Fibro friendly place to live in

I'm originally from Japan and currently live in Japan again after having lived in the Southern and Midwestern U.S., Northeast of England, Southern Germany. Honestly, I don't know where I was the most comfortable living health-wise, but Japan is definitely making me feel worse.

I just read this interesting thread, "Best place to live with Fibro," but I wanted to expand the topic since it was mostly about climates.

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=24&m=1185290


The reason why I consider Japan as a bad place to live with fibro is because of these factors below:

Excessively high humidity
It's so humid here, especially during the rainy season from early June to mid-August. We use a dehumidifier regularly to get rid of humidity, but it's not enough. It really affects my pain level.

Lack of visibility of fibro
Some TV shows have recently started mentioning fibro, but the majority of people in Japan have never heard of fibro and they have no idea what fibro patients go through. Because it's such an invisible disability, people would judge you if you are sitting on a priority seat on the train.

Lack of doctors who can diagnose with fibro and expensive Lyrica
It took me twenty years to finally get diagnosed with fibro in Japan because there are very few doctors who have knowledge about fibro here. We do have a good health-insurance system that allows healthcare cost affordable, but a generic version of Lyrica won't be available at least in the next five years and it's still pretty expensive.

No government aid
Fibro is not specified as an incurable disease by government so we don't get any special financial support.

Stressful society
If fibromyalgia is really triggered by a stressful event, Japan's stressful society is pretty bad for fibro patients to cope with it. We have hierarchically-organized social relationships, discrimination against women, lots of social expectations, etc. I am always stressed out and can never relax here. I know the more I'm stressed out, the more my body hurts.


If there is a country or any particular area of a country that is fibro friendly in all aspects, I would love to relocate from Japan. Any thoughts?

Welcome again.

People are very different in what they prefer as a living environment. So, your list is quite valuable for you.

I would argue that visibility of fibro in the US is pretty nil, or even visible in a bad way. I also believe that modern life, especially in urban areas, is stressful, regardless of country.

The fibro drugs can really help some people, true, but not all. about 1/3 to half either have significant side effects OR the drugs do not help their pain at all. I do not take lyrica or cymbalta. Lyrica didn't do anything for me, and cymbalta caused serious emotional reactions, as well as doing nothing to help.

Many people have issues with weather, but these vary. Incoming fronts bother my arthritis, but I prefer cold weather to hot, personally.

My point, and I do have one, is that learn what works/doesn't work for you,and do your research.

Thanks for welcoming me and replying to my post.

Firefly18: I'm curious to know what you want to share with me!

Myself 09: I agree with you that modern life is stressful. I'd rather live in a quiet, rural area as long as I have a job opportunity. Maybe it's time to start an online business... that's ideal.

couchtater: I've lived in Alabama and visited Georgia a few times. Life was good in Southern U.S. I would like to know more about fibromyalgia being recognized in the social security disability requirements. That is a great thing, isn't it?

When we have visited dry desert climates, my fibro was noticably less painful. However i have never wanted to live in those areas away from friends and family...


: ) now if my kids said they were moving to the desert..lol .. I would go..my youngest wants to move to s carolina..i am somewhat afraid of a hot humid climate...