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Post-vacation with Fibro... whats in a flare...permanant?

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Posted 7/8/2015 1:42 AM (GMT -5)
Sorry to start another thread but the other one is weeks old now so I thought it might be silly to bump. Thank, for the kind replies guys about my vacation worries-- I'm happy to say I shared this experience as several of you. The bus and plane ride was pretty bad but once I was there, I was enjoying myself so much. It was an amazing trip. The hotel had a hot tub and a heated pool so I got to have nice soaks all the time. I can't really say how good the trip was.. possibility the best I've ever had despite the fibro :)

Really trying to hold onto that now, because if I thought I felt bad BEFORE I left... my hands and arms haven't been this bad since I was first DXd. I have really learned how NOT to travel going forward.

Trying to convince myself that this is a flare and not permanent but it's hard. Last time I felt like this I lost my job (employed currently)...and the pain just seems to keep creeping up instead of back down. It's been a week so far and no sign of improvement. I'm getting a fibro/anxiety double-team right now. It's probably just a flare, right?

I've been home for over two weeks now, getting lots of rest most days and It seems the beast just keeps ramping up. I can't really use my phone for typing, and even regular typing/drawing feels like i have mad carpal tunnel issues (I don't) that are now "happily" working their way back up my arms/feet.

I keep having this stupid fear that I overdid it too much and now I'm gonna have a permanent worsening.. But can that happen? I realized I don't know. Part of me wants to say "slow down, crazy!" and the rest is saying "this is it..."

Post Edited (Aches.McGee) : 7/8/2015 8:51:09 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/8/2015 8:05 PM (GMT -5)
I understand how you feel. I am finally starting to improve after months of something similar. I put myself and didn't take it through my health insurance. I needed the time to be able to function. I have gone far as to buy the Dragon speaking software because I was wondering when I would be able to type again.

It's possible you overdid it. This may just be a really long flair. This may just be a really long flair. I feel like anxiety chase us around hinting that things are never going to be credit quite right again. My husband reminds me all the time to breathe . He mimes breathing in and out at me when we are in public to remind me to relax before my anxiety makes my pain worse.

Your fears are not stupid. It's quite natural for us to be more worried about these things than other people. Try to have patience with yourself. It's also quite natural for us to take a little longer to recover from even a really great vacation. :-)
Posted 7/8/2015 10:50 PM (GMT -5)
I've been where you are Aches McGee. Flares can last months, flares can last days, that's the nature of what all have. When we're in it we don't think it'll never pass. But this too shall pass.

Keep moving hard as that is.

Barb
Posted 7/9/2015 6:39 AM (GMT -5)
Hi Aches, glad to hear you had such a nice time on your vacation. Sorry to hear you're hurting from it now. I've been there too.

What I would suggest is to be proactive to help yourself get through this by having something like a cranial sacral massage or a swedish massage. These are nice and gentle.

Hope you're feeling better.
Posted 7/9/2015 1:06 PM (GMT -5)
Yes, those long flares can seem to never end! I think they're kind of like the weather, and at least they seem to change eventually, though not always as fast as we'd like.

Sometimes, our fears can cause tight muscles, too. It's not always easy to let them go, but focusing on something more positive can change how we feel, sometimes. I try to do spiritual reading, pray, or dig out my hobbies or watch oldie TV shows or movies from the 40s, 50s and 60s (where life looked so easy, though of course, it wasn't). Laughter is good, too.

A warm bath or shower often helps me when flares are stubborn. I also try to increase my time sleeping by going to bed a little earlier than normal, though as you probably know, fibro and sleep can be at odds.

Hope things improve soon! :)
Posted 7/22/2015 9:15 AM (GMT -5)
Thank you for the well-wishes and perspective, guys. I am trying to stay positive. Hot showers have been really nice. I always forget just how nice until I'm in a flare. Really missing that hot tub from my vacation! Things were starting to improve (i almost felt "normal" for a few days), but I am back in the hole again and I'm not sure if it's something I'm doing, or if my body is just being angry at me without rhyme or reason.

I can't really not type/use a mouse, between work and simply existing... though I'm sure doing dishes yesterday didn't help things. And using my phone seems to be a huge no-no. Forget text-neck... how about text THUMBS eyes I feel like I can't really get by doing less than I already am, and it's been a while since' i've been so frustrated with my symptoms. Really trying to make myself take things day-by-day, but I guess I'm still stuck in the mindset of "i want this to end so I can get back to my life"... when this IS my life. Mind and body are working at odds here.

Sorry, I'm rambling. Its looking like one of those kinds of days.
Posted 7/22/2015 11:04 AM (GMT -5)
We all have bad days.. I think you can work out of this.. Just allow yourself the time..

Do you take something for pain? I can only tolerate small doses , but when i feel really bad can bump it up a little for a day or so..

You can soak your hands , maybe e even your arms in the kitchen sink

One step at a time..i am trying to push myself to do some shopping i really do not feel like today : (
Posted 7/22/2015 6:21 PM (GMT -5)
Don't think Any of us can say if it is flare vs permanent.

Hope you are feeling better..

Like others I have done similar - specifically I recently attended family function & then flared for about 5 weeks
Starting about 4 hr into the drive. Ie at beginning of trip.

after getting back home, i had to occassionally remind myself that I have had similar awful flares without doing anything to bring them on.

My flares can last for several days or month +.
And so far I know of no way to predict which.

Going to look at flying next time & expense be darned.
Posted 7/23/2015 7:00 PM (GMT -5)
LJM--
I am on 900mg gabapentin, but I take tylenol also. I don't know why, but I've been avoiding having any. I do have an ulcer, but I'm afraid it's not going to do anything so I've just not had any. That sounds incredibly stupid typing it out... I should go take some. I also have a card for mmj (legal here) but I only take this at night, as it is helpful but the side effects are "severe."

I do sometimes run my wrists under the hot water for a while, which feels nice. I've tried using braces for them but the pressure makes them much worse.

DianeB--
Thanks for sharing. Usually when I see people talk about their fares, it's something that lasts a few days or a week. This has been going on for a month. It was easing up and i had one day where I was back to baseline, but I don't know if I overdid it or what, but now they're at it again. I took the last 2 days off of work to try and calm them, but no dice.

I never know how much of what I'm doing is making it worse or how much is just the flare running it's course.

Trying to keep distracted and in good spirits. I really appreciate the responses. I'm afraid to talk to my friends/roommates about it because I don't want them to get sick of my whining.
Posted 7/23/2015 9:24 PM (GMT -5)
Aches, please take one day at a time and don't project yourself in the future. We don't know what the future holds. Meanwhile, I think you are just so stressed and that is causing you more pain.

The Tylenol will help some. I have had ulcers before and had to stay off ibuprofen for a few months and I turned to Tylenol. I also use vitamin D3 and magnesium malate. Many are deficient in these nutrients needed in the body and that can cause more pain.

I tripped upon green olives about a year ago and they have helped me cut my pain medication in half, too. I discuss this in the Diet and Food Discussions thread. Right now the thread is still on the first page of this forum so you might want to read what I posted.

I hope you start to relax and start feeling better soon.

Sherrine
Posted 7/24/2015 12:35 AM (GMT -5)
I was much worse for a while when i was younger...but worked my way out of that phase...so do not think of this as permanent..

I would take the tylenol to boost your results, when you are this bad..

I use some tramadol, but low dose...so if i am having a bad night..i can add a tylenol...and it really helps.

My dr had me up my fish oil, from one to three a day also
Posted 8/8/2015 5:34 PM (GMT -5)
Thank you for your advice, I am trying to remain calm-- you are completely right about stress making it worse. Flares always exacerbate my anxiety, I am back on citalopram now to hopefully tackle that issue. Last weekend was great, but I have been declining all week again and my head can't wrap around the fact that ups and downs are just what happens. I fluctuate between taking it day-by-day with relative grace, and catastrophizing.

I also have ulcers, so tylenol it is. I also started taking B12 and D this week, as well as this one called Fibro Response (it had the magnesium malic acid and something else I forget that I wanted).

I have another trip planned in A WEEK that has been planned for months. I thought I'd be more than recovered enough from my previous trip by now. Seeing my parents for the first time in over a year... I told them I wasn't in great shape but I know they will want to sightsee and I am just worrying about that too. I learned my lesson from last time but there's no way I can do it again feeling like this...

I will be honest I wish my healthcare provider was better and i could talk to a therapist about all of this. They just try to steer you to group therapy and I can't.

Edit: I did finally make an appointment to see a doctor on Monday so crossing my fingers something will come of that. She's a new one, I didn't have a good relationship with previous PC.

Post Edited (Aches.McGee) : 8/8/2015 4:43:17 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/10/2015 10:18 PM (GMT -5)
Hope your appointment today went well..
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