Polymyositis & Dermatomyositis Support Group

Polymyositis (PM) is a type of chronic inflammation of the muscles (inflammatory myopathy) related to dermatomyositis and inclusion body myositis. The inflammation is predominantly of the endomysium in polymyositis, whereas dermatomyositis is characterized by primarily perimysial inflammation.

317 Members
2,891 Posts
0 Online
Muscles & Bones
/ Polymyositis & Dermatomyositis Support Group

Sympathy levels

amberhere
amberhere
Hi all, I was wondering how your patience/sympathy is these days? I have found that since having DM if one of my friends or family complains of a headache/tired/fed up/got a cold, I do not have as much sympathy as I used to. I could listen for ages to the moans and groans but now I find I am losing patience very easily although I don't show it. Then I feel mean for not being so sympathetic! I want to say "I know it hurts but you ought to have this!" I know we are all in the same boat so to speak and how do you all cope with this?
autumm
autumm
Hi Amberhere. Understand completely how you feel. Sometimes I am screaming inside. Feel the same when people tell me I look soooo well when I am feeling awful. No point in saying 'there is no cure' so I just say 'thank you' politely but I want to scream. Its great on this forum, everyone understands, no explanations needed. Autumm
angelamichelle
angelamichelle
just YES...omg YES! lol
it is SOOO annoying... i never was much of a complainer so it always bothered me but its horrible listening to someone complain they are tired and have a headache...like welcome to the entire last year of my life ...if i complained like you you;d shoot me...lol
Glad its not just me ;)
amberhere
amberhere
It has cheered me up, I had to smile at the comments!! I guess we are probably all the same!! Lets hope the angels keep looking down on us.
lexisgirl
lexisgirl
I'm with you! I don't complain...almost never. But over the years, I've seen my family get older and more sickly and they are getting a taste of what "being sick" means. I try to be sympathetic but my fuse is short. I usually say "I'm so sorry you are feeling bad. Hopefully you will feel better soon." Everyone handles life's health challenges differently. I really do believe people can't even begin to understand how we feel.

In the last 3 months, my aunt got cancer, another aunt got hydrocelphelitis, and my Mom's back has got so bad that the is having a tough time with mobility. All bad things but it is jut a snapshot of what my life might be like.
trpt1
trpt1
Hi Amberhere, I think everyone has made so many good points on this issue.

I am at the point where I realize that I will always look good to others while I feel really bad at times. People can not see the internal aches, pains, nausea, weakness or other events happening in the body. I just tell people the truth about how I currently feel. I sympathize with the aches and pains of others. I take the time to pray for many people like myself who are in the same boat.