Does any one fear?

Hi Sue,

I vasilate constantly on that very point.  We are TOLD not to worry it is not progressive blah blah blah!  But this condition of chronic pain and the anxiety accompanied with it has to be progressive.  Anytime we are continually bombarded with stress, which fibro really does, it is negatively affecting our bodies and minds.

At times I have to calm myself down when things get really bad b/c I think will it ease up???  It always does but that creeping fear can set in.  I had felt it is b/c I am so new in dealing with it and I can guarantee you I do everything I can to control my fear.  I persoanally worry about aging, we are close in age, and maintaining my independence.  This is a fear I never remotely thought of before Fibro. 

WE help one another so much with the need to express these real concerns.  Even though we are "unknown" we share a great deal with one another.

I am flying back to FLA today from New Hampshire.  It has been a great break BUT I have noticed much more aching with the colder temps.  Hope it is in my imagination but don't think so.

Hugs,  Patsie 

Sue, I think that we all fear the unknown, and this is really the unknown. I honestly don't think that fibro is progressive, I hope not anyway. I have been doing good ever since I started the malic/magnesium combo. It has really helped with the pain and fatigue.

I hope that you start feeling better soon.

Patsie, I hope that you feel better when you get back to warm temps.

Wishing you both a good day

Karen

Sue, I don't dwell on anything anymore. If I did I would probably go to bed and never get up, I take one day at a time at this point in life. I'm a year younger than you and the arthritis is becoming more of a problem for me and sometimes I'm not sure what is hurting the fibro or arthritis, fibro makes the pain of arthritis worse. In the past two years I have become much worse with pain and fatigue but then I have had a lot of stress in my life. You have had a lot of stress in your life and I know the past few months have been hard for you. You have gone through something that no one should have to go through in their life with your brother and it's going to take a lot of time to get over it.

 

I try very hard to stay optimistic when it comes to fibro. We know there is research going on to get to the bottom of what causes fibro and new meds in the future. As long as I don't have anything that is a death sentence there is hope. Yes, it does get to me when I want to do something that use to be so easy for me to do and now will wear me out and cause pain but it could be worse. I'm about to become a great grandma and I will be able to hold this baby, hear this baby and see this baby and to me that is a great gift. Now will I be doing 2 am feedings, NO WAY.

 

luv and hugs

Marlee

Sue, the members have given you a lot to think about.  For me fibro isn't really progressive.  I have had it for 22 years and I will have times I swear it is progressive and then I will have a good period and that shows it isn't progressive to me.  I still have pain in my good periods but not the intensity I have during the flares.  I have found that flares will last longer than they used to but I'm also nearly 62 and will have more aches and pains that probably feed into the fibro.

 

I feel confident that I will always have some pain...at least that has been my experience with fibro...so I really don't think about it now.  It's a "given" to me.  I have accepted it and now have moved on.  That's great for me because I don't get anxiety over that anymore.  If anything, I'm more concerned about my osteoporosis than my fibro!

 

Dwelling on what might happen in the future will just feed your anxiety.  We don't know what the future will hold so there really isn't any sense in worrying about it.  Who knows?  They might come up with answers, meds, and cures in the very near future.  They are working on it.  It just takes one really good idea!  So my suggestion is to stop worrying over something you really don't have total control over.  Enjoy each new day and give yourself many pats on the back for the things you do accomplish.  You will be far happier and that will kick the anxiety to the curb!  Hope you feel better soon!

 

Sherrine

Hi Sue and everyone,

 

I think about this very thing every day. I've also been told it's not progressive, but over the past 8 years, I've gone from having Fibro in a minimal way, to these past 2 years with it being a monster that has taken over my life.  I think the permanent damage that Fibro can do to us is emotional and psychological damage.  Anxiety is dangerous for anyone. The pain won't damage anything skeletal in nature, but it sure does damage the psyche. I don't have a lot of self confidence anymore, and I'm sad a lot of the time. If I didn't have my faith, I don't know where I'd be.

 

It doesn't help that I have Lupus to deal with as well. Most days it's too much to deal with. I'm only 35, but my Fibro, Lupus, and arthritis makes me feel so much older than I really am. 

 

All that said, I still get up every morning and try to have my day. I do my best to keep my little photography business going. Keep the bills paid.  All we can do is our best.

Blessings,

Ginny 

I'm terrified. I'm 19, worrying if I can even finish my degree. I don't know how I'll be able to get a real job in the future because of the pain. It's truely terrifying. I just take it one day at a time.

Sue,

I am 36 and definitely have days when I fear for my future with this dd. How will I ever get through the next (God willing!) 40 or 50 years with this pain?? The mere thought drains every ounce of energy out of me and makes me want to go straight to bed for a week! This whole issue really had a grip on me for a couple of weeks last year. I started to imagine my future, which caused me great levels of anxiety (which of course made my fibro worse!) So now...I try not to think about it too much! When the thought does cross my mind, I remind myself that I have good days and not so good days now, so it seems reasonable to think that as I age, I will continue to have both. I also remind myself that I will be truly blessed to make it to my 70's and 80's, fibro or no fibro! Realizing both of those things helps me feel a little better about the future.

As far as fibro being progressive or not, I know that "they" say that it isn't. I think, though, that while the fibro itself isn't progressive, the stress and fatigue that it causes in us IS progressive! The more we live with pain, the more worn out we feel, which stresses us out, which causes more pain, and on and on and on. I definitely have a harder time now than I did 8 years ago when I first started having symptoms, but 8 years ago I started having symptoms after living 28 years relatively pain free. I had "fresh brain" so to speak. Now, I have a brain that is tired from the past 8 years. So even if my pain isn't worse, it feels like it is!! Does that make sense?? Chronic pain wears a person down terribly and if we're worn down mentally and emotionally, it's harder to move past physical pain. Those are my thoughts on the matter, anyway!

I hope you're feeling a bit better today. {{{{{gentle hugs}}}}}

Awww, Momof2 {{{{{{long gentle hug}}}}}}

I am so sorry-it is hard when you first get diganosed and are trying to figure out work and kids and life and everything. Please know that you can come here anytime and ask for support and advice, and maybe have some laughs, too!