Fibromyalgia, for some of this can be a nightmare. I got my diagnoses in April of 2021 and ever since then my life has changed dramatically. My doctor and I both think that I have had fibro since I was in my mid to late 20’s. It just wanted to really wanted to say hi I am here in 2021. I have learned so much about myself living in constant pain. Oh here is something that I found out about myself…. I can not take any of the meds that is for Fibromaylgia. Why, because I have adverse side effects, yay so exciting! I really am not one for taking medications unless I have to. And I am one of those that do get a lot of the side effects, so joyous. This was not it though tho, in late 2022 I was diagnosed with Polyarthagia, Myalgia, and Raynaud’s syndrome secondary. This from a RA doctor so two thumbs up for Fibromyalgia (Myalgia)! Guess what I also have a multi-nodular goiter (thyroid) which is also fun.
Pain, burning sensations, sharp pain, rolling pain, skin sensitivity, increased anxiety, stiff all the time, cold most of the time, tiered all the time, tummy issues, neck pain, thyroid flair-ups, and sleeping issues. Yep I think that I covered most of it. Ok, that is a lot and it is a lot to deal with. Depression does come with this and I have had the longest battle with it. You want to know what does not help. Being overly emotion and living with high stress levels. I am an over thinker too and I use to look at myself in a way that was making me worse. I am still working on this to be honest. You would be surprised how your view of yourself effects you.
When you live knowing that stressful and highly emotional events will effect how you feel life really begins to suck. I have trouble traveling because my hips, knees, and feet hurt so bad sitting in the car. It’s a pain that you can not do nothing about and it shoots through your core. Then it started coming to me looking at how long will I have to be in the car to get to this place. Let’s not forget that sometimes stressful events occur when you visit with family friends, and in-laws. It did not take me long to realize who made me unconformable because that would increase my pain. So now I was restricting where I was going base on how that place would make me feel. Yes this did cause me issues with family, in-laws and friends.
Clothing holy cow I never thought my clothes would hurt but they do now. At home I can manage that pretty well most of the time. While at work its a big problem especially if I am have a flair-up. My hips, lower back (clusters of cyst at the base of my spine), and thighs get this weird burning sensation. The closes thing I can think of to this pain is delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). But it’s constant and underwear, pants and anything touching those areas increase it. Going to the bathroom will give some relief because what’s making the pain worse comes off that area. But I cant spend all day in the bathroom while I am at work. I am not aloud to work from home either. That will be a story all to its self.
Let’s talk about sleep, its such a wonderful thing. When you are in constant pain it can be illusive. Laying on my back can get unconformable, sleeping on either side can just get painful, and sleeping on my stomach can be a challenge depending on how nice my multi-nodular goiter is being on my neck. Seems like I go between 2 and 4 hour sleeping cycles. 4 hours is a good night. Every once and a while I might get 6 and those are really good nights. OMG, I slept like 8 hours once! when I realized what time it was I was shocked in how long I had slept. Some nights are better then others. When it comes to the 2 hour night’s those are the wake up to sharp pain in your hips that seems to last forever……. ever…… yeah. I hate it. Right now I am work towards positive changes in my life. Each day is getting better as I am learning to cut out negative people, situations, and environments.
One day at a time, until next time. C
