Fibromyalgia

14 years ago, I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. After being totally disabled, I have now been out of pain and off meds for the past 13 years. I have no pain, good energy, the anxiety went away, and my sleep is good without medications. My brain fog also lifted to the point that I retrained as a nutritional consultant. I didn't happen over night, but it did happen. I did it by balancing my hormones, initially balancing brain chemistry (dopamine and norepinephrine were low, not just serotonin), cleaning up my diet, and clearing some toxins, which is likely something you won't hear in your doctor's offices. I have been working for the past 13 years to help others in their recoveries. I want people to get well. Don't accept the word "incurable." Keep fighting for restored health. If I can get well, why can't others. I want to encourage each of you with fibromyalgia. I understand what you are going through. I have been there. I believe hormonal imbalances are a huge part of our symptoms. It is not just estrogen, progesterone or testosterone. It can be cortisol and DHEA. These hormones can be tested. Rheumatologists and patients typically don't understand the symptoms of hormonal imbalance. I want to help change that. The technology is in the here and now to identify and correct hormonal imbalance. I challenge You to do a little research to see if you have symptoms of hormonal imbalance. If you have many of these symptoms, study to find out how to identify and correct imbalances. Here are two good websites. www.diagnostechs.com www.zrtlab.com Here is a hug to each of you. I want you to feel well again. Patricia Stephens, Certified Nutritional Consultant

how do I handle the pain? nothing... no drugs help much.....

i am 67 and have had Fibro 25 yrs a long time before it was finally named . Anyway I've had the TMJ surgery ,Thyroid surgery twice and osteo prosis . Ian a caregiver 24/7 for my husband with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's . You can imagine the stress and how it affects my fibromyalgia . It's killing me and I just don't have any options at this point .

The life and times of Fibro Caregivers is not easy but we do it becasuse we love the person with Fibro...seems like it is so hard at times but that is life and we do the best we can

My mom has had FibroM for 9 years and I have had it for about 3 years, only being diagnosed this March 2012. Took some time for the doctors to decide what was wrong with me. Surprised I have any blood left! I find friends and family even close family don't understand or realize what it is to have this painful problem. I have still yet to understand it myself and to accept it even. I do remember when my mom first got it I did't understand or help out as much as I should have then. I don't think anyone can really understand how we feel until you have lived in our painful shoes. Sometimes I wish I had another disorder where you can see an xray, or ultrasound or blood test with the problem. That may help people see there is a real diagnosis. I have 2 kids and they don't think about mommy being in pain they just carry out their playful childhood and don't help me at all. It seems like people just don't care but they just DON'T understand. And then there are the people who think that we are weak and just push through the pain, be tough. I just can't do that any more. It's no wonder depression is one of the related illnesses we suffer from. It's just so dam depressing. I know people say to "look after yourself" but it's hard to just do that. Especially when you have been caring for everyone else for so long. I think the time will come when we will have just "had it" and quit looking after everyone and take care of "Me". It has to be our choic and we need to be ready to make that move. All the best

Hi, I got diagnosed with FM 18 years ago when nobody had even heard of the disease. I have had some rough times in those years and some good ones. Never had too much luck with any meds. other than neurontin. Recently I have become a stay at home care giver for my MIL and have found since I quit work that the FM symptoms have become much less. I worked as a CNA in a nursing home for 5 years and was in acute pain, couldn't sleep and was so fatigued everyday. I am now taking savella and will see if that improves the remaining symptoms. I still have trouble staying asleep and I get sore from time to time but not anything like it used to. I quit taking the neurontin (gabapentin) because I felt that it wasn't good for me over such a long period of time.

I have recently been diagnosed with secondary FM due to PTSD caused from sexual trauma. I have been in therapy now for a year and have recently started a type of treatment called Prolonged Exposure. I find that the bouts of depression have been coming in frequent peaks and valleys. I know that the new therapy can affect the onset of these peaks, not to mention the pain that is brought about with the daily storms and weather fluctuations that we have been having due to excessive heat. I'd like to know how others are dealing with their peaks and valleys of depression and what if any herbal, natural, or holistic supplements have been helpful with the pain and/or depression that comes with FM.