LYRICA IS HELPING WEEK TWO & THREE

7/26/2022

How Lyrica Is Helping Me Live With Fibromyalgia

Managing fibromyalgia and overlapping conditions isn't just a full-time job - it's a lifestyle. I've made changes to every aspect of my life, some minor and some major, in order to adapt to my symptoms and minimize the things that make it worse.

To help give you some insight into what it means to adapt your life to fibromyalgia, I've written about what my typical day is like. My lifestyle changes were made to deal with my specific symptoms and situations. They aren't the right adaptations for everyone, but they can give you an idea of the types of changes you might be able to make.

Here's how I get through a typical day.

Managing Fibromyalgia

My alarm goes off at 4:00. I turn the alarm off, proud of myself for sleeping till the alarm. Because I have horrible insomnia. My body is screaming with pain. Before getting out of bed, I do a mental assessment of what is going on with my body. I set on the edge of be and stretch some and put my feet on the floor. (These are a combination of yoga, physical therapy, and things I've run across over the years that help keep me loosened up.) Some mornings it feels like I'm standing on glass. I know those first few steps are going to hurt.

I slowly head to the bathroom. Wash my face to wake myself up. As I come out of the bathroom, I have our dogs and our grand pups ready to go outside. They have learned I don't move fast in the mornings.

I then get a cup of water to take my thyroid medicine. Then wait an hour before I can have my coffee. Some mornings that the longest hour. and the first taste of coffee is the best.

This is my quit time in the mornings I thank the good Lord for my day and for my family and friends. I usually read my bible and write my blog post. This is the best time for me because I can concentrate and focus better first thing in the morning.

I check on all our livestock to make sure they are all fine. Stace my husband has made it easier for me and now each pen has a creep feeder. So pretty much all I do in the morning is check the animals and water to make sure they are all upright and doing good.

I work part time now in an office with our youngest daughter. On the days I work I get myself ready and off to work I go. I do good for the most part with working. By noon I'm usually mentally dead and my body is ready to shut down. Our daughter can tell when I don't feel good and sends me home. Depending on how I feel after getting home I do some of my chores or take a nap.

This is the biggest lifestyle change I've made due to illness: I used to work outside with all the livestock and animals. I did one chore after another and didn't think twist. It was hard work, but I enjoyed it so much. Now, because of my illness so much has changed. I still work outside with all the animals and farm duties that need to be done. I have learned how to pace myself with my chores. If I overdo it, I know the next day will not be able to move and nothing gets done. Stace has helped so, so much with making my chores easier. After he works all day, he comes home and picks up with what I haven't been able to do.

Also, the weather has a big effect on me. The extreme heat I can't be out in it that long anymore because it will make me have a fibro flare. Or if it's cold and wet weather it can make me also flare up. As you can tell it's a loose, loose situation.

One of the biggest things that helps me is hot showers or baths. I know it sounds crazy but, the shower or bath helps with the pain. There are days I take several showers. My doctor is the one who told me to do this. I have to say I'm glad I listened to her.

Heating pads are my best friend. My oldest daughter gave me a weighted heating pad that is like a small cape, and it goes around your neck and shoulders. It's perfect for when my shoulders and neck are hurting...which is almost every day.

I look forward to when Stace gets home, and we get to talk about our day and just unwind. We make dinner and watch some tv. Around 9:00 we go to bed. I can be falling asleep in my chair but when I go to bed, I'm wide awake. So, I toss and turn and finally fall asleep.

Now That I'm Taking Lyrica

Now on Lyrica for three weeks now. I have to say Lyrica is working great for me. I am sleeping so much better. I feel rested when I wake up. I haven't felt rested when I wake up in years. Also, it's a deep sleep. When I first start moving in the mornings now, I have less pain. My pain level has been at about a 3 to 4. Before I started Lyrica the pain level in the mornings was a 9 to 10. Thank God for Lyrica!

I have such a clear and crisp focus now in the mornings now. I can't remember when I felt this why in a long time. I can't express how happy I am to have found something that is helping me as much as Lyrica is.

I'm able to make it through a whole day without taking a nap. Before I would have to stop and take a nap because my body was shutting down and there was no stopping from feeling this way.

It has been years since I have felt this good. I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in 2009. Long before that I was seeing doctors and they couldn't tell me what was going on with me and why I had all this pain. I constantly wondered if there were other women experiencing the same pain. Once I was diagnosed, I didn't feel as alone in my pain, but still wanted to talk with others like me. I'm here to tell you - from experience - that you are NOT alone.

Do you have any tips for living with fibromyalgia that you'd like to add?

Some of Our Post That Might Interest You:

Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission—but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting us!