Stressed Out

General
1

I am just wondering how much does stress really play in a flare up? I had a very stressful day with phones calls and agrueing with the mortgage company, the insurance company, lawyers and the superior court regarding our home. This problem has been going on for six years and the final straw was today. I am so stressed today and I noticed that I instantly had a migraine and pain in my shoulders, arms, neck and back. I never paid attention to these symptoms when I was stressed out before. Can anybody tell me about there experience with stress please and to handle flare ups? My rheumatologist doesn’t want to see me until August and the Gabapentin he prescribe me isn’t working.

Thank you

2

I am very sorry you are having a rough time. Stress sure makes me hurt worse though usually its hours later or the next day. I dont have an answer about how to stop or reduce the flares. Have you called your drs office maybe he could increase the Gabapentin. I hope you have better days very soon.

3

Hello,
I know for certain that stress can make you feel worse, it certainly does for me. I’m quite a laid back person generally but my job is often stressful (dialysis) dealing with ever increasing work loads, management that don’t understand the job, etc. When dealing with flares, and stress my muscles are so tight I cant even put my head down without the pain in my upper back and shoulders making me grit my teeth. I try to deal with stress as I can at work but I now don’t hang onto any stresses and just let them go. Sorry I’m probably not making much sense lol. Mentally I’ve taught myself to calm myself, I listen to relaxation sounds, let my mind drift and push any negative thoughts away. My bedroom is a calm place, my sanctuary. Its not easy to do and has taken me years to make myself adapt but it does help me.
I’m not on any meds for fibro as yet, as my rheumatologist just dropped the fibro bomb and that was it so I cant advice on any meds, but I’d certainly give them a ring.

4

Treamnm,

I would have to say absolutely. I've been stressed out this week with my son's school grades and two of his teachers class policy's and I can't describe the pain I've been in this week. Yesterday my hips hurt so bad I could barely walk up the stairs and my shoulders and neck hurt just as bad. We just need to remember that stress isn't our friend and find a way of dealing with external stressors because if we don't we will be in pain. (which I am failing at miserably)

Gentle Hugs,

Stacey

5

Yes yes yes I did not know this till this week. My husband and I have been haveing alot of problems. We separated the first of the week and I know this sounds bad but I have really been feeling good. I now know that the stress I was under had alot to do with my pain. So keep in mind if you are under alot of stress you are going to have pain.

6

hahaha, I thought you were going to say....So keep in mind if you are under a lot of stress it could be your man. haha, I know mine causes a lot of my stress.

Thanks for the laugh I needed it today.

Stacey

P.S. I am sorry that you and your husband have separated I hope everything works out for the best.

7

Hey Treamnm,

I am so sorry to hear about all of the pain that you have been in, and all I can say is YES stress IS (at least to me) the largest contributor to fibromyalgia flare ups, pains and even fog. I work a lot, and while most of the time I am able to balance my work load and keep an even keel, there are days where I get overwhelmed and soon as I feel stressed my fibro pain goes through the roof. The best reason I can think of why this happens is because toxins get released into our system when we are stressed, scared, etc. I'm wondering if adrenaline also causes a fairly negative reaction as well since we often feel adrenaline when we are scared or having anxiety. I don't think, just some things I have been thinking about, trying to make sense of and discussing with my doc.

Most of the time when I feel stress coming on, I take a muscle relaxant and a couple of advil (muscle relaxant and anti-inflammatory seem to help a little with my muscles so they don't tense up as badly), and put some "Peace of Mind" on my temples and a little under my nose. This is a product made by a skincare/makeup line called "Origins", they have very natural products and I swear that at least for me this stuff really does work. It has seem mint and a menthol smell to it so it helps relax my muscles and chases away the worst of my migraines.

I hope some of these things tips will help you out, and I'm praying that your days get less stressful and more joyful very soon.

Blessings and prayers

8

I was recently prescribed Gabapentin and it doesn't work for me either. Stress does makes the symptoms worse. If fibromyalgia is really a chemical imbalance in the brain it makes sense that stress is our enemy.

9

To make matter worse my husband and I had a fight last night and I slept on our most uncomfortable couch. I maybe slept for about 4 hours and now I am getting ready to go put in a 10 hour shift in at work in the ER and I feel horrible.

10

Seems kind of normal for me except for me once I let stress get to me everything including fibro goes down hill and notice because first the pain sets in then the ibs which is normally under control without the use of pills as a side effect of the fibro pills goes wacko then start feeling like my body is just over wrought with too bright too loud its too much everything and finally goes my dignity i need to get into a quiet room dark to blank out and get me back undercontrol so the worlds assault isnt so effective but with the ibs not working I have 1 of 2 choices use a diaper ( which is a definite NO) or cause myself pain and go to the restroom 20 times in an hour in the dark because i have to put goop in my eyes to stop the intensity of the pain in my eyes (and its not all that effective but compared to nothing it keeps me from crying bloody murder)

11

I have to agree with you there. Stress always causes muscle pain and stiffness in my neck and shoulders and it's usually very hard to get the flair up controlled. Wouldn't it be great if we could all live a stress free life! :)
Awhile back I purchased a few (one is never enough lol) gel ice packs and I find one frozen and wrapped in a small towel or in a light scarf and placed on the back of my neck helps. Good luck, I wish you stress/pain free days!

12

I just started taking Gabapentin and now I'm up to 300mg, 3 X's a day. I feel groggy after taking it and I think it has helped a little already, but I have strong pain that goes right up my spine to the back of my head. This pain causes migraines. I have been using flexiral at bedtime and this helps with overall pain, tremedously, but I feel like a walking cloud while I"m on it. I like taking it durning the day, because it helps me overall with stress and pain. But I don't like driving while taking it and I don't know how proficient I am if I was working while on it. I'm still woriking that out because it is still something new to me.

I don't have much to say about your financial matters. I don't have to argue with mortgage company, I rent and well my battles are going to about finding shelter and food. I am losing my apt. That's just where my pain has lead me. I don't want to blame the pain, but I need more time to get better if I can get better. I don't know I will ever get on top of the pain again, like I did before. As long as the stressful idea keeps coming up, that I will have to keep getting moved around and having to listen to everyone else, if others want me to do things that I know go against what I know I can do, then I can't see where the stress will ever go away, and my chances of getting over that stress are slim. I'm right there in it, the stressing ideas, these ideas that don't want to let go of you. I'm trying to get by them.

Then today I just read this on a google blog, " People who are well liked: 1. Ask for nothing, 2. Laugh at themselves, 3. Listen with interest, 4. Rarely complain, 5. Inspire others, 6. Teach, 7. Give

I am doing all of these things but the pain and mental fog, and emotional fog, slow me down and make me feel like I'm sandpaper or an old rusty brilo. I should feel like a soft cloud, or a flower, and what comes out of my heart is pain.

Stress can grip you and it can tear you apart. It is ripping through me right now. I don't know my next steps, I almost get an idea then, the idea is gone. I'm not looking to hurt anyone. I'm just trying ot live a normal life. Fibro pain and fog has pulled me down again. I am just finding it harder to get on top of it.

13

I happens to me.My neck and shoulder muscles literally fill worn out when i get up in the mornig when stress is high.Also my 24/7 headache will be much worse,at the base of the scull where the spine attaches …Been 26 yrs of misery .It sounds like you have many stressers. in your lifd,ask the Lord for help.Wayne

14

That is where I get much of my pain. I swear if that pain would go away or just not hurt as much, life would be easier to live. Pain gets in my way when it comes to being aware of my surroundings and relationships. Two big worlds that would be lived better if I could find a way to get this pain under control. That is stressful too, it takes time to find your solutions. It is not something you can do overnight. My head has been hurting for the last three weeks non stop, it goes from tolerating pain to shut my eyes pain. I want to know if I have arthritis that could be worsening it. I am calling my doctor tomorrow to determine which type I have.

Stay strong, and don't let go !!!!!!!

15

I am sorry that you are having a flare up. I can totally relate. Stress is a huge trigger for me. HUGE. I would see if the rheumatologist can increase your dose. If worse comes to worse, you could go to a walk in clinic and see if a doctor there can help you with your flare up. Try meditation, yoga, tai chi, "calming" tea, baths, screaming into a pillow, long walks... everyone is different and each day is different. What works one day may not work the next. Just don't give up! You can buy meditation cds or get them at the library. They have mad a difference for me. I hope you find some relief soon!

Gentle Hugs.

16

So sorry to hear of your pain. Yes I do believe stress plays a large role in a fibro flare. I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia 18 years ago. I have been very lucky ... my Doctor and I found that low dosage of Prozac was enough serotonin uptake for me and I have done rather well, until lately. Over the last year I have dealt with unusual stress... my son got in trouble.. my sister passed away..my father was diagnosed with prostate cancer...at work....well stress never ends there and like you I have to deal with insurance, lawyers, court documents etc. Usually I can handle one big case at a time but I am currently in the middle of three..and then several appliances broke and sink stopped up and I had to go on family trip that was to relax me but just made things worse. .And to top it off I am in peri-menopause. So,about three weeks ago the recongnizable cycle began. Started out with the anxiety attacks, then the on and off pain, the IBS, the lack of sleep, the worry of what else it can be other than Fibro. Mentally I know it is the fibro and that my system is all out of whack, but I still find myself going to the internet and trying to diagnose myself... and of course you find all these dreaded diseases that you could have... Today I have a Dr. Appt... They ran blood tests last week. I myself think that the stressful situations with my life lately and the hormone imbalance from menopause has played a huge factor in this flare. So yes, stress does play a big part on how we feel.

17

Stress is a HUGE factor for me in the flares. Today I just realized, I'm so stressed most of the time, I don't breath fully. That and the fact that the FM is worst in my mid back. Without oxygen the metabolites don't get cleared fast. The build up adds to the pain/acidosis/toxicity on a cellullar level. A "normal" dose of Gaba is 2700mg/day. I can get by with 600 and 2 tylenol twice a day. Gaba is an antiepileptic and is good for anxiety. I feel much better when the meds hit as far as coping with stress. I always lay down and try to laugh when I have a flare. I did laugh yoga a while ago. It releases endorphans that mediate stress. If you don't feel like laughing, make yourself. Your body can't tell the difference between forced laughter or spontaneous. Caution: side effect, sore rib muscles.

18

I want to thank everyone for the their responses and I’m sorry I haven’t gotten back to you. This past weekend was my weekend to work in the ER so I just worked the last four days doing 10 hour shifts and I’m exhausted. So with the stress and not sleeping well; I’m in so much pain today. I’m going to relax today and try to get hold of rheumatologist to see about getting me something to sleep and to let him know the Gabapentin isn’t working.

Thanks you for everything!