Working out with Fibromyalgia

[wyson]

Hi all, I am going to be helping a friend of mine create and stick on a diet/workout plan. The only problem is she has Fibromyalgia. I am going to start with light cardio but was unsure as to what to do with weight training. Some help would be highly appreciated!

[bradrad]

Hi all, I am going to be helping a friend of mine create and stick on a diet/workout plan. The only problem is she has Fibromyalgia. I am going to start with light cardio but was unsure as to what to do with weight training. Some help would be highly appreciated!

This is a tough one. I have had fibro type symptoms for many years from a digestive disorder called candida ( fungus taking over the intestine from taking too many broad spectrum antibiotics ). It's been a struggle for me to lift weights and and exercise therefore progress has been slow ( years ). All I can say really is to start slow. Seems I am always icing something ( I have joint pain too ) but it's so worth it. Obviously I don't know her specific medical problems and haven't been diagnosed with fibro but I think my symptoms are very similar.
Best wishes.

[_Meridian_]

I also had intestinal candida overgrowth and a bit of B12 deficiency on top of that, which mimiced the symptoms of CFS & Fibro.

It was awful and there was a long period where I ABSOLUTELY could not work out. Hell, I couldn't even do regular house chores.

I agree with bradrad, go slow, and don't push her past her limits. This is not something you can 'push through' and overcome mentally. If her symptoms worsen after she works out, let up. There will be a limit on what she can do, and it might fluctuate. Find that limit, and don't push her past it. If you do, it could trigger a symptom fit that may take days/weeks/months to recover from.

If she hasn't already found a great PCP or specialist to help her through management of her disease, this is a must. I spent over 10 years of my life pretty miserable until I found the right doc that just would not give up until I was a functional human again, and that was a lifesaver.

[bradrad]

I also had intestinal candida overgrowth and a bit of B12 deficiency on top of that, which mimiced the symptoms of CFS & Fibro.

It was awful and there was a long period where I ABSOLUTELY could not work out. Hell, I couldn't even do regular house chores.

I agree with bradrad, go slow, and don't push her past her limits. This is not something you can 'push through' and overcome mentally. If her symptoms worsen after she works out, let up. There will be a limit on what she can do, and it might fluctuate. Find that limit, and don't push her past it. If you do, it could trigger a symptom fit that may take days/weeks/months to recover from.

If she hasn't already found a great PCP or specialist to help her through management of her disease, this is a must. I spent over 10 years of my life pretty miserable until I found the right doc that just would not give up until I was a functional human again, and that was a lifesaver.

Meridian,

If you don't mind can you tell me what things helped you recover? I still struggle terribly with fatigue and intestinal permeability ( and candida although I am better than in years past ). I was basically housebound for years but I still am unable to enjoy a full day due to fatigue. I've done so many things to recover. I can't imagine what else I could do, although I've heard of everyhitng from removing mercury fillings ( whihc I really don't buy into ) you name it. It gets wierd :-)

I used to belong to a candida support group online but since I recovered some of my health a few years ago,( and i found it depressing after so long ) I stopped talking with other sufferers.

[_Meridian_]

In the end [and in hindsight], the solution was pretty simple and straightforward for me, but getting to that point was a nightmare.

Most importantly, I finally found a doctor who would treat for things even if there was no concrete proof in my labs that there was a problem, and who would try treatment after treatment until one or a combo started working.

After many unsuccessful treatments, what worked for me was a combination of things. When I found the right regemin, my health improved so rapidly that I went from being almost bed-ridden back to lifting and riding my bike 30-50 miles at a time within a period of less than 3 months.

I started all four of these at the same time:

1. High dose B-12 for 6 weeks. Weekly injections + 4000mcg Sublingual B-complex + 5mg Methylcobalamin [activated b12]. Now my continuous treatment is about half of this.

2. Anti-fungal meds for 2 months. Diflucan [Tried Terbinafine first with bad sides]. I coupled this with the standard Candida diet for the first few weeks, but did not follow it 100%.

3. A methylation cycle supplement treatment for 4 weeks. This is a CFS treatment suggested by Dr. Myhill, and can be found her website: http://drmyhill.co.uk/wiki/CFS_-_The_Methylation_Cycle

I didn't follow this exactly; it was adjusted according to the B12 I was receiving from the first treatment listed above.

Methylcobalamin 1 mg sublingually
Methyltetrahydrofolate 800mcg (ActiFolate)
Pyridoxal-5-phosphate 100mgs (50mgs twice daily)
Glutathione 250mgs daily
Phosphatidyl Serine 200mgs (100mgs twice daily) - BioCare

4. Daily probiotic supplement

I'm currently off treatment with the exception of B-12, probiotic, and standard multi-vitamin, and I really feel like a different person.

For so long I put up with it and believed what everyone else would say.. either it was all in my head, or that my diet/exercise was off, or that I was just depressed!!

I can't believe it took me my entire adult life thus far to find something that worked, but I am thankful, because I know there are those that suffer with debilitating CFS/Fibro symptoms for their entire lives. And now, if I ever have a relapse in symptoms, I know exactly what to do before it gets out of hand.

I hope maybe some of this info will help you!

[kimm4]

Hi all, I am going to be helping a friend of mine create and stick on a diet/workout plan. The only problem is she has Fibromyalgia. I am going to start with light cardio but was unsure as to what to do with weight training. Some help would be highly appreciated!

Very painful indeed. Walking and swimming should be on the top of the list for cardio choices. Training, full body, very light resistance training using bands or machines. (Stay away from the free weights.)

Workouts no longer then 20 min.

Best wishes to your friend.

[bradrad]

Meridian---
Thank you so much. This does help. I originally typed a longer reply but couldn't get it to go through. :-) I'm not very computer literate. lol

[NewMomma09]

Yuck, I'm sorry your friend has to deal with that. My mother in law has Fibro too and it's not easy. All of the above advice is wonderful though! I just wanted to add that one thing that really helps my MIL is following a low carb diet. She can always tell when she has too much because her symptoms get a lot worse. It might be something for your friend to consider. The B-12 is another big one. My MIL noticed a huge difference on it. Good luck to your friend, and kudos for you for helping! Good luck!