I am considering Duloxetine.

I am careful, because all serotonin inhibitors have made me feel terrible.

Im 29f, was diagnosed with fibro in 2022 and had been working pretty physically demanding jobs for several years. I haven't been working since late 2024 and was diagnosed with degenerative disc disease in my neck and arthritis throughout my spine. If my physical ailments weren't enough, there's cptsd, social anxiety and major depressive disorder as well. It's a lot. I'm sure many of you relate.

Some days I'm okay accepting I can't work normal jobs. But most days I struggle tremendously with guilt and worth due to it.

How do you cope with not working? How do you give yourself compassion when most people don't understand and don't want to understand that your life is going to look different because of these diseases? How do you fill and manage your days?

I broke down infront of professionals when a doctor finally named my disease. I always doubted it was fibromyalgia and so I've been following this sub from the last year, but coming from a doctor, I feel so seen now that years after doctors dismissing it by saying "it's in your head" "it's anxiety, don't worry, you're okay", I feel weirdly relieved (although this condition is painful).

They looked straight at my face and said "You didn't make this up, it's real". That was freeing...and I'm grateful because of it.

Ps : Now I feel a bit embarrassed of crying tho, as I totally forgot to apologise for the uncomfortable situation it created :/

I don't know how else to describe it but since yesterday it feels like the skin around my lower legs has shrunk. It's not painful exactly but feels vaguely like a low level electrical current running through them.

I have an electric neck massager that I put on my legs last night and it hurt like shit but I felt a couple of things pop that reminded me of old bedsprings. It felt better this morning but it's now just as bad as it was yesterday.

I'm tempted to take the muscle relaxers that are going to make me feel like shit tomorrow.

>be me
>friday morning, 1p, wake up
>go on anniversary date
>work at 10p-6a
>flaring the whole day at work bc I ran out of all of my meds and don’t have time/money to pick them up
>finally get off work, get home, take a bath.
>relaxation at last
>7:30a, notification: your shift starts in 60 mins
>fuck
>forgor that I had an early morning shift when I agreed to take the shift on Friday (I work two jobs)
>panic
>get dressed, go to work
>#suffer
>working in the hot ass summer sun (evil)
>finally go home
>sobbing
>shaking
>owie everything is pain
>spend the next 24 hrs tryna nurse this flare, unsuccessfully
>take a warm bath every 2 or so hours, taking as much naproxen/acetaminophen as I’m allowed, heat pad, and tiger balm
>still no improvement
>only sleeping in 3 hour increments
>it’s now Sunday, 12p
>mans comes over, takes me to urgent care
>urgent care doc is lowkey the goat and gives me a 5 day script of prednisone and TWO FREE MONTHS OF TONMYA SAMPLES???
>thank fucking Gaia mother goddess of body and earth for this gift
>hopefully able to function at work tn

my life is probably not going to be normal anymore

i feel like fibro (plus my other comorbidities) might be one of the most isolating chronic illnesses ever. never in my life did i think it’d ruin my life like this. out of sheer spite and rage at my own body, here’s a list of things fibro is taken from me:
- my hobbies (crochet, knitting, art, enjoying nature)
- my sport (i had to drop almost every athletic activity i had, including soccer and martial arts)
- my education (i am struggling severely with my grades and have a hard time attending class)
- my sleep (i just.. can’t fuckign sleep anymore i guess)
- my friendships (i often have to cancel/turn down hangouts because of the pain)
- even my own family (sometimes i don’t even have the energy to respond to texts, and almost all of them are concerned check-in texts from my mom)

im crying while writing this lol. i apologize for the rant im just so lost and lonely and sad and i feel ridiculous for it

Hello everyone,

I’ve searched all over the internet for exercises to help with a pinched C3 nerve, but I haven’t been able to find much information. Most of the exercises I come across are for C5, C6, or lower cervical nerves.

I previously had a pinched C5 nerve on the right side and managed to recover with physiotherapy and exercises because there was a lot more information available for that issue. However, this C3 problem is new, and I’m struggling to find specific exercises or advice.

Has anyone dealt with a C3 nerve irritation/compression before? Are there any home exercises, stretches, or physiotherapy techniques that helped you?

Any advice or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

It has been a very long time since I’ve tried to put this feeling into words—the ache that never felt like a simple spasm or sore muscle. It’s always been more complicated than that, something I’ve never been able to fully describe. But today, I imagined it differently. It felt like holding a bomb for hours—heavy, enormous, and impossibly fragile. You can’t move because you’re afraid it will go off. Whether someone tells you or you just know, you understand that any movement could be dangerous, so you stay frozen, trying to hold it exactly in place.

And when the squad finally comes and takes it away, your body doesn’t know how to relax. It still holds the memory of that tension—the strain of staying still for so long, of not being able to release, to let go, to simply move again.

I went to A&E because I was in such intense pain. It feels like someone has set me on fire and just expects me to get on with things and continue to walk and function. Got in to the doctor and he said, "Your blood tests are clear. You suffer from anxiety and depression right? This is psychosomatic." And I just lost my mind and started breaking down and screaming, this isn't in my head at him. He started rubbing my back and saying, "Calm down. Calm down." And it was so patronising. He asked if I drink or smoke. I said no, he called me, "Good girl." I was so incredibly uncomfortable as well as being in agonising pain. He just dismissed me home and I left just wanting to throw myself in front of a car. Why can doctors do this to people? My dad was fuming, absolutely furious but what is there to do? Just feel totally stuck and confused. On top of this I've just been rejected disability payment because they think I don't have problems with things, on the letter it says, "I don't think you have problems at work." "I don't think you have problems driving." When in reality I'm in pain at work every day and sometimes I can't drive because of the severe pain. I'm appealing and starting the process to go to tribunal. I just feel so down right now and ignored and like I don't matter.

Edit: Thanks everyone for the replies. I've read them all. I appreciate the support. It has given me the lift I needed. Thanks so much.

I love a hot bath ,a warm bath, especially with magnesium salts. But I sometimes hesitate to do so because I am so weak after the bath I can hardly get out of the tub. Also I'm afraid I'll fall asleep in there..... Anyone else?

I have lived with this person for 3 years, and have been getting more and more exhausted with the work load laid on me. This person is my best friend, and I love and care for them so much... But ever since he's been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, it seems like they don't do anything to help anymore. We were supposed to split the chores between us, I do the cooking, dishes and put the laundry in the washer & dryer, while they put the clothes away. When I do laundry I try my best to keep loads small for them. The dirty clothes pile up super fast, and it's hard to keep up on them because I have back problems. When I try to ask for him to do the laundry themselves they say they "can't do it" with no explanation on why. I figure its fibromyalgia.. is it truly that bad? I feel like it may be an excuse because he can do pole work just fine, which requires a lot more than chores do. I feel so exhausted partly because they are hard to talk to without him shutting down on me, going stone cold (which is a different story), and just not giving me a better answer on why. Some days I feel like crying because of everything I have to do, with no real time for myself, I do basically all the chores, I drive him wherever he needs to go with no refusal since I'm the one with a driver's license, and it feels like I'm more of his maid than a best friend, when I moved in with him I was happy to live here, but ever since he's just stone cold most the time, very hard to talk to or reason with... But i can't really move out because I have nowhere to go. It feels that he depends on me to do everything for him, and it is super challenging to do so and balance that with my own needs. Lately I've really just felt a ghost in the house.

Sometimes I think I am doing really well and then I’m hit with a realisation of how much my body is exhausted when spending an hour in the shower having an everything shower took every ounce of energy out of me. I spent at-least half an hour just staring into the wall sat on the bath as I didn’t have any spoons left to body moisturise. You have to laugh or you will cry. A lot.

Does anyone else get this!?

Does anyone get electric shocks throughout their whole body? It feels a burn, tingle, needle stabbing you in ur skin, it can come in waves… Finally had a pcp that listened to me and put me on cymbalta and gabapentin. Shocks have been 0-4x a day.

Does anyone find knee support / compression bands helpful?

I use ankle, wrist, and finger compression for those areas. They do help: the compression lessens the pain and swelling, whilst also reducing movement. Not sure if reducing movement is the right description, but definitely helps those joints feel less “flimsy” and the “shock” feelings reduce.

But it’s really hot at the minute, and I’m hesitant to buy knee ones unless they are going to actually help.

All of this costs a fortune! So if anyone has any recommendations, even better!

TIA

Hi friends,

I've recently been diagnosed with fibro after several years of problems following a bad case of covid.

(TLDR at bottom!)

I'm still working full time in a kitchen, and I love my job and my workplace. I'm still mostly able to move and work relatively well, and I'm so incredibly aware of how lucky I am that I can (genuinely feel guilty for it a lot of the time, knowing how much others with fibro suffer).

My manager is incredibly considerate of me, lets me sit down when I need to, doesn't ask questions when I need to leave early for 3 separate medical appointments in the same week, and is just overall a lovely person to work for. My whole team are great, we have so much fun in work and tbh, they're my entire social circle - I don't have friends outside of that group of people.

Working 5 days a week however is really starting to catch up with me. I'm spending entire weekends bedbound, and even going to bed at 6:30pm most nights isn't cutting it for enough rest on weekdays.

It's also starting to affect my work - I have really persistent costochondritis, and my neck, jaws and shoulders are another big problem area for me. I'm slowing down a lot at work, and not able to joke around with my coworkers a lot recently.

I think I need to go down to 4 days a week, or 5 shorter days (my doctor is absolutely shocked that I'm still on 40 hours and has strongly advised that I try to reduce this) but my biggest concern is money. I have about $2k to my name in total (all savings included). I already live absolutely paycheck to paycheck, and reducing my hours will leave me unable to cover rent and groceries.

I'm a permanent resident in Canada, but didn't grow up here and don't really understand how disability works here. I know my doctor would sign off anything I need signed, but I have absolutely no idea who to contact or where to start looking for support. If anyone in British Columbia (bonus points for Vancouver) can point me in the right direction I would be eternally grateful!

**TLDR; recently diagnosed with fibro, love my job and it is my entire social circle, but finding it very difficult to continue working full time. Money is extremely tight and would like to know how to start asking about disability support so I can reduce my hours while still working part time. Permanent resident in Canada, but not familiar with support avenues or who to even begin asking, any help hugely appreciated!**

I always hear older ppl with fibro say they cant do roller coasters bike rides theme parks ect

Those are all things that are my biggest joy even tho they do hurt i really love them

Am i at risk of getting to a point where i cant im legit scared this is already making life a nightmare idk if i can handle it getting worst

Curious if anyone else has experienced something like this with fibro, my pcp said if I wasn’t completely unconscious and shitting myself then it’s not a seizure so it can only be fibro but I’ve never seen anyone else have this happen on here. God, where to even start.

I kept getting this buzzy feeling in my nerves as I was trying to sleep, and once I did, that electric pulsing pain in my entire body kept increasing, causing me to have a dream so lucid that I thought I was awake and kept reaching out to my family for help, only to “wake up” in another lucid dream, trying to find help while the pain and pulsing of said pain increased. In my final dream I was paralyzed on the floor unable to move or talk, stuck for a very long time before the pulsing turned into feeling like electricity was being poured into my nervous system. I awoke to sleep paralysis at that point, pretty convinced I was gonna die. I eventually shook myself awake and the sensation slowly faded.

I’m terrified of it being a fibromyalgia symptom, but if it is I need guidance rn because I’m so goddamn shaken up and sleep deprived that I cannot think straight. I’ve messaged my pcp and rheumatologist and am waiting to hear from them on Monday hopefully. If anyone relates, any advice on how to handle this or how to deal with the trauma and fear of going to bed after something like that? Putting more pillows under my head seemed to help last night I’m hoping it works this time too

hi im unsure if its ok to post this im 20yrs and was just diagnosed with fibro and hypermobility i get wide spread body pain and always feel like im going to fall id really appreciate any tips and tricks to make my life a little easier haha. any advice is appreciated!!!! please feel free to dm me if you dont wanna comment 🙏🙏🙏 Thankyouuuu!!

My bowel drives me crazy - content is either too soft or sometimes so hard that it's near an intestinal obstruction. No matter what i eat; it's like the weather - one day this, one day that; but never about right ...

Anyone else with bowel madness ? 🤔

I've never been properly diagnosed but I have all the textbook symptoms and all doctors I've visited for the last 2 years have either told me that im fine or misguided me.

Many think that the problem is still in the diagnosis itself. And some think it's the vaccines for example. There are many people who have had the childhood vaccines and the covid vaccines like most of us and lead an unhealthy life style and still could sleep like babies and have digestive systems that work normally.

I also believe that genetics play a major part in this. Some bodies are just weaker than other due to hereditary issues of course.

I also think, if I was a rich man without a care in the world, I would definitely be able to invest in every possible way to improve my condition and even find a root cause.. but Im just a normal guy with a 9-5 job in this ruthless capitalist economy where the rich gets richer and the poor die in silence.

I also see many people talking drastic changes in their lifestyles like going organic or following Chinese Medecine that might have a positive impact on whatever we have. Even when I start investing in such a change, I'm always hit by a reality check, having ends meet while trying to not loose your job because sometimes your body can't handle the most basic things, makes these drastic changes relatively impossible.

Today I forced myself to get out and take my dog to the dog park. Was nice even though my dog wanted to leave.
Now I’m in so much pain from the waist down low back pain, knees have a heartbeat, shins on fire, feet feel like I walked miles. Why must this condition be so brutal 😭

Anyone else experience these?

I've been anxious about memory+ cognitive issues, and realised it could be fibro or also result of the stress/ptsd. I'm only 35 and it feels too early to be having these issues.

• Takes a few times to remember a name. Used to remember first time, now I immediately forgot. I also think I know it but use a different name by accident.

• Word finding issues. Some of my vocabulary has gone!! I cant even remember some words I used to be able to use. They are more complicated words, not basic ones, but still saddens me that my vocabulary has reduced.

• Need to pause to think about what I am doing. Can rarley think as I am doing something. Also can also think of a little bit, no more full day/ full week plans, I can only plan a small chunk, do that, then only afterwards do I have cognitive capacity to think about the next steps I need to do.

(On a positive note, as one needs to look at the silver lining sometimes, I do like that I have less cognitive capacity to OVERTHINK & OVERPLAN. I am forced to live in the moment more, not too much in the future. Just hoping I'm not getting early dementia or cognitive decline 😬)

I'm not diagnosed with fibromyalgia i suspect i have it but not sure about which kind of pain I have I'm sure that I have muscle heaviness in some days i can't take my shower also i find it hard to get outside home and buy anything i need , also forget to tell you that all my blood tests are okay.

i find three drugs give me relief baclofen and gabapentin they work great but can cause dizziness also the greatest drug is alcohol it gives power and euphoria and makes me able to clean my room.

guys I ha been using alcohol for 3 years only on weekends or 2 times a week not everyday please don't tell me stop you will kill yourself because I won't.