I've suffered from fibromyalgia since I was a freshman in high school. Fibromyalgia, to put it simply, is a chronic illness in which the sufferer experiences pain in their muscles. I developed fibromyaglia over the course of four months from a series of migraines — or rather — a migraine that lasted for four months. I was a long-distance runner in high school, and my coach decided that it was a good idea for us to run in a heat index at over 100. At first, I was doing fine, until I wasn't and then I passed out. A week into my freshman year of high school, I got a headache that lasted for a week. A week stretched into four months, and one day I awoke to find that my headache was gone but I ached all over. Learning to live with my illness has been a giant (and continuous) learning curve. So far, here's what I've learned:
1. If people can't see what's wrong, they assume you're faking.
Fibromyalgia is an invisible illness. You can't see that someone's body is in pain, but if you know the person well enough, you'll likely be able to tell that they're experiencing a high pain day.
2. Fibromyalgia, like many other illnesses, presents differently in sufferers.
By this I mean, some people who suffer from fibromyalgia can experience localized pain in their shoulders, hands or arms. Others experience it throughout their entire bodies. Unfortunately, I fall into the latter category.
3. Diagnosis takes a while and must meet unique criteria.
By "a while," I mean it usually takes almost 10 doctors to be diagnosed. I believe I got to doctor number eight before my diagnosis was official. The reason it takes so long? They have to rule out other things such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Currently, in order to be diagnosed, you must have tenderness or pain in 11 out of 18 tender points throughout the body.
4. Dyscognition or "fibro fog" is real and can have nasty consequences.
Dyscognition or "fibro fog," is basically where your mind feels hazy and you have difficulty concentrating or remembering simple things, like your address or your phone number (just me? OK.) Bonus points if you mistake a plate for a cereal bowl and then proceed to pour milk onto the plate ... not that I've done that or anything...
5. Altering your diet and exercise routine are sometimes necessary.
It turns out coffee is really hard on a fibro sufferer's body, and by "coffee," I mean the kind where you put in a crap ton of coffee creamer and sugar. Switch to tea with honey if you can. I also gave up dairy and sandwich bread and feel much better. As for exercise, you've got to be like Nina Sky and move your body. Low impact exercises are key such as walking, yoga or pilates. I will never give up running, but I have to be careful not to overextend myself.
6. Fibro flare ups suck.
Fibro flare ups are when your symptoms such as pain, fatigue (sometimes nausea) or even tension headaches increase tenfold. Some days, your muscles simply won't allow you to move, and if you are able to move, it typically feels like you're shuffling around weighed down by cinder blocks. When fibro flare ups rear their ugly heads, usually the fibro sufferer is unable to function enough to work, cook, drive or even walk.
7. Currently, there's no cure.
But if you can #CopeWithoutPope, you can certainly find ways to cope with this illness. Find what makes you happy, remember to stretch and drink lots of water. Yes, the pain will likely always be there, but finding the right combinations of meds, exercise and food is essential to staying healthy.