I think I'd like to start doing some "fibromyalgia recovery" content because that's currently my whole life and I'm good at finding answers about it. It could probably help a lot of people.

Fibromyalgia tip #1:

Drink plenty of water. I drink 3 or 4 liters a day. Water is a very basic way that you can help your body function. First, measure how much water you normally drink in a day. Then, gradually increase your water intake goal. Pay attention to your body's signals to help you know what is the right amount of water for you to drink. I bought a cute water bottle that I like drinking out of to encourage me.

So this guy, "CFS Recovery" on YouTube, is a personal trainer who has chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis, that was once so bad he had to be hospitalized for it. And he's pretty awesome and I think the community on here could benefit from his wisdom. I don't have CFS/ME myself, but I find his take on things really interesting.

I had originally thought that graded exercise therapy was the gold standard treatment for CFS/ME. But it turns out this is not the case, at least for a lot of people. Because unfortunately, GET is too fast and intense for many with CFS/ME, sending their body into overload. CFS Recovery talks about a task that seems simple to people without CFS/ME such as carrying a couple bags of groceries to the apartment, feels like carrying 50 pound sacks across a football field for many people with the conditin. Add on exercise to that, and it's like doing that AND climbing a mountain. It completely overloads the person and sends them crashing. For days, weeks, even months.

CFS Recovery talks about first building a strong foundation before you get into any type of exercise. This means first focusing on doing very basic self care, such as taking a shower and/or making food. And after being able to do that for a month or so, add in basic housework. And then add in grocery shopping or maybe socializing with friends. It's slow. Really slow. But the way he explains it is you HAVE to build a firm foundation in order to begin recovery, and any activity counts as exercise.

And then, finally, he starts people out like, doing one bicep curl with a 5 pound weight every day for a week or two - You heard me right, just one! Not to do exercise, but just to get your body used to the movement. And then the next week, do three bicep curls, and so on, while checking in with your body and your needs each step of the way.

There's also a lot of cool stuff about neuroplasticity and responding to symptoms, basically trying not to give in to stress and despair because that makes symptoms worse too. Acceptance, adjustment periods, etc, and none of it really looks like how an abled person would expect a recovery to look. There's a lot more time, a lot more being gentle with yourself and not giving in to perfectionism and comparison to others.

Through this method, CFS Recovery is now able to go for runs, lift weights, and live a full and healthy life. He considers himself fully recovered, which I think is awesome.

Friends with CFS/ME, I would definitely recommend giving his channel a look. He also has a Facebook support group called CFS Thrivers! https://youtube.com/@cfsrecovery

someone recently asked how cfs recovery is, and I’m at that stage where I’m getting better, but still struggle, so here, have a day in the life:

I wake up, after 12-14 hours of sleep, and I’m freezing to the point of shivering, have to take a scolding shower to be able to move properly because of joint and muscle pains from shivering all night

I get out of the shower, hurry to dress before I get just as cold and get seated under a heating blanket, drink some tea to warm up some more, then maybe I’m ready for stuff like the stable etc

About halfway trough what I need to do that day I start to freeze again, have to over dress, then I get horribly warm, and have to choose between freezing or sweating

Hurry up and get home, get in the shower again, same rutine as the in the morning, cold, cold, cold

Maybe a nap, with heating blanket and normal blanket, still wake up freezing, need tea to warm up a little

Go to bed, need a freezing room to not get horrible night sweat, get warm under the blankets and sleep well for maybe four or five hours

then get warm and cold and warm and cold over and over again all tru the night, sleeping badly for maybe 8-10 more hours

repeat

My new fave snack! Popcorn in hemp oil, pink salt, raspberry balsamic vinegar and black pepper essential oil. Get stucm in! #popcorn #healthyeating #hempseedoil #essentialoils #essentialoilsinfood #healthysnacks #lowfat #cfsrecovery #managingchronicfatigue #vegan #vegetarian #snacks #snackhappy

This weather just can’t make up its mind! (I wore this outfit earlier in the week. I had to pull out my winter leggings!) I’ve been so tired this week that I’ve basically just slept and worked. I’m so glad to be feeling better-I plan to watch a lot of movies and cuddle with my cat this weekend. I’m sure Joni Mitchell there approves. #leggings #docs #jonimitchell #chronicfatigue #cfsrecovery #spoonie #georgiaweatherisbipolar

@Regranned from @cfshealth - #cfs #mecfs #chronicfatigue #fibro #chronicfatiguesyndrome #cfsrecovery #cfshealth #fibromyalgia #health #lifestyle #recovery #disease #autoimmune #depression #inspiration #anxiety #wellness #myalgicencephalomyelitis #sendinglove #wins (at Park Hill, Denver)

Muuuuuy cierto!. #Repost @cfshealth (@get_repost) ・・・ #cfs #mecfs #chronicfatigue #fibro #chronicfatiguesyndrome #cfsrecovery #cfshealth #fibromyalgia #health #lifestyle #recovery #disease #autoimmune #depression #inspiration #anxiety #wellness #myalgicencephalomyelitis #sendinglove #wins

We were in line to pay for our tickets to take our son to a 💦 water park. #raok #rak (random act of kindness) came across our way and a Lady paid for one ticket, the most expensive one. 🌈Not everyday or everything is hard in life, we MUST show the true colors of compassion, kindness, and why not these little things that make us realize that life is more than just challenges. #fibrowarrior #bekind #bekindtooneanother #kindness #mnnice #wildmountain #godexists #family #love #fibromyalgiaawareness #fibromyalgia #chronicillness #chronicpain #millionsmissing #lawofattraction #cfsrecovery #lularoe #lularoemom #fibromom (at Wild Mountain/Taylors Falls Recreation)

I need some advice, and I’m hoping you can help

So, as some of you may now, I have an illness called CFS/ME, which basically means I’m chronically tired, have joint pains, need about 18-20 hours of sleep a day, have trouble focusing and a bunch of other stuff, lol.

The worst part tho, is that there’s no cure. The only thing to do is to wait, chill, and hope for the best. Some get better, some don’t.

Last year I was offered a place at a clinic for people with CFS, for a month. I really wanted to go, but got a huge infection when I was supposed to, and had to wait. The next time, I dislocated me knee, aaand had to wait again. So, now I’n supposed to go next week.

But now I’m very unsure of what to do. You see, I have struggled with migraine since I was a kid, but lately it has become worse, so now I’m on new meds. These meds make my mood unstable, makes my muscles cramp up, I’m groggy, I loose focus and so on.

So, I’m worried I’ll just get worse if I go. The thing is, I know I won’t get better by going, but I might get some new information and such, and some tips on how to live with this condition the best.

If I go, I risk getting worse, and taking the spot from somebody who needs it and could actually use it, plus it’s a two hour drive every friday and sunday, which costs me a lot.

If I don’t, I feel very ungreatful. I’m also very scared of regretting it, and I feel like I just give up all the time.

Ugh. I need to decide by tomorrow, so if anyone had ANY input at all, please talk to me. I’ll be forever greatful, seriously, and I’ll do basically anything for you in return!

Within reason, hah.

Courgetti with sundried toms, vegan pesto and basil and oregano essential oils. #courgettes #courgetti #healthyeating #cfsrecovery #managingchronicfatigue #lowfat #lowcarb #vegan #vegetarian #essentialoils #essentialoilsinfood #cookingwithessentialoils #eatingforenergy #lunch #dinner

I should be packing for the inpatient program, but...