Fibromyalgia Support Group
You're not alone in your pain. Fibromyalgia is a condition that can be difficult to diagnose and manage. If you're trying to cope with pain throughout your body, sleep problems, general fatigue, or other common fibromyalgia symptoms, you're in the right place. The community is here for you to talk about therapies and share your challenges.
Dear Doug, Nov.1,2007
First of all I want to thank you for your generosity. I appreciate the opportunity you have given everyone on Daily Strength to participate in this essay contest. There are so many worthy charities represented here on Daily Strength. Im asking you to please consider a charity that gets very little recongnition. One that is very much a concern of mine, obviously, since I have been diagnosed with it; after months of rigorous tests and emotional aggrevation. As you will see, I am not the sole author of this essay. I have invited everyone in the Fibromyalgia Community here on Daily Strength to help me. The foundation that we would like to see receive your charitable donation is the NFRA (National Fibromyalgia Research Organization).
Fibromyalgia is a debilitating chronic syndrome characterized by diffuse or specific muscle, joint, and/or bone pain, fatigue, and a wide range of other symptoms such as wide spread pain, heightened skin and sound and light sensitivity, achiness in the joints, nerve pain, chronic sleep disturbances and in some cases insomnia, characteristics of Parkinsons disease and restless leg syndrome. It also causes brain fog, or forgetfulness and slow responses even the inability to focus the thoughts, Physical and chronic fatigue, chronic bladder conditions, Irritable bowl syndrome, migraines, facial twitches, and symptoms of hypoglycemia.
Fibromyalgia is seen in 3% to 6% of the general population. The nature of fibromyalgia is not understood, and many doctors accuse their patients of faking illness or believe them to be hypochondriacs.
Fibromyalgia robs its victims of their lifestyle. Patients are sometimes unable to work or even able to maintain day to day activities, such as driving a car, walking up stairs or even cooking and cleaning. They lose their jobs, homes, sometimes even spouses, family and friends. Single parents are unable to provide for their children since the disease is so misunderstood patients are unable, in most cases, to get government assistance or disability if needed.
Research is desperately needed so that Dr.s and society can better understand this disease and the impact it has on an individual. For those patients who are fortunate enough to have a dr. who believes this disease is real, and it has been proven to be very real, struggle with finding medication combinations that will somewhat relieve them of their pain and symptoms. Depression is also a common symptom of Fibro due to the inability to find relief from the pain and understanding and support.
As yet, there is no cure and scientists do not know what causes Fibromyalgia. It is very misunderstood, and does not get the attention it deserves for research. People just do not understand or realize how debilitating this disease is.
We would like to see a donation made to the NFRA (National Fibromyalgia Research Organization)
Enclosed, with permission, are only two personal and heart wrenching cries that were posted on the Fibromyalgia community boards, so that you can see just how severely this disease affects its victims. There are many many more.
Research is desperately needed in this area. We hope you will seriously consider supporting this organization so that, even if a cure cannot be found, we will at least be understood and able to get the help and support we so desperately need from our Drs., family and friends.
Thank You,
(Dixe4me) and everyone from the Fibromyalgia Community
Post by moonbeam23 on 10/28/07:
I just can't do this anymore. I can't do this FMS and Depression thing I'm just not strong enough. My marriage is just in shambles right now. My husband is SO cold to me. He says he loves me but when I go to hug him or kiss him he actually PUSHES me away! On top of that my FMS seems to be getting worse. I'm starting to wonder if there is something else going on besides FMS. I mean, I keep slurring my speech, I keep forgetting things and my pain is increasing. My pain meds just aren't working as well. I'm on an anti depressant and that is actually going well, but it doesn't work for my pain. The worst is that my foot pain has increased making it almost impossible for me to walk. I can't do this, I can't do this anymore. I used to be so energetic. I keep cutting more and more out of my life.. Writing is my life and I just gave up all my future articles because of my FMS and Depression, because everyone keeps telling me to relax. My husband says to relax too, and when I too he tells me I'm lazy. I just can't do this. I hate my life, I hate living this way. I hate that my feet hurt so much that just walking around is painful, even after like four percocet. I am tired of taking baths and putting on muscle creams. I'm tired of talking to Dr.'s. I'm tired of having no motivation to exercise,, no motivation anymore to study. I'm angry that I might have to actually quit school because of this.
I can't live this way. I don't have the money to see all these expert Dr.'s. And I'm scared. I'm scared of becoming bedridden or house ridden. I want this pain to end, I want these stupid symptoms to END! I don't want FMS anymore. I'm tired of being depressed because I have FMS. I'm tired of my husband thinking he has to do everything for me and then resenting me. I'm tired of living in a cold, unloving marriage. I'm tired of being the one who is ALWAYS to blame because I'm the sick one and the "LAZY" one and the Depressed one. I'm tired of always acquiescing to everyone else's needs and mine come last because well, there isn't much I can do anyway. I'm tired of not being able to sit in a movie theater longer than an hour and a half. I'm tired of always telling my friends no when they want to go out. I'm tired of the fact that now that I'm a mom, none of my old graduate friends ever call me anymore or ask to see how I am doing.
I just need help. I just need someone to help me. I have hired someone to help me with the baby, but I need more than that. I need to not be in pain. I need to be able to have the motivation and energy to lose weight. I just want to be loved and not resented by my husband. I just want to be normal again. I just want to be my old self. I just can't live this way anymore. Good thing I'm on anti-depressants because even though I'm taking them I still feel a strong urge that there is just no point to living. What is the point really of getting a Master's Degree if I can't work full time? If I can't stand up for more than an hour or sit down for more than two hours? What is the point of continuing my freelance writing if the deadlines make me too stressed out and I can't conduct the interviews because I don't have a reliable babysitter? What is the point of having more children if I started having more severe symptoms after I had my first? What is the point of being around if I just make my husband unhappy, hateful, cold and resentful because he has to take care of me and now the baby all of the time? What is the point of raising a child with a mother who will never be able to take him to all of his activities? Or will have a hard time making him food? What is the point when I can barely write this? When I have to keep convincing Dr.'s to give me pain medication? When I just got a new prescription and am almost out? How can I do this? How can I go on like this? What is the POINT of living this way? This isn't living. It is like being dead already.Posted on 10/28/07, 02:10 am
Post By Socalgal45
I am going to make this short because I feel awful but I thought of more more thing I wanted to ask.
I can't be there for my family anymore and the guilty is ripping me apart. I can't make it pass 3 in the afternoon and I can't play with my 8 year old because it hurts. I can't cook because it hurts. I can't do anything because it hurts. In the mornings I feel pretty good but mid day I start to crash and I'm done by 3 and hanging out with my new best friend my heating pad. The guilty I feel about not being there for my family is awful.
So how do you all handle it..I have been reading about provil or something like that, does it work for anyone? If so how and how does it make you feel?I need energy now so please if you have any suggestions help me.
Thank you...VPosted on 10/28/07, 12:10 am
3 Members rated this post moving
First of all I want to thank you for your generosity. I appreciate the opportunity you have given everyone on Daily Strength to participate in this essay contest. There are so many worthy charities represented here on Daily Strength. Im asking you to please consider a charity that gets very little recongnition. One that is very much a concern of mine, obviously, since I have been diagnosed with it; after months of rigorous tests and emotional aggrevation. As you will see, I am not the sole author of this essay. I have invited everyone in the Fibromyalgia Community here on Daily Strength to help me. The foundation that we would like to see receive your charitable donation is the NFRA (National Fibromyalgia Research Organization).
Fibromyalgia is a debilitating chronic syndrome characterized by diffuse or specific muscle, joint, and/or bone pain, fatigue, and a wide range of other symptoms such as wide spread pain, heightened skin and sound and light sensitivity, achiness in the joints, nerve pain, chronic sleep disturbances and in some cases insomnia, characteristics of Parkinsons disease and restless leg syndrome. It also causes brain fog, or forgetfulness and slow responses even the inability to focus the thoughts, Physical and chronic fatigue, chronic bladder conditions, Irritable bowl syndrome, migraines, facial twitches, and symptoms of hypoglycemia.
Fibromyalgia is seen in 3% to 6% of the general population. The nature of fibromyalgia is not understood, and many doctors accuse their patients of faking illness or believe them to be hypochondriacs.
Fibromyalgia robs its victims of their lifestyle. Patients are sometimes unable to work or even able to maintain day to day activities, such as driving a car, walking up stairs or even cooking and cleaning. They lose their jobs, homes, sometimes even spouses, family and friends. Single parents are unable to provide for their children since the disease is so misunderstood patients are unable, in most cases, to get government assistance or disability if needed.
Research is desperately needed so that Dr.s and society can better understand this disease and the impact it has on an individual. For those patients who are fortunate enough to have a dr. who believes this disease is real, and it has been proven to be very real, struggle with finding medication combinations that will somewhat relieve them of their pain and symptoms. Depression is also a common symptom of Fibro due to the inability to find relief from the pain and understanding and support.
As yet, there is no cure and scientists do not know what causes Fibromyalgia. It is very misunderstood, and does not get the attention it deserves for research. People just do not understand or realize how debilitating this disease is.
We would like to see a donation made to the NFRA (National Fibromyalgia Research Organization)
Enclosed, with permission, are only two personal and heart wrenching cries that were posted on the Fibromyalgia community boards, so that you can see just how severely this disease affects its victims. There are many many more.
Research is desperately needed in this area. We hope you will seriously consider supporting this organization so that, even if a cure cannot be found, we will at least be understood and able to get the help and support we so desperately need from our Drs., family and friends.
Thank You,
(Dixe4me) and everyone from the Fibromyalgia Community
Post by moonbeam23 on 10/28/07:
I just can't do this anymore. I can't do this FMS and Depression thing I'm just not strong enough. My marriage is just in shambles right now. My husband is SO cold to me. He says he loves me but when I go to hug him or kiss him he actually PUSHES me away! On top of that my FMS seems to be getting worse. I'm starting to wonder if there is something else going on besides FMS. I mean, I keep slurring my speech, I keep forgetting things and my pain is increasing. My pain meds just aren't working as well. I'm on an anti depressant and that is actually going well, but it doesn't work for my pain. The worst is that my foot pain has increased making it almost impossible for me to walk. I can't do this, I can't do this anymore. I used to be so energetic. I keep cutting more and more out of my life.. Writing is my life and I just gave up all my future articles because of my FMS and Depression, because everyone keeps telling me to relax. My husband says to relax too, and when I too he tells me I'm lazy. I just can't do this. I hate my life, I hate living this way. I hate that my feet hurt so much that just walking around is painful, even after like four percocet. I am tired of taking baths and putting on muscle creams. I'm tired of talking to Dr.'s. I'm tired of having no motivation to exercise,, no motivation anymore to study. I'm angry that I might have to actually quit school because of this.
I can't live this way. I don't have the money to see all these expert Dr.'s. And I'm scared. I'm scared of becoming bedridden or house ridden. I want this pain to end, I want these stupid symptoms to END! I don't want FMS anymore. I'm tired of being depressed because I have FMS. I'm tired of my husband thinking he has to do everything for me and then resenting me. I'm tired of living in a cold, unloving marriage. I'm tired of being the one who is ALWAYS to blame because I'm the sick one and the "LAZY" one and the Depressed one. I'm tired of always acquiescing to everyone else's needs and mine come last because well, there isn't much I can do anyway. I'm tired of not being able to sit in a movie theater longer than an hour and a half. I'm tired of always telling my friends no when they want to go out. I'm tired of the fact that now that I'm a mom, none of my old graduate friends ever call me anymore or ask to see how I am doing.
I just need help. I just need someone to help me. I have hired someone to help me with the baby, but I need more than that. I need to not be in pain. I need to be able to have the motivation and energy to lose weight. I just want to be loved and not resented by my husband. I just want to be normal again. I just want to be my old self. I just can't live this way anymore. Good thing I'm on anti-depressants because even though I'm taking them I still feel a strong urge that there is just no point to living. What is the point really of getting a Master's Degree if I can't work full time? If I can't stand up for more than an hour or sit down for more than two hours? What is the point of continuing my freelance writing if the deadlines make me too stressed out and I can't conduct the interviews because I don't have a reliable babysitter? What is the point of having more children if I started having more severe symptoms after I had my first? What is the point of being around if I just make my husband unhappy, hateful, cold and resentful because he has to take care of me and now the baby all of the time? What is the point of raising a child with a mother who will never be able to take him to all of his activities? Or will have a hard time making him food? What is the point when I can barely write this? When I have to keep convincing Dr.'s to give me pain medication? When I just got a new prescription and am almost out? How can I do this? How can I go on like this? What is the POINT of living this way? This isn't living. It is like being dead already.Posted on 10/28/07, 02:10 am
Post By Socalgal45
I am going to make this short because I feel awful but I thought of more more thing I wanted to ask.
I can't be there for my family anymore and the guilty is ripping me apart. I can't make it pass 3 in the afternoon and I can't play with my 8 year old because it hurts. I can't cook because it hurts. I can't do anything because it hurts. In the mornings I feel pretty good but mid day I start to crash and I'm done by 3 and hanging out with my new best friend my heating pad. The guilty I feel about not being there for my family is awful.
So how do you all handle it..I have been reading about provil or something like that, does it work for anyone? If so how and how does it make you feel?I need energy now so please if you have any suggestions help me.
Thank you...VPosted on 10/28/07, 12:10 am
3 Members rated this post moving
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theatre and I are there already. I'm having a very berry tea with crackers, cheese and cherry tomatoes and she's having a joint with some beer and we're both on really comfy recliners on thick pile carpet. we need some help with the decor if anyone is around??
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I'm trying to exercise daily. I was doing fairly well until I sprained my ankle 2 weeks ago but now I'm getting back on the horse. Today I walked over a mile with my arm weights that are about 22lbs total. I was out of shape and it was hard on my arms. I also did my 30 situps. I'm also going to drink a lot of water and try to eat healthy. I do tend to have a sweet tooth but I'm cutting...
Bless you,
Dixie