Fibromyalgia.

What is Fibromyalgia? The medical explanation for it:  is a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory issues. (from the Mayo clinic)

What it really feels like? Like your entire body is on fire. It’s like having the flu, while running a marathon, not having slept in 3 days while feeling nauseous with a stomach ache. And that can last any amount of time. That is what having fibromyalgia feels like.

Some things that people with fibro want you to know:

1.- We are NOT making it up. Just because you can not see the pain doesn’t mean it isn’t there. So please don’t make fun of us, or say it’s all in our head.

2.- Every single morning is hard task. We have trouble functioning each time we “wake” up. We are very sore.

3.- Be patient and understanding with us. We are dealing with a lot of pain and can get a bit irritable. And trust me, you would too.

4.- There are no such thing as pain-free days. We just manage to put our strength pants on and survive through the day.

5.- Sometimes we have to cancel plans, and yes we feel really bad about it.

6.- What worked for your friend, might not work for me. Fibro is not one size fits all things. Everyone is different.

7.- It’s always there. Even if I act fine, the pain is there. It never goes away.

8.- Sometimes we have to let it win. We can’t be strong all the time. We do have our weak moments but we get right back up.

9.- We wish people, including Doctors took this disease a bit more serious.

10.- We hate that it affects our family and friends. We know that you don’t like to see us suffer.

The fibro fog, the forgetting. The knowing you need to do something but what was it again? The asking the same questions over and over again because you forget. Being completely lost, disoriented for a moment. The things that come easy to others, you forget to say and do. It’s the feeling like you are forgetting something, or forgetting things you said. The fibro fog, the thing we hate because it’s very uncomfortable and makes us feel lost. I feel bad for my husband, I’m sure he must hate that I ask him the same questions over and over. It’s not me being annoying, its the fibro talking.

In short, people with fibromyalgia live a tough life. While each one is different, we all have one thing in common…we are fighters. Unless you have fibro, it’s tough to really understand what we go through because I can tell you that we make it look easy. Sometimes the fibro flare ups can last anywhere from days to months. Mine usually last weeks but a change in my diet and keeping my weekly mileage up in running has definitely helped. When the flare ups do make an appearance, my whole world is turned upside down. I do my best to be comfortable but on my worst days, even the clothes on my back hurt.

One things for sure, Fibromyalgia might be debilitating at times, but it won’t stop me. There are days where getting out of bed is the toughest thing to do. It will be the goal for the day and I will be happy with accomplishing it. Then there are other days where I can lace up my asics and head out and run 13.1 miles. Thats the thing with fibro, you never know what it had planned.

I’m learning how to balance the killer combo, as I call it, my Socliosis and the fibromyalgia. Because what gives me fibro relief sometimes aggravates my Scoliosis pain, so it makes it tough. But I am finding a balance and changing my diet around, adding more Epsom Salt baths, and using the almighty KT Tape

But as most of you know, I am a fighter. Fibromyalgia is just another thing I have to battle daily. Luckily I am surrounded by many who support me, cheer for me, and are there when I need them. I am strong on my tough days and I get through them. On my fibro flare up days, I take each minute as I need to. If I have to spend the day in bed, I will. But I will get up and try again the next day. I am not one to give up. I have many dreams and goals to turn into reality. I will not let any disease stop me from doing so. I just find ways around them until I can reach them.  I am an unstoppable force and I refuse to back down to anything that tries to stop me.

 

-gelcys