I hope it helps too.

As far as smoking, someone want to give me a tip.

I have not smoked in my house now for 2 1/2 yrs. I smoke maybe 2 - 3 at work, outside!

It's my car that seems to keep me smoking! I can go w/o a cig in any other area but my own car.

Hi to all you that suffer with chronic pain. I too have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. A pain management group calls it myo fascia because the pain is located mostly in my neck, head, shoulders. It has been a few years and now it has increased to my lower back & hip region. To add to the misery I started getting sick with other symptons a year ago. I have been diagnosed with chronic fatigue and immune system disorder, caused by the Epstein-Barr virus. My white cell count is irregular, up & down, I have enlarged lymph nodes, lost 25 pds (from 125 to 100 in 6 months), had an infection that no antibiotic would touch,(took them 11 mo. to figure out what it was and treat it, now it is cleared up), I also was able to gain back 8 pds and holding. (The whole time I was losing, I was eating like crazy! Figure that one out.)I lived in fear of cancer for several months while I underwent numerous tests, & biopsis. (I have had recurring melonama so they were concerned). But fortunately no cancer! I have been tested for every possible disease they could think of. So like fibromyalgia, they blame my other health issues on the virus. I have been clinically depressed for a lifetime, but diagnosed only 16 years ago. I have migraines, but they are under control, although I still get one sometimes when my neck gets real bad. I currently am on 2 antidepressants. My doctor is very caring and continues to try to help me. I have had physical therapy, nerve blocks,tried many medicines. I have learned to live with it the best I can. I can be a 5 on a 1 - 10 scale and function fairly good. The pain is always there, but I know my limits. I walk 1 to 2 miles each day.(almost)I hope to find someone that understands, and I can help too. PJ

I understand.

a woman i used to date had the condition and she hurt all the time . but with diet and exercise is managable . i hope you the best and wish you luck .

Yep. Lupus is very similar and my diet, exercise and stress all affect it very much. The hardest part is taking care of myself when I'm so tired I can't see straight. It takes a lot of effort to keep it manageable but its worth it.

I have a bad feeling I'm going to go into a flare up after having this virus for more than a week. Things like this can stimulate my immune system and then it all goes haywire. Its really frustrating. I have been doing really well for months.

Fibromyalgia what a topic.
Ok...I guess I'll start with some history then throw out my question.
I was dx'd in 1992 after having surgery in '89 for throasic outlet syndrome, had a bi-lateral first rib resection. I worked until '92 as a bookkeeper/secretary...constantly on the computer...as I am now ...at the time I was married, had a kid about 6yo then, then 8 yrs later got divorced...was single living by myself for about 3-4 years...then had another child after and 1 yr later she moved to where she is now with her permanent guardians...I was living with this male for 4-5 yrs...My fibro/tos/cfs/add/oa blah blah blah can keep me on the couch some days...and some days I'm out doing stuff like a "normal" person....ok...I hope the history is laid out enough to ask the following question...

How do you all with this condition find individuals to hang with and/or live with who can tolerate this condition, life style, situation?

Personally I don't think I'm all that demanding a person but any one I've met or have hung out with ultimately can't stand hanging with a fibro-person ...I've observed this with several other friends of mine that live with fibro as well
...maybe it's just me...yes I've thought that

...so...here I sit...which is fine I can live with that if I have too ...if not and there are people out there that don't mind a fibro-persons life style maybe I'll run into them. Right now I have a housemate who also has fibro and we've only shared this living situation for a short while but we both do know and understand how someone with fibro etc has to live.

So...there's the question...if anyone can give me there insight...thanks I'd love to read what you all have to say.

I wish I had a happier answer for you but I don't. Maybe someone else will. However, part of the reason my marriage broke up (and this was only part) was my Lupus. My husband couldn't deal with it and resented me and the illness. He would get mad when I was too tired to do things with him. I begged him for years to go to counseling with me so we could deal with it better. But, he wouldn't go. I hold out little hope for meeting someone who will be with someone with a chronic illness.

Thanks for your answer...it's what I expected to hear. I just thought I'd see how many responses to the question I would get and how the answers would go. I'm sorry you had to deal with an individual of that caliber. I do appreciate your honesty in answering my silly question.

It wasn't a silly question and I wish I had a more positive experience to share with you.

It's his loss, Ruth - that and his ignorance and lack of empathy.

There are men out there that except people for whom they are. Please don't give up hope.

thank you, Winx. I really mean that.

You're welcome, Ruth. What I said is the truth.

Ruth...I tend to agree with Winx...it is his/their loss...
sad thing is there's so many of them out there lossin' out on
something that might be good.

hugs to ya all

If I try to watch my intake of carbs, I feel a lot better. I asked my doc and he said there have been some studies that said low carb diets do indeed, for some reason, help with Fibro. My only problem is staying on that type of diet.