May is Fibromyalgia Awareness Month and May 12th is Fibromyalgia Awareness Day, so this post is meant to do just that. Raise awareness. Give readers a little glimpse into what it is like to have this daily companion in your life.
While some may not understand what it is when you explain it, they can probably relate to the occasional sleepless nights or aches and pains. Fibrowarriors have these symptoms on most days.
One recent, restless night when I was experiencing a lot of pain and couldn’t sleep, so I jotted a few things down to describe Fibromyalgia. I couldn’t stand the sheets to touch me. My mind was racing. Sleep was evading me. I tried essential oils and pain relievers. After maybe 2 hours of sleep, I got up and went to work the next morning.
This is my life with fibromyalgia.
Never easy. Never predictable. Never fun.
F Fatigue, flare, forgetfulness
I Insomnia
B Brain fog, brain won’t stop racing
R Restlessness, Radiating pains
O Overactive, firing nerves
M Myofascial pain, Morning stiffness
Y Yearning to be pain-free and be my old self
A Anxiety
L Leg cramps, restlessness, and pain
G Gastro problems – IBS, nausea, diarrhea, constipation
I Itching
A Aching everywhere – bones, joints, and muscles
They say you never really understand someone until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes. So if you encounter someone with Fibromyalgia and you think they don’t look sick… Think back to the last time you had the flu and your body ached all over, or the last time you couldn’t sleep but still had to go to work the next day, or perhaps even when you forgot where you left your keys. And then imagine what it would be like to experience that some days, most days, or even every day.
Now you’re starting to get a glimpse of Fibromyalgia.
P.S. I don’t often like to take pictures of myself. These days I am usually tired and don’t feel “picture ready.” But since it’s also Mother’s Day today, I wanted to share some pictures of me with my mom and my kids. This is the face of Fibromyalgia.
My Inspired Fibro Life 
Yes, sadly this is our daily experience Cynthia, well depicted my friend!
Happy Mother’s day!
Bless you,
Jennifer
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Yes, sad, but true. Wishing you a blessed, pain-free day! 💜
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Hope that you had a wonderful Mother’s Day.
I have had Fibromyalgia for over 25 years.
I try not to let it get the best of me. I have a wonderful husband who has only known me with this health issue.
I have learned that I have to listen to what my body is saying because if I do not then I will pay for it later.
All the best.
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I have had it for over 20 years myself. Thank goodness for our husbands who are caring and understanding! I too have learned not to overdo it. Listening to what your body says is such an important mechanism for dealing with our condition. Wishing you a wonderful, pain-free day. Thanks for stopping by! 💜
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A wonderful post to show a clear snapshot of what life is like with fibromyalgia, and getting others that don’t have it to imagine something like an awful flu but all the damn time is a good way to help people relate. And oh yes, that whole ‘you don’t look sick’ thing can be incredibly difficult to deal with. Happy (belated) Mother’s Day and thank you for sharing your lovely photos – you have a beautiful family ♥
Caz xx
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Thank you. ❤️ I am pretty proud of my crazy kids.
I work hard most days to not “look sick,” despite how I feel. Some days, however, you just have to give in to those sweat pants and messy bun while watching Netflix in bed. 😉
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Cynthia, so on point! Great description of Fibro. Love the pictures! Beautiful kids, you and your mom is so sweet. Great post. Happy belated Mother’s Day!
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Aww, thanks Kim! ☺️ Just wish the “on point” wasn’t so on point as much as it is these days. The struggle is real…. Happy weekend to you! 💜
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I hear you…
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I know I’m super late to this post….
I was officially diagnosed with fibro in 2016. (though I had been having the symptoms a whole lot longer than that. I just couldn’t find a doctor who agreed with me. To them, it was all in my head. It didn’t exist.) But after a seizure, leading me to break my collarbone, it sent me into a huge flare up and I finally found a doctor who wholeheartedly agreed that fibromyalgia IS real! After examining me and testing me for other things, he finally came to the conclusion that it was fibro.
I love the acrostic….well said!
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Thank you! And yes, it is real. I have been fortunate to have good doctors along the way. The broken Collarbone sounds painful. I hope you don’t have any residual problems from that. Good luck with your treatment and finding your new normal.
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