Trying to Believe

I understand where you are coming from, and I agree with Joy that it's hard to believe in something when so many don't. But then I tell myself that SOMETHING is wrong with me. "Normal" people don't hurt when someone touches them, they don't tire as easily, they don't have so much pain in the absence of any injury or easier to identify disease (like arthritis). So I guess whether or not we call it fibromyalgia (which unfortunately still carries a stigma to some), we have something.

I think it will be easier to accept when it becomes as accepted as other invisible illnesses. I feel certain that someday soon, the cause will be identified or at least a definitive test will be developed. But until then, I know that other similar illnesses have been ruled out, and I fit the current criteria for fibromyalgia, as established by the American College of Rheumatology. I've also been diagnosed by three different rheumatologists. So, until proven otherwise, I'm going to go with the fact that I have fibro and carry on with my life as such.

I honestly don't believe that the most highly regarded entities in American medicine, such as the American College of Rheumatology, the National Institutes of Health, the Mayo Clinic, etc. would name and discuss diagnosis and treatment of a disease that didn't exist. Some of the greatest minds in medicine have established fibromyalgia as a real illness with a diagnostic criteria, and I'm going to try to accept it.

I really like this summary discussing diagnosis from the Mayo Clinic:

www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/fibromyalgia/in-depth/fibromyalgia-symptoms/ART-20045401?p=1

I say it feels like having the flu everyday. And once I recover from the flu for a day or two, it comes right back if I exert myself, or don't rest a lot.

Its frustrating. I have friends that tell me all their medical issues.. But because they do not understand mine..say nothing.. I am sure a friend was told she had fibro and then was told its not actually a disease...

So ok you may not believe in it...but still be a human being, have some compassion.

Usually when i am socializing i don't mention it much..people would notice i am slower and stiffer . But since there s zero support.. Why mention it...

We do not have a support group close enough to make sense for me..my mother had it. And one of my daughters... I mentioned it was a genetic factor for me and she kinda smirked at her husband...i am sure they think they know best..whatever..they think .. I still have to deal with it each day in different degrees.

This helped a lot, i feel around ppl that i cannot explain it therefore it doesn't merit mentioning. I am the problem because my mother was diagnosed in the 90's but my father hammered into her head and ours that Fibro does NOT exist and it is something doctors use when they don't know what is wrong or don't know. He still does not believe it, he says you just have a pain condition that affects your whole body. because of this i struggle to believe.

I ran marathons - climbed mountains and worked out in the gym for hours a day and could socialize late into the night.

I had severe fibro 20 years ago and totally recovered and could again do all those things - then 5 years ago it started with pain in my arms and feet and then spread - now just vacuuming a 2,000 sf home puts me into severe pain

My life went from "Yahoo" to wanting to find a bridge to jump off of on some days...and it all started with a false diagnosis that I had a terminal illness - scared crapless I was going to suffer horribly and die

By the time I learned the doctor was wrong the stress damage to my nervous system was done and fibro went full bore