I am new to this site…I was diagnosed with fibro 3 years ago and psoriatic arthritis1 year ago…I still work full time, have 3 grown children and have been married for 30 years…my husband and kids are very supportive and understanding…I am currently taking OTEZLA for the psoriatic arthritis and Celebrex when I have more pain than usual…sometimes it just gets so overwhelming and discouraging dealing with the pain and the things I can’t do…
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LizzieB, welcome! I don’t know how we missed dropping by to say hello and to tell you that we are glad that you found us.
You will find good company and good conversation here, so pitch right in. Join a conversation that’s going already, or start one of your own. You’re sure to meet some interesting people and make a few new friends.
Seenie
Welcome LizzieB. I’m new also. Today is actually my first day on the site. I was recently diagnosed with fibro after about a year and a half of thinking I had the flu half the time. I have a great doctor that listened to me and now I’m in search of a coping path. Learning a lot, but really needed an online support group. This looks like a great one. Glad I joined, hope you are also.
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Lizzie and CMM, I am so sorry you are suffering but happy you finally have a diagnosis!
The first thing that helped me the most, was a heated mattress pad suggested by my massage therapist, which I purchased online from Sunbeam. I use the Preheat function while bathing, so the bed is warm when I get in, then reset to Low. For the first time in MONTHS, I do not wake every hour to turn over painfully to carefully rearrange myself in the bed. Except for one getting up to the bathroom, I sleep all night. On waking, I am not as stiff and sore as accustomed. Marvelous. My husband did not want it on his side, so I bought Twin size and simply laid it out on top of our regular mattress pad and underneath the bottom sheet. $49.49 with free shipping and the best money I have spent lately.
I have been reading a lot about fibro, because the more I know, the more I understand, maybe the more I can help myself. The doctors do not have any real answers. Reading about research projects, they are all looking everywhere and many competing theories. There are so many symptoms in different constellations in each patient, hard for them to narrow it down.
I recommend Devin Starlanyl’s book “Fibromyalgia and Chronic Myofascial Pain: A Survival Manual (2nd Edition)”. It is very dense and a lot of valuable information. Some days, I cannot read it because my fog is greater. But on days when I can read it, I have learned so much.
Another good book at the beginning is Claudia Craig Marek’s book “The First Year: Fibromyalgia: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed”. It is broken up day by day and then week by week and then month by month. Over the last 3 months, I have read the entire book and meant to read it again. The progression is very helpful to get clear understanding.
I do not know if it will help you too, but I hope so, and send you my best wishes and prayers, as well. RA:)