It hurts to lose friends who don't understand the fatigue. Yes, it does seem odd that you can make a trip but won't take the time to see someone else. But that scenario would only apply to someone who doesn't have the exhaustion you feel. I have also lost friends who were upset that I wouldn't take the time to see them, yet they were the same.

I hope you are able to reconcile with your friend and they are able to try to understand what you go through every day.

Well, in a nutshell: UGH. "going to France" doesn't mean "wild and crazy happy times 24/7 in France while cavorting along the Seine", for pity's sake... Yeah, that lack of empathy and listening skills aren't needed in your life, is my guess. Big hugs.

Shakota, I am sorry that this has happened. It seems to me that you have done everything that you reasonably can to explain your health issues to this person. For whatever reason, they have chosen not to hear you. That strikes me as being pretty selfish. If this person was truly a friend it would be a two way street. Not a my way or the highway sort of thing.

I have friend of 51 years who lives out of town but has occasion to visit this area. He consistently asks to see me early in the day which I have explained does not work. We've had multiple talks about this. He claims to puzzled as to why we have not seen each other in a few years. He can't hear that his request is unreasonable given my health issues. So, the separation continues. I hate it. But, my choices are limited. Let him disrupt my week with an early morning visit with the "perks" Fibromyalgia can inflict or stay the course. I choose me first. He can make an alteration to his plans easily whereas any change to my schedule may make my life even more challenging.

I hope that you can find your way back from this upset. Having and keeping any friends with this damnable illness is so difficult. Hugs.

Thanks for your replies, Elle, Leo, and Fantod. The friend mentioned above wrote me that she felt she was in a "service" relationship with me. ? I always was available when she ventured up my way to do errands; I accompanied her to her (scary & nasty) storage facility, I did some work for her, quite a few hours, for free that helped her in her career.

But, you know, my first impression of her when I met her five years ago was: she's nuts. From now on, I'm trusting my first impressions and acting on them.

I guess she can't handle being around someone who is "sick" (me). I'll look on this as a favor and stop talking about my fibro symptoms (be an actress) except to you guys.

Shakota I understand as well. I have lost a lot of friends since getting diagnosed. I am at an age where they are all having children and have full expectations that I conform to the schedule of their children and come to them when it is convenient for them. For those that have not had such a finicky condition they don't seem to understand.

Sometimes I feel like the main character in the book/movie "Still Alice" where she feels like she would rather have something like cancer than Alzheimer's because then at least people would champion her cause. When you have a disease no one understands and some believe it is all in your head it is difficult to stand up for what your body needs. Fantod, I admire your ability to do this. I am working on getting there but find it encouraging to hear other fibros who stand up for what their body needs.

So sorry to hear that shakota. I am single also and have lost many friends. This is a hard time for that for sure. Remember, when one door closes, another opens. I lost a dear friend last hospital visit and she was my only emergency contact. But the end of this year, an old very caring friend came around and a new one even invited me for thanksgiving...a healthy caring one. My therapist says I cleaned house and am getting ready for a better support group around me. I was in awe when this happened. It seems that it is hard to know who will show up for us, but the ones that do, are golden. Hugs, xoxo jp

One day fibro will be respected like m.s. I've heard m.s. was like that when people didn't understand it in the beginning. I really wish we had more research.

Wow....friends do not treat each other like that. Acquaintances don't even treat each other like that. It's like for her, the friendship was a service agreement. Which would explain why she called you out on you not holding up your end of the bargain that only she created.

Pretty bold of her if you ask me.

I'm sorry this one feels like a sucker punch. I have a certain threshold of BS that I can tolerate. This one lit up that radar for me. I hope you can just walk away from this one, and not let it bother you. No friend would ever consider treating you like this. Family, yah, maybe, LOL....but not friends.

I just keep thinking....would she treat you this way if you were bound to a wheel chair? Heck, would she still be your friend if that was the case? People like this don't deserve your time. They certainly don't deserve to hold you captive with these feelings. It sounds to me that she burned the bridge and there are no tool/supplies to rebuild it with. Time to move on down the road.

I'm so sorry this happened. I totally understand the isolation feeling. Do something kind for yourself today. And know that there is love and support here from all of us.