First, were you DIAGNOSED with fibro? Also, fibro is NOT a progressive disease. When you first get fibro, pain can build as the disease sets in...but after that, what you got is what you got. Now what does happen is things trigger your fibro & you hurt more. During the winter, you will find you hurt more. For me, the transition from winter to spring is a killer for me. My pain is much more heightened. I believe I saw that you live in Michigan. At this very moment, my pain is horrible...a winter storm is moving in; it is getting colder (one trigger), barometric pressure is changing (another trigger) and we are suppose to get 1-1/2 to 2 inches of snow (another trigger). When you get in a position like this, this weather will first flare up the pain receptors throughout your body (& you experience heighten pain)...THEN, it travels to your brain and hits those pain receptors, and when that happens, it intensifies the pain throughout your body three or four fold. Another note, fibro hits your muscles, tendons & legiments. The muscle pain is difficult, but when it hits the tendons & legiments...it feels like your joints are in severe pain. So, now I am going to back peddle...I think when you feel like your fibro is being progressive...what you are actually experiencing is something flaring up your fibro (rain, cold, humidity, barometric pressure, snow, stress, sweets, etc.). With that said, you may feel your fibro is getting worse and actually, it's just a bad winter, or more thunder storms this spring, or stress, or something like that. Once you get a handle on meds that help you, how to balance your days, learn to not overdo...you will be able to manage your fibro more successfully. Also, regarding pain on only one side of your body...try to pay attention to this. I have issues with my hips & there are times I feel like it's just my left hip hurting & hurting badly, however, the right hip is also bad...it's just that the left side is so much worse I don't really notice the right hip, but the pain is still there. When you get flared up, don't push yourself, keep warm & relaxed, and just take it easy...it will pass. Stay positive & don't dwell on the pain (distract yourself: call a friend, take a bath, whatever) ... just find your way to deal with the bad moments. I can't say have a good day cuz I'm in Michigan too and this front that is coming in has me very flared up as well. So, stay strong, take care of yourself and just try to ride it out as relaxed as you can (& keep moving, walking, stretching when you can, etc...just keep moving if only to walk around the house for a couple of minutes at a time). I'm sending you very gentle hugs...winter is almost all gone. Take care. Warm regards, Debe

JenLynnMichigan, hey you, I am so glad to hear from you but hate to hear you are having such a difficult time. I hope you don't mind, I would like to ask you a question. Please feel free to tell me to shut up and mind my own business. You said that you feel like you are dying? What are you experiencing? Do you have any other conditions other then fibro? Are you taking medications? I only ask because I felt that way a couple of different times (for about 3 years) but it was due to a reaction to medications one time and the other time was with my thyroid & treatment. That is a horrible feeling. I don't wish that on anyone. Maybe we can work on this together & figure out different things you can do to turn that around. Have you spoken with your family doctor about this? I would like to be here for you if you would like. Sometimes another set of eyes OR another brain coming up with stuff can help. I know we are both in Michigan and the weather here is horrible right now. I hope you are able to just take it easy & keep warm. Sending you hugs & hoping today is going alright for you! Debe

@A MyFibroTeam Member, it DOES take a while for a patient to understand this disease. I kind of look at my life by seasons now...summer is great, winter stinks. We all have similar things going on & we also have are different symptoms. Eliminate stress, get sufficient sleep, and control pain. However you need to work that out ... do everything to work it out. I will tell you, I have been told I have fibro as badly as you can get it. I was bedridden for 5 years. I was scared, felt horrible and had no answers. Now today, I have my issues (definitely) but I am up and walking and living on my own and I can actually have good days. It's difficult, yes. Just don't dwell on that. This website is great for support, information & understanding. The only website I found where everyone has fibro & everyone is just so nice and just share what they have learned with you. It's really a positive environment. Take care and I hope you have a good weekend. With warm regards, Debe you are not alone in this anymore

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A MyFibro...

Good morning. I wanted to respond to your feeling like you are dying and what is it going to be like in the 50's and 60's. When I first got fibro (it took me 12 years to get diagnosed--that was back in the day when Drs didn't believe in it), I thought I had a brain tumor because my head was so fatigued and weird. Then I started having pain in my abdomen. My mother had ovarian cancer and I thought I had cancer too. I kept telling my gynecologist that their was something wrong and she kept assuring me I was OK, but I thought they were missing something. I was all from the fibro and I was so relieved when we moved and my new Dr handed me a brochure on Fibromyalgia and I saw all the symptoms I was having listed there. I would agree with a precious post. You will be better in your 50's and 60's because you are going to pursue answers and find things the work for you and you will feel better. I admit I still have brain fatigue but I know what it is now so I don't worry about it. I only occasionally have abdominal pain because I increased fiber, and found gluten and dairy were exasperating the pain. Plus gabapentin is working for me right now. I am in my 60's and I feel much better than I did in my 30's. Read all you can on the internet. There are some great facebook fibromyalgia support pages where people post questions and get answers from people who have been there that I have learned a lot from. Not sure I am allowed to post them here. Check out
15th Michigan Fibromyalgia Awareness Day - Our Pain is Real ,
Saturday
April 30. 2016
From 1pm to 5:30pm

Webber Cancer Center
St. John Macomb-Oakland Hospital
(Phone number can only be seen by the question and answer creators) Mile Road
Warren, MI 48093
You would get a lot of information from the speaker and there are lots of resources. Look it up on the internet.
Praying you have a better day--at least mentally as you gain hope.

Keep pursuing answers. Maybe a switch in medication would help. As you have read we are all different and we react differently to treatments. At times I have stayed too long on a treatment that just wasn't working for me and switch brought more relief. It is a matter of trying different things until you find what works for you. It is process. Don't give up hope. There is an answer out there for you. Praying you hang in there and pursue help until you find some things that work.