What is Fibromyalgia?

Before I begin to take you on my journey with Fibromyalgia, I feel it is important for everyone reading this to know what Fibromyalgia is. People rarely speak of or know about it due to the nature of the condition, but it is actually common which is why I’m here, to raise awareness. 

But before I do that, I just wanted to thank you all for the love and support that I have received since I have put out my first blog post. I am truly overwhelmed and ecstatic at how many people have taken the time and interest to read it and respond. Knowing that I have already begun to raise awareness of this invisible illness and have people reach out to me in the space of 3 days solidifies my decision to open up and share my story!

So let’s start! Fibromyalgia has had a history of being poorly understood by medical professionals and therefore it is difficult to diagnose, the cause is unknown, it is very challenging to treat and sadly there is currently no cure. However, with more research being done over the years there has become a better understanding of what the illness is, and pain specialists have found ways of managing the condition although these methods may not work for everyone, this is a positive light in all of that darkness! It is now understood from a medical perspective that it is a neurological chronic (long-term) health condition which causes widespread pain and tenderness throughout the body. People with Fibromyalgia tend to have an increased sensitivity to pain, extreme fatigue, difficulty sleeping, suffer from migraines, muscle stiffness, dizziness and problems with memory or thinking clearly also known as “fibro fog”.

Unfortunately, these are not the only problems people with Fibromyalgia are likely to face. It is very common to also develop anxiety, depression, Temporomandibular disorder (face and jaw pain as well as ringing in the ears), IBS and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia syndrome (POTS) some of which I will be talking about my experience with in future posts. 

The best and most honest way I can define this condition in simpler terms from my experience and I’m sure my fellow Fibro fighters will agree, is it is an illness that causes excruciating, indescribable pain throughout the whole of the body and skin all day, every day. It is draining and exhausting both physically and mentally creating many battles in life, but it has made me the person I am today. I am a stronger, wiser, more positive and thankful person for it, with a different outlook on life which is why I am so willing to share my personal story with all of you! 

Illustration by Chloe Smart:

https://instagram.com/chloesmartprint?igshid=1tqdbs0t7560g check her out!