Re: Accepting & Dealing with the pain/

[Guest guest]

Dear All:

The acceptance of people not seeing me in pain has been the most

challenging thing for me with fibromyalgia. This is another reason I

am so thankful for this group is because I am reading things that I

feel and know and cannot really talk about to other people who don't

understand.

I am 50 years old and have been in pain all my life. When I was just

a child, I would cry and get a headache. In my late teens, I started

having neck problems that caused shortness of breath and pain in neck

and shoulders. In 1992, after 10 years of bouncing b/w every doctor

available (even got the rundown at Mayo Clinic and was told " you have

psychological issues but nothing else is wrong " ), I finally was

diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Since then it has been a series of

trying to cope and find the best treatment for my chronic pain and

depression as a result of it. Since alcohol is my " drug of choice "

because it is the only thing that numbs the pain, I have had to deal

with alcoholism and am in treatment for it now for my mental

acceptance to the fact that it really doesn't help. (Please don't

misunderstand me that I am advocating alcohol is an answer and that

you should try it. I'm just explaining my experience, and it is a

very selfish, dangerous, unhealthy and unwise habit to get into,

especially if you are an alcoholic and cross the line into alcoholism

like I did.)

Sometimes I feel guilty because I cannot keep up with my

responsibilities and feel people don't understand because I

don't " look sick. " I have even been as selfish as to think, " If I

had cancer at least I would know there is an end to my pain. " Then I

feel guilty about that.

What do I do now? I take the medication that helps take the edge

off, take lots of deep breaths (because I have a breathing problem

too that is neuroskeletal-related), tell myself " everything is going

to be okay -- maybe not perfect, but okay), " do whatever exercises my

body will allow me to do THIS day (even if it is just a 10 min.

walk), seek out my chiropractic help when I need it, knit and

crochet, and try to channel my mind to positive things.

Thanks for being here and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Please do not be ashamed of dealing with alcoholism. I know a lot of people

with chronic pain and without who deal with alcoholism. I don't like alcohol

all that much. I did when I was younger, and had my fair share of hangovers

from partying at dorms and bars and houses lol. Just know that you are not

judged by anyone for being who you are. We all have our battles. I will be

praying for you not only for your pain but also for dealing with alcoholism!

Love,

Becky/SD

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[Guest guest]

B wrote:The acceptance of people not seeing me in pain has been the

mostchallenging thing for me with fibromyalgia. This is another reason I am so

thankful for this group is because I am reading things that Ifeel and know and

cannot really talk about to other people who don't understand.

>

,

I read your post with interest because I had " sore " muscles and " growing

pains " all throughout my childhood and grew up to have

fibromylgia.

The diagnosis was incidental from a doctor whose wife had it. I keep my

fibro in remission if I get sleep and my stress down.

It rears its ugly head and spreads it poison throughtout my body every

now and then to remind me its still there. When I started

Lyrica three months ago and it helped me, I could tell my fibro had been

there low key for awhile.

I hope that you have many remissions and low pain levels and we are here

for you : )

Bennie