Fibromyalgia

As I mentioned in a previous post, I have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, which is a syndrome characterized by widespread pain throughout the body. It affects the muscles, plus other areas of the body like neck, legs, and back. There are tender spots in various parts of the body. If these tender spots are touched, they feel like a bruise, even though there isn't one. Some of the tender points are around the neck, back, arms,elbow area, knee area, and ankles.
I have them in all the places mentioned. In alot of people including me, it feels like flu symptoms because of the aching all over.There are other symptoms that may go along with this syndrome, such as fatigue, which is a big one,Restless Leg Syndrome, severe to light headaches, depression, sleeplessness, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome just to name a few. Not everyone has the exact same symptoms, but these are the most reported by the sufferers. It is more prevalent in women than men. Some people may have had it for years before they were actually diagnosed, because there wasn't information in the medical field about Fibromyalgia, and most doctors thought it was in their patient's head. But things have changed now, and FDA is now recognizing it as a true condition that affects many people in the world, and the sufferers are getting quicker diognoses and better treatment for it. Doctors are now prescribing
a lot of their patients certain depression medications which actually helps with their pain. Plus certain pain killers to help manage their pain as well. And I would like to add that more and more Fibro patients are now able to draw disability insurance. I may look into that one day, but not now because I have adequate income and am able to work from home.
This information I just gave is in my own words, and I am not a professional in this field, except for having the condition and experiencing it for myself may make me somewhat qualified. :)
But for more professional information on this syndrome here is the link to the NFA (National Fibromyalgia Association).
http://www.fmaware.org/site/PageServer

But I wanted to blog about it personally to share my experience in all the ways it has affected me, and what I'm trying to do about making it better and maybe get healed entirely.
I am on some pain medications presently, but I believe exercise will greatly improve my Fibro. Now, I am not particularly fond of exercise, and if I do start an exercise program, I have a hard time sticking with it. I just can't seem to keep a commitment to it-maybe because I'm lazy :) or it is hard to exercise when you're in pain. But I have been researching and getting educated about Fibromyalgia to learn all I can about it. And one of the things I keep coming across is how important exercise is for this condition. I have done some walking, which is great-about a mile each time, but it's not on a regular basis.
Then about a month ago I started to desire riding a bicycle again. I have done it before-my husband and I, but it has been about 10 years ago.
I've just kept thinking about it quite a bit for the last month. I told my husband, Lowell about my new urge to ride again, and how I thought it could help my Fibro. Well, he's pretty active, even at 62, and said yes, he thought it would be cool to start riding again. The only thing was, we no longer owned any bikes, so we had to research on the net about the best bikes for our kind of riding, which is road riding and on paved trails. Mountain biking isn't for us, as least not at this point and time. We ended up just going to Walmart and purchasing inexpensive road bikes. Mine is a hybrid and is a easy bike to ride. But we plan to get better quality bikes later when we become more advanced in our riding skills. I say that because I am terribly out of shape, which has made the riding very hard for me-ie-huffing and puffing trying to make it up a short incline, with my heart beating wildly! It's definitely good aerobic exercise! And since I gained back 20 freaking pounds of the 65 I lost a couple years ago, it made me even more out of shape. UGH!
I really loved bicycling when we did it before so I am confident that this is an exercise program I can stick with. My doctor and I talked about exercise for Fibro, and she is definitely for it. I haven't told her about the bike riding yet, and I think she will be proud of me, especially when she sees how much weight I have lost doing it. I haven't weighed myself yet. But my kids have noticed that I've lost weight. My home scales are synchronized with my doctor's scales so I know they are accurate. I have also gotten more benefits from bike riding just since the month or so we started. I have more energy! And that is wonderful since I have had fatigue with my condition, and haven't felt like doing much of anything, except what I absolutely have to--taking care of my disabled son, who is 27 years old, and lives with us. I will blog on him sometime also.
And another thing biking has helped me with is depression. So I am feeling much better in alot aspects of my life. Please say a prayer for me that I will be consistent in my new exercise program and hobby. Bye for now, friends, and may God smile upon you today!
Hugs, Diana