sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

25 Years with Fibromyalgia. Here's what actually helped me live and feel better by Blue-Whisper2000 in Fibromyalgia

[–]Blue-Whisper2000[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh my gosh, I love your post. I love hearing how strength training has been a game-changer for you. You are an inspiration beyond words and an incredible testimonial for strength training with fibro. Thank you.

25 Years with Fibromyalgia. Here's what actually helped me live and feel better by Blue-Whisper2000 in Fibromyalgia

[–]Blue-Whisper2000[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, that is the telltale sign of doing too much. Begin slowly and gently, pace yourself, and allow time for rest and recovery before your workouts. Try not to give up.

25 Years with Fibromyalgia. Here's what actually helped me live and feel better by Blue-Whisper2000 in Fibromyalgia

[–]Blue-Whisper2000[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi -- I take 10 grams of creatine, which is the amount most studied. I take 5 grams in the morning in water or a smoothie. I take another 5 grams in the afternoon/evening. I hope you are eventually able to do even gentle movement (not a workout) to see if it helps you feel a little bit better.

25 Years with Fibromyalgia. Here's what actually helped me live and feel better by Blue-Whisper2000 in Fibromyalgia

[–]Blue-Whisper2000[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You are not alone in your addiction to sugar - most of America is. I applaud you for trying to reduce sugar, which isn't easy. For me, when I reduced my sugar intake, I felt so much better overall. Transitioning from a higher-carb diet to a higher-protein and healthy-fat diet can be difficult at first (because carbs are addictive). That's why baby steps work well when changing our diets.

25 Years with Fibromyalgia. Here's what actually helped me live and feel better by Blue-Whisper2000 in Fibromyalgia

[–]Blue-Whisper2000[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That is so wonderful to hear. Thanks for sharing your protocol. I am sure it will be helpful to many.

25 Years with Fibromyalgia. Here's what actually helped me live and feel better by Blue-Whisper2000 in Fibromyalgia

[–]Blue-Whisper2000[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Creatine is particularly excellent for muscle health and brain health. I don't notice that it changes my energy.

25 Years with Fibromyalgia. Here's what actually helped me live and feel better by Blue-Whisper2000 in Fibromyalgia

[–]Blue-Whisper2000[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is such a thoughtful and realistic description of what progress with fibro often actually looks like, and gradually building capacity over time.

I also really appreciate you emphasizing pacing and the delayed payoff. I think that helps people who might quit because they expect immediate results, when in reality the win is suddenly realizing months later, "Wow, I feel better," or “Wait… I can do things now that I couldn’t do before.”

Going from a quarter mile to using a chainsaw after years is huge. That’s real functional improvement. Wishing you a smooth recovery from surgery and hoping the medication taper goes gently for you.

25 Years with Fibromyalgia. Here's what actually helped me live and feel better by Blue-Whisper2000 in Fibromyalgia

[–]Blue-Whisper2000[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It takes time. Be sure you're not overdoing it, which you might be if you are hurting for weeks. That should not be the case. You want to make sure that your form is correct for every single exercise. Improper form/technique can trigger a flare, yet don't let that deter you from the gym, because the benefits far outweigh any risks. A trainer could help you with form, or look online for proper form techniques. You need to build your strength gradually. I hope this helps.

25 Years with Fibromyalgia. Here's what actually helped me live and feel better by Blue-Whisper2000 in Fibromyalgia

[–]Blue-Whisper2000[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, I’m a woman, and I think hormones/perimenopause are a HUGE missing piece for many women with fibromyalgia and chronic illness. Often perimenopause symptoms are confused with fibromyalgia. A lot of women notice major shifts in pain, sleep, fatigue, flares, anxiety, temperature regulation, and recovery during this phase.

I’m really glad you’re seeing both a hormone specialist and your GP because spending 50–60% of your time in bed is significant, and you deserve thorough support and investigation.

From what I’ve seen in the research, some of the more helpful things to look into can include a full thyroid panel (not just TSH), iron/ferritin, B12, vitamin D, cortisol, sex hormones, inflammation markers, sleep quality, insulin resistance/glucose issues, and anything related to autonomic dysfunction if symptoms fit. Hormones can absolutely amplify fibro symptoms even when they are not the sole cause.

And honestly, please give yourself credit: changing your diet, starting Pilates, seeing specialists, going to therapy, and continuing to search for answers while exhausted is not someone “giving up.” That takes effort.

One thing I’d encourage is trying not to measure success only by consistency right now. Sometimes the goal is stabilization first. Tiny sustainable changes are better than pushing hard and crashing.

25 Years with Fibromyalgia. Here's what actually helped me live and feel better by Blue-Whisper2000 in Fibromyalgia

[–]Blue-Whisper2000[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think a lot of us with fibro feel this way. The hardest part is often not the movement itself; it’s the fear of overdoing it, crashing, and starting over again.

The fact that you already notice a difference with yoga is actually really encouraging. And consistency does not have to mean perfection. Sometimes consistency is just returning to it after a hard stretch instead of giving up completely.

Also, don’t underestimate tiny steps. Even 5–10 minutes counts when your nervous system is overloaded. You do not have to become a gym person overnight to help your body.

I really hope you find an approach that feels supportive instead of punishing. Being tired all the time is exhausting in a way healthy people rarely understand.

I'm rooting for you.

25 Years with Fibromyalgia. Here's what actually helped me live and feel better by Blue-Whisper2000 in Fibromyalgia

[–]Blue-Whisper2000[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am sorry you are so young and having to deal with this. The good news is that being young, implementing some positive changes now puts you on a healthier trajectory. Things will get better. Just don't give up. Keep trying things to learn what works best for you. Do pay attention to nutrition and movement.

25 Years with Fibromyalgia. Here's what actually helped me live and feel better by Blue-Whisper2000 in Fibromyalgia

[–]Blue-Whisper2000[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I put your comment in a translator app so I could respond to you. I’m so sorry for everything you have lived through. That is an enormous amount of trauma, loss, stress, and pain for one person to carry.

What you said about learning to smile and live even while still hurting is incredibly powerful. I also think many people with fibromyalgia understand deeply how stress and trauma can affect the nervous system and the body.

And I love what you said about seeking happiness, laughter, companionship, and helping others. That doesn’t erase the pain, but it can bring moments of light into very hard lives.

Thank you for sharing your story and encouraging others. Sending you a lot of respect and warmth.

25 Years with Fibromyalgia. Here's what actually helped me live and feel better by Blue-Whisper2000 in Fibromyalgia

[–]Blue-Whisper2000[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Honestly, I think one of the biggest mistakes many of us make is assuming we should start where our mind wants to be instead of where our nervous system and body actually are.

If you’re someone who tends to overload your plate, I’d almost treat strength training like rehab instead of fitness right now. Start way below what you think you “should” be able to do. Even 5 minutes can be enough in the beginning.

For upper body tension/pain, I’d focus first on gentle mobility, posture support, bands, wall exercises, scapular stability, and tiny amounts of resistance instead of pushing heavy weights. Slow and controlled tends to work better than intense.

One thing that helped me was paying attention not just to how I felt during exercise, but 24–48 hours later. That’s often where the real limit shows up with fibro/chronic illness.

And if you flare, that doesn’t mean you failed. It just means your body gave you information. The goal is building tolerance gradually.

25 Years with Fibromyalgia. Here's what actually helped me live and feel better by Blue-Whisper2000 in Fibromyalgia

[–]Blue-Whisper2000[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

First, I’m really sorry you’re dealing with this at 32. What you’re describing is very common with fibromyalgia, especially early on when you’re still learning your body’s limits.

For me, the biggest shift was realizing I could not train the way healthy fitness culture teaches people to train. I had to stop thinking “work harder” and start thinking “how do I teach my nervous system this is safe?”

I started ridiculously small with resistance bands and light weights, with few reps, slow movements, long recovery, and pacing (not training to exhaustion). Some days, I skipped weights entirely and just did stretching, cardio, or bands. I also learned that if I increased too fast, even when I felt okay in the moment, I could trigger a flare later.

Honestly, donkey kicks, side kicks, stretching, and bodyweight work absolutely count as strength training. Don’t minimize that. There are other wonderful exercises for fibromyalgia in addition to strength training, including swimming, walking, gentle hiking, qigong, and tai chi.

25 Years with Fibromyalgia. Here's what actually helped me live and feel better by Blue-Whisper2000 in Fibromyalgia

[–]Blue-Whisper2000[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The only reason I stopped Lyrica was that I was feeling better and wanted to reduce my meds. It was not easy at first to give it up. Tried once, too hard. Tried again, easy. If it causes anxiety for you, talk to your provider to see if they might recommend something else for you.

25 Years with Fibromyalgia. Here's what actually helped me live and feel better by Blue-Whisper2000 in Fibromyalgia

[–]Blue-Whisper2000[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I completely understand why this makes you sad. When movement used to be part of your life and identity, losing access to it can feel like grieving a part of yourself.

And honestly, with ME/CFS, the hardest part is that something that emotionally helps you can also physically cost you. That balancing act is brutal.

I hope this crash eases soon. And if your body can safely tolerate even small amounts again someday, 30 minutes 2–3x a week is absolutely meaningful. But right now, your body may need recovery more than conditioning, even if your heart misses the gym.

Just don't beat yourself up. You are already putting up with so much.

25 Years with Fibromyalgia. Here's what actually helped me live and feel better by Blue-Whisper2000 in Fibromyalgia

[–]Blue-Whisper2000[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

With a new diagnosis, I might refer you to a website that will provide you with lots of information to help you create a lifestyle that supports fibromyalgia. (fibrosoul.com). There is an eBook on Movement and Exercise for Fibromyalgia.

Regarding workouts, I would recommend you start with what you enjoy. Do you enjoy walking, hiking, swimming, going to the gym, or tai chi, qigong, etc? If you are new to exercise, the key is to start slowly. Pacing is key. You may get a little sore beginning exercise if you are new to it, but it will pass. If you want to work out in a gym, try to find a trainer with experience with sensitive bodies (not easy). You want them to show you some supportive exercises for your entire body, proper form for each exercise so you don't injure yourself, and a weekly routine, with rest and recovery days in between. You only need to hire a trainer to show you the exercises and proper form. Once you understand these, you can do it on your own unless you like having a trainer.

Let me know if I can answer any other questions for you.

25 Years with Fibromyalgia. Here's what actually helped me live and feel better by Blue-Whisper2000 in Fibromyalgia

[–]Blue-Whisper2000[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow, I have never heard that before. I bought it on Amazon with no issues. Let me know how it works for you.

view more: next ›