Fibromyalgia

[mlove]

I would guess it depends on the person, the level of fitness, and the type of meds. When I started exercising, doing 3 mph on the treadmill was challenging and I couldn't work out for more than 10-15 minutes. Now I can actually run at 5.5 mph. Having my heart rate in the 150s for short periods is challenging but I don't get dizzy, sick or anything. I am 55 but I think that building up over time, and working with a trainer, really can help. I also managed through all this to lose about 40 pounds.

I do spinning classes, trainer rides, ride with the club, and do 5K walks (races) as well as working out on the treadmill. I also like yoga but I have to be careful with strength training. That is where I can develop real problems.

[eclectic]

My meds give me about 5 hours of good sleep but now that I am going to bed earlier I can sleep better the remainder of the night (wierd) I WISH I was a morning person - my body is in AGONY if I do anything w/ impact early in the day - even plain walking is too much, I can bike ride, however, and on long ride days in the summer have been know to leave at 6:45am

Just by starting the meds I lost 10 lbs. It seems like my "appe-stat" was off too, I was hungry all the time. Now it feels normal again. When I eat i can feel full.

I hear you about the massage. A good friend of mine is a massage therapist and she is pretty gentle. But the first time I had one I thought I was going to die the next day. At the time it felt so good. The next one was much better.

I am working up on the running - I run on the indoor track because I find my legs hurt more on the treadmill. It will be interesting this spring when I hit the trail outside and the surface is harder. yesterday I did 1/2 hour on the elliptical before running 1/2 hour. I timed my self and was doing an 11 minute mile for 2 miles (whoo hoo - for me that is REALLY good) I have absolutely no pain today so that is another really good thing.

I really need to do weight training. I use the machines because then I don't have to worry about form as much. I worked up to it slowly and do a medium weight and only 1 set of 10-15, I follow a prescribed program and have good recovery days. (although now I am trying an experiment of "mixing it up" 1 week of med. weights 1 set 10-15 reps, one week of light weights 3 sets of 10, back to med for a week then 1 week of heavy, 5-8 reps, 1 or 2 sets - I am on week 2 so shall see how it goes)

I stretch really well after each workout and that has really helped the residual pain. I would like to fit yoga back into the mix - guess I will just have to quit work

[EBD]

I hope you don't mind my chiming in - I don't have fibro but my cousin (with whom I am close) does. She is also a triathlete, so she has somehow found the key to being very athletic. She has had good luck with nutritional therapy - she saw a nutritionist in NYC who was very knowledgeable about fibro (rare, from what I understand). The diet she was given was very strict, but she said it almost completely relieved her symptoms. I don't know all the details but I know it involved basically cutting out dairy and wheat. There were also other dietary dictates and supplements, so don't go on my description - but if you can find a nutritionist who really knows fibro, it might be a big help. She no longer follows it strictly at all times (a girl's gotta have pizza now and then), but I think when she starts to get symptomatic she goes back on the diet (plus daily exercise) and feels better again.

[mlove]

Another thing to think about is sensitivity to cold with fibro. If, like me, you live in a cold place, you may need to experiment to keep your fingers and toes warm if you ride in the winter. So far I have figured out gloves but my feet are still a problem, even in the house with warm socks, etc. Outside I am just outside of frostbite, even at 45 F.

[Kalidurga]

I've read this thread with a lot of interest. My 63 yr old mother was diagnosed with fibro several years ago and still struggles to deal with it. I don't know what meds she's on, but I do know that part of her problem is diet and exercise, i.e. she won't. Part of the issue is that slothfulness seems to run in the genes of my family, and part of it is that exercise is uncomfortable and sometimes painful for her. I'm convinced that if she starts out slowly and patiently, but sticks with it, that it'll gradually get easier for her. I tell her about people I've met, like you ladies, who manage to deal with their fibro and live active lives. Her response is generally to become defensive or get upset.

I understand that fibro seems to affect different people to different degrees and perhaps she's severely affected, but I can't understand not wanting to do something as simple as exercise in order to alleviate it. I'd love to get the perspective of women who have this condition. Am I not understanding what she's going through, or is there some way I can help her to become motivated to get moving and keep moving?

[mlove]

It took me years to get to the point I am at now. The fibro makes you tired and you hurt, so you don't want to exercise. Besides, I had spent most of my life avoiding exercise. But because my family has such a bad medical history--heart disease, type II diabetes, high blood pressure, etc.--and I have been on meds for high blood pressure and cholesterol, I knew I was headed in the same direction.

I was also very overweight, which aggravates all of the above. In the end, because I didn't want to die at a relatively young age, I decided to do a program through my gym that helps you develop healthy eating and exercise patterns. One breakthrough was finding out the best time of day for me to exercise. Unlike many people with fibro, that was early in the morning. I don't sleep well (another symptom of fibro) and I get up early. Trying to go to the gym after work wasn't happening. I was always too tired and hurt too much. But early in the morning was great.

Maybe your mom needs to go through the kind of counseling that I went through. Hearing what you need to do from nonfamily members sometimes works better. And eventually you start to feel better and that motivates you to do more. When I started I found walking 10 minutes at 2.5 mph was hard. Now I start at 4 mph and can do some runs at 5.5 and I do 45 mins to an hour on the treadmill. I wouldn't have believed that if you told me at 50 that I would be riding a bike for more than 20 miles at a time and doing 5K races.

Maybe a gift certificate to try out some gym services would help. A lifestyle trainer rather than just someone who works out an exercise program might work better. It also helps to have a gym with a lot of older members. Young things in spandex usually put off older exercisers, at least at first.

I hope your mom can get through this. As my rheumatologist says--fibro won't kill you, you'll just wish it did!

[eclectic]

I've read this thread with a lot of interest. My 63 yr old mother was diagnosed with fibro several years ago and still struggles to deal with it. I don't know what meds she's on, but I do know that part of her problem is diet and exercise, i.e. she won't. Part of the issue is that slothfulness seems to run in the genes of my family, and part of it is that exercise is uncomfortable and sometimes painful for her. I'm convinced that if she starts out slowly and patiently, but sticks with it, that it'll gradually get easier for her. I tell her about people I've met, like you ladies, who manage to deal with their fibro and live active lives. Her response is generally to become defensive or get upset.

I understand that fibro seems to affect different people to different degrees and perhaps she's severely affected, but I can't understand not wanting to do something as simple as exercise in order to alleviate it. I'd love to get the perspective of women who have this condition. Am I not understanding what she's going through, or is there some way I can help her to become motivated to get moving and keep moving?

I am so sorry to hear this - it must be difficult for you to watch
Exercise can be painful and recovery time very long.

Before I started my medication I would vacuum for 10 minutes and lay down for 15.

In order to start exercising there needs to be strong motivation and for each person it is different (mine was really dumb but hey it got me moving) - I received an email from a male friend who had a totally distorted view of females and dating and it p***ed me off so bad I went for a walk - outside, at night, at the end of January. I told a friend, she laughed and for the next 6 months she and I only missed 6 days of walking, by that summer I could run 5 k, joined weight watchers, dropped 30 lbs, and learned how to downhill ski - I was 45 years old at the time. Running, however, at this time was very painful and I needed a 2-3 day recovery period.

I started swimming, weight lifting (I think this was the key) and now when I run I don't hurt and my recovery time is much quicker. I have good running shoes also which is important.

If your mom would be willing check out the Easter Seals programs in your area and see if they have warm water aerobics. Water aerobics don't hurt and recovery time is minimal. Even regular water aerobics is usually pretty good. Perhaps see if she would go once to watch. She will see there are ladies of all makes and models there in swimsuits.

Re diet - I have now cut out white flour and and sugar as much as possible and I can't believe how much better I feel.
Also check out how much caffiene your mom drinks - a lot of what I was blaming on FMS was actually caffiene withdrawl everyday - once I got my allotment of caffiene in I felt way better. I still can't exercise in the morning very well but I don't hurt.

Remember preaching and telling them what they should be doing won't help at all Good luck and let's hope she finds something or someone to motivate her.

[ClockworkOrange]

Once again TE has come up trumps.

I am fortunate, I do not suffer from this but a very good friend of mine does, so, just about to copy and paste everything.

This site is the best.

Sally

[eclectic]

Another thing to think about is sensitivity to cold with fibro. If, like me, you live in a cold place, you may need to experiment to keep your fingers and toes warm if you ride in the winter. So far I have figured out gloves but my feet are still a problem, even in the house with warm socks, etc. Outside I am just outside of frostbite, even at 45 F.

Maybe that explains it - I am sitting at the computer w/ a space heater by my feet. Also I wear about 4 layers when riding in temps below 60 F

BUT I have skiied at -15 F.

I find if I keep my core really warm my fingers and toes will warm up.

My biggest problem is leg and foot cramping if I get cold while riding so I don't ride when it drops below 50 F