetite.
And on that note, I need to get moving, as much as I don't want to. I need to take Miki for a very short walk (luckily she hates when it's this cold and doesn't dick around and sniff everything), and then shower, eat, and go grocery shopping. I'm watching my parents dogs this weekend so I want to get stuff I need to do around here out of the way earlier...we'll see how that goes. I need to go down to their house around 6:30-7 to walk them both and make sure they're good, then go back around 6 tomorrow morning to walk and feed them, and spend some time with them. They will want to play outside but it's still going to be pretty cold tomorrow morning so idk how much time we'll spend outside. They're 110 and 90lb German Shepherds, and Franki is long haired, so neither of them mind the cold, but I do and I'm walking them separately (I don't walk them often so I'm not too familiar with them, so even though they both listen to me I'm not going to walk 200lbs of poorly trained dogs together). They can go out in the backyard without me being right there as long as I check on them frequently, so that's an option. Otherwise I'll bring them for another walk before I leave. My mom paid me $200 to do this so it's worth it-that's what it would cost to board them at the breeder for one night, and that's almost an hour from my parents house, so they're saving nearly 4 hours of driving and gas money.
This is what I'd rather be doing today...
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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...
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Another day, another ouchie?My bruised achilles tendon (don't ask) makes my foot numb. Wonky on meds, whacked it.Now, as to fibro:A lot of reports are going around some parts of social media that fibro (and dang near anything else) are caused by post-Covid, post-flu, post-vaccinations, post-pick-something.1. Your risk of death or serious complications beyond "ow, that shot hurt!" are typically...
Trying to break a real bad habit Emmie is starting already and only 11 1/2 weeks old. If anyone has any advice i would love some! Any time i give them treats or bones, at first Emmie starts eating her own but within a few minutes she starts her high pitched barking non stop at Molly and will steal her bones and treats even though she has her own, she stopped for awhile last night because Molly barked back at her telling herto leave her alone and emmie was swatting at her and paw ended up in a barking mouth. She was not injured at all and it was accidental but she seemed to have learned but this morning is back to her normal and its really bothering me, that and she bites at mollys ears when playing. molly is slightly smaller but not by much. Molly is the more doscile calm one emmie is like an ADHD child (severely) without meds if that makes sense. They both have sweet personalities other wise but when theres treats or when they are playing and emmie gets too rough i dont know what to do, i put a stop to it and give molly her own treat back but it keeps happening and i tell Emmie no real stern. Its hard for me to keep hopping back up and bending is awful but i do it because i dont want molly to get picked on by her sister.
Okay i been writting this for 3 hours, puppies normally nap from 10am till noon its 11 41 am and they have only napped 5 mins for emmie and 20 for molly and are fussy becuase of it ugh. Both were asleep, i went and washed my hair etc and emmie woke up and followed me around quielty, i pretended to not see her there because then shenormally goes back to one of the dog beds adn naps longer. Well instead after a bit she woke up molly. ugh. I hope they take their afternoon nap! Until Thrusday when Matt had the day off i had them on a routine, breakfast and play time from about 6 am when they get up until 10 am ish then they naptwo hours, then lunch time and play time and nap from about 2 or 230 then for a bout 2 hours, then play time and dinner time and play utnil they crash around 8 then they sleep until about 6 am. But the got off their routine on thursday and its been a rough few days since. Yesterday it was off becasue i was gone for several hours and they were in their play pen, but they kept it dry! They also always have dry food and water out at all times, were were softening their food but they were not eating it much well htey got into abbys food thats dry food (have since switched her to dry puppy food too she does not eat much dry food) and they just love their puppy food now! Morning and dinner time they get a bit of canned food with some whole milk yogurt on top and at lunch time they get a bit of 4 percent cottage cheese. This is how we have always weaned puppies and the vets recommendation as well.
I saw my chiroprator yesterday, my neck has been the worst its ever been in my life since very early weds morning. I had gotten up to go to the bathroom and walking back to bed, not sure what i slipped on but almost went down barely caught myself with the bed but really jerked my bed and my backs acting up more too but my neck is acutally worse than my back right now. My chiropractor examined my neck and did some work on it, she said i managed to give myself whiplash. I did not know you could do that even, she said well if someone is goign to its you!
Also my pain Dr yesterday raised my zanaflex from 4 mg to 8 mg, i have been getting severe muscle spasms several timse aday but i start with 6mg first by taking 1 1/2 of the 4mg she ordered it as taking 2 4mg. I hope it helps.
Hoping your winter is short and over soon as it has been unusually warm this winter. We're having wild swings in central Texas from 90 even the other day to 50 to ice storms. It's nuts. Some days it's just pure survival trying to manage our symptoms.
I am slow today and laying on ice and heat. I hurt myself lifting my laptop for work. I made it through the week though for in person appointments, thank God. That's a big deal since I haven't been able to go to physcial therapy yet or get my steroid injections or nerve ablations. I am hoping soon. For now, it's meds, magnesium and ice/heat. Here's hoping for good sleep and rest so I can go house hunting with Blue tomorrow and feel up to it (fingers crossed-!).
J. out. Shout out to everyone while Leo is away!! Happy weekend y'all!
I am willing to bet you are just in too much pain and it needs to be better controlled. You've got to make sure you are taking something round the clock --24 hours--to manage it better. In the hospital they sometimes varied giving me something every 3 hours, tylenol then pain med, or combo of things. If your body doesn't control the pain, it's going to send more cytokines, inflammatory signals and it will compound. Attack it head on aggressively then you can ease off after a couple days. Also try heating pads and ice. I have a neck bean bag I nuke in the microwave, I'm laying on an ice neck pad made for the neck right now and vary it with heat. It's the best thing honestly. Hope you feel better.
The first thing my therapist told me was, "WELL OF COURSE YOU'RE OVERWHELMED, YOU'RE IN PAIN!". She has ptsd and chronic pain from being a vet in the military and knows too well how the process works. So, she immediately got me into managing my pain and eating much much better. I get "HANGRY" when I'm in pain and I need more nourishment like B vitamins because your body is fighting. Make sure you eat regularly along with the meds and stay hydrated especially. I am using that liquid IV and tons of water.
I woke up late today, Had to dress and leave to cat sit without showering first. One cat has to be seen in the morning. I got there no problem and got everything handled on time. The second cat is an "anytime" schedule but I went right over there after the first. As of tomorrow, down to one cat thru Monday.
I fell asleep yesterday afternoon for 3 hours. I didn't even hear my partner come in. He had to pass right by me in the family room. I feel a bit perkier today but not much. Because I flew out of here this morning, I didn't get all of my meds. So, I'm off schedule on that and still cleaning up around here.
We got snow last night. Not a lot but the salt trucks were out this morning. Its' supposed to warm up and we may have torrential rain later this week. These weather swings are so rough. But, high heat is definitely my nemesis.
Miki - If it weren't for the winters and the cost of living - I would live out East. I miss living in CT and being 45 minutes from the Long Island Sound, taking a holiday on the North Shore of Boston, antiquing in Maine etc. I hope that your parents dogs are well behaved for you today.
AngelaJo - The puppies will work it out with a little help from you. I still have to watch Smurf. He likes to guard doorways (hall monitor) and keep Ceilidh from getting into the family room. She usually just runs and jumps right over his head. She is pretty spry for an old lady lol. I hope that your neck calms down.
JP - Glad that you made it through those appointments for work. I hope that you are resting today.
Off to finish my morning meds (!!??) and take a d*mn shower. After that, I am just going to watch movies or try to nap. MY partner won't be home until about 8. Waves!
JP i know what you are saying about my pain but there IS no way to keep it down. We are trying things nad doing teh best the drs can but its impossible to keep it down other than keeping me on iv pain meds. I am on some very strong meds besides the voltaren and zanaflex. And i do take tylenol at times as well. We are doing the best we can but whats causing the most pain (other than this dang whiplash in my neck) is very veyr severe spinal stenosis, i could get paralyzed at any time and my bladder is already damaged. I see the neurosurgery to schedule surgery a week from tomorrow. There is nothing that will do much to help that pain, we are trying to control the other pain better to make it at least somewhat easier.
I had yet another night of almost no sleep, barely even dozing. I cant stand this. i am so exhasuted and were heading to moms by 1 pm for lunch etc.Puppies wil stay home in the play pen, it is justtoo much right now for me to worry about taking THREE dogs next door! Abby will go with us of course nad play with her friends. The tens unit is justnot working right today and its only the third time weve used it.
One thing that is helping is the puppies are back on their schedule today have been napping since just about 10am and its now 1130am they normally wake up between now nad around noon. It helps things go much smoother when they are not over tired, espeically Emmie does not do well when over tired. LOL Molly just put her head up looked around, saw Emmie still sleeping so rolled over to go back to sleep!
I have been out to feed and water my remaining cat. That went smoothly. We played and I did a couple of other things while I was there.
The lightbulb went on this morning that I got paid this week. I just sat down and paid my primary bills for March. That's both a good feeling and a bad one. At least, I can keep a roof over my head. Later this week, I will be able to pay my latest water bill from the cat sitting receipts so that is something positive too.
After feeling pretty perky yesterday, I'm back to really dragging. I need to get started on cleaning up around here and have no motivation. I haven't even started the laundry.
I hope that everyone who follows is doing OK. Waves!