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.
I am new to this support group. I made a decision to seek a support group after spending so much time being miserable because no one around me understands what I am going through.
I will make my background brief as possible. I am an african-american mother of six, married to a wonderful woman. I am a full-time nurse and have worked as one for 13 years. I am 36 years old.
My wife and I have been together for 11 years. Through ups and downs we decided to have more children. My twins are two. Other children are 16, 12, 11, and 7. A year after I had the twins my body began to go haywire. Hypoglycemia, bouts of fatigue and increasing pain that gradually was labeled as chronic.
Doctors were not helpful or knowledgeable. I switched doctors 3 times before I found one who would take me seriously. Finally, fm was my dx. I educated myself as much as I could and tried natural supplements for 6 months. I eventually went on prescribed medicine and was ok for 6 more months.
Recently, my meds are not working that well. My fatigue is more prominent and I can no longer keep up with the demands of my day to day life. My wife has a mental illness so her support is limited. My children are lazy...which is my fault because I was super-mom for so long. Family does not care. I have very little mental support and no physical support.
Some days I am ok. Most days I am pushing myself to do the bare minimum. I budget my energy and just try to deal with the pain.
Co-workers don't get it because I still work, even though I had to cut my hours. And of course, "I don't look sick." Then there are the days when I have to use a store motorized wheelchair and EVERYONE is staring at me. I am tired....all the time. I don't know anyone with this disease and most people have never heard of it. I spend my time trying to give the "short" definition but since I cannot give an exact reason for my pain I never get true empathy from anyone.
I know I wouldn't wish this on my worse enemy. Every-time I move, it hurts. That is all I know for sure.
I will make my background brief as possible. I am an african-american mother of six, married to a wonderful woman. I am a full-time nurse and have worked as one for 13 years. I am 36 years old.
My wife and I have been together for 11 years. Through ups and downs we decided to have more children. My twins are two. Other children are 16, 12, 11, and 7. A year after I had the twins my body began to go haywire. Hypoglycemia, bouts of fatigue and increasing pain that gradually was labeled as chronic.
Doctors were not helpful or knowledgeable. I switched doctors 3 times before I found one who would take me seriously. Finally, fm was my dx. I educated myself as much as I could and tried natural supplements for 6 months. I eventually went on prescribed medicine and was ok for 6 more months.
Recently, my meds are not working that well. My fatigue is more prominent and I can no longer keep up with the demands of my day to day life. My wife has a mental illness so her support is limited. My children are lazy...which is my fault because I was super-mom for so long. Family does not care. I have very little mental support and no physical support.
Some days I am ok. Most days I am pushing myself to do the bare minimum. I budget my energy and just try to deal with the pain.
Co-workers don't get it because I still work, even though I had to cut my hours. And of course, "I don't look sick." Then there are the days when I have to use a store motorized wheelchair and EVERYONE is staring at me. I am tired....all the time. I don't know anyone with this disease and most people have never heard of it. I spend my time trying to give the "short" definition but since I cannot give an exact reason for my pain I never get true empathy from anyone.
I know I wouldn't wish this on my worse enemy. Every-time I move, it hurts. That is all I know for sure.
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We're all troubled.WSo, to remind ourselves we're not at rock bottom (this is a reverse optimism thing I learned as a kid):We are not living on the island of Krakatoa when the volcano goes boom!Yeah, okay, that sucks.***Toay in 1942, Pierre Laval announced that the way to free France was for Germany to win WW2. Pierre did not win a lot of friends. When the war ended, quite quickly he was tried...
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Another day, another ouchie?My bruised achilles tendon (don't ask) makes my foot numb. Wonky on meds, whacked it.Now, as to fibro:A lot of reports are going around some parts of social media that fibro (and dang near anything else) are caused by post-Covid, post-flu, post-vaccinations, post-pick-something.1. Your risk of death or serious complications beyond "ow, that shot hurt!" are typically...
Welcome to the group! You are not alone and we understand.
I applaud you for all that you do being a Mom of 6 kids and working full time too. Hang in there. Gentle hugs to you.
Wow!
Six kids (a teenager and two year old twins in the mix-holy developmental rebellion phases!), a spouse with some challenges, a demanding job as an RN, AND Fibro, and somehow you managed to sit down and write an intelligent, coherent post, that gives everyone here a small window into what every day life is like for you...I can only guess that you are one strong woman.
There is very little I can do to make you feel better...you have tremendous insight into your situation, and as a nurse, you know how to deal with Dr's and when to find a new one...I think that we are lucky to have you- I think that you will be able to help us very much and I am glad to see you have joined the group.
I think one thing many of us can identify with, and maybe even consider it a pet peeve is the "You don't look sick" comment...Well of course I don't look sick. I stay home when I'm sick.
And the looks when you have to use a mobility aid - a cane, or the little motor buggies...it makes you wonder if people think you are using the buggies for fun-that you prefer to go up and down the aisles at less than 5 mph when you have a wife and 6 kids waiting for you to get home and cook dinner...that if you weren't in pain you could probably walk those aisles at at least a good 10 mph and get home much faster.
Anyway, Fantod is right, this is a great place to vent and connect with other people who know what it is like to have Fibro.
I look forward to hearing more from you.
Best, LuLu
Hugs for you my friend.:-)
It's so nice to come on here whenever I am feeling down and like nobody understands and have all these people who know exactly what I'm going through.
We have been through it all around here---if not all of it then some or most of it---and we're here for you. I've been around a few years (I think about four now?) but was dx'd in 1995 when most docs still said it was all psychiatric, so at least there's *some* progress since then---and I agree, not even on my worst enemy.
I agree, your kids can learn to help out. By age 8 I could bake, fold laundry, vacuum, clean a bathroom, etc. ---and was doing cooking for the fam by 13. My mom was a full-time RN, and I know what that job can take out of a person by seeing her struggles to do it, and I salute you for even trying!
Leo
God Bless,
Melinda
Gentle hugs!
Lisa
I have four kids, three at home...one teen, one twenty special needs and one nine. The older kids are both seniors this year.
I wish I were there to just hold your hand a minute...give you a quiet space...
I also have bipolar disorder, and so do all of my kids. So if you need to talk about mental health issues, I am here.
This is a great group, they have welcomed me with open hearts. I do the same to you. You are strong, but you can be weak here, too. You can be angry and upset. I know I get that way. We will understand.
So keep on keeping on. And if we ever meet in our moto-carts...I'll race ya!
It's so nice to See so many welcoming replies to your post.
I hope you find this group helpful and it's exactly what you need.
I think you are doing a remarkable job considering the challenges you have with fibro and working and family. I hope you can get your kids to help. Maybe have a family group meeting and sit down with them and say that there needs to be some changes. You ask for what you want and need. Make your needs be known.
It's ok to make changes and rules. Such as No tv, no phone , no computer etc until certain chores have been done. The kids will adapt. It will be good for them to have some responsibilities.
Like everyone else I am amazed that you are able to work and that you have 6 kids to look after on top of everything else, you must be a strong woman!
Welcome again and I hope you feel better soon. Hugs, ellie