What is Fibro Feelings?

I’m happy to report that my two-week-long flare has ended! Hurray! My parents left town yesterday and although I was hit with extreme fatigue today I’m happy to be feeling low levels of pain! Miraculously, my body slept for ~11 hours last night!! Even with all that abnormally extra amount of sleep I have been feeling exhausted all day. I was so happy I had leftover soup from dinner last night for The Helpful Hubby and I to have for lunch today. I can think of a million things I want to get done, but closing my burning eyes and sleeping seems even better! Although I have not slept during the day I’m not really sure I’ve gotten much accomplished.

“Accomplishments” is a interesting word. Most people equate it to the word “achievements.” I think that most people with a chronic illness use the word to mean “completion.” For instance, when I think of what I’ve accomplished today, taking a shower would be one of the tasks I would mention. To most people without a chronic illness they would not usually think of a shower as something they’ve accomplished, for it is merely a daily task. For someone living with chronic illness taking a shower is more than a mere daily task though – it requires a lot of energy and effort and can cause pain or fatigue. This holds true for many other activities as well.

I guess another one of my accomplishments is inspiring my brother-in-law, although I’m not quite sure how I did that. For Christmas he made a donation to the National Fibromyalgia Research Foundation in my name. I received a fibromyalgia awareness bracelet and lapel pin as well as a card with a message from my brother-in-law. The message said, “I thought this year, I’d help support your cause and acknowledge how much you have been an inspiration to me!” Aww! It means so much to know I have the love and support of my brother-in-law! Having fibromyalgia, I’ve always been concerned about how The Helpful Hubby’s family would accept the fact he was marrying someone with fibromyalgia. Besides that worry, I worried about if they would understand some of my lifestyle decisions or even the basics of fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is confusing enough for those of us who have it, let alone those trying to understand a condition that even the medical community doesn’t completely understand!

How has your significant other’s family responded to your fibromyalgia?

My new fibromyalgia awareness bracelet & lapel pin