Living with Fibromyalgia

Those who have fibromyalgia never know when they are going to fall apart because of the pain, and for how long it will last.
They may feel that people perceive them as unreliable because of canceled appointments or engagements at the last minute. Things that they used to enjoy become unpleasant.

Anyone with this disease could become afraid to talk to other people or doctors about the symptoms they are having, for fear that they might label them as a hypochondriac. Some pain from fibromyalgia is so severe that some women have to lie down on the floor or some other hard surface until it stops. After being diagnosed, many people give up a lot of things that they used to enjoy. Activities such as planting flowers, watching a movie comfortably, or driving a car long distances is difficult for many because of the pain.

These people can live productive lives, but they have to learn to set limitations. Friends and marriages are most definitely affected because the spouse and friends can't understand why anyone with this disease cannot do everything that they used to be able to do. The key to coping with fibromyalgia is accepting that the problem is chronic, and learning how to minimize the pain. There are a few medications to help lessen the pain that fibromyalgia causes.

People with fibromyalgia are usually depressed and have sleep disturbances, which causes them to wake up in the morning feeling like they never slept. Others lose their self-confidence and end up seeing themselves as a sick person. Migraines are also prevalent in people with fibromyalgia. Some of the sleep disturbances are sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome. These can be treated with medicines so that anyone with fibromyalgia can get a peaceful and restful sleep.