Apps pretty much run our lives these days - and when you have a chronic illness like Fibromyalgia, apps can definitely help you manage that too. Here are a few of my favorite apps that I use (or have used) to help me manage my battle with Fibromyalgia: PainTracker Lite
I use this app to track several things: pain/types of pain/pain location, medication, other symptoms, weather, etc., and it has helped me see some patterns that allow me to better manage my health. For example: I know (definitively) that if the weather fluctuates a lot, I'll need a lot more rest because my fatigue levels will be high, and my pain probably will be too; my symptoms aren't as bad when I eat a lot of greens and don't eat a lot of junk, things like that. It also helped me realize that one of the medications I was on actually did more harm than good. I like how it allows you to track so many different things in this app (including a notes section where you can enter whatever you want), and you just buy more space as you need it so it's relatively low-cost as it's free to start and you only buy more space when you need it (which is also pretty cheap). The only thing is it doesn't find patterns for you, so you have to be diligent about inputting your information regularly then reviewing your information and looking for patterns and then proactively making lifestyle changes to see any real benefit. This is not for the lazy, but setting an alarm to remind yourself to do your entries helps! App Description: Take the guess work out of pain management with Chronic Pain Tracker. Record your pain history with 19 unique health categories. Review a Summary Report with your doctor in the app, or export a PDF for printing/emailing. For less than a typical insurance co-pay, you can improve the management of your pain. CPT Lite is our introductory level app which let's you try out all of the features with none of the cost. Like what you see? If so, continue using this version by purchasing diary expansion packs to increase the number of Diary Entries you can create (beyond the initial 20 entry limit). If you like it, you can enable additional diary capacity via in-app purchases OR purchase our CPT Pro app for all our features with none of the restrictions. Down Dog I used to dance and play sports, and my doctor told me when I stopped (had to stop) doing those things that once I stopped I probably wouldn't be able to perform at that same level again. He also told me if I didn't keep moving my symptoms and mobility would basically disintegrate, so I try to move or stretch in small doses throughout my day and incorporate light-stretching into my everyday life a lot. I like this app because on days where I don't feel like I can go to a yoga class or take a walk (which is most of the time), I can still do a little something in my house- and a little is better than nothing! You can do as little as 10 minutes and up to 40 minutes (and you can take breaks if you have to and no one will know!), and it's free to start so it's a good place to start for your at-home yoga needs. App Description: The Down Dog App provides a studio-like yoga experience in the comfort of your home. Each time you practice, Down Dog creates a brand new vinyasa yoga sequence so that you never run out of content. Clear vocal instruction and a matching playlist round out the experience for a true studio-quality class. Fitbit Okay, first of all, as a self-proclaimed Fibro-Fabulous Queen - I'll admit that I do not reach 10,000 steps a day. I'm actually usually more in the 4-5,000ish range- but this app helps keep me accountable. Staying sedentary isn't great; even when you're in a lot of pain and moving isn't what you want to do, moving a bit is recommended, so this helps keep me accountable. There are other apps that track your steps if you don't have a Fitbit (which can be pricey), but there are other things you can track on here too: sleep, weight, etc., so you can use it to track patterns and help your overall wellness, figure out what your "good day" activity levels vs your "bad day" levels, etc. - but like everything else, you have to put in the work. App Description: Kick-off your fitness journey today by picking out a Fitbittracker and using every app feature to find your fit. ResQwalk I no longer have a dog, but that doesn't even matter. I like to do my bit of "good" in the world and love dogs/animals so this one was really a no-brainer for me. This free app takes all participating users, has them choose a local animal shelter, then you turn it on when you go for a walk, and 1) it tells you how far you went because it tracks your route, and 2) based on how many miles each shelter gains in a set time period, that's the percent of donation that ResQwalk donates to your chosen shelter from their pool of donations! You get exercise + tracking with a side of do-gooder, I just love it! I think there are a few other apps like this, so check them out! I love having another reason to go for a walk and it helps everyone so woo-hoo! App Description: ResQwalk is a free mobile app that lets you raise money and resources for your favorite animal welfare organization, and all you have to do is walk! Throughout the year, we'll announce a ResQpool of cash and other helpful resources that have been provided by some generous corporate sponsors. You can help your chosen organization earn a portion of this pool by downloading ResQwalk and hitting the pavement! Download it today and start walking for the animals. Headspace Meditation- the benefits are listed everywhere, but I only do it sporadically, because life is what it is. I like this app because if I'm left to my own devices my mind will wander, I'm not that good at meditating yet so a guided meditation is perfect for me right now. There are also tons of sessions on here that are just a few minutes and again, something is better than nothing! I've tried a few other meditation apps, and most are free to start, but so far I find myself going to this one the most. App Description: Meditation has been shown to help people stress less, focus more and even sleep better. Headspace is meditation made simple. We'll teach you the life-changing skills of meditation and mindfulness in just a few minutes a day SuperBetter I first saw this on a Ted Talk years ago where the app creator talked about the psychology behind it, where people do well with goals and deliverables and those are inherent in gaming, and how we respond well to "leveling-up" etc., and I thought, "you know what, I need a mindset change" and this really helped with that. I don't use it too much anymore, but it served it's purpose at the time, and was educational, helpful and fun - it's also free to start. App Description: SuperBetter increases resilience - the ability to stay strong, motivated and optimistic even in the face of difficult obstacles. Playing SuperBetter makes you more capable of getting through any tough situation—and more likely to achieve the goals that matter most to you. Proven results in just 10 minutes a day. What are some apps that you like to use to help manage your Fibro? Do you use any of the same apps, or have luck with others you'd like to share? Comment below!
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