Fibromyalgia and Weight Loss

Fybtomom said "I've have my thyroid checked regularly. It's always normal. I always secretly hope it will come back abnormal because that's easier to treat than Fibromyalgia."
Oh, I can relate to that! I've read every online article I could find about problems with thyroid checking but I've now given up hope that my normal results are inaccurate in some way rather than accept that I too have fibromyalgia (though UK doc's seem unwilling to use that term, preferring chronic pain syndrome). Terrible, isn't it that one can find oneself actually wishing to be ill in some way just because, unlike fibromyalgia, it's treatable? But I'm sorry you've found you may have a benign tumour and hope you can soon get that fixed. Sorry, too, about the spinal issues, but glad for you in a way because they may well be making your pain problems worse, and they at least are treatable, unlike the fibromyalgia.

As for exercise I'd say ignore all advice other than what comes from your own body. Walking more sounds a good idea, depending on what 'more' is. It sounds like 'more' for you right now could be just a matter of a few yards. But I'd wait till you've had you're spinal issues fixed before trying even that. As for weights, I can relate to being bedridden after what might seem to others to be even very moderate exercise. I know any kind of weights exercise flattens me. Again I'd say, listen to your body. If you know weights don't work for you, even though they do for others, don't do them! It's hard for others to understand how even small amounts (to others) can result in enormous pain and exhaustion for fibro sufferers. And no two fibro sufferers will react the same way to any exercise. That said, if weights are not for you maybe you'd get on better with swimming which some people swear by because it can be as easy or strenuous as you choose to make it; even exercising (gently) in water helps some people because the water takes the weight off your joints. Or what about exercises that gently stretch muscles? I'm thinking of (very) gentle yoga or Pilates.

I have a Pilates machine which I find is okay for me if I take it gently, but there are lots of yoga and Pilates videos online you could try. Just make sure you start at beginner or even pre- level. And I'd suggest you don't feel bad if you can manage only the very easiest bits. Try the beginning part of any yoga or Pilates sequence first and see what your body thinks of it that night, or next day. If it 'approves' maybe try the next bit, and so on, but skip any bits you know in advance are likely to be a problem. If one of the exercises causes you problems then just skip it. Try another. You may be able to build up your own sequence of moves/positions, no matter how easy they may seem to others, that you know you can handle by listening to what your body tells you. Then you'll have some gentle exercise you know you can do most days, if not every day.

But as a long-term sufferer I'd stress again: listen to your body. Do only what it tells you is okay for you. And, above, all, don't feel guilty about what you can't do, or pay any attention to other people's success stories that just make you feel envious and inadequate. (I know only too well what that's like.) Do what you can, when you can. (We fibromyalgics know that what we can do one day seems impossible the next.) But do try to do something. Just something within your own, very personal, scope. You may find you become able to do more. You may not. Don't sweat that. Just do what you can now and let the future take care of itself.


(Sorry to quote as I did: I'm a newbie and haven't worked out how the quote thingy works yet.)

I have fibro, let me tell you the doctor were not lying! Struggle through the pain and lose weight and flare days will decrease! I know it is hard when you are puking, your body feels like theirs a thousand pound weight on it, or when a rib is separated but just keep moving, slowly, small steps and it will get better!