Not that long ago, I was a very active person. I would run 5K, 10K and half marathon races. I would strength train in the gym, walk at least 3 miles a day, etc. Then, in 2024 I got sick with COVID for the first time (despite being vaxxed and boosted) and it completely tanked my energy and stamina. I tried to get back to my normal active routines after resting for weeks but I just didn't feel the same and it became harder and harder to recover. The aches and pains didn't start until a year later and it's been an entirely new world. My body became something I wanted to dissociate from rather than connect to. It's been such a huge adjustment both mentally and physically, but I'm very grateful for spaces like this one. Even though I wish I could go back to my former active lifestyle the way it was, I'm determined to reconnect with my body in a compassionate way and find movement that is enjoyable and gentle. I hope the same for everyone in this group, because this diagnosis is not an easy one!

Pain: 4/10 Energy: 5/10 I did quite a bit of snowblowing yesterday, so I woke up more sore than usual. However, It did feel good to move around a bit and be active. I recently increased my medication (Pristiq - SNRI), as my psychiatrist mentioned it may help and so far it seems to be addressing some of the more "hard to ignore" systemic pain, which I'm happy about. I also noticed it has given me a small uptick in energy 👍🏻 we'll see how long that improvement lasts! I hope everyone has a restful and rejuvenating Friday! Here's a pic from my Bird Buddy for a little joy 😊

@Life With Fibromyalgia I love that you're tuning into your body's needs today. It can be difficult to do when managing pain, but it's so important to stay connected to your physical signals! Thank you for the reminder ❤️

Pain: 6-7 Energy: 4 Mornings are always the worst for pain. I feel like it's a sensory assault when I get up and moving around. I usually make coffee, feed my pets and immediately sit down for at least an hour or two with my heated blanket to "thaw out" from the night. Even though it's the most uncomfortable part of my day, it's still my favorite. I watch the birds outside my window, snuggle with my animals and get mentally ready for the day.

@Allison Thiessens hope your coffee is extra tasty this morning!

Most definitely. Before experiencing fibro symptoms I would always have delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) with exercise, which is normal. However, I have weak interception, so I'm usually unaware of what my body is trying to signal to me until it reaches a certain threshold. I'm noticing that even more now with having chronic pain, so I end up over doing things 😬