I've just been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia

Hi Sweetie, life will be ok.  I got mine when I was 14yrs old and I am now 36.  I have 2 children (9yrs&6ys) I have GCSEs, A'Levels, Adv GNVQ & a degree.  I am a sucessful self-employed Architect with a very supportive, loving husband.  I built our big house extension with my husband and a list of other DIY projects under my belt.  My real problem was not the Fibro but ME and that's only because it is sucking my memory and my energy.  My Fibro & ME has gone through patches of affecting my life dramatically and other times I have got on with what I want to do even though it has always been with me.  I am not going to sell you a story of it will be easy and certainly not painfree.  I have not known a single painfree day since I was 14.  However, you get used to it!  It becomes a backdrop and only when it is flaring-up do up really notice it (which is probably what you are going through at the moment).  Heat packs become your best friend!  You really do get used to it! Then you learn to not let it get in your way.  To be totally honest I am a boom and bust person.  Probably not really how you are supposed to live you life but I have achieved alot xx  

Hi Katie,

I hope you are feeling okay today.  Hopefully your nan will be able to give you lots of information about FM, and lots of support too.

There seems to be quite a lot of young people getting FM, so you are not alone.

Here is a great friendly forum for you to access to help you:

HealthUnlocked

I cannot put the full 'address' as this website blocks them for days to check them!!

Mine developed after injuring my neck at work.  It is also believed to be genetic but I do not know of any members of my family that have it. 

What medication are you taking?  Is it helping with your symptoms?

My 'worst' symptom is dizziness; it also affects my vision.  If only that would go away I could cope much better.

Katie make sure you 'gently' exercise your body/muscles to keep 'fluid' with your movements.  I understand yoga/pilates/swimming is good for this BUT you must never overdo the exercise as the effect will be the reverse.

Keep your chin up sweetheart; you are defo. not alone!!

Have a lovely day Katie.

xxx 

In some ways I was lucky in that I was only diagonsed last year (yes, 21yrs with no diagonsis and therefore no medication for it). The lucky part is because I didn't think something was particularly wrong with me (I just had a bad back and therefore a bad neck) I just went to Oestopaths (spent a fortune over the years) especially when I went from going once a month to every 10 days.  Ok, so it takes me along time to cotton-on to somethings  Especially as I now look back at that I collapsed at uni one time through exhausion (no not clubbing!) in my first year we were doing 60hrs a week - turns out my body couldn't cope but as I knew no better I just kept going.  My parents didn't think my symtoms were strange so I didn't question them.  Now I know my IBS, memory loss, headaches, constant pain etc.. all were connected. I thought they were all separate so just carried on with life.  The biggest thing is that I didn't let it stop me. I've always loved reading so that would be my rest time I have read well over 300 books from the library in the name of rest and relaxation.  I look back and the busts haven't been nice. Last Saturday especially because I have been over doing it lately - demanding clients and painting a house to get it ready to sell takes it out of me. Oh plus seeing the specialists and having 'fits' every other day doesn't help.  When I was younger I joined in everything I could.  I've never been any good at being a spectator. Which at the moment I have to be because the ME is so bad.  I told the Fibro who was boss, it would fight me back and those times weren't pretty.  However, I did have a normal life just with a lot of pain mixed in.  Swimming has always been my personal favourite exercise.  It's alot less hard on the body and works so many parts of it.  I even have a waterproof MP3 player which makes me feel like I can swim forever (if only).  I chose to have the pain and live my life as close to what I wanted as was possible, trying to put the pain to the back of my mind. Others my choose to have less pain and compromise what they achieve.  It is your choice - you live through the pain and you live through lifes experience.  I haven't got it always right but I'm still pleased with what I've achieved. x

Actually those who know me call me stubborn, determined and single minded. Just remember to always have a heat pack at the ready.  Oh, and a good book you can try to disappear into when the pain levels get too high. x Be the boss of Fibro then it won't hold you back it will just keep giving you painful kicks. That sounds mad even to me. hee hee x

hi Katie. You are still very very young so I am sure you will be able to keep attacks at bay if you stay as positive as you can and don't let it get you down. When you feel well, do as much as you can-stick two fingers up to it! I have been ill for 20 years and when I was younger I really made the most of the good days and I am sure it helped. I went for really good long walks, went to alton towers and really enjoyed myself. When you remain happy it really does kick fibro in the teeth. When it starts getting to you though, it is able to eat away and get into all of your body, bit by bit-don't let it! I find stretching and shaking can help when I am able to do it. I am stuck in bed at the mo after just being sgned off work again for another month and my manager is talking about ill health retirement-I am 46. As you get older its harder to fight the attacks, so you have to be positive now and just do as much as you can. The more you do, the better yourbody will cope. Don't wrry about overdoing things, you cant make it wrseby doing that, yeah you may have a bad day afterwards but just keep doing it

Sorry that ended before I mean it too, blinkin ipad! dont forget your nan is older too, so iits harder to cope with. I also find angel therapy helps. I think its archangel Raphael you speak to for healing. I speak to all of them for different things,it works! You can actually feel them around you! But mst of all, please try not to worry, as hard as that may sound xx

Hi there .i know just how you feel as i've just been diagnosed myself. It's not just the future that scares me it's the fact the people I live with won't discuss it. I feel like I'm cracking up and have no one to talk to. The first support group i can attend isn't until september. Do you get much advice from your Nan?

Has anyone elses doctor got mad at them for wanting more and more tests and then tells them they are basically just crazy and its all in their head? i really thought he was right until i found out about fm and now it makes sense. Anyome know hollistic aproach to help l?