Breaking through the fitness ‘pain barrier’. This article was written by Em who is fighting fibro with fitness. If this is something that intrigues you, read on for her 13 tips. If you live with Fibromyalgia then I think you instinctively know what I talk about when I talk about a pain barrier. After all for many of us it’s what we do every single day when we want to curl up and find some peace but our commitments mean that we have to keep moving, drawing on reserves and strength that we often forget we have. There aren’t many positives of living with fibro but for me my enhanced self awareness is one. The pain barrier for me is pushing through when mentally and physically you don’t want to. Now of course I’m not talking about ignoring what the body needs and pushing myself too hard, that would be foolish and lead me to a worse place faster (yes of course I learnt this the hard way – I question if really there is any other way??) I’m referring to re-starting or beginning to implement a challenging life change such as exercise. I’m referring to the active challenging of our negative thinking patterns and habitual behaviours. Working hard to get to the point where we finally start to feel the benefits and overcoming the worry that every body ache is doing us harm. So here are my top tips for breaking through the pain barrier. 1. Prioritise this time for you. Tell yourself if you feel better, everyone around you will feel better too. Explain to your significant others what you’re seeking to achieve and ask for their support and/or join an online community (like this one!) 2. If you stop now, when will you start? Keep your mind on your goals – picture them in your head. Remember how good you feel when you do physical activity: I think all of the times I am convinced I myself I wasn’t up to it but went and felt better for it. Equally think of all the times you quit something and regretted it. 3. Consider your timetable and needs and devise a realistic training plan – one that is manageable but consistently heads to where you want be. At first, your plan can be simple as “Go Exercise” – the rest will follow. 4. Examine your self awareness. My Grandmother used to say “you’ll never die for the want of an excuse!” That can be me to a tee! If you really don’t feel it up to it -don’t do it, but don’t give into your excuses either. Try to be honest with yourself and learn the difference. 5. Challenge your negative thoughts or fears – examine the truth of your thoughts. Because of the symptoms of chronic illness we often feel “I can’t” rather than “I can”. Don’t accept your thoughts without looking at them and don’t allow “ I can’t” to become your default. For example, what evidence do you have that exercise is bad for you? If you do have evidence, how can you adapt? – e.g. cycling is bad for my hip…. ok I’ll use the rowing machine instead. Em exercising at home using here stairs to strengthen her calves. 6. Sometimes I compromise by not going to the gym but exercising at home instead; 30 minutes at home is better than nothing at all. It doesn’t matter quite so much what you do; consistency is most important in these early days. I often find that giving myself these compromises usually gets me doing some form of exercise, because I’ve put no pressure on myself I perform better than I planned to, not because I forced myself but because I wanted to. 7. I’ve said it before but take your progress shots, they’ll inspire you. One you have a comparison set, they’ll remind you of your success and you can see what you’d like to work on. Once you see a difference, ask yourself do “do I want to go back to where I started?” 8. For further motivation, follow people whose fitness you admire, you tube, social media and of course blogs are excellent sources of advice and inspiration. 9. If you can afford to, buy yourself some snazzy gym wear that you feel good in. You’ll want to go the gym to wear it! 10. Don’t be impatient – if you expect instant results you’re going to be disappointed. Every bit of the journey is progress. Celebrate your success every time you work out. Reward yourself with a soak in the tub or your favourite TV show for a job well done. 11. Learn from your sessions, identify how your body feels after each workout and use it to inform how you train next time. For example, if you’re fatigued in one area, train another, if a certain exercise doesn’t feel right, try a variation. If you find you didn’t recover very well from a session, do less next time (of course that works in reverse too!) 12. Try to fuel and hydrate your body with healthy foods and water. Don’t starve yourself, fatigue is already a factor for us, so help yourself by boosting your energy with good food and fluids. A fuel empty body will seriously affect your motivation and ability. 13. Remember it take 28 days to make and break a habit, in sheer days you can alter your mindset and change the pain barrier to routine and routine to fun, energy and good health. Lastly feel proud that you’re doing this for you. Walk your journey held held high. There will be pitfalls but change often comes from challenge. From Em who use to blog at Fibro My Story and who is @Fibromystory1 on twitter. Em is concentrating on exercising and fighting fibro with fitness.

At Fibro Friday we are helping others understand more about Fibromyalgia. Please join in by sharing one of your fibro articles here, and reading some of the others articles. You'll find out how others are coping with fibro, what they are going through, things they are trying to help them live with this ongoing, chronic pain condition. We hope you can join in this week. Your link will be promoted on our social media sites to thousands of active fibromyalgia followers.

Research tells us that 50 percent of people with fibromyalgia report pain in their feet. Here I will discuss some of the reasons, what can be done about them and share my own personal story with fibro and feet problems. Fibromyalgia is a long term pain disorder. This means that you live with pain each and everyday and it can be in any part of our body. Today I am talking about the feet. The foot has three areas; the ankle, the middle and the toes. They have many muscles, nerves and joints... actually there are 26 bones and 33 joints in each foot. The feet bear the weight of our body, so it’s not surprising that we get pain in this area. As well as pain in the feet pain can be referred to our ankles, knees, hips and back from problems in the feet. If your foot pain is persistent, your doctor can help determine the best treatment. The feet are complex as can be seen in this illustration of the muscles. There are many conditions that cause foot pain. These conditions may not be caused by fibromyalgia but fibro is what amplifies the pain. Osteoarthritis may cause episodes of pain and swelling in one or multiple joints. It can also cause bone enlargement and changes in the shape of feet, which may also cause pain. Between 10-15% of people with osteoarthritis also have fibromyalgia. Treatment includes: Anti-inflammatory drugs. Taking over-the-counter pain relievers. Wearing pads or arch supports. A steroid injection into the foot. Using canes or braces to support the joints. Using an orthotic in the shoes. Physical therapy. Wearing custom shoes. Plantar fasciitis causes pain in the heel. It is an inflammation of the band of connective tissue on the surface of the foot connecting your heel bone to your toes. Usually, it hurts the worst in the morning when first getting out of bed. You feel it in your heel or the arch of your foot. Treatment includes: Resting your foot. Specific heel and foot muscle stretches. Taking over-the-counter pain relievers. Wearing shoes with both an arch support and a cushioned heel. Heel spurs are a growth of bone on the bottom of your heel. You can be caused by wearing ill-fitting shoes or from postural problems or from running. They hurt when you walk, run or stand. They are more common in people with flat feet or high arches. Treatment includes: Resting your foot. Wearing a horseshoe shaped pad. Using an orthotic in the shoe. Wearing shoes with shock-absorbing soles. Taking over-the-counter pain relievers. Trying physical therapy. Morton's neuroma causes a thickening around the nerves between the base of the toes (usually between the third and fourth toes). You may` feel pain, or numbness on the ball of your foot. It can be a result of wearing high heels or tight shoes. Treatment includes: Wearing shoe inserts to reduce pressure on the nerve. A steroid injection into the foot. Taking pain relievers. Don’t wear high-heeled shoes or ones with a narrow toe box. Avoid activities that put pressure on the neuroma. Ask your doctor about surgery. Sesamoiditis is the inflammation of tendons near the big toe. It’s a form of tendinitis, common with runners and ballet dancers. Treatment includes: Resting your feet. Icing where it hurts. Wearing a pad under the toe. Taping the toe to immobilize the joint. Wearing low-heeled shoes. Asking your doctor about steroid injections. Flat feet, happen when the arches of the feet flatten. It can cause foot pain. Treatment includes: wearing shoe inserts shoe adjustments resting Neuropathy is nerve damage in the feet. The pain can be burning, stinging, or feel like electricity. It can happen anywhere in the feet. Treatment includes: Pain relievers. Anti-seizure medications. Topical treatments. Specific Antidepressants that may block the nerve pain. So what we are seeing from these treatments is that they block the pain but do not cure it. They may provide relief while we continue to use them. When we stop the pain may still be there. Alternative treatments include: Acupuncture is one of the few treatments that has been shown to improve nerve function, helping to lessen symptoms and promote healing. Studies on peripheral neuropathy show improvements in clinical symptoms and also objectively showed improvements when testing nerve conduction. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8247887/) Vitamins and minerals: B vitamins are useful in treating neuropathy since they support healthy nervous system function. Peripheral neuropathy is sometimes caused by a vitamin B deficiency. (Healthline) Tendinitis is inflammation and irritation of the tendons, the bands attaching the muscles to the bones. Treatment includes: Resting your foot. Taking pain relievers. Steroid injections. My own personal story with fibro and feet problems. I have a history of fibromyalgia and peripheral neuropathy. I was a ballet dancer for many years so I am no stranger to foot pain. Also I have always had a large bone on the heel of both feet which I recently found out is called Haglund's deformity. It has never really caused me a problem until recently except for finding shoes that were soft at the back. Switch to lower heels About seven years ago I decided I would never wear heeled shoes again. I wore them very rarely but the last two times I did they caused so much pain and I went over on my right heel both times. I had difficulty just walking in normal shoes but having so much pain, from fibro, in the legs and hips and feet it is hard to work out where the problem is originating from. My foot pain did not improve. I started to focus on my feet more. I have found thick rubber soled shoes very helpful. I prefer lace up walking shoes for the best comfort. I was never a person who even wore shoes around the house so this is a big, and beneficial, change for me. I also researched and bought support socks which really do give a feeling of extra support. Also wearing supportive socks is very soothing and does seem to reduce the tingling. The ones I really like are Thorlos Unisex Walking Thick Padded Crew Sock or any sock that is padded in the foot. I find they really give more support and less pressure on the foot. My peripheral neuropathy became unbearable, as besides being in the feet and legs, hands and arms it was in my face. The doctor at the pain clinic suggested a small anti-depressant dose which worked brilliantly to block the sensations. Once these tingling pain sensations were blocked I could feel other pains in my feet when I walked or stood too much. The pain on walking increased and I did develop plantar fasciitis in one foot. I did the prescribed exercises and stretches and after a while the pain subsided. I then developed pain in the achilles area and the heel. I also realised that the bone that protudes at the back of my heel, (haglund's deformity) was causing a pulling sensation and also aching a lot of the time. See the doctor. If you are like me it is difficult to work out what is wrong with your own feet and you really need an expert to navigate through all the pain and limping. I am still awaiting my appointment with the specialist and will update this when I find out the official diagnosis. How I keep moving. What I have learnt is it is important to keep my joints moving. However I needed to try different types of exercise because of the painful feet. I am exercising in water. The buoyancy of the water takes the pressure off my ankles and feet and I can move more freely than I can on land. I can also get my heart rate up, for a short while, so this may help with weight loss. Support shoes I went to the Athletes Foot shoe store where they assess your walk and they said my right foot was pronating which means it needs an arch support. I purchased the shoes they suggested and I can feel that they support my feet much better but I still have foot pain. I also purchased the shoe inserts they suggested which I can put in my other shoes. These orthotics have a slight arch and extra heel support. So my suggestions for reducing foot pain include: Switch to lower heels. Lose weight if you need to. Exercise in water. Wear support socks. Wear support shoes designed for your foot. Wear orthotics. See a foot doctor: a podiatrist or an orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeon. So you can see that feet problems can be ongoing and complex. I have learnt a lot but am still awaiting professional help. Do you have a foot problem that I have not mentioned here? I would love to hear about it. RESOURCES: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) U.S. National Library of Medicine. WebMD Arthritis Australia Acupuncture treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy: An overview of systematic reviews

If you are looking for information about Fibromyalgia you are in the right place. If you are looking to SHARE information about Fibromyalgia you are in the right place. The Fibro Friday link up is for you.

Do fibromyalgia brains actually function differently than healthy brains? This study says that yes they do.

Ayurveda is an ancient Indian system of healing which means "science of life and longevity." It is one of the most renowned traditional systems of medicine that has survived and flourished since the 2nd Century BC and yes it does have treatments for fibromyalgia! (scroll down to see these) Ayurveda has its foundations laid by the ancient schools of Hinduism. The information about the healing properties of the herbs was composed in the form of poems, called “Shlokas”. These were used by sages to describe the use of medicinal plants and passed down through oral tradition. IMAGE: From Brief history of ayurveda by Assistant Professor at Govt. Pharmacy College, Sajong East Sikkim Ayurveda places great emphasis on prevention and encourages the maintenance of health through close attention to balance in one’s life, right thinking, diet, lifestyle and the use of herbs. Just as everyone has a unique fingerprint, each person has a particular pattern of energy—an individual combination of physical, mental and emotional characteristics—which comprises their own constitution. This constitution is determined at conception by a number of factors and remains the same throughout one’s life. THE AYURVEDIC INSTITUTE Ayurveda is an ancient and complex system but here are some of the basics explained: The entire universe is composed of 5 elements: Vayu (Air), Jala (Water), Aakash (Space or ether), Prithvi (Earth) and Teja (Fire). These 5 elements form the three basic humors of human body in varying combinations. The three humors; Vata dosha, Pitta dosha and Kapha dosha and these control the basic functions of the body. Vata dosha maintains the cellular transport, electrolyte balance, elimination of waste products and its effect is increased by dryness. (I have only mentioned vata here as it concerns fibromyalgia) FIBROMYALGIA and AYURVEDA In Ayurveda, Fibromyalgia is seen as an imbalance of Vata and accumulated toxins. When Vata is out of balance it creates hypersensitivity that causes tenderness and pain. Vata deals with the nervous system and with movement. The five senses are used to treat conditions in the Ayurvedic system. For fibromyalgia treatment this means warm colours and aromas and foods, calming music, and soothing body activities such as yoga, meditation and massage. The aggravation of Vata dosha and accumulation of Ama (toxins) are the primary causes and should be treated mainly. Associated weak digestion, constipation, and effects of chronic stress should also be tackled. AYURVEDA FOR YOU RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FIBROMYALGIA When treating a Vata disturbance special daily massages are prescribed with specific oils. Meditation,Yoga, especially stretching and Pranayama (breathing exercises) are all recommended for healing and relaxation of the mind. Also certain foods are suggested to eat to re-balance the body such as cooked vegetables and soups and foods to avoid such as tea, coffee and alcohol. Herbs are also recommended such as cumin, ginger, tumeric and garlic. Also recommended to eat are: Coconut water and Coconut milk Carrot, Cucumber, and Beetroot juice Cooked vegetables Green salad with a dressing of lemon juice and a little salt Discover more, in detail, about Ayurvedic Treatment for Fibromyalgia [CFS] from Ayurveda for you See the food guidelines for Vata You might enjoy my recommended online class of Seated Breath-Focused Yoga for Fibromyalgia Class by my friend Melissa. It is a 6 minute video which I personally do sitting in a chair. THANKYOU avidads for the photo of the script

Here we are in July 2020 the year of enforced isolation and we hope you are all doing well and managing to stay safe.

When you live with a chronic illness like fibromyalgia, one thing is certain -flare days will come. But, how you handle them can make all the difference in how bad they get and how long they last.

Here you will find a list of over 25 Fibromyalgia books. Come on now, how many of these books listed have you read? Any? Oh, at least we can not complain about a lack of information. On the flip side if you know of any extras that you would like to recommend please post them in comments. Also if you have read any of these books I would love to hear if they were beneficial to you. Fibromyalgia: A Comprehensive Approach What You Can Do About Chronic Pain and Fatigue by Williamson, Miryam Ehrlich Published in 1996, it was the first book on the disorder for people who have it. It is still an excellent introduction for people newly diagnosed. The FibroManual A Complete Fibromyalgia Treatment Guide for You and Your Doctor by Ginevra Liptan. CFS Unravelled: Get Well By Treating The Cause Not Just The Symptoms Of CFS, Fibromyalgia, POTS And Related Syndromes by Dan Nueffer. Fibromyalgia Controversy by M. Clement Hall. The Cleveland Clinic Guide to Fibromyalgia by William S. Wilke. Figuring out Fibromyalgia: Current science and the most effective treatments by Ginerva Liptan, MD. The Complete Guide to Healing Fibromyalgia: How to Conquer Pain, Fatigue, and Other Symptoms - And Live Your Life to the Fullest by Deborah Mitchell. The First Year: Fibromyalgia: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed by Claudia Craig Marek Reversing Fibromyalgia: The Whole-Health Approach to Overcoming Fibromyalgia Through Nutrition, Exercise by Joe M. Elrod The Chronic Fatigue Healing Diet (Overcoming Common Problems) by Christine Craggs-Hinton The Fibromyalgia Healing Diet by Christine Craggs-Hinton Fibromyalgia and Chronic Myofascial Pain: A Survival Manual by Mary Ellen Copeland and Devin Starlanyl The Fibromyalgia Help Book: Practical Guide to Living Better with Fibromyalgia by Jenny Fransen What Your Doctor May NOT Tell You About Fibromyalgia by Dr. R. Paul St. Amand, M.D. What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Pediatric Fibromyalgia - A Safe New Treatment Plan For Children by Dr. R. Paul St. Amand and Claudia Craig Marek What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Fibromyalgia Fatigue The Powerful Program That Helps You Boost Your Energy and Reclaim Your Life by R. Paul St. Amand, M.D. and Claudia Craig Marek, published by Warner Books. The Fibromyalgia Cure by Dr. David Dryland. From Fatigued to Fantastic by Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D. Living Well with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia: What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You...That You Need to Know by Mary J. Shomon. Pain Free 1-2-3: A Proven Program for Eliminating Chronic Pain Now by Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D. The Fibromyalgia Relief Book: 213 Ideas to Improve Your Quality of Life by Miryam Ehrlich Williamson. Fibromyalgia: The Cause and The Cure by Annesse Brockley and Annesse Brockley. Cure Your Fibromyalgia without Medication: Fibromyalgia Treatment and Pain Relief with Diet and Exercises by Jeff Robson. Foods that Fight Fibromyalgia: Nutrient-Packed Meals That Increase Energy, Ease Pain, and Move You Towards Recovery by Deirdre Rawlings. Exercises for Fibromyalgia: The Complete Exercise Guide for Managing and Lessening Fibromyalgia Symptoms. Fibromyalgia: Hope Beyond The Pain: by Kelly Hemingway who is both a nurse and a fibromyalgia patient. Fibromyalgia for Families and Friends by Janet Black who is both a nurse and a patient. Treating Fibromyalgia: What You Can Do When Your Doctor Doesn't Know What Else to Do.by Janet Black who is both a nurse and a patient. You may also be interested in visiting OUR FIBRO PRODUCT SHOP. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.”

It's great you could join us at the Fibro Friday link up and I hope you had a chance to check out last week's Fibromyalgia link up where we had some fascinating articles and videos including: How to advocate for yourself with chronic illness Your Mind Can Help Fibro Symptoms Family support for people with Fibro

Lately I have been experience more migraines than normal and any extra pain when living with fibromyalgia is upsetting. This sent me in search of both information and help about migraine relief and I have found some wonderful resources that I wanted to share for anyone experiencing migraines. Image thanks to to Nik Shuliahin What is a migraine? (scientifically speaking) Migraine is a genetically determined recurrent pain syndrome accompanied by neurological and gastrointestinal features, involving interaction of external triggers and internal pathophysiology. Migraine is currently considered a complex interplay of different processes such as an alteration of pain and sensory input, increased sensitivity of the cortex leading to aura phenomena, central pain facilitation, neurogenic inflammation and brainstem nociceptor sensitisation. ~ Menken M, Munsat TL, Toole JF. Migraine affects mainly the brainstem and diencephalon4 and is considered an abnormal amplification and sensitisation of pain pathways in these areas of the brain. Fibromyalgia and migraines (the statistics) Migraines are common in people with fibromyalgia. The frequency of migraine in patients with FM ranges from 45% to 80%. However, no explanations have been provided for the rate of co-occurrence. According to the Rheumatology Network the frequency of fibromyalgia is significantly higher among patients who have chronic migraine headaches than in patients who have chronic tension-type headaches. Also patients with chronic migraines experience more severe symptoms of fibromyalgia. What fibro migraineurs want? People living with both fibromyalgia and migraines are living with severe and chronic pain. They do not particularly want explanations of migraines, or more research into the connection, or a bunch of statistics, unless it brings solutions to the problems they are living with. As a person living with these conditions, somedays I can barely take in any information let alone complex scientific diagrams and information. Processing is a part of the problem of FMS and having a migraine, however low grade makes it even more difficult. So what do I, and countless others want? We want simple easy to understand information told to us by someone we trust... someone who has done the research and found out what can help relieve our migraines symptoms. we want this information told to us by a person because this is the best way we can process information... hearing it from the lips of another person. If that cannot happen then we would like it written in simple to understand language, preferably in large font. That's why I am so pleased to present the information from The Migraine Trust. For over 50 years The Migraine Trust has been championing migraine research and supporting everyone affected by the condition. They have wonderful, helpful and thorough resources including: Seeking medical advice: From diagnosis, to follow-up GP appointments and being referred to a specialist Treatments: There are numerous migraine treatment options available from conventional medicines to supplements, herbs and other options. Coping and managing: Information on coping and managing with migraine. Best of all you can listen to expert doctors telling you ways to manage your migraines here I hope you find their site and their videos as helpful as I have. RESOURCES Menken M, Munsat TL, Toole JF. The global burden of disease study: implications for neurology. Arch Neurol 2000;57:418–20. Jacques Joubert MRCP, MD, FRACP, consultant neurologist, Epworth and Royal Melbourne Hospitals, Victoria, Australia. Migraine Diagnosis and treatment. PDF Penn I-W, Chuang E, Chuang T-Y, Lin CL, Kao CH. Bidirectional association between migraine and fibromyalgia: retrospective cohort analyses of two populations [published online April 8, 2019]. BMJ Open. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-026581.

This week we had 13 fabulous fibro related articles which you can view here. Topics include acceptance of chronic pain, the flight or fight response in Fibromyalgia, PETS and P.O.T.S., as well as many Christmas related posts. Happy reading.

Chronic Pain May Be Effectively Treated Using Placebo Effect: 60 patients with osteoarthritis and 79 patients with fibromyalgia as well as 98 healthy individuals were given an inert cream to be applied on their forehand. Pavankumar Kamat, July 16, 2020, Medscape. Cancer and Fibromyalgia: Addressing the Needs of Patients Despite Limited Research. Mary Hanley, LMSW CancerCare, July 15, 2020, Oncology Nurse Advisor. Having either cancer or fibromyalgia is a challenge that millions of Americans face every year. But how do those with comorbid cancer and fibromyalgia fare? Addressing comorbidity between cancer and fibromyalgia is an emerging, but still lacking, area of research. Development for Bedtime Treatment of Fibromyalgia. Tonix Pharmaceuticals. Tonix is developing TNX-102 SL as a potential treatment for the symptoms of Fibromyalgia. It is currently in Phase 3 clinical development. TNX-102 SL targets mechanisms which are associated with disturbed sleep. It is believed that increasing sleep quality in fibromyalgia may facilitate the body's adaptive ability to modulate the perception of pain. Patients with fibromyalgia, OA, RA at increased risk for self-harm: according to findings published in Arthritis Care & Research. Carrie Beach, July 08, 2020, Healio. “Our interest lies in examining and comparing the risk of self-harm in specific rheumatological conditions (ankylosing spondylitis, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis),” James A. Prior, BSc, MSc, PhD, of Keele University, in Staffordshire, UK.

Fibro Friday is showcasing articles by fibromyalgia bloggers from all around the world. They all live with this chronic pain condition. They would all love you to visit their blogs and find out more about living with fibro. By clicking on the links below, that interest you, you'll find out more.

Hey, Fibro Friends! When we have Fibromyalgia it's so great to connect with others who have fibromyalgia. We need that connection. We need the understanding of others who understand. I hope you find that connection by joining in at this link up and I hope you get that connection by reading some of this week's posts. I love doing this blog link up each week and have met so many great bloggers from it. Here's just a few of those that joined in at last week's link up: from top to bottom and left to right please say HI! to Bethan from Hello Fibro Blog, Jools from MyFibroArseAche, Cynthia from My Inspired Fibro Life, Terri from Reclaiming Hope, Donna from Fed Up With Fatigue and Mandy from Mandy and Michelle. By clicking on their names you can find out a bit more about them. BLOGGERS: Please link up your post and then leave a comment on the blog that linked up directly before you. You are invited to the Inlinkz link party! Click here to enter

Wishing everyone a wonderful new year and letting you know we will be continuing our Fibro Friday blog link up in 2020. A blog link up is somewhere you can share a post that you have written and find out what others have to say. Here at our weeky link up it is a chance to visit and find new fibro friends or find out what people with fibro are writing about, learning about, and experiencing. It is a great way to build fibromyalgia awareness so that more people can understand what fibromyalgia is all about.

Thanks for stopping by and WELCOME to this week's fibromyalgia link up. Find some new fibro friends, check out what people have to say about fibromyalgia, see what your favourite bloggers are writing about fibro and related issues this week and link up your own post. Did you know we have a variety of great bloggers who link up here each week including Cynthia at The Disabled Diva Blog who has amazing posts about making life with fibromyalgia, psoriatic arthritis and endometriosis easier to live with. Some of her posts are Fibromyalgia And Autoimmune Arthritis – 2 Ways They Are Alike – But Not! and 10 Best Stretches To Do In A Hot Tub For Fibromyalgia Pain Relief and What You Need To Know About Fibromyalgia Leg Muscle Weakness which is on podcast as well as in text. Hope you enjoy the articles and find something helpful to you in understanding more about fibromyalgia.

The causes of fibromyalgia are unknown, but there are probably a number of factors involved. Many people associate the development of fibromyalgia with a physically or emotionally stressful or traumatic event, such as an automobile accident. Some connect it to repetitive injuries. Others link it to an illness. People with rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases, such as lupus, are particularly likely to develop fibromyalgia. For others, fibromyalgia seems to occur spontaneously. Many researchers are examining other causes, including problems with how the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) processes pain.

At Fibro Friday we are helping others understand more about Fibromyalgia. Please join in by sharing one of your fibro articles here, and reading some of the others articles. You'll find out how others are coping with fibro, what they are going through, things they are trying to help them live with this ongoing, chronic pain condition. We hope you can join in this week. Your link will be promoted on our social media sites to thousands of active fibromyalgia followers.

Welcome to the Fibromyalgia link up helping to grow understanding of life with fibromyalgia - a chronic condition with many symptoms including all over body pain and fatigue. We hope you find some information to help you from the many fibromyalgia bloggers who share their fibro stories here each week. Last week we had many helpful articles including: Why are hot flashes and sweating symptoms of fibro from Janet who is a naturopath. Apple Cider Vinegar for Fibromyalgia 2020's top fibromyalgia news & researchVisit last week's link up to see all the entries.

WELCOME to Fibro Friday. Every week an amazing group of people living with fibromyalgia, and other chronic conditions, share their articles here. You can check out these articles by clicking on the numbered links below. If you have a post about fibromyalgia you are more than welcome to share it here. Thank you for dropping by. The link up starts on Friday and runs all week so call back in again to find more fibromyalgia stories or check out last week's link up which had information about meditation for fibromyalgia, and a fibromyalgia Diagnosis Checklist.

WELCOME to THE fibromyalgia link up! (Well I don't know another one out there that is just for fibromyalgia.) I hope you can join us this week. I would love to check out your blog post, so link it up here. If you are looking for fibromyalgia information, from the very people who live with it, you need go no further... just check out the variety of topics at last weeks linkup as well as the growing list here, below.

Thanks for stopping by and WELCOME to this week's fibromyalgia link up. Find some new fibro friends, check out what people have to say about fibromyalgia, see what your favourite bloggers are writing about fibro and related issues this week and link up your own post. Did you know we have a variety of great bloggers who link up here each week including Blogger Bar who blogs about fibromyalgia and back pain and other pain. Some of her recent articles are Dystonia - pain in your hands or when writing and Ultrasound as a treatment for back pain and fibromyalgia. Hope you enjoy the articles and find something helpful to you in understanding more about fibromyalgia.

Here you'll find up to date articles from people who've been writing about Fibromyalgia (FMS) for years. They come from all around the world and they all live with fibro. These are some of the great fibromyalgia bloggers who joined in at Fibro Friday last week: from top to bottom, left to right: Nikki Albert from Brainless Blogger, Melinda Sandor from Looking For The Light, Julie Ryan from Counting My Spoons, Bethan from Hello Fibro Blog, and Cynthia Baughman from My Inspired Fibro Life.

WELCOME! Fibro Friday is open now at Fibro Blogger Directory (FBD). We'd love you to join in by sharing your link. You don't need to be a member of FBD to join in, just have an article about fibromyalgia that you have written. If you don't have a post to share we hope you have fun clicking on the links below and finding out what bloggers living with fibro have to say this week. It's a great way to find new fibro friends. We have some wonderful people who link up here each week including Melissa who blogs at Melissa vs Fibromyalgia. Her focus is on mindfulness and yoga to help improve quality of life. She has an excellent article packed full of helpful resources for coping with pregnancy when you have fibromyalgia as well as The Ultimate Guide to Managing Fibromyalgia. Why not leave your link below and then go and visit Melissa's informative blog?

The medical definition of fibro fog is: Fibro fog: A type of cognitive dysfunction reported by many people with fibromyalgia. Also sometimes referred to as brain fog, its symptoms include difficulty with concentration, memory deficits, and confusion. The reason for the changes in brain function with fibromyalgia is not clearly understood. MedicineNet This article is all about fibro fog and the information about it from people who live with it, not from medical sites. The good thing is if you want to learn more, about a particular quote, or the person that said it, you can click on the blog names at the end of each quote to be taken to that person's blog. I personally find fibro fog one of the most challenging parts of fibromyalgia because it just stops me in my tracks. It stops me functioning completely. I cannot think straight. I cannot concentrate. The best way I can describe it is that is like someone has laced your drink with some kind of drug. Here is what others in the community say about it: When we are talking about poor cognitive function we have to be precise and to not confuse it with just being absentminded but studies have shown there are real cognitive dysfunctions occurring with fibromyalgia. Nikki at Brainless Blogger. Experiencing fibro fog can be frustrating and stressful. I hate the brain fog more than the pain and fatigue. My anxiety goes through the roof when I can’t concentrate, feel distracted, mix up words and am unable to form a complete sentence. Sue at FibroDaze Fibro fog gets in the way of remembering basic words. I could be in the middle of speaking or typing something out and not be able to remember a word as simple as bed. I’ll end up going to Google and typing in the full description for it (or asking someone nearby -) “what’s that thing that you sleep in?”, just to get the basic word. Julie at Counting my Spoons I called the police station and was informed I'd parked blocking the driveway of an apartment complex and was towed. did what? Talk about Fibro fog! I could have swore that was a parking space, not a driveway. No wonder I found parking so easily. I had to walk to the tow place and pay a kings ransom to get my car back. Oh not good! Leah at Chronicles of Fibromyalgia. When I first started to experience it I thought it was due to a particular drug that I was taking for my pain and Fibromyalgia, so I cut down to the lowest dose but that made no difference whatsoever. Barbara at Back Pain Blog UK Unfortunately, ‘fibro fog’ is very much in your face and it’s hard not to feel embarrassed, frustrated or ashamed. Especially if it happens in front of someone who doesn’t know and doesn’t need to know about my fibromyalgia. Donna at February Stars. I have said for years now that I was worried it wasn't brainfog at all and was early onset dementia or Alzheimers. I get so confused at times and stop mid sentence totally blank with no idea what I was just saying. I ask the same thing over and over and totally forget I have, and to be honest it scares me. Jools at Fibro My Arse Ache I explain to others that I feel a thick fog taking over my brain, rusting the works. Then, in this foggy state, an invisible vampire comes and drains the energy out of my limbs, leaving them limp and heavy. Katie at Pain FULLY Living If you've got fibro then you know fibro fog and some days you are pretty clear headed and other days your brain is just not working. Donna at Fed up With Fatigue. Many people with fibro are all too aware of the “brain fog” that can happen from time to time. You can have trouble grasping words, remembering details, and have trouble remembering what you came into this room for. Brandi at Being Fibro Mom I was frantically searching for words and information in my head, feeling like I was swimming through a thick fog. My vision even felt worse at that point! It’s so difficult to explain, but I get why they call it brain fog – it really does feel like the inside of your head is filled with mist in place of a brain!! Katie at Katie Cupcake This one can be really frustrating but I sometimes find I can’t think what I have done when. I will mention something I thought I did yesterday to be told that was three days ago. I can even lose track within a day as to what I have done. Susan at Living Creatively with Fibro There’s been a thousand conversations where I’m reaching for simple words that blew away a moment before I want them. There have been even more times when I say one thing when I mean another. Sometimes I know I’ve done it, but often I don’t. Melissa at Melissa vs Fibromyalgia In the meantime my (lack of) memory has become legendary at home, but whether it is due to nonchalance, alcohol, pregnancy, fibromyalgia or old age, I still don't want to admit it. Ria at Stronger than Pain Trying to function in a head that’s so fogged up is darn scary.I had found several weeks ago the degree of forgetfulness had exacerbated. On the bus on my way home, I nearly got lost. I mean, I couldn’t remember where I was, and how to get home. Alisha at The Invisible F Fibro fog has made it so that I really hate phone calls. Phone calls are not only challenging, but I find it exhausting to focus on a phone conversation. I have a lousy short term memory, so even if I answer a telephone call, by the time I am done talking, I may have forgotten most of the conversation. Melissa at Fibro Warriors Of all the wacky things that go along with fibromyalgia, brain fog is probably the most disconcerting for me. As I’ve mentioned before, I’m retired military, and making quick, sound decisions was part of my everyday life. Now, it often takes me a while to even process what I’m supposed to be making a decision about, much less make one! Terri at Reclaiming Hope It’s like a turtle trying to run in peanut butter. Cynthia at My Inspired Fibro Life When you are in fibro-fog, it is as though you are slowly losing your mental faculties from the base up and it feels insidious and profound. It also feels, somehow, like your head is being squeezed or compressed, like you want to shake it to get all the parts to fall into the right places again. You can see words hanging there but can’t reach for them, your can’t organise your thoughts enough to set action into motion, you feel disengaged and unable to relate to people in direct communication, like you are watching them through a fogged window, your mind wanders like you are half-asleep, ordinary things startle you, you pedal in mid-air to get a foothold on you priorities and what you (dimly) thought you were meant to do today, though the remembrance of whatever that was floats like a ghost in the air. It can feel humiliating, frustrating and deeply upsetting on so many levels. Helen at Living Whole This is a cognitive impairment that causes problems such as temporary loss of memory, forgetting words or mixing up words, losing your train of thought, or saying things that don’t make sense. It can be frightening when it happens, as these are also signs of other conditions, such as Alzheimers Disease. Pamela at There Is Always Hope I often struggle to string sentences together, am increasingly clumsy and can be extremely forgetful about anything and everything. It really frustrates me, can be quite embarrassing and makes me feel stupid. It can also make me feel hungover on life. Bethan at Hello Fibro Blog There’s is nothing more frustrating to me than fibro fog. My mind just won’t think straight and it seems to just come on for no reason at all. I start switching up my homonyms and forgetting the most common words. Mandy at Mandy and Michelle I was sitting there the other day on the couch, yup, again. I was so “drunk” and cognitively impaired, I couldn’t do anything. While I have suffered for years with brain fog from Fibro, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and chronic headaches & migraines, this new found “drunkenness” and impairment with perception and spacial awareness is new. And pretty sucky. Stacey at Fighting With Fibro I forgot a word I was searching for in the doctor's yesterday and the air hung in pregnant silence. It was embarrassing, but my mind is suffering fibro brain fog and I don't look sick, so I didn't mention it. Glenys at Morning Cuppas With Glenys

Fibro Friday is where you will find information about Fibromyalgia from people who live with it. Check out these amazing bloggers from last week's link up by clicking on their names. From top to bottom, left to right they are Katie from PainFULLY Living, Bethan from Hello Fibro Blog, Beverley from Blooming Mindfulness, Glenys from Morning Cuppas With Glenys, Susan from Living Creatively With Fibro, and Nikki from Brainless Blogger. You are invited to the Inlinkz link party! Click here to enter

WELCOME and thank you for visiting this week's Fibro link up where you will find many helpful articles about fibromyalgia written by people who live with it.

WELCOME to this week's Fibro Friday blog link-up for information about fibromyalgia. Sharing your article about fibromyalgia here will help others understand more about fibromyalgia. Also, your post will be shared on social media around the world. Each week I share the previous week's links to over 24,000 fibro followers. Visiting the links here will help you learn more about fibromyalgia from others who live with it. You are invited to the Inlinkz link party! Click here to enter

We are glad you are here to share your posts about fibromyalgia and find out what others have to say. Just click on the links below to find out more.

WELCOME to this week's fibromyalgia link up. Love you to join in.

A big thank you for all your support this year, reading, sharing and posting and sharing again. This is the last Fibro Friday link up for 2019 and we hope you can join in and spread some Fibromyalgia understanding!

In our polls, fatigue scored highest with 39% as the symptom people with fibromyalgia struggle with the most. 49% said they felt fatigued all of the time. These polls were done in our facebook group FIBRO CONNECT with hundreds of respondents. Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of fibromyalgia and it is also one of the most difficult symptoms in fibromyalgia to manage. When you are struggling with fatigue it feels difficult to do anything to help yourself get out of the situation. But do not give up hope. There are simple things you can try. Here we have a selection of fatigue resources. As you know treatments for fibromyalgia are not a one size fits all situation and you need to try something and see if it helps you. As a general rule of thumb, whether it is moving more, a new supplement or a new medication I would suggest to give it a try for one month. This way it is better to assess whether this regime is helping to reduce your fatigue. MOVING MORE: The number 1 treatment option for fatigue is EXERCISE. I know this sounds the opposite to what we would think (and feel). The importance of any exercise program is to start slowly and to gradually increase physical activity. People who can help you with exercise include: a doctor specialized in rehabilitation, an exercise physiologist or exercise therapist, a physiotherapist with interest in rehabilitation, community based exercise program tailored to individuals, a hydrotherapy program, tai chi instructor, yoga instructor, pilates instructor. If you do not have access to these experts then a simple and graded walking program can help. Also my favourite form of exercise is easy to do if you have access to a pool. It can be as simple as walking laps of the pool or a hydrotherapy program. Personal experience from Katie at PainFULLY Living : When one has low endorphin production, they will experience: long-term pain throughout the body tender spots that hurt when they are touched muscle stiffness fatigue and low energy sleep problems depression To combat this, doctors often push endorphin-building exercises such as yoga, swimming, and walking. I have felt this distinct change from a raise in my endorphins when I was in physical therapy. When I showed up lethargic, hurting, and down, my PT would get me on the treadmill for 20 minutes at a rate that got my heart pumping. Every single time, I found that I had way less pain, my mood was improved, and I had energy. Read her full article 'Becoming Myself Again'. ARTICLES ABOUT MOVING MORE WITH FIBROMYALGIA: What exercise works for fibromyalgia? Starting Hydrotherapy. Yoga for fatigue: 4 Side-Effect Free Tools That Can Help You with Chronic Fatigue RESTING MORE: This is also known as pacing. It is about finding the right balance of rest and activity for you. For many people this is a gamechanger that improves their fatigue. Personal experience with rest from Bruce Campbell PhD : I found that my rests were even more effective after I started doing a relaxation practice at the same time. Without the mental relaxation, my mind could race from worry to worry, so I experimented with various meditation procedures during my rest time. I found that focusing my attention on my breathing was the most effective technique for me. By lying down and keeping my awareness on my breath, I could relax both physically and mentally. The principle I learned from all these experiments was that rest could have a dramatic effect on the energy available to me and on my symptom level. Taking a short rest break to re-charge my batteries expanded the number of productive hours in my day. Also, I found that I could avoid a long period of bed rest by taking a brief rest as soon I felt my symptoms beginning to get worse. Get the Complete Pacing for Fibromyalgia Training video for free at Melissa VS Fibromyalgia. ARTICLES ABOUT PACING WITH FIBROMYALGIA Pacing For Pain Management where Carrie describes why she paces and her rules for activities outside of her home. MEDICATIONS FOR FATIGUE Can milnacipran help reduce fibromyalgia fatigue? Answer From Kevin C. Fleming, M.D. at Mayo Clinic In addition to relieving fibromyalgia pain, milnacipran (Savella) may help reduce the fatigue common in people who have fibromyalgia. An antidepressant, milnacipran is one of three drugs that have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat fibromyalgia. While relief of fibromyalgia pain can help people feel less fatigued, milnacipran appears to have an additional effect on fatigue — separate from that associated with pain relief. Other treatments that may reduce fibromyalgia fatigue include better sleep hygiene, exercise and cognitive behavioral therapy. OTHER TREATMENTS FOR FATIGUE Vibrotactile stimulation is a new, non-invasive, non-drug treatment with possibilities in Fibromyalgia. In this study 'Benefits were perceived on unpleasant somatic sensations such as generalized pain and fatigue...' Read the full report. DEEP BREATHING: Learning deep breathing techniques turns on your body’s natural relaxation response and oxygenates your blood more fully. When you consciously breathe more deeply you feel calm and relaxed and at the same time energized. If you cannot attend a yoga class you can find many breathing videos on Youtube. FOOD FOR FATIGUE What we eat affects our energy levels. When we eat affects our energy levels. Aim for balanced meals at regular intervals. Try to reduce sugars and simple carbohydrates. Choose plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables daily. B vitamins and iron have a key role in preventing fatigue. They can be found in animal products, including eggs and wholegrains, nuts, beans and green vegetables. You can use Cronometer to check your daily food intake, for free, and see if you are getting enough nutrients in your diet and what you may be deficient in. ARTICLES ABOUT FOOD FOR FATIGUE How to make an easy immune boosting, pain fighting juice. VITAMINS AND MINERALS FOR FATIGUE Please check with your doctor, pharmacist or naturopath to make sure new supplements do not interact with other medications or conditions you have. Have your B12, Iron levels and thyroid function tested in a simple blood test as these can cause fatigue. COENZYME Q10: Personal experience: I have experimented with a lot of treatments out of personal and professional interest. As an ND, I want to be able to talk to patients about what they can expect from treatment from an experiential point of view. Of all the things I have tried for fatigue from fibro, the standout is Coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinone) and there is research to support this finding. Find out more here from Janet McKenzie (Naturopathic Doctor). THIAMINE: I have just read a report on B1 - Thiamine. In this study they found the patients’ fatigue declined by an average of 4.5 points while taking high-dose thiamine. The outcomes did not differ for individuals with or without a thiamine deficiency. The exact mechanism for thiamine’s effects on fatigue is not clear. You can read an in-depth report of the study here. D-RIBOSE: can cause low blood sugar and is not recommended if you have diabetes. It is a naturally occurring sugar that the body uses for energy. Personal story about D-ribose from Sue at Fibro Daze: I first read about D-Ribose in Dr. Teitelbaum’s book From Fatigued to Fantastic. It was one of the first supplements I started take taking when I went off all my medications in 2012. My energy level increased rather quickly and I no longer needed to take a nap during the day. D-ribose supplements that are verified for purity can be rather expensive. MAGNESIUM : Deficiency in magnesium is often linked to fibromyalgia. Increasing magnesium helps to increase energy and can help to reduce pain, tenderness, anxiety and depression. Magnesium is needed for the production of the ATP molecule which gives us energy for basic body functions. RESOURCES LET'S RATE OUR FATIGUE: a) How much has your fatigue reduced your activity during the past week in your personal life? b) How much has your fatigue reduced your activity during the past week in your work life? c) How much has your fatigue reduced your activity during the past week in your social life? (This scale was designed for evaluation for the possible diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome. I think it may help us just to rate our own personal fatigue whether we have just fibromyalgia or have it with CFS) PACING TRAINING: The Complete Pacing for Fibromyalgia Training video, for free, at Melissa VS Fibromyalgia. CRONOMETER Track your diet, exercise and health data for free. FIBRO CONNECT facebook group where you can discuss symptoms, and all things relating to fibromyalgia, with others living with it. I am an Amazon Associate and if you make a purchase through some of the links here it supports the work I do to run this directory.

Hi, if you are new here it's simple to join in just click the blue 'Add your link' button to add your post and click on the numbered links to read the blog posts. Thanks.

Fibromyalgia syndrome is a common and chronic disorder characterised by widespread muscle pain, fatigue, and multiple tender points. There is so much more to fibromyalgia and you can learn more about it by clicking on the links below.

Thankyou for joining us at Fibro Friday week 300 where we have been sharing stories of people with fibromyalgia for almost 6 years! (5.75342 years to be more precise.) We love that you are here, we love that you are part of this. Anyone with a fibro story to tell can join in at our link ups but mostly the success is due to all the great fibro bloggers who are part of this Directory. (over 50 of them) THANK YOU. Let's continue helping others to understand fibromyalgia.

Mental Illness is something that affects many of us with Fibromyalgia. Anxiety and depression are commonly experienced and diagnosed in fibromyalgia patients. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America about 20 percent who live with this chronic pain also suffer from an anxiety disorder or depression. Many studies have been done on fibromyalgia and mental health. Researchers have studied the effects of depression on brain chemistry. Some have looked at abnormalities of the sympathetic nervous system. But today we are looking at mental health from the perspective of people living with it. Tackling these issues in our personal lives is difficult and writing about it is even harder. We hope that these articles, written by people living with Fibromyalgia, help bring awareness to mental illness and help people living with these illnesses and the people who love them. I have included excerpts from the articles because these fibro bloggers explain the issues best. You can read the full articles by clicking on the names of the blogs. Depression and fibro feel so similar sometimes that it’s hard for me to tell which one is affecting me. They both make my body, mind and spirit hurt. From Fibromyalgia & Mental Health ~ Part I by Suzanne at Fibro Mom Blog This is is where things need to change. Conversations about mental health should be accepted and encouraged, so that those who want to speak, can do so without fear or shame or embarrassment, and without stigma, ignorance and judgement getting in the way. From It’s Time To Talk… Mental Health 2019 – Why It’s Important & My Experience by Caz at Invisibly Me. I have Major Depressive Disorder. I have had two major episodes of it in my lifetime and currently in one being treated by medication. And I am not ashamed of it. I know much of it has to do with chronic pain and coping with pain and all its aspects. And some of it is just me and genetics and other factors. Either way, it is a beast of a disease to have. It lies and it deceives and it steals a lot of your life. From Mental Illness: Things Not To Say by Nikki at Brainless Blogger. I went to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy a few months ago and found it really helped me manage my anxiety, refocus my thought processes and found new strategies I could use whenever I overthink. I only found my way to CBT by calling a helpline who put me onto the sessions. If anything, it helped just to talk to someone I didn’t know absolutely freely without worrying about what they would think. Sometimes it’s easier to speak to a stranger than someone you know. From Chronic Illness and Anxiety by Bethan at Hello Fibro Shelley talks about the causes of her depression, (I became home bound as my body failed, and I became disconnected from all the healthy people in my life.), how she felt and what finally motivated her to ask for help at The truth about chronic pain, depression, and suicide at Chronic Mom Today, I am on the proper medication, seeing my psychiatrist regularly, and I am not so afraid of my own mind anymore. But I wanted to truly open up a conversation about Purely Obsessional OCD. I barely see it anywhere, and it needs to be talked about more! From Jennifer at Corter Moon. I found that any amount of anxiety had a direct impact on my symptoms sometimes enough to send me into a flare, where pain and fatigue would knock me for six. From 6 Top Tips To Alleviate Anxiety by Fibro Flair. I live with a number of chronic health conditions including fibromyalgia, clinical depression, anxiety, & Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and for much of my life have suffered from debilitating symptoms. I want to raise awareness to help people understand but moreso to share and engage with all those whose lives are touched by fibromyalgia and mental health problems in one way or another, so they know they’re not alone. From Facing Complex-Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder By Alisha, at The Invisible F. When you live with Chronic Pain, you can find yourself spiraling in a dark hole. Sometimes depression becomes as big of a problem as the physical pain you live with, and in a desperate need to feel better, you find yourself turning to your medications too often, or you resort to drinking or eating as a way of filling the gap. From Chronic Pain and Addictions by Pamela is There Is Always Hope. We are all wonderfully and fearfully made. But sometimes in our genetic makeup, we inherit or are "assigned" genes that are predisposed to anxiety. Or we do not produce sufficient neurotransmitters such as Seretonin or endorphins, which result in our nature being one of anxiety and fear. From In a panic attack, God is right there with us by Glenys at Morning Cuppas With Glenys The toughest challenge on my wellness journey was to heal my thoughts. I discovered that my body felt and experienced every negative emotion. My inner guide again kicked in, telling me to have patience with my progress. Healing takes time. I found far healthier ways to deal with stress than the negative self-talk I was accustomed to. Wonderfully healing practices such as tai chi and restorative yoga became lifesavers for me. From The Isolation of Healing by Sue at Rebuilding Wellness.

Learn more about Fibromyalgia from people who have fibro and who share new articles here each week. Fibro Friday has been going for 208 weeks so there is plenty of information if you care to review the previous weeks. Find out more about strange fibromyalgia symptoms, tips for coping with this chronic pain disorder, lessons on living with FMS, reviews of the latest research, videos and more.

WELCOME to this week's Fibro Friday - a link up about Fibromyalgia. It starts every Friday and goes all week. I hope you can join in by visiting some of the links and maybe by sharing your own link about your experiences with fibro. Last week we had posts about all different kinds of mobility from being wheel chair bound to doing yoga; about dating, meditating, and navigating panic attacks... just to name a few. Thank you for dropping by.