Living Well with FMS

[ChristineMP]

Hello All,

I am posting because back when I was first dx'd with FMS all the forums and FMS groups I saw were predominately peopled with folks whose FMS was really bad and though it was nice to know that I wasn't the ONLY one in pain and tired and sick and tired of being sick and tired, I wondered if there was any hope long term...

My FMS has been mostly in remission for 4 years. I still have short term flares that last at most 2 days (usually more like hours) but NOTHING like the agony I was in from 2000 through 2006. I honestly don't know WHAT made it go into remission...in December 2006 I just started feeling better. We had moved from California to Oklahoma in October 2006 and there was a lot of stress...but I was okay. No big flares and I was able to go to work in January 2007 for the first time since 2003. Fast forward to the present: I just graduated from a Practical Nursing Program and will be taking my license exam next month. I am also expecting a baby (or two...I keep saying I hope it is twins) in November. No brain fog, very little pain and enough energy to do not only what I need to do, but to do a lot of what I want to do as well :)

I am not back to being my old self...not 100% but who can say how much of that is the FMS and how much is normal aging? I am 41 now...I was 30 when I got sick.

I currently take only my levothyroxine (Synthroid) and use an albuterol inhaler (rarely) when needed for asthma. I amslo take prenatal vitamins now but before I usally took Iron and Vit C. I have terrible hay fever and WAS taking Chlor-trimeton but now have to take Benedryl because of the pregnancy. (Ironically I am allergic to Claritin LOL. Zyrtec gives me headache and Allegra didn't work well for me...made my nose run.)

When I was having FMS flares the things that helped me most were Effexor XR and Skelaxin (I had HORRIBLE muscle spasms in my back and glutes that make it almost impossible to walk. I was pretty much bedridden for 3 months at one point....30 years old and my husband had to take me to bathroom!!). Also massage, heat, traction (the combo of heat and traction got rid of the spams for a few hours...unfortunately it was 40 miles away and insurance only allowed 1 per week...), chiropractic, and stretching all helped.

I tried so many things when I was sick...some helped a little...most didn't do much. As I said, I don't know why it went into remission but I believe prayer was a big part...and visuallizing life without FMS daily and asking for healing...

I wish the best for all of you who are dealing with the worst parts of FMS...but I hope my story can give you hope (((gentle hugs)))

[deadgamegrrl]

Wow!  What a great story.  Congratulations on feeling better and sustaining it.  It does give me some additional hope that it could happen too to me (and my other MH friends in pain too).

Thanks!
~~ dgg

[SuperSunny]

Wow!  Your story is so encouraging.  I really appreciate that you took the time to share with us.  Congratulations to you and best of luck for a healthy future!
Sunny

[mnkyluvr68]

Thank you for sharing your story. It's always nice to hear something positive re: fibro. I hope you continue to do well. Good luck and congrats on the baby and school =)