My Fibromyalgia Story
Sat, May 10, 2008
I used to be a very active, capable person. I loved physical activity, skiing, windsurfing. I worked full time as a chemist; teaching and supervising research studies at University. That is until I reached my
mid-thirties. After three surgeries in three years and the birth of my second child I began to suffer from an undiagnosed illness. I was severely fatigued and in pain all the time. I could not sleep at night and my brain was in a fog all day long. It seemed every food I ate, I reacted to. I ultimately had to leave the career that I loved when it just became too much for me.
It took me ten years and as many doctors to learn that my illness was called Fibromyalgia and Myofascial Pain Syndrome. But getting a diagnosis put me no closer to getting any better. Most doctors did not believe that such an illness existed and the few that did had no idea what to do about it. In the ten years since my diagnosis, I have learned a lot. I have discovered that diet is very important and have found foods that are safe for me. I have learned that if! push past the pain and do a gentle form of exercise, even on those high-pain days, then my pain diminishes. I have
found nutritional supplements that agree with me and help support my poorly functioning metabolic systems. And I have found wonderful physical therapists that help my body do what it needs to do to heal, but can’t do on its own.
If you are seriously disabled with this illness, you are probably saying to yourself that I clearly was never as ill as you are. Which may well be. But I remember days lying on the living room floor with my two toddlers beside me, reading books they held up for us because I was too exhausted to
sit and too exhausted to hold a book. Waiting for my husband to come home from work and take over. And thinking that anyone who had recovered any semblance of a life for themselves had clearly never been as ill as I was. I do not believe there is a single solution to this illness. Not yet. I do
believe, however, that piecing together all the single supportive strategies that work for you even a little bit, can make a difference. It has for me.
Tags: Fibromyalgia, Personal Stories
July 16th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Also very long with FM. I am interested in any genuine relief suggestions that one has been involved with for over two years. You mentioned an excellent physiotherapist. If you are in calgary and can pass on name and contact then much appreciated and how many treatments and how often attend. Do you have a natural doctor as well that has helped you and how and also been to for two years or more that you can recomend? in Calgary? thanks, Ron.
February 1st, 2009 at 11:48 pm
I have found relief and peace in reading the Bible! It’s still a journey, but I can’t deny that God has allowed peace to come through the truth of His word. I hope you can too!
April 18th, 2009 at 6:08 pm
I was diagnosed with Lupus in Dec 2007 and Fibro in Jan 2008 then Osteo in March 2009…so am dealing with alot right now….I have just started with a Physio therapist and am wondering how this will help my chronic pain…
July 20th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
MARAT ISMAILOV,
3a04, PATH to HEALTH, General Hospital,
11111 Jasper Ave,
Edmonton, AB, Canada, T5K 0L4.
Ph.: 780- 695 5402
487 2988
e-mail: im1997@hotmail.com July 16/ 2009.
To Everyone who is suffering from the FIBROMYALGIA
and other SOFT TISSUES DISEASED CONDITIONS.
Dear Sir/Madam,
In my private clinic “PATH to HEALTH” which is located in General Hospital of Edmonton, AB, I have elaborated an original Bioenergy Technique – IPEC Therapy, which is very much effective treating the FIBROMYALGIA and many other painful conditions. This method is distinguished over other bioenergy techniques by the high efficiency of the treatment results. Some of my clients have been suffering from the FIBROMYALGIA for 5 to 20 years before they’ve got completely recovered in my clinic.
The healing process usually consists of Basic Course (6-8 2-hours sessions, 1 every day) and 5 –6 Maintenance sessions ( 1-2 session/month).
For details, please find me by above mentioned contacts.
Sincerely,
Marat Ismailov, Biotherapist,
Registered Massage Therapist,
Member of NHPC
February 18th, 2010 at 10:08 am
I have recently been told by my doctor that she thinks this very well be what I have… Oh lucky me! I’ll be 46 in June 2010, I’m at the point I can’t pick up my 3 year old grand daughter due to the fact that my hands feel like they could fall off at the wrist. It hurts to get up from any position if I’ve been in that position for any amount of time, 4 or 5 minutes and up. On top of this I also have been told that I have rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis (1 year and a few months). When I was young, there was only our mother in the house because our father was no father at all, he left when I was 2 years old. There was 11 of us plus our mother in the house and my mother had to make due with what we had… including not as much milk in the house as there certainly should have been for this many mouths too feed. My mother who turned 81 in the fall 2009, [just finished Kemo and Radiation a month (Jan. 2010), got the good news that they believe they got it all and that she has a clean bill of health at the moment], did the best she could with what she had to work with. My doctor says that’s where most of my problems started, but I could have done better for myself if I had drank more milk as I got older, I hate the taste of the stuff… taste like a cow walked threw my mouth.
I have recently started Lyrica, the smallest amount you can get – 2 x 75 mg day, but it is not doing much,(at first it seemed to, but that effect only seemed to work for a few days) so my doctor will either take it away or prescribe a larger dosage. I also take Naproxen 20% Cream Compound, for anti-inflammatory, I can’t take this in a pill form because I it upsets my stomach. I also take Amitriptyline at night to help me sleep, this does work – 2 x 25 mg.
I hopefully got lucky this week, as I got a call from the Pain Clinic that I have been waiting for over 2 years, I have an appointment for Monday next week, Feb. 22, 2010. I have no idea what they can do for me… but hey why not give it a try.
Another note… I also have a sister with bone problems, mostly to do with her back, she has Scoliosis, which is curving of the spine.
On top of all of this, I seem to be awful forgetful. Sometimes it could be in mid sentence… I’ll have to ask what is it we were just talking about? This is Not Funny any longer. I hate age.
Good luck too all who get this Ball and Chain.
April 17th, 2010 at 5:29 am
CMP
If you are going to Lifemark, at Meadowlark, they have excellent doctors and staff. But to burst your fragile bubble, I hate to say this, for many years they thought it was my low back and in a sense it was, so I got shots there, MANY MANY shots. My family dr. finally diagnosed me with fibromyalgia but I still see a dr. at Lifemark but I am not sure why. He is not doing anything except “holding my hand” and asking me what do I want to do. I thought he was the med. guy, I sure am not making his salary. I think for the time that I put in there, nothing good has come out of there except that they got me on a 6-month waiting list for a repeat MRI of my spine. Maybe he will be good at filing out the forms that I will need for some financial assistance. I probably have to lend him my pen…
But I do wish you well, miracles happen, just not to me, I guess.