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Midnyte
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For a couple of years before I was diagnosed with fibro, I suffered from IBS so badly I couldn't seem to keep any food inside me. I weighed 97 lbs soaking wet and fully clothed during that time. I never contributed my issues at that time to the fibro. Instead I thought it was just stress from my job and my marriage and tons of financial issues. I was a CNA at a nursing home at the time and frequently had to lift patients completely by myself and place them into wheelchairs, etc. and contributed the pain to that. I ended up quitting that job for my sanity and because I thought all the pain came from the strenous job functions. I went to a job building utility vehicles and for a month or so, the pain lessened. Unfortunately, it didn't last long. The pain and migraines started again... my feet would swell so badly, my toes would bleed from beneath my toe nails... I would hurt so badly I could barely walk and then the anxiety/panic attacks kicked in big time and several times I would be carted off to the hospital in an ambulance because I would pass out at work. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia after a few months of beginning that job. The meds the neurologist prescribed helped with the migraines and pain somewhat and the IBS lessened a bit. I had to have my gallbladder removed in Dec. of the same year and was laid off after returning to work one week after my operation. I gained 30 lbs within the next month and since then, it's been a continous thing. I went from 119 lbs. to 149 lbs in that month and was weighed in at at over 200 lbs about a month ago. I know the stress of losing my mom from cancer, bad marriage, and other issues have contributed greatly to this. Recently though, I had a sleep study to see if I needed a CPAP machine for my sleep apnea. As I was discussing my history with a PA and as he gathered my history and looked over some of my records, he said most likely all of the issues at that time (IBS, anxiety and panic attacks, etc.) was also related to my fibro. I had never weighed more than 125 lbs.(at my largest other than being pregnant)and have always contributed my sudden gain that month to the gall bladder operation but now I wonder if the operation contributed to the fibro and the combination caused it.... I just know I wish I could lose even 20 lbs right now because everything from my waist down is trying to give out on me. My right knee has been grinding bone on bone for days now and hope to get a shot in it tomorrow to ease the pain somewhat and to take some of the pressure off my other knee, hips, and ankles from putting all my weight on my left side. I will continue to eat raw veggies, fruits, chicken and fish, and all the other things to try to lose weight. I pray that I will find the strength to leave all the "bad" foods off and to find an exercise I can do to get rid of some of the weight. I am considering lap band or gastric bypass if I am eligible and can get funding for it. I hate to resort to that, but not sure I can stand it if I keep gaining weight as I have. "A pearl is a beautiful thing that is produced by an injured life. It is the tear [that results] from the injury of the oyster. The treasure of our being in this world is also produced by an injured life. If we had not been wounded, if we had not been injured, then we will not produce the pearl."
Stephan Hoeller
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ladycrowe
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Midnyte, we are here to listen, and who better to understand than those of us who understand from experience. I have not been "little" for quite some time. And it does not help that I have put on 30 pounds in the last year. I do not know if that is from the stress, the meds, the inactivity or what... Losing weight with fibro is one of the huge challenges we face... "You will have more energy if you get out and move more" my doctor says.... well ok, but can you give me some energy to get out there and get started and something to keep me from feeling horrible for days afterward???? "You will have less pain if you move more"..... well can you give me something to lubricate the muscles and bones so it does not hurt so bad to do it???? "You will have less stress on your body, and less pain if you did not carry so much weight" well that is a no brainer isn't it? and this seems to go in a viscious circle...... Lap band surgery is a good option for some, and perhaps being able to drop some of the weight that way would bring about the ability to increase the activity somewhat..... who knows with us for sure..... Hang in there, and remember, we are in this together! We are all soldiers in this battle to reclaim our lives from the beast within! |
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Midnyte
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Thanks ladycrowe, I needed the reinforcement of hearing that today. I hear how I need to swim and stuff but as you said, are they going to make the pain go away and give me the energy to do it with? I have done everything possible my pain management control doc has suggested and still the pain is there 24/7. I even quit smoking because he says that will help the pain. It's been almost a year now and I really don't see any difference. He wants me to eat organically also and I am trying, but when you are on disability and get no other supplemental income, how is one supposed to buy that kinda food? It is way too expensive.. it's hard enough to buy the fruits and veggies and other foods. You would think I would lose weight because I eat small meals and the fruits or veggies for snacks in between. Yes, I do have spurges sometimes and eat junk I shouldn't, but if I don't, I can't stop eating until it makes me sick when those spells hit. It's a never ending cycle lately and no matter how hard I try to do what I'm told to do, it doesn't help much. Sometimes I wish the ppl who tell us how and what to do really knew the pain and stuff we put up with. I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy usually... but sometimes I do wish they had even 5 minutes of pain we put up with. *sigh* I think it is time to soak or something, my evil twin is trying to come out *cackles evilly* Just kidding but I think you guys know what I mean. "A pearl is a beautiful thing that is produced by an injured life. It is the tear [that results] from the injury of the oyster. The treasure of our being in this world is also produced by an injured life. If we had not been wounded, if we had not been injured, then we will not produce the pearl."
Stephan Hoeller
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mamanordy
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Hey look when I got married 32 yrs ago I barely weighed 110 lbs, I was always a thin girl with a pretty nice body if I may say so myself- But now, I am fat, yes fat. From meds, inactivity, depression, you name it. I feel so yukky, I cant fit into my clothing, GRR! But hopefully we will all make it somehow!! |
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Midnyte
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I used to look pretty good myself. It's just kinda hard to imagine how much I have changed in the past 5-6 years. I intend to keep fighting as much as I can against this stuff... I just needed to vent desperately today. "A pearl is a beautiful thing that is produced by an injured life. It is the tear [that results] from the injury of the oyster. The treasure of our being in this world is also produced by an injured life. If we had not been wounded, if we had not been injured, then we will not produce the pearl."
Stephan Hoeller
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ladycrowe
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I weighed 117 pounds 17 years ago.... I did not start putting on weight until I started nursing school. I am a HUGE emotional eater. It's my addiction! Happy? Let's eat! Sad? Let's eat! Mad? Let's eat! Bored? Let's eat! Overwhelmed? ..... well you get the idea..... Fibromyalgia has done nothing to improve this addiction We are all soldiers in this battle to reclaim our lives from the beast within! |
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mamanordy
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Ladycrowe, ME TOO. I eat when I am happy, bored, sad, tired, you name it! ! |
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ladycrowe
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I guess there are worse things to be addicted to...... Oh yeah, Midnyte, I wanted to tell you about my latest exercise adventure. I went walking with my boys this weekend because the weather was nice, and you know........ gotta move, lose weight, get energy..... OMG, my hips have been killing me! I used to run long distance in high school, tons of gold medals in track in the mile....... I COULD NOT RUN AROUND THE BLOCK TO SAVE MY OWN NECK!!!! Anyway, left hip, I feel like I am a few steps away from a hip replacement! LOL Post edited by: ladycrowe, at: 04/07/2008 19:26 We are all soldiers in this battle to reclaim our lives from the beast within! |
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Midnyte
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Omg, sounds like you kinda had the same idea I did this past week. It's been nice here and I needed to do a bit of shopping. A couple of stores I frequent had major clearance sales and I have always refused to use their motorized carts or anything and overdid it. Needless to say, that's why my knee is swollen and very painful and why I expect to have an injection in the knee tomorrow. I had been so proud of myself for getting past my agrophobia and pushing down the pain to go shopping.... needless to say, I'm paying now. If I have the injection, I have to stay off my leg for 3 days so if I don't post.. you know I had to have one. "A pearl is a beautiful thing that is produced by an injured life. It is the tear [that results] from the injury of the oyster. The treasure of our being in this world is also produced by an injured life. If we had not been wounded, if we had not been injured, then we will not produce the pearl."
Stephan Hoeller
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hipmama42
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Sounds like we are all in the same place. This time I'm having a hard time motivating myself to TRY to lose the fibro weight gain of 40 lbs in the last two years. I mean, when we are practically housebound in the dead of a cold winter, hurting, tired, and just enduring and surviving each day somehow, it's hard to deny oneself the pleasure of emotional eating and the comfort carbs. I hate to say it but for a couple of months when I was in bed most of the time with my bad flare and numerous flus and sinus infections, food was about the only thing that gave me real pleasure and that I looked forward to. Sad but true...and just for awhile it would comfort me and help me take my mind off my pain and problems. It seems that fibro has taken away so many of the things I love to do that I have a hard time staying on a strict diet with all sensible, nutritious healthy foods in small quantities. After about 3 weeks to a month I'd lose maybe 7 lbs then go crazy say, to heck with this, this is too much self denial and deprivation. I used to be able to exercise a lot and control my weight that way but as you all have pointed out, it's a viscious cycle when you pay for even walking and shopping trips for days and days afterwards in bed and iin pain. I feel like a fat blimp, have had to buy all new "fat" clothes, hate the way I look and feel and that adds to my depression...which make me eat more...which makes me more depressed or start a new diet...which I fail at..or an exercise binge in an attempt to jiggle off some lbs and end up in bed for days again. I have struggled with controlling my weight all of my life and food has always been an obsession for me. I love to eat! And I have a horrible metabolism and severe arthritic joint degeneration and DDD in my back. Docs just don't get it...and never will. I never would have believed this dilemna myself if I wasn't living the nightmare! I too went on a nice little nature walk with my son yesterday in the beautiful weather. This morning I could hardly stand up getting out of bed and have done nothing all day! |
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