Register for Monday's Support Group Meeting

FAMily Living

February 2021

Our Next Support Group Will Be:

February 8, 7-9 PM ET, on Zoom

We will be having a group discussion. What is on your mind about life with fibromyalgia? If you have a topic(s) you would like to discuss at the meeting but would prefer to have us share them, please email Sharon.

Your first meeting is free. Membership is just $16 for the year. Memberships available online.

To attend the Zoom meeting, simply register and you will receive an email link to the meeting. If you have any issues registering for the meeting or using Zoom, please contact Sharon. We will do our best to help you. We want to stay connected with you.

Did you know that you can join Zoom meetings just using a telephone? Your meeting confirmation will include a phone number and passcode you can use instead of a computer. Just look near the bottom of the confirmation email for the telephone information. Tip: If you experience computer issues during or before a meeting, keep this idea in mind.

Email us to confirm American Sign Language Interpreting Services - Must confirm services 24 hours before the meeting - thank you!

President's Message

Hello!

“Be patient. It won’t happen overnight. Just hang in there and have faith that it’ll work out.”

This quote by Robert Tew comes to mind when I think about life with fibromyalgia. When we don’t feel well, we want to feel better as quickly as possible. While slow progress can be frustrating, slow progress often leads to changes that last. At our Support & Education Group meetings, we share strategies to make small changes to your life. Eventually, when you add enough of these small changes, you see big results. Here are two of my big results - getting rid of the stairlift I had in my home, and no longer hurting as a result of just wearing clothing. What successes have you had? We would love to learn about them at our Support Group meeting on Monday. Also, we will be answering your questions. What is on your mind?

Thanks to everyone who made our first Holiday HOOPLA party a success last month. I have not laughed like that in a long time. Laughter is good therapy. Here is a link to the wonderful recipes that were shared. I am sorry if I am missing your recipe. The chatbox from the HOOPLA did not save so I am sharing the ones that were emailed to me.

Covid has changed our lives in so many ways. Adding winter to the mix with it’s dark and cold days can create a whole new layer to the stress of daily life for some people. This is a gentle reminder to treat yourself with compassion as you would a dear family member or a treasured friend. These are challenging times physically and emotionally. It is even more important now to make sure you are regularly engaging in your best self-care strategies for fibromyalgia. If you don’t have any strategies please reach out to a doctor, health coach, therapist or even our support group for ideas. Below are some tips for managing fibro during the cold weather. Many of these tips are beneficial year-round. If you are depressed, please seek help. Depression and fibromyalgia create a vicious cycle where they make each other worse. For help with depression, you can call 1-800-273-8255, or if you prefer to text, text “HOME” to 741741.

You have more power than you may realize in managing fibromyalgia. There are many things you can do for yourself that will result in better health. FAM member and blogger Katie Clark shares how her choice to go gluten-free has been a game-changer. Below we shared Katie’s PainFULLY Living Blog Post that shares her story. Congratulations to Katie on her hard work to implement a gluten-free diet.

I look forward to seeing you at our meeting on Monday, or one in the future.

Wishing you less pain, more understanding, and a better tomorrow!

Sharon Waldrop

President & Founder, FAM

Help us improve lives by making a donation today!

Tips and tricks icon. Tips and tricks website button on blue low poly background.

10 Tips for Managing Fibromyalgia During Cold Weather

Sharon Waldrop

Most people with fibromyalgia will tell you that cold weather is no friend to fibromyalgia. Here are some tips from PainDoctor.com to prevent or manage a Fibro flare up due to the cold:

1) Choose soft, warm clothing

2) Rely on heating pads

3) Try out compression gloves

4) Drink warm beverages - I find Rooibos tea to be very calming. It is caffeine-free and loaded with antioxidants.

5) Turn to indoor exercise

6) Take a bath

7) Join a Support Group - making connections with people who understand you, can be very therapeutic.

8) Get plenty of sleep - 7-9 hours is recommended

9) Eat well - Food is medicine. Work to increase foods that tend to make you feel better.

10)Vitamin D/Light therapy

Click here to read the full article.

Fibromyalgia: Impact of Going Gluten-Free

FAM member and PainFULLYliving blogger Katie Clark shares how going gluten-free has been a game-changer for her chronic pain and she also shares why she almost did not try it.

After A Slow Year, Fibromyalgia Research Ends On An Encouraging Note

ProHealth writer Donna Gregory Burch wraps up the progress that was made in fibromyalgia research and news in 2020. This article explains why people with fibromyalgia can have hope for the future. Read the article on ProHealth.com.

Fibromyalgia & Complementary Health Approaches

Complementary Health approaches can be very helpful for fibromyalgia. It’s important to check in with your doctor and keep them updated on the ones you are using or considering using. This article shares tips on beginning this conversation with your doctor: 4 Tips: Start Talking With Your Health Care Providers About Complementary Health Approaches.

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