Fibromyalgia seems to be one of the most controversial terms in modern medicine. Many people debate the existence of what they call an "invisible disease". For the most part one of the biggest issues with Fibromyalgia is defining exactly what it is. According to the Mayo Clinic, Fibromyalgia is a "disorder characterized by widespread pain". Fibromyalgia hurts because the nerve receptors in the body over react to stimulation and send signals to the brain that tell the body to feel pain. What causes Fibromyalgia is also debated- it can vary from person to person which makes understanding this disorder much more difficult. Injury, stress, or infection seem to be some of the leading causes. I often wonder if autoimmune disorders play a factor as well. Two other factors that are relevant for me are: 1) women are more prone to be diagnosed with fibromyalgia, and 2) genetics- my mother was also diagnosed with fibromyalgia years before I was. So I have a family history of it. (Learn more about the definition of fibromyalgia and the symptoms at: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/fibromyalgia/basics/definition/con-20019243)
I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia at the age of 18. I will turn 32 this year and can count only 2 days of being pain free since I was diagnosed. I was lucky to have a primary care physician that took my pain seriously and since his wife also had Fibromyalgia he was knew that I wasn't faking the symptoms. Many people suffer with Fibromyalgia silently because they don't show signs of being ill. My pain is chronic and can be worsened with stress- particularly emotional stress. My pain tends to set up camp primarily in my shoulders, neck, and the back of my head. As a result of my pain I have frequent headaches- they can escalate into full blown migraines. This isn't like the aches and pains people get with the flu- Fibromyalgia pain can be so consuming that it can lead to depression. It can so debilitating that for some they cannot work and find day to day functions challenging and exhausting.
I consider myself lucky in many regards. Yes, I ache and yes, I am tired but I have a doctor that listens to me and I am still able to work. Sometimes I get fibro fog and get a little forgetful and I consume cups of coffee but I can manage. The only way I am not lucky is that I cannot take Lyrica or the other medications available to ease the pain. Sadly, these medicines I am either allergic to or they interact with my thyroid medicine.
There are things that I try to do daily to lessen the amount of pain that I am in;
1) Daily prayer and meditation. Being in chronic pain can bring me down if I let. I spend at least ten minutes day sitting and focusing on the positives which helps reduce the amount of stress I have.
2) Exercise. Hard to believe that my pain is worse when I don't get up and move. I may feel like I'm dragging myself through the day but I am always more upbeat after a workout.
One of my favorites is yoga. Yoga seems to help relieve the muscle tension that seems to go along with my Fibromyalgia- this helps lessen the amount of pain I am in. I try to spend a few minutes each day doing yoga- like when I first get up and I feel much better.
3) I try to eat gluten free- I mean I kind of have to since gluten and my stomach just recently stopped getting along but gluten also seemed to agitate my symptoms making them much worse. I also felt more lethargic after eating pasta or bread which isn't fun. Gluten free sounds boring but it doesn't have to be. I just know that cutting it out of my diet has made me feel much better.
One thing that has helped to ease my pain is a Vitamin B-12 shot. The first time I had one over a year ago- I was pain free for 2 days!! Two days of not hurting- it was amazing. The second time I had the shot the pain didn't go away entirely but it was much, much less. Of course this in't a daily thing but it can help. I see my doctor for this shot.
Fibromyalgia is to many who do not understand it, a made up illness. We seem to have this idea that if we can't see the symptoms then they are not real. I'm here say that Fibromyalgia is real. My pain is real. My fatigue is real. I am not making these symptoms or any of other symptoms up. No one I know with Fibromyalgia is faking it to get attention. I have made it a point to live a healthier life in order to help ease the disorder and to take back control of my life from it.
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