Today is Fibromyalgia awareness day. And as you know, I suffer from it greatly. I was diagnosed from it about 5 years ago but at first, I didn’t want to accept that I was sick with another illness besides Scoliosis. At first, my symptoms and pain wasn’t too dramatic or intense. Welp, that has changed a bit.
What is Fibromyalgia?
It is an invisible illness that affects the muscles and the bones. It is a widespread pain that is combined with many other symptoms such as fatigue, sleep, and memory issues. They all get affected. While very little is known about this disease, research does show that women are more likely to get Fibromyalgia than men(info from Mayo Clinic page)
Symptoms that come with Fibromyalgia
While everyone does experience different symptoms, we all have one common symptom…PAIN! It is excruciating, I promise you! But there are other symptoms that come with it. Migraines, IBS, delayed onset muscle soreness(DOMS), muscle tenderness, skin sensitivity, lack of concentration(fibro fog), nausea, so much more.
What causes Fibromyalgia?
As far as what the cause is for this illness is still unknown because again, doctors know so little about it. That is why days like this are so important. We need to use these days to help educate the doctors on our symptoms and our daily lives.
How to get diagnosed and treatments
If you suspect you might have Fibro, you can go see your doctor and talk to them about your symptoms to rule out anything else that could be happening, and/or you can see a Rheumatologist which specializes in Fibromyalgia and similar illnesses.
There are medications that do treat it, but know that there is NO CURE. I wish there was but as of now, we sit and wait for that special someone to find the answer and cure us all of this painful life we have.
I know all are different and mine has gotten progressively worse since the beginning. If you follow me on my social media, you must have seen my recent photo of my “raw and real” post. I wasn’t going to share it but if we keep those private moments private, then how will researchers and doctors know what is going on? Or how to help?
Sometimes I am able to run with a Fibromyalgia flare up. But this week has been out of control. I spent 2 days on the floor after taking my son to school and slept on the floor at night. It just felt more comfortable. I tossed and turned regardless, but the pain is unbearable and then I finally let it win one day and I broke down. It happens. I can’t even put into words the intensity of the pain. It felt like my skin was on fire, and my muscles were freaking out, while all my bones hurt every time I moved, and I just wanted to be in the fetus position.
Lyssa, my medical alert dog worked over time on my migraine alerts, as you see in the photo above. And she was by my side as always and she slept on the floor with me. Even though she has the entire side of the bed all to herself.
But today, I wear purple. The Fibromyalgia color to honor those fighting with this invisible illness and for myself. I wear my Asics 26.2 purple shirt because it is a great reminder of my strength. Of what I have overcome and what I’ve done. I don’t have as many marathons under my belt as I’d like, but I’ll get there because I am a fighter. Always have been. I am tiny but I have big dreams and I will keep chasing after them. Fibromyalgia might knock me down a few times but I’ll always get back up.
the Fibro warrior
-gelcys
Empire Unleashed 
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