Living With Fibromyalgia
Based on personal experience as I am not a medical professional.
My fibromyalgia diagnosis from a rheumatologist was in the early 1990s. Add that to acute anxiety. chronic depression, PTSD, and panic attacks, focus from living each day goes to managing whatever is flaring up 24/7/365. Reading and understanding the scope of fibromyalgia is comforting to me.
I am fortunate that my condition is on the less severe side, unless I become inactive over a period of weeks and months. After a severe break down, where I moved around very little for months, (bed to chair to sofa, and back again), the consequence was a pain level requiring physical therapy. I could barely button my coat in those days. It was winter when cold impacts me more.
Over the years I became use to the condition, without medication.
Aches and pains are normal as we age. In a way, I am prepared for old age since I began feeling that way 30 years ago.
A couple of years ago (feels longer) arthritis in my knees made itself known. I considered a wheel chair then because sudden pain episodes would stop me in my tracks. As it is now, I sometimes use a walking stick, and keep a cane in my vehicle. For any sudden pain, I stop, bend my knee a bit, give it a shake, and wait. Hopping a few steps gets me going. Many days I can walk along without disruption.
Reducing salty foods aka prepared food, helps as it decreases my fluid retention swelling. Allery season sinus pain and headaches causing me to take Advil has made walking smoother.
Does it get me down? There are days better than others. I think living this way for so long, the condition is as much a part of me as my gray hair. My other conditions share symptoms, one flares, the others seem to join in thing. For example... Memory fogs, is it the fibro, PTSD or both? Are the cramps anxiety or IBS or IBS setting off anxiety? Do I keep checking the door is locked because I'm forgetful, PTSD paranoid or both?
All that, and to see me, you can't tell that I ache every day. I believe there are thousands of people that have similar conditions like mine.
How do we get use to it?
We just do.
I'm sorry you have fibromyalgia. I have a couple friends who have this as well. It's awful when the flare-ups come. I think we all forget from time to time whether we turned off the lights or locked the doors. So, no worries about that. Your symptoms have not stopped you from creating delightful and thoughtful posts though, please remember that. Take care, my friend. Sometimes it's hard, but we pull through.
ReplyDelete~Sheri
It's very hard when people assume you're just fine when your symptoms don't show and you present a cheerful attitude to the world. You're an expert manager of your health, after all this experience.
ReplyDeleteSheri,
ReplyDeleteIt amazes me how many folks I know over the years with symptoms that had no diagnosis or even thought about it. Once you know, it can be a great relief.
Forgetfulness is normal. Memory fogs aka brain fog last hours into months. I've leatned the condition is tricky to understand if it is the cause of an issue or something else.
Liz,
ReplyDeleteThe older we get, I think the more tuned into our health we are.
I have been keen to prevent another winter of no buttons in my life.
Being cheerful on the outside is a skill folks learn dealing with the public. When I covered the phone in reception, I felt like a smiling talking pull toy. lol
II have been having back pain for months. It's nothing major but it's bothersome. I can only imagine how much pain you must feel on your bad days. The aches and pins of getting older don't help. I wish there was a magic pill to make us all feel better.
ReplyDeleteLoree,
ReplyDeleteI am sorry you are experiencing back pain. Tests and exams are worth looking into. Not everyone presents the same or has the same issues.
I had other tests as well, upper, lower and such. They had to be done to rule out issues. My issures are mainly upper muscle discomfort. I think because I walk so much at one time, have better muscle strength in my legs.
Nobody knows what another is going though. Kindness to others is always a good policy.
ReplyDeleteI hope this autumn will be a good one for you in every way!
A good autumn to you and yours Marie
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving!
Fibromyalgia can be so debilitating. I have a friend with it, and she puts on a cheerful face when she can. Other days, she just stays quietly at home and suffers.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry that you suffer so. I hope that this coming winter will be a good one for you. Often the black dog of depression comes to visit in the darker days, too, compounding other issues.
I admire your spunk and attitude!
Lorrie,
ReplyDeleteI am sorry to hear your friend has a difficult time. Prayers she finds ways to manage that are good for her.
I've been told that it is not a progressive condition, the level you have will stay the same, not get worse. There are days when that doesn't feel true. Pushing through flare ups has been helpful to me.
I get this completely. I've lived with my own chronic, somewhat hidden stuff for many years and -- well, you just do. You pull back when it's bad and you max out when it's good and do one's best. Flare ups are zero fun but we learn how to deal with them as best as possible. (Aging doesn't help with all it's bonus surprises, either!) I wish I could take Advil -- it has always worked better for me than tylenol but has adverse complications with some of my other meds. Rick always says, "Why don't you tell me" when I'm having a tough time but I hate to be a downer. And I was in theatre for a long time and then PR. I learned how to act the part of putting on the smile and getting on with it around other people. My dad obsessed on his health every day in his later years and it was hard for him, hard for me, hard for those around him -- because really, there wasn't anything anyone else could do. So I probably go too far the other way.
ReplyDeleteInvisible symptoms. You can never tell.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry you have to deal with pain so much. I am just now coming to grips with the fact that I have too much anxiety, and I can't seem to control it. But mostly I don't have physical pain. Just physical pain alone can bring on depression. It is good that you are blogging about these things because it may help someone to not feel so alone. And that can be a huge blessing.
ReplyDeleteDebra,
ReplyDeleteReading how others cope can help you discover your own way through managing anxiety. I created diversions...stuck at work, I wrote over and over to my anxiety, "Go away!" or "Leave me alone!" After a while, I realized it took my mind off the discomfort. I ran with that to create mental and emotional safety zones to help calm the anxiety.
William
ReplyDeleteTrue. The invisible part, in a way, is comforting to know nobody is staring.
Jeanie
ReplyDeleteYou've had a rough time of it. Your strength is amazing.
Go too far the other way...you are not there alone. I think the that resort is full year round. I also think Rick is right to tell him, let him know how you feel.
My knees like to give me grief too and it's more pronounced in the winter months. My hands are the worst though and often hurt so much they bring me to tears, particularly after spending time clearing snow off the car. The latest in that particular saga are that they've started aching when I'm trying to sleep causing a trip to get some Advil if I can convince myself to get out of the nice warm bed.
ReplyDeleteMaryanne,
ReplyDeleteSorry you have the pain and discomfort. Try wearing silk glove liners to help keep in the heat and wick away moisture.
Advil for me is a few feet away, and I don't like getting up to fetch it. It's that knee creaking stiff shuffling steps discomfort I try to a void that happens when I first stand.