About 12 or so years ago I was assaulted and choked. Afterwards things started to go down hill. After many doctors I was first diagnosed with Hashimoto thyroiditis and then eventually FM. If memory is correct at first it was a lot worse than it seems to be now however I have made a lot of life style changes. I have removed a lot of stress in my life & I also had a lot of bowel problems that have been corrected to the best it will probably ever be. I have learned over the years to learn to listen to my body & have learned to stop & smell the roses so to speak. I don't think there is any one thing that works for everyone. I have spent many many years researching & talking to a lot of people with this disorder. I went to the Fibromyalgia & Fatigue Center in Philadelphia which I felt no help. I felt like I paid them to be their lab rat. 2 visits, $2000, & about 46 pills a day later and felt worse so I started tracking everything! I made up a form. Tracked what I ate, pain level, fatigue level, meds, vitamins, what the weather was like when I felt bad & when I felt good. I tracked everything and I mean everything. For me there seemed to be a pattern where weather was concern & also how much activity I did. What I started realizing that when I listened to my body, I would feel better. If I felt tired I rested & if that meant that the house didn't get cleaned the so be it. I was always a very on the go Mach 10 with my hair on fire type of person. I am not that any more. I get done what I can & I don't beat myself up for what I cannot. Sleep is VERY important but it has to be good sleep. If you don't get to REM then it's not good sleep. Only during REM does your body heal itself. Sometimes I bounced around the house like a rabbit; in bed, on the couch, or in my recliner. I sleep where ever I am comfortable. I also use breath right strip which help a lot. Tried the sleep doctors but couldn't hang with the face mask. Too confining & have a major face phobia most of my lufe but especially since my attack. I also do pain management. However, that is a personal choice. You have to be thick skinned if you go that route but for me I felt it was the right thing to do. I talk as little as I can to just take the edge off. I only take it in the mornings and never past 2pm otherwise I don't sleep. I have learned to live with this. That doesn't mean I do not have days where I am ready to throw in the towel or scream why, why, why me! I think we all have moments like that and again I don't beat myself up for moments of weakness because I spend far much more time being stronger than most people are their whole lives. I am not sure if any of this helps but hope it does. I pray every day for a cure even if it comes after it can do me any good because I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy. Good luck & gentle hugs!!

I was diagnosed a little over 2 years ago and the pain has spread and become more disabling. I was working full time when I got diagnosed and now I am not. Being off work has helped me manage my symptoms better by pacing, but I would rather be working.

Thanks for all the responses...What I am getting out of this is that FM itself is not progressive but the more aware you are of the multiple symptoms of FM it seems like a progression of sorts. I think that is what I have been going through, I wasn't putting 2 and 2 together like having dry eye which caused an eye infection as part of FM.. I also think, the longer I am in pain the more exhausted I have become plus we are all dealing with other issues either caused by Fibro or in combination with Fibro...I do know I am much more aware of the symptoms that I have directly caused from the FM. One thing for certain is that I agree with Lisa_Hahn I would not wish this on my worst enemy.

Wow you sound a lot like me ! I'm very proud of your positive outlook on life! Thank you for sharing!

Mine has not been particularly progressive. I think I've just become more aware of my body and also of the many symptoms that can be attributed to FM. So in a way, it feels progressive for me. Maybe it's just very slow-moving and I'm only 22 so I haven't had the many many years of experience to look back on!