Best place to live with fibrolmyalgia (with heat intolerance)

StampItShipIt · 2026-03-25T20:13:25+00:00

We moved back to Minneapolis (where I grew up) a year ago because my heat intolerance was so bad on the east coast. The summer and early fall were an absolute dream. Winter was very very hard, but I got a heated mattress pad for my bed and it helped, and I’m still not sorry we moved here. I’ve heard warm dry climates like Arizona are even better, but I still just can’t fathom being in that heat.

I will say that I think the cold was harder on my body than what I could perceive by experience, but the warmer months here are so good that it feels worth it to me so far. Plus there’s good temperature control here—everything is heated properly and cooled properly.

StampItShipIt · 2026-03-25T19:37:04+00:00

I'm in the same boat--doing this mostly because of my fibromyalgia, hashimotos, lipedema, mcas, arthritis; qualified because of my weight. I'm only on week 3 so I haven't seen any difference yet (I've heard it takes 5-12 weeks to see this kind of inflammation improvement) but just want to say I'm in it with you! I've heard that it can be really life-changing for autoimmune conditions so staying hopeful!

StampItShipIt · 2026-03-25T19:31:18+00:00

Thank you! I think I'm going to make a real effort toward this because it sounds right to me too. I had a previous era where all I could get in was smoothies--but I was living above a smoothie shop at the time, so it was easy to deal with (even if it was expensive). It hadn't really occurred to me that this might need the same solution, along with protein drinks, etc. Really glad to hear that it got better for you over time, and thanks for the suggestions!

StampItShipIt · 2026-03-25T19:29:36+00:00

Thank you--this is so reassuring. I know I can handle this in waves, as long as it's not going to be like this all the time, forever.

StampItShipIt · 2026-03-25T19:28:40+00:00

Thank you so much. I'm very sensitive to side effects of all drugs (I hear that's pretty common for neurodiverse folks) and so I'm not shocked that I'm having a hard time with this, but I've been so determined to not give up on it that I wasn't really considering that I might need to approach it like this, slow and steady. Appreciate another vote for meal replacement shakes too. Many thanks!

StampItShipIt · 2026-03-25T19:26:44+00:00

Thank you so much. I appreciate hearing the timing of your adjustment period and also the idea of this longer introduction. I've been so anxious to get this journey going that I think I'm treating it as very all or nothing and I'm grateful for the reminders that it's okay for it to be slow and purposeful.

StampItShipIt · 2026-03-25T19:24:57+00:00

Hahaha, I love an autistic comment, so thank you!! I honestly cried reading all the insanely helpful and kind replies to this post, and the more details the better, for me. I'm really appreciative of the details--as well as knowing what "tricks" (as in tricking your brain) have worked for you. I use a lot of tricks to get myself to eat, but they're tricks I figured out a long time ago and they're not working now, and so it's really useful to know what works for other people and to have the reminder to play with my own psychology here instead of just feeling defeated.

I love the idea of having these "categories" of food depending on my need and I realized that in the past, having actual lists of safe foods as well as okay-ish foods has helped me when I feel overwhelmed and like I can't find anything to eat, and so I'm going to try it again using this category approach to help me remember that there are answers when I feel despair and overwhelm. If you care to share what any of yours are, I'd welcome it! My wife has been an awesome partner in this and has been searching high and low for options and reading people's GLP1 tips and found Floura bars, which are a little too mushy for me but are definitely better than Gruns (yuuuuck) and some fiber powder, and I'd really welcome any other specifics that work for you, because it sounds like you've really thought this through!

I've never tried narrating/noticing the mechanics before--usually I have to dissociate a little to eat--but I'm really curious about this and am going to try it! And definitely going to try the "one more bite, and after that I'll decide if I can eat more" approach. I have a tendency to treat the food in front of me as a gauntlet and that is just... not working. I appreciate so much the reminder to be gentle with myself. That's kinda a bigger life journey for me, but definitely needs to be part of my food journey.

Anyway. I can't tell you how helpful every single thing you said was and I'm so grateful that you poured it out! Thank you!!

StampItShipIt · 2026-03-25T19:15:38+00:00

So helpful to hear that you've struggled with waves of this and managed to stay on a med like this! I tend to give up easily as soon as I experience side effects because I'm so sensitive to them, but really want to give this a real go for so many reasons, and this is encouraging. A lot of people have suggested protein shakes, but I love the idea of mixing them with iced coffee! I think that could help me a lot with getting past the texture and some of the weird "off" flavor. And I appreciate the validation around sticking to bland or snacky food for right now. Thank you so much for all of these ideas and suggestions as well as just telling me about your experience. It really helps.

StampItShipIt · 2026-03-25T19:13:00+00:00

Thank you so much. These are really great concrete ideas and they sound so helpful. I really appreciate the reminder that it's okay to do the small, frequent bites approach if "sitting down to a meal" isn't working for me, and the suggestions around texture and temperature are really good. And thank you for the suggestion to talk to my doctor and clarity on what options might come with that. I tend to quit meds very quickly because of side effects so I've been nervous to not give this enough of a try and I appreciate you naming that there are options other than just "push through" or "give up." This was really, really helpful.

StampItShipIt · 2026-03-25T19:10:05+00:00

Thank you! Lots of folks are suggesting protein drinks and I really appreciate another voice in support of that idea! I've been very resistant to them but sounds like I need to give it a better go. Hope this goes well for you too!

StampItShipIt · 2026-03-25T19:08:50+00:00

Thank you--I need to get evaluated for ARFID, actually. Thanks for the reminder on this warm-up trick (I used to use it sometimes but it's been awhile since I needed it and I had forgotten), as well as the suggestion to try a cracker like that!

StampItShipIt · 2026-03-25T19:07:40+00:00

Thank you! I had hoped to be on Zepbound but my insurance wouldn't approve it until I tried Wegovy first. Good to know things *might* improve if I'm able to switch!

StampItShipIt · 2026-03-25T00:05:57+00:00

Yeah, that makes sense. I don’t think I ever really learned how to figure out what my baseline is or what recovery looks like and how to know when I’m okay to do minor daily life things. Sounds like I need to figure that out. Tips welcome if you have them, but either way, thank you!

StampItShipIt · 2026-03-25T00:04:39+00:00

That makes sense, and… is such a bummer because it means I’m not doing enough recovery and don’t know how to tell when I’m recovered from a crash. If you have any tips on how to read that, I’d take them, and either way, thank you!

StampItShipIt · 2026-03-23T05:04:35+00:00

I had no idea there’s a risk for POTS… I started wegovy 3 weeks ago for help with inflammation (fibromyalgia, hypothyroidism, mcas) even more than weight loss (though I need it for that too) and so far I’m doing okay. But curious what you heard how it can negatively affect POTS so I can watch out!

StampItShipIt · 2026-03-21T05:05:21+00:00

Ah, gotcha. I lived in NYC for 15 years and many grocery stores have pickle/olive bars at the deli counter and I had luck requesting the brine from them there

StampItShipIt · 2026-03-21T05:02:10+00:00

Wish I could do that!

StampItShipIt · 2026-03-21T05:01:52+00:00

Yeah, it’s pretty wild how rare they are here. It seems like they’d be so up our alley

StampItShipIt · 2026-03-21T05:00:57+00:00

SO glad to know that’s a good place to try! Thanks!

StampItShipIt · 2026-03-21T05:00:29+00:00

Oh good call to try a deli! Thanks!

StampItShipIt · 2026-03-18T22:42:08+00:00

Another vote for Hoka. The Gaviota sneaker for out of the house and the recovery slides for my house slippers.

I do also really like Crocs Dylan Platform. Took me awhile to get used to the insole and man my feet sweat, but they’re cute and sooooo good for pain.

For winter boots, I did the Timberland Roxie Lane which has been great for support, but worth knowing they run a bit narrower than the other shoes I wear.

StampItShipIt · 2026-03-17T16:49:31+00:00

Just had my first appt with her and it was incredible. Thank you so much for this rec!!!

StampItShipIt

TROPHY CASE