Fibromyalgia – It’s Only Arthritis

I remember when I first heard about people having Fibromyalgia and hearing others who say it was “Only Arthritis.” Okay, to be honest, some people even said it was “Only in their head.” Yes, sadly, I do remember those statements.

Since then there has been more information available about the condition, though not enough to findOnly about it. Fibromyalgia is real, and it is a sneaky condition, not classed as a disease, rather a syndrome.

a cure. There is one thing I’ve learned for certain, there is no

 

I say it is sneaky, because there is no way for a person with Fibromyalgia to know from one day to the next just how they will feel. Planning for special events or outings is nearly impossible and too often makes one feel like the stick in the mud when they hesitate to agree to do something with family or friends. How does one RSVP with the express desire to say “Yes,” to something, when the day it is held their body screams, “No?”

Worse still is the fact that many people not only suffer from Fibromyalgia, but it often has a companion illness that is equally miserable called, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, CFS. It’s like getting hit with a double whammy.

When I first heard about Fibromyalgia I remember one woman who struggled with the pain and eventually ended up using a scooter to get around. As it progressed still more she started to withdrawal from activities. There was another woman within our social group who also had Fibromyalgia and she insisted attitude had a lot to do with how the condition progressed, and she was determined not to let it get the best of her. Unfortunately, within a few years she, too, started to withdraw from the group.

Today I have three special people in my life who suffer from Fibromyalgia some with CFS.  I spoke

with them recently to learn more about how the condition has impacted their lives, but also how far treatment may have come since the time the two women mentioned in the previous paragraph first started with their symptoms.

For their privacy, I am only using their initials. KW has probably had Fibromyalgia the longest, having been diagnosed in 2005, though it is not unusual for a person to struggle with the symptoms for many years before actually being diagnosed. Still having it the longest, it seems from our interview, she has run the gamut of doctors looking for anything that would help.

“I’ve been to a Neurologist and a doctor for chronic pain,” KW explained. “I was instantly put on anti-depressants.”

                As far as other meds, KW has found that often the side effects of the drugs are worse than the Fibromyalgia.

                “I’ve also seen a Rheumatologist and a Gastroenologist,” KW continued. “I just wanted to know it wasn’t all in my mind, that I wasn’t going crazy.”

                MG was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in 2008 and she agrees with KW about the side

effects of the medications used for the treatment of the condition. “There’s weight gain, dizziness and more fatigue,” she explained. “They didn’t work.”

                The third person I interviewed has had the least time to become adjusted to the life-changes forced on her. GO was only diagnosed this year though she suffered longer before finally getting the official diagnosis. The adjustments to her have also been monumental.

                “I can’t do the things I once did,” GO confessed. “I can’t work in the flower garden because my knees hurt. I can’t wash windows because my arms hurt. I can’t go for long walks anymore. I have to go shorter distances more often when I can.”

                GO has also learned that when she does too much one day, she will pay for it the next.  She has known disappointment when planning a special family events, only to awaken the day of the events to find she can’t join in. She’s missed out on special time with her grandchildren, and that has hurt her the most.

                One of the things all three of these women have learned is that they must use their time wisely.  “I have to prioritize things. Do what I can, and accept what I can’t get done,” says MG.

                “I’ve learned to rest when I needs too,” said KW. “My family knows and understands how important that can be.”

                There are a lot of fads and hype out there about Fibromyalgia. MG warns people not to believe in the promises of quick cures.  “There isn’t a pill, diet, cure or ‘quick fix’. You have to find what works for you.”

               

                For more information and honest answers it is recommended going to the National Fibromyalgia website at: www.fmaware.org.