I am with you. I sometimes feel it is easier to stay in bed than force myself to get up. I work 3 partime jobsbut only work a total of about 30 hours a week. Its enough and I even have a hard time with that when I am having a flare.

Of course we feel that way! But we shouldn't! There are many levels of pain - maybe that person doesn't have a fraction of what you go through. Maybe she has a job that is much easier, or better suited to her condition. And how many hours does she work at these 3 jobs? She can't be working 24 hrs. a day! It may be she works from home, or only works a few hours a week at each job. Maybe she works for families members, who make great allowances for her. Or maybe her dear mother can't admit how ill her daughter is, or the daughter hides the truth from her mother. We could speculate forever, but the fact is, the only one who really knows what you are capable of at a given moment is YOU! Are you a drama queen if you don't push yourself to the point you collapse into a flare?? Dearheart, you do not owe explanations, excuses, or apologies for what you do or leave undone. Do the best you can. Let others do the same. And if they're able to do more, God bless 'em. Ladybughugs 2 U

Well if you are a drama Queen so are the rest of us.You just do what you can and rest when you need to and don't listen to people like that.They are so negative! hug marilyn

Bravo! Bravo! Bravo ladbug! You took the words right out of my mouth!

Take care,
Stay sane!

I posted a thread very similar to this one a while back. I start wondering the same thing. Am I just being a big sissy? A whiny crybaby? But then I take into account the complete exaustion that most days then I know Im not being dramatic. When Im on the verge of tears because I cant do even the simplest things without paying for it in pain then I know that it's for real. I hate every moment of this 'syndrome' Some days are better than others. Today wasnt too bad. Who knows what tomorrow brings right? I think that just like an addict, we have to take it one day at a time. I feel like my life has shrunk down to the day Im in. I dont really make plans for the future, I just try as hard as I can to make today as good as I can. I dont always suceed though. Then I need to come here and write a thread like this one. And you know what? I know that its not just me and Im not a big crybaby, Im not a whiner, Im not a drama queen and neither are you.
Much love and Gentle Hugs to you my dear.

no.as somebody with severe back problems as well as fibro,i dont feel like im a drama queen.my cousin has it also and works a full time job with precious little time off.i used to think maybe i was allowing myself to give in,how ever having met her (im in the uk,she`s in canada)

Everyone one of us is at a different level of Fibro and has different pain levels also. Never compare yourself with others. You know your own body. I was able to do more 6 months ago than I am now and yes it upsets me but I won't tell anyone about it. I am fighting it. Why, many reasons, I am stubborn, have young grandkids, a sick husband, I can't give into it, I refuse to lay in bed, I can go on and on but why? Life sucks but it's better than not being here!!!

NO!! You just voiced what I have been thinking for the past few days. I have worked for 10 years... the past 5 years of that job were basically a desk job... the last 3 years have progressively gotten worse until I had NO choice but to resign in August. I used to be able to "push thru". I used to get on the chat sites several years ago and thought WOW I cant believe I have a disease that has made so many people disabled. I remember telling my husband " one dy I could actually end up in bed". I didnt really do alot of chatting because I almost felt like I had something totally different then they did. One lady said, you have 4 kids, a husband AND work full time - you are my hero. NOW, I am those other people, and I understand. But I do understand both sides. I know how it feels to be told I have fibro and the biggest pain I had was achy legs, and every so often a low grade temp that kinda drug me down. I was very able to PUSh thru. Shoot I didnt even really have too many insomnia issues. So obviously there are many stages or something to this dreaded disease. Those that scoff at us more disabled -constant moderate to very severe pain really need to be careful how critical they are, because one day unfortunately I imagine they may find out what it is like to no longer be able to push thru the pain, or I read so often, "well, I dont like what those meds do to my body so I choose to just tolerate the pain". They obviously have not reached the pain level so many of us deal with on a daily basis. There is NO tolerating it. This flare right now has caused me to cry until I am hoarse, it has caused me to feel as if I cant go on, it has cause me to complain and cry again and NONE of these behaviors are typical of me.I feel useless right now that I couldnt even keep a desk job, and now I cannot even get out of bed most days to take care of my household business and the household chores - which is what is my job now that I quit work. I am experiencing a level of fibro I didnt think I would ever have to face. and WOW this is enough of me on the soap box. I hope you stuck in there long enough to get to the end of this because I really need someone else to tell me this too is normal and this too will pass that I am not just going to be stuck in this much misery. It is not that I cannot work when I am having a flare, now I am so ill most days that I just cannot work period. I am a nurse.. that is a part of me just like being a mommy. Now I cannot be a nurse anymore.

i hate to say it but eventually she is going to realize u cant push through the pain u have to only do what your body will let u and she will be worse off in the end..
i have many days when i cant get out of bed or if i do i dont get anything dont because my body says no.. i had a cake job working 4hrs a day and all i did was counter work waiting on customers giving prices and i could sit when i needed ... i had to give that up .. my body said no u cant do anymore...
so no u are not overreacting and not a drama queen ..u r doin what is best for u and what your body is telling u.. there is nothing wrong with that..**hugs**

I hear you all. I used to push through the pain but I never had the pain and exhaustion like I do now. there are different stages of FM, she is lucky that she can do it, but don't beat up on yourself because you are different to her :)

I guess I'm the opposite. I have 2 casual jobs and 1 part time job and push through the pain. I have had someone with FM tell me I must have a mild case because I'm not on disability or in a wheelchair. I was P.O.ed to say the least!!! This women did NOT know me, what I go through or lives in my body. It's terrific if someone can work but it's not the end of the world or anything to be ashamed of if you can't. I personally need to get out of the house every day to take my mind off the pain. I don't feel like this will hurt me in the long run. I do a lot of walking on my job, and wheeling people in their wheelchairs.

I'm lucky in that I have a hubby who pretty much does everything at home when I'm working. I putter and clean on my days off, in between naps, computer time, visiting my mom and daughter, scrapbooking and watching soaps. :)