Dear Fibromyalgia

Category: Fibromyalgia Diagnosis

Learn how Fibromyalgia is diagnosed, including key symptoms, diagnostic criteria, and the tests used to rule out other conditions.

  • Patient Questions: Answered related to Fibromyalgia

    Question:
    I have had fibromyalgia for some years. I would like to address the illness and get some help in managing pain levels better, any advice?

    There are many steps you can take when it comes to managing your fibromyalgia. To start, choose activity wisely. Exercise regularly, but do not overdo things. Set personal limits, and always remember to take a rest. Try your best to remove yourself from situations that are likely to cause stress as this can aggravate pain, and modify your working environment to better suit your situation. During a flare-up, do less, take warm baths or use ice — whichever works best for you. It is also a good idea to read up on some simple mindfulness techniques such as meditation, deep breathing, or visualisation — as many patients see relief from these practices.

    With several years of experience treating patients with Fibromyalgia, The Chronicillness.co team truly empathise with the obstacles patients face on a daily basis. We are constantly taking new research and information into consideration when finding the correct treatment path for our patients. We believe in a multidisciplinary approach comprised of tried and tested measures to effectively lower and manage symptoms for a better quality of life.

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    Question – Ethel from Gateshead asks:

    What are trigger point injections, and how are they most effective (i.e. all over the body pain or more targeted trigger points?)

    There are a number of different types of trigger point injections including dry needling (acupuncture), and wet needling (with local anaesthetic/ local anaesthetic plus steroid or botox).

    Trigger point injections are thought to work by causing local relaxation of muscle fibres, leading to a reduction in tension and a reduction of afferent pain traffic back to the spinal cord. They also release endorphins in a number of patients, which gives an overall analgesic effect. They are most useful when there are specific targeted trigger points, rather than when patients have widespread all over body trigger points. The aim is to shrink down the area of trigger points to the smallest area, before using trigger point treatment.

    Question – Sam from Watford asks:

    If someone has all over body pain, can treating the worst affected area with trigger point injections help the other areas?

    Yes, in some cases this can be effective, although this is always on a case by case basis for which patients need to be fully, medically assessed. Various treatment options must be reviewed and discussed in person with the patient, so they can make an informed decision as to the best course of treatment.

    With several years of experience treating patients with Fibromyalgia, The Chronicillness.co team urges patients to consider trigger point injections as a highly effective treatment options with little to no side effects.

    Question – John from Edinburgh asks:

    What are the main benefits of TPI’s and can successful TPI’s result in lower requirements for oral drugs?

    The main benefits of trigger point injections include reduction in pain, spasms, and analgesic requirements, in addition to improvement in overall functions. If and when trigger point injections (either dry or wet needling) is effective, this can indeed lead to a lowering of oral, analgesic medications.

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    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • Fibromyalgia sufferers finally acknowledged by the USA

    The New Year is off to a great start already, as fibromyalgia sufferers in the U.S. have finally been acknowledged. As 2015 came to a close, fibromyalgia received its own official diagnostic code in the ICD-10-CM codes in the U.S. ICD-10-CM stands for International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification. This is a list of diagnostic codes used for medical reporting in the U.S.

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    The ICD-10-CM is based on the ICD-10, the statistical classification of disease published by the World Health Organization. ICD codes are used by everyone in the healthcare industry, such as doctors, insurance companies and government agencies. They are used to identify and classify diagnosed diseases and conditions.

    Prior to the official code, when diagnosing a patient with fibromyalgia, doctors had to use a general code, which could include any muscle pain or inflammation. However, now FM is recognized as a distinct entity with its own code—a meaningful and exciting change for all who suffer.

    The fact that fibromyalgia has its own diagnostic code now makes it impossible for anyone to insist that fibromyalgia isn’t real. Both the World Health Organization as well as the U.S. Government have given it unquestionable legitimacy.

    Additionally, a distinct diagnostic code will improve consistency in fibromyalgia research, as the data for many observational studies is gathered by tracking diagnosis codes. Without its own diagnosis code, fibromyalgia studies have sometimes been hindered by inaccurate data from the inclusion of patients that did not actually have FM.

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    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • Fibromyalgia syndrome: 4 ways to cope with the pain

    Fibromyalgia syndrome causes widespread pain and stiffness in the body which gets worse as the day progresses, leaving you feeling weak. This syndrome can have a huge impact on how you lead your life on a day-to-day basis. A range of treatments are usually prescribed for long term management of fibromyalgia pain including physical therapy, psychological therapy and drugs.
    Below are some useful coping techniques to help you manage the pain on a day-to-day basis.

    Hydrate yourself

    That clear liquid we take for granted every day can actually help to relieve the symptoms of fibromyalgia. Did you know that fatigue and headaches can be caused by dehydration? Our adult bodies are made up of approximately 70% water which evaporates through breathing, sweating and other natural bodily functions. Drinking water helps to flush all the toxins through your liver and kidneys and out of the body. Aim for at least 8 glasses each day – being hydrated will help to fight off fatigue. If you don’t like plain water try a squeeze of lemon juice or lime to add some flavor.

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    Get some sleep

    Fibromyalgia sufferers tend to have disturbed sleep – research has shown that sleep deprivation can cause widespread pain and chronic daytime fatigue. The key to reducing fatigue is quality sleep. Unfortunately, it’s a double edged sword as the pain makes it harder to sleep but sleep helps to relieve the pain.

    You can encourage a better night’s sleep by setting a regular time for both going to bed and getting up each day. Make your bedroom a cool, dark, distraction free space and avoid drinking caffeinated drinks in the evening. If you feel the need to use a computer before bed you should try and restrict it to at leapt an hour before you go to sleep. If you find your thoughts are what keep you awake you can try keeping a notepad beside the bed and write down the thoughts you have and listen to relaxing music to unwind your mind. This is an effective technique for reducing anxiety.

    Take a bath

    A study in Rheumatology International (2008) confirmed hydrotherapy as a method of relieving the painful symptoms of fibromyalgia. Warm water helps to circulate the blood, reduces the pressure placed on joints and helps to relax the muscles (and the mind). Whilst a hydrotherapy pool isn’t a luxury available to everyone on a daily basis, instead you could have a long, warm bath in the evening to help soothe your muscles.

    Keep moving

    We’re not suggesting that you go and sign up to a 5k race, but research has shown that gentle exercise plays an important role in helping to break the pain cycle, reduce stiffness and improve the symptoms of fibromyalgia. If the pain is bad, it may not be possible to exercise much but starting slowly with a few easy stretches, then working your way up to doing more is a good way to ease into it. Gentle exercise like yoga, walking or swimming will all increase your heart rate. Start out slowly and for short periods of time, then as you are able, work up to 30 minutes a day if you can.

    https://fibromyalgia-6.creator-spring.com/
    https://www.teepublic.com/stores/fibromyalgia-store

    Click Here to Visit the Store and find Much More….

    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • What it is like to live with Fibromyalgia?

    I am a retired Author and Producer of large creative events and most recently a Paper Maker, Sculptor and Workshop Leader. My husband always said that I metamorphosis at various times throughout life. We married very young and have three children and four grandchildren.

    I was first diagnosed about six years ago. Gradually as my Fibromyalgia symptoms became worse I have had to learn to give myself permission to simply play with materials in the studio and not feel I have had to achieve anything which I have found extremely difficult and I have been very grateful for friends who have encouraged me through playing with me so that occasionally I can make again. Even if I don’t feel like it, I do recognize that creativity is one of the key healing elements in making one feel more uplifted and human.

    I’ve been going to start this article many times but each time I was about to commence the dominant worst characteristics of my Fibromyalgia change, flawing me and causing me to stop and draw upon inner strength to refocus and start writing yet again!

    I have not tried to use medical language but leave that for the experts! Also, I’m never very sure on some aspects whether the medication that is helping some of the more serious symptoms are helpful with others but again rely on expert advice.

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    Of course, all the other symptoms just keep perpetuating and even multiplying at times over the years and sometimes to me even seemingly replicating other diseases but I will come back to these.
    Upon reflection over the years I consider the worse aspect living with Fibromyalgia is the aloneness. Nobody actually sits down with you and says “now tells me what is it like living with Fibromyalgia?” Nobody. People will say how are you today? But that is embarrassing. Do you really want to be known as someone who complains all the time? No! So, to inform a little you just mention localized pain and weakness sometimes.

    When you have a medical appointment, you pick out the worst aspects at that moment of time and it is those that get treated but I am fortunate and have an excellent medical team who’ve heard them all before and so have an overall picture.

    Each day is a challenge and current severe pain areas are in my arms, shoulders, neck and in mostly in the top and back of my head. I also have ongoing very bad pain in my back and hips which is brought on by standing mostly at the kitchen sink after a few seconds, walking or any movement in fact. Pain is extremely unpleasant and can cause a lack of functioning but it is not something I am frightened of and do not therefore retire to my bed. I do get up in the mornings as I believe in moving very strongly and rest between moving. This has been a problem in the past with other extreme health conditions so I try to gage the level sensibly!
    At the moment I am not getting the pain in my legs and feet and toes only normal muscular after exercising. Neither in my hands and fingers. My toes have pins and needles. The shooting pains particularly in my breasts and stomach are also not occurring.

    Starting at the top of my body sleep has been a very difficult issue and until recently due to medication I’ve only been able to sleep on average about 4 hours a night, now I sleep a little longer. I haven’t been able to cope with the computer for longer than 20 minutes at the most without feeling stressed or having a brain fog. Neither can I cope with flashing lights, bright light or loud noises and can feel dizzy easily. Memory loss is embarrassing to say the least.

    I have awful indigestion although I eat little and very slowly and I frequently feel sick. This seems to be felt through heartburn or coughing. I am breathless very easily. I have gradually lost my enjoyment of food.
    I feel as if I have a urine infection most of the time which again interrupts the night as I get up between 5 to 7 times a night and can’t go out without stopping frequently. My vagina is so sore and painful and sexual intercourse has been out of the question over the last few years.

    My body temperature fluctuates excessively at times and for the first few years I felt hot all the time which was unusual, then this changed (which may have been due to medication I don’t know) to frequent hot flushes even if I want to go to the toilet and always at night time so feeling very menopausal. I have never been a sweaty person but during these very warm times I do sweat and it is quite sticky unlike usual sweat. It can feel as if sweat is trickling down my legs. I can go from very cold to very hot within seconds. Patches of my skin can sometimes feel as if they are burning.

    I experience extreme itching all over my body at times and this can for me exceed the pain as it is so tormenting. Other times it just on my head, back areas and leg areas. Also. It can feel quite separately that there are insects crawling under my skin often in my legs. Another sensation is that I have experienced in the past is similar to shingles with similar stripes appearing that can be painful and itchy on my back and under my breasts for a few days.

    I also woke up one day with a red rash on one eye which looked as if I’d been punched in the eye preceding a black eye and was told by a friend who is a medical officer to go straight to A&E where they had an Eye Hospital as my sight kept coming and going. They didn’t know what it was but said I should contact them day or night if necessary. It took nearly a week to completely disappear. My eyesight does occasionally waver and my eyes feel dry and itchy all the time.

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    I also bruise very easily sometimes as red dots which turn blue and other times as a bruise that spreads.

    Normal tasks like cleaning one’s teeth proves very painful whatever I try to alleviate backpain and having a bath is no longer a pleasurable experience so I always shower. This again means inwardly priming oneself up because of the effort taken particularly if I wash my hair. Do I try to keep my arms up in the air or do balance them against my body and bend right over which is going to prove the easiest on that particular day? Of course, not all days are this bad.

    The frustration of being so weak was where I started and it was some time before diagnoses when I complained about pain too. One still hopes to grow stronger through exercise and it is wonderful to no longer be in a wheelchair thanks to meeting Dr Jenner who promised to get me into a better place which indeed he has and through his advice, medication, physical programmed within a year my wheelchair was stored in the attic! Together with my osteopath Victoria Latchem in Dartington, Devon where I live, they are rocks and I look forward to future times of accomplishing the peculiar things on my bucket list!

    Each day no matter how I feel I always determine to be:

    • – up and dressed no later that 9am and try to be earlier than this
    • – make a list of tasks I want to accomplish even if some go over to the next day
    • – go for a walk no matter how much pain knowing that gently moving the muscles will help for the next day
    • – exercise if possible

    Strategies are important too like doing the vegetables or similar jobs sitting down at a table or on one’s lap watching the TV to distract from discomfort.

    However, with the added stresses of Covid–19 the fight to be positive is more difficult and depression is now an issue which affects me as an artist but also in the home. People are an antidote even if on zoom.

    I could not cope without my wonderful husband who does know, asks questions and understand as much as anyone can what it is like to have Fibromyalgia living with me every day although he may dispute this. It is very difficult to see someone you love suffer and get frustrated even if they don’t say anything. I would almost say it is worse for him than me. He became like a carer when I deteriorated and therefore, I would say that if I was on my own further strategies would be necessary.

    https://fibromyalgia-6.creator-spring.com/
    https://www.teepublic.com/stores/fibromyalgia-store

    Click Here to Visit the Store and find Much More….

    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • What does fibromyalgia feel like?

    What does fibromyalgia feel like?

    Raise your hand if you’ve ever been asked “what does fibromyalgia feel like?”

    Oh wait a minute, I can’t raise my right-hand today because of killer shoulder pain. Hang on while I check to see if the left arm is working. Yeah! I can raise my left hand! Yes, I have been asked what having fibromyalgia feels like, many times.

    Who knows what tomorrow or even later today will bring. My shoulders are favorites for my fibro buddy to target. There can be a limited range of motion in one shoulder or both. Sometimes neither, those are the good days. I find out only when the time comes.

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    Absolutely no way to predict these things, but learning to live with fibromyalgia means respecting physical limitations when they do crop up. I’ve been taken down for months by my fibro shoulders.

    I mean pain pops up everywhere, no part of your body is sacred and there’s quite a variety of pain types and levels. There’s the stabbing, knock the wind out of you and take you down “fibro pain”. It moves around targeting different parts of you and the pain level ranges sometimes requiring medical attention.

    Then there are the dull throbbing aches throughout your body that never completely subside. Sometimes they flare in spots and the pain can take you down. But, if you learn to respect the aches, and don’t push too far they can remain a dull pulsing ache.

    It’s exhausting to never be comfortable, but you have to learn to live with the discomfort in order to survive.

    Sleeping? Well, that’s a whole different matter. Tad difficult to get good quality sleep when your body is constantly hurting. Oh, and restless legs? Wow, they work better than any alarm clock. Then there are the times that your skin feels like it is quite literally crawling with tiny stinging insects, just under the surface so you can’t quite get to them.

    We each are individual; unique. No two people are exactly alike. In that same sense, how Fibromyalgia affects or feels to someone will differ as much as we do as people.

    Plus, fibro symptoms are almost fluid, they transform and move around constantly. It’s this never-ending process and so it’s tough trying to put into words something that never stops evolving.

    So to answer the really tough question…what does fibromyalgia feel like?

    It feels like…desperation.

    It sucks to be exhausted, confused, and uncomfortable in addition to suffering from varying degrees of widespread pain every second of every minute of every day.

    The thing about Fibro Warriors? We get knocked down, but we get right back up again. Well, maybe not right back up, but we get back up as soon as our bodies say we can.

    https://fibromyalgia-6.creator-spring.com/
    https://www.teepublic.com/stores/fibromyalgia-store

    Click Here to Visit the Store and find Much More….

    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • Explaining Fibromyalgia to Family & Friends

    ….it’s not that easy!

    When it comes to Explaining Fibromyalgia to Family & Friends, it’s a tough one. It isn’t something that comes easily to them or even to you for that matter. No matter how long you have battled with the condition, the reality is that you will always come up against opposition when you are trying to explain how this “invisible illness” affects you every day.

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    I have battled Fibromyalgia since 1989 and I still think that there really isn’t one member of my family that just “gets it.” And to be fair, who can blame them. Most of the time, I look absolutely fine – a little tired maybe. I am not rolling around the bed writhing in pain. I don’t have a raging temperature or covered in some unpleasant rash – I am to all intents and purposes ME.

    It is for this very reason, that those battling Fibromyalgia often feel incredibly isolated and alone.

    Likely, nobody in your immediate circle of family and friends understands what you are having to deal with day in and day out. Sure, you can head off to your local support group or find an online forum. But the reality is, if you are like me you want your family to comprehend your suffering. You want a little compassion and support from your loved ones.

    One of the biggest frustrations of Fibromyalgia is trying to explain what it is. How you got it and how you deal with it. At times it feels like trying to explain the unexplainable. Truth be told, we don’t really understand what we are battling. It just appears from nowhere, takes over your life. You are caught up in the merry-go-round of pain and fatigue.

    So, what are you to do when you find yourself in this situation?

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    How do you explain to your family and friends why you are missing out on the social occasion of the year. Why you can’t do Christmas at yours like you used too?

    Chances are you can’t. And that isn’t because you are not articulate enough or educated enough on the condition – it is because you are too close to the situation. The likely outcome will be that any in-depth conversation will end up in misunderstanding, frustration, and emotions running high on both sides.

    So, what do you do? The answer is you let somebody else do the talking for you. I relied on YouTube to get my message across to my family. It takes away the anxiety and almost makes it less personal when somebody else is recounting their story or sharing the facts. I have a great little video on the site which helps to explain, it is a little robotic but the message is perfect.

    This issue can be a huge source of stress and anxiety to all concerned. So, it is, for this reason, I decided to do something positive to help you and your family.

    I put together a short course which you can share with your loved ones. It contains some strategies for opening the channels of communication along with a couple of videos. There are also two fairly powerful and thought-provoking letters.

    Because I feel so strongly that you should have the support and understanding you so richly deserve, I am gifting this course to you and your family.

    It is my sincere hope that sharing this information with your loved ones, it will give both them and you the knowledge to move forward together united.

    So, head over there now and unwrap your gift with my love and best wishes.

    https://teespring.com/stores/fibromyalgia-6
    https://www.teepublic.com/stores/fibromyalgia-store

    Click Here to Visit the Store and find Much More….

    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • This Is Me… This is Fibromyalgia

    Today, I stepped back into a place I haven’t visited in a long time……One year to the day to be exact since I last ventured anywhere close. It wasn’t intentional or deliberate to visit on this day, it just kind of happened. It felt like taking a trip down memory lane. I was curious and I suppose I wanted to see if everything was still the same. Truth be told, it was and it wasn’t.

    The surroundings were familiar enough, nothing much had changed but in a sense, everything had changed. I had changed. That seemed to make all the difference.

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    So where did I go you might ask? Where was this place that had conjured up so many mixed emotions and left me in floods of tears?

    The answer, was right here, the blog!!

    My last post here was on 3rd October 2018. 12 whole months since I had reached out to my fellow warriors with love and support. 365 days, that I haven’t had the confidence to write from the heart and reach out. 52 weeks of being in the wilderness and feeling disconnected from everything and everyone.

    The truth is that I was struggling so bad myself that I felt that I had nothing to give you. How could I make things fantastic for those who came to get support and guidance? I couldn’t even help myself. So, I retreated. I let life happen to me whilst all the time trying desperately to distance myself from the mental and physical pain I was battling against.

    One of my coping strategies, the love of writing fell by the wayside, and once that happened my outlet for expression went too. I bottled everything up inside, giving the appearance all was well in my world, whilst the reality was far from good.

    My self-confidence was at rock bottom and I felt that I had nothing to offer anymore.

    All of my words of wisdom had dried up and I was just another chronic pain warrior, battling through each day with nothing new to share. No advice to give and no words of comfort.

    As I logged on today, I read my last blog post and replayed over and over the video clip that I had attached to the post. It was then and still is today an incredibly powerful version of “This Is Me” from the film The Greatest Showman. As I listened, the words

    “Another round of bullets hits my skin Well, fire away ’cause today, I won’t let the shame sink in.”

    resonated so deep within me that I could have easily sunk to the ground with emotion. I had let shame get the better of me. I was ashamed to really share the struggle…..if I wasn’t Fibro Fantastic then I thought I had nothing anybody would want to hear.

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    But, recently I have been working so hard on authenticity.

    Coming to terms with who I am, who I always was, and who I have become. Acknowledging that if people can’t deal with the real me, then there is no point in having them in my life. I wanted to send the imposter away and take the real Tracey by the hand and bring her out of hiding.

    As I played the video clip Keala Settle’s voice wracked with emotion was like a light going on. It felt as though now, this was my anthem. My mantra. My shout out to the world that I make no apologies. – This is me!!

    I am brave, I am bruised
    I am who I’m meant to be, this is me
    Look out ’cause here I come
    And I’m marching on to the beat I drum
    I’m not scared to be seen
    I make no apologies, this is me

    For now, I am back.

    To share my words and feelings from my heart feels like a huge release. I need an outlet for my journey, the one that has both physical and mental pain as passengers. It has been here all along – my blog, my corner of the virtual world. A place where people stand together, as members of an invisible club, where only we understand the rules.

    Going forward, I don’t know the direction Fibro Fantastic Wellness Coaching will take, but I do know this will be as much about me as it is about you. I can’t help you if I can’t help me. So, for now, I feel that the blog will take on more of a journey feel. Letting you into my new world of struggle, despair, the battles, the highs, and the lows.

    I am still Tracey the Wellness Coach, but I am also Tracey the fighter who is vulnerable and scared of the future, just like the rest of you. But I am home and for now, I will take that!

    https://teespring.com/stores/fibromyalgia-6
    https://www.teepublic.com/stores/fibromyalgia-store

    Click Here to Visit the Store and find Much More….

    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • Fibromyalgia and Agitation

    Fibromyalgia and Agitation

    Fibromyalgia and Agitation. You would be forgiven for thinking that these are two words that belong together. Well not in my world!!

    For those of you recently diagnosed with Fibromyalgia or those who may have an inkling that perhaps you are showing symptoms of having the condition, it is easy to allow some fear to creep in. When words like “incurable”, “chronic” and “heightened pain responses” are used it is understandable that an element of fear will kick in and your outlook is considered gloomy.

    My symptoms first started appearing in 1989, back in the day when the condition was referred to as “yuppy flu”. Doctors really didn’t have much of an idea about what was happening. After endless tests which always came back clear, I was worried that maybe I was imagining all of the fatigue and pain. A real fear for my sanity crept in. This carried on until I finally got my diagnosis.

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    In 2000, my doctor uttered the words Fibromyalgia ~ I broke down and cried.

    Not because I was scared or shocked, the reality being I was relieved. I was right all along, there had been something wrong with me and now they knew what it was, I could be cured…

    Oh, how wrong I was.  I asked the doctor excitedly, what was the cure? He then told me there wasn’t one and the fear crept in again.

    Since 1989, fear has tried to overtake me many times. My condition has threatened to overwhelm me but it has never quite succeeded because I was determined that for as long as I could, I was not going to allow the fear of Fibromyalgia gets the better of me.

    Each new day gave me an opportunity to keep on keeping on. My attitude has always been to push on through whatever the condition could throw at me. There have been times when it has knocked me down but I never allowed the fear to keep me there. I was more afraid of not being able to enjoy my family and my life, not be able to hold down a job, and becoming a burden both financially and physically.

    I didn’t have a crystal ball and could not see into the future. I did not know what Fibromyalgia would take from me and when it would take it, so I tried to get through each day the only way I knew how – which was to get up and get going.

    Fibromyalgia is not the robber it is made out to be.

    If I had listened to my GP when I got my diagnosis, then for sure I would not be functioning the way I do now. My life would have consisted of anti-depressants and strong painkillers which ultimately would have stopped working and had to be replaced by stronger medication. Most likely I would have ended up in the wheelchair that he promised me further down the line and I would not have been able to hold down a full-time job.

    For some, I know that this condition can bring with it additional health issues which means some people struggle massively with their Fibromyalgia. But I would say to those people and all of the newly diagnosed sufferers, don’t be afraid to push a little. Life is for living and making wonderful memories. Even with a chronic condition, it is possible to have a positive mindset that speaks to our body and says “I can do this”.

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    I can get out of bed today, I can have friends over for dinner, I can attend that wedding, I can make that trip for a few days holiday, I can do some gentle exercise, I can make healthy changes to my diet, I can take some quiet time to just be. I know some of you are reading this and saying I would flare – well yes, so do I but I try to compensate and be gentle with myself for a few days after doing something which exerts me. I almost build it into my schedule. I have a late-night, I follow it up with 2 early nights to try and rest my body.

    Feel the fear and do it anyway.

    We have all heard that saying, and I believe that fear could be the thing that cripples us long before Fibromyalgia. It is said that our deepest fears rarely manifest. If I could offer you one piece of advice that I know to be true for me it would be to “do it anyway”. Don’t allow the fear of what may or may not happen to hold you back from living your life. Don’t let the expectation of what you should be going through as a Fibromyalgia sufferer stop you from creating special times and memories. Your body may surprise you and give you an easy ride – you won’t know until you try.

    As Richard Branson said “You don’t learn to walk by following rules. You learn by doing, and falling over”.

    Baby steps they may be but they are still steps in the right direction. 

    I heard a poem today which inspired me to write this piece. it is by Jeff Foster and is called Nothing to Fear.

    99.99999% of your fears live only in your imagination, in anticipation, and in memory. 

    Even if the worst happens, you’ll find yourself dealing with it at the moment, responding from a place of presence. 

    You don’t have to deal with it now, you’ll handle it then.

    And who knows: The “worst” thing may turn out to be your greatest teacher, your most profound call to awakening, an invitation to the kind of courage of which you never thought yourself capable. Fear isn’t your enemy, but a signpost ~ breathe into the moment.                                                                 

    https://teespring.com/stores/fibromyalgia-6
    https://www.teepublic.com/stores/fibromyalgia-store

    Click Here to Visit the Store and find Much More….

    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • Fibromyalgia Frustrations Life

    This post may prove to be somewhat controversial but it comes from my heart and I believe I would be doing a disservice to my fellow “warriors” if I were to let it go unsaid.

    When I was first diagnosed 15 years ago, I was relieved that having already suffered for 10 years my condition was very real and had finally got recognition and more importantly a name. I remember leaving my doctor’s surgery and going home, heading straight for the computer.

    I wanted to know all there was about Fibromyalgia, it was something I had never heard of before and those around me had never heard of it. I wanted to learn what it was, what caused it, and more importantly how I was going to manage it.

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    After many hours on search engines, I finally switched off the computer feeling totally down, demotivated, and totally despondent. All I had learned from my fellow sufferers was how to claim disability allowances, how I should stop working, what were the best drugs and plenty of pictures of people posing happily with their wheelchairs and walking sticks.

    On that very first day of diagnosis all those years ago, I made the decision that this was not and never would be my route in dealing with Fibromyalgia – there had to be a better way and I was determined to find it. So over the years, there have been ups and many downs with this condition but my determination to find a way to manage it positively has remained steadfast.

    Since committing myself to the goal of reaching out to fellow sufferers, I have stepped back into the world of Fibromyalgia communities and online support groups and have to say in the majority, there are some great sources of advice and help. There is a thriving community of people who come together and share their stories safe in the knowledge that there are others who understand them and can relate. The internet I feel has helped us all become much more educated about our condition which can only be a good thing.

    Therefore, you may wonder where is my frustration and the point of the post?

    I think sometimes, those of us with Fibromyalgia can be our own worst enemies. The frustration at the lack of support from family, friends and yes, even medical professionals makes us vulnerable to hosting our own pity party. In the absence of outwardly obvious symptoms, the pages of “normal” tests results, and our grossly misunderstood diagnosis, we quickly become paranoid and confused to the point whereby a broken nail is blamed on Fibromyalgia and our plight appears hopeless.

    Sadly, I see hosts of people on these forums searching for answers that clearly our doctors can’t or won’t provide, I see them grasping for any bit of information that may explain away their constant headaches, their unexplained bruising, their restless legs along with a host of other weird and not so wonderful ailments that plague their daily lives. I too have been guilty of putting every little ache and pain down to Fibromyalgia when in reality it could potentially have been something more sinister.

    I find myself staying away from the doctor’s surgery, probably down to the years of doubt and disbelief that there was anything wrong with me, the fear that I will be labeled a hypochondriac or once again, be sent off for tests that only ever come back normal. I dismiss many ailments as “it’s just a flare” and crack on as usual.

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    I resisted the offer of medication back when I was diagnosed in 2000, for me, strong painkillers and antidepressants were not the routes I wanted to take if I could help it. I had to learn more about what I was dealing with as opposed to just giving in, rolling over, and accepting the first treatment protocol I was offered. A doctor many years later, told me that if had accepted those drugs back then, it is unlikely that I would have the life I have now, it would have changed……..for the worse! My body would have gotten used to the doses over time and my prescription would have been increased several times to enable me to have had the same effect.

    Please don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that medication is bad, it was just not for me at the time and I have never reached a time (yet) where I am ready to hand myself and my pain over to drugs. Maybe I am a fool and possibly there is the chance that I could have led a relatively pain-free existence for these past 25 years, my fatigue could have been controlled and I could have led a different life. In my defense, I also suffer from hemochromatosis so it is important that I protect my liver where possible.

    When I read the stories from fellow sufferers, I could cry. It seems that the medical professionals are only too happy to hand out the prescription drugs like smarties as a first resort as opposed to the last. I have found that there is another way and for me, that doesn’t include medication. I only wish I had found out earlier that changing my diet and including yoga and mediation in my life would have such a massive impact on symptoms. My 20’s, 30’s, and 40’s may have had a different story to tell.

    I see the forums crammed with people who have a whole host of ailments and conditions all laid at the Fibromyalgia door, they have prescribed a cocktail of drugs including morphine for symptoms that potentially may have nothing to do with Fibromyalgia. Whilst this condition is very real and affects our lives greatly, the reality I feel is that the GP’s use it almost as one net catches all. Are our complaints ever really investigated or are we written off as the nuisance that is constantly in the doctor’s office?

    My own doctor fobbed me off with a physio appointment recently, only for me to be told by the physiotherapist that he couldn’t possibly work with me as there wasn’t one area that needed attention but my whole body. He was fuming that in 25 years I have had to find my own way and I have never been offered the support that he thought I was due – he subsequently wrote a rather abrupt letter to my GP.

    So, I guess at the end of this, what I am trying to say is that we as Fibromyalgia sufferers have to take more responsibility for our conditions, we have to research the alternatives to the strong drugs which will turn us into zombies barely functioning and we have to be honest with ourselves.

    Whilst we have to treat Fibromyalgia with respect, we must also be open to recognizing that it possibly isn’t the reason for every little thing that goes wrong with us. Arthritis can come with age not necessarily because you have Fibromyalgia, issues with digestion won’t always be IBS.

    We have to follow our instincts and listen to our bodies – we have to take ownership!

    https://teespring.com/stores/fibromyalgia-6
    https://www.teepublic.com/stores/fibromyalgia-store

    Click Here to Visit the Store and find Much More….

    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • In Lonely Journey Finding Your Fibromyalgia Support

    Our journeys with Fibromyalgia are often long and very lonely.

    It is difficult it seems for our loved ones, friends, and colleagues to contemplate ever feeling so awful and wracked with pain when in most cases you look surprisingly well. Doctors, if you get a sympathetic one, are busy and how do you pour your heart out in just a few minutes assigned to each patient? Finding your Fibromyalgia support network isn’t always easy.

    At times, I think it is the loneliness that I find the hardest to deal with. The holding inside of the things that scare me and my sheer frustrations of having a condition that nobody, including some medical professionals, has no comprehension of. Add to that the feelings of guilt at not always being able to function the same as everybody else and it all makes for some pretty grim days.

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    So just where do those suffering with Fibromyalgia and other chronic conditions get their support if not from those closest to us?

    A simple search on google reveals plenty of groups and communities but do they really offer the kind of Fibromyalgia support you are looking for? I know that for me when I was first diagnosed, I looked to the internet for some guidance and was desperate for somebody that just understood.

    Sadly in those days, I found plenty of sites but the reality was that there seemed to be some huge pity party going on and that really wasn’t me. Don’t get me wrong, I can do feel sorry for myself with the best of them but truth is, I have Fibromyalgia but it was never going to have me. So I plodded on alone for pretty much 25 years with no real, tangible support. I have an amazing husband who constantly tells me to rest and who takes care of me very well but after all these years, he still just doesn’t get it but he loves me anyway.

    When I decided to put my experience to good use and start the blog, I was determined that I was going to offer positive Fibromyalgia support and advice to my fellow sufferers. I wanted to empower and show that despite us having a condition that can take over our bodies from time to time, we could still function and with some determination lead a pretty normal life.

    Well now, having had a good look around, it seems things have moved on in the past 28 years.

    There are groups of Fibro Warriors who use their personal knowledge of the condition to motivate and support others in the same situation. I have come across Facebook groups where the love contained on the page is almost tangible. It is uplifting seeing people sharing their experiences of Fibromyalgia with the one constant of supporting one another and offering advice to those who are unsure or confused about their condition.

    I am passionate about getting the Fibro message out there, but more importantly, I want to stand alongside fellow sufferers as they navigate their Fibromyalgia journey. I have 28 years of experience with this condition and can take the guesswork away from you when you are looking for answers.

    Facebook allows us to come together to support one another and I have both a public page but probably more importantly I have the safe sanctuary of a closed group. The support fellow sufferers can give one another is invaluable, it is very hard for our family and friends to really comprehend what we deal with daily. You would be more than welcome to either the page or group.

    https://teespring.com/stores/fibromyalgia-6
    https://www.teepublic.com/stores/fibromyalgia-store

    Click Here to Visit the Store and find Much More….

    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store