How do you cope with fibromyalgia and the symptoms?

i can barely get through the day at work

I have fibromyalgia too. This is what I do to cope:

1) Improve your sleep - try to establish regular sleeping habits, and look into the advice given on the web for "insomnia" (eg, useing your bedroom only for sleeping and sex, regular bed-time, etc). (Do not take sleeping pills. They suppress your delta sleep patterns, which is what is dysfunctional in FMS anyway, so it will only make it worse).

2) Control your weight - maintaining a healthy BMI will help reduce any stress on your back muscles.

3) Exercise if you can. Start slowly with, say, stretching exercises, then build up to aerobic exercise (haven't managed that myself yet). Particularly try to strengthen your core stabiliser muscles and any muscles involved in keeping good posture. Even though it hurts, its supposed to help a lot. Plus, it releases endorphins, which will make you feel better.

4) Get physiotherapy and/or some form of massage regularly. You don't need to break the bank with this, but see a physio at least once a month. You'll probably need a few sessions a week at first, but once you have got it to an acceptable level, go regularly. This is like taking anti-biotics - don't stop just because you're feeling better. You really don't want a flare up.

5) I found that cutting out sugar, MSG and aspartame from my diet has helped tremendously.

6) I bought a hand-held massager with infrared attachment. Its an absolute godsend!

7) Remedy Blue (or in other countries: those Emu-oil based blue creams for pain - works wonders for me!! Worth the cost, in my opinion!)

8) Hot water bottles, wheat bags, hot baths with aromatherapy oils (I use Lavendar, Black Pepper, Rosemary and Clary sage, just before bedtime).

9) Get some help around the house - try to offload as many chores as you can onto your significant other (I'm assuming you're not single), without making him feel used/taken for granted. Or if you can afford it, hire a maid

10) MOST IMPORTANT! See your doctor if you start feeling depressed. Its very very common to develop depression when living in chronic pain, and it leads to a vicious cycle. Get some Xanax or something.

11) Join a support group (see below) - either in real life or online. Nobody understands quite like another FMS sufferer.

12) Consider starting a journal or a blog to get your feelings out. I started one, just so my friends could understand what I was going through (was easier than face to face).

13) Take regular breaks at work. Set an alarm clock to go off every 20-30 minutes, and just get up, stretch, and then go back to work. It doesn't have to be a long break, just something to change position. Especially if you work in front of a computer a lot.

Hope this helps! Feel free to drop me a line if you need some support, or further information.

PS: What Doctor J said, above, about never ever taking NSAIDS - that is nonsense. Any good pharmacist will warn you to take any NSAID after a meal, which will virtually eliminate the risk of damaging your stomach lining. NSAIDS can be quite helpful - I've been taking them daily for over a year now, without any ill effects. Of course, you should consult with your doctor first. Source(s): Fibromyalgia sufferer (~5 years)
http://dreamweaver2005.blogspot.com/2005...
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/fms...
http://www.fibromyalgiaweekly.com/...

exercise and NSAIDS, pool therapy is great
I've had fibro for 5 years and it sounds cliche but it really is mind over matter.

Try going to massage therapy, stretch when you wake up to relieve some of the pain and tension and magnesium calcate tables are supposed to help as well.

Really your only medical options are pain pills and sleeping pills which I don't recomend. Stay strong.
I was diagnosed with it 5 yrs. ago, but I have had it longer, more like at least 10 yrs. You learn to cope. Mind over matter. I was ok....until I ended up with CFS too. I couldn't do my job anymore. Now, I get up and do a little, sit, do a little, take a rest......
If you do a search under "fibromyalgia" on this site, there are 205 hits (question asked) on the subject. I would bet you might find some nuggets of truth among them. Good luck.
try a wheat and wheat flour free diet for one month (check labels)ie all breads, cakes, biscuits, cookies, pasta, breading on chicken etc, creamed soups, cereal, granola bars, German white wines (added to base of wine). I did and symptom free 7 years