flareups

I am so sorry, I feel for you. The truth is you may not ever be able to predict a flare up. I have had them strike suddenly without warning, or come on slowly. I have even been in a flare and then have it get so much worse that it feels like a secondary flare. The key is to listen to your body and know your limitations. Easier said than done, I know. I can be pretty active for several days in a row, but I know that I will need a whole day of rest after that so now I build that in to my schedule. Another thing is learning to say no... so many of us take on too much. (I am guilty of this, too, and still learning to say no or bow out gracefully.)

I have been seeing a specialist for about 6 months. I am feeling much better, lots more energy, etc. and have referred a close friend. She is painfree for the first time since 2003 and she got there in just 3 months. It's hard to say what will work for you because all of us fibromyalgiacs are different. You can read the website at fmtlc.com if you are interested in some information.

As for me, I am taking cymbalta which helped so much, but I am also on Lyrica, which I hate. This specialist is going to wean me off the Lyrica as soon as I finish school this January. I can tell you that NADH in a sublingual tab helps with energy and I give myself VIT B shots 3 times weekly along with oxytocin (like pitocin - a hormone, not oxycontin) for pain. If you can tolerate heat therapy like a sauna or hot tub, 30 mins twice daily is said to help manage pain. It works for me. What did not work for me was any of the typical narcotics they try to push on you - codeine, vicodin, norco, none of that worked for me. Tramadol with Tylenol works quite well for me, though.

I hate to say it, but trial and error is the only way to find what will work for you. When you find something that works, use it sparingly so you don't build a tolerance to it. Do your own research and don't just take a doctor's word that this med or that one will "fix" it. Hang in there... it will be okay. You will feel better. You will learn to manage this condition and it will be less scary in time.   

I have had fms for 10 years and I  get very few flare ups that I don't expect.  My flare ups are generally caused by a number of different triggers - Emotional stress triggers: these are the most obvious ones, it could range from trouble with children, to a confrontation with someone, or bills.  Physical stress triggers: I have had to stop many of my exercises such as lifting weights, power walking, horse back riding, etc.  Now I only walk and do stretching.  I do on occasion bite the bullet (so to speak) and ride horse or go canoeing and just suffer the consequences - I still have to have some fun.  The hardest trigger to figure out is the food trigger.  Processed food and take out food and junk food are all triggers for me ( I have had lots of time to figure this one out).  I have gone back to basics, cook my own meals, stay away from MSG and anything that may have preservatives in it.  Yes, I cheat.  But I know what I am willing to suffer and what is really not worth it.  I have really had to work hard on controlling many aspects in my life to get to this point but I always say to myself that this will not control me - I will control it.  Don't be too hard on yourself, I was for a long time and that only made me feel worse.  It's good to dwell on your acheivements no matter how small they seem.  I make a list of things that I want to do each day and if it takes me all day I make myself do it.  At first it was just to finish the laundry or do all my dusting or clean my bathroom.  That may not seem like much to our former capable selves who could do it all in one day and more besides but now I find that I can do more in a day since I was first diagnosed.  FMS is complicated and can be frustrating but remember there are lots of people out there who understand and can help.