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Fibro friends — what actually helps your pain?

dani
Hi everyone. I was just diagnosed with fibromyalgia about 3 weeks ago after almost a year of testing for everything else. I'm honestly still kind of in shock? Like relieved to have a name for it but also terrified because everything I read online is so doom and gloom. I guess I'm just wondering... what actually helps? My doctor started me on gabapentin but so far it just makes me dizzy. I've seen people mention everything from specific supplements to heating pads to certain diets and I don't even know where to start. I'm 34 and I feel like I'm 80. I used to run 5Ks and now I can barely make it up the stairs some days. Sorry for the ramble, I'm just scared and overwhelmed and hoping someone can tell me it gets better. Or at least more manageable.

6 Replies

christineM

First of all — welcome, and I'm sorry you're going through this. The early days of a fibro diagnosis are SO overwhelming. It does get more manageable, I promise. What helps me after 12 years: - Heating pads/heated blanket (seriously, heat is my #1) - Gabapentin DID help me but it took about 6 weeks to really kick in and yeah the dizziness was bad at first. It leveled out. Talk to your doc about sticking with it a bit longer if you can tolerate it. - Gentle stretching daily — not intense exercise, just basic stretching - Sleep hygiene. Sounds dumb but getting better sleep made a real difference. - Epsom salt baths You're going to be ok. The learning curve is steep but it flattens out.

kt_2024

pacing pacing pacing. it took me years to learn this but its the single most important thing ive figured out. don't do all the things on a good day. i know its tempting. i know you feel like you have to catch up on everything you missed. but you will pay for it. also: the gabapentin dizziness usually goes away after a few weeks. if it doesn't, duloxetine is another option worth asking about.

tiredofit

honestly? lowering my expectations. that sounds depressing but it was actually freeing. I stopped comparing myself to pre-fibro me and started focusing on what I CAN do. some days that's a lot. some days its getting dressed and thats it. both are valid. also magnesium glycinate at night. helps my muscles relax and my sleep. not a cure but it takes the edge off.

anon4now

oh my god are you me?? I was literally diagnosed 2 months ago and I'm also 34 and I also used to run. reading this feels like looking in a mirror. I dont have advice yet but I wanted you to know youre not alone in this

oldguitarplayer

I'm going to be the old guy here and say: try everything, but try things one at a time. Otherwise you won't know what's actually helping. I spent the first year throwing everything at the wall — supplements, diets, devices, you name it — and I couldn't tell what was working and what wasn't. Pick one thing. Give it 4-6 weeks. Evaluate. Then try the next thing. It's slower but you end up with a toolkit of things you KNOW work for you specifically.

nope_not_today

same boat. no advice. just solidarity. this sucks.

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