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Submitted by PatientsEngage on 8 April 2018
Image: Smiling woman wearing a sari looking at the camera tells her fibromyalgia story

It was ad in a newspaper that familiarized Anju Gupta, 54, an Indian settled in Canada, to QiGong, a Chinese system of physical exercises and breathing control that helped keep her fibromyalgia in check. Read how she came out a winner.

My problem began soon after I migrated to Canada in 1995. Besides, the pressures of settling in a new country, I had a baby to look after. My son was barely six weeks old. It was very stressful time for me. The only saving grace was that I began to steadily shed my pregnancy fat and get into shape. Now I could fit into my old jeans again!

But as I began to get thin, I also started becoming breathless. I would get out of breath just doing my daily chores at home, which was not the case earlier. My father who was in India began asking me why I was getting short of breath even while talking to him on the phone.

In 1996, when we shifted from Toronto to Halifax, my father visited us. By then, my breathlessness had become quite pronounced. He looked very worried and insisted I visit a doctor. After a physical examination and blood test, I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. The results did shake me up, but I found a reason now for many of my health issues like my mood swings, irritability, shortness of breath and unexpected weight loss.

I was prescribed the PTU (Propylthiouracil) pills for my hyperthyroidism. Within weeks my energy level spiked up. I seemed sprightlier than anyone around me. I could manage my household work with ease. I could even horse around with my son now without getting breathless.

Radioactive Iodine Treatment

In 1998, I became pregnant but miscarried. In 1999, I became pregnant again, and gave birth to a daughter. During my pregnancy, I stopped my PTU drugs because it can sometimes impact the foetus. I opted for Radioactive Iodine treatment. The Radioactive Iodine is a targeted treatment. It gradually shrinks your thyroid—ultimately destroying the gland.

Curiously, after a few months, my energy level began to dip. I became bad-tempered, and my body become tender and sore at many points. I had started taking sleeping pills to get some rest. I could not exercise, as I had no strength for any workout. I was also gaining weight. Investigations revealed that from hyperthyroidism, I had developed hypothyroidism – a frequent side effect of Radioactive Iodine treatment.

What bothered me most was the severe body ache. It was like having flu every day. Sometimes the pain was so intense that even my eyeballs hurt. My fingertips would be sore and sensitive to touch. I would often ask my kids to lie on me so that my body would get gently pressed. When I visited the doctor next, I reported to him all these symptoms. He said it was not thyroid this time.

Diagnosis of Fibromyalgia

He suspected fibromyalgia. I was aware of the condition as I had seen a program on TV describing the condition. In a way I had diagnosed myself so in I was not surprised when the doctor confirmed it. Doctors often check for certain tender points on the body when it comes to diagnosing fibromyalgia. Because there is no test for fibromyalgia, doctors rely solely on your group of symptoms to make a diagnosis.

The detection of fibromyalgia was another setback for me, more so because the disorder has no cure. But I was not scared as I knew I had to be strong for the family. I would have to just endure and live with it and make the best of the given situation. But I didn’t want to give up on things. I wanted to get better. I wanted to spend happy times with my kids and family, and not be crabby about my aches or be tired and lifeless. I was willing to push and fight all through.

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Can QiGong Be The Answer?

It was around this time, when the grip on my body and mind was slipping, that I happened to see an ad in the papers about QiGong (pronounced chee gong), a Chinese system of physical exercises and breathing control similar to Tai Chi.

Qigong is a form of gentle exercise composed of movements that are repeated a number of times, often stretching the body, increasing fluid movement (blood, synovial and lymph) and building awareness of how the body moves through space. It is an ancient Chinese medicine technique to heal heart disease, diabetes, cholesterol, high blood pressure, and also to relieve stress and get fit.

I enrolled for the six week programme. The gentle exercises and easy stretching with emphasis on breathing helped me immensely.

  • My muscles began to loosen up
  • My body began to relax
  • My blood circulation improved
  • My negative energy was expelled
  • My pain disappeared.
  • My energy level was restored.

I hadn’t felt so good in a while. I really benefitted from Qigong. I believe Qigong can take care of many other illnesses. I don’t attend the Qigong classes anymore, but I practice it at home now and then. Along with Qigong, I had also changed my diet. I switched to more healthy consumption. I started exercising.

Now, my fibromyalgia is a lot in control. I am able to go to the gym regularly. My kids have grown. My son, Ankur, is 23 and my daughter, Shikha, is 18. I am back to my work. All thanks to Qigong.