1. cant remember having a pain free day
2. I get depressed
3. no blessings, its been hell

1. Had to be about 20 yrs. ago.
2. Can't sew, do handwork, remodeling, etc. Can't walk for long. Can't ride for long.
3. This is hard. I guess it has forced me to be in touch with my body and environment in a proactive way.

1. pain free day-3 weeks ago

2. changed my life-I had to close my grooming shop in December. I made a choice to quit watching my grandkids after school 2 weeks ago. It's quiet and boring at times.

3. Blessings? Becareful what you wish for....I always wanted life to slow down for me, wishing I had time to read a book. Now I have time to read lots of books, but I didn't know it was going to be like this.

lacey, you crack me up! :D

1. I don't think I have pain free days, but sometimes its very slight.

2. It has changed my relationships and how people relate to me, it has changed my outlook on life, its changed my level of activity, and put strain on my relationships cuz people think Im lazy.

3. Blessings...yes...I actually have been blessed. I have learned to deal and cope, I guess you can say it's made me stronger. I have gained compassion for others as well, and also have made a lot of friends through this group and outside of this group who also have fibro...a very supportive network of friends. I am very blessed by those friendships.

1) march 2003

2)non-active life,laughter,being happy,my singing.. and much more

3) closer to god,and my faith, how bad things happen to good people, to respect my body more and pay more attention to healthy living..

1, no true pain free day, but was much better in 2000
2, it has taken away pastimes i consider a part of me, it is a huge sense of loss
3, i can't think of any blessing right now

1. can't remember ever being without pain! of course not as bad as now though.

2. taken me away not being there for my kids when they probably needed me.

3. can't think of any blessings. but I do cherish the moments spent with family and my bestest friends laughing and talking!! (oh yeah and eating LOL)

1. When is the last time that you can remember having a pain free day? I cant remeber my last pain FREE day but im at a 2-3 and that is just fine....Ill take it!
2. How has your suffering/condition(s) (ex: fibromyalgia) changed your life? I sold my home I was unable to keep up with all the yard work and maintence, Im half way done with my dgree and that has been put on hold Im waiting to see If I will be able to go back to machining or will I need to find another kind of work.

3. What blessings came about in your life as a result of your suffering/condition(s)?I have met some wonderful people that I would not have met had I not had this condition. I have learned a ton about myself and my body. and I have learned to take time for me and my family......when you have a good day you have to take advantage of and the dishes can wait

Carrie

b

Sometimes you have to look for the silver lining in a dark cloud. God doesn't give us more than we can handle.

1. August of 2003

2. I have had to learn to pace myself and realise I can't do it all.

3. I have learned to be a more relaxed individual and not take things for granted. I have actually become more positive of a person...realizing everyday is a blessing and everyday counts.

Hope

1. DON'T REMEMBER THE LAST PAIN FREE DAY

2.I'M NOT THE SAME PERSON THAT I USED TO BE CAN'T DO MOST OF THINGS THAT I WAS ONCE ABLE TO.

3. BROUGHT ME CLOSER TO GOD, AND HAS STRENGHTEND MY FAITH CAUSE THAT IS THE STRONGEST THING I HAVE RIGHT NOW

1. Don't remember the last pain free day I had.
2. I can not do any of the things I loved to do. Missed most of my daughter's growing years. Lost my career, which I trained and worked long and hard for.
3. Number 3 is a good question, it made me stop and think. Unfortunately, I can not think of any blessings.

1...It's never about pain free days, my life now is about comparatives! Meaning I'm in pain now, but I look at it this way...when I had a really bad cold/flu/flare combo not that long ago, I'm not as bad now and that's a blessing! So if I get through a flare and feel some pain after it at least the pain isn't as bad as the flares, which seem to get worse each time! God wants me to appreciate life more by making these flares sooooo bad so when I'm out of them and not in as much pain it's like a brand new world! (guess part of this goes with number 3!)

2...I sometimes have a shorter fuse, but I'm learning to take all these diseases with a huge grain of salt! Slowly but surely! I can't do things correctly! Like walk for example or sometimes hold things without dropping them! Knowing that some amplified symptom days I won't be able to get through the day correctly or do things correctly is hard! Being worried sometimes because I know this fact and my mind wants to get through something, but knowing I can't some days is hard! People not fully understanding is hard! Even well meaning, very loving people! That's kind of harder because you think they get it and you know they want to understand, but sometimes they don't and it gets frustrating! Being shy around people you can tell don't understand fully or at all is hard! Having to manage your days around and what you can realistically do around symptoms is hard! Knowing some things you once loved you can't do anymore is hard! For example...I love to do beadwork, but it's too small of a task for my hands to do without spilling beads everywhere and shaking or getting a saeizure! When things like walking too fast make you twitch it's hard! I could go on but I'm sure you all understand!

3...I've learned a great deal from all this though! I've learned that life is very comparative on a moment by moment basis and to feel blessed when the symptoms "aren't as bad" as the moment before or the day before or the flare before! I've leaned to be proud of myself for the smallest things I can do, even if it's just a 5minute walk a day or like yesterday my boyfriend and I took a huge walk to go get dinner and it sucked (hurt) for both of us! He has a messed up back and some other pains! But the thing is we tried and we NEVER gave up! We couldn't give up though, because once you walk somewhere, you HAVE to walk back or just live right where you walk to! HA! I've learned to appreciate every single day I make it out of bed, even more so when it hurts but I get out of bed or get small things done or get work done on the computer! This life appreciation things through the pain has been such a long journey, but one can get there! I never believed this when I first got sick, but you can get to a point where you see the world as such a wondrous place because you go through sooooo much every single day and you actually get through it! I appreciate life and all living things sooooo deeply because if I have the energy to muster up to spend time with my pets or another human being and I know it's hard it's like I am giving my soul to someone else and the world and all I muster through and do because I am wherever despite all the crap I endure and yet I'm there! If that makes any sense! I've also learned the meaning of strength despite pain because of what we all go through every single day! I've learned the meaning of true love and that love is not about finding a perfect person, but finding the perfect person for you, that will take the time to love every single wart on you, even if it's hard to do so they want to love you no matter what and you want to do exactly the same for them! I've learned open up to others because you never know when you may feel up to spending time because of the pain and symptoms so cherish every moment you get with another! I've learned to not be sooooo controlling! That you can't predict the course of chronic pain so therefor you can't predict life! I've learned that life is about the journey, not the outcome, but the ride of life itself and if we become proud of ourselves for getting through the crappy moments and making even the smallest things happen in our lives, then that's a fullfilled, positive, awe filled life and it's a wonderful ride! I mean, this is why people go to amusement parks right! Well my life is an amusement park for free! Hehe!

Take care,
Stay sane!