For those that are older with Fibromyalgia

Hi Freddygirl,

I am 52, I think??? Mine started in my early 40's. Mostly neck and shoulder pain, and my left arm. But as I got older it went to my hips. I was getting up at 4:00 am with hip pain, I couldn't lay in bed any longer. Then my other hip hurts when I walk. But I do contribute some of this to aging. But most of it to fibro.

I sure do hope that you feel better soon. I know how it goes when it waxes and wanes. Never a dull moment with fibromyalgia.

Take care, keep posting.

Hugs, Karen

52 here and feel like I'm 80. My grandchildren miss me playing with them but now they are helping grandma up or bringing me my cane or helping me remember what I got up to do. I can relate to having pains for many years but as a workoholic I didn't take the time to get check-ups and that of course means I don't have documentation of it.

I'm 64 years old and was hit with fibro two weeks before my 40th birthday. I have recently started having some problems with my hips but it comes and goes. When my doctor checked me he said it was bursitis. I nixed the cortisone shots in the hips and it did go away but I baby any part of me that is really flaring and I'm blessed that ibuprofen and Tylenol work for me. The important thing is to try to keep the pain under control. I can do this easier because I'm using over the counter things and use "as needed". If you use prescription meds, that's harder to do. But when the hips or any other part starts hurting, I head for the ibuprofen or Tylenol but I NEVER take more than the recommended amount in a 24 hour period.


Sherrine

Except for being overweight I would say that I was quite healthy most of my life.

Then one day I decided that I wanted a job change. I started my new job in September, my daughter had her baby 2 months early in october and my mom passed away in January. This was just too much to bear all within a few months and I guess the stress started to affect my sleep. A few months after my mother passed away we decided to move from our second floor 2 bedroom apartment to a third floor one bedroom. We did this because at the time I attributed the lack of sleep to the very noisy upstair neighbors.
Anyway, it was the last few trips up the stairs that I noticed the extreme fatigue. I just couldnt do it. My hubby had to finish up with the moving himself while I stayed in the apt to do all the final cleaning. Normally I would have all the "stuff" put away within 2 days (joke in my family) but this time it took me about 2 months to finally get fully moved in. I was physically sick and was in bed for about 10 days and then it was slow going to get back up to par.

I haven't been the same since. That was 6 years ago and I am now 50. What bothers me even more about the whole thing is that I had the gastric bypass surgery to lose weight about 3 years before that. I did it to be more energetic, slimmer, healthier.....and now!
All the way up to last summer I did do fairly well. After I learned to pace myself and get on the right combo of meds. This past year has been very hard on me and I, too, wonder how much worse it can get and how much more can I take?
I am stubborn though. I still hold a full time job, help daughter with 3 small boys after work, wash dishes by hand, do at least 2 loads of laundry per day, and help my hubby clean an office building every sat. morning. I just cannot lay around in my bed all day. I really feel that I am worse if I do.
sorry for the long rant. It just came flying out. Now that I am finally getting all the "kinks" ironed out I am hoping to have a fairly smooth year ahead.

65 and holding! I was finally dx'd a few years ago but have had symptoms forever. As a child I remember having hip pain so bad that I would limp. "Growing pains".

My best defense is gentle and consistent exercise and stretching. I did this even before I knew the name for my pain. I just knew I felt better if I kept moving. I still ride a bike, take exercise classes and do daily yoga. And yes, there are days that I don't feel like doing these things but I make myself get moving.

I'm 62 and started having symptoms in my mid 30s. I always thought it was caused by too much or not enough exercise, or maybe i just got the flu often! Then I found out I had severe arthritis in my neck and hips, and figured that was the cause. I also have an irritable bowel. I only recently found out about Fibro while reading an article on pain. After going over it with my Doctor he agreed with me, that when you all all of my symptoms up together I have Fibro.

Managing the pain is the most import thing to me, to be able to sleep and get on with life. I lap swim twice a week even if it hurts afterward, becuase it makes me feel much stronger. I do some stretching every night, and hope that I don't get another flare for a long while. I think you have to keep active or it can take over your life.

I am 42 but I think I have had it since 38.

Age 57 and feeling like I'm 90 today. I believe that my symptoms started as a child. I was always a terrible/restless sleeper and had what were called "growing pains" back then. I can not recall a time when I actually felt rested regardless of copious hours of sleep. I believe that it orginates on my Dad's side of the family. He has many of the "perks" associated with FMS but not Fibromyalgia.

I was diagnosed 4 years ago and have several underlying health issues as well. For several months, I've been battling severe fatigue and now more pain issues. Will the fun ever end....

Yes, I feel for the young ones too. To not have much normal life before fibro. The thirties were very good to me. I am so happy for that.
Hugs, Karen