I have an illness that’s not visible.
Although you cannot see it
For me #fibromyalgia is real.
It causes me #chronic pain and #fatigue.
The pain can be debilitating and constant.
Some days it can get better or worse.
It’s altered my life choices
I’m not asking for sympathy
Just empathy
If you’ve never heard of fibromyalgia or know very little about it. Please take a few minutes to read this.
What is fibromyalgia?
Briefly, it affects the skeletal muscles throughout the body, causing varying degrees of pain.
The pain ranges in severity from day to day and it is affected by temperature,
stress
and the amount of physical activity carried out.
Fibromyalgia sufferers commonly experience a range of different types of pain.
The pain can range from a sharp stabbing pain,
an ache
and a burning pain.
Other symptoms that can be experienced are
fatigue,
poor sleep quality,
stiffness,
IBS,
headaches,
cognitive problems
“Fibro fog”,
depression,
dizziness,
anxiety
and painful periods.
Have a look at the NHS description of fibromyalgia for more in depth information about the condition.
Invisible Illness and Fibromyalgia
One huge difficulty of living with fibromyalgia is it’s an invisible illness; others assume you are well because there is no physical evidence of being ill.
In my personal struggle with fibromyalgia this single fact has caused me the most stress over the 14 years I have had it.
You may ask, if you know someone or meet someone with fibromyalgia. What should I do? Showing them compassion and learn about their symptoms can make a difference. Just taking the time to talk about it with them will help.
If you have just been diagnosed and are trying to find links to support groups and the online community. Have a look at the organisations below and also Facebook groups.
UK Fibromyalgia is a brilliant site that covers a wide range of information about fibromyalgia.
Also
Fibromyalgia Association is a registered charity that provides information and help to sufferers.
