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porcelaine -> RE: Fibromyalgia and treatment options? (9/5/2009 5:06:15 PM)
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i have fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. i was diagnosed fourteen years ago. i'm largely in remission for both, though i do have flare ups on occasion. i'm completely medication free and rarely need assistance when the pain arises. tylenol seems to do the trick when necessary.
the conditions can be both physically and mentally debilitating, but there are things you can do on your end. i elected to suck it up and deal with the pain at some point because being a walking medicine cabinet was totally uncool. the nsaids and all the other stuff you're pouring into your body has its own problems. the body makes its own adjustments and the pain medication is no longer effective. long term use of narcotics is another issue as well.
i suppose i just had enough. i focused on healing me from head to toe. which implied every single morsel. i can't say i'm completely there yet, but i do know those things are no longer necessary. which is a vast improvement for someone that was once stuck in bed. i have found attention to diet to be paramount. i'm basically flexitarian, my meat intake is small and primarily chicken and fish when i do. you have to be mindful of caffeine as well. i gave up soda and my only allowance is coffee which i get from manufacturers that use organic whole beans. i never purchase ground.
beverages fall into two categories - water and wine. i don't consume a lot of milk and what i do drink is soy. sweets and processed foods aren't part of my diet. but i'll eat chocolate, preferably dark. overall my diet is very european in content and i make a concerted effort to eat seasonally as well. i get exercise from walking and other activities. i have worked out a lot in the past and i keep saying i need to do it again. i keep my mind and life free of bs since stress is a well known trigger. my spirit is at peace and i feed that as well. i am very happy overall.
i won't pretend my methods are for everyone. but they work for me and i've been in remission for years. i think you come to a point where you have to pay attention to your body and consider the long term effects certain things will have. i should mention that i do consume supplements and i have explored holistic options. my physician has an integrative medicine unit and i believe their approach is good. some have said that acupuncture offers relief and if you have a school in your area contact them, the clinic is usually free or of minimal cost.
the most important advice i can give is about how you see yourself. i don't view myself as ill, deceased, sick, or whatever adjective you wish to impart. i believe this has had a huge impact on how my body responds. as the saying goes, capture the mind, and the body follows. best of luck to you all.
porcelaine
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