Fibromyalgia & weight gain resources

While weight gain, or the inability to lose weight, is not painful it is such a frustrating symptom in an already over flowing list of symptoms that make up Fibro. Weight gain is a common problem for those of us with fibromyalgia. It can be frustrating and challenging to manage, but there are steps you can take to address it.

I personally struggle with this and have been searching for helpful information. These are some of the sites (and 1 book) with interesting information about fibromyalgia and weight gain and their solution to this frustrating problem. I hope you find something that helps you.

Fibromyalgia and Weight Gain at Health Central. Lack of Sleep, Neuroendocrine Abnormalities, Decreased Activity, Medication and Weight-loss Strategies. 

Fibromyalgia and Weight Gain at Fibromyalgia Symptoms - fatigue and diet and exercise.

Foods that Fight Fibromyalgia: Nutrient-Packed Meals That Increase Energy, Ease Pain, and Move You Towards Recovery by Deirdre Rawlings. 

In addition to exercise and diet, managing stress levels is crucial for individuals with fibromyalgia. Stress can impact hormone levels and lead to weight gain. Finding effective stress-management techniques such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, or engaging in hobbies can help reduce stress and improve overall well-being.

It's important to remember that weight gain with fibromyalgia is a complex issue that can vary from person to person. I hoe you have a good healthcare provider who will discuss any concerns or questions you may have about fibromyalgia and weight gain. They may be able to provide personalized recommendations and guidance based on your specific needs and medical history or send you to a specialist who can. As an example I have been sent to a dietician who discovered I have food intolerances and an endocrinologist for my thyroid issues which are also connected to weight gain. 

See my more personal story on weight gain with Fibromyalgia and how it makes me feel here. 

Fibro Book Review: What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Fibromyalgia: The Revolutionary Treatment That Can Reverse the Disease

Over a decade ago, Dr. R. Paul St. Amand, an experienced endocrinologist and UCLA assistant clinical professor, published his protocol for reversing fibromyalgia based on nearly half a century of research. 

This book - What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Fibromyalgia: The Revolutionary Treatment That Can Reverse the Disease - explains Dr. St. Amand's latest research on guaifenesin. He describes it as an inexpensive, safe, an increasingly available medication that can help reverse Fibromyalgia.

This is a controversial book - it divides people.  

The authors say they have seen symptoms eliminated and normal quality of life restored in an astonishing 90 percent of patients they've treated with guaifenesin.

In reviewing this book I am not endorsing this treatment, I personally have not tried the treatment though have previously written about it in 2009. I think it is valuable to educate yourself about conditions that you have and to know what is available - especially in the way of causes and treatments. Also Dr Amand is a clinical professor with many years research into Fibromyalgia so I am quite prepared to investigate his ideas in this book.

This book,  What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Fibromyalgia, is updated and revised with more patient anecdotes and a deeper understanding of symptoms, treatments, and results.

There is: 

--information about the current treatment of fibromyalgia and what causes it
--new results from Dr. St. Amand's studies about the efficacy of guafenesin treatment
--changes in this disease protocol
--discussion of pharmaceuticals in treatment

About the Authors 
Dr. St. Amand is a professor of endocrinology and has been in private practice for over 40 years. 
Claudia Marek is his medical assistant and researcher, she counsels patients on how to use the treatment and as a former sufferer is a leading patient advocate.

Get the book here or read reviews of the book.

I am not endorsing this book but just providing you with information about what Fibromyalgia books are available. If you purchase the book through the link provided I receive a small percentage of the profit and no extra expense to you. 

Read what I wrote earlier about the Guaifenesin protocol.

Don't let yourself feel so bad about feeling so bad

When you have a chronic illness you have bad days... heck even the good days can feel bad! You can also have a flare which is like an extended bad day that can last for a few days, a week, a month or possibly even a year. I once had a flare that lasted 8 months and did not realize it was actually a flare until I suddenly felt better. 

If you are like me the bad days include either increased fatigue, pain and stiffness or cognition problems or a combination of all four. It's so easy when you feel bad to beat yourself up for not getting anything done, for lying on the lounge, for retreating to your bed, for not coping with the world at large, etc.

I'm here to tell you it's okay and NOT to go mad at yourself. 

Firstly you DO have a longstanding illness that you cope with EVERY DAY. You manage to get up and look normal most days and eat breakfast and cook dinner and all the other things you do when you are feeling pain, stiffness, tiredness, lack of restorative sleep etc. Most people have the flu when they feel like this. Many people take days off work when they feel like we do normally and WE battle on. Our normal is most people's sick. 

Secondly your verbal internal commentary and general feelings of badness - guilt, disappointment, sadness, anger, and "Oh Woe Is Me" - are only going to make the situation worse. Negative self-talk can actually make us feel worse - thoughts are a form of energy and negative thoughts can sap our energy. It has been proven in research that self-talk does have an effect on motor performance.

WHAT I DO WHEN I'M HAVING A FIBRO FLARE

When I'm having a bad day I try to go easy on myself. I look after me and no one else. 

• I stay in my PJ's or softest comfy clothes and clear an area just for me. 
• I gather all the things I might enjoy like a new book or a friendly old book, a cup of tea, a TV series to binge on, some delicious fruit, my laptop.
• I clear the decks by taking the phone off the hook and locking the front door.
• I get a water jug and cup and any extra pain meds I might need.  
• I look after myself like I would look after a young child that I love. 
• I try to say some nice things to myself like "you are ok", "you are going good", "you'll get through this", "you've been here before", "this too shall pass". 

Also if all else fails I remember as author and poet William C. Hannan said: 
“Sometimes, 
all you can do
is lie in bed,
and hope 
to fall asleep 
before
you fall apart.”