It's been a really bad flare day today with the fibromyalgia. I think it comes down to the weather as the primary agent today. It snowed here in New Mexico on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. Even though I stayed inside, I could feel it seeping into my body. I struggled to fall asleep last night and when I woke up late this morning, I could hardly move. It took several minutes to walk from the bedroom to the kitchen to get some breakfast. Instead of settling into the desk chair to start my daily routine, I crawled back into bed.
I have a few go-to things I do when I have a bad day like this.
1. Last year after the holidays, I bought a twin size heated blanket for a really great price. I lay this blanket out over the bed or a recliner and then sit or lay on it. It's like a giant heating pad. I've been sitting/laying on it all day today.
2. A long soak in an epsom salt bath. Not only is it relaxing, but it's a great way to distract me if I have a good book to read. I spent 2 hours in one today and would have stayed longer but the water was getting too cold (the book I was reading was that good!).
3. Use a TENS unit. I don't have one of my own, but I have my mom's. I haven't used it today simply because it's really hard to attach the pads to my back which is one of my major pain areas.
4. Watch Netflix. I have been distracting myself with mindless tv today (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Burn Notice).
What do you do when you have a bad flare day? I'd love to try some of your strategies to see if they might work for me. Or if you try one of my strategies, let me know. I want to hear if it helps you.
Praying for a less-pain day for all of us tomorrow!
I would have attached the tens pads for you....
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you've had one of "those" days. It seems to be the recurring theme here as well. I'm ready to get "well" already!
ReplyDeleteDIdn't want to bother you. Thanks though! <3
ReplyDeleteYep, I hear you Shari! Some days are easy than others.
ReplyDeleteI'm right there with you. Mine is a combination of getting snow in West Tennessee in December, the low temp and having way too many outings in one week. I think the fatigue is a little worse than the pain today. I have a heated throw that I snuggle up with and it's wonderful. I may be checking out the after Christmas sales for a twin electric blanket. It sounds like a great idea. The TENS unit is a wonderful thing but I can't put it on my back either. I try to get up so that Bill can put it on before leaving for work. I do the mindless TV also. I love Burn Notice and I keep sewing shows and that sort of thing on the Tivo for when I need them. I hope we are all "well" soon!
ReplyDeleteI'm exhausted after going to get our hair cut & to get a few things at the store with Damaris. I hate this disease!
ReplyDeleteHello. Found this blog through google alerts for Deep Space Nine, which I love, and I hope you don't mind a suggestion by someone who has suffered terribly in the past with fibro but is now mostly symptom free?
ReplyDeleteI was diagnosed 16 years ago with fibro and I also suffered a lifetime of intestinal surgeries due to birth defects. After 32 surgeries since birth, I had a doctor find that my intestines were malrotated. Once he fixed them, the majority of my fibromyalgia symptoms went away.
It took about 3 months to notice a change, mostly in the amount of pain I had, but it was drastic. It took another 9 months before my energy level improved enough to enable me to start physical therapy and an exercise regime. Once I started exercising, the pain, fatigue, and depression no longer ruled my life.
So, what I'm trying to say is, if you can get control of irritable bowel syndrome, poor digestion, inflammatory bowel disease, and/or colitis issues, you can come pretty close to feeling cured.
I also want to mention that the entire time I suffered with the symptoms, I was never able to take anything stronger than Tylenol because narcotics are the worst thing in the world for someone with intestinal motility issues (they constipate) and NSAIDS made me extremely sick to my stomach.
So, the first thing to do would be to get a very good gastroenterologist who is aware of fibro and the affect the digestive system has on the disease. Have him help you get your diet, digestive tract, and especially your colon healthy again.
Second, start a physical therapy and/or exercise program (of course, warm water exercise works best) and then find a good therapist/counselor/social worker who is good with stress management, visualization for stress relief, relaxation techniques, and hypnosis.
Third, take something like Trazadone at night to continue to get restorative rest through the entire night. Continue to stay on your antidepressant meds and your sleeping med, but do your very best to get off all other meds.
Last, see a chiropractor and/or massage therapist on a regular basis for maintenance.
This is long, and I apologize, but I felt I couldn't not say anything once I saw the topic of the posts. Feel free to email me with questions.
Best Wishes,
Bue
Thank you Bue for your comment and insights. I'll definitely look into these suggestions.
ReplyDeleteGrace & Peace, C.C.
You are welcome. I know this sounds over simplified, but you can read more about the relationship between fibro and digestive problems here:
ReplyDeletehttp://chronicfatigue.about.com/b/2011/09/07/the-brain-gut-connection-in-fibromyalgia-chronic-fatigue-syndrome.htm
My first fibro/gastro doctor wrote one of the first books on the subject. You can read the reviews of the book here:
http://www.amazon.com/Irritable-Syndrome-Mind-Body-Brain-Gut-Connection/dp/0965703894
I hope by posting these links at least one person will have the same positive outcome as I have been fortunate enough to have.
If you'd like to chat online sometime, send me an email and I'll give you my instant message info.
All the Best,
Bue
Thanks Bue! I'll check into those.
ReplyDeleteNew follower and fellow fibro fighter. I've been fighting a flare this week that was brought on by a sunburn! sucks because a hot bath, heating pad, and TENS cause more pain than good because of the sunburn...
ReplyDeleteWelcome Jessica! Oh my! A sunburn and a flare. Not fair at all! Praying you get some relief soon.
ReplyDelete