Me and Fibromyalgia

Hello everyone

I expect like me, you always have to explain to people what Fibromyalgia is, and it’s not easy is it!

We are all so different and my pain isn’t your pain.

 It’s not caused by inflammation. So taking your arthritis pills will not help me! I cannot work my pain out, or shake it off; it’s not even a pain that stays put. Today it’s in my shoulder, but tomorrow it may be in my foot, my hip, my back, my legs or if I’m lucky it might be gone!

 My pain is believed to be caused by improper signals to the brain, possibly due to sleep disorders. It’s not well understood but it is real.

My Fatigue- Well I’m not merely tired, I am often in a severe state of exhaustion. I may want to participate in physical activities,but I can’t. Please do not take this personally.

If you saw me shopping in the supermarket yesterday but I can’t do much today, it isn’t because I don’t want to. I am most likely paying the price for stressing my muscles beyond their capacity by lifting all my shopping into and then out of the trolley and then putting it all away when I got home.

My Forgetfulness- Those of us who suffer from it, call it fibro fog. I may not remember your name, but I do remember you. I may not remember what I promised to do for you,even though you told me not long ago. My problem has nothing to do with my age (I hope), but it may be related to sleep deprivation. I do not have a selective memory. On some days I just don’t have any short term memory at all.

My Clumsiness- If I step on your toes or run into you five times in a crowd, I am not purposely targeting you. I do not have the muscle control for that. (I have run over my husbands toes several times on my mobility scooter, my fingers just won’t work the brake trigger quick enough sometimes) Also if you are behind me on the stairs, please be patient. These days I take life and staircases one step at a time.

My Sensitivities- I just can’t stand it! “It” could be any number of things; bright sunlight, loud or high pitched noises or odours. FMS has been called the “aggravating everything disorder”. So don’t make me open the curtains when I need shade, or listen to your child scream or be in the kitchen when you’re cooking. I really can’t stand it some days.

My Intolerance- Sometimes I can’t stand heat or humidity.If I am a man I sweat profusely. If I am a lady I perspire. Both are equally embarrassing, so please don’t feel compelled to point this shortcoming out to me. I know. And don’t be surprised if I shake uncontrollably when it’s cold. I don’t tolerate cold either. My internal thermostat is broken and nobody knows how to fix it. My fingers, toes and nose will be frozen, but the rest of me maybe O.K.

My Depression- Yes, there are days when I would rather stay in bed or in the house, or die!. The severe, unrelenting pain can cause my depression. Your sincere concern and understanding can pull me back from the brink. Your snide remarks can tip me over the edge.

My Stress- My body doesn’t handle stress very well. If I have to give up my job, work part time, or handle my responsibilities from home, I’m not lazy. Everyday stresses make my symptoms worse, and can incapacitate me completely.

My Weight- I may be fat or I may be skinny. Either way, it’s not by choice. My body isn’t your body. My appestat is broken and nobody can tell me how to fix it.

My Need for Therapy- If I get a massage every week- don’t envy me. My massage isn’t your massage. Consider how a massage would feel if those cramps you had in your leg last week, were all over your body. Massaging it out is very painful, but it has to be done. My body is knot filled, if I can stand the pain, regular massage can help, at least temporarily.

My Good Days- If you see me smiling and functioning normally, don’t assume I am well. I suffer from a chronic pain and fatigue illness, with no cure. I can have my good days or weeks or even months (if I’m lucky). In fact, the good days are what keep me going.

My Uniqueness- Even those who suffer from FMS are not all alike. That means I may not have all of the problems mentioned above. I do have pain above and below the waist and on both sides of my body, which have lasted for a very long time. I may have migraines or hip pain or shoulder pain or knee pain, but I do not have the same pain as anyone else.

So I hope by me telling you all of this, it has helped you to understand just a little bit about me and Fibromyalgia. I don’t want sympathy.

I just want a cure!!