We are raising awareness of fibromyalgia in May and some of the fibro bloggers, in our facebook group, are sharing their quotes about fibromyalgia so that others can understand more about what is it like living with it. Bethan Catherine Jones 'Just because I'm smiling doesn't mean I'm pain free. I live in pain 24/7 but I refuse to let it stop me' Manage Bettina Bier 'Just because I don't look sick doesn't mean i'm not. I still have all my fifty shades of fibro. If you would risk to take a closer look you would see it.' Manage Julie Ryan That I hate missing out on things. So, when I cancel, know that I really didn't want to. I really want to be there with my friends and family. Sue Ingebretson A fibromyalgia diagnosis isn't the finish line, it's the starting gate. Once you know you have it, the journey begins to figure out what's the best way to approach healing for YOU. Rachel Barclift Living with Fibromyalgia is challenging, however I would rather spend my life in positivity and light than negativity and darkness. Manage Lynne Said Fibromyalgia doesn't sit comfortably on the conventional medical path, so when my doctor didn't have the answers my mistake was believing there was nothing else I could do, I was stuck, until I realised that there were many other paths back to health and I took them and so can you. Manage Carol Homer "Focus on what you can do, not what you can't. Forget about the unwritten social rules that dictate how your life should look. Adjust your perspective, be your own advocate and write your own story. You owe it to yourself to keep going for those brighter days." Manage Jennifer Passmore "Life, even without a chronic illness, is simply a constant learning process, and with chronic pain, we are always learning what we can do to improve our quality of life. We’re not going to let the pain defeat us, because we’re going to come out the other side of this, fighting. Not one person’s battle is the same as another, and we’re all fighting something different. Because, that is truly what we are, fighters, each and every one of us." Manage Terri Sutula "I realized early on in this process that I have a choice; I can be bitter about my circumstances, or I can let it make me a better person. I choose better." Manage Mandy Farmer "Don't leave me out of your plans. I may have to say 'no' but please don't give up on me." Manage Alisha Nurse When I say I’m okay, it doesn’t mean I’m not in pain. It just means I’m managing. I’m rarely pain free. Manage Active Now Nikki Albert Pace when you're having a good day and a bad day. Remember coping is a process, not an end game. And remember we can have a life it is just a different looking one; perhaps more mellow and a slower pace but a life nevertheless.

Fuck Fibro is a poem by Kristina Adams about fibromyalgia. Check it out on her blog.

Which is your favorite?

Fibromyalgia eye problems can become chronic and be debilitating. Learn from Upper Cervical Awareness about Fibromyalgia eye pain and finding relief.

Are you experiencing brain fog, strange tingling and body aches? These may be signs of fibromyalgia. Read to learn more about this condition.

Which is your favorite?

The symptoms of fibromyalgia are found in so many other illnesses. That's why diagnosis is problematic. Here are 14 reasons why it may NOT be Fibromyalgia... Fibromyalgia has many, varied and fluctuating symptoms. It should be considered when a patient describes a history of widespread pain, with no evident cause, that lasts three months or more. As well as this chronic musculoskeletal pain, whichaffects the bones, ligaments, muscles, nerves and tendons they have fatigue and sleep problems and stiffness. These symptoms are usually accompanied by a number of other conditions such as sensitivity to chemicals, irritable bowel or restless legs and depression or anxiety. The symptoms can often start, or worsen, during a period of severe psychosocial or physical stress. Fibromyalgia presents a unique medical problem: Its symptoms are so common, that it is both underdiagnosed and misdiagnosed. Because there are no blood tests or scans to easily diagnose it, many physicians have trouble detecting the disorder. It can NOT be easily confirmed or ruled out with a simple blood test. It can't be seen on an X-ray or MRI. Instead, fibromyalgia appears to be linked to changes in how the brain and spinal cord process pain signals. Because there is no test for fibromyalgia, your doctor must rely solely on your group of symptoms to make a diagnosis and rule out other conditions. The key symptoms of fibromyalgia are also commonly found in many other illnesses, and a thorough examination and investigation needs to be undertaken in order to ensure there is not another pathological cause for the symptoms – particularly if there are any ‘red flags’ in the patient’s history suggestive of another serious pathology (Table 1). Table 1. Red flags Older age at new symptom onset Weight loss Night pain Focal pain Fever or sweats Neurological features History of malignancy Doctors need to rule out: arthritis lupus multiple sclerosis chronic fatigue syndrome polymyalgia rheumatica hypothyroidism depression polymyositis hyperparathyroidism adrenal insufficiency myasthenia gravis cushing’s syndrome sjogren's syndrome Infection: chronic viral infection, HIV, hepatitis, Lyme disease So if a doctor asks you about your mood, or skin rashes, or sends you for a blood test of your antibodies or an MRI they are just doing their job. They are ruling out these 14 conditions which have similar symptoms to Fibromyalgia. It is important to do so because these 14 conditions have specific treatments. Symptoms NOT usually found in Fibromyalgia include: arthritis: swelling and redness, loss of motion in joints lupus: butterfly-shaped rash across cheeks and nose, anemia, abnormal blood clotting multiple sclerosis: brain lesions on an MRI chronic fatigue syndrome: profound fatigue that is more intense than pain, sore thoat polymyalgia rheumatica: average age of onset is 70, elevated levels of inflammatory proteins in blood. hypothyroidism: thyroid autoantibodies are common depression: polymyositis: muscle weakness in proximal muscles: upper arms, thighs. hyperparathyroidism: presence of hypercalcemia adrenal insufficiency: severe exhaustion, not typically associated with chronic widespread pain. myasthenia gravis: neurologic signs characteristic of specific disease. cushing’s syndrome: characteristic facial and skin signs of Cushing’s syndrome sjogren's syndrome: dry eyes and dry mouth, presence of anti bodies specific to Sjogren's Infection: chronic viral infection, HIV, hepatitis, Lyme disease Getting a Diagnosis I suggest that you keep a diary of your symptoms. This should make it easier to talk to your doctor or specialist. Especially if you have memory problems, writing things down will provide the doctor with the information that they need to make a correct diagnosis. When you go to a consultation go with: a list of questions a list of current medications a brief medical history including your parents main conditions a list of your symptoms When writing the list of your symptoms try and remember what were your first symptoms and what year they started and then the next symptoms and the year etc. as many doctors ask these questions. More clues for fibromyalgia diagnosis (from MayoClinic) People who have fibromyalgia also often wake up tired, even after they've slept continuously for more than eight hours. Brief periods of physical or mental exertion may leave them exhausted. They may also have problems with short-term memory and the ability to concentrate. If you have these problems, your doctor may ask you to rank how severely they affect your day-to-day activities. Fibromyalgia often coexists with other health problems, so your doctor may also ask if you experience: Irritable bowel syndrome Headaches Jaw pain Anxiety or depression Frequent or painful urination Remember that all ongoing pain should be evaluated. I am saying this because after a while of not getting a diagnosis you may start to question whether the pain is all in your head. Lee Good has 20+ years of experience helping people with chronic illness to understand research information and is recognized as a leader in patient advocacy. She is the WEGO winner, 2018/19 for building the best patient community around Fibromyalgia and editor at Fibro Blogger Directory, which is a community of fibromyalgia bloggers. RESOURCES: Fibromyalgia: Understand the diagnosis process MayoClinic Diagnostic challenges: Australian Family Physician Musculoskeletal Pain: Cleveland Clinic

What is Fibromyalgia? Living with fibromyalgia is tough. It invades all parts of your body and affects your quality of life. The major symptom is pain,

When it comes to a chronic health condition like fibromyalgia, the symptoms themselves are difficult enough to deal with. For example, besides the pain, ...

Humor is a great way to cope with anything and we all need a little smile to brighten the day so sharing some Fibro funny pics is what this post is all about. Humor can be useful in helping us make light of a difficult situation and those with chronic pain know how difficult pain and other symptoms can be to live with constantly. So we are happy to share with you some Fibro humor to hopefully make you smile. Now we know that everybody has different tastes in humor so we have tried to provide a variety - angry humor, sarcastic, self-deprecating... Shared by Jools on twitter @BarrysDaughter If you are looking for more Fibro Funnies you might also enjoy the memes every day on twitter where we share #FunnyFibro jokes and sometimes on facebook too. If you are on Pinterest we have our Fibro Funny quotes there with so many humorous memes.

"It affects everything."

I wanted to provide you with a checklist for fibromyalgia symptoms because my wife suffers from this disease. Fibromyalgia symptoms...

Millions of people suffer from fibromyalgia, and it can leave you feeling like exercise is impossible for you. However, a carefully designed exercise

I was wondering how to describe what it's like living with chronic pain the other day because the hospital nurse asked me. I knew what it felt like but had never really put it into words for someone who doesn't experience it. WHAT IS IT LIKE LIVING WITH CHRONIC PAIN? Living with pain that has become persistent, and lasting longer than 3 months causes both physical and emotional stress. Whatever condition or accident that caused the initial pain has now become a condition in its own right because it has changed the nervous system of the body and so many other day to day things. I have collected some quotes from people living with chronic pain caused by arthritis, fibromyalgia, nerve pain and migraines. What they said is shared here so others will understand, a little more about, the impact of living with pain that is chronic. CHRONIC PAIN QUOTES Please understand that being able to stand up for five minutes, doesn’t necessarily mean that I can stand up for ten minutes, or an hour. It’s quite likely that doing that five minutes has exhausted my resources and I’ll need to recover. ~ Gerri Kassel, My Journey to find my health. I’d rather not take this medication, or any medication for that matter, but it is the only one that controls my pain adequately enough to allow me to function on a daily basis... I take the smallest dose possible to enable me to remain as clear-headed as possible to do what I need to do each day... Even with the minimal opioids I take, I still have pain all the time, 24 hours a day; without opioids, life would be torture. ~ Alison Moore, author. Most people assume: That because I don’t admit to being in pain each day, I must have pain-free days. I don’t. My last pain-free day was November 2002. Every day since then has held at least a moderate level of pain. ~ Life With A Pebble I hate all pain, Given or received; we have enough within us. ~ Lord Byron. Our already chronic condition becomes worse for a time, symptoms become more pronounced and this then triggers a whole host of accompanying issues from migraine, muscle & joint pain, fatigue……..the list goes on. ~ Tracey Marinelli, Fibro Fantastic. The trouble with chronic pain is that it is so easy to become accustomed to it, both mentally and physically. At first it's absolutely agonizing; it's the only thing you think about, like a rock in your shoe that rubs your foot raw with every step. ~ Robert J. Wiersema, author. For many people living with chronic pain, opioid medications are a critical component to managing their pain and overall quality of life. However, the nationwide crackdown on opioids has put chronic pain sufferers in an impossible situation. ~ Sue, Fibro Daze. Few things a doctor does are more important than relieving pain. . . pain is soul destroying. No patient should have to endure intense pain unnecessarily. The quality of mercy is essential to the practice of medicine; here, of all places, it should not be strained. ~ Marcia Angell, The Truth about the Drug Companies. I was always in pain. I called the pain at the time "stress neck" since it often flared during deadlines, some of them self-imposed. ~ Kathleen Mueller, Fibroworks I often wished that more people understood the invisible side of things. Even the people who seemed to understand, didn't really. ~ Jennifer Starzec, Determination Many a day I’ve felt despair, rage and profound disappointment that I could not do certain jobs. My life has changed so much over the years that I can hardly believe it. ~ Barbara McLullich, Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Pain. There is a saying in Tibetan, 'Tragedy should be utilized as a source of strength.' No matter what sort of difficulties, how painful experience is, if we lose our hope, that's our real disaster. ~ Dalai Lama XIV I wish I could experience that blissful feeling again when your whole body relaxes and melts into the bed and all the tension of the day just evaporates. I wish I could lay in my bed without experiencing pain. ~ Fighting Fibromyalgia Few things a doctor does are more important than relieving pain... pain is soul destroying. No patient should have to endure intense pain unnecessarily. The quality of mercy is essential to the practice of medicine; here, of all places, it should not be strained. ~ Marcia Angell We all want to be able to live pain-free, to enjoy our lives. Sometimes you have to think outside the box. ~ Cynthia Baughman, My Inspired Fibro Life You just do it. You force yourself to get up. You force yourself to put one foot before the other and you refuse to let it get to you. You fight. You cry. Then you go about the business of living. That’s how I’ve done it. There’s no other way. ~ Elizabeth Taylor We now have limitations and before there were none. We now look at life in a totally different way. Even when the pain levels subside there is a place within us that knows it's only a matter of time before it will rear its ugly head again. ~ Rosemary Lee, Seeking Equilibrium. Don't build a wall around your own suffering - it may devour you from the inside. ~ Frida Kahlo Chronic pain has a massive impact in our lives. And it is important to remember that pain doesn’t exist in a vacuum all by itself… it has symptoms. And these impact our functionality along with the pain itself. ~ Nikki Albert, Brainless Blogger Any practice of prayer and meditation can kick start your healing journey and your path to reducing pain. ~ Sue Ingebretson, Rebuilding Wellness. Sometimes chronic pain can get to a point where it is getting in the way of the life you want to live. I have dreams and things I want to achieve, but it is starting to feel as if my pain and fatigue are getting in the way. ~ Beverley, Blooming Mindfulness On bad pain and fatigue days, it may be a tough mental battle, but you can do it! Remember my favorite word? Hope. Never give up HOPE! ~ Amy, The Fibro Frog. The pain turns into little to no sleep which turns into depression which turns into difficulty being a friendly human which turns into stress which turns into more pain! That cycle is so forked up… but in the midst of all that, there are some good times. ~ Tamiko, my foggy brain. Recovery begins with embracing our pain and taking the risk to share it with others. We do this by joining a group and talking about our pain. ~ John Bradshaw When you have chronic illness, the slightest thing can have a knock-on effect. Just one day of significantly overdoing things can leave you with weeks of symptoms – more fatigue, increased pain and a reduction in stamina. ~ Katie Cupcake. I will stand up and have my voice be heard, continue to raise awareness, fight for a cure, inspire those who feel like their world is now over, and be a voice for the voiceless sufferers because I know you’re out there... Michelle Morales, Living Extra Ordinary These symptoms are genuine, and they are life-changing. ~ Susan, Living Creatively With Fibro. People assume you aren’t sick unless they see the sickness on your skin like scars forming a map of all the ways you’re hurting. My heart is a prison of Have you tried?s Have you tried exercising? Have you tried eating better? Have you tried not being sad, not being sick? Have you tried being more like me? Have you tried shutting up? Yes, I have tried. Yes, I am still trying, and yes, I am still sick. Sometimes monsters are invisible, and sometimes demons attack you from the inside. Just because you cannot see the claws and the teeth does not mean they aren’t ripping through me. Pain does not need to be seen to be felt. Telling me there is no problem won’t solve the problem. This is not how miracles are born. This is not how sickness works. ~ Emm Roy, The First Step

Using ketamine and other IV pain medications to relieve chronic pain relief. Fibromyalgia relief with ketamine and lidocaine.

What's in your crisis kit?

Learn about Fibromyalgia Natural Treatment options. Researchers have connected neck and jaw problems. Why this is important for fast relief & maximum recovery?

Is Diet Really That Important? If you are suffering daily with some of the most typical fibromyalgia symptoms like ongoing pain, fatigue, brain fog, and

I stood in my closet this morning, looking all over the place as though I had never been there. I could not recall what I was doing, what, or why I would do next. So I stood numb, waiting for it to come to me. Moments before I had been viciously wheezing like a wild […]

The symptoms of fibromyalgia are found in so many other illnesses. That's why diagnosis is problematic. Here are 14 reasons why it may NOT be Fibromyalgia... Fibromyalgia has many, varied and fluctuating symptoms. It should be considered when a patient describes a history of widespread pain, with no evident cause, that lasts three months or more. As well as this chronic musculoskeletal pain, whichaffects the bones, ligaments, muscles, nerves and tendons they have fatigue and sleep problems and stiffness. These symptoms are usually accompanied by a number of other conditions such as sensitivity to chemicals, irritable bowel or restless legs and depression or anxiety. The symptoms can often start, or worsen, during a period of severe psychosocial or physical stress. Fibromyalgia presents a unique medical problem: Its symptoms are so common, that it is both underdiagnosed and misdiagnosed. Because there are no blood tests or scans to easily diagnose it, many physicians have trouble detecting the disorder. It can NOT be easily confirmed or ruled out with a simple blood test. It can't be seen on an X-ray or MRI. Instead, fibromyalgia appears to be linked to changes in how the brain and spinal cord process pain signals. Because there is no test for fibromyalgia, your doctor must rely solely on your group of symptoms to make a diagnosis and rule out other conditions. The key symptoms of fibromyalgia are also commonly found in many other illnesses, and a thorough examination and investigation needs to be undertaken in order to ensure there is not another pathological cause for the symptoms – particularly if there are any ‘red flags’ in the patient’s history suggestive of another serious pathology (Table 1). Table 1. Red flags Older age at new symptom onset Weight loss Night pain Focal pain Fever or sweats Neurological features History of malignancy Doctors need to rule out: arthritis lupus multiple sclerosis chronic fatigue syndrome polymyalgia rheumatica hypothyroidism depression polymyositis hyperparathyroidism adrenal insufficiency myasthenia gravis cushing’s syndrome sjogren's syndrome Infection: chronic viral infection, HIV, hepatitis, Lyme disease So if a doctor asks you about your mood, or skin rashes, or sends you for a blood test of your antibodies or an MRI they are just doing their job. They are ruling out these 14 conditions which have similar symptoms to Fibromyalgia. It is important to do so because these 14 conditions have specific treatments. Symptoms NOT usually found in Fibromyalgia include: arthritis: swelling and redness, loss of motion in joints lupus: butterfly-shaped rash across cheeks and nose, anemia, abnormal blood clotting multiple sclerosis: brain lesions on an MRI chronic fatigue syndrome: profound fatigue that is more intense than pain, sore thoat polymyalgia rheumatica: average age of onset is 70, elevated levels of inflammatory proteins in blood. hypothyroidism: thyroid autoantibodies are common depression: polymyositis: muscle weakness in proximal muscles: upper arms, thighs. hyperparathyroidism: presence of hypercalcemia adrenal insufficiency: severe exhaustion, not typically associated with chronic widespread pain. myasthenia gravis: neurologic signs characteristic of specific disease. cushing’s syndrome: characteristic facial and skin signs of Cushing’s syndrome sjogren's syndrome: dry eyes and dry mouth, presence of anti bodies specific to Sjogren's Infection: chronic viral infection, HIV, hepatitis, Lyme disease Getting a Diagnosis I suggest that you keep a diary of your symptoms. This should make it easier to talk to your doctor or specialist. Especially if you have memory problems, writing things down will provide the doctor with the information that they need to make a correct diagnosis. When you go to a consultation go with: a list of questions a list of current medications a brief medical history including your parents main conditions a list of your symptoms When writing the list of your symptoms try and remember what were your first symptoms and what year they started and then the next symptoms and the year etc. as many doctors ask these questions. More clues for fibromyalgia diagnosis (from MayoClinic) People who have fibromyalgia also often wake up tired, even after they've slept continuously for more than eight hours. Brief periods of physical or mental exertion may leave them exhausted. They may also have problems with short-term memory and the ability to concentrate. If you have these problems, your doctor may ask you to rank how severely they affect your day-to-day activities. Fibromyalgia often coexists with other health problems, so your doctor may also ask if you experience: Irritable bowel syndrome Headaches Jaw pain Anxiety or depression Frequent or painful urination Remember that all ongoing pain should be evaluated. I am saying this because after a while of not getting a diagnosis you may start to question whether the pain is all in your head. Lee Good has 20+ years of experience helping people with chronic illness to understand research information and is recognized as a leader in patient advocacy. She is the WEGO winner, 2018/19 for building the best patient community around Fibromyalgia and editor at Fibro Blogger Directory, which is a community of fibromyalgia bloggers. RESOURCES: Fibromyalgia: Understand the diagnosis process MayoClinic Diagnostic challenges: Australian Family Physician Musculoskeletal Pain: Cleveland Clinic

Do you live with fibromyalgia, or any chronic illness? Are you still doing these 16 things people with fibromyalgia need to stop doing in order to feel better.

Temperature sensitivity affects many women with fibromyalgia, myself included. You can be cold all the time or hot all the time or alternate between being

"They think I'm just being rude..."

"This is what fibromyalgia looks like."

A fibromyalgia flare up is an acute attack when symptoms are more intense. Some flares only last for a day or two but others may continue for several weeks or even months. Just like your symptoms, the causes of your flare-ups can be very specific to you and your condition.

Chronic Illness can bring you down emotionally and physically, but you don't have to take it lying down! These chronic illness quotes will