Aqua Therapy for Fibromyalgia

Ahhhhh warm water......Yes, sign me up! When in a great deal of pain I do resort to a nice warm shower to help. That's as close as I am able to get so far to an aqua therapy plan for my fibromyalgia. I cannot find a good facility in my area at times that work for me (grrrr) but I do have on my wish list to try someday if possible, as I do believe in the benefits.

Sue writes of the great benefits, why it works and other recommendations here:

http://www.prohealth.com/fibromyalgia/library/showArticle.cfm?libid=18426&B1=EM102313F

Have you tried aqua therapy?

Lifestyle Changes for Fibromylagia

I often talk about lifestyle changes and adjustments for helping manage fibro symptoms. I found this great link on about.com detailing the top 10 lifestyle changes. I've highlighted the list below, but it really is worthwhile to read though the article with details and more links for each.

http://chronicfatigue.about.com/od/copingwithfmscfs/ss/lifestylechanges.htm

1. Pace Yourself
I have learned to do this, I am/was a type A personality pre-fibro, so was always on the go go go, but have learned now to balance activity (work, errands, dinner out with friends etc.) with periods of rest. This keeps me from fibro flares. Sometimes going out to dinner on a Friday night means not scheduling plans on the following Saturday for anything. Or dinner out on a Tuesday means not going out on Wednesday as well.

2. Holding a Job / Disability
This has been a struggle, but I have noticed having a job to go to helps keep my mind off the fibro for a few hours, and helps give me more purpose for the day.

3. Change Your Diet
Big proponent of this, less chemicals and processed foods, more fresh fruits and vegetables!

4. Exercise
I have settled on yoga for this, it really, really helps! It gently stretches my muscles and keeps them active, but its not too strenuous, and I can pace myself. I think the meditative part of yoga helps too, calm my mind, and even helps me sleep easier.

5. Focus on Better Sleep
I think my natural inclination has always been to be a night owl, but I've learned that maintaining proper sleep habits is an ESSENTIAL part of managing fibro. I try to start settling down by 9:00pm and start heading to bed @ 10pm, aiming to fall asleep no later than 11pm.

6. Learn Coping Skills
I've learned to accept my fibro, learn what I can do, and can't do, how to balance my social life with the fibro.

7. Little Things/Changes Can Have  a Big Impact
Foods, clothes, drinking lots of water. I've learned changing my diet helps, paying attention to how my clothes feel on and changing those if it makes me feel better, and drinking lots of water daily, all help me manage my fibro. IT really is amazing how different I feel on days that I drink a lot of water vs days I do not.

8. Surviving the Holidays
I order online for gifts (the amazon wish list is an AMAZING tool that everyone in my family now uses!) I always bring a dish/foods to get togethers that I know I can eat, and I usually try to eat a bit before I go to a get together just in case there are a lot of foods and dishes there that are on my no-no list.

9. Manage Stress
I've learned to realize what in life is worth worry about and getting upset over (not much is worth the effort and accompanying stress I've found!) and the meditation and deep breathing exercises from yoga helps calm my mind and eases stresses a lot too. I'll even listen to some calming music during times of stress, which helps refocus my energies.I'm a sucker for the Tibetan Bells music from yoga :)

10. Find Support
I have found a local support group as well as a few online that are amazing. To speak with others with the same struggles, and share stories and successes makes me feel less alone with my struggles. I highly recommend http://www.chronicbabe.com

Drinking Water

Drinking water at the correct time 
maximizes its effectiveness on the human body:

-   2 glasses of water after waking up -  helps activate  internal organs 


-   1 glass of water 30 minutes before a meal - helps digestion 
 
-   1 glass of water before taking a bath - helps lower blood pressure 


-   1 glass of water before going to bed - avoids stroke or heart attack

Dehydration

For some reason, ever since the fibro disgnosis, I've been super thirsty. Its weird. I mean I do drink a LOT of water daily, as I have noticed the more water I drink the better it makes me feel/less pains. But I seem to always feel thirsty no matter how much I drink :(  I found this blurb online, and like the all-natural drink mix recipe for helping replace electrolytes, as I find Gatorade waaaaay too sweet and sugary!

http://www.doc20.com/disease/dehydration/

"If you suspect you are becoming dehydrated, with signs such as excessive thirst, dry mouth, decreased urination, weakness, or feelings of lethargy or lightheadedness, you can take an oral electrolyte formula such as Gatorade. Or you can make the following mixtures:

• First glass: ounces of orange or apple juice, ½ teaspoon honey or corn syrup, and a pinch of salt.
• Second glass: 8 ounces of water and ¼ teaspoon of baking soda"

Try Simple Exercises for Fibro - Get Moving & Feel Better!

Good blurb on WebMd about how doing some kind of simple exercising - be it walking, water exercise, or yoga - helps ease fibro pains. (Plus the science behind WHY this exercise helps!)

Exercise just three times a week improves life on many levels.

http://www.webmd.com/fibromyalgia/features/water-exercise-for-fibromyalgia-easing-deep-muscle-pain?ecd=wnl_fib_031511

Water, So Good for You!

I can't emphasize enough how drinking enough water each day will make a big difference in how you feel. (I know it really does for me!) And doctors agree! I like these tips about how to easily get your 8 daily glasses of water:


from http://www.empowereddoctor.com/doctor_story.php?storyid=1760&id=2786


-- Ease into it. Start with just one or two glasses of water a day, maybe one in the morning and one at night. Gradually increase the amount.
   
-- Create a morning ritual. Some medical experts say many of us wake up dehydrated. The first thing to do in the morning, then, is to drink two glasses of water. If you make this a morning habit, it can create the momentum for drinking more during the rest of the day.
   
-- Drown a snack attack. Drinking a glass or two of water can make you feel full, short-circuiting a food craving.
   
-- Add lemon juice. When you first start to drink more water, it can be a real chore – and adding lemon juice can make it more doable. At restaurants, ask for lemon slices with your water. They gladly supply them.
   
-- Think about healthy skin. There may be a correlation between drinking a lot of water and healthy, glowing skin. Think about this to encourage yourself to drink more water.
   
-- Drink hot water. Instead of drinking tea or coffee, which are diuretics that increase the amount of water your body loses through urination, drink a mug of hot water. It gives you psychological comfort without any calories or other items.
   
-- Drink water at restaurants. It’s free, after all.
   
-- Have water near you while working. Having a full glass handy will give you something to sip on while you’re thinking, typing, creating or otherwise working.
   
-- Your urine guide. Drink more water if your urine is dark yellow. That means you’re dehydrated.

Drink More Water!

This is an interesting blurb on drinking water and weight loss, how it can rev up your metabolism.

I have noticed with my fibro that the more water I drink throughout the day the better I feel. I like keeping a large 32 oz glass of water or green tea near me and I have found its easy to sip on throughout the day and I can easily go thru at least 3 of those/day! Hydration is good for feeling better and for helping with weight loss!

http://www.diet.com/dietblogs/read_blog.php?title=Plateau+Buster+%233+-+Drink+Water!&blid=19856

Water & Fibromyalgia

Ok this is interesting to listen to. But about halfway through it does kind of turn into a promo on this Kangen Water. Has anyone every bought this or tried the water (the machine itself runs @ $4K!) ?? http://www.thewaterlifestyle.com/freedvd.php

I am always skeptical of people/companies that make such fantastic claims about quickly curing medical ills with their (expensive) product.

But I gave this a listen anyhoo, it did have some interesting points, including a book they referred to (I listed below). If you listen let me know your thoughts.

http://healthlady.com/audio/InterviewWithDrRodgerMurphreeJune2010.mp3

Learn the Truth About The Water You Are Drinking With
With Dr Rodger Murphree

From: Wednesday June 16th, 8pm EST

Listen & Learn How Water Can:

~Bring your body into the state of balance
~Give you increased energy
~Improve your overall health
~Get loads of antioxidants everyday
~Discover what is in the bottle water

No matter how diligently you take care of your body, the most basic and essential elements can, unfortunately, remain neglected.

The human body is naturally alkaline, but as you age these alkaline levels may become too low, resulting in higher levels of acidity.

When the acid in your body is not balanced properly, it creates an environment hospitable to virus, bacteria, fungus, and other disease-causing organisms.

Dr Murphree is the Author of Treating and Beating Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Treating and Beating Depression, and Heart Disease: What Your Doctor Won’t Tell You, and more

________


MY NOTES from listening


- our body is 70-80% water
- cancer thrives in acidic bodies, is better to be more alkaline
- acidity creates Magnesium deficiencies which in turn creates many symptoms of fibro
- with (Kangen) water you can become more alkaline within days