How does anyone respond to a diagnosis of Fibromyalgia?
Let’s be honest, most of us probably haven’t heard much about it before we started to feel symptoms that fit the box of Fibromyalgia.
It can be a long journey to finally reach a diagnosis of Fibromyalgia. The journey often consists of some of the following:
- developing a range of symptoms:
- widespread as well as quite specific points of pain;
- aching limbs;
- brain fog (difficulty in thinking clearly);
- struggling to do normal, everyday activities that you used to do all the time.
- Interrupted sleep and waking up feeling unrefreshed.
- numerous visits to Doctors and Specialists – some who will seem sceptical of your symptoms.
- Struggling to describe to your family and friends so that they can understand what is going on within you. The symptoms of Fibromyalgia aren’t visible to others.
This list is just the beginning – it certainly isn’t an exhaustive list.
As you start to explore what this illness Fibromyalgia is all about, you’ll discover that over 5 million American’s are diagnosed with it. In Australia 2-5% of the population has it. You’re not alone, but you may often feel like you are.
Most articles that you will read on Fibromyalgia will state:
- That fibromyalgia is difficult to diagnosis;
- That the cause of Fibromyalgia isn’t known;
- There isn’t a known cure for Fibromyalgia.
As a result, finding information about this chronic illness and how to live with it, can take a while.
I’ve discovered that the best places to learn more about Fibromyalgia are from those who live with it every day. They are the ones who have faced the effects of it and learnt how to adjust their everyday life to manage it.
Exercise is said to help sufferers of Fibromyalgia but, it can also cause further fatigue and pain. Although, if we allow ourselves to live a sedentary life, we will end up having other conditions to have to worry about – obesity, diabetes, etc.
I don’t state these things to frustrate anyone. The truth is that the reality of living with Fibromyalgia is confusing and frustrating. It’s a challenge to make sense out of the various symptoms of this chronic illness. Then you need to work out how to live your life with them. It’s a challenge.
The reason I write about Fibromyalgia is because I’ve lived with it for 20+ years.
To be totally honest, there are still some days where I don’t know what the best thing to do is. I may feel tired, with aching limbs and not be able to think clearly through the brain fog. Maybe I should push through this and ignore how I’m feeling? Or maybe I should slow down and give myself some time to rest and recharge.
Obviously, we must look at the big picture. If all we do is “pushing through” then we are setting ourselves up to fall and, most likely, end up in bed for a week or more.
But if we’ve managed our days well and we’re not feeling too bad, maybe it’s okay to push through and do something that’s important to us.
Just working through this kind of thing in your head is exhausting and frustrating!
It’s why we need to connect with others who are going through a similar situation. We need to hear how others manage their life, so we can get some new ideas of how to move forward. It’s refreshing to relate to others who understand what you’re going through.
Remember that you’re not alone. Many others are going through very similar situations as you are.
If you don’t have Fibromyalgia, but know of others that do, then the best thing you can do is be a willing listener; to help when you can, but most of all be a friend.