Welcome to Letters to Friends where fibro warriors explain the pain. If you have other questions, we may have answered them here or you can comment below with your questions and we’ll answer!
Fibromyalgia is not a death sentence.
Fibro is not a terminal disease. You can live a full life and have fibromyalgia. Your life may not be the same as before and pain management will be necessary to have a portion of your old self.
One can live a long and "normal" life because #fibromyalgia can be managed. Click To TweetReminder: I just want to say that I am a patient, not a doctor. What I am sharing comes largely from what my doctors have taught me and what I have discovered in my own research.
I am sharing to hopefully help you be informed enough to support friends with this syndrome or possibly acquire informed questions for your doctor. Please talk with your doctor or visit the Mayo Clinic website for official information, diagnosis, and treatment.
First, Let’s look at some facts about fibromyalgia:
- Not Psychosomatic
- Syndrome
… . .. - You don’t get worse… But there are flairs … Pain management is possible.
- 2-5% of the adult population has fibromyalgia ( 5 out of every 100 women)
- No known cause (although most have had a traumatic event sometime during their life.)
- No known cure (but they are working on it)
- May co-exist with other diseases (such as Rheumatoid arthritis)
- More common in women
- Hereditary – If someone in your family has it, you are 8 times more likely to have it
In Addition, Symptoms include …
- Chronic widespread pain, stiffness, generalized flu-like achiness
- Pain sites migrate to all quadrants of the body
- Pain lasts at least three months
- It may include chest pain
- Fatigue
- Unrefreshed sleep
- Cognitive complaints such as concentration, memory problems
Unfortunately, there is no known cause;
however, it seems to be triggered by a traumatic event, such as,
- injury (whiplash),
- serious illness or surgery,
- viral illnesses (Lime Disease),
- Stress ( unnatural, negative, or positive events)
- abuse in your past
In conclusion, for me, the symptoms came on rather suddenly.
It was a normal Sunday. I had been dealing with Dis-embarquement Syndrome from a cruise earlier in the year; so, that afternoon I decided to lie down and rest before evening services.
As I went to lay down, I had a sharp pain in my back. I couldn’t finish lying down, nor could I raise myself to an upright position. My husband had to help me into the bed. If I moved the least bit, I had excruciating, contracting pains across my lower back.
Long story short, I spent the next month or two laying on my back in the bed. And a year and one half of visiting various doctors trying to find out what the problem was. We are still figuring out what may have triggered my fibromyalgia. Possibly diesel fuel fumes exposure from sitting on an overloaded transport boat for nearly an hour on our cruise.
Feeling Your Pain;
You can read more about my journey through pain here.
ribbon image by Marketa Machova
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May 12 is Fibromyalgia Awareness Day. Please share this information on your social media. We are working for awareness.
Pastor’s Wife (retired) & Chronic Pain Warrior blogs about how to make it through anything by relating her own life experiences to her writing. She is passionate about her love for the Lord and desires to spread that passion to others. She has a great desire to encourage women who are following behind her.
Dear Mandy,
Thank you for this good definition of Fibromyalgia. I am so sorry for the many years that you have had to deal with this. But I am thankful for your understanding heart that is eager to spread the word that we are not alone in this journey with Fibro. My diagnosis came after my RA diagnosis, but I wonder how long it had been simmering under the surface? Blessings and Gentle Hugs to you dear sister.
Thanks friend. Next week will be 8 years!
I too have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. Mine seems to be brought on by bad auto accident (whip lash), multiple surgeries, possibly the Epstein Barr Virus. My faith in the Lord has helped me endure and has given me strength. If you want ronread my full story at: http://www.makingitthrough4110.com/2017/12/my-story.html?m=1
I will read yours as well.
Do you also deal with Fatigue? I am still seeking and praying for wisdom for Chronic fatigue.
If it weren’t for my faith there would be no way I would be this far along on the journey.
What a wonderful and simple post. Thank you for contributing to raising awareness for fibromyalgia. From what I unfortunately found, sleep was probably the most overwhelming experience that’s the most desired. Losing the capability to do what we have taken for granted during our wakeful days is a close and debilitating second. I am sorry to hear of your struggles. Thank you again, Mandy. -Christine
Thank you so much for your encouragement. I am trying to not really write to the sufferer us much as their friends and family. So I try to keep things very simple. Wasn’t able to reach your post.
fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome is a widely misunderstood ailment and the people would not find anything sick or odd about the person suffering from it and could not gauge the pain and discomfort the other person is going through. Y ou has done a great job by sharing your experiences and increase awareness.
Thank you. My goal is to reach the friends and family of the suffering. I hope that I am doing this. Thanks for the encouragement.
Very informative, thanks!
Thank you. Trying to help people who do not have fibromyalgia understand what is happening with those of us who do. Thank you for coming by.
Great insight!
thanks for coming by! I hope that I can help people understand more about this debilitating disease.