Adjusting to Life with Fibromyalgia

Those of us who have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia will know how difficult it is adjusting to life with a condition that can flare up at any time without warning and simply fade away again without any indication.

it is however difficult for non-sufferers of the condition to understand how such an ailment can be there one minute and gone the next.

Changing Your Lifestyle

There are many Fibromyalgia sufferers who have had to make drastic changes to their lifestyle in order that they can cope with a condition that gives no warning when it strikes and gives less warning when it fades again.

Some sufferers have mild flare-ups which can last a matter of hours or even days whilst the more severe instances of Fibromyalgia can be chronic and can last the sufferer’s lifetime. Such chronic instances of the disorder bring with it overlapping conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) or bouts of anxiety which can manifest themselves as anxiety attacks.

Lifestyle changes are one way of reducing the impact such flare-ups can have; many individuals who have suffered chronically with the condition have had to rethink their careers and for some – unfortunately – they have been unable to work at all.

Such changes in an individual’s life not only take time for them to acclimatise to but also for their family and loved ones to adjust to as well.

Changing Diets

Another profound aspect of the condition can be the change in dietary habits. Many sufferers of the condition have had to forego chocolate, red meat (at least in large quantities), diary products and in some instances gluten-based products. This is not because of Fibromyalgia itself but because of the overlapping conditions we mentioned earlier such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

These products can cause the sufferer to have allergies which they were not prone to before but this is just another aspect of an illness that gives no warning as to its existence initially.

Physical Drawbacks of Fibromyalgia

These are many and varied from simple tasks such as walking, bending down to tie one’s shoelaces or lifting one’s arms above their head to remove a jumper. The condition moves right along the spectrum when it comes to physical endeavours and can have a knock on effect to an individual’s love life; making love can be difficult due to muscle and joint pain and it can even lead to problems with libido or in the achievement of an erection for male sufferers.

Learning to Cope with the Restrictions of Fibromyalgia

It is fair to say that many Fibromyalgia sufferers can still enjoy a reasonable standard of living and although the condition is one that has no cure it can be improved upon with changes to diet, physical activity and lifestyle as we have mentioned.

For those sufferers who suffer from the more chronic sort of Fibromyalgia it is unfortunate but necessary that they adjust to the fact there are certain things they will not be able to do. Your doctor will advise and support you through this difficult time and may suggest either a short course of anti-depressants to help with stress or suggest you join a self-help group where you can discuss your feelings with other like-minded sufferers.

It is also worth considering the possibility of new hobbies or activities to supplement those which you can no longer participate in; it is important to remember that although you may not be as active as you have been this does not mean that you have to stop doing things you enjoy, merely moderate the manner in which you undertake them.