While each person with fibromyalgia experiences the condition differently, one thing most fibro warriors have in common is fighting other peoples’ doubt that fibro is a “real” condition. Lady Gaga, who first opened up about having fibromyalgia last year while promoting her documentary “Gaga: Five Foot Two,” revealed exactly what she would say to those who are questioning her pain.
Gaga appeared at the MTV Movie and TV Awards to announce “Five Foot Two” had won Best Music Documentary and to present “Black Panther” with the Best Movie award, and spoke to Variety backstage after the taping on Saturday about the documentary, which chronicled her illness and raised awareness of the condition.
“I made a decision really early on that I wanted Chris [Moukarbel, the film’s director] to have full access to me and my life. I just blocked the cameras out so they could capture the realities of my life,” she said.
“To anyone that doesn’t believe in fibromyalgia: I dare you to spend five minutes in my body on a day when I’m in pain, and then try and say it again.”
In January, Gaga’s “Joanne” world tour was cut short due to her severe pain.
“I’m so devastated I don’t know how to describe it. All I know is that if I don’t do this, I am not standing by the words or meaning of my music. My medical team is supporting the decision for me to recover at home,” she said at the time.
Gaga is making her film debut in “A Star Is Born” in October. She’s also beginning a Las Vegas residency at the MGM Park Theater in December.
In an interview with the Daily Beast which was supposed to be about his recent movie, 5 Flights Up, actor Morgan Freeman instead began discussing the topic of marijuana. The Oscar-winning actor told the online magazine that marijuana helps him medically as a pain killer.
“Marijuana has many useful uses,” he says. “I have fibromyalgia pain in this arm, and the only thing that offers any relief is marijuana. They’re talking about kids who have grand mal seizures, and they’ve discovered that marijuana eases that down to where these children can have a life.
That right there, to me, says, ‘Legalize it across the board!’” “And what negative effects does it have?” Freeman continues. “Look at Woodstock 1969. They said, ‘We’re not going to bother them or say anything about smoking marijuana,’ and not one problem or fight. Then look at what happened in ’99,” he says, referencing the less marijuana-friendly 30th-anniversary event, which resulted in riots and arrests.
In the video below, Freeman is asked where he comes up with all of his energy for the seemingly endless stream of movies he puts out. Freeman chuckles slightly before giving credit to “smoking a lot of marijuana.”
Pharmaceutical companies continue to fund campaigns to shut down legalization efforts. People such as Freeman continue to harm their lobbying efforts as they speak the truth. Pharma stands to lose billions in the painkiller market to this natural alternative.
Earlier this month, superstar Lady Gaga took to social media to announce that she has long struggled with fibromyalgia.
The news has put the painful and poorly understood illness center stage.
Just this week, the singer announced on Twitter that she’s postponing the European leg of her 2017 “Joanne” concert tour due to what she described as fibromyalgia-related “trauma and chronic pain.”
Gaga hasn’t offered up details of her condition, although it comes just before a new TV documentary about the singer—set to premiere Friday on Netflix—that will reportedly highlight some of her health concerns.
But one thing is already clear: the disease does, at times, pull the rug out from under the performer’s best-laid plans.
“The pain and disability seen in fibromyalgia is typically worse than almost any other chronic pain condition,” explained Dr. Daniel Clauw. He is a professor of anesthesiology, medicine/rheumatology and psychiatry at the University of Michigan.
“[The pain] doesn’t just affect one area of the body you can avoid moving, and often is accompanied by severe fatigue, sleep, memory and other issues,” Clauw noted.
Dr. Marco Loggia added that “it can be extremely debilitating.” Loggia is associate director of the Center for Integrative Pain NeuroImaging at Massachusetts General Hospital in Charlestown, Mass.
“Most of the patients we encounter in our research studies are significantly impacted by the disorder,” Loggia noted, “which sometimes prevents them from having normal work and social lives.”
Fibromyalgia was first recognized by the American Medical Association as a distinct disease back in 1987, and is “a relatively common chronic pain disorder,” Loggia said.
How common? The National Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain Association (NFMCPA) indicates that the illness affects up to 4 percent of the world’s population, and anywhere from 5 million to 10 million Americans. It is much more common among women, who account for 80 percent of patients. Although it can affect children, it is most often diagnosed during middle age.
According to Loggia, the disorder is characterized “by persistent, widespread pain, fatigue, un-refreshing sleep, memory loss, poor concentration and other symptoms.”
The NFMCPA adds that it can also give rise to sensitivity to light and sound, as well as to a degree of psychological distress in the form of anxiety and depression.
But what exactly is it, and how does it develop?
The picture is murky, with the U.S. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases flatly acknowledging that “the causes of fibromyalgia are unknown.”
But experts suggest that the disorder is likely driven by several factors, including exposure to a traumatic event (like a car crash) and/or exposure to repetitive injuries. Central nervous system disturbances may also play a role, as might a genetic predisposition to feel pain in reaction to stimuli that most people perceive as benign.
Struggling to find more in-depth answers, Loggia noted that American and German researchers have recently identified a subset of fibromyalgia patients who appear to have abnormalities in some of their peripheral small nerve fibers.
His own research suggests that some degree of brain inflammation may be at play, given that brain inflammation is common among chronic back pain sufferers and most fibromyalgia patients suffer from chronic back pain.
Unfortunately, Clauw cautioned that the failure to identify a clear cause for fibromyalgia has given rise to the myth “that it is not real.” That, he said, is decidedly not the case.
Loggia agreed.
“Traditionally, patients with fibromyalgia have been met with a great deal of skepticism, stigma and even condescension, including by many physicians that are supposed to take care of them,” Loggia said. “Even today, their pain is often dismissed as ‘all in their head,’ not real,” he added.
“However, many studies—and particularly those using brain imaging techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging—have now provided substantial support to the notion that the excessive sensitivity to pain that these patients demonstrate is genuine. I think that it is time to stop dismissing these patients,” Loggia said.
What these patients need now are “better drug and non-drug treatments,” Clauw said.
“We’ve only begun to take this condition seriously from a research standpoint for about 20 to 30 years,” he noted, adding that there are no “really effective” drugs for fibromyalgia.
Loggia said that means a lot of the focus has been placed on pain management, with patients turning to interventions such as painkillers (opioids) as well as yoga and cognitive behavioral therapy. “But these interventions are rarely ‘completely curative,’” he added.
As for Lady Gaga, she likely faces a better prognosis than most. “That this was diagnosed when she was younger is good, because many people go years or decades undiagnosed,” Clauw said. “But she also almost certainly got better recognition and treatment for her condition given who she is. Others in similar medical—but different social—situations would struggle to even find a doctor to see them and take them seriously.”
I have never been a huge visitor to Fibromyalgia support forums. However, it has been “eye-opening to say the least to see how opinions have been divided.
In one camp you have those, like me who think that this is great for raising awareness.
People are finally starting to ask questions about this relatively unknown and misunderstood condition. Facebook went into overdrive. Instagram was buzzing and Twitter, well just tweeted. Daytime TV interviewed doctors who gave the low down on Fibromyalgia. One of our regular presenters got a crash course in pronouncing the word as well as learning what the symptoms are. In some respects, it felt better late than never. All of sudden, we are validated. Just sad that it has taken so long and a celebrity suffering to bring Fibromyalgia out in the open. Good on Gaga!!
Sadly, on the other side of the fence, there are those sufferers who are playing the “my Fibromyalgia is worse than yours” game. They have declared open season on Lady Gaga.
They are questioning her motives for going public. Doubting that she could even have the condition given her long and energetic live performances. There have been those that have suggested that she would be better using her wealth by contributing to research. They deem this preferable as opposed to sharing her story. And believe it or not, there are some who are “whining” about her being in hospital. If she can “rest in the hospital, why can’t I?” Really???
I am sure that she can think of better places to rest and recuperate without being admitted to hospital.
The reality of this condition is that nobody is immune, the pain has no regard for celebrity status. Because Fibromyalgia is so different and unique to each individual it is difficult to judge one set of symptoms against another. Fibromyalgia can prove to be more debilitating for some than others. We know that it tends to go hand in hand with so many other conditions such as Chronic Fatigue or Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
For those of us with Fibromyalgia and chronic pain, it is important that we extend compassion not just to fellow sufferers but also towards ourselves.
It is imperative that we don’t turn our pain into some sort of competition by judging one another as to who can do what. We should be celebrating our successes and commiserating when the going gets tough. Not putting each other down because somebody had a good day!
I have, in some small part, been on the receiving of those who have doubted the severity of my condition. I have been slated for holding down a full-time job and for not taking medication. All good reasons apparently to question my diagnosis by other Fibromyalgia sufferers.
Therefore, I have to say that I do feel for Lady Gaga. Although never a fan, I admire her honesty and her admission that shows she isn’t the superhuman everybody thought she was. By coming out and talking of her struggle with pain, she has made herself vulnerable to the doubters and naysayers. I am hoping that she also becomes an ambassador and a voice for those who genuinely suffer in silence.
She has the same frailties and struggles as the rest of us who suffer with this condition.
And, yes truth be told, she has more money than most. Without a doubt, she will have access to some of the best doctors and healthcare. However, at the end of the day, her pain and fatigue will be as soul-destroying and debilitating as it is for the rest of us.
As we all do, she will have good and bad days. Sadly, she will have flares and periods of stability. She is now after all a Fibromyalgia Warrior battling with the rest of us. Therefore, she is as deserving of our support as any other brave soul battling chronic pain.
Whatever your thoughts are on the performer, she has brought the word Fibromyalgia into the public domain and that can only be a good thing. I for one, wish her all the love and luck in the world.
This is a great opportunity now to capitalize on her story and build momentum by telling ourstories. If you are feeling brave, why not get in touch with your local press and tell them about your Fibro journey. Post on your Facebook page, start up your own community or share your Fibro days on Instagram.
It is certainly a topical subject at the moment and ultimately, this can only be a good thing in educating people about our condition. It is up to us to get our message out there and highlight how many people are actually battling this condition day in day out, out of the headlines, and away from the cameras.
Be brave, be bold and tell your story – no meaty outfits required!!
I use the word ‘suffer’ not for pity, or attention, and have been disappointed to see people online suggest that I’m being dramatic, making this up, or playing the victim to get out of touring. If you knew me, you would know this couldn’t be further from the truth
It isn’t at all surprising to me that people have suggested to Lady Gaga that she is being dramatic, making her pain up, or playing the victim.
Everyone with chronic pain has faced this exact same sort of stigma before. It is pervasive with fibromyalgia.
I want to say ‘Try it on for size, see how it fits. Hell, give it a decade or two and come back to me. Tell me how it feels.’ But I wouldn’t want anyone to endure this pain. Not ever. But it seems chronic pain is a member’s only club. The true depth of the experience is extremely hard to explain to people. And there will be those that doubt it is a valid experience. That you are in as much pain as you say. That you are in pain at all. That, surely, you exaggerate it.
You see, the main lesson we learn early on in coping is to try and function with pain and the fatigue of fibromyalgia. Generally, we learn this the hard way. We push through the pain. We do not pace. We do not pay attention to our limits. We want to keep our lives as IS. So we push through it. So perhaps the impact isn’t seen by the outside observer yet. This causes a great deal more pain. So we begin to seek some sort of resolution.
But there isn’t any resolution. So we seek some sort of reduction. But there aren’t any easy answers there. But meanwhile, we are still pushing through the pain. And this stress builds and builds until we cannot do that anymore. Generally, a lot of us learn the hard way we have to pace. We have to slow down. We have to pay attention to those newly imposed limitations.
I learned this twice. Because that is how I roll.
Nevertheless, the impact is seen in our lives then. People do not see the chiropractor, acupuncture, or massage therapy appointments. Doctor appointments and specialist appointments. Diets. Supplements. Exercise. And every other thing we try and do. But when it begins to start to cancel plans and affect work… they begin to notice.
How is it you did that one day, but couldn’t the next? You are just lazy. You are just exaggerating the pain.
You just don’t want to work.
The judgments begin. All the while you feel guilty for not being who you Were. And struggle to maintain the semblance of a life you had. May be struggling to hold onto your career, working in general or dealing with the sudden loss of work. Not being able to work is something that is difficult to deal with financially, in regards to self-worth and guilt wise. All this takes adjustments. And people Judge.
What they have no comprehension of is the level of pain, fatigue, poor concentration and other symptoms of illness one has to endure and try to function with on a daily basis. When you are developing a treatment plan, it can be pretty much impossible to function. Unmanaged pain is extremely difficult to cope with. And it may never be managed well.
That is the thing with chronic pain. Not everyone’s pain can be managed to a level they can function well enough to work or do the sort of things society expects of them. Some people can have moderately managed pain and they can function at a better capacity some of the time. And there are those with well-managed pain. But it is still pain. It is still very difficult to deal with. There are still very bad days, moderate days and then there are good days. It is very unpredictable.
Oddly enough they think we exaggerate when we also learn to mask the pain in order to function in society as we do. We are rather stoic given the level of pain we are in. We have exceptional pain tolerances we develop from dealing with it all the time. We have ‘baseline’ pain that we find ‘normal’ or ‘good days’ and I will guarantee the average person wouldn’t find that ‘normal’ at all.
And we have moderate pain that even Then we are still going at it… but not doing Quite as well. And we have brutal pain that would have the average person in the ER, and certainly, it is the sort that causes us to be non-functional. So do not judge us for non-functional days. Not to mention there are decades of worse pain sometimes. Times when pain management isn’t working. And it is relentless then. But we get through it.
I think it is a great thing that Lady Gaga is out there sharing the truth about chronic pain and fibromyalgia. But with that truth comes the very true fact of the stigma we all experience. It is a great thing she is pointing it out as well. When your pain isn’t managed it will manage you, and you need to take the time to deal with it. She has no one to answer to for that. Most people will completely understand that. Those that don’t are the ones that we all deal with in our lives and why awareness is so very important in the first place.
Just because you cannot see my pain doesn’t mean I have to validate its existence to you. Believe it. Or don’t. I don’t care. I still have to live and cope with it whether you do or don’t. What it does mean is that if you don’t… you will not be a person I will value in my life. If you do not believe in a fundamental experience that defines my existence and how I live in this world, then I have very little use for you.
Lady Gaga has opened up about having Fibromyalgia and is going to be candid about it in her documentary. Fibromyalgia is a syndrome that needs this sort of representation. Someone visible is seen to be struggling with it and getting extensive treatment to manage the pain. It isn’t the sort of syndrome that gets much attention. So I am proud of her for putting that out there. And those of us who advocate for awareness are glad to see someone putting her story out there to a broad audience in such away.
Pain Network News article goes into some of the treatments she is using from massage to ‘sitting in an infrared sauna wrapped in an emergency blanket‘ and alternating between cold (ice baths) and hot treatments. As well as Gyrotonic Workout,
That is the thing for Fibromyalgia that she demonstrates well. We have to find our own treatments that work for us. And sometimes that takes a long time. And sometimes you have to think of new things to try. But when you find your path it can help you manage the pain and help you cope.
I do only a few basic things for FM a) exercise b) magnesium– Epsom salt baths, magnesium oil, or magnesium in liquid form. c) Oska Pulse and d) slow-release tramadol called Silvia and e) FibroCane supplements. For pain anyway. And that is what works for me.
Also, Rhodiola for fatigue, because fatigue is another major issue all on its own. And B12 for fatigue as well.
And then a sleeping pill for sleep. Because my sleep is horrendous.
And just pacing and moderation, as we all know, go a long way. Staying within those limits.
I am glad to see we have some star power willing to share her struggles though. And also discuss how she lives and works with her condition. Because having it is one thing, coping another and we have lives to live. We have to find ways to manage the pain, fatigue, sleep dysfunction, and cognitive issues somehow. It will be interesting to see what she says in her documentary and how much awareness it brings to fibromyalgia as a syndrome. We need the awareness for sure.
Not all Rheumatologists (especially if they had been trained some years earlier and belong to the older generation) believe in Fibromyalgia.
Even if they “believe”, not all are comfortable with managing patients with Fibromyalgia for diverse reasons. One very common reason (which doctors only admit to other doctors) is that Fibromyalgia patients are generally difficult (I sympathize with those patients) as they are generally mistrustful of doctors in general after all their bad experiences with doctors.
b) Whether they are comfortable and happy treating patients with Fibromyalgia.
If the answer to either of these questions is a No, ask politely for suggestions for a Rheumatologist who is interested in managing these patients. You would be surprised that there are many. Fibromyalgia is a test of a Rheumatologists utmost all-around skills.
The first order of business is confirmation of Fibromyalgia which is completely clinical. (It involves bedside tests and interviews. There are two criteria for diagnosis both of which are valid. Remember that a diagnosis of fibromyalgia does not exclude any other diagnosis.
Therefore the second order of business is to look for and exclude any other disease that may co-exist or may have triggered fibromyalgia by increasing the risk. The more recent your fibromyalgia, the more the need to look for other associated conditions.
If you find something else along with fibromyalgia, the doctor’s job gets easier. (If you have the disease for 10–15 years, there would be little doubt and the doctor may be able to make a diagnosis just by talking to you)
Managing patients with fibromyalgia is multi-dimensional. Patient education is key so as the patient gets reassured that fibromyalgia is a non-life or limb-threatening benign disease of just pure pain and suffering. So it is important for the patient not to let the disease get to them and fight it valiantly and refuse to be impacted in everyday life. The doctor is there to help you do that.
The treatment would involve drugs that alleviate the different symptoms as well as lifestyle changes. Exercise and good sleep are the cornerstones of Fibromyalgia management. For those who find exercise painful, it is important to have a structured regimen where you start slow and slowly increase the level of exercise.
Improved sleep either with lifestyle changes or with fibromyalgia medicines would have a direct and immediate impact on your pain and other symptoms. Reducing weight is important for those who are obese, as they are in general less likely to respond to drugs (contrary is also true, those who are lean tend to respond better to drugs).
I have seen patients who did not respond to any drugs getting cured simply with exercise and weight loss. While there are several drugs for fibromyalgia that are approved (pregabalin, duloxetine) or off-label, the choice of the first drug should be determined by the specific circumstances of the patient including co–morbidities and is not going to be covered here.
Suffice it to say that different individuals respond differently to different drugs and it is important to find which drugs or combinations thereof work best for any given patient. Therefore, the patient should have patience and stick with your chosen rheumatologist and give him enough time to optimize your management.
Waania Shamim is a young, enthusiastic woman who has lived with fibromyalgia, chronic pain, and chronic migraines for the last three years. She puts a positive spin on her life as a chronic pain patient and wants to help others feel better about their prognoses. Waania is on her way to becoming a wonderful advocate.
Written in G ♯ minor and at 120 beats per minute, the synthetic sound that rocks with pop beats became instantly recognizable. There she appears in a one strap black latex jumpsuit, glistening as she emerges from the water wearing a mask that looks as if it has been made from a disco ball. There she is in all her glory – beautiful, eccentric, bold. Since that first image of her, I have been a fan of this extraordinary woman.
Lady Gaga, who has since been named, Mother Monster by her followers, has never apologized for being outlandish. She is known for being provocative and unconventional in her ways of entertaining, hello remember the Meat Dress? She is also known for being completely open about her life and past and experiences.
But, Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta has been in the news as of late not for her music, but for revealing she suffers from chronic pain and fibromyalgia.
This week alone this mega icon has canceled her European lag of her tour and posted her pain. Not many people are open about their private lives and for any person who suffers from anything, being open to the public critique and ridicule makes speaking out harder than just being mute, putting on a smile, and saying “Everything is fine.”
So why is her canceling her tour, coming out as suffering from Fibromyalgia, and promoting a documentary about her life behind the lights of stardom entitled “Lady Gaga: Five Foot Two,” news?
Lady Gaga’s public admittance is bringing this disorder that is estimated to affect more than 100 million people* to the forefront. I believe her coming out and being truthful about the chronic pain she lives with is starting the conversation that hasn’t always happened. If a star as huge as LadyGaga has chronic pain and fibromyalgia, then it solidifies that it is real because she is perfect, has a perfect life, and can’t possibly be faking it. Right? She’s never lied to her fans or the public about any aspect of her life, trauma, and beliefs so why would she make this up?
“I use the word suffer not only because trauma and chronic pain have changed my life, but because they are keeping me from living a normal life.” ~ Lady Gaga
Her documentary is being looked at by some as potentially a negative based on how she portrays herself and chronic pain. Some people are saying they’re scared of how this will portray chronic pain because she, as a celebrity, has access to treatments and medication that those of who aren’t millionaires don’t have. I am sure she is with the best doctors and using the best “treatments” available because she does have the money, but I think speaking out about it is more of a win than whatever she shows us in her documentary. The words “chronic pain,” and “fibromyalgia” are now on the radar of millions of people thanks to her. I’m sure some of her fans who have never heard of fibromyalgia looked it up, are trying to understand it, and maybe even finding people they never knew who suffered are suffering all simply because she put it out in the universe.
I might not be saying it from a microphone to millions of people at once but I have a voice. I do not shy away from talking about what I have, what I “suffer” with. And, like Gaga says in her statement posted today:
I use the word “suffer” not for pity, or attention, and have been disappointed to see people online suggest that I’m being dramatic, making this up, or playing the victim to get out of touring. If you knew me, you would know this couldn’t be further from the truth. I’m a fighter.
To me Lady Gaga brings hope for awareness, understanding, and acceptance. She shows that a celebrity, a world-wide icon at the end of the day, struggles with the same issues you and I do. She is more than the woman we see in her extravagant videos or on stage doing amazing choreography in heels that most of us couldn’t even stand in for a second. She. Is. Human.
Like most in the chronic pain community I was excited to hear that Lady Gaga was speaking out about her recent diagnosis of fibromyalgia.
I have been hoping for years that the fibromyalgia/chronic pain community would have a celebrity spokesperson. It isn’t that I was hoping someone would get fibro but I was hoping that if they did they would use their celebrity status to shed some light on what most call the “invisible disease”.
Many fibromites have worried what it would do to how people think about us if they see how much a celebrity diagnosed is able to do when we can’t even get out of bed. We see her performing long concerts, singing & dancing at night after a long day of travel and rehearsal.
This past August Gaga announced her documentary. The film follows Gaga over eight months as she works on and releases her 2016 album “Joanne”, performs at the Super Bowl, and spends time with her family and friends.
Prior to the film release she announced that she had been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Lady Gaga tweeted that she wants to connect with others who also have fibromyalgia. She wrote, “In our documentary the #chronicillness #chronicpain I deal w/ is #Fibromyalgia I wish to help raise awareness & connect people who have it.”
Also, before the film release she was hospitalized and had to cancel her tour.
She posted on Twitter at 1:26 PM – Sep 14, 2017 “xoxo, Gaga @ladygaga Brazil, I’m devastated that I’m not well enough 2 come to Rock In Rio. I would do anything 4 u but I have to take care of my body right now.”
I watched it by myself this weekend and several scenes stuck with me.
Watching her cry in pain saying, “I just think about other people that have maybe something like this that are struggling to figure out what it is, and they don’t have the money to have somebody help them,” she says through tears. “Like, I don’t know what I’d fuckin’ do if I didn’t have everybody here to help me. What the hell would I do? … Do I look pathetic? I’m so embarrassed.”
Tami Stackelhouse, author, Founder of International Fibromyalgia Coaching Institute states, “In one scene Lady Gaga talks about using adrenaline to push through her pain and perform. This is the push/crash cycle. If you can break that cycle (and yes, you can break it) you’ll have more predictable energy levels and less pain. Some info on how I recommend you do that can be found in my first book. Grab a free copy at TakeBackYourLifeBook.com”
Personally, when I saw her laying on couch, grabbing someone’s shoulder in pain as they moved/stretched her hips and legs I began to cry. Too many times I have needed others to help to manipulate my trigger points as tears fall down my cheeks.
I kept waiting to hear her talk about fibromyalgia. It didn’t happen. As it ended I reluctantly decided to post in a couple of my support groups “I might be the only one who was disappointed in the documentary.”
I know who Lady Gaga is and have heard a lot of her music but I do not follow her enough to know that the film was recorded prior to her diagnosis. After learning that the diagnosis came after the filming of the video I understood why she did not bring up fibromyalgia.
I think that the media hype that was created when she announced her diagnosis and canceling of the tour led to inaccurate posts about the film. We were all expecting to see a documentary showing her life with fibromalgia.
Manda Laclair, a Fibro Warrior wrote, “I watched it. It was supposed to “open the worlds eyes about fibromyalgia.” it didn’t. It did not mention fibromyalgia once. It showed lady gaga doing what she does every day. It was real. I cried when I saw her in a flare up crying because that’s been me so many times and its great for the world to realize that just because someone is doing their job and they look healthy doesn’t mean they’re not in pain. She admitted to being in pain for almost her whole tour once, and that sucks. Working through a flare up doing your best to ignore is not easy. I’m thankful lady gaga was real and allowed us to see a glimpse inside what chronic pain looks like. But to say it opened the world up to what fibromyalgia is, is disappointing. So much more could have been discussed and covered however, it is a great start. So thank you lady gaga for sharing your story.”
I agree with Manda, I am grateful that Lady Gaga showed herself at her most vulnerable. I too was disappointed. I wanted to hear more. I wanted the film to be like a 20/20 or Dateline documentary.
However, I know now that the film was made before her diagnosis and was not meant to be about fibromyalgia but gave us a glimpse of the pain she has been going through over the past 5 years.
I saw similarities between myself and Lady Gaga. We both have lived most of our lives feeling insecure and not good enough. We both feel alone & lonely even while surrounded by others. We both have had surgeries that are still causing us pain. We both have tried various therapies to help relieve the pain. i.e. triggerpoint injections, cupping, massages, stretch therapies and medication. We both have to rely on others to help to bring us our medicine, ice packs, heating pads, and work our trigger points. We both have family members with Lupus. We both make the mistake of pushing ourselves to get through things we have to do and then experience a painful crash afterwards.
“I was born to survive” “I was born to be brave” “I was born this way” & I was born to be a Fibro Warrior~Living Life!
“I have always been honest about my physical and mental health struggles. Searching for years to get to the bottom of them. It is complicated and difficult to explain, and we are trying to figure it out. As I get stronger and when I feel ready, I will tell my story in more depth, and plan to take this on strongly so I can not only raise awareness, but expand research for others who suffer as I do, so I can help make a difference. I use the word “suffer” not for pity, or attention, and have been disappointed to see people online suggest that I’m being dramatic, making this up, or playing the victim to get out of touring. If you knew me, you would know this couldn’t be further from the truth. I’m a fighter. I use the word suffer not only because trauma and chronic pain have changed my life, but because they are keeping me from living a normal life. They are also keeping me from what I love the most in the world: performing for my fans. I am looking forward to touring again soon, but I have to be with my doctors right now so I can be strong and perform for you all for the next 60 years or more. I love you so much.” ~ Lady Gaga
