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[fortryll]

A member of my extended family is suspecting strongly that she has fibromyalgia, and she is trying to learn about it (she's looking for a doctor, reading about treatment, etc.). If anyone has suggestions for books, websites, or doctors in the Greenville SC area that might be good for her to touch base with, that'd be fantastic. Also, any forums

Comments

[boy_wonderwolf]

I'm sure there is a ton of information out there now compared to when I was diagnosed in the early 90's. Symptoms and severity vary from person to person so I can't really recommend any one form of treatment. Getting the proper amount of sleep, eating a healthy diet (for me that is low carb), and some form of moderate exercise can all help.

If she is having severe symptoms, she should consider seeing a pain management specialist. My doc did a series of injections into the pressure points to help alleviate pain without narcotics. We combined that with some physical therapy that taught me some basic stretches to target the areas where I'm most affected.

And I would add meditation or yoga to help reduce stress.

Hope this helps.

[watersong73]

I think that the sensible and simple advice offered by Rosemary Gladstar in her many books, though none focus exclusively on fibromyalgia, would be a good thing to look into.

And, from my experience, the folk who manage it the best involve significant efforts on the nutrition and exercise fronts -- a very difficult thing to do, but essential.

I'd mostly caution her to shy away from any intensive cleansing regiments -- only the gentlest cleansing is tolerated in a condition marked, as traditional chinese medicine sees it, by "deficiency."

[kadaria]

I got nothing but I hope she is ok!

[shdwkitten]

I also suffer from this. And what the two above me has said is the best advice I could also offer.

Plenty of rest. Exercise and diet. I also take a daily med to help with mine. And I have had to learn when to say no. That has been the hardest part for me. Some days I want to do a lot more than what my body does, but I have found if I push to hard I pay for it pretty bad the next day.

A pain specialist is a really good idea if you just can't learn to manage it on your own through the above methods.

I have also noticed that sugar is a strong trigger for me.

Please feel free to point her in my direction if she would like to talk more about it.

When she talks to a Doctor she needs to make sure they believe in the disease. I have been to doctors who have told me it is all in my head and to get over it. I make sure to interview them and make sure they truly want to treat me and not just try to physco-analize me.

[lucyazul]

My husband finds that his biweekly massage helps loosen up his FM tight spots and is generally helpful. He found some web sites that were helpful, but I do not know what they were.