I have come to the place I am not sure I should even mention I have Fibro/CFS anymore to the people I come in contact with, they seem not to be understanding. Maybe it is worse being a man since men are suppose to keep there mouths shut anyway I guess. Seems everyone thinks I am lazy including my doctor and father. I hate to even say anything anymore to anyone. Well such is my two cents worth.

I would only explain it to people who genuinley want to know. Lot's of people just aren't going to understand no matter how much they want to it's hard that's why it's important we stick together. Hope it all works out. God Bless. Love Cris

My personal opinion is that it depends on the person who asked the question. If they seem truly interested then educate them. Too many people have walked through life with blinders on. And now many are beginning to ask questions...to educate themselves. We should educate those we can.

ASK THEM,THEN YOU SHOULD KNOW HOW INTERSTED THEY ARE,NOT JUST CASUAL CONVERSATION. I THINK THE OUTSIE WORLD NEEDS TO KNOW ME IN ORDER TO SERVICE MY NEEDS, NOT MY DISEASE, JUST THAT I CAN'T WALK W/O AN ELECTRIC SHOPPING CART AND SIMPLE THINGS LIKE THAT...I'M NOT ASHAMED OF WHAT I'M GOING THRU-DON'T LIKE IT BUT NOT ASHAMED AT ALL... HOPE THIS HELPS...LOVE...HELEN

I try to educate anyone who seems interested. I try to keep info in my purse to give to anyone who is really interested. I have Adhesion Related Disorder also and try to educate on that also. I think it is easier for me to tell those I come in contact with that know me because I have had serious health issues for the past year. I live in a small town and everyone has heard of the complications I have had over the past year. I tell people that I have Fibro and what it is and how I think I developed it. I try to keep it short and if they want to know more they will ask. If not I move on.

Thank you for all your insights. I just started a new part time job and I was real close to saying something but thank god I didn't. I am a little tired of the attention in the publics eye. But the lady I talked to asked me isn't it painful was a really good friend from church that I don't hang with all the time but we are prayer warriors. So I appreciated her concern. Like some of you said you have to be careful where when and to whom. God bless you all.

I am with you. I don't what to say anymore myself. If i am at home i don't have to say anything to anybody. When i go to work and i feel good i am happy and energetic (I am a dealer in a casino) And they look at me and sort of shrug like there is nothing wrong with her. And when I am in pain and people ask are you okay. Now I just look at them and shrug. I am so tired of people asking if they don't want to know. And I am so tired of even trying to explain. There are a few people at work that understand and are genuine about asking. But I am thinking its written all over my face. Ethier i am happy and i am feeling okay or i look like death so i must feel like death why ask anyways. sorry to sound so sinical but i am just feed up with Fibro.

I change what I say according to the person. If the person truly seems interested, then I go into detail about what it's like on a daily basis. If they seem like they are just trying to be nice, I skim by it quickly because they are the people who are more likely to say that I'm just trying to get attention

I don't bother to explain anymore unless some one is seriously interested and they are rare I find.So glad I found DS finally a place where people understand.marilyn hugs everyone

Rebeccad
I have to say it really is obvious when you are standing or sitting. All of a sudden you have to change positions and you look like the tin man who need some oil in his stiffness. And then other times, like with meds I can fly up stairs and feel it later. Thanks for sharing. I am just taking it like it is and working around it but I will just share on a need to know basis.

I do not share with anyone except my husband,children and two close friends that I have fibro. I do not want to be labeled. I do not want to act in the world like I am disabled. I want to be strong and be seen as strong. People would be stunned if they knew I was sick as I act as if I feel well almost all of the time. Those few days when I am in bed, no one except for my husband knows why.

After my SIL declared I was 'not sick because FMS is a fake diagnosis' I opted to stop talking to anyone about it.
If asked why I limp a lot, I say I'm in pain and leave it at that, but sometimes I admit my pain has a name. My problem is that I haven't found a 'short answer' to explain it. And people truly don't want to hear me explain the past 30 years to them in glorious technicolor detail.

When people ask me I tell them I have fibromyalgia, If they ask what it is I educate them the best I can in the time i have then write down www.fibrohope.org for them and tell them it has good info on it. The ones that dont ask I dont tell. Hope I helped.

IF someone asks I tell them but as a good way to explain I ask them if they know what arthritis is and they always respond of course and I just say I basically have arthritis of the muscles. Short and sweet and they seem to get it quicker.
Tam

If someone really wants to know I tell them in a few short sentences. I don't want them bored by my problems, and face it - how many of them really want to know??? The ones who are genuinely concerned then continue the conversation, but that is rare.

I have code now for how I feel-
"Great" - I am actually feeling pretty good.
"Good, thanks" - the usual
"Okay" or "not bad" - pain is getting worse and I am starting to struggle.
If I don't answer then I am really bad.

This works because the people who really know me seem to understand my code, and the people who don't know me don't pick up on it. Bizarre, but it seems to work for me - I don't like telling people outright if I am in lots of pain.