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Well i have a long story, I was dx with sleep apena, then fibr and scelrodrom of the eyes, followed by thyroid, diabetes, per-phial neuropathy,and inner connective tissue disorder. My white count has gone low, ana titer has be above 1280 for 10 years now. What do all the doc"s say well theres something wrong..... I have massive depression and been in and out and now back in counseling with group therapy. I have become somewhat of a recluse. I prefer to imagine a world without the pain and bruising. A place where i don't look as if i have red streaks going down my face and covering my chest. I was in the military and loved my job, the physical active that i did. I was a runner and active in sports. Until the day my legs started going numb and would rub them raw without knowing. The worst was the last day i ran. It's been 12 years since then and i still remember the pain of that day. I been on and off of so many meds. I have been fighting social security for my benefits for 10 years now. The first response from them was your young get a job. I were the happy face when i do go out but it is getting harder and harder to put it on. The best that i can do now is live for the next day. I don't want to sound down, it that i am trying to still face the fact that i will never be the same. so i guess i am just wanting someone to listen and give ideas, i know the testing that happens and the struggles to find a good doctor. So in short thank you for letting me just write.

Kecia

Kecia, I think we all grieve the loss of good health...there is no time table for grieving. A positive attitude helped me accept that there are some things I'm not able to do like before.

Each day, I try to count my blessings...there are so many others worse off than I am and I'm thankful for what I can do.

I also know that there are things I can do to make myself feel better...if I need help, I ask. Distracting myself from pain helps.
Calling my friends, making plans and keeping busy helps...when I'm having fun, I don't focus on pain.

Exercise also helps. Today I walked 3 miles with a friend...it has been awhile since I've done this because I've been flaring for the past 2 wks...I really feel energized and happy.

I know at times I can feel overwhelmed and feel sorry for myself, but I know that negative thinking doesn't help me, I try to keep my pity parties very short. I know I have some power over how I feel and I try to do what helps me...one day at a time works for me.

Good luck to you Kecia, I'm glad you have joined the family!

Hugs, Robin

Hi, Kecia, and welcome!  I'm so glad you found us and joined our family.  I'm so sorry you are going through so much.  Young or not, you are in a lot of pain and it is infuriating that age is considered when trying to get disability!  Age should have nothing to do with disability.  There are children that are disabled and their parents get payments for them. 

 

Don't become a recluse!  It's easy to do that with this illness but very bad for fibromyalgia.  You do need to get out and look around and see the GOOD things in your life!  You have them, you know.  Everyone does.  But it's easy to dwell on the negative aspects of life when you are in pain.  That just causes stress and misery which causes depression and more misery.  Start taking in the beauty of the great outdoors...the flowers that will be popping up any day now and the "critters" that are so wonderful to watch.  These things lift your spirit!  Gentle stretches, gentle exercises like walking, swimming, water aerobics, and yoga are very good for fibromyalgia.

 

If you decide to start a gentle exercise program, then start out very slowly and work into it.  You would be using muscles you haven't used for a while if you have been sitting at home.   When I started my walking program, I could only walk four houses away from my home and I live in a development!  I was a mess but I just kept trying and I now can walk distances like Robin does.  And, I always feel happier and have more energy by the time I get home.  Exercise is wonderful for depression, too, so you are getting a "twofer"! 

 

I use ibuprofen with food, extra strength Tylenol, malic acid/magnesium supplements, and vitamin D3 to help with pain and fatigue.  Then I add my gentle stretching exercises, walking and swimming, and also gentle massages to help me be in control of my pain. 

 

Be sure to check out Fibro 101...the first thread on the forum.  There are links to good information about fibro and you will learn a lot there.  There are links to gentle stretching exercises and the vitamin and supplements I mentioned, too.  Also, you will find a link that helps describe your pain (one has pictures that help) and also a link to keeping a journal.  This would be good for you to do to try to gain disability.  Keep a record of what you are doing and the pain it is causing using the pain charts and then take these to court with you.

 

Don't project  yourself in the future.  That's a big mistake many with fibro do.  We don't know what the future holds for us.  We may THINK we do, but we don't.  Medical discoveries are made every day and they are really working on fibromyalgia now.  Just take one day at a time.  You can do that.  And live that one day as fully and as enjoyably as you can.  Look at the positive things in your life.  I know you have money to have a computer and if you have a computer you probably have a roof over your head and food on  your table.  These definitely are blessing because many people on the face of this earth don't have that!  See what I mean?  Blessings are all around you.  Also, you might want to check out our depression forum here on HealingWell.  It is excellent and our wonderful mod, Karen (getting by) is a mod for that forum and you could get some help there, also.

 

I'm looking forward to getting to know you better.  Don't hesitate to ask questions because we are here to help you.  I hope to hear more from you soon.

 

Sherrine