FIBROMYALGIA IS DECLARED AS A NEW LONG TERM DISABILITY

    After osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia is the second most common rheumatic disease.However, it is difficult to choose the previous fibromyalgia because its symptoms fluctuate.

This condition mainly affects women than men. It is characterized by pain in the body accompanied by stiffness and fatigue.

According to Daniel Clauw, MD, professor of anesthesiology at the University of Michigan, said the treatment of pain in an abnormal way in fibromyalgia.

He also added that the sensation of pain is amplified and can occur in any part of your body. For this reason, chronic headaches, hyper-sensory responses and visceral pain are very common in people with fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia can also affect its functionality and can interfere with activities of daily living.

In addition, it has been reported that people with fibromyalgia do not get the services they would need. Swallowing pills and implementing more effective strategies could be extremely useful in controlling fibromyalgia, but as there is no cure for fibromyalgia, it is difficult to completely eliminate the disease.

In several states, fibromyalgia has been considered the long-term problem, decreased quality of life.

Why fibromyalgia can be considered as the long-term problem?

When symptoms appear and disappear, it makes the person more tired and cranky. Dealing with fibromyalgia seem easier, but people with fibromyalgia would better understand how each time you fight advanced symptoms up.

The intensity and severity of the disease can leave a negative impact on their work performance. While experiencing the symptoms of fibromyalgia, office work would be much more difficult than all expectations. Additionally, triggers can also worsen your condition.

The symptoms of fibromyalgia will not let you excel deeper and somehow you prefer relaxing at home instead of going to work.

All problems need long-term support and long-term care. But unfortunately, people with fibromyalgia do not receive optimal care.

Fibromyalgia is difficult to understand, not only because of its clinical symptoms, in fact, their relapse and remission phases are also confusing.

If you do not receive long fibro flare, you are lucky, but that does not mean that you will not break out again.

And when symptoms nailed in place, it is terrible to think about doing something else, whether that relates to your work or home.

Fibromyalgia is now a long-term disability

With the help of the efforts of three years of patient and Customer service in Northern Ireland, fibromyalgia has been declared as a long-term disability.

Now dedicated services may establish trusts and centers for the management of fibromyalgia as a long-term condition.

Patients can get medical advice and interventions by health professionals. Moreover, it is difficult to decide which alternative therapy that best way to handle the costumes of fibromyalgia; Therefore, you can also get information about therapies.

As pain is the main complaint of most patients with fibromyalgia, most drugs are for treatment of pain perception; However, other symptoms are less noticed.

Increase awareness of the condition could contribute to the early detection of this disease. Also, if the people around him, like family and friends are well aware of the fluctuations of symptoms and behavioral problems, they can provide the highest level of comfort and can participate in household chores. Fibromyalgia Awareness person could make life easier.

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It is also suggested that human relationships with fibromyalgia may not be healthy with your colleagues, friends and family. This happens because the people around you have little knowledge about the disease.

Increasing awareness programs, not only the fight against the person with fibromyalgia is polite, but be not as bad the idea of ​​how to treat the person with fibro, how you can help them and what they allow to be feeling better.

At the other end of the spectrum, the legal declaration of fibromyalgia as a long-term disability can also let the doctor know more about this disease and suggest effective drug for the final disposal of symptoms.

The availability of treatment for fibromyalgia is a serious problem. In clinical practice, the availability of services are not the same because of the lack of resources to target specific population more effectively.

People with fibromyalgia often feel isolated and alone. Social isolation may be a barrier to receiving treatment. Doctors find it very difficult to treat. Therefore, physicians should also welcome the exchange of information and knowledge by the patient.

In addition, more research will be conducted to find ways to improve overall health.

disability insurance and long-term benefits

It is more difficult to persistent work and stay in the workforce, while fighting against fibromyalgia.

In fact, it also happens that people continue to work even in the face of pain, fatigue, headaches and migraines occur because of fibromyalgia.

As long-term disability insurance is now available in several countries, it might be less concerned about the financial burden of medications, periodic inspections and other expenses.

The symptoms of fibromyalgia can be debilitating. Based on the subjective complaints and physical examination, the doctor can check and identify fibromyalgia.

There are many types of insurance available long-term disability. However, you should have an idea of ​​what the long-term disability insurance, be right for you.

 Serious consideration leads to better results

Recognition of fibromyalgia as a long-term disability will certainly increase the awareness and knowledge of the condition not only among health professionals, however, non-medical people are also aware of the characteristics of fibromyalgia.

After the diagnosis of fibromyalgia, the patient will receive a means by which you can get complete information on medications, exercise, and other alternative therapies.

Changes in diet could play a vital role in improving the condition of fibromyalgia. The treatment of fibromyalgia is a multidisciplinary approach, where each operation has its own importance.

If you want to neglect any of them, symptoms may worsen. Therefore, the treatment of fibromyalgia is all about the efficiency with which medical professionals collect and treat the disease and the severity with which the patient follows the prescribed technique.

Marijuana Edibles Could be the Answer for Fibromyalgia

                             Cannabis-derived products are the best available treatment for pain management in my opinion. I have worked with people and animals with chronic pain, and cannabis is the most effective treatment I have found. Nature provided us with a super drug, and it’s a shame more people can’t access it for pain relief.

The potential medicinal benefits of cannabis products are too promising and too significant not to encourage their use. As an advocate for the legalisation of cannabis, including legalised medical marijuana, I believe it is a crime that this plant is off limits to the people who need it most. That’s why Fibromyalgia Treating‘s editor asked me to write this article. Specifically, he invited me to talk about one form of cannabis products ideal for pain and fibro management: marijuana edibles.

For those who are new to cannabis use for pain management, there is a small amount of essential knowledge worth possessing. First, I think it’s important for people to know what two chemicals in cannabis help reduce or eliminate pain in patients. These two compounds have different effects on the body. Second, it’s important to know what to expect from each of these chemicals and why some prefer one to the other.

CBD VS THC

Firstly, let’s talk about cannabidiol, also known as CBD. Patients who are looking for effective pain relief without the sense of being “high” from cannabis reach for CBD. Some patients also experience reduced anxiety and increased appetite from using CBD, while others might not get the additional therapeutic effects. Additionally, CBD products such as CBD Oil can also be used to come down off of a high from psychoactive effects.

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Secondly, it’s crucial to discuss THC in marijuana products. Users of THC, as opposed to CBD alone, traditionally benefit from increased pain relief, which makes cannabis products containing THC very promising treatment options for fibro patients and other chronic pain sufferers. THC users may also experience many beneficial side effects, such as help sleeping, mood enhancement, and an increased appetite. Some cannabis strains can help alleviate anxiety. Conversely, the opposite can also be right, so it’s best to ask for help from a professional budtender or doctor in finding the best cannabis strains for fibromyalgia. THC will likely get users high, meaning users need to prepare for those effects.

Marijuana edibles are ingestible cannabis-derived products available in myriad forms, such as chocolates, hard candies, lollipops, beverages, cakes, tinctures, and gummies. Of all cannabis products used recreationally and medically, marijuana edibles’ effects last the longest and are the easiest to use, and it’s because of those two qualities that so many chronic pain patients reach for ingestible marijuana before other forms.

The most prominent advantage of marijuana edibles over other forms of cannabis is the duration of its effect. For chronic pain patients, this can be a life changer. Whereas smoked marijuana will provide relief for as short a period as an hour, marijuana edibles routinely offer reduced pain for eight hours or more. More than anything, reducing the number of times people need to seek relief from pain can have a profound impact on the quality of their lives, making it easier to leave the house, take part in family activities, and even make exercising an option for those whose pain would otherwise limit them.

All of the products listed above, from chocolates to tinctures, offer longer-term pain relief than smoking cannabis products, but it’s the chocolates, candies, and cakes that perform best in that regard. With that said, tinctures provide faster relief, making them an appealing choice for those with sudden onset pain.

For those familiar with cannabis from their younger days, long before ingestibles were available from purveyors, it’s worth noting that edibles are noticeably more potent than what you are probably used to, and the saying “a little bit goes a long way” holds true. Consider that yet another reason why edibles are perfect for fibro patients. For extreme pain, the efficiency and efficacy of THC and CBD in edibles can be life altering—in a right way!

Cannabis edibles are available with both CBD and THC in them. Products containing only CBD can last anywhere from eight to twelve hours, with some people experiencing significantly longer or shorter periods of relief; the same goes for THC products.

When deciding to use cannabis edibles containing THC, I recommend people begin with a 5 mg dose, or half of one regular serving from most authorised cannabis retailers. For all food products, it may take anywhere from thirty minutes to two hours before the pain relief takes effect. Tinctures may work in as little as fifteen minutes, but anecdotal evidence suggests that a 30-minute wait is more likely.

Once the edibles take effect, patients should feel relief from pain for several hours. Other benefits may include, but are not limited to, an increase in appetite, improved sleep, a reduction in muscle cramps, and an enhanced mood. Some also get relief from nausea, irritability, and other fibro symptoms. In men, cannabis can also increase one’s libido, though excessive use can alternatively lead to temporary and reversible erectile dysfunction.  All of these issues are but the start of the challenges fibro sufferers face, but the fact that one type of medicine can provide relief for several symptoms of fibromyalgia while avoiding the challenging side effects of traditional pain management is why so many fibro patients are making the switch from conventional pharmaceuticals to cannabis-based treatments.

Edible Marijuana Side Effects

As with all medicines, a minority of patients may encounter unpleasant side effects, such as:

• Nausea
• Lethargy
• Anxiety & paranoia
• Irritability
• Mental fogginess
• Excessive drowsiness
• Difficulties concentrating

Individually, these may already be symptoms fibromyalgia patients are suffering from, and the use of cannabis may exacerbate these issues to the point that CBD and THC are not appropriate treatment options. All of these side effects have been associated more with THC than CBD. If anxiety is of concern, it would be wise to start with CBD products before trying those with THC.For many, the fast-acting properties of inhaled marijuana smoke overshadow the usefulness of edibles, but that doesn’t mean everyone who suffers from fibromyalgia cannot still benefit from edible use. If sudden onset pain if a symptom of your fibromyalgia, edibles are still invaluable. After smoking cannabis for the nearly instantaneous relief, professionals and experienced users alike may still recommend following that up with a small dose of marijuana via edibles for the longer-term pain reduction. The use of one type of cannabis products should not in any way limit the use of others. Additionally, for others, difficulties breathing may be one of the more challenging ailments that come with a fibro diagnosis, making edibles the most suitable—or only—choice.

Perhaps one of the best “side effects” of cannabis products is their ability to assist people in both falling and staying asleep, another prominent challenge with fibromyalgia patients must contend. Traditionally, edibles are superior to inhaled cannabis options for ensuring a full night of sleep. A dose of marijuana about an hour before bed helps many people stay asleep through the night, despite hot flashes, restless legs, excruciating back pain, excessive itching, and the general inability to get the much-needed REM sleep that is too elusive for too many fibro patients. Even with fibro patients for whom pain is not their central struggle, cannabis edibles can still be an active form of treatment. As a sleep aid, both CBD and THC can be equally effective.

As any seasoned cannabis user can tell you, and which pop culture continually reminds us, marijuana may cause the munchies, or the intense desire to shove our faces full of as much food as possible. While it’s not the most common struggle associated with fibromyalgia, some patients fight to maintain their appetite, thus causing other problems for them, such as more extended periods of fibro fogs, lethargy, muscle cramping, and more. If keeping a healthy diet due to lack of appetite is a concern for you, cannabis edibles are often an option for improving appetite and energy levels throughout the day. When it comes to appetite improvement, THC is superior to CBD.

If your appetite is healthy, THC (not CBD) may also increase your metabolism, meaning that even if you eat more as a result of having the munchies, there is the chance that you will lose weight. As pain and lack of mobility lead to weight gain in some fibro patients (which makes the symptoms worse across the board), THC can be a useful weapon in the arsenal for maintaining a healthy body composition without diet overhauls or unsustainable exercise.

Personal and anecdotal experiences tell me that too much THC does not lead to unhealthy weight loss. Our bodies seem to have an innate ability to know what our healthy weight is and work to achieve that, in this case with the aid of THC. I saw as my husband lost thirty pounds, plateauing at what his physician called an “ideal weight,” achieved without dieting or increasing exercise.

Using Marijuana Edibles for the First Time

When speaking with people about using edibles for the first time, I have several recommendations that I am going to share here.

• Start with a low dose, 5 mg to 10 mg, and wait at least two hours before taking more. Pain relief is routinely achieved at lower doses, well before getting high.
• Plan to take the next day off from work and other obligations. Some people (like my husband) can experience a hangover-like effect the next day after the first few doses of edibles or after an unusually large treatment (20 mg-50 mg).
• Have someone sober nearby or whom you can call in case you have an adverse effect.
• Do not drive. At all. Period.
• Keep CBD flower (actual marijuana) to smoke should you experience too much of a good thing with THC. CBD has been shown to reduce the high people feel from THC without sacrificing medicinal benefits.
• Before falling asleep, get in a comfortable position, as your body may not move much during sleep. Nothing is worse than waking up with your body contorted into unnatural resting positions.

Cannabis edibles are one of the best forms of pain management on the planet, and responsible and smart use of these products make cannabis far safer than opioids, barbiturates, and other pharmaceuticals prescribed by doctors. While marijuana does not cause a physical addiction, some users are susceptible to developing a habit of using cannabis, specifically smoking. The use of edibles in place of smoking should limit the risk of forming a habit or psychological addiction.

All forms of cannabis and cannabis-derived products are an effective form of treatment for pain management. Luckily for fibro patients, the plant will also alleviate other symptoms that commonly cause a degradation of life. While not the quickest acting agents for pain relief, cannabis edibles will provide the most protracted and best-sustained relief with relatively few and easily managed side effects, and when used responsibly, run a much lower risk of leading to habit formation, addiction, and abuse.

Unfortunately, that’s not the case, and getting cannabis-derived medicines is difficult. Marijuana edibles, which do not have a strong odour, are a much more discreet and easily-hidden way to leverage the marijuana’s medicinal value in spite of the law, not to imply that Fibromyalgia Treating or anyone else is advocating breaking the law. (We can, however, make the knowledge available to those who need it.) They can be found at legal dispensaries in all states where cannabis sales have not been limited. Most cannabis edibles are sold in either 80 mg or 100 mg containers, with 10 mg representing the standard dose. These can run between $15 and $30 dollars, with most falling around $20, or $1-$2 per dose.

Whether or not you consider cannabis a viable option for reducing and treating chronic pain, the potential good that comes from the plant is worth better understanding. Marijuana, like any other medicines, is not suitable for everyone, and people will have vastly different experiences while using it. That said, the side effects of cannabis use are almost always temporary, easily managed, and far less disruptive than the sedation and lack of efficacy of traditional pharmaceuticals. If smoking pot isn’t your cup of tea, but you still want to benefit from the medicine, edibles are an option worth considering.  They are long-lasting, have almost no long-term side effects with responsible use, and they treat many different symptoms fibro patients are forced to overcome. Anything that reduces pain and helps people sleep soundly probably seems like a panacea for fibromyalgia sufferers, but it’s not. Fibromyalgia is a complex and challenging disease to understand, and treatment is never going to be easy. But with cannabis as an option, many people finally have a path forward to being able to live their lives again like they used to. Everyone should have that opportunity.

Morgan Freeman Says Weed Helps His Fibromyalgia: ‘I’ll Eat It, Drink It, Smoke It, Snort It’

By : Yesha

Imagine a movie with an older black man sitting around smoking weed and discussing the joys of it, starring Morgan Freeman. Or better yet, just imagine in real life Freeman sitting back in his living room with all this weed. Every different type and strain you could possibly imagine. Because in a recent interview with the Daily Beast, Freeman explains that he likes to get high and is definitely behind weed’s legalization.

“They used to say, ‘You smoke that stuff, boy, you get hooked!’” Freeman stated. “My first wife got me into it many years ago. How do I take it? However it comes! I’ll eat it, drink it, smoke it, snort it! This movement is really a long time coming, and it’s getting legs—longer legs.”Outstream VideoSeveral years ago, Freeman was involved in a serious car wreck that left him unable to fully use his left hand. Freeman says the only thing that has helped his pain is marijuana.

“Marijuana has many useful uses,” he said. “I have fibromyalgia pain in this arm, and the only thing that offers any relief is marijuana. They’re talking about kids who have grand mal seizures, and they’ve discovered that marijuana eases that down to where these children can have a life. That right there, to me, says, ‘Legalize it across the board!’”

One has to wonder what effect it has on Freeman. Is he one of those talkative people when he gets high? Does he instantly become a philosopher? Or does he just sit back in his recliner and stare off into space? Either way, his love of marijuana might make quite an interesting movie someday. But that snorting part? I don’t think that’s possible.Via- https://thegrapevine.theroot.com/morgan-freeman-says-weed-helps-his-fibromyalgia-i-ll-1790886498

To Anyone Grieving the Loss of Who They Were Before Fibromyalgia

By: Jennifer Yant

About three weeks into my diagnosis of 

Fibromyalgia

, I felt like my symptoms were so much worse than they were before. I was in a lot of pain and my thoughts were in total chaos. Not that I hadn’t felt this way before, it just really seemed to be ramping up. I think the difference is that now I know that my disease is something that cannot be cured, and treatment may or may not work for me.

I have had moments of complete and total despair the last few weeks since being diagnosed. I feel in many ways the same way I felt when I lost my father about seven years ago. At that time, I would sit on my bed and cry and fist my hands in my lap, feeling so frustrated and hopeless, and just begging God, saying, “I just want him back” and “Please just give him back to me, please!” I found myself doing the same thing. I was sitting on my bed, inconsolable, looking up to God and saying, “Please! I just want me back” and “Please, I just want to be exhausted and stressed because of life, not because of an illness that I cannot be easily treated and I truly don’t understand.” I sat there begging and realized I will never be that “me” again. That “me” will never be my reality again. And this is something I’m trying so hard to accept.

My life is different now, and I know it will always be different. My heart is broken for my girls who’ve had to witness their mom go from who she was to who I am now. I hate feeling like my husband is disappointed in me when he comes home and it looks like I haven’t accomplished a thing during the time he was gone to work. I hate feeling that people feel that I’m just not social or I just don’t want to be around people, when the truth is sometimes being around people or being in loud environments, or when the environment is just too stimulating, can be too much for me to handle.

On one hand it has been a blessing to know this wasn’t all in my head and I wasn’t just making it up. On the other hand, it has been a big shock to me and I have found it hard to accept that this is who I will be, maybe for the rest of my life. I would take all the pain I could physically handle if I could just be able to think clearly and interact with my kids the way I did before, and to be present for them. I would love to sit down and make out a grocery list, or be able to accurately follow a recipe. I would love to have the energy to have dance parties with my girls, putting on make up and doing our hair and dancing in the living room on a Friday night. 

While I have not lost anyone in the true sense of the word, I still feel like I’m mourning the loss of someone I love very much. I am mourning the loss of “me” and if experience tells me anything, I know this feeling of loss and pain will get better with time. I know I have to go through some of the same stages of grief that I’ve had to go through in the past when I’ve lost someone I love. I know I have to learn to accept this disease and all it represents. I know that is the only way I will ever move on and make any improvements my life.

I am aware that all these thoughts I’ve had, whether they are rational or irrational, are going to lead me to a place of acceptance. I know it’s going to take time. I’m going to need help from my doctor to find the right treatment and I’m going to have to learn to ask my family for help when I need it and ask for their patience when there is something I just cannot get done. I believe the hardest thing is going to be learning to have patience with myself, and accepting myself for who I am now. I have to get to a place where I no longer grieve for the person I was and accept who I am now and that there are ways I can improve my life and the lives of those I love who are suffering right along with me. 

So now I am committing myself to finding treatments that will help my quality of life, educating myself on this disease so I can make more informed decisions about my healthcare and learning to accept all the life changes that accompany a chronic illness. I am still trying to deal with the feelings of loss. I know it will take time, but I know I will get there. I have realized I am not alone in this journey. I have found support from those who love me. I have decided not to be ashamed or embarrassed about the hard times I have had because of this illness. 

Maybe one person will read this and realize it is OK not to be OK for a while after getting this kind of news. It’s OK to feel sorry for yourself and grieve for the life you once had. It will also be OK when you are able to find acceptance and move on to a place where you can look back at your former self without feeling pain, and can feel happiness because of who you were and realize you are still that person. You are still the same person you were before your diagnosis. You may even be better because of it. I am not quite there yet, but this is the place I am trying to reach and I know I will get there. 

Cannabis Oil Capsules May Be Best Treatment For Fibromyalgia

BY: JULIA NELSON

TREATMENT FOR FIBROMYALGIA

Treatment For Fibromyalgia much like treatments for any and all disease., often starts with the management of symptoms. With this disorder, the symptoms create a string of tender points along the body. Coupling this with extreme fatigue and an inability to sleep and you have a concoction for a drastically poor quality of life riddled with pain and discomfort.

MEDICAL CANNABIS TREATMENT FOR FIBROMYALGIA

The prevalence of Treatment For Fibromyalgia goes up as a person ages, yet 80-90% of all cases are women. The symptoms are known to worsen with persistence as it progresses and it is worsened by the weather, illness and stress. One cannabinoid profile that is well suited for this disorder patients has been identified as CBD. It is suggested patients obtain CBD rich medicine.  Synergistically coupling a cbd rich oil with one that contains Low THC, there is additional relief provided to patients.

According to a report conducted by the National Pain Foundation and National Pain Report, medical cannabis has been rated as one of the most effective treatment in reducing pain from Fibromyalgia.Many of the 1,300 fibromyalgia patients who responded to the survey said they had tried all 3 of the FDA approved drugs. One patient explained there were far more negative side effects to the FDA approved drugs than there were positive attributes.

When asked about the effectiveness of  Cymbalta (Duloxetine), 60% of those who tried the medication stated that it did not work for them, whilst 8% reported it to be very effective. 32% reported Cymbalta helped slightly.Of those in the study who tried Pfizer’s Lyrica (Pregabalin) a whopping 61% reported that there was no relief. 10% reported Lyrica to be very effective whilst 29% said it helped slightly.  

13 Things People Don’t Realize You’re Doing Because Your Fibromyalgia Is Flaring

     By:Paige Wyant
The Mighty

Navigating everyday life with fibromyalgia can be a challenge – so when your fibro symptoms flare up, causing increased pain, fatigue, brain fog and a plethora of other symptoms, simply getting through the day can sometimes feel near-impossible.

Currently there is no cure for fibromyalgia, but many of those with the condition have developed certain habits, behaviors or techniques they turn to during flare-ups to help them cope with their symptoms. However, the reason behind these “habits” may not always be obvious to friends, family or even doctors, which can lead to misunderstandings – and it’s not always easy to communicate in the midst of a flare.

That’s why we asked our Mighty community to share something that people don’t realize they’re doing because their fibromyalgia is flaring. If you have fibro and recognize some of your own behaviors below, know you’re not alone, and it’s OK to do whatever you need to do for your health during a flare-up.

Here’s what our community shared with us:

1. Fidgeting
“Fidgeting a lot. Or when I’m trying to sit or lay down and I’m constantly moving because I can’t find a comfortable position that doesn’t cause pain.” – Maegan D.

“Shaking my legs in bed so they hurt less so I can fall asleep. And rolling over a lot. Wedging pillows everywhere.” – Jyl E.

“I go from pacing, to siting, to standing, and shifting from one leg to the other. My joints get stuck especially my right elbow so I raise my whole arm straight up like I’m back in school wanting to answer a question. Funny thing is I work at a school. But I’m really just trying to pop my elbow back.” – Elizabeth T.

2. Watching Familiar TV Shows
“Binge ‘Grey’s Anatomy’… Seriously. I know it by heart so I don’t have to pay attention to it. I can nap and rest all day and when I wake up I still know what is going on with the show even though I haven’t actually been watching it. When I’m not in a flare-up I love finding new shows and movies but when a flare-up is coming on I always fall back on my old favorite.” – Shayla F.W.

3. Gritting Your Teeth
“Gritting my teeth.” – Carolyn M.

“I clench so hard… which in turn makes my TMJ disorder worse.” – Amanda A.

“I clench my teeth when my pain is bad. I often don’t even realize I’m doing it until my jaw starts to hurt, too.” – Bethan B.W.

4. Staying Quiet
“I become quieter, less sociable and remove myself as much as possible from over stimulus, especially when I’m trying to be ‘normal.’” – Lola L.

“I try to slow down my breathing and stay in silence trying to stop thinking about the pain.” – Sofi O.R.

5. Snapping at Others
“Being snappy and, as my friends call it, lacking social skills… responding only in short sentences, blunt, to the point and absolutely no small talk. If you want something, ask – I will either say yes or no, and then leave me alone. It’s just because I’m literally functioning on a basic level. I don’t have energy to expend on others because I barely have enough to keep myself functioning.” – Jenna-Lee E.

“Getting angry as hell and cussing a lot.” – Christy F.

“My tolerance threshold goes way down when I’m super exhausted. This leads to me snapping at people – family members, friends and coworkers. Even when they know why, it’s sometimes hard for them to understand. Especially my 9-year-old! I have gotten in the habit of telling him I’m sorry, that was about me, not you. It’s hard to be a good mom when you’re in so much pain and exhausted after doing very little.” – Fibromomblog

6. Massaging Painful Parts of Your Body
“Rub my jaw constantly. It helps with the headache.” – Shannon M.

“Always fidgeting because I cannot get comfortable. I’m also constantly rubbing or massaging different areas of my body where the pain is the worst. Sometimes I do this without even realizing it.” – Molly L.

“Squeeze my joints… sometimes my hands hurt so bad that I sit on them or I squeeze them together, I don’t know why but it helps to ease the pain.” – Lau R.

7. Leaning Against Things
“Shift my weight constantly from one leg to another. Also, I try to lean against things like counters and doorways and walls in order to get some weight off my legs.” – Krystina K.F.

“Standing with my hands on my hips/lower back and swaying side to side. Leaning against things for some extra support.” – Seána N.R.

8. Cracking Your Joints
“Cracking everything. Back, neck, elbows, wrist, knuckles, ankles, yada yada. It’s become a nervous habit now actually.” – Sara L.

9. Calming Yourself With Mindless Distractions
“At work I put my noise-cancelling headphones in with Fleetwood Mac’s greatest hits on medium volume. I choose an activity that doesn’t require ‘thinking’ and just chill out, try to relax and breathe through the pain.” – Nicole F.

10. Avoiding People
“Hide out at home. I’m not able to carry on a conversation and I have very little patience so it’s best to avoid people.” – Jen F.W.

“I hide at home.” – Dilene M.W.

“I isolate myself. I don’t want my family to see how much pain I’m in so I hide.” – Shayla F.W.

11. Staying in Bed
“I lie in bed all day praying for pain to stop. When I have to take my dog out I walk really slow.” – Shanleigh R.

“Not leaving my room except to go to the bathroom or get a snack if I really need one. When I’m in a flare I hurt so badly even switching positions in bed can make me feel like I could pass out from pain or exhaustion.” – Courtney H.

“Laying in bed with my heated throw blanket on high, my weighted blanket on top of that and ice packs on my spine. It overwhelms the nervous system and slowing calms down the pain enough so I can sleep.” – Bri B.

12. Sleeping a Lot
“It may come off as lazy to others, but I sleep a lot to numb the pain for awhile. Plus, being in pain majority of the time is exhausting.” – Tori B.

“I need to get a lot of sleep!” – Chloe F.M.

13. “Zoning Out” During Conversations
“I just zone out and lose all concentration due to pain, fatigue and sensory overload. People will be talking to me and I see their mouths moving, I hear nothing. They think I’m just being rude but actually it’s because my pain, fatigue and sensory overload have gotten so bad that my brain has shut down and can’t focus on anything other than the pain.” – Bethan B.W.

What Sleeping Is Like When You Have Fibromyalgia

  By: Jules Bonds

For anyone with fibromyalgia, there are so many different symptoms that can, and do, affect your life. For me, lack of sleep is my number one enemy. I can be so tired throughout the day, staring mindlessly at a computer screen or unable to keep focused on my drive home from work yet, when I actually lay down at night, my eyes are wide awake and my brain kicks into high gear. I toss and turn like a fish out of water, trying to find a comfortable spot. Even with a new mattress, there are nights when I feel like I’m sleeping on a bed of rocks. My back aches, even though I sleep with two pillows under my knees to keep my spine in a neutral position. My neck and shoulders get knots in them, even though I sleep on an orthopedic pillow. God forbid I should roll over and sleep on my side. It feels like I have pins and needles driving through my hips. They throb and stiffen and some days, the bones feel like they’re going to puncture the flesh. And let’s not forget my feet, for they hurt, too.

You would think I spent the night wrestling with gladiators the way I wake up. I’m groggy, cranky, stiff, muscles with that “weighed down” feeling like I’m dragging around bags of sand and some mornings, I wake up with a headache. Great way to start the day, don’t you think?

Then, to add insult to injury, I constantly hear people tell me I look tired. Oh, here’s my favorite: “You look delicate today.” Delicate? What the hell is that supposed to mean? Of course I look tired; I am tired. I think it’s difficult for people to understand how I could go to bed at 10 p.m., wake up at 6 a.m. and still be sleepy. Why, that’s eight whole hours! I should be rested, relaxed and ready to go! What they don’t understand is deep sleep. This is the sleep that restores and repairs your body; the sleep that gives you energy to start a new day; the sleep I desperately need but cannot get! It was only when I started tracking my sleep with a Fit Bit did I truly see just how little deep sleep I was getting. Right now, on average, I get two-and-a-half to three hours of deep sleep. So tell me, if you only gottwo-and-a-half to three hours of deep sleep every night for months and months on end, wouldn’t you look tired, too? Wouldn’t you feel tired, too?

I wish I could be honest with every person who asks me “How are you today?” and give them the answer they need to hear: “I’m tired. Yes, again. I didn’t sleep well. I’m fatigued. I’m running on empty. But gee, thanks for asking!” Most of the time, however, I find it easier to just say “I’m OK” and keep on going. I reserve my real reply for the few who I sense actually care about my answer. They’re not just asking because it’s polite. I can see it in their eyes. They truly want to know. To these few, I thank you. It is most definitely not easy to share intimate, difficult feelings with someone, especially when you’re wondering if they even believe you or if they’re thinking you’re just a big, fat drama queen, seeking attention. It’s even more difficult when it’s hard to articulate your words because, from a lack of sleep, the words in your brain feel like they have to go through track and field hurdles just to get out of your mouth. This is another reason why, sometimes, it’s just easier to stay quiet.

I guess what I want people without fibromyalgia or sleep problems to understand is this: Do not assume I get a good night’s sleep. Do not assume I’m being lazy because I sleep for two hours after getting home from working four. I’m tired, in the truest sense of the word. I am not faking. I am not being dramatic. I have an honest-to-goodness condition that severely impacts my ability to get deep sleep on a nightly basis. Some days, my exhaustion and frustration is so bad I feel like crying or laughing like a mad woman. There is no magic herb that will remedy my problem. A two-week vacation will not make my fibromyalgia magically disappear. This is my new reality. Please do not judge me or make me feel worse than I already feel on my own.

So, to all my fellow fibro fighters out there who deal with the struggles of getting a good night’s rest… I know your pain. I know your frustration. Please hang in there! I wish all of you as many good nights as possible.