AZ & FIbromyalgia [please don't move] (Phoenix: house, school, living in)

[acwhite96]

Hi, I have been looking on city-data for info on fibromyalgia and areas to live, but haven't really seen anything from anyone living in AZ. My husband has had 2 doctors tell us we should be living down in AZ. Has anyone moved to AZ to get relief from fibromyalgia? If so, has it helped? We know that the moist cold air from NW WA makes it worse and we know that the cold/dry in Montana doesn't help, so I have been looking for more options.

I am sure others out there would love to hear results from moving there since I haven't found any site confirming that is the best place to be.

Thanks

[observer53]

You may not find a site "confirming" that this is the best place to be. I do see that some of the fibromyalgia medical sites suggest that a warm climate is better than a cold one, some also say, however, that a very dry climate (which we have here) can also aggravate the symptoms.

Good luck to you!

[twiggy]

I know a lot of people with it out here and they say the summers kill them! I think it just "flares" up with any kind of change of extreme weather. Maybe Cali, mid, like San Louis Obis, or something. IDK, but I do know people out here have it a lot. My sister has it and she lives in WA, but she can't stand it out here when she visits, says the heat makes her miserable and quickly shoots back up to WA. So, maybe just changes either self induced or seasonal makes it worse,......, but sadly, Phoenix is no utopia for fibro sufferers. Sorry, maybe someone else has some better news out here. I think "stress" of any kind has something to do with it. Which explains why is flares with extreme weather on both sides. Thats always a little stressful. lol
So sorry you have this, good luck to you.

Looking at Observs post maybe FL?

[freedom2]

My husband has arthritis the humidity was very bad when we visited Fl so doc says dry heat which is in Az so we're visiting soon to find out

[observer53]

Arthritis does benefit from dry weather. Fibromyalgia is a totally different thing altogether, and it may not, especially if it is HOT and dry.

[Old Shep]

My husband has arthritis the humidity was very bad when we visited Fl so doc says dry heat which is in Az so we're visiting soon to find out

I know of 2 individuals with the crippling kind of arthritis that have had very good results.

[twiggy]

The Phoenix Fibromyalgia Meetup Group (Phoenix, AZ) - Meetup.com (http://fibromyalgia.meetup.com/85/ - broken link)
Support Group Information (http://www.fibromyalgiarecovery.com/serv02.htm - broken link)

Here are some places for AZ sufferers, this might help you see how the heat effects it. Hope this helps. Call them and tell them your moving here and would like some feed back on how it will effect you.

[dalanna75]

I used to be the organizer to the meet-up group in north Phoenix (there's actually a few of them). I can tell you from personal experience, as well as feed-back from other fibromites, the summers out here are very brutal to us! I tend to spen the entire summer in bed with the ac crankin at 68* and a fan on me. Sometimes an ice pack on my lower back or neck for good measure. I had moved to the mountains in the eastern part of Az from Jan.-May, and I loved the cold up there. Keeping in mind that it was a heavy snow year and we had about a foot and a half stick around for 2 weeks before it melted. The winters there are mild and summer highs get to the upper 90's instead of 120*! I had to move back to Phoenix to finish school (medical transcription~ great work from home job!), but will be back in the mountains end of next spring! Hope this helps! [email]dalanna75@yahoo.com[/email]

[jaada]

I have fibromyalgia, and what dalanna75 said is very true for me as well. because of the extreme heat we get here for 5 months out of the year I get quite a few fibro flares, which keep in bed or house bound. I try not to go out in the afternoons or stay in the sun for very long. if i do i get sick. my body does much better in a cooler climate, not cold but cooler. anything over 90 and its too much for me.

[azriverfan.]

Fibromyalgia is a mysterious disease and there is no clear pathology. Generally speaking people tend to do better in warmer climates. And while the extreme can tend to cause flare ups, fibromyalgia patients claim the extreme heat is much better than the typical 5 months of winter that most cities receive and thus they deal with the summers here. Fibroymalgia includes a psychological component. If you are someone who is stressed and particularly bothered by extreme heat then Arizona may lead to flare-ups.