I am soooo happy about the improvement in my health and fibro symptoms since I started locarbing again. If I never lost another ounce, I would stick on this plan because I haven't had this many pain free, flare free, or better days since I was 10 years old! I think a forum for fibro sufferers would be great... I would like to post and read what helps, what doesn't ,what triggers flares in other people etc. Thanks~

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Winning the carb war!

I think thats a great idea!!!
Im too new to feel a big difference, but I am hoping!

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One Day Starts Today!!!

Atkins and Totally Gluten free 8/1/09
355.6/324?
31 pounds gone (8/1)

Don't dig your grave with your own knife and fork. ~English Proverb

In the Middle Ages, they had guillotines, stretch racks, whips and cahins. Nowadays, we have a much more effective torture device called the bathroom scale. ~Stephen Phillips

Me too! I am not following a specific plan, i read up on all of them in Johnny Bowden's book, and looked over my old copies of south beach, etc. But I am really just doing my own thing for now. The one day I ate something with sugar in it by accident I had a fairly bad flare. I hope you feel as much better as i do. Let's stick together and see how we can improve our lives!! I have had fibro all my life, although it took more than 30 years for someone to recognize what it was, name it, and "validate" all the pain I had. That seems to have made it actually easier for me than some people-- I was over 25 before I even figured out that everyone else doesn't hurt all the time, lol. Some people I know have really had to fight the anger and denial thing hard if they were pain free and suddenly had to cope. So after all these years I find out I am actually blessed . I will be interested to see if anyone else with fibro gets on the thread and shares. Keep on fightin!
Ps HOORAY FOR YOUR WEIGHT LOSS!!!!

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Winning the carb war!

Mine is a fairly new DX. I had to go to several drs, as most thought the pain was in my head.
Found one Dr. who at least beleives me but wants me on some meds that the side effects seem worse then the pain. I noticed to that sugar brings it on big time.
I will be back here hoping others chime in too!!

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One Day Starts Today!!!

Atkins and Totally Gluten free 8/1/09
355.6/324?
31 pounds gone (8/1)

Don't dig your grave with your own knife and fork. ~English Proverb

In the Middle Ages, they had guillotines, stretch racks, whips and cahins. Nowadays, we have a much more effective torture device called the bathroom scale. ~Stephen Phillips

Here you go: A new forum in the "Special Interests" section - http://lowcarbeating.com/low-carb-di.../fibromyalgia/

Thanks so much for the suggestion!

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thanks Goddess

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One Day Starts Today!!!

Atkins and Totally Gluten free 8/1/09
355.6/324?
31 pounds gone (8/1)

Don't dig your grave with your own knife and fork. ~English Proverb

In the Middle Ages, they had guillotines, stretch racks, whips and cahins. Nowadays, we have a much more effective torture device called the bathroom scale. ~Stephen Phillips

Thanks Goddess,
btw, loved your pics!!! You look amazing!!

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Winning the carb war!

Thanks, Susie! I appreciate the kind words. Low Carb has, indeed, been good to me.

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Just wanted to chime in on the GREAT IDEA! Fibro is all to common these days. (think it might have something to do with the average diet these days?)

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Well, I was the one who started this thread, then i hurt too much to post to it, lol. How is everyone doing? This morning (THANK THE LORD!!!!) I woke up almost pain free. That is the first time since the end of July. Now that's nowhere like my record, since I never woke up pain free once in the last 20 years until July, but Hey, once you try living like normal people, you crave more.

I have a pretty good idea that the reason I felt better in July was due 100% to a combination of LC eating and the emotional component of feeling happier since I was doing something about my weight and seeing success. We fibro people have an endless need for MORE endorphins and MORE seratonin.

Likewise, I KNOW the reason I crashed was that school started again, I went back to work and was hit with a combination of HIGH stress, physical and mental exhaustion, and more HIGH STRESS. The fact that I stalled on weight loss after weeks of steady losses didn't help either.

For 49 years I keep having to learn over and over again that my body deals with STRESS by causing pain, and that any really BIG change in my life, even positive ones, end up being followed by a FLARE.

Even as a child I would have weeks of pain, sickness, and debilitation-- then when I felt better I would go on a backpacking trip, start a project, go mountain climbing, or even just dance too much and WHACK-- another flare up. My mom always tried to get me to skip the fun stuff because she knew the price I would pay for it, (tho back then, we didn't know it was fibro and we thought I was the only human being on the planet with the problem). I rebelled, because I saw myself living a life with no joy. For me keeping in the middle path, no highs or lows of emotion (positive or negative) or energy expenditure was the same as laying down and dying. When I was well, I was always healthier than anybody I knew, and tougher, and physically stronger. I could lift more, run more, and out wrassle a bear, lol. The off side was night after night walking the floor crying because of the pain.

In middle age, I should know enough to avoid the trouble areas, but most of them are unavoidable in my situation. My stepmom looked at me the other day and said "I know you love teaching and you are so very good at it, but I think it's toxic for you". Well, DUH! I figured that out years ago, but our circumstances never let me quit-- plus I was committed to my calling. Now I have 9 years to go or I will waste 20 years and get no retirement despite all my years of contributing to the fund. Just going to try and find a way to the middle ground. Almost all of the negative things about my job are outside my control now. Even the healtiest and the most committed teachers I know are saying that they hate their jobs, and everyone who has any outside income source is quitting or taking early retirement. I'm trying to find a path where I can survive.

How do the rest of you cope with your pain and your lives? Curious to know.
Does anybody else find that even POSITIVE emotions and changes in your life bring on flareup?

Keep hangin in there.
Oonagh

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Winning the carb war!

I'm an old member popping in again. When I was active on this site, I had problems with my arthritis flaring up all the time plus numerous health issues. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia a little over 1 1/2 years ago but I believe now, that I had it some time before that.

I'm heading over to the fibro section to add more.

Take care and have a pain-free day.

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Hi again Baby please add all you want at the Fibro section!!!
Thanks

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One Day Starts Today!!!

Atkins and Totally Gluten free 8/1/09
355.6/324?
31 pounds gone (8/1)

Don't dig your grave with your own knife and fork. ~English Proverb

In the Middle Ages, they had guillotines, stretch racks, whips and cahins. Nowadays, we have a much more effective torture device called the bathroom scale. ~Stephen Phillips

I've been reading some about fibro because, a few years ago, a doctor said she thought I had it. That was when I was doing tests that resulted in an IBS diagonis. I know I don't have it to the extent some of you do, I can just say, year after year, stuff just hurts more for me. My first baby, I was begging drugs when I was dilated at "4." By my third baby, I remember being "over the edge" in pain and they told me I was only at a "1." I know when someone just bumps me, I feel real pain.

I do think this is a nerve disease. We are just more sensitive to pain. My doctor admitted to me that IBS is really a diagnosis you get when they have ruled everything else out. I think Fibro might be the same thing. They just don't know what causes it.

They will figure it out, eventually. Meanwhile...sigh...I should feel lucky compared to the rest of you.

Cisco

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Hi Cisco,
You are doing great on the weight loss! It will probably help with fibro too, but unfortunately, doesn't seem to cure it. Many people feel weight gain is a sympton and result of fibro. I just wanted to add that your IBS is too. Most people I know with fibro have IBS and are as frustrated and depressed about it as the pain in the joints and muscles. I have noticed VERY GREAT IMPROVEMENT in ibs since lowcarbing for longer period of time. It's not cured either, but MUCH MUCH better. IBS flare up is one of the things that sugar and processed foods bring on almost instantly now (along with all the rest). Remembering that helps keep me honest in my new life style. I don't cheat, but I do make poor decisions sometimes and inevitably I end up paying for it with flare ups. No guilt needed, lol, my body takes care of it all by itself.
Glad to see you on the forum! Sometimes It is nice just to unload your troubles with someone who has been there.
I definitely related to your child birth story-- I only have one, but the pain caused by bedrest, hospital beds, stress, needles, monitors and a week of trying to dialate while in med heaby labor led to a c section. That was not exactly a barrel of laughs either, lol. He's almost seven now and I still have to be careful when sneezing, coughing, or laughing my behind off. My obgyn team SAID they understood about fibro, but it was obvious that I had more information (not to mention personal experience) than they did. If I was young enough to have another one I would be MUCH much more assertive with the doctors and med. personnel.

Please consider this forum your own and share anything you like, especially if you find ways to cope better.
Take care fo yourself
Oonagh

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Winning the carb war!