Fibromyalgia....the dreaded silent disease.

I suffer from Fibromyalgia and myofacial pain.
My daughter got married this past weekend and the stress reminded me of this. It was a lovely wedding with many  wonderful pre-events and I adore the couple that got married. lol----still stress is part of it all.
And I know many people who suffer from this illness, called Fibromyalgia.
I really do not think anyone-who doesn't suffer, like we do, can really understand the impact this disease has on us.
It is one of the invisible diseases. You cannot see the suffering we do.
What you can and do see is the age it has added to my countenance. Cruel.
A doctor once told me: "If you wore a cast on your arm, people would show some sympathy, but they cannot see the pain you are in from this". When not in flare---you are as healthy-well almost--as anyone else.
I don't need sympathy. I detest pity. I hide-out at home when it is really bad---my version of the flu. Can't always do this. Like the wedding. Still, I had one of the most handsome men at the wedding to offer his arm for support-my Fiance'. A real keeper.
Fibro has periods called flare----that are exacerbated by stress.......poor diet choices---and excess weight.
The really terrible issue is being over-weight. If you take the recommended meds. you will be over-weight.
 Steroids have  put as much as 40 pounds on me, in a (2 ) week period. Horrid.
So I would rather suffer the pain, than endure the weight.
Trying to lose this weight is horrid. Takes forever. Classic synthetic drug-nasty.
The pain medicine is worse. You feel drugged-out all the time. Coffee/caffeine heightens the pain.
Going the alternative route  for your drug relief is absolutely preferable. And will work--but there will be a time that only synthetic drugs can alleviate the pain......not often-thank goodness.....but will happen.
I was at home, convalescing from a nasty flare bout, 17 years ago,  and saw a program that helped me so tremendously......Dr. Andrew Weil---"Eight weeks to Optimum Healing". Did what he said.
He has products/skin care/ thru Origins now....love that place.
A diet change was so helpful. I felt crippled---but went out and walked-slowly....carefully.
There are resources--actually 7 million-if you Google it. Hard to choose.
What is really difficult----is what happens when you realize you are ill. You go to a doctor ( if you have insurance) who will send you on to another doctor. This went on for three years, for me, before I was finally diagnosed by a arthritis specialist.
I finally had to leave my job ( we were in a sick building that caused this or contributed greatly to it)
When I did, I had no support for this problem. Financial support. Emotional support. I went it alone.
 As a matter of fact-Fibro was viewed as not being a valid concern. A fake disease manufactured for fat people who would not work. When I became ill..before the steroids---I had weighed 126lbs. for 20 years....I am 5'8" tall. You do the math. I began my career path at 14 years old.  Right.
You could say the advice I received from Andrew Weil's program, saved my life. Not quite that dramatic.
 However, It helped me function enough to find methods for dealing with this very real and debilitating disease.
I would recommend that you do two things: right away:
Get counseling-go to group support sessions-try to get your family to go also-otherwise they cannot understand what is happening to you. Or offer the very real support you need from them.
Explain to all who asks: This disease has the same symptoms as MS. Was what I thought I had....
Stress is your enemy---will cause major pain----avoid it or meditate your way free from it.
Food choices are of utmost importance...will affect the pain.
Exercise---if it is slow walking---to become flexible.....Pilate's would help.
If you can afford Acupuncture, Deep Massage, Healing Touch, Chiropractic Care-----or you are lucky enough to have and maintain heath insurance------do this.
The Alliance for Integrated Medicine on Galbraith Road-----saved me from suffering alot of pain.
God Bless you! Don't let anyone make you feel small. Walk tall, even if you have to walk slow, to get there.