I would appreciate advice! Diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and always exhausted. Energy boost ideas?

Have heaps of empathy for you Sam. Been there done that and starred in the mini series. You could try CoQ10 which you can buy in the supermarket where they range the vitamins and mineral supplements. It coenzyme Q10 and it aids the amount of oxygen absobtion in the mitochondria. Just getting enough oxygen pumping through your heart is a major help. Plus I read the other day of a substance called Serranol but I haven't tried it yet so can't vouch for it. Google it and if nothing comes up, please message me and I'll send a link. Don't have it to hand right now but I did post it in a fibro discussion group yesterday. BTW, when I first started suffering from fibro I was lucky enough to have a fantastic doctor who left no stone unturned getting to a diagnosis. She tested my blood for everything and discovered by chance that I also had haemochromotosis which also accounts for the debilitating fatigue. Have you had a haemochromatosis test? 

Oh and another suggestion, eat a banana or two a day! Seriously. I've just reminded myself I should be doing the same. My fibro symtoms come and go and when I get a new attack, I sometimes forget about the simple things. It doesn't matter if it's placebo, if it works why complain?

Hi Sam,

               Sorry to hear about your new diagnosis. My mum is a fibromyalgia sufferer and I have seen the struggles she has had to face throughout. But remember you are not an empty shell, you are still the person you was before, the only difference is that you now need to find your ways of adapting your lifestyle and make you able to continue that life you already have. It is also important to remember that you have been diagnosed with an illness, you cannot expect the same from yourself as you did before. Allow time for rest and recuperation so that you can do what you do manage to get done, productively. Spread things out over a longer time scale and don't be hard on yourself for not meeting targets if you cannot physically do it. It is a new lifestyle that you need to adapt to, but YOU have fibromyalgia, fibromyalgia doesn't have you .

Aside from this I am a new awareness and fundraiser and have a new twitter and facebook account, and a brand new website on its way. On my awareness website I hope to use patient stories to show he public the reality of fibromyalgia. I already have a few, but It would be brilliant if you would be happy for me to use your diagnosis story.

I will hope to hear back from you soon,

best wishes,

Shannon.

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i agree with hazzamcbazza23; making sure you get thorough blood work is important;It is good you have stopped the caffeine; it is no good for those with fibro; i also have started drinking a super high quality  whey protein vitamin enzyme drink made with stevia, not splenda and it has seemed to help; i was low in vitamin D; I am on disability though and honestly, i cannot even imagine at this point trying to put in an 8 hr day for 5 days in a row; alot of stress will do me in no matter what i eat.or drink or meds..I would be like you; totally lifeless and in pain after each shift; 

Hi, I find when I don't eat bread I have more energy. When I do eat it, it maakes me incredibly lethargic. I am also taking hemp seed oil stirred into a glass of milk or in my yoghurt. Some days are much worse than others though and I cant work now. Check for anaemia too, cos they found I was anaemic and I went on iron tablets. I have a lot of days when I just cant get out of bed and practically crawl to the loo. Luckily I have my children and partner around me to bring me drinks, but I really have to force myself out of bed sometimes to go anywhere. I do wish someone could find a cure, although people have claimed that pure hemp oil has cured them. Difficult to get hold of and very expensive though, thats why I have the hemp seed oil. I keep forgetting to take it even though I make sure my dog has it every day, she has cancer and the vet was sure she wouldnt be with us by now but she seems grea at the moment and her lump has disappeared! I also take b6 as I am not sure whether some of my symptoms are due to menopause but that seems to help a bit too, oh and caprylic acid which I feel has been helping also. I have had this thing for 22 years and this is the first time in a long time I have been bed bound for so long so I would encourage you to keep going as much as you can cos when it gets a hold on you like this its very difficult to shake. I used to find saunas helped too. Take care x

hi forgot to mention q10 thats important one for everyone really after 30

Thanks everyone for your advice. I too have very low vit d levels and have been on tablets from the GP now for a couple of years. The oxygen drops are they available in the UK? I have mainly slept today as my partner is away but I now feel that I have wasted a precious day off and feel annoyed at myself. I'm really thankful for all of your support. People tend to not really understand and one person told me I had shirkers syndrome which upset me. Xxx big hugs everyone xxx

sam u cant help falling asleep theres nothing you can do about it its not your fault

your not making the right chemicles in your brain , iv fallen asleep in the shower and standing up only for a second or two but theres no control ,

iv also found that if i get out and about in the fresh air i fill alot a better

but when i come back in and sit down i am asleep in minutes same after meals as soon as i sit down i am a sleep . regards tina

Yes Sam, Tina's suggestion is a great one of trying to get out in the fresh air if you can summon up the energy. Especially on those awful days when you feel bad and very depressed about it all. It works for me and I hope it could brighten you up for a while. As for those people who doubt you, try and feel pity for them instead of hurt. They're just STUPID. Fibromyalgia isn't visible and neither is stupidity until idiots open their mouth!!! 

Hi Sam,

I was diagnosed last year, after being told 18months earlier that I should go away and get used to the idea that I was just going to be in pain for the rest of my life. That was by a rheumatologist in the UK!  I was in bits coming out of there. However, I'm not fobbed off that easily and persevered and finally got a diagnosis. I too suffer with fatigue, I feel your frustration. I find bananas seem to help and I was low in vitamin D, I have monthly meds for that now and bloods to be done in September.to keep a check on my levels. Earlier in the year my folate was low so I had a course. I am not able to work as I suffer with headaches/migraines on a daily basis. I have had two opinions, one diagnosed cervical spondylosis with migrainous headache and another occipital neuralgia, so far no solution has been offered to me for them. I think that the most important thing is to reduce stress levels as when stressed the pain, fatigue and brain-fog descend. I tend to ask myself 'is it a matter of life or death, what harm can come' and if the answer is no and none then I choose not to stress, it's still a work in practice. I think humour is important as I always feel more lively after a good laugh. 

I have recently completed a pain management programme, it was demanding, but I have learned that if I can do nothing else in the day that it's vitally important to stretch and keep the ligaments and tendons as healthy as possible. Hydrotherapy was also excellent and I found that after this I did feel more awake and alert. I too have gained weight as I am not able to do what I used to and make egg on legs jokes about me in my recently purchased swim-dress. However, this egg's for excercise however reluctant I feel I know that it helps to release natural endorphins which will help keep the pain levels down and i'm sure help with the fatigue too.

I hope you find out what works for you and that you are able to cope better with your Fibro, It is better to learn to live with it than to fight it as it takes more energy to fight. As said before we are individuals with Fibro, Fibro does not define us!

Kindest regards,

Ginny