HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Acceptance of the diagnosis

Support Forums
>
Fibromyalgia
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 7/11/2011 3:08 PM (GMT 0)
At some point we do come to terms with our diagnosis and accept it.

Acceptance usually follows a grieving period of the loss of our good health. We experiance all the emotions anger, grief, sadness confusion and more.

What helped you find acceptance? Faith, hope and humor played a big  part in helping me. Taking control...wiyh the help of positive thinking, doing what I could each day to help myself...family and friends support helped too.

Courage plays a big part in it too. I believe it is also brave to cry when needed. We all know that it is almost necessary to try to keep a positive mindset to live with chronic pain.

For those who haven't found acceptance yet, know it will come...only when you are ready. We grieve at our own pace...if you find you can't get beyond the grief, let your doc know.

Wishing all of us wonderful days ahead yeah

Hugs, Robin

Posted 7/11/2011 4:06 PM (GMT 0)
Great post, Robin!  For me, I've had health problems all of my life so fibro was just another ailment to deal with.  I think my faith, positive attitude, and facing things head on have helped me the most with my life.  I don't do the "what ifs" or "I remember when" things.  That just makes me sad so instead, I look forward to each new day with anticipation and I've had plenty of wonderful times in my life in spite of this illness. 

 

You are right in saying everyone grieves differently and in a different time frame.  But, we do come full circle, accept what life has handed us, and move forward again.  That feels really good! 

 

Sherrine

Posted 7/11/2011 4:54 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, faith helps a great deal. Knowing that your family needs you, even with fibro gets me out of bed every time. I read something the other day and I think it fits all of us here

"You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have". It takes so much courage that we should all be proud of ourselves.

Maggie
Posted 7/11/2011 8:17 PM (GMT 0)
I have been sick for several years with other illnesses, so when I was diagnosed with fibro, it felt like just one more battle to fight. My faith and the support from my family get me through each day.

I became a much happier person when I accepted this body and my limitations. It's hard to never look back at what I used to be, but I try not to dwell on it. Also, I stopped asking why and searching for the cause. Now I research treatments for my many symptoms. It makes such a difference when you finally accept things as they are.
Posted 7/12/2011 5:09 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your input! Fibro does teach us courage, being strong and hopeful. Faith helps us get through the day. Being optomistic in spite of pain makes happiness a possibility. Good things can happen when you believe it is possible. Don't waste time worrying about the stuff you can't control... have fun :)

Hugs, Robin
Posted 7/12/2011 10:42 AM (GMT 0)
I don't know if I ever came to terms with acceptance. I realize there is nothing I can do about this, that I am always going to have a disease that could keep me really sick. I don't accept that as being due to having fibromyalgia. For me, that is an illness I have, my doctors can't explain. It's the unknown. A name for something that can't be understood. I don't know how anyone can come to terms with that. The thing that got me through the grief was getting to the point of feeling better, by taking plaquenil and neurontin, and knowing I can continue to improve with my health. Being able to stay out of bed, being able to live my life to some degree again, that has helped.

P.S. this is a good post!

Posted 7/12/2011 3:10 PM (GMT 0)
cutiepie, for me acceptance means doing what I can do to help myself feel better...as opposed to doing nothing. In the beginning I was so angry and sad about my situation I did nothing but feel sorry for myself. Acceptance to me was the catalyst that made me proactive. I do agree that when you find something that makes you feel better it helps with the grief. We do learn to live a "new normal" life and that to me is acceptance...learning and doing.

Having diagnoses that there isn't a cure for yet is difficult but it is possible to learn to live and be happy...being open to it is the first step. :)

Hugs, Robin
Posted 7/12/2011 4:21 PM (GMT 0)
I know that the lower I sink, the worse I'm going to feel.  I know that nobody else (except you guys) can understand what I'm going through.  And nobody can live it for me - so I have two choices: be miserable 24/7 or deal with it to the best of my ability...kind of like encouraging a bubble to stay up by blowing gently on it, rather than letting it fall to the ground and pop.

I remember being in labor, and wondering how in the world women cried and screamed while doing this.  It took all my wherewithal just to get through it!  I had to do the breathing, focus on one spot and just ride each contraction out.  Losing control would have made the pain worse - I know that's just me, but I felt it very strongly.

Debbie

Posted 7/12/2011 4:56 PM (GMT 0)
Debbie, your analogy about encouraging a bubble to stay up by gently blowing on it was beautiful!!! I will keep that visual when things get tough...thanks, my friend :-)

Hugs, Robin

Posted 7/12/2011 9:02 PM (GMT 0)
Aw, Robin, glad you like it!  Thank YOU.

Debbie

Posted 7/13/2011 2:35 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the beautiful post Robin,

I feel like I am having a hard time coming to terms with my illness, but its possible I'm still in the grieving phase. I think that once I get more support from doctors and find an effective treatment plan, it'll be easier to move forward.

Therapy has helped me a lot. Mind-body awareness techniques have been useful, too.
Posted 7/15/2011 6:14 PM (GMT 0)
I was glad to finally find out what was wrong with me. I was releived, and sad. I am still in the acceptance stage. Doesn't seem real to me.
I still can't grasp that Fibro. is so widespread.
I will be glad to get to the point you are.
Thanks,
Marilyn
Posted 7/15/2011 7:34 PM (GMT 0)

You will get there Marilyn yeah

Hugs, Robin

Posted 7/18/2011 2:35 AM (GMT 0)
Great thread Robin!

I am just now embracing this new normal..I can say that just a few months ago I was so very angry..I agree with just about every post..Just one more reason that I'm so very thankful to God for leading me to this forum..Ya'll have lifted me, taught me and made me laugh so many times!

One thing I have decided is I don't care what people think or say about me. I've heard throught grapevine things like, she's not sick, nothing is wrong with her..we all get tired....and much much more that I'm sure you've all heard too.

I'm going to let go and let God! So my number one help mate is my faith!!!!

Jerrie/Fibronana
Posted 7/18/2011 3:59 AM (GMT 0)
I wonder if I have accepted my diagnosis, I was diagnosed 6 years ago, but every time I have a flare up I question, is it really fibro? Why do I feel so crappy if it's fibro...

I think it's because I am such an anxious person, it's my past I think that makes me so unwilling to accept my diagnosis... I always fear it's something else, not fibro...

But maybe one day I will find it in myself to accept that it is fibro... I pray to god all the time to help me with this...
Posted 7/19/2011 12:31 AM (GMT 0)
I have accepted Fibromyalagia with open arms. The reason is that at least I know that I actually have something real and not being sent to a Psychiatrist because people think I am faking or crazy. Plus, having other health issues makes it more easier for me. My family has also accepted because they, especially my poor mom, had been to countless number of specialists and doctors. Now I can finally be at peace.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply