Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain condition that affects approximately five million people worldwide. As of right now, there is no cure and no known cause for the disease, but it’s believed that diet can play a large part in the management of symptoms.
Here are five diet tips to help you control your fibromyalgia flares based on information from prevention.com:
Get Enough Vitamin D
Vitamin D is often called the sunshine vitamin as it’s derived from the sun’s rays. Many of us are deficient in this vital vitamin, particularly through the winter, which can lead to joint and muscle pain. Vitamin D is needed to build healthy bones, improve the immune system, regulate blood pressure and help to prevent cancer. Foods that are good sources of vitamin D include eggs, fish, dairy, fortified cereals, and fruit juices. Speak to your doctor about vitamin D supplements.
Vitamin D may help fibromyalgia patients deal with pain and fatigue. Find out more.
Well, too much Vitamin D can be harmful. Too much can cause kidney damage. I was in renal failure a couple of years ago-it had nothing to do w/ Vit D but an MD prescribing a medication in too high of a dose. I nearly died and this doctor is still in practice. She knew there was nothing I could do and the nurses/doctors wld have lied for her.
The medication prescribed had depleted my body of Vit D and my thyroid was not even within normal numbers.
No, I no longer see this doctor nor does another family member after she prescribed her Benedryl and she was breastfeeding. My DIL called me in tears because her milk was drying up-yes, the same doctor.
Finding a team to help those of us w/ fibro is difficult because so many doctors do not understand or believe than someone w/ good numbers on blood work could have any thing wrong!!! GRRRRRR!!
Still searching and listening to my body because I have lived in this body for 65+ years now and I know it better than anyone else.
I needed to vent.
Folks, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS check with your pharmacist before taking any new prescription or samples given by your doctor. Many do NOT mix with others. Many need to be taken at a certain time or on a full or empty stomach. Let your pharmacist know all the medications AND supplements you are taking. THEY know the drugs much better than the doctors do! This will perhaps save your life and keep bad interactions from happening…You have to be your own health advocate and you do know your body better than anyone else!
Thank you Denise 🙂
It is EXTREMELY difficult to achieve Vitamin D toxicity.
Kelli this is true, but something good to be aware of-your reply came across as EXTREMELY defensive. Sorry if you were offended you in some way.
Sorry I don’t agree with the foods you suggest. A plant based diet is far better and healthier. I gave up dairy and meat and within 5 days I was symptom free of fibro. I had been using walking sticks and had a disabled badge for my car so it was bad. 2 years free of symptoms 🙂 dairy is so bad for us please research a plant based diets and benefits.
Totally Agree Kerrie!!!! I may get ridiculed and not invited to family functions and have lost friends-well worth it. Sad more people are unwilling to give up the things they so enjoy to help w/ pain. For some it is much easier to use drugs.
Diet is so important. I very much like green tea and decaffeinate my own by steeping the tea at room temperature. Artificially decaffeinated in my opinion are pure poison because of the chemicals used. Artificial sweeteners are the same.
I may sound like an extremist, but I do not like being in pain and want a better quality of life.
I still do have days that are uncomfortable, but nothing like before. Stress can also cause flares. Do like the lavender/hops essential oil as well as some others.
Very few doctors suggest this to patients.
Dismounting soapbox-for now. Happiness and peace to all even if not in agreement. 🙂 What works for one does not always work for another.
The food advice is great. (It would also be nice if we didn’t have to go to five different pages to see it. Just sayin,…)
My gastroenterologist put me on the “FODMAP” diet, which really isn’t a diet, it’s just what to eat and not to eat to help with the IBS and GERD. Was big in the 70’s. You can google it. It has helped tremendously with the bloating, diarrhea, gas, etc!
Has anybody found a solution to the horrendous morning stiffness.? This last week I wake up with my whole body locked up like stone. I can barely move, getting out of bed and walking needs military planning and it takes hours and hours for my muscles to loosen I’ve tried all muscle relaxants but none of them work. Each day feels like im becoming paralysed.
Try and gently “wake your body up” by doing gentle exercises in bed. I start with my feet, making slow round circles one way, then back the other. Same with wrists. Try pulling your legs into your chest gently…as close as you can without pain. I would google gentle yoga poses. That’s what these are. (Too many to write in this blog.) I do them in bed for 10-15 minutes before getting out of bed. Makes a big difference for me! If you aren’t taking supplements, talk to your doc and pharmacist about taking magnesium and/or do foot baths or full body baths in Epsom Salts. They contain magnesium. Should help with the muscle spasms. If you have access to a heated pool, it will help tremendously. If not, warm baths or showers will help loosen things up. And remember to be good to yourself… Good luck!
You need to get up every few hours & move around!! Only thing that works for me.
Try it .. it really helps!!
Denise, you are definitely on the right track! I do all of these things but I also use a heating pad after stretching when I can’t soak in the tub and/or can’t stand up long enough to take a shower. It works wonders! I do take magnesium also – approx. 1000 mg/day in 2 divided doses. This also helps with constipation related to some of our common fibro meds.
Thanks, Amy! It has literally taken me years and years of “practice” or should I say, “trial and error.” I take magnesium daily too and it really helps with the muscle spasms! Merry Christmas!
Just a warning about magnesium supplements: they can have laxative effects! If you have that problem, get a time-release Mg like Mag64.
The magnesium will also help those of us constipated by the meds given for pain! Wahoo! A “two-fer!”
Hi Steve. Have you worked w/ your diet?? Essential oils are also helpful and be sure to get enough Vitamin D3 and magnesium citrate. Not easy having fibro-it is a journey.
Always discuss things w/ your doctor first.
Wishing you the best Steve.
I find coffee very helpful in the morning. It seems to alleviate some of the pain and stiffness.
You don’t mention avoiding the nightshade family…tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant and peppers. I found it made a big difference once I cut them out.
That’s right Lisbeth. There are some who can benefit from cutting these types of foods from their diet. 🙂
The foods you have mentioned-so true. White potatoes are catastrophic for me altho sweet potatoes are okay in my diet.
Thanks for mentioning these plants.
I am encouraged when I hear others sharing about their diets.
I know milk products were also mentioned-I can use a good quality Greek yogurt-sparingly. Need some good gut bacteria.
How I would that others would try working w/ their diet. I have shared w/ some and when they gave it a try decided I was not an extreme head case after all.
Now this retired artist needs to get back to the most recent painting. This and watching my wild-feathered friends. Snow here today.
Does anyone else do Tai Chi? Due to severe TMJ I must be very careful as to what types of exercises I do.
Curious if anyone else has tried Tai Chi. Yoga became out of the regimen as it was affecting the TMJ.
I spent nearly $10,000 getting the help I needed. The 1st OD was way off base. so far this is much better altho the contraptions in my mouth can be irksome at times I do as I am told. Soft foods only-I am gluten free as gluten does dreadful things. Been a challenge eating healthy, but I do it!!! I have always liked sprout bread and even this had to go 🙁
Keep eating healthy, getting rest, and staying as active as you can, when you can. Yoga is great, but is not for everyone. Tai Chi is good for the contemplative aspect, the deliberate movements and the power/finesse needed for some katas.
Thank you Tim-the very reason I asked if any one else does or has tried Tai Chi because some have mentioned also having problems w/ TMJ.
Wow! I don’t know where to begin. I have had fibro back as young as 8. I am now 49. Do other fibro patients also suffer from allergies? Drug allergies, environmental & food?. I have cut back my diet by 75% in 17 yrs. There is a definite change in how I feel after I eat. Within 15-45 min after eating the pain increases, congestion, coughing, clearing my throat, runny nose, fatigue. I know what to stay away from all the time. But there are some foods I refuse to give up. So when the occasion arises to eat certain things I ask my self “is this worth the pain? With all my health issues I am out of options. I live on mucinex, allergy supplements, probiotics. I have been to nutritionist, diaticians and my case is so complicated they scratch their heads & give me 1 or 2 meal suggestions & send me on my way. 1 or 2 meal suggestions, but I need 3 meals per day & at least 2 snacks. Eating & finding things to eat is a chore. Eating shouldn’t be so complicated. Also If I eat an offending food it affect my cognitive abilities, memory, sometime balance
has anybody tried acupuncture and got cured?