fybro and flu like symptoms

[30 plus years]

 

[sunkacola]

I hate waking up and seeing what part of my body is going to go against me that day.

I think that everyone finds their own way to manage this to the best of their ability.
I have a little tip for you, something that helps me, just in case it helps you. (I hope it does)

Instead of thinking of some part of my body going against me (I used to do that too), I turn that around and instead think of that part of my body as needing extra love and care that day.

So, when I wake up and right away I know I will have trouble and pain with my legs that day, rather than thinking my legs are working against me I sort of "ask" my legs what they need today to feel better. In other words, I try to treat my body as if it were a vulnerable pet I loved and wanted to care for, doing whatever is needed any given day for that part to feel better.

Maybe it's just to tell myself and my legs that we don't have to go anywhere today, or maybe it's a hot shower, or a slow walk or maybe a heating pad or some Arnica cream.......whatever seems to be the thing my legs "want".

that way, instead of having an adversarial relationship with my body I have a cooperative one.
Just an idea....like I say, it helps me a lot so I thought I would mention it.

 

[Les68cn]

T

I think that everyone finds their own way to manage this to the best of their ability.
I have a little tip for you, something that helps me, just in case it helps you. (I hope it does)

Instead of thinking of some part of my body going against me (I used to do that too), I turn that around and instead think of that part of my body as needing extra love and care that day.

So, when I wake up and right away I know I will have trouble and pain with my legs that day, rather than thinking my legs are working against me I sort of "ask" my legs what they need today to feel better. In other words, I try to treat my body as if it were a vulnerable pet I loved and wanted to care for, doing whatever is needed any given day for that part to feel better.

Maybe it's just to tell myself and my legs that we don't have to go anywhere today, or maybe it's a hot shower, or a slow walk or maybe a heating pad or some Arnica cream.......whatever seems to be the thing my legs "want".

that way, instead of having an adversarial relationship with my body I have a cooperative one.
Just an idea....like I say, it helps me a lot so I thought I would mention it.

Thank you very much. I guess I am still in the early stages of trying to understand this whole illness.

 

[30 plus years]

It's definitely a process, and challenging for sure!!

 

[renee1966]

Yes

 

[justdawnedonme]

I feel exactly the same way! My flu-like symptoms and IBS come so often, but I don’t know if I’m “sick” or it’s just bad fibro!! I was diagnosed 21 years ago, but the symptoms have existed for 25+ years. I wish I could offer some solution; sadly I can only offer compassion & empathy

 

[BlueBells]

does anyone else feel like they're sick sometimes when having a bad flare up? i feel physically sick (nauseous, weak legs and arms, dropping things, struggle gripping things, hot and cold with sweats, really restless legs, sore or scratchy throat, tension in shoulders and headaches with a stuffy feeling) ??

i hate when i get like this, and i don't know if it's fybro related or my body is just really stressed out :/

@bstu and everyone else

I get pretty much all of that, and then if I don't rest I get jitters, sometimes just feel it, but sometimes hands shake a little as well.

On top of that, and I'd like to hear if anyone else gets this. I get near teary and I feel a 'fear' but not of anything, just the feeling. Irrational. Totally.
Annoying, frustrating, irrational, and just wondering if others get this at times. I do know I have myself on my limits, and if not more careful I will crash, because these are the warnings.

By crash, I mean the most I'll do for the day is make sure cats are fed and watered (oh so good to have those auto feeders) and hope to find something simple for me. Binge TV/movies and not really comprehend what I see anyway.

plenty of corrections in this post

 

[sunkacola]

@BlueBells , I don't know if this will be helpful or if it applies to you, but I know that when I have an especially bad night (meaning very little sleep) and am therefore more tired even than usual, I will feel much more emotional. I will feel like weeping, even though there's nothing really causing that, and I am not a person who ever cries normally.

And at the same time, I am far more likely to have anxiety or to have an anxiety attack if I am over tired. Yesterday, for instance, I was operating on almost no sleep and when something happened that would normally worry me but not necessarily set off an anxiety attack, it put me over the edge into an all-day anxiety state that made it impossible for me to concentrate on anything all day and of course increased my pain level by two notches as well. A Very Bad Day.

I mention this because...yes, I get that. And for me it seems to be closely connected with how tired I am, although I am unfortunately also capable of having random anxiety attacks even if I have had adequate sleep.

 

[BlueBells]

@sunkacola

Thanks for that, because it has crossed my mind. I've always been a night owl, and for the past few months I've found it hard to get to sleep before midnight, but other things happening mean I'm up around 7 to 8 instead of my usual 8:30 or so.

I'll work harder to get a better sleep routine. What you say makes sense, I just couldn't quite see it myself.

Also pushing myself to start walking again, already arranged to take neighbours dog for a walk, so that helps to push me. I fight hard with procrastination, lack of enthusiasm, and very near zero motivation. I've no excuse, it's in my head, in that, I need to take control and put some of these gremlins in their place. At least the ones I think I can control, anyway

 

[sunkacola]

@BlueBells ......good for you! Here's a cheer from me.

 

[BlueBells]

@sunkacola

took dog for a walk yesterday afternoon, about 2.4km, and both of us felt it. Not today, gone all day, but plan to try for every day, and then if I miss a day or two, i still get a good 4 days a week.

 

[SueG]

Yes, very similar symptoms! It's very difficult, especially when family and or friends don't understand. We don't typically look so sick on the outside, but feel lousy on the inside, with all of these issues. Sorry you are dealing with this, but hang in there. You are not alone in this. People here on this forum understand.

 

[Moose]

Yes!

 

[sunkacola]

Yes, very similar symptoms! It's very difficult, especially when family and or friends don't understand. We don't typically look so sick on the outside, but feel lousy on the inside, with all of these issues. Sorry you are dealing with this, but hang in there. You are not alone in this. People here on this forum understand.

One thing that helped me a great deal was realizing that people don't understand because they CANNOT understand, not because they don't want to or don't care. It is impossible to understand another's experience if you have literally no frame of reference for it. If you've never had chronic pain you can't understand it, any more than a person with both legs can understand what it is like to lose your legs.

When you realize that it's impossible for them to understand what we experience then it no longer hurts or bothers you that they don't, because one can hardly expect someone to do something that is literally impossible for them to do.

I have found that it's better only to ask that they believe me, and that they don't do or say things that make it worse. That is entirely reasonable to expect of other people if they care about you. Of course, if they are not willing to do that, then they will not be in my life any more. But it makes it a lot easier for them and for me as well if I don't expect them to actually understand.

 

[BlueBells]

HI @sunkacola @SBee @Harpy @Badger @JayCS and everyone else reading here

One thing that helped me a great deal was realizing that people don't understand because they CANNOT understand, not because they don't want to or don't care. It is impossible to understand another's experience if you have literally no frame of reference for it. If you've never had chronic pain you can't understand it, any more than a person with both legs can understand what it is like to lose your legs.

Fibro and flu like symptoms !!! Wow !!! I'm in the middle of that right now, have been for a while. I was flattened with fibro (yep, pushed myself over limits) and now, got a cold/flu for ten days now. Been pretty blah, so not been online much at all.

With the lack of incentive, lack of concentration, forgetfulness, foggy head, transients aches, and throw in the catarrh symptoms of coughs and runny nose..... Hmmm. Fibro and catarrh, cold/flu or what? Oh, and not forgetting the complete drain of energy after simple tasks

My daughter and ex have the cold/flu, and lo and behold, same symptoms as I have! I know I have a cold, but trying to find the lines between the two is difficult.

It has, though, I think, helped them get a first hand real "feel" of what I deal with all the time. I only hope that realisation lasts once they are fit again. I can only hope.