Weather and Fibro

Fibromyalgia is such an unusual illness. In some people, nothing affects the pain; it is simply an ever-present dull roar, alleviated only by medication, massage, or some other form of treatment. In other people, every twitch of the barometer makes for a new ache or pain, or adds to already existing problems leading to days in bed, or days where the least chore is cause for hours of rest after, or causes dizzy spells and lightheadedness at the drop of a hat.

Can you prepare for such events? Well, only if you know that you are one of the people who is affected by the weather, which you can learn with a simple journal. Writing down how you feel for a few months, and what the weather is every day can show you if there is a pattern. If, every time there is a thunderstorm, you feel dizzy the day before, you'll soon see it.

Naturally, you have to do this during a time there is a diverse amount of weather- and if you live in a place where there are four distinct seasons, you'll want to do it at least a few months during each season- or perhaps for a full year. Writing in a journal can be therapeutic for those of us with pain, so perhaps you could incorporate your pain and weather notes in the beginning of a regular introspective journal. Alternately, if you are a dieter, keeping a food journal is often recommended, to track your calories and exactly what you are eating- adding your pain/weather notes to such a journal can be as simple as slashing a line at the very bottom of the page!

Tracking pain levels and making weather notes is not a difficult thing, it certainly should not take more than a few minutes at the end of the day. Something along the lines of "afternoon rain storm, headache went away after storm, but back and neck pain levels were high 7/10" would be more than enough tracking detail. And if you noticed that you had a headache before a storm that went away after (as I do) that can be your "barometric monitor."

My pain level/weather notes journal for the last few days looked like this- just a note, I live in Florida, which is why I note the humidity levels. Our ordinary humidity should be much higher than it's been. We're in a horrible drought right now.

- Hot and dry- humidity very low. Pain levels high. 7/10"

- Still hot and dry- fires in GA are sending smoke this way. Asthma attack today. Pain levels high. 7/10"

- Same as yesterday, complete with asthma attack. Did nebulizer for the first time in ages. Helped. 7/10"

As you can see, I note the main points of the day's weather- "hot and dry" for the weather lately, or "afternoon rain storm" in the event of such a thing" and then how I felt that day. It does not need to be much detail, and it can help you a great deal if you watch the news to see your upcoming weather. I often take a couple of ibuprofen pills in the morning if I know there is going to be a rainstorm that day, because I know they give me headaches. (Today's storm was unexpected, though when I got the headache in the afternoon I should've known it was coming!)

This is particularly useful for people who live in the colder climates, as winter weather often has horrible effects on fibromyalgia. I highly recommend, if you live anywhere that has bad winters, you keep a journal through one winter, so you can be prepared for the next one.

Pain journals are your friend, especially if you add the weather in, and realize what a weather watcher your fibro can be in some cases!