looking for best location to live with fibromyalgia

[cher11]

I live in Michigan and the weather changes with each season. I have had fibro. for years. and the rain and damp weather have always bothered me. I had a great summer this year. It was hot with less rain. I did not have much pain. Now that it is Sept. it has been cooler and rainy. I have been bothered this past week. Each year when this time comes around I always want to move. That is how I ended up on this site. I am thinking of moving when I get my new career started. Searching for the best place to live with fibromyalgia

[TheLightSeeker]

unruhka, coconut oil is not a silver bullet.
I'm certain that if you were not
consuming coconut oil, you would be in worse health.
Do you do Oil Pulling with coconut oil?

If you have Fibromyalgia, you must know by now that it has many faces,
with no known causes and no cure according to conventional medicine.

Have you ruled out hypothyroidism? It is a likely underlying causative factor
but conventional tests may miss it, so it is important to ask for Free T3,
Free T4 and Reverse T3 thyroid tests.

Dr. Lowe from the Fibromyalgia Research Foundation supports the premise that most Fibromyalgia patients are either hypothyroid or thyroid hormone resistant.
The suggested tests above can detect both.

Best wishes.
Niko

[unruhka]

I consume tons of extra-virgin coconut oil.  Doesn't help me one bit.

[psyvamp]

Sounds great ! I do use Yoga and meditation, as well as natural herbs, massage, etc. as well as modern prescription drugs......

I'd love exploring more!!

[IwillDoThis]

Niko - you are an angel sent from heaven, YES, please start one.  Detoxing off opiates and would love to have some ideas.  I am a human barometer, I can tell you if is stormy outside before I ever even get out of bed - you explained that in a way I knew but didn't know how to verbalize.  I saw your posts on some other threads.  I'm working hard on getting off all my meds, have been doing yoga for a year now and am just to the point where I am taking my diet serious so I can try to feel better.  THANK YOU for this post.

[TheLightSeeker]

While everyone will experience Fibro differently, under similar conditions, we can only draw conclusions from scientific facts, anecdotal evidence and personal experience.
For example, falling barometric pressure will cause (1) a rise in positive ions ( positive charge ), which will cause (2) a decline of cortisone* levels in the body, which in turn will cause (3) an increase in pain signals as well as fatigue.
* Natural hormone produced by our body to manage pain and regulate energy.
(1) Scientific Fact.

(2) Scientific Fact and Anecdotal Evidence. The majority of people feel the
effects of stormy weather and winter conditions, however, a percentage
will not feel this because of time of day, exact location, other enviromental factors etc. affecting changes in cortisone levels.

(3) Personal Experience. Lower Cortisone levels will be experienced differently by age, present condition, adrenal system integrity, tolerance levels, stress etc.

So by no means can we use geographical location and climatic conditions, as a sole measure to determine the ultimate choice for living with Fibro, however, by exercising a variety of viable known options linked to alleviated Fibro symptoms,there will be a greater possibility of achieving it.
This is a great idea and while on this topic, would any one here like to start a new thread titled:"Non-Medical Options for Alleviating Fibro Symptoms" or something similar.
If not, I'll start one tomorrow.
Blessings to All!
Niko

[IwillDoThis]

I think Fibro is elusive, varied and different for everyone I simply cannot imagine moving just to see if it helped.  This is the lot in life I've been dealt and I'll just address it each day as a new symptom or pain arises.  I've lived in the cold, I've lived in the heat and Fibro has followed me through it all.  We imagine/fantisize about an easy fix like a medication or a climate change, I know I do but the truth is I will live with pain the rest of my life and I just have to accept that.   Kundalini Yoga/massage has been the only true REAL relief I've ever gotten.

[psyvamp]

I agree with your statements about meds and addiction...

I myself do see a very good MD, well versed in Fibro... but just curious myself; about geographic and climate affects on those of us with it.

I'd love to move back home--- just to test the theory-- but even that is impossible for me...

I just wish I KNEW, because if that is what it would/could take to help alleviate even some of my symptoms-- I'm sure my husband would find a way....

Has anyone else, ever MOVED and gotten improvement or worsening of symptoms???

[IwillDoThis]

while heat isn't the answer, honestly I can't imagine living in a cold damp climate with it!!!  Silly - please just make sure you are seeing a doctor who cares and will explain the meds you will be taking and the physical dependence your body WILL experience.  I'm detoxing off years of opiate use for pain and it *****.  I never abused my meds, never took more than I was prescribed - it just stopped working for me so and I wanted to give my poor little liver a break from all this poison.  While statistics supposedly show only 1% of pain mgmt patients will become addicts I just wanted to share my experience.  While I don't consider myself addicted in the truest sense I am physically dependent and when you try to get off it doesn't much matter, you still go through hell.  I don't crave my meds but as with any person with chronic pain I am afraid of not having the shelter of those meds when I get into a flare and am having a rough time THAT is what scares me - I just don't want the legal poison any more.  Please be careful, mindful and FULLY understand what you are getting yourself into with whatever meds are prescribed.  If you DO have an addictive personality I will tell you, you are stepping into the devils den.  Yoga has given me a lot of relief from pain - consider adding a gentle yoga to your life, even learning to breath correctly makes all the difference in the world.

[silly677]

I also live in fl. with fibro and it puts me in the bed for days.. I am finally going to get medication from my doc to help with the fibro and arthritis. yay

[IwillDoThis]

I don't know I live in Sunny Florida and still suffer with Fibro - can't imagine living in a cold climate but heat isn't a magical answer for me.  

[psyvamp]

I  moved from arid, high mountain desert to sea level, damp, rainy, semi-swamp area of Arkansas.....  JUST since the move 2.5 years ago-- have my fibro symptoms evolved, dramatically increased and some days, nearly crippling me...

I've been wondering how much- the climate has to do with symptoms....
I'm ready to go home!!!  But alas, not possible - husband was transferred here with his job....

[valjoy747]

I know exactly what you are talking about.  I live in a damp cold country town in Australia, we live near the snow and at the moment I am ready to pack up and move.  Summer is not so bad but Winter and a damp Spring like we are getting is HORRIBLE!!!  I find that the barometric pressure plays a big part too, all the weather changes really upset the whole body.  I am looking for a more even climate to move to at the moment.  I know what you are going thorough.  You have not got this on your own, try and keep strong.   valjoy727

[TheLightSeeker]

Hey cher11,
Welcome to the forum.
The folks that live in  Polynesia and some other Pacific islands have never even heard
of such a condition. They also have the lowest heart disease rates in the world.
And they do consume a lot of fat. Paradox? Not really. Their secret is coconut oil.
Coconuts and coconut oil are staples for them. Are you ready to move there?

What is the connection? It goes like this:
What is it that gives immune protection to newborn babies? It is lauric acid from human breast milk that is also present in coconut oil!
Coconut oil is anti-fungal, anti-viral, anti-parasitic, antiprozoic, anti-microbial
and causes no inflammation when used in cooking -unlike all other cooking oils.
It can also be a substitute for glucose, when glucose uptake is inhibited, supplying
fuel for your neurons, as it is one of the few elements that can cross the blood-brain barrier.
I personally consume extra virgin oil (lots) and I also use it daily for "oil pulling".
Just look all this up in the coconut research centre's website.
It is a Platinum  item on my health and wellness list!
This information is usually not offered by doctors to their fibro patients, and yet it could make such a difference for most.

I would probably move to Arizona and seek Shamans and other traditional Healers.
Dry and warm climate, amazing rejuvenating energy and lots of natural vitamin D!
Very low cancer rates in Arizona as well!  Lowest I believe in the USA.
( Skin cancer rates are higher, however, the parts of the body affected by cancer are predominantly the ones NOT exposed to the sun!)

Blessings,
Nikodicreta

[Phtartist]

Great question! I will be keeping my eye on the answers you receive!