ChrisSpark's Journal, 05 July 2014

Ouchie! I have a couple of friends with Fibro and everyone says they pay for excessive activity for days afterward. I'm so sorry you have to go thru this Chris! I don't have fibro but do have some leg and back issues and agree on the water workouts. I actually feel better after a water workout and can never really say that about any other kind of exercise. I know that exercise is a good thing (heaven knows I don't do enough of it!) but it can be hard sometimes finding that just right place of getting movement vs putting yourself out of commission. Hope you start feeling better quickly!  

Thanks for the support and understanding Vickie 5966. I don't get a lot of either in real life. I feel like most people think that the fibro is all in my head and that I am making excuses not to be active. Then when I try to explain I feel like I am complaining... 

The trick here is "slow and steady." If you do 15 minutes of an exercise think of that as an accomplishment. You have to build on that 15 minutes as your body acclimates to being pushed around like that. Take it easy Chris, please.  

i have fibromyalgia too. it's mild. but i went crazy the first week i was in the pool. i went every day, and then on top of my old lady arthritis group, i went to a higher energy aerobics class. owie! so i backed off for a while. my rheumatologist was incredulous. he said, "are you telling me this is due to exertion??" but i know it was. what kind of water workout do you do? i just do the light aerobics with the old ladies. 

I have chronic low back issues after a herniated disk and surgery, so I can totally relate. Sometimes I can't even put my finger on what leads to exacerbations. Work, housework, playing with grandkids, driving, exercise, pet care, you name it. Normal, real life stuff. I'm sick to death of it and I totally get how it must make you feel when people act like it's in your head. People have given me so much advice over the 11 years I've been dealing with this. As if I haven't tried EVERYTHING myself and know my body best. Grrrr. Know your body and stick with what works for you. Cut yourself some major slack. We were dealt the cards and we just have to make it work for us. No, we will not be doing marathons or completing hour-long advance aerobics classes. My marathons are on a smaller scale, but no less gratifying. Be proud of every little change you ARE able to make in your eating and exercise. I have my bad days when I am down about my situation. I'm here if you want to talk. 

Hi Gnewfry...I did the same as you...overdid it with the water aerobics and then had to deal with fibro flares. Very few people understand how horrible a flare can be and how de-motivating it is. Kind of like getting an electric shock every time you eat a cucumber LOL. I took what I learned in the classes and do my own routine. I try to remember how easy it is to overdo it in the water and pay for it later....but I usually get it wrong and spend the next half day in bed, too stiff to move. Even close friends and family believe the myths about fibro and don't believe how variable the condition is....ok one moment, awful the next. We have to remember to take it slow and steady :-) And that every little bit helps. I heard a great quote along the lines of "we can't compare our insides to other peoples' outsides". So we can't expect the fast results nor do the heavy exercise that some people can, we can only do what we can do.  

Thanks for the support gilliansings. I have found the welcome here on FS one of the most touching experiences of my life. What a wonderful group of people !!!! I've been wondering where you all were, lol... :-)  

I too have physical challenges to work around and I have found that when it is to painful to exercise I go into the swimming pool and work out there as best as I can. It really is just about moving at your own speed and as your body can tolerate. :) 

Thanks Cookie46....must practice patience and remember I'm not 20 anymore! :-) At least I love to swim. 

to me your doing outstanding ,, I had knee replacement June 4 th and have been living on pain killers to get me through I hate pain ,, it is so distracting ,, but honey girl bravo to all that ya have been doing Im Proud of ya ,, some folks just give up ,, they have the pain wither they Exercise or not your fight for your health ,, after a year of cancer ,,, I have learned to respect my body a gift from above ,,, and my life was spared so haw dare I abuse it ,,,, sweet dreams <3