Jul 15 2008
An Introduction To Fibromyalgia
To many of you reading this blog, the term “Fibromyalgia” is an all too familiar one. To others, the term may be unfamiliar and strange. I thought that the best way to start my Fibromyalgia blog was with a post that describes what Fibromyalgia is, who it affects, and how it can change your life.
Fibromyalgia is a very real ailment, despite what some doctors may try to tell you. It is estimated that as many as six million people living in the United States suffer from Fibromyalgia symptoms. There could be far more sufferers that have yet to be diagnosed with the disorder as many doctors do not yet understand Fibromyalgia or even believe it exists.
Fibromyalgia is a disorder that is represented by chronic pain that often occurs throughout the body, pain that increases when a certain area is touched, aching muscles, chronic fatigue, nerve pain, unordinary bowel disturbances, and difficulty sleeping.
For people living with Fibromyalgia, the disorder can be life changing. I went from a Sunday School teacher in a preschool classroom to being practically unable to move almost overnight. The disorder sprung upon me suddenly and reared it’s ugly head. Not wanting to spend my entire life in bed, caused me to research deeper and deeper into the subject of Fibromyalgia.
Functioning on a job can be difficult for Fibromyalgia sufferers. What is perhaps one of the worst symptoms of Fibromyalgia in my opinion is a horrible little symptom that I call “FibroFog”. What is FibroFog, you might ask? FibroFog is when your brain just seems to be foggy all the time, and you cannot remember simple things, or complete simple tasks without a great deal of concentration and effort. FibroFog can be upsetting to someone who is trying to maintain their current position in the workforce, and just as frustrating for the stay at home mom who can’t remember how to perform a simple chore.
And then there’s the pain, did I mention the pain? Fibromyalgia pain is a strange type of pain that no pain killers seem to have an affect on. In fact, many doctors cannot even trace the exact source of the pain, and since they do not know the exact origin or makeup of Fibromyalgia, many patients suffer with the heavy pain for an extended period of time.
In Fibromyalgia patients, pain generally occurs at pressure points, all though it is possible for Fibromyalgia patients to have pain in other places or all over. There are 18 known pressure points, and applying pressure to those points often enables doctors to diagnose patients with Fibromyalgia.
Flare ups can also present a huge problem for a patient suffering from Fibromyalgia. Flare ups are periods of time when the symptoms, usually the pain and fatigue, are worse than they usually are. Flare ups can last anywhere from a few minutes to a few weeks, and the pain can be excrutiating and agonizing.
Medications can help provide relief with some of Fibromyalgia’s symptoms, and so can some diet and exercise. The problem is you have to know what to do, when to do it, and how to do it, in order for any treatment to be successful.
Now would be an excellent time to say that I am not a doctor, just a patient suffering from the symptoms of Fibromyalgia. I did a lot of research on the subject, and found treatment options that work for me. It is my hope that the treatment options will help relieve some of your Fibromyalgia symptoms as well, however I cannot guarantee that any of the treatment options that I mention will help you deal with your particular case of Fibromyalgia. Before trying any new treatment option, you should consult with your physician. I cannot be held responsible for side affects from any of the treatment options or tips that I mention in my blog, so be wise and talk to your doctor before trying any of them!
A final thought for the day, if you are not a Fibromyalgia sufferer, but you have a friend, family member, or coworker who is, remember to treat them sympathetically. Dealing with Fibromyalgia is a daily, constant, uphill struggle for many, and a little sympathy and love can go a really long way. Fibromyalgia can affect both males and females at any age, so don’t discriminate against those who suffer from it, as some day, you may be the one in need of the sympathy of some one else.
Hugs to all!
One Response to “An Introduction To Fibromyalgia”
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My name is Sarah J. and I have been suffering with Firbromyalgia and other health issues for over 12yrs. It all started soon after I had my son and I started to fall down and drop things. What’s funny is that I was taking Tylenol like it was going out of style when I was like my leg will not stop hurting. It was a deep down bone chilling pain and I wanted it to stop. If I could have chewed off my own leg I would have because the pain was so bad. I was working 60hrs a week and taking care of my son, I sucked it up. After awhile I could not suck it up no more and it started to affect my job. I knew if I did not take care of myself I would not be able to take care of my son. My doctor who is a wonderful doctor he and I set out to find out what was wrong with me. It took many doctors appts and many doctors. Some wanted to say I was ok to work, see I worked for the largest credit card company in the world at that time and they were not trying to hear that I was not going to be working for them to make them even more rich. So they have influence on the people who live here, I know it sounds like something from a movie but it is true. One doctor tells me one thing one day and the next he would not even return my calls. One day I just showed up at the office, see I am not one to play with especially when it comes to my health. I reported him and another doctor to the American Medical Association stating they did not have my best interest when they examined me. I will report you if you are doing your job. I went through so much hell from my company they were trying their best to get me fired or have me leave on my own so they would not have to pay me my medical insurance and long term disability insurance that I worked hard for by working 60hrs weeks even during my pregnancy. I worked fulltime right up to the day I had my son. I left on a Thursday and I had him that Monday, I bent over backwards for them because I was brought up that you work hard at your job and you will be rewarded for your efforts. Becasue of the treatment I received until my last day there was so horrible I was crying when I got off of work each day. They spoke to me like I was dog and they treated me that way as well. What could I do they were trying to make me have a confrontation so they could fire me they did everything they could. They even paid off the NAACP so they would not help me when I asked them for help. I find it odd that I am talking to you for a few weeks and telling you what is going then you stop returning my phone calls and get a 10,000.00 dollar donation at the same time. I don’t know is it me findig that odd, I still did not give up, I was going to get the bendfits I worked hard for. Why not I was not faking and I am not the one to be played with. See a lot of people I have found that have been the focus of Fibromyalgia have been married and have the help of others, I only had the help of my doctor and my sons father and my job just did not give a damn. They told me they would not make any accomodations for me at all, the two people I was talking to on the phone one time were like yeah right that is not going to happen. Because they wanted to play games with my life I lost my home and my possesions when the realty company took my home and cleaned it out when I had to leave for my fathers funereal. Most of the reasons why I am treated this way is Racism, I have to say this, I have kept my mouth shut for too long on this. I have read about so many people who have gone through what I have(all White) and no one is interested in me when I tell them my story. I never did drugs I worked and put myself through school I did the right things and I still get hell. I can’t even park in a handicapped space with out White people yelling at me telling me I can’t park there long before they even look for my placard. It is so hard not get upset and yet I keep going I know I will never let anyone get the best of me never. I know I will never work for anyone but myself because I will never allow anyone to treat me the way I was treated and talk to me the way I was treated. This is a side of Fibromyalgia no one has talked about most times when you think of it it is always someone White who is “making” it regardless of the obstacles and I am like what am I doing. Marketing and media has a way of skewing people to think a certaine way. If I had been on drugs for a long time they would be all over it, “she over came addiction and now each day is a struggle to not go down that road again”. Not me, my sister was a drug addict and she got all of the help in the world and I had to live on Food Stamps and move into an apartment that had Silver Fish and a hole in the bathroom because of rotten wood and I was eventually evicted because I refused to pay rent living in those conditions. I moved into the place I am in now and it is wonderful because the people who I talked to looked at me and not my situation and judged me on me and what I presented and they knew I was someone who was a good person and not someone trying to get over which is what you get when you are Black and have a disability. I am so tired of it, I know there are many people that have taken advantaged but I suffered because of them. I am in so much pain each day it horrible but I know I am not going to let it stop me. I told my son who is 11yrs old now that he is to not get in trouble because I am sick. I am so tired of kids who say “my mom is sick, I this, I that is why I did wrong, I am so tired of that. I told my son you get in trouble you are on your own because there is no reason. He is on the honoroll just made 3B’s and 9A’s and is on the Chess team, plays the Clarinet, Champion of the Scrabble team. His band teacher gives him an extra lesson each week because he sees that he can go somewhere. He was asked by the Center for Talented Youth a program at Johns Hopkins Univerity to apply. They are an educational program takes the kids on trips around the world, I want him to go the Galopogs Islands in December for that trip. They have courses he can take on the internet, it is great to qualify for invite you must be in the 5% in reading and math in the country and the world to get invite….I need money, anyone want to help fund my sons education most of my money goes to medication and just living see I will not qualify for programs that give scholarships because of my income for two people in my state. I did not even qualify for reduced lunch, I have to pay full price 2.10 a day for my son…..It has felt great to rant because I have never had an outlet and when I have approached tv programs and all I guess I was not what they are looking for, I don’t even know what to say to that. What I will say now is who can help me and my son. I have my own business and I am looking for an investor anyone want to talk to me….have a great day….