My heart is with you!!! Our state retreat is coming up in Oct. and I am not planning to go. Many of my guild members are trying to talk me into going. I have not told them I have the Fibro condition as well as Lupus... I struggle telling anyone because I try hard to keep up and allow my sewing to give me relaxation and distraction from the pain and fatigue.... I know the fun I will be missing but I also know the pain and tiredness I would experience...after returning..My DH and I are going The DesMoines show at the end of Sept. We take this trip to meet our son and DIL.... she is a quilter too!! It gives us a 2fold opportunity to see each oter and the guys go off for the day together, and she and I get to do our bonding thing with the quilt show!!! ( ps, I sleep all the way home!)

that is so nice of you to offer to take someone plus a friend to hang with also. hope you both have a wonderful time you both deserve it. i know the pain issue i can't take them when i have to somewhere especially when i drive and i can't take the heavy duty drugs. have fun. sue

I have 2 friends that have tried acupuncture treatments for their fibromyalgia and are very pleased with the relief. I have MS and I go for treatments for the crushing fatigue that happens sometimes and I am very happy with the results!

From someone who deals with fibro, too, I say just go for it! Do what you need to do, stretch, walk, sit, stand, lie down. But I think the whole retreat atmosphere is worth a little get-away from the routine. And you might be having so much fun you won't notice you're hurting!?!??

I have fibro and attend retreats. Get up and walk around, take a nap if you need to, sometimes concentration is a big issue for me, so I take someting simple to work on. Then when I get home, I usually sleep for the best part of 2 days. Bit I still think it is worth it!!

I have Fibro too and Osteo. I probably couldn't handle all that. I sew but not very long at a time. When it is cold out it is even less. The company would be great. Have a good day! Lura

I'm with you. FM does Suck!! But I do sew several days on end. I take breaks often and of course my meds when needed. So Go and have a good time. Even when there is pain the beauty you see being created around you helps to relieve the pain in many ways.

Yes it does sweetheart. Noone understands that we never know what we can do until that day. And then, sometimes there can be changes during the day. I hope you get to go and please let me know how you did. I also have arthritis and lymphodema in both legs so I probably wouldnt be able to walk after getting there

Thank you for asking this question. It is very timely for me also, just now. I am struggling with the decision of whether to sign up for a retreat.
I know that after it's over I will lose at least 2 days, but I think it will be worth it.
For myself, I know that the fibro and all it's "friends" cause me to lean towards being a bit hermitish, and I tend to withdraw into myself and my home. My DH is all for me going as he knows it is best for me to be out and socialize.
I have many skills for coping with the pain, lots of meds to take, etc., however, I don't like being in pain in public. LOL, Silly I know, but the attention makes me uncomfortable. I want people to just ignore me. LOL
How many times have we all had this conversation?
"Are you ok? Yes, thanks, I'm fine. You don't look fine (so good;OK, etc.) No, I'm fine, really, it's just the fibro. Can I do anything to help? Aw, thanks so much, but really, I'm fine!"

I know and understand that people are just caring and concerned, and I appreciate that. I am never upset with them and always gracious for their concern. It just makes me embarassed and uncomfortable to be the focus of that kind of attention, I guess.

Try using the Cobroxin oral spray. Use it 3 or 4 times a day for the first week, then only as needed. Stops the pain at the nerve leve. I think even WalMart is carrying it now

I sometimes talk to my Dr. and get him to give me a shot of torridal (At least I think that's what it's called) before I venture off. Mostly just try to relax and have a good time, I usually have to do a LOT of resting when I get home but it's so worth it!!!!

My friend/neighbor with fibro went on our quilt retreat last spring. She was the first to sign up for a massage. She did take a lot of breaks and a couple of naps but seemed to get along fine. She is going again to one next month. It is only about 4 miles from our homes so we both go home to sleep. She is in her 70's.
Another friend who suffers terribly has prescription sleeping pills. Her doctor thinks sleep is the most important thing to help with the pain.