LIVING WITH FIBROMYALGIA

It was back in 1991 that I found myself sitting at the doctors office waiting to find out the prognosis as to why the pain in my back, shoulders etc. was not going away. Why was I dropping things? During the time in the waiting room I realized that I had forgotten how to relax. Every fiber of my being was tensed. I would share with the doctor how I wasn't able to sleep nights. I would tell him about the headaches I was having and how my weekends would find me in bed. I shared with him about the injuries that I had back in 1986 and again in 1989 on the job.

He explained to me on my second visit the importance of exercise and gave me a list of the ones I could do or couldn't do. He was concerned about my muscles. He said simple stretches are better than nothing at all. He talked about the growth hormone, important in maintaining good muscle and other soft tissue health, have been found in patients with fibromyalgia. This hormone is produced almost exclusively in deep sleep, and its production is increased by exercise. Today due to the CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) if I exercise to build muscles the exercise causes a flare and I cannot do anything at all.

Back than and today I still suffer from anxiety attacks and hyperventilating. These got so bad between 1997 and 1999 that I landed in the hospital. I couldn't go out in the car without bringing one on. I wasn't sleeping good and still today will find myself up all night. Sometimes it is difficult falling to sleep and other times I wake in the middle of the night unable to go back to sleep. I have a history of migraine headaches, memory and concentration problems, dizziness, numbness and tingling, itching, crampy abdominal or pelvic pain and IBS, and several other symptoms.

In the beginning my doc gave me medication and wrote out a prescription for message therapy and pool therapy. My prescription has changed over the years in searching for the right combination. As well as changing doctors. I have also done my own research and my husband as well. He ordered an infrared sauna and other infrared products that have been essential in my overall health. Basically I was to the point of not being able to sweat. Circulation was poor.

Rarely do I share with family members or friends about this disease. Although they know I have it few ask about it or how I'm doing. The symptoms are so vast that it's difficult for most to comprehend. My husband lovingly

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