The site is having difficulties but will keep trying until it gets posted. Sorry, it's a little long.

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Take the mask of pain and fatigue off. Promote Fibromyalgia Syndrome awareness! Time to take a stand and let those ignorant people know what we all go through on a daily basis. I've heard "my doctor doesn't believe in Fibro"....don't take that as an answer! or "my husband doesn't understand what I'm going through"...well TELL him until he listens!

Would someone tell a cancer patient "it's all in your head? Would they say that hair loss from the chemo is probably just another symptom because cancer doesn't exist? NO! Why not? I don't know. I am so sick to death of hearing that this isn't real and now fighting back. I tell everyone and anyone who will listen...including Oprah! This IS real and is a musculoskeletal disorder. There is NO cure (sorry Dr. Oz) only ways of *decreasing* pain through medication, detoxification, alternative therapies and a variety of treatment.

According to the University of Florida, Division of Rheumatology, "1 in 33 adults have Fibromyalgia." That's not including the thousands of teens that suffer from this syndrome.

Let me tell you a bit about me. I'm married, have two children and thankful enough to work 3 jobs. I was diagnosed by my British Columbia doctor who also has FMS when I was about 22. I had it for approximately 3 years before my diagnosis and I'm 41 now. Last year, my family and I moved 3,000kms to Saskatchewan in hopes that the drier climate would be beneficial, including buying a house that is fully wheelchair accessible. I really thought that's where I was going to be in a year's time. So far, my pain has decreased somewhat but I still suffer from FMS. When I wake up in the morning (that's IF I managed to not have insomnia), I walk on my "pain pillows" (otherwise known as feet), to the bathroom where I discover yet another chronic bladder or yeast infection. I walk like the tin man to the kitchen to grab my cup of coffee to try and battle the daily fatigue. I hope I get just enough energy to make something for breakfast as I have to take my anti-inflammatory medication on a full stomach. Chances are that I'll develop an ulcer as 1/5 people do. It's worth the risk as I get a slight decrease in pain for about 30 mins to an hour after I take a pill. It's a good day if I don't have a low grade fever, Irritable Bowel Syndrome or a migraine. I then start my regime of my fortified fruit drink and herbal treatment of magnesium, malic acid, fish oil and celadrin, along with a capsule of Acidophilus/Bifidus, cranberry capsule and vitamin D. I've been on a variety of pain medication in the past with devastating results...and although most made me loopy, disoriented and groggy...they didn't take the pain away!

Now, it's shower time since I have to work. I'm chemical and heat sensitive so I have to use unscented products from laundry soap, to bar soap to dryer sheets. Once in the shower, I get some relief but afterwards, break out in a rash and the towel burns my skin. Some days, the water even hurts. I look in the mirror to see a tired person staring back at me. I cry. Wait, no time now as crying doesn't change a thing.

Next, hubby assists me with a quick foot massage and helps me put on my diabetic socks (only thing that doesn't hurt). I put on my cotton tshirt, comfortable pants and Dr. Scholl's shoes in hopes that I won't get shin splints, Charlie horse's or cramps.

Okay, get it together to get out the door. Always a few mins late (luckily I have a wonderful, caring, and understanding boss who knows I have FMS) as I take that few more mins of rest and time to psych myself up. Once at work I put on my "happy face" mask and suffer through the pain, fatigue and achiness. Hands are shaking, heart is racing from the palpitations, bone spurs in back throbbing. I work at 3 hospitals/care homes and work with seniors. They give me a renewed sense of living seeing as I'm fortunate enough to not be in a wheelchair or have to have someone feed me. The low impact exercises a few times a week doesn't hurt me either. :) Plus, they are so forgiving when I have "brain fog" and can't remember something or drop something because my hand "suddenly stops working". They think I'm playing along with them but I'm really not! LOL

I come home to my earth angel...my hubby. He's the only one that truly understands, although I do have a great support system with kids, parents, friends and bosses. He has supper ready, the kitchen cleaned. He does 95% of the cooking (good meals, no fast food ever) and laundry, works full time, vacuums, cleans floors, helps me shop, does all the yard work and more. He won't allow me to give up or feel guilty even with him having a brain bleed stroke only 4 years ago.

On the days I don't work, I'm busy with puttering around the house, visiting my mom (she has FMS, Arthritis, etc.) and daughter (she's 20 and lives with her fiance, she has JRA), renovating, entering contests, going to doctors and getting lab work done, massage therapists, chiropractor treatments, going for drives and photography. I have a princess of a cat who cuddles with me all the time.

My night ends with helping our son with homework, watching tv, going on the computer and then going to my bedroom "oasis". We purchased a new, pillow top, fleece covered bed, good sheets and pillows. It lessened the intense pressure point pain and no longer need to hang my legs over the bed, massaging them, crying and waiting for the blood to flow. Then it's time to take a Melatonin so I can get some sleep, followed by a 15 minute massage by hubby. I hope to get a cheap massage table next year so hubby can massage me without hurting himself. This was his suggestion.

I kept it all in for 22 years, dealing with FMS off and on and where did that get me...nowhere! I'm one of the toughest people I know and have a high tolerance for pain. I have 2 children (long, intense labours with both), had gall bladder attacks and finally removed, and kidney stones. NOTHING even compares to this. I plead to everyone who doesn't have FMS to take the clothespin test. In order for you to get the true effects of what we go through, they'll have to do the clothespin test as well as take about 4 laxatives, some itching powder, soak a hot cloth on your head while running up and down the stairs with a full body weight suit on.