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Waking up is not usually the best moment of the day for anybody. It’s hard to leave your warm, comfy bed and get moving, especially on chilly mornings. But mornings can be especially tough when you have fibromyalgia. Many people with fibromyalgia report that mornings are the hardest time of day, when symptoms are at their worst. Some of the most common symptoms are morning stiffness, muscle aches, puffiness around the eyes and in the feet, and exhaustion. It’s normal if you wake up feeling like you never slept at all! Try a few of these easy life hacks to see if mornings with fibromyalgia can be a little more comfortable.
Get Cozy in a Bath
Ease your morning muscle pain by taking a warm bath before bed or first thing upon waking up in the morning – or both. A soak in a warm bath for at least 10 minutes should help relieve a lot of the muscle stiffness.
Just Say No to Coffee
When you’re this tired, how can you possibly function without coffee? Most people would say that coffee is a must-have for the mornings. Despite how much you need to perk up in the morning, caffeine is not your friend when you have fibromyalgia. Most people with fibromyalgia have issues with adrenal fatigue, and the cycle of a caffeine boost followed by a crash only makes things worse in the long run. Caffeine can also interfere with sleep, and fibromyalgia folks don’t need any more factors that can mess up their sleep.
Don’t Short-Change Your Sleep
Sleep is possibly the most important factor in what your fibromyalgia symptoms will be like. Too little sleep will set you up for worse fibromyalgia symptoms, including muscle pain and spasms, poor concentration, fatigue, and muscle weakness. Other people might be able to burn the candle at both ends, but having fibromyalgia forces you to take better care of yourself than most people do. Focus on trying to get to bed at approximately the same time every day and make sure to allow enough time for at least 7-8 hours of sleep, although some people with fibromyalgia need more. If you get enough sleep, it will make it easier to wake up in the mornings.
Focus on Fighting Puffiness
Morning puffiness is one of the most uncomfortable nuisances of fibromyalgia. Researchers aren’t certain yet whether puffiness is due to inflammation or water retention. However, focusing on reducing water retention may provide some relief. Be sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day, and add cucumbers to your water or salad, because cucumbers naturally contain substances that reduce water retention.
Don’t Stop Moving
Exercise can sound like a difficult obligation when you’re dealing with the pain and fatigue that commonly goes along with fibromyalgia, but it’s actually one of the best things you can do to reduce your pain. Getting some low to moderate impact exercise on a daily basis – anything ranging from yoga to a brisk walk or a Zumba class – will help you to sleep better and make it a little easier to wake up in the mornings.
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