The 'Fibromyologist'

The ‘f’ word I’m referring to is Fibromyalgia. It is a cyclic and progressive disease that affects millions of people, primarily women and in every ethnic group.

It can start off with curious muscle pain, generalized aches, irrational discomfort, and random stiffness. What follows is a lack of concentration, confusion at times, and forgetfulness. You wake up just as tired as you were when you went to bed. Depression, new onset of headaches or even migraines, leg cramps, incessant lower back pain, IBS type (irritable bowel syndrome) symptoms, bladder infections, vulvodynia or vulvar pain syndrome (severe pain, burning, and/or itching in the vulvar area. Burning, red and swollen feet, face or hands at certain times of the day, or just in the evening when you really need to start dinner. Trapezius muscles that can no longer handle bra straps. Chronic lower back pain that seems never resolved or has now turned into a terrible case of a sciatica flare. This could be a short list of what you could have experienced. I know there is so much more that I could list.

You’ve complained as much, and as little as you can possibly bear. It’s straining your relationship, and possibly making it very hard to be at work. You might be struggling to remember easy, and repetitive things, coupled with slow roll of despair. You feel like you have early onset dementia. Your family is equally worried, and annoyed. The lack of a diagnosis for months or even years can be overwhelming. You have scaled down the social outings and have to sleep in when you would rather be at your son’s little league game. You’ve found that being more spontaneous in your schedule affords means when you feel better you do those things you’ve been putting off. Coming to terms with the fact that you have to do things differently or more modified can be difficult.

You’re concerned that your family thinks your weak, lazy or attention seeking. You judge yourself for not being the same person you were just a few months ago. In some cases patients feel they have irritated their doctor(s), due to the multiple complaints, and are seeing an attitude or a lack of cooperation from them. For some fibromyalgic’s they have experienced medical gaslighting after countless hours traveling to see specialists, sitting in traffic, the agonizing months it takes to see specialists, waiting in waiting rooms while ill for appointments or emergency rooms, spending thousands of dollars on medical treatments, supplements, and herbal remedies that don’t make you feel any better, really. And, certainly last but not least is not getting a diagnosis. Entertaining every conversation your dear friends, and family think is your problem… “you know what I think it could be?”. Or those that get upset that you are still ‘sick’, not feeling well, and yet you still don’t know what it is.

I am here to say. Things are going to get better. It’s been a rough ride, right? I know you’re hopeful. That’s a good sign. I am here to say that you can have your life back. It’s a process, like everything, yet it works. It has saved my life.

As I type this I have had to manage my body pain, and discomfort. I’ve had to take several breaks. I am typing this while resting in bed. I AM SO much better than where I was a year ago though. A severe ledge I wasn’t sure I could come back from.

As I listen to my body carefully, I now honour whatever it requires instead of pushing so hard. Of course, in all honesty everything from taking a shower, and getting ready for the day, to making dinner can at times be a push. Yet, due to Dr. R Paul St. Amand, and his revolutionary life changing discovery of why fibromyalgia is so insidious, and the treatment to get our lives back – I am now able to do those things to a fuller capacity, most days.

If this resonates with you, welcome! Here is a link to get Dr. St Amand’s book called, What your doctor may Not tell you about fibromyalgia- The revolutionary treatment that can reverse the disease. https://www.amazon.com/What-Your-Doctor-About-Fibromyalgia/dp/B001Q3M66G

Make your recovery, your new discovery❤️