Anyone out there have Fibromyalgia?

[shelleyw21]

I was really worried about having the surgery with the pain issues associated with Fibro but I came through ok and have been loosing weight steadily without exercise. I'm now beginning to slow down and I think just about stop, ideally I need to exercise to help but it's impossible with the Fibro atm. Anyone else struggling?

[Kylady1975]

A little. I am new at this so really dunno but ive not been able to get in alot of exercise yet. Good luck. I tell you thou cymbalta worked wonders for me at 20 mg. Dunno if you tried it but it stoped my pain but my blood pressure went up and i stopped it.

[Theresa in StL]

having a very difficult time with trying to exercise. Along with fibro I also have depression which leaves me with no energy or want to exercise. Cymbalta never helped me, I use a heated blanket when I have the worst pain, along with pain meds. I am loosing slowly, having a hard time getting all my liquids and protein in, which I am sure does not help. Just hope that I expend enough energy to use up the 500 or so calories I take in a day to continue slowing dropping pounds.

[ChaiDi]

I have had Fibromyalgia for over 18 years and have gone through all the ups and downs. I am 64 years old. I put on 30 lbs. when I started taking Lyrica earlier this year so decided that wasn't a good trade-off. I was sleeved 11/17/2011 and it is absolutely amazing how just a few lbs. (18 so far) have made such a big difference! I can actually walk up and down stairs now without as much pain in my knees and ankles, and I no longer have the constant lower back pain! I have more energy with every lb. I lose so beginning to exercise isn't a dreaded chore as it once was. I walk on a treadmill and trade off with an air walker/glider if I'm having any joint pain. I'm also starting some light weights and arm exercises. I DON'T overdo it!!! Better to start slow and easy than to end up in bed! I DO know that both with Fibro and with the Sleeve a great deal of it is a head game so instead of thinking the worst you have to start thinking about the benefits. Wrap your head around it because if you start believeing that this is the best thing you've ever done for yourself - IT WILL BE!!!

[rylynn]

Shelly I was sleeved close to when you had yours done..I too have fibro and I just have to force myself to walk and jog now..I walk and jog between 4 and 8 miles aday...the pain is rought but after I am done the fibro don't seems to bother me as much but I take lortab for my pain I have tried all the other meds for fibro but had bad side effects from them..just keep chugging along lol good luck

[cfgsonoma]

Hi, I totally agree with both ChaiDi and rylynn. I have had fibro since 1995, one of the first my internist diagnosed. I am almost a year out from surgery done last January, and have lost 85 lbs, with 15 to go since goal. Weight loss recently slowed down a bit, and ChaiDi, your remark about it being a head game is totally true. I am having problems with all the food around the hospital where I work--tons of holiday foods. So I am working on getting my head to stay in the right place, and not go spinning out of control with all this food....
I have found that over the last year, my fibro pain has gotten better, esp with the exercise. Research has shown this to be true, probably due to endorphin production, and the fact that severely deconditioned muscles (happens when you don't exercise at all) do hurt all the time. Fat is also severely pro-inflammatory!! I took every pill in the book, and had the lbs on my body to prove it. Cymbalta put weight on me, but didn't help the pain. Lyrica helps a lot, esp with my restless leg--I may need to ultimately wean off it because it does make you gain weight. However, as my wonderful surgeon, Dr. Robert Woodbury said, "don't focus on the scale, focus your energy on being healthy". I decided to row and do recumbent bike at the gym, and weight training has been great fun. I never thought I would say that!!! I don't take any narcotic pain meds because I am an RN in a mgt position (work full time and on 2 different shifts). I do take Ultram (tramadol) which if taken on a schedule is a big help. Also take a lot of vitamins--multi, fish oil, high dose D3, magnesium and malic acid (esp good for fibro), and CoQ10.

I am not a young thing either--I will be 59 in January. Rylynn, keep on walking--your daily total is awesome. I just decided a few years ago that since I am the family primary income (and insurance) that I had no option but to work full time and be fully functional. I have had 5 years of therapy prior to this surgery to get my dang issues at least semi-dealt with, and the hospital where I work started covering the sleeve in 2011.

I am down to a size 10-12 depending on brand, from 18x pants and a 20x top. I need to post my before and after, as they are sooo different.

So, yes, fibro friends, it may not be as easy for us as for others when it comes to exercise, but I am hear to tell you that the more you lose, the more you can do and the less pain you will have.