Ibs with fibromyalgia

 You are lucky having someone to cook meals for you, I am 78 and have my husband of 82 to care for, who does not cook.

12 months ago i was leading a normal life, with very mild fibromyalgia and could eat anything, now have other complaints as well, just want to lead a normal as possible life with anxiety under control.

I think I will have to be more adventurous with food, and not keep eating the same things everyday, it's very boring.

what I miss most of all is not being able to drive, because of fog and balance.

I always have been a worrier but now it is out of control and need to help with it.

i spoke to a hypnotist this morning and might have some sessions to see whether that will help.

The NHS Psychiatrist I am seeing is not helping much as only see him every 6 to 8 weeks, have tried

several antidepressants but too many side effects and no benefits he said i was suffering from emotional distress.

what I need a more intense therapy, oh to win the lottery.

my daughter in law is a Specialist Nurse in long term conditions, and said that anxiety is learnt, and we have  to reverse it. don! they make it sound easy. my son thinks all I need is more going on in my life, do not understand fibro at all. I know what I need is to get rid of this STRESS.

I live in Birmingham, they live in Melton Mowbray and want us to move nearer them, but could not face the upheaval at the moment..

You sound a very glass half full person, and humorous, good for you.

Best Wishes

Pat

Keep touch.

 

Hi Pat,

I've just spent considerable time replying to your message as I have typed a bit then rested as my hands are painful today.  Sadly a message popped up saying that an error had occurred and I have lost the whole message....arghhh!  That glass half full has developed a leak, albeit temporarily ha ha.

I will give you a more comprehensive reply in the next couple of days as I can relate to much you have said.  I have to give my hands a good rest now as I'm in need of a cuppa and wouldn't be able to lift it just now and through a straw isn't the same.

Best wishes,

Gin

Hi Gin,

Hope your hands are feeling better, I look forward to hearing from you in relation to your lost message you tried to send to me.

do you have many if the symptoms of fibro, mine is concentrated mainly in the shoulders, neck, back and chest with fibro fog and balance problems,

which makes it difficult getting about.

, 

Hi Pat,

Sorry I've taken so long to reply, I've had a bad patch...not only flare wise but my willing 17 year old happy to cook was completely decked by septic tonsils, they were magnificiently disgusting. My boyfriend who recently has been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia came down with shingles and my visiting mother had a fall. Fortunately she relaxed into it and was not badly injured. She has grazes and a few bruises but nothing broken, thankfully. That said, my mother has returned home, happy and almost healed and all in the throat department is calm. I've just got off the phone to my boyfriend and he's saying that the pain of the shingles has subsided considerably but that he's feeling tired as it's flared his Fibro. He so rarely takes any time off as he's self employed but he hasn't considered going anywhere as it's all under his right armpit and as a consequence he's nursing his arm closely to his side.

I'm not too bad considering that I had to get my adrenalin going in order to look after sick troups and now they're all back on their feet I've now crashed.  I'm happy to tell you that with the use of a technique called mindfullness, I have managed to keep my stress levels to a minimum. When a thought came into my head to which there was no answer I was consciously deciding if I could deal with it now or that  I would have to acknowledge that I had that thought and decide to leave it alone. Mindfullness can be googled and I have been assured that there are many sites with information. I learned the technique with the Pain Management Programme at The Walton Centre in Liverpool. I think that they may have a link to the CD's they gave us.  It's about living in the present, after all the past has gone and, as you mentioned, it wasn't that long ago that we were leading full and active lives with little bother from pain. That has changed, we are still who we are but we have limitations that we have to understand, they are in the 'now'.  Many of the questions that enter our heads are regarding the future and we cannot predict that. It is about accepting we have the thoughts, pain, aches, pleasant and unpleasant sensations, acknowledging them and letting them be. With practice, by taking the main focus from the things that are causing us stress or distress then we will essentially be able to turn down the volume on the pain.  I have found that my IBS has responded in a positive way to my new approach.

Sadly I have many of the symptoms, all the tender points and severe pain  when I walk but a short distance, this is worse in my back, neck, arms and hands. Recently I have had abdominal pain but I put that down to the events of the last couple of weeks. I often drop things or throw things into my face, I laugh....no other option really.  My movements are sometimes slow and jerky so I just go with the flow.

I was with my boyfriend the other day and I offered to make him a cup of tea, being at his house he said that he would do it. I pointed out he saw me Fibro and raised me shingles so we ended up both off the sofa and heading towards the kitchen. We were both so stiff and painful after sitting down that as we hobbled along like a pair considerably older than we actually are....I started giggling and he said "race you", humour is such a useful tool to fend off stress or disappointment with our situations.

With regards to your fibro fog, I have found that Omega 3 fish oils are useful. Professor Winston did a study and found that it increased the concentration time in children. It works in the brain, with that thought in mind I started taking it. I would consider it has some effect as I can more often recall those little illusive words that seem to drop from memory just as you're about to say them. Our fridge will always be called the chicken as I once asked my son to put the milk in the chicken. Having read round extensively I am pleased to announce that getting words muddled is a symptom on Fibro and I'm not just plain bonkers...although that is being disputed by those that know me and the jury's out on that one 

Have you been to see the hypnotist yet? I would love to hear how you got on if you did. Someone tried to hypnotise me once but it didn't work as I couldn't seem to get into the zone.

I will away now as my hands are aching so it's time to give them a rest.

Take good care,

Gin 

 

Hi Gin

Thanks for your post, it is nice hearing from you, sorry to hear all about your troubles, lovely to hear that you are laughing through it, I think I will ditch my husband and get another one who understands what's going on.

i did go to the Hypnotherapy, and it was good, he had the most calming voice, and I did enjoy it, he also gave a cd to listen to every day, I had booked another one, but when I came home I had a phone call from the Hospital to tell me they wanted me to see a Chest Specialist in response to the CT scan, said I had  a lung infection so in the meantime my Dr has given me amoxicllin 500mg x 3 a day, it has made me really anxious. and feel awful, Rang Dr and he said it would, so have cancelled the hypnotist for the time being as it is very expensive and I have to get the most out of it

the first session was £90 for 1and half hours. Have got some relaxation tapes but they are not quite the same

i do take high strengh Code Liver Oil with vit D and E, it that the same as Fish oil.

Your Boyfriend sounds good fun, and glad the tonsils are better, and Mother not much the worst for wear after her fall.

keep in touch

Pat

 

Just remembered to ask you about  the mindfulness, I think I  have some books on the subject The CBT group I went to was not very good, one week I was there on my own, and now it has folded through lack of support, The Psychiatrist  so hard to track down, I leave messages for him to ring me, never hear  anything. I think I will have to try something on my own.

Do you do the mindfulness on your own? Is it hard.,

Pat

.

Hi Pat,

I've sent you a message with the link to the resources you may find helpful. 

Yes I do practice mindfulness alone. It takes a bit of practice but it does work if you can get the hang of it. One night it just clicked into place and I now use it when carrying out tasks.

Best regards,

Gin

Hi Pat,

I just sent you a message and with my dodgy memory asked you if you'd had CBT, I am so ditsy.

It's good to hear that your chest infection is better now though, we do get so knocked by illness on top of fibro..

I'm keeping this short as my arms are sore as are my hands, I've messaged you privately.

Take good care,

Gin xx

Hi Ginney

not heard from you for a time, are you ok. Got a bit worried  not hearing from you did you have your scan?.

If you feel up to it just send a few lines

Pat

my husband is still in hospital having suffered a stroke.

 

The thing I have got to do is get a handle on this stress, it's upsetting my stomach whatever I have.

i spoke to a Hypnotist this morning recommended by the group I go to and he seemed very experienced with anxiety and fibromyalgia.

my daughter in law said I have learnt it and he said what we learn we can unlearn, unfortunately can't get an appointment until next week could have done with one this week. That's how busy he is

my problem is getting enough food to keep my weight up! already lost 2 stone, and no clothes that fit me, anxiety uses so much energy trying to keep abreast with it is hard work. And it is doing my head in.

one of the X-Rays I had taken last last week shows I have moderate arthritis in my right hip,so a double whammy for pain.

Hate to come on this site and keep moaning, but glad to hear from other people.

Got a appointment at the dentist tomorrow and have to climb a flight of stairs. Hope nothing needs doing.

Thanks for your tips, what do you have for lunch and breakfast and snacks, It's hard to break old habits of what I used to eat

All bran with fruit for breakfast, wholemeal bread for lunch, Chicken tonight with mashed pots  peas and carrots for dinner, fruit for snacks and a fortisips drink from the Drs.

Do you get much pain in the evening  I seem to get it worse then.

bye for now

Pat

i think iv said before you can buy a decent hypnosis cd and do it at home which works well , its good back up as well if you cant make an appointment or get one .

plus if you start at home you have a good start before on the relaxtion before your appointment because it takes awhile to get to relax .you can get a decent one for about £10 from ebay.

I have a complete relaxation app on my iPad which I am doing every day, by Glen Harrold which is good, it's quite hard to relax even when you are listening to one. I also listen to the relaxation music on you tube., there are also some quite good sleep ones as well.

I am going to try a professional one to see if there is any difference, this one 

Is also a Tai Chi Master, and does hold classes, he said the oldest member was 104!!!.

Thanks as always for your help

Pat

 

Meant to ask you have you tried professional hypnotist, I thought I remembered you saying you had.

My Daughter in Law Zoe, is having a baby in  November and by now I would have been sewing and knitting but not this time, will have to buy this year.

but it won't be the same.

Pat

yes i have tried professional , the ones i use on cd are made by profesional hypnotists as well, i found being live one to one very hard work and for me imtimadting ,  and even if you dont feel that way .

your still looking at what £50 a session and it takes awhile for it to work.

congragtulations on your futrue grandchild .it dosent look like i will have any , my eldest is 30 and has R A SINCE she was 27, and my middle daughter  dosent like kids  my son is ASPERGERS [form of autisum]

mind you my second husband has 2 grandsons, one who is just two and has  just had his iq tested ,its a 108 so got a genius in the family,not from steve side , his mum is extremly clever reads extinct languages .

did u see that awful programe tonight called blingying up baby , desgusting dressing up babies like barbie dolls compleat with spray tan from the age of two or is it just me.

sounds like you live in a glorious area of England; I live in the U.S. New Mexico, which is in between Arizona and Texas; and no it is not just you; 'blingying up baby' sounds like a horrible thing to do

hi well hate to say this but it started in the states with baby and toddler beauty shows,and just like everything else its over here now,

all i heard all thru the show was i ,was dissapointed we didnt win, and a little girl that said i do it because it makes mum happy, says it all really dosent it,  still thats what happens when kids have kids,

sounds like you live in a very hot place i would presume its a dry heat, not muggy like it is here, its not a bad little town ,but theres nothing much to do , and its very clicky, so once an outsider always an outsider.

hope you are feeling ok today