Hello all! I am new here, hoping to finally get back my old bod (ok, so I know it won't come back COMPLETELY). I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and Osteoarthritis last August. I am also hypothyroid and have a metabolic disorder that requires me to eat low protein. I seem to never have time, working full time and caring for my family. Amongst these obsticles, I want to lose 50 to 70 lbs. I would love to be 130 again, but I would be happy to at least get back to 150.

So, if anyone wants to be my buddy so we can help encourage eachother, that would be awesome!!!!!! I look forward to meeting new friends here and to start treating my body right.

Cheers!

hi i'm looking for a buddy also..um if your intrested just let me know....

I also have fibro and osteoarthritis in my knees and spine. Not to mention a form of muscular dystrophy and myofascia in my upper back. I would love to have a buddy that has some of the same challenges I face everyday! We can compare meds. LOL!!

LADIES ~ ENIGMA77 & SUGARCOATIT & CRBOWLES ...

There is a PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED THREAD in this forum (Dieting with Obstacles) that anyone can join; we would love to have all three of you visit us there as we are always looking for new members! Just look at the top of this page for the RED STICKYfor our thread and click on there.

There is also a Fibro thread on this forum as well; and you can also post with them as well. In our PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED THREAD, we have ladies with Spina Bifida, MS, AND CP; and we are all still quite mobile. Our thread is for ANYONE with ANY KIND(S) of physical obstacles and/or challenges. Please drop in; we would love to get to know you all, and offer some support and encouragement.

ROSEBUD

OH>>>This is oddly nice! ME TOO! newbie to 3 fat chicks & was diagnosed w/ fibromyalgia last spring. Also I want buddies on here! I find that even with the best of intentions, sometimes I'm just too sore to do much of anything after a day at work. Exercising becomes out of the question!
I'm on Amitriptolene (sp?) so I sleep much better that before. I have haveing this "Phantom" condition...I've never talked to anyone else who has it, & the first time that I ever told someone about it (aside from family & close friends) they said it's bogus & Dr's just say that's what you have when there's really nothing wrong with you. I almost belived it...but this is NOT imagined it's real & it's hard to function sometimes.

I have sent messages to each of you, but it seems I might not be able to do that just yet... How very strange. So if you didn't hear back from me, I am sorry, but yes! Lets be buddies!

Hi everyone!

I also have fibro and would love some buddies to chat with. It's hard for people to understand why I'm too tired to function when I "look" normal. It'd be great to share my thoughts/struggles with people who understand.

Enigma... I sent you a PM, but I don't know if you can open it. I'm also from Michigan! We have a snow day today, so I'm loving the extra relaxation!

Please PM me if anyone would like another buddy. For me, the more the merrier!

Thanks!

Enigma, I haven't received any messages and I've never tried to send one either. LOL!

We should all be buddies and add each other to our buddy lists, as well as continue this thread. It's so nice to chat with people that understand!

I agree with crbowles completely!!! I am buddy-listing you all...

Oh, and I figured out my messaging problem - I hadn't completed my first 10 posts yet, so I wasn't allowed any PMs yet... working on that lol

So, now that we are all buddies, I was wondering if we could compare plans... Mostly because I don't quite have mine yet. lmao, yes - selfish reasons.

Here's what my plan is so far:

I started taking Alli with meals greater than 6 grams fat. I am not sure I am doing it right, but that is for a different thread, I suppose. I am trying to watch what I eat and be more purposeful about my selections. I think I am going to go for a 1500 cal / 20-25 g fat diet, but I don't know if that might be pushing it.

I plan on exercising slowly... about 15 minutes at a time to start with. I will be using my treadmill, my aerofit, yoga, and possibly dancing (in my basement by myslef lol). I'll probably try to get in things like crunches and leg lifts too. Once I'm up to it, I might even try doing my workout videos again. One step at a time though... I think I'll need to be able to go 45 minutes of walking or something before I try that.

So, that's my plan, if you can call it that.

Right now I am on the WW flex point plan, which I enjoy very much. I cannot exercise due to the Fibro, Muscular Dystrophy, and my knee problems, so it may take me longer to get to my goal. But that okay!

So plan for now is to continue counting my points and attending the weekly meetings!

Hi, another fibromite here. I have fibro, osteoarthritis, and autoimmune disease (don't have a specific diagnosis yet). Don't let anyone tell you the symptoms aren't real or are purely psychological. My worst symptoms when I was first diagnosed was fatigue and the cognitive problems called "fibro-fog." In a flair, I get confused and "air headed" very easily. One rheumatologist told me that I was probably "just depressed" as there is no proof that cognitive problems are associated with fibromyalgia (but check out any fibro support group and you'll hear about fibro-fog.)

My best fibro doctor is a neurologist, and he told me that cognitive symptoms definitely can be part of fibro.

There's a fibro support group online called fibrohugs, and they have a letter to "normals" intended for friends and family of fibros to explain the disorder (what it is and why it is very much real).

Welcome!

I am certainly going to look at that site! Feel free to "buddy" us and stick with us. My rheumy told me that theey've done studies on the brain and spinal fluid of fibromites (I like that!) and that there are PHYSICAL/PHYSIOLOGICAL differences between fibro and non-fibro. There is a substance "P" level raised in the spinal fluid with fibro and the brain shows different "activity" or such in the cognitive area of the brain on either MRI or CAT. I've read either the same or similar studiees in medical journals. I can't remeber the statistics, but I believe the results were significant.

I am think of doin g a myspace site (I know there are others) that includes recent research and support... I'm thinking on it anyway. Does anyone think it a good idea?

I am going to check on the site as well. It's funny that you mentioned it because yesterday I was watching a show on Discovery Health called "X-Weighted." The woman was trying to lose 50 lbs and when she told her new trainer about her Fibro, he told her that Fibro did not exist and was all in her head. I almost FLIPPED out! This is a VERY REAL disorder that I battle everyday.

What meds are you all on for Fibro?? I was on Lyrica for months. I started at 50mg per day and went up to 300mg. It did nothing but make me gain weight. My Rheumatologist changed me to Limbrel to treat my Osteo, but gave me nothing else for the Fibro. He will not refer me to pain management becasue he does not believe in it and actually told me I may have to learn with the pain. What the h$%^! He told me to go to my primary care doctor and see if they would refer me.

Needless to say I'll try to find another rheum. on my healthcare plan.

And enigma, I think the myspace is a good idea!

Another fibro-fighter here. Its intensity varies greatly. Sometimes I feel totally normal, and then I overdo it, and then I pay the price! After 11 years with this condition (undiagnosed for the first 8 or 9), you think I'd learn.

It is a difficult condition to deal with, especially since it doesn't generally show on the outside; tough for others to understand. My husband is very supportive, but sometimes I tell him, "I wish you could live in my body for just one day." Then I feel bad, because I wouldn't wish that on anyone!

I'm on amitriptyline, and it really does seem to help, with the sleeping, especially, although I need Ambien as well. For me, one of the most difficult parts of this disease is the insomnia, which makes the pain and "fog" worse.

Looking forward to getting to know you all better.