Hi Everyone:

I was hopping maybe someone can give me some guidance.  I had gastric bypass in 2002 and lost 130 pounds but once I had my baby I cannot get rid of 20 pounds. 

I have numerous stuff going on.  I have leg cramps, my muscles hurt, my arms and hands go numb when I'm sleeping and hurt when I try to wiggle them out.  I am seeing a rheumotologist in NYC and says that I have fibromayalgia and my my vitamin D and B are low plus I am anemic.  I have also been seeing a pain management doctor because I have a few herniated discs on my lower back.  I had an EMG done on my hands which indicate that I do have carpel tunnel on my right hand but no servere enough to have surgery but it's a constant annoyance.  As for my back, I have a doctor that would like to do surgery to corrrect my discs and I got a second opinion and he said not to do it. 

My problem is that if I try to do some kind of physcial activity, I am in bed for the rest of the day and I cannot get these doctors to understand this.  I am so sad because I use to be a social bug and loved to get together with friends and I was always a hard worker.

Are any of you going through this and can you give me some insight.  I'm so scared my doctors are not taking me seriously and are going to take me off my disability and I no longer have a job. 
Please help if you have any information.

Thanks.

I don't mean to be depressing but motivation is the hardest thing for me. I HURT so bad from both the arthritis and fibro it is hard to wrap around my mind walk or exercise will help me feel better???? Of course at 64 my habits are pretty ingrained in me. I work at a alternative high school sitting all day working with the teens and I get off at 2:00. I am so warn out when I get home I fight to stay a wake until 7:00..... So it is so hard.

Good to know, thanks, I'll have to try it. How much do you take? I take lots of vit.D but only the E that is in my multi. I take cymbalta too but it seems to be wearing off sooner all the time so this just might help out.

Thanks Anukis,

My friend is a trooper for sure, I'm always asking if she wants to rest or take a break and she says no, she keeps on chugging. Only if we are participating in something, I wish she could draw deep too and find it in her to do what she knows needs to be done.

Some people are self starters, she isn't there yet. We do a water class once a week at LA Fitness and I know that helps. Once a month now I take her for a deep tissue massage and that always feels fantastic.

Thanks for the suggestions

Shauna

Well... I don't know if this will be much help either as I need to draw very deep a lot of days just to get out and about. But....
If I'm having a bad day (pain/fatigue/stiffness/whatever), and I want to get out, I go to locations where I know it won't be busy and where there will be benches (any seating) that I can rest at as needed.  I also go swimming and do something called Waterworks (like aquasize but gentle movements for us!).  With these in mind, it's at least a little harder for me to talk myself out of going out.
Hope you can her find a great way to motivate herself!