Explaining Fibromyalgia

I have fibromyalgia. I am very thankful that I’ve learned to moderate my life so the condition isn’t all-consuming, but it does affect what I do and how I do it. Gone are the days when I could run all day and half the night too. I am so very thankful that my boyfriend seems to understand. My heart goes out to friends and family who have a much more debilitating level of it than I have. My daughter’s level of pain, discomfort, and inability to fully participate in life is much more severe than mine. I happen to be in a “fibro-flare” today — how does it feel? I’m confused and feel like a truck ran over me while I was sleeping. I’m fortunate that I am able to work full time — many cannot — but I have to trade off my work time with my fun time so I spend a lot of non-work time sitting at home as I’m too wore out to do anything else. I recently read a great article called The Spoon Theory which is a great way to help folks understand what it’s like to have something that controls you but yet “you don’t look sick”. It’s written by a person with Lupus but the theory applies to folks with fibro as well.

I’m also including some links so you can explore it a little deeper. Raising awareness is an important part of helping others truly understand. Maybe someone you know has this and doesn’t even know it.

Now it’s your turn. Leave a comment. Had you ever heard of fibromyalgia? Do you know someone who has it or something similar? Did the Spoons example enhance your understanding?

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