TIME, PAIN AND TENDERNESS

Didn't Michael Bolton sing this song??  



Knowledge is part of acceptance.

I think the part of dealing with any illness is to understand it. 

Pain and Tenderness.

For instance, I know that there needs to be pain and tenderness in at least 11 of the 18 trigger points in the body. The points are on both the left and the right side of the body and they are above and below the waist. The pain is considered chronic and widespread if it continues for at least three months. 

The interesting thing is that the pain can fluctuate from from day to day and even from hour to hour. It can appear out of nowhere and it can be due to changing weather conditions, stress levels and even from sleep deprivation.

Fatigue.

78% of Fibromyalgia sufferers experience debilitating fatigue. Is it from the persistent insomnia?  Some nights you constantly wake up. Some nights you just can seem to go to sleep. Even on the rare night you do sleep, you don't wake up refreshed. The lovely morning stiffness that you experience is something to behold. You're a robot when you first get out of bed, moving stiffly and awkwardly until your muscles decide they're going to give you a break and loosen up.

Tracking.

I think it's very important to track your symptoms, emotions, foods and anything else that might give you an idea of your body tolerances. It helps you get a handle on your new best friend. There is no cure so this will be with you a very long time. Fighting it doesn't do me any good. I'm not saying that I have given up; far from it. What I have done is accepted that this illness changes your life. I now have to look at myself from a management perspective. 

It's a lifestyle change and those changes come about by trial and error. Every person reacts differently so what works for me might not work for you. Just when you think you've got a handle on your symptoms, you find out you don't. 

I think the most important thing is to know your body and to accept the fact  that you have to pace yourself. You have to listen to your body. When it says you need to slow down; slow down. If you need to stay in bed; stay in bed. If it allows you to move about; take advantage of that but don't overdo it.

That won't happen.