Anyone here dealing with Fibromyalgia or Chronic Pain?
 

Hi fellow beachers. I am new to this forum but glad I found it! I am on week 1 of phase 2. I only lost 6 pounds in phase one but I think that may be due to getting my period on the second week. Oops too much information? lol I was just wondering if there is anyone else on here that has Fibromyalgia or dealing with Chronic Pain and is on south beach? I could really use a diet buddy I could relate to. I have had FM, severe foot problems and TMJ for 13 years and I have gained a lot of weight from medications and FIM disease. (Fork In Mouth) :D

I can't walk for exercise but I ride a spin bike and swim when I can. I have a lot of weight to lose 70 to 90 pounds. I am really excited about the south beach lifestyle. I have always loved fruits and vegetables so I am finding this diet pretty natural.

I also want to thank everyone on here for posting their success stories. It has given me so much hope and inspiration!

Hey Tigger! I have FMS, as well as some degenerative arthritis in my left knee and right shoulder (so far...) Losing the weight REALLY helps, but I've had a rough past 6 months or so even being 40+ lbs down. Sciatica and pain in lower back/hip as well as TMJ have been giving me problems. It was the first time the sciatica was so bad I needed medication (steroids, muscle relaxants, and pain pills) and the TMJ was awful for about a month and a half before it finally passed. I try not to take a lot of pills, as I tend to gain weight even taking anti-inflammatories (advil, aleve, etc) not to mention the prednizone (+10 lbs in a WEEK.) I only take the "good" drugs when I'm in a LOT of pain. Fortunately we've had pretty nice weather lately and my body hasn't hurt as much as it probably could have.

The only thing that ever helped my FMS was hydro physical therapy. They put me in a pool that was warmed above 96 degrees, had me walk on the treadmill in the water at a very slow pace, put an inflatible belt around my waist and tossed me into the deep end with some styrofoam weights, and made me work. It was exhausting, but it actually helped. No meds ever helped me with anything, even mildly.... Even my "good" drugs don't take the pain away, they just make it so I don't really give a :censored: and can sleep. :lol:

Stick with South Beach, girl! The lack of sugary crap really helps with the chronic fatigue, for sure. Good luck! Keep posting daily, it helps :D

Lisa

Hi Lisa,

Thanks for replying. I'm always sorry to hear about someone in as much pain as I am. Congratulations on losing 40 pounds! Wow so impressive and you give me so much hope. Sorry that you've had a rough six months and I hope things get better for you soon.

My story is a long one and I won't bore you with all the details but all of my problems stem from a high speed auto accident 13 years ago. Another driver ran a stop sign and hit me at 65mph. Before the accident I was very active and athletic. In an instant my whole life changed.
I also can't take medications without bad side effects or weight gain either. I am allergic to pain meds and the ones I'm not allergic to I am sensitive to. About 5 years ago I was on Cymbalta for about 8 months I ended up gaining about 25 pounds and got so dizzy and confused that my doctor took me off. It never really helped anyway. They then put me on Lyrica for 7 months I gained 30 pounds and my hands and feet swelled up like balloons! It didn't help either. I said no more. Since then I only take a sleep med and that is it and advil every now and then. I have also given up caffeine. I have some Lidacane patches and an awesome pain cream that my foot specialist had made for me. I just got those a couple of months ago. Funny how it took a foot doctor to give me those tools after 13 years of suffering!

I rely on self-management, exercise, (I love the water and swimming) and trying not to overdo it, (which as you know doesn't take much). But you know in the Midwest the weather does not help. Not being able to stand very long or walk very far doesn't help either. Fortunately I naturally have a positive attitude, I love life and laughter and I know that things could always be worse. I have learned to concentrate on what I can do and try not to shed too many tears over what I can’t do in the moment or what I can no longer do anymore. Any day I am alive and kicking is a great day no matter how much pain I am in. I'm hoping someday to love life in a much smaller size!

Thanks again for your reply and for your inspiration. If you can do it so can I!! Wishing you some pain free or less painful days to come.

Kat

(Ashamed to admit this, but here goes)

SW 236
CW 230
GW 150 or less

Kat, Welcome to our forum! I'm glad that Lisa could share some words of encouragement with you!

I do not have anything near your level of pain and admire you (both) for keeping one foot in front of the other to keep persisting. :hug: I can say this...alot of things get way better without the excess weight. At my high weight it was getting impossible to do almost anything. As I started losing some things did start to improve. Even at 250 (only 14 pounds above your high weight) my knees were so bad that I was anticipating surgeries even when I lost the weight. Even when I sat on our steps outside I needed assistance to get back up if my (butt) was lower than my knees. I now hover solidly around 190 and the transformation has been amazing. I'm up and down off the floor multiple times without problems at all. Even without your specific challenges, I think that's major progress.

Following South Beach has led me to so many healthier choices that I do believe that the inflammation in my body has to be so much less than it used to be. My mom has osteoarthritis and I've been pretty certain that genetics dictate that I would follow in her footsteps. My morning aches and pains are far decreased now.

This forum has been my lifesaver. I don't believe I would have stayed with the plan for this length of time without the daily encouragement of everyone here. I hope you join us on a regular basis.

Best wishes!

Debbie,

Congratulations on losing 88 pounds!! Wow that is incredible! I agree it is major progress, extremely impressive and inspiring. You should be very proud! I am so happy for you that you are able to get around so much better, your knees are doing better and you are healthier. I know how limited mobility feels, physically and emotionally. It's harder to deal with than most people can imagine.

Thank you for the welcome.

Friends call me Kat.

Hi there! I don't have FM, but I have RA...

Some days I can't get out of bed; most days I do manage to, but it can be a struggle. I know that losing the weight won't cure my RA, and even my doc says that she can't even promise I will feel better (RA is so much more than "arthritis", for those who don't know). But I know that for me, it's TIME.

Been overweight for far too long. One thing that I refuse to give up to RA is my twice yearly roller coaster frenzy riding with my son at Busch Gardens, and well, the darn seats have been getting smaller and smaller each year doncha know!

NOT THIS YEAR!!!!

I note that we are at similar start/current/goal weights. If you want to a buddy, send me a PM on here! Maybe we can be direct one to one encouragement for each other since we are so close in those areas.

phoenix!

:book2:

Phoenix,

Thanks for the reply. I'm so sorry to hear you have RA. I know a little bit about it and it is a very hard illness as well. Sounds like we are in similar boats in different ways. My FM is on the severe end of the spectrum. Like you I have some very bad days. I congradulate you for keeping riding those coasters! You are awesome! I feel the same way about plane seats.

I would love to be your diet buddy. It's nice to find someone who understands. I am starting on the 2nd week of phase 2 today. So far I have lost 8 pounds! Had to brag lately all the scale did was go up.

Kat

BTW I'm new here. How do I PM you?

Hi Kat:
I have Cerebral Palsy, Fibromyalgia and Arthritis in a few spots. I had the same probs with Lyrica and Cymbalta. Lyrica made me swollen fat and blank Cymbalta less swollen but fat and psycho. (God bless hubby!)
I find when I don't eat Wheat my symptoms are better. Right now I'm working on being grain free for a month and seeing how that helps.
Elena Amsterdam from Elenas Pantry has MS and cites Fish oil and a grain free diet for keeping her inflammation down. Worth a shot!
Lisa I didn't know you had that stuff going on!
Anway You're not alone Kat! and while I am in and out of this forum the chicks here are super supportive!
Kierie

I also have multiple health issues including fibro, osteoarthritis, and autoimmune issues (as yet undiagnosed, but involving my joints, skin, and respiratory system), and also find I feel better avoiding wheat (and to a lesser degree other grains and high-carb foods).

I also swear by fish oil. I had to give up NSAIDS when I learned they were causing and/or aggravating my asthma and other respiratory issues.

I take double to triple the ordinary dosage (after getting approval from my doctor) and if I have to skip a dose, I REALLY feel it.

Any drastic change in weather, diet, sleep, activity level, emotions... basically any drastic change in my life whatsoever tends to trigger a flare, so to make progress I've had to make changes extremely gradually.

I have heard people say about fish oil helping inflammation; any time that I have tried it, I could NOT get past the fishy burps! They drove me nuts. Is there a brand that doesn't cause those burps?

phoenix!

I had the same problem with fish oil. My doctor put me on krill oil and I have no after effects.

Another way to prevent the fish burps is to freeze the capsules and swallow them while still frozen.

I've never had to resort to freezing, so I can't vouch for this personally, but I've heard many people swear by it.

Personally, I find that the cheapest brands cause the worse fish burps (not only more burps, but nastier-tasting burps). I don't have to buy the most expensive brand to avoid the burps, but I can't buy the super cheap brands without risking burps. I do sometimes buy super-cheap because the budget demands it, but if I have to buy a cheap brand, I make sure I take the capsules with food and BEFORE lying down (I take capsules in the morning with breakfast and near bedtime with a small snack. If I don't eat with the capsule or lay down immediately after taking the bedtime dose, that's when I'm most likely to experience the fish burps).

Also you can get Omega 3 supplements that are flaxseed based rather than fish based. Flaxseed tastes like sesame seeds, so if there would be any burping it wouldn't be fish-flavored.

Thanks for this information! I will surely try the freezing method, since I have 2 big bottles of mid-cheapie pills that I have not been taking because of the burpies. I'll try it for a few days and report back.

I think I might also look for some of the flax seed based ones just to see if I see a difference.


phoenix!

:book2:

You might also check out the Dieting With Obstacles part of the Forum for other hints.

Phoenix, I don't take fish oil anymore but I used to use the Coromega packets--they are orange flavored, creamy and they taste great! No fishy taste and no 'after effects.'