I would like to point out that I now have all of you... Thats positive in its own right.

After Fibro, I get more help with daily living, people don't expect the world from me, and its made my life easier.

I also have learned to simplify and manage my life which I didn't know anything about before.

I also learned who my true friends are and thats valuable in its own right casue well, you don't need friends who are not there for you when you need them.

I am also thankful that it has brought me and my daughter closer as I am no longer able to work. I can cuddle with her and do school work and go exploring (in our own way) and thats the most beautiful thing...


Sad saps! You have to think about this positively or you'll die a miserable life. Cheer up! I always remind myself it could be worse. I could be healthy, and have lots of money and be the worst person in all the world. I could be so poor i'm literally starving to death. I could have soemthing that WILL for sure kill me.

Fibro has blessed me by giving me the ability to be empathetic to pretty much anything. No matter whats hurting on your body, i know what your going thru and i mite be able to help you. Also, considering it has effected so many other elements of my life, i can help in other areas to. For examply if someone is depressed etc.

You know Blue...it's been both for me.

Fibro has taken away my sleep, but it's never taken away my dreams
It's take away my ability to talk, but never has taken away my voice
It's taken away my abilities but it's never disabled my choices.

Through all of this I've found a simple life. A life I've longed for. It's brought to me riches of the heart and soul vs of fame and fortune.
I now lead a simple and possibly quaint life. But to me, it's honest a great life.

I learned a long time ago that to accept the good that God brings me, then I need to accept the bad. Who am I to sit her and be allowed to pick and choose what life brings me?

I know many here have a variety of levels of faith. For me, Fibro has helped strengthen mine. It's also brought forth a great community of people (DS) whom I learn from each day.

I guess you can say that I've found happiness through weakness. And I now I'm truly blessed to be able to see things in such a way.

This is a good post Blue...thanks!

I have struggled coming to terms with being inactive, in pain and anger and frustration in no longer being 'normal'.
But I have gained in other ways, last year the depression side completely took me by surprise (at that time I was not diagnosed with fibro). I had a kind of breakdown, decided that I no longer wanted to be with my husband - asked for a divorce and many a time thought everyone, including my two kids, would be so much better off without me. My husband through thick and thin persisted in telling me he was not going to let me go. Even though I would say I don't love you. Finally I was persuaded to see the doctor and given anti-depressants. Then was diagnosed with Fibro a few months later.
I saw everything so differently, I have been married over 20 years and I love my husband more than I ever have. Fibro has brought us closer and there is nothing I want more when feeling down or in pain than to be in his arms and just have that hug that says I love you. So yes my life can be really crap but I have gained so much more. Kinda balances it out.

I have had to change jobs do to the economy, but in the process have simplified my life. I don't work as hard, but also have time to get the rest that I need. I work 6 days a week but most of those days I only work 4 1/2 hours per day. But one of the jobs I have is a CareGiver. This also helps me see others that are in more pain and I can understand where they are coming from.

it made me change my major in college.

Aloha, bluesun
Answering this isnt hard at all... I had a sllippery fall onto my tailbone which was for me the onset of my fibro Oct. of last year, this fall led me to the local community clinic for the first time (I live in a remote part of Hawaii) after two weeks of intense pain. I was diagnosed then with fibro by a Nurse Practioner who moved here from the mainland and had studied 3 years with top specialists of Fibromyalgia. Long story short Vickie (my nurse/angel) ran me through every possible test-no stone left untuned-to be absolutely sure of the correct diagnoses. Well, during an ultra-sound a large tumor was found on my left ovary which then led to more doctors and utltmately to a total hysterectomy (i had "borderline" ovarion cancer) I don't do borderline - anyway, if I hadn't of fallen bathing my 3 dogs- I never would of had to go to the clinic, I never would of met my good friend and nurse Vickie, who never would of ordered all those tests, Oh, yeah, I'm also the type of person who NEVER goes to doctors unless I'm in pain- so without the fibro I never would of had a clue that a tumor was going inside of me-there were no other symtoms. That's how Fibro has been my blessing. But theres even more blessings than just that, i've found through this past year - thats all the friendships i've made thru my support groups, on-line and off, and through my journey searching for a way out of the pain and total fatique. Theres always hope and help availble if you look for it and blessings all around you.
thanks for asking and allowing me to share.
Aloha, Susan

Fibro has taught me to ask for help when I need it and I have more compasion for other people that are hurting. I've learned not to sweat the small stuff and to work on my health more.

In some ways it kinda saved me from a more bad situation.. lost a full term baby long time ago.. and was like off the planet.. started to go out alot and drink.. wasnt good for me at all.. then fibro and disks came.. and now.. I dont even think of sitting in a bar.. lol.. so... in that sense.. Im homebound now.. but pain isnt easy to handle either.. but still glad Im not sitting on a bar stool anymore.. been like 4 yrs.. I wasnt a drunk.. just drank more then I have in my younger days.. :)

Several people brought up more blessings then I had forgotten about like Pollybiz, reminded me how I had to change my strict housekeeping ways, she is so right! Still working on dust and stuff not bugging me.

Ouchy brought up doing old lady stuff. Me too! lol. But I have to do it in little increments. I keep saying slow and steady wins the race.

Khadayii, brought up learning who your real friends are. Yes that one has been hard on me. Expecially when half the time I dont want people around, but darn I still have a couple of great friends. Also you never know who youll end up with aftermath.

Also a couple of people brought up asking for help. OMGosh, this is so hard for me. I too am learning this. its a form of humility as well as allowing people to help, helps them. I often feel like Im a burden, but those who do want to help, it makes them feel better, and man it is so appreciated!!

Thanks so much for adding on here, ladies, I feel pulled up more into happiness instead of sadness!! Bless each and everyone of you with an abundance of love!!! I needed to see these things to remind me again, its really all good. There is a reason for everything. And we are all in stages of where we are at.

I have a lot more compassion for those that are sick or handicaped. I am in a wheel chair since Feb of 2009. I am more patient with other sick people. I am more impatient with those who are ignorant to illness.

I sometimes feel like I am invisible since being in a wheel chair, it has driven me to write a book "The Day that I Became Invisible" It is a story of how corprate america discriminates against the handicapped.

Fibro has unexpectedly opened up a deep spiritual and psychological journey for me...Before the fibro I was content to live at ordinary levels of consciousness: I worked, built a family, set goals, etc...but there were other things simmering just below the surface...Fibro hit me when I was 27, I was a new mother and a new wife- everything was "perfect"...When doctors couldn't provide me any relief, I had to search for alternatives. First I was blessed to discover alternative medicine and an amazing practitioner. As a result, I was able to revolutionize my diet (something I told myself I would do when I was older)...This blessing carried me for some years until my flares became persistent each time I was confronted with stress...Then I had to go deeper. I discovered Louise Hay's work (a major blessing) and began intensive psycho therapy through which I unearthed a ton of stuff that was negatively impacting my mind-body connection.

It makes me wonder how many of us are carrying unresolved hurt feelings? After all, it seems fitting that our nerve cells are immediately triggered by our thoughts which become feelings and result in sensations in the body. I never paid much attention to my emotions, and I damn sure wasn't interested in exploring all of the hurt, disappointments, and negative messages that shaped my thinking and the way I viewed reality. But that's exactly what I had to do to feel better!
I really believe that what we suffer is "real", but the evidence is mounting that all disease processes are deeply rooted in the quality of our lives and how well we care for our psycho-emotional selves.
Thanks to fibro, I have learned to choose healing over illness, faith over anxiety and love above despair.
May we all begin a path of complete and total restoration!

wow... so many positive stories here... i'm in awe of them!

Great post, Blue. I agree with those that have learned to be more empathetic, slow down, enjoy life, etc. I believe that we learn from every situation in this life...good or bad. Isn't that the purpose in life afterall, to learn? Yes, many many aspects of my life are negative because of the fibro and I wish myself and all of us a cure. But, I have learned much about myself and others through this illness and I couldn't change that for anything.

Helped others here & in my hometown support group to cope and learn how to live with it cuz this Dragon called fm is wicked!