Research and Development is required to help
treat this invisible illness
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition of widespread pain and profound fatigue. The pain tends to be felt as diffuse aching or burning, often described as head to toe. It may be worse at some times than at others. It may also change location, usually becoming more severe in parts of the body that are used most. The fatigue ranges from feeling tired, to the exhaustion of a flu-like illness. It may come and go and people can suddenly feel drained of all energy – as if someone just “pulled the plug”. Or like a Duck out of water! The name fibromyalgia is made up from “fibro” for fibrous tissues such as tendons and ligaments; “my” indicating muscles; and “algia” meaning pain.
Pronounced as fi bro my al ja
Fibromyalgia is not new, but for most of the last century it was difficult to diagnose. Part of the problem has been that the condition could not be identified in the standard laboratory tests or x-rays. Moreover, many of its signs and symptoms are found in other conditions as well – especially in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).
Two Canadian doctors developed a way of diagnosing fibromyalgia in the 1970s and in 1990 an international committee published requirements for diagnosis that are now widely accepted. Once other medical conditions have been ruled out through tests and the patient’s history, diagnosis depends on two main symptoms:
Pronounced as fi bro my al ja
Fibromyalgia is not new, but for most of the last century it was difficult to diagnose. Part of the problem has been that the condition could not be identified in the standard laboratory tests or x-rays. Moreover, many of its signs and symptoms are found in other conditions as well – especially in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).
Two Canadian doctors developed a way of diagnosing fibromyalgia in the 1970s and in 1990 an international committee published requirements for diagnosis that are now widely accepted. Once other medical conditions have been ruled out through tests and the patient’s history, diagnosis depends on two main symptoms:
- pain in all four quadrants of the body for at least three months together with
- pain in at least 11 out of 18 tender point sites when they are pressed. The “tender points”, or spots of extreme tenderness, are rarely noticed by the patient until they are pressed.
- More information can be read here
What is Fibromyalgia?
That's a bit like asking the question "How long is a piece of string"?
It is a condition with many symptoms. The most common ones are chronic fatigue, chronic pain, brain fog and a poor immune system. The body then becomes more susceptible to many other problems. With a poor immune system, it doesn't matter how good the diet is, the body finds it hard to absorb all the nutrients to keep the immune system strong, fighting off any other ailments such as colds and flu. It's a vicious cycle of pain versus right medication versus right treatment versus being happy and ailment/pain free.
A Fibromyalgia sufferer often despairs of explaining their illness as it all sounds so dramatic and full on. Hey, it is! To them! And guess what, no two days are the same. So, like a manic depressive, they will have inexplicable good days and bad days.
Quite often it's not your sympathy that is required but just your empathy and understanding.
I am not a sufferer but I can now see quite clearly that despite whatever ailment(s) have flared up for the worse, it is the person's ability or inabilty to get through the day with simple or complicated tasks that can be the real disabling problem. It compounds all the symptons to make it a truly crippling and chronic illness.
It is a condition with many symptoms. The most common ones are chronic fatigue, chronic pain, brain fog and a poor immune system. The body then becomes more susceptible to many other problems. With a poor immune system, it doesn't matter how good the diet is, the body finds it hard to absorb all the nutrients to keep the immune system strong, fighting off any other ailments such as colds and flu. It's a vicious cycle of pain versus right medication versus right treatment versus being happy and ailment/pain free.
A Fibromyalgia sufferer often despairs of explaining their illness as it all sounds so dramatic and full on. Hey, it is! To them! And guess what, no two days are the same. So, like a manic depressive, they will have inexplicable good days and bad days.
Quite often it's not your sympathy that is required but just your empathy and understanding.
I am not a sufferer but I can now see quite clearly that despite whatever ailment(s) have flared up for the worse, it is the person's ability or inabilty to get through the day with simple or complicated tasks that can be the real disabling problem. It compounds all the symptons to make it a truly crippling and chronic illness.
For a Fibromyalgia sufferer, life is like a game of Kerplunk
The game of Kerplunk is an analogy of someone with fibromyalgia, or any chronic illness. The main stem is the body. The marbles insides represents energy. The straws to be pulled represent the tasks to be done.
Every time a task is done, or one straw is pulled, a small or large amount of energy is used. One or more marbles can fall. It's a gamble.
When all the marbles have gone, there are is no energy left. Doesn't matter how many straws are left, those tasks can not be done. There is no energy left until it is replenished. Game over. The day is done.
Every day they try to get on with a variety of tasks, from getting up, ironing, shopping, reading, looking after a family, etc. But fluctuating energy levels and a variety of illnesses slow them down or thwart their attempts to complete them.
How can energy levels be restored? Plenty of sleep, food, medication to ease the suffering. Then, start again the next day. But, have more straws been added back in the next day? Or are there just the ones left over from the previous day?
It's hard keeping on top of a schedule or agenda. Which is part of an organised life. We stay organised to keep us on top of our tasks, relaxed and happy. It's just something else that "doesn't go right!" for a fibromyalgia sufferer - that confounded to-do list never seems to get finished, or sometimes even started.
Every time a task is done, or one straw is pulled, a small or large amount of energy is used. One or more marbles can fall. It's a gamble.
When all the marbles have gone, there are is no energy left. Doesn't matter how many straws are left, those tasks can not be done. There is no energy left until it is replenished. Game over. The day is done.
Every day they try to get on with a variety of tasks, from getting up, ironing, shopping, reading, looking after a family, etc. But fluctuating energy levels and a variety of illnesses slow them down or thwart their attempts to complete them.
How can energy levels be restored? Plenty of sleep, food, medication to ease the suffering. Then, start again the next day. But, have more straws been added back in the next day? Or are there just the ones left over from the previous day?
It's hard keeping on top of a schedule or agenda. Which is part of an organised life. We stay organised to keep us on top of our tasks, relaxed and happy. It's just something else that "doesn't go right!" for a fibromyalgia sufferer - that confounded to-do list never seems to get finished, or sometimes even started.
Someone with Fibromyalgia can have many of the 60+ symptoms
Life is hard enough juggling work, shopping, family, friends, paying of bills, social life, etc.
But imagine trying to cope with all of that, and a lot illnesses and ailments too. Each one of them needing a different medication. A lot of them overlapping with other symptoms so you have to work out which one is givng the real cause of concern. Stress, weather, poor immune, lack of sleep, etc., can all manifest the ailments too.
When you visit a doctor or medical professional and try to explain each of the symptoms, and when they are most prevalent, it can be a long and complicated list that may lead the doctor to conclude that some are even imaginary.
Many Doctors aren't even aware of Fibromyalgia. They can't never treat the illness holistically only systematically. It's a bit like a fireman at a fire with lots of hot spots; just as one fire is doused then another flares up.
More research is required for this illness to help with diagnosis and treatment.
That is why we need your donation to help Fibroduck Foundation champion that cause.
But imagine trying to cope with all of that, and a lot illnesses and ailments too. Each one of them needing a different medication. A lot of them overlapping with other symptoms so you have to work out which one is givng the real cause of concern. Stress, weather, poor immune, lack of sleep, etc., can all manifest the ailments too.
When you visit a doctor or medical professional and try to explain each of the symptoms, and when they are most prevalent, it can be a long and complicated list that may lead the doctor to conclude that some are even imaginary.
Many Doctors aren't even aware of Fibromyalgia. They can't never treat the illness holistically only systematically. It's a bit like a fireman at a fire with lots of hot spots; just as one fire is doused then another flares up.
More research is required for this illness to help with diagnosis and treatment.
That is why we need your donation to help Fibroduck Foundation champion that cause.
Explaining a "Spoonie", a person with a Chronic Illness
A person living with chronic illness, such as fibromyalgia, usually identifies with Christine Miserandino's Spoon Theory.
Spoonies are people that live with chronic illness; theoretically measuring personal daily abilities much as one would measure the proper amount of spoons needed for an event or occasion... sometimes having an abundance, other times coming up short.
Worst of all, some one with a chronic illness often doesn't even look sick.
People often measure, or judge, a person's disability or illness by how they look or if they need "aids".
Spoonies are people that live with chronic illness; theoretically measuring personal daily abilities much as one would measure the proper amount of spoons needed for an event or occasion... sometimes having an abundance, other times coming up short.
Worst of all, some one with a chronic illness often doesn't even look sick.
People often measure, or judge, a person's disability or illness by how they look or if they need "aids".
This is a beautiful poem about living with Fibromyalgia
Laura Peacock suffers with Fibromyalgia and I think this eloquently explains life as a suffer. It paints a descriptive and poignant painting.
