Read it.  It will motivate you.  And help you realize that despite our fears, our health struggles, our oddities… we can learn, achieve, and improve.

Happy reading fibrofolks.  I am so proud of us!

Over the past week I have begun my fibromyalgia treatment plan, version 2.1. It consists of a variety of things but I will post on them as I embrace them. Thus far…

I am working on the following:

1. Getting over the lingering withdrawal symptoms…
2. Sleeping well…
3. Reminding my body what it is like to be nearly pain free

I am doing so because:

1. withdrawals drive me mad.
2. I firmly believe nothing fights ailments as effectively as a good night’s rest… every night.
3. I know “acting as if” can work. You know… fake it ’til you make it.

I am doing so by:

1. doing nothing related to Cymbalta, or any such side-effect-ridden medicine.
2. going to bed when the first wave of exhaustion hits me each night.
3. taking Aleve every 12 hours. With breakfast and dinner. (Please do not bring up the potential dangers of such a practice. I am within the reasonable amount and have talked, at length, with my doctors about potential risks at various doses for various durations. Believe me, after Cymbalta I really do study out what I ingest… before I do so.)

I am doing so with the following results:

1. The withdrawal-induced emotional turmoil is over and the strange sensations between my brain and my skull (or somewhere quite near there) only bother me a few times a day. I think, perhaps, the withdrawals have decreased my tolerance for crowds, noise, and visual stimulation. (More on this in a later post.)
2. I was a well-rested K8… until Thursday morning. Since then I have struggled to sleep through the night. Much like I discussed a few weeks ago, this struggle led me to fear Aitriptyline had lost its love for me. However, today I realized my Amitriptyline does still adore me. I now recognize the true culprit: my pride. This week I was determined to check items off my lengthy To Do list and venture beyond the house. Doing so left me sore and stiff. Because of this, each time I roll over during the night, or move a decent amount in my sleep the pain wakes me up. I am sure that by taking the next few days easy, my body will quickly recover from the stiffness and soreness.
3. A significant reduction in pain. Although the pain is by no means gone, it is reduced significantly. I can tell because after about 10 hours on the Aleve my pain level increases dramatically.

So… onward and upward. I know my symptoms will improve as I keep positive and continue to challenge myself (while listening when my body suggests it needs a break). I am finally finding the balance between pressing the envelope toward my capabilities during normality and acknowledging my limitations during this flare-up. (The tough part is those seem to change daily.)

I am trying to determine if the exhaustion sets in because I try to do too much early in the morning. Or, perhaps, the Cymbalta is counteracting the Amitriptyline and I am not getting enough restful sleep. There is also a chance it’s just fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue. Whatever it is, I am working out a schedule that allows me to get ample sleep, have energy to get some household tasks done, and spend my most alert time working.
This flare-up has worn out it’s welcome… if it ever had one.

Please remind me of that when I complain.

As I work to learn the lessons I need to learn and become the woman I need to become I want to help others do the same. I want to create a haven for people with fibromyalgia, no matter what age. A place where we can share experiences, learn about research, identify helpful specialists, and more. I pray that we can grow and reach out to those who struggle and are misunderstood. Together we will raise awareness and raise morale among those with FMS.