Has anyone else noticed that we have had more MediClim alerts this winter than ever before? I usually feel my symptoms just before I check the e-mail, and lo and behold there is an alert for my area. I live in the "Thumb" of Michigan and it has been quite an "alert-filled" year so far. I have upped my exercise, regardless of how I feel and it has actually helped. Those of you with fibromyalgia know what I'm talking about: fatigue, widespread pain, etc. It seems that the gray, cloudy days make things even more difficult. But, as I said, exercise has been my salvation this winter. I have Wii Fit, and also EAS Trainer for Wii and I do both, if not every day, then every other day. I am not saying that I'm pain-free, but I have more energy and a better attitude to deal with the other symptoms of fibromyalgia. I just wanted to check with those of you who have this condition....
I am 57, moved up from Toronto to a rural town, close to water, some years ago, and the last three years, been suffering from a fall, which I have never healed from, and am told, now, that I will need, knee replacement surgery, down the road, but am too young, right now.....I am a couple of hours north of Toronto, have knee, ankle and shoulder problems, most definately, like the thermometer changes, would never have dreamed of such misery, until you actually experience this, for yourself, I am crippled with this disability, use a cane on bad days but hate using it and hobble around, fear having any, surgery, as I have never been in a hospital, since the day I was born, and cannot even bring myself enough courage to go and have any dental work done, let alone anything more serious......!!! Today being November 17th, it has gotten colder up here, no more double -digit, figured, weather. I am suffering....using my heating pad and doing stretching. I have Ibuprofen, up to 1200 mg., daily, but, avoid taking them, as I fear, what they will do to my liver....??? So I suffer through until I cannot stand it anymore... It took awhile, but I saved up and I went for a detox foot bath and it turned brown, which indicates, liver stress, so I am worried...I was very physically active my whole life, and now this is devastating, what a turnaround, almost sorry I left the big smoke to retire in the country, with minimal health care, up here and being all alone, managing a small home and maintenance, with a limitied income, is very difficult surviving thru every day and winters, are the worst. Now, I know why people flock to Florida and Arizona, etc.,.... anyone need a freind, on a budget, to travel with.....??? LOL...!!!! ...I have not had a holiday, in over 10 years, and used to have, my own Condo in Florida, this, here, where I am now, was my summer cottage, had a great lifestyle, but lost it.... this last year especially, as the weather has been definately, unusually strange....!!! Yesterday, I just happened to go to our Post Office, in Shoppers Drug Mart and was lucky to spot 'Forever Young', newspaper, which I picked up for free, for the very first time....saw this article on 'Mediclim', and joined the website for free reports....would like to find others or friends with similar problems to connect with....so please reply or let me know how you deal with it all.....Thankyou for reading this and glad you are out there.....'Country Bumpkin'...!!!!
Have you looked into Lyrica for the Fibromyalgia? I have had two knee replacements and do no regret it at all. The first one was in 1998 when I was 52. That was before they have replacement parts made specifically for women as they do now. The second one was in 2001. Pease think seriously about it, ask questions, use the internet for research and inform yourself.
I am a diabetic, old breast cancer survivor(24 years in March), have neuropathy for that, severe arthritis, recent shoulder surgery,plus. Please take your Ibuprofen as directed routinely and it will help the arthritis even more than jut taking it when you need it. I thought the same way until I saw a rheumatologist. He is the one that explained how it helps much more as taken as directed. I am sure they could give you a little stornger pain pill for the times that are extemely bad.
Evilannie
Wow: I thought I had it bad. I always wanted to live in a small town as I thought it would be so cozy and friendly but after reading your note I have changed my mind.
What would probably help your mood would be to join some organization with a purpose if there is such a thing in your town (which I'm sure there is). Distraction is a great mood lifter and with thinking about something other than yourself and your pain you might become more cheerful and able to attract other people.
Chronic pain is difficult to live with and it eats away at your hopes for the future. How about reading an inspirational book or even an interesting novel?
I would like to know if any of these suggestions helped you.
Good luck and you are definitely not alone.
Merele
How could MediClim miss this enormous arthritis trigger? I have been experiencing an arthritic hip and IBS sx; this is usually the case when there is a change in humidity. I just got an email from MediClim about migraine sx being high at this time in Northern California. I'm sorry, but this is not a very accurate forecast. Most arthritis sufferers that I have known, swear that when the humidity is high and it is stormy, it's time to prepare for flare ups.
The great part of this is when the pain is gone you feel so wonderful, it makes me greatful to feel good. I have CCl,fibro,Osteoarth, and feel blessed to be better when I can I have so many things wrong. Just be grateful there are meds to help us thru the bad days, when I'm really in pain I go to bed and when I'm up I try not to overdo and since I'm a A personality that is so hard. Maybe each of us can draw strength from knowing we're not alone. I'm 63 and have a fighting spirit.
I have arthritis and have had a knee replacement. Tai Chi has been wonderful in rehabbing my new knee and in strengthening my "good " knee. I have found it beneficial for my whole body, decreasing pain, improving my energy levels, and improving my balance. Be careful in choosing a teacher and a form as many can be very hard on the knees with needless bends and torque. I would suggest finding someone who teaches the Sun form, and if you can find a teacher that has studied under Paul Lam M.D. I think you would be very happy. I also have fibromyalgia and have found Tai Chi does not increase my pain.
So far, I have not perceived a strong link between weather and my knee OA, but I really need to keep a diary to know for sure. It seems my early onset OA is more irritated by increased exercise/load on the joint than anything else, but I really don't want to cut out any more activity. I already quit running, but I'm not ready to quit all sports. I am looking for non-medicinal alternatives. I would love feedback from those who have tried acupuncture, Tai Chi or other alternatives.
I live in the Chinook belt and my symptoms worsen no matter which way the barometer moves. It doesn't matter whether it is a stable high or low pressure, warm or cold, as long as the weather stays constant, I have less pain and fewer mobility problems. My mobility ranges from walking with no support right through to wheelchair - it makes it difficult to plan ahead.
The best hand hint I can offer is bread baking. Kneading something like Annadama bread feels wonderful no matter how sore my hands are. (That is a dough that is worked while it is hot). The bonus is you get to eat your therapy.
Best help hint from my doctor - move every joint every day even if it hurts a lot. There were days when that task took all day - with a lot of tears. Now I have appropriate medication, I still do the moves but the degree of pain is a reflection of the weather. It can be completely pain free, but a Chinook coming or going can be a bit tense.
Elizabeth I too am in the Chinook belt and my fibro flattens me whenever there is a fast or big change in baropmetric pressure, any direction, just like you. I wish the website owners wouuld add fibromyalgia to the chart, because everyone in my fibro support group has reported the same peoblem with fast weatther changes.
Just started a month ago and find it scarey when the alerts come....today I was miserable and figured weather changing and weather says it is and then came the alert.
I have arthritis in hands--seuronegative rhematoid arthritis in hands, feet and back....knee starting...have had hip replaced in 08 and tripple spinal fusion of L4,5,S1 in 4-09 and in therapy yet....am to walk which is work but better than a year ago...just know I have to do it and do the exercises my therapists gives me....am taking tramadol 50mg. and 500 mg. extra tylenol 3-4 times a day to stay on top of the pain. Went to rheumoatoidologist in Jan. and put me on methotrexate and it did wierd things to me so dr. said to stop. Now am to see another rh dr. in Nov. and wonder what others take for relief that are safe.
interested to know more.
Elizabeth
I have suffered from fibro and chronic fatigue but in a mild way. I had pneumonia in July and was hospitalized for 10 days. Since then my fibro has gone out of control and I am suffering from extreme fatigue. I also have trouble breathing because of scoliosis in my spine. I don't know if the weather affects me because I feel awful all the time. I was put on percocet and oxycontin for my chronis pain but that doesn't help too much.
Somedays are exremely hard, but if I can get out of the house for awhile I feel better.
July 13 and July 14 have been horrid days for fibromyalgia and I have not had such a flare in in ages!
I had an email alert and my muscles ache all over? Not much rain coming in .....live in London On.
Sometimes when I get the alerts I cannot say that I had been in pain but it is interesting!
I too live i London Ontarion and I love the alerts but I havent always been in pain when they send them.
Today is august 21st and I am in a little bit of pain but then I ran 10km and have fibro......wondering if it is the weather?
susamiler
I totally agree it is awful.I take Lyrica and helps as well pain meds.Usually I feel mine a few days before. Swings here in tn. are tough.One day I definitely will be going south Florida.Do you know anyone that has done that and helped?
I have just joined so I am not sure if it is going to be interesting yet ,I can always tell a day or two before it will rain due to back pain i have a rod in my back and with the weather it plays a BIG part in my pain levels going up and back plus I was told by the Doctor with all my other problems with my back.
I also have Arthritis in my back !! I have some days that I wonder if I can even get up out of bed but I just tell myself I have to do it and get to work and after moving and get going it will get better but When I get Mirgines and bed bound till I get over the headache It KILLS my back being laid up. I was just hoping this would help me out ,The more I can find out and maybe what helps other people I could try it myself on my real bad days.
I have just joined this site and I am also interested in other peoples feedback. I suffer from Cervical Degeneration and arthritis of the knees and spine as well as Fibromyalgia and Menieres. Weather greatly affects my ailments. I can get symptoms the day before a storm front comes in. My menieries is also affected by barometric pressure changes and I can get spells of vertigo up to an hour before the rain starts. My neck and back will ache to the point that I am bedridden.
It is a horrible way to live and I have nothing to help me with the pain except over the counter meds.
I hope that others will join the site and give their feedback and what helps them.
My sister has Menieres and I soooo sympathize with you as she constantly tells me about veritgo and not being able to hear. Did you often take a lot of medication when you were younger .........I have heard taking a lot of medication can destroy the nerves in the ear and my husband was a pill popper for everything and cannot hear in one ear.
My Fibromyalgai today is horrid and has been for two days on the couch and I haven had a relaspe since I was 36 years old where I ended up in the hospital for a week.
Lots of pain and tired and achy.
Weather here in London is dreary and small rain storm coming in but not much?
Wish they could find out what causes Fibromyalgia.....were you ever in a car accident?
gotta run
Hello Catherine,
I just read your health problems and know what you are talking about as I also suffer from fibromyalgia and severe arthritis in my neck (including aches and pain here and there). I take Tylenol every day to ease the pain and help me go through my working day. Worse part is feeling tired most of the time. I've realized that keeping active does help... Flexiril reall helps to have a better sleep at night... that's all I take.
It is also very important to keep warm... a nice hot bath... etc.etc.
Today is June 2nd and it is sooo cold here near London Ontarion and I cant seem to get warm at all!
I have arthritis in my thumbs and they hurt today!
I usually can feel a storm coming in about two or three days ahead of time......just joined and am anxious to see it weather is affecting my ailments too.
Fibro mine is pretty good as i can still run 10km a day but am tired lately and that is due to the weather and the rain I think. I just basically now have a sleep disorder with it! Pain seem to have left me and had fibro since I was 36 years old but am fine now???? No pain just tired but stilll very active and doing a food journal at the moment and it is interesting as I cut out sugar and chips and wine and ate fruits and veg and there is a difference as when i went back to sugar and wine and chips .....I became moody and stomach felt heavy!
perhaps diet makes a difference time will tell!
susamiler
Today is June 6th, and it is cold here in the Thumb of Michigan! I have fibromyalgia too, and I can tell when we are going to get some weather, even before it's forecasted on the TV. I am still able to walk a 5K at a pretty good clip, but am having pain in my neck and shoulders lately. As anyone with fibro knows, the pain seems to find it's way into a different area at any given time! I can't really complain; I"m sleeping well with the aid of Flexeril before bed. I feel lucky when I see others with the same condition, but in much poorer shape. I will have to try cutting down on sugar and chips....I do like a glass of wine, though!
Havent been on this net for awhile!
I love wine too and wonder if that affects Fibromyalgia and I seem to crave sugar.
I hardly ever sleep and get maybe 2 hours at night and now when i need something I go to the Drugstore and get Sleep E and it seems to help.........It is July 14 and my bones hurt sooo much today and havent had a relapse for years.?
Wouldnt it be great if a group of doctors got a bunch of Fibromyalgia patients and tracked their diets and exercise to see if that would make a difference......wonder if they are researching this stuff......I never believed in Fibromyalgia ..........UNTIL you get it!!!
I have severe fibromyalgia and was hoping it was included in the alerts. I do have mild osteo-arthritis as well, so, I hope the alert with that is valid as well for fibro. I agree whole heartedly with what was said about not believing it until you get it..there is a great site called fibrohugs.com and a letter to 'normals' that is right ON! about the effects it has on your life and those around you. I hope this site sends great alerts as the barometric pressure along with humidity is a killer for fibro. I live in Colorado and normally it is dry in the summer..I only moved here last fall and I am like WHY this year ? so much rain !! hopefully, there will be a cure before I am too old to enjoy it !!
My husband has osteoarthrist and we live in florida now and he wants to move to tucson az. The humidity here in florida is terrible. Arizona is a much drier climate. Does any body know if it really is benefical for arthritis to live in a drier climate.Moving is a big step .I would like some insite on it. We have been there before but he was not so bad at the time so we could't tell.
I have had some form of Osetoarthritis since I was a kid in my right knee. I grew up in Massachusettes and every year during mostly spring, fall and winter my right knee would flare up horribly. The pain was atrocious and most times I could barely move. I moved to Albuquerque, NM for college and NEVER had a problem with my knee during the 2 years I lived there. I lived in Florida for 1 year and while I had flare ups, it wasn't as bad as it was in Massachusetts. I also lived in the Dallas/Fort Worth area for 6 years and something very odd happened there: my osteoarthritis would only periodically flare up, but when it did there would be so much fluid in my knee that it would swell to the size of a mellon! I have never exeperienced that before until moving to Dallas/Forth Worth. I could not bend the knee at all and had to keep in elevated while either lying down or sitting up and this lasted for a good week each time. It was weird. I now live in Virginia Beach, VA... lived here for about 2 years and my osteoarthritis of the knee flares up every year around the end of summer through October and November (rainy season).
For what it's worth, having moved around the country I can definitely tell that elevation, humidity and temperature play a huge role in my knee flare ups. I would give anything to go back to New Mexico and not experience the pain again! Perhaps Arizona's climate is a tad bit different than New Mexico's? I know Albuquerque and Santa Fe are highly elevated in the mountains and dry -- -- it worked wonders for me and no other place since has worked as well.
I live in Chicago area, and have tried Phoenix - I was more miserable there than I have ever been. I think the cool nights did me in. I woke up every morning with aches and pains. Florida is a gentler and more steady climate for me - I feel great there. Does anyone have any help for Neuropathy? I take alphaLipoic Acid, but the last few days have ben awful
wow--kudos to you that use gabapentin!-I tried it in the past--maybe my dose was too high but it made me hallucinate and wake me with weird dreams. I stopped immediately-maybe a lower dose and allowing more time would have helped. I am going to look into that.
I'm 42, female, have Scleroderma and Raynaud's. I live in a suburb of Chicago and have been told by many doctors to move to a warmer climate to help with my illness. I thought if I did (like FL or AZ) everyone uses air cnditioning so it would defeat the purpose of moving to a warmer climate--no?? Vivian, can you tell me how you are feeling that you moved to FL? I am seriously considering it so I can live a life without battling my SD and Raynaud's so much.
Hope you all are feeling better! : )
Try Gabapentin - it is supposed to be very good for neuropathy and fibromyalgia. I take 1000 mgs. daily and I think it helps - it seemed to help my sciatica.
Let me know
Hi Vivian,
I have a neuroligist and she has me on Neuronton. Not sure of that spelling. It helps most of the time. If you look up the drug it was used for seizures. But I cant take anything with aspirin in it. I had to go slow on dosage at first because it would make me feel so out of it. But once it got in my system over the months I was able to build up to a tolerable level and it helps now. And I dont have that terrible feeling.
This was just a note to let you know about my meds. OH, by the way, I live in Texas. :)
Hope you get to feeling better.
Best regards,
Kiki
I just posted a note to Vivian telling her about this drug, but I noticed someone had already told her about Neurontin and it is the brand name for Gabapentin.
My husband and I moved to Phoenix from Colorado, and I too have Osteoarthritis. I do feel better, although sometimes I just ache. We lived in Durango, which has more humidity than Phoenix, but nothing near what you have in Florida. I do know that getting away from the cold has helped me, as well as my husband.
Hope this helps! Good luck to you, and let me know what you decide.
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Connecting your Health to the Weather 
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Arthritis/Tendonitis/Fibromyalgia..new member, first day...
Arthritis
arthritis pain etc.
Huge storm in California
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My goodness K9Catherine!
Hello Catherine, I just read
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Hi Portaustin!
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arizona vs florida
arizona vs florida
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