Imagine Fibromyalgia

• Imagine a life with fibromyalgia. It’s a condition that robs you of normalcy, and replaces it with pain. 
• Imagine the most exhausted you have ever been in your life. Now, imagine going to bed to sleep and waking up just as exhausted as when you lay your head on that pillow. 
• Imagine feeling that way every day, no matter your age, sex or any other physical condition you might have. 
• Imagine going to the doctor and telling him or her where it hurts and having them tell you it is “all in your head”. 
• Imagine the muscles, tendons, etc., in your body burning like they’re on fire. You can hardly stand up when you get out of a chair. You have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, and your spouse knows that, but he still says to you, “Got a hitch in your get along Dear?” Your heart sinks because you have given him books to read, talked about it when he will listen, and yet, he still doesn’t “get it”.
• Imagine always having to explain why you don’t want to go on long shopping trips with friends and family. Walking, or even standing for long periods of time, bring on intense burning pain and stiffness and further contributes to your exhaustion. 
• Imagine being so tired that you can’t think straight. Many people feel that way now and then, but try leading a “normal” life and not being able to make quick decisions when you need to. Even making normal household phone calls to inquire about a bill, or banking questions can confuse you and cause you to make mistakes you can’t afford.
• Imagine being at the dentist’s office and the hygienist is the friendly sort who likes to tap you on the shoulder to make a funny comment to put you at ease. Then, with your arm or shoulder hurting from that gentle touch, you have to diplomatically tell her that you have fibromyalgia and that she is hurting you.
• Imagine having your blood pressure taken and when they squeeze that cuff to get a good reading, you are about to explode from the burning pain. And the pain lasts for an hour or so afterwards. 
• Imagine wanting to hug your grandkids and have them sit on your lap. You are willing to endure the extreme lasting pain just for those few moments of shared love and affection. 
• Imagine how the act of making love becomes a torture beyond endurance, but you do it anyway because it’s important to your spouse and your marriage. 
• Imagine using your handicapped plaque when you are with friends, and they make comments like “How did you get that?” even though you have told them you have fibromyalgia. And when you are with them, and ask to use it, they refuse and park a long way away instead. You are made to feel like you are scamming the system, and a lazy bum. What they don’t know is that you might have energy when you go into a store, but when you come out you are exhausted and a long trek to the car is going to affect you even the next day.

If you could imagine any of these scenarios, thank you. If you know someone with fibromyalgia, please don’t ask them “are you better yet?”. There is no cure, and many pain medications do not work. Fibro is all over body pain. You do not get restorative sleep and sometimes you spend a whole day in a mental fog. Please open your mind, seek out more information about Fibromyalgia, and show some compassion.

This article touches on just the very surface of what it is like to have Fibromyalgia. I have it, and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.

You might also want to visit:

National Fibromyalgia Association

Fibromyalgia Awareness Group on Facebook