Could you have it?

You've probably been hearing more and more about Fibromyalgia.  You know someone who has it, its been in the news more, there are so many new studies coming out about Fibromyalgia.  So yes, you know the word, but what exactly is it?  Have some of the symptoms sounded familiar?  I've had so many personal messages from people asking me what it is.  "I keep having symptoms and someone mentioned I may have Fibromyalgia, but it's not what it sounds like."  Well, Fibromyalgia is going to sound different depending on who you talk to.  I have Fibromyalgia, boy do I have Fibromyalgia, and when I read the symptoms on Google, I'm like, "dude, that sounds awful, I can't believe that's what I go through."  I'll be dead honest with you, the women I've known with Fibromyalgia are the strongest women I've ever met.  People have this strange misconception that we have a lower pain tolerance than the average person.  Oh ho ho, how wrong they are.  The pain we deal with would have you bawlin' like a baby.  I've given birth four times.  All four times I wondered if I was really in labor or not.  I kept telling my husband, "this just doesn't hurt like it's 'supposed' to."  My doctors were floored that labor only felt like being on my period.  Eh, no biggie.  Periods from Lucifer himself, childbirth, what's the big deal?  Fibromyalgia pain?  Yeah, buddy, give me that epidural!  I had my muscles, ligaments, and tendons all ripped from my shoulder.  "Honey, I've just been hurting a little extra lately.  What could have happened?"  Go to a doctor, find out my shoulder's been ripped and maimed.  Ahhh, that makes sense.  "What, you didn't feel the extra pain?"  "Through Fibromyalgia, no.  That's what it feels like every day."  I went three months with a mutilated shoulder, had NO idea.  Our pain tolerance is extremely high, it's the dealing with it all the time, every day for years that wears on ya.

Growing up, we had a family friend who had Fibromyalgia.  It was described to me as a "very painful disease."  That was all I ever knew about Fibromyalgia.  When you have a high pain tolerance, which is most people with Fibromyalgia, it can be very easy to say, "well, I'm not in THAT much pain."  What is that much pain?  Who are you comparing it to?  What are you comparing it to?  When I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, I didn't believe it was Fibro.  "No, that's a very painful disease."  When was the last time you actually listened to your body?  I SO have Fibromyalgia, didn't know it until I listened to myself.  I know this may sound really strange, but I'm explaining living with Fibro, according to me.  My pain tolerance is so high, I totally convinced myself it couldn't be Fibromyalgia.

The face of Fibromyalgia can be very deceiving, too.

Look at this woman.  This is what the face of Fibromyalgia looks like.  Sexy woman cringing and grabbing something in pain.  Although it's true we're all bodaciously sexy, we very rarely look like this.

I like this one, too.  "Has Fibromyalgia been keeping you from gardening?"

Fibromyalgia has many, many faces, many symptoms.  It's not black and white.  It took me a year and a half AFTER being diagnosed that I accepted I do have Fibromyalgia.  "I'm not in THAT much pain."  Yeah, right.  I was.  I thought that was just me, that's just how I felt.  

Fibromyalgia ISN'T just for women in their 40's or later.  I was told by a highly medically trained family member that "Fibromyalgia doesn't occur in children."  I was a young teenager when I first felt Fibromyalgia creep into my life.  Fibromyalgia isn't just for women, either.  Grade school children and men get Fibromyalgia.  It's not "an old lady's disease."  Since when has a disease as malicious as Fibromyalgia cared about your race, sex, gender or age?  The face of Fibromyaglia is me.  Me, you, your mom, your son, your aunt.  We are the faces of Fibromyalgia.  Could you be a face, too?  Don't sell your self short like I did.  If you're thinking you may have Fibromyalgia, you probably have a high pain tolerance, too.  Sometimes the pain is sharp and stabbing.  For me, most days it's dull and achy.  Remove any idea, image, or opinion you've had of Fibromyalgia.  Know that not everyone with Fibromyalgia has all the symptoms often associated with it, too.  Most people will, that's why it's easier to diagnose.  I have EVERY symptom of Fibromyalgia and I still didn't think I had it.  Do your research, talk to family members, talk to your doctor, and most importantly, be honest and kind to yourself.  If you're really feeling something, feel it, don't second guess yourself or any pain and discomfort you may be feeling.  

Do you have any of these symptoms?

*Chronic muscle pain, muscle spasms or tightness.

*Moderate or severe fatigue and decreased energy.

*Insomnia or waking up as tired as you as when you went to sleep.

*Stiffness upon waking or after staying in one position too long.

*Difficulty remembering, concentrating, and performing simple mental tasks. ("Fibro Fog.")

*Abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, and constipation alternating with diarrhea.  (IBS, Irritable Bowel Syndrome.)

*Tension or migraine headaches. 

*Jaw and facial tenderness.

*Sensitivity to one or more of the following: odors, noise, bright lights, medications, certain foods, and cold.

*Feeling anxious or depressed.

*Numbness or tingling in the face, arms, hands, legs, or feet.

*Increase in urinary urgency or frequency.  (Irritable bladder.)

*Reduced tolerance for exercise and muscle pain after exercise.  

*A feeling of swelling (without actual swelling) in the hands and feet.  

*This list of symptoms was copied from WebMD.

This is why Fibromyalgia can be so confusing.  People think it's strictly a pain disease.  As you can see, it's most definitely more than that.  There are some days that other symptoms are so strong, the pain doesn't even seem that bad.  It can be very confusing if you're wondering if this is you.  Do your research.  Talk to people.  Be honest with yourself.  Fibromyalgia is hard to understand, hard to accept, hard to live with.  Avoiding it, like I did, doesn't change the symptoms.  It's scary, it's frustrating and it's very lonely.  Fibromyaglia will open you to a wonderful world, though.  As much as I hate this imbecilic disease, it's also changed me in ways I never could have changed on my own.  It welcomes you with open, loving arms into a group of people like you've never met before.  Fibromites join stronger and love harder than any other group of people I've ever met.  It does suck, it's not fair, but I promise you you're not alone.  You'll always have a friend, someone who understands.  Besides, where else can a 12 year old and a 60 year old laugh together about feeling 90?