Re: April 8th - 1st Local Support Group

[Guest guest]

I love your positive outlook, . I hope your new in person group will be a

good thing for you. " Gag Me With A Spoon! " LOL! I haven't heard that one in a

long time.

Jeanne in WI

I tracked down a local FM support group that meets once a month, finally get

to talk face to face with someone in the same boat.

My previous support of any kind was a local SciFi literary group that has two

women who have FM and are on SSI disability. (lucky them)

One takes any mention of FM as a " challange " and usually responds with a line

like, " Well if you want to compare _________ " .

The second is a confirmed " Sympathy Fisher " , and will corner people to include

strangers at the meeting place specifically to garner their heartfelt sympathy.

(Gag me with a spoon,..like totally)

I've told both women that FM is depressing enough without getting into a

symptom battle and pitty me scenario. And I've come to the conclusion that both

are very proud of their ill health. Never once has either talked about something

positive and uplifting, it's always doom & gloom and they can have it.

Me, I have a life to live even if it sometimes serves sour grapes. Just take

off your sweaty socks and stomp them into stinky wine.

[Guest guest]

,

After reading this all I can say is " good for you " ! You are correct -

this disease can suck big-time and none of us would wish it on our

worst enemy. Not to mention the fact that most of us have other

chronic health conditions and some have had to continue to slog thru

work, etc., because they don't have the option to go out on

disability right now or perhaps don't have LTD available at their

employer. So we have to look for the positive when we can!

Today, I was able to get out of bed and take a shower. I hurt like

hell but the heat from the shower eased some of the pain. The meds I

took have eased it sufficiently that I am able to sit here and read

and answer my emails while doing the family laundry. So there is

something positive! I am NOT laying in bed (at least right

now....lol) and having a self-imposed pity party, I did something

about my pain (took some meds) and looked for something I could do

(the laundry) that wouldn't tax me too much, but would help us all

out in the big picture!

We all have to find our silver lining and some days, it is hard. It

could be the fact that we made it thru 8 hrs of work; it could be

that we received some unexpected help from a family member or friend;

it could be that we got some good news. Whatever it is, I think this

beast thrives on negativitiy and so I am chosing to be positive, even

when I hurt, because there are lots of folks who cannot communicate

the fact that they hurt - I can! And while I wonder when my hearing

will come, I am so very grateful that my (former) employer offered

LTD disability and I selected it! Because guess what? Even if I am

turned down for SSI, if my physicians feel I am sufficiently disabled

to be unable to work, given all my illnesses, my LTD continues until

I am 65 yrs old! Isn't that a positive blessing! And I am making some

positive changes in my eating habits and lifestyle. That's bound to

help, right?

So I am with . I hurt - some days (like today, with the rain,

etc.) are worse than others (the tops of my thighs are numb), but I

am still breathing and alive, so that counts for something!

Darlene

>

> I tracked down a local FM support group that meets once a month,

> finally get to talk face to face with someone in the same boat.

>

> My previous support of any kind was a local SciFi literary group

that

> has two women who have FM and are on SSI disability. (lucky them)

>

> One takes any mention of FM as a " challange " and usually responds

> with a line like, " Well if you want to compare _________ " .

>

> The second is a confirmed " Sympathy Fisher " , and will corner people

> to include strangers at the meeting place specifically to garner

> their heartfelt sympathy. (Gag me with a spoon,..like totally)

>

> I've told both women that FM is depressing enough without getting

> into a symptom battle and pitty me scenario. And I've come to the

> conclusion that both are very proud of their ill health. Never once

> has either talked about something positive and uplifting, it's

always

> doom & gloom and they can have it.

>

> Me, I have a life to live even if it sometimes serves sour grapes.

> Just take off your sweaty socks and stomp them into stinky wine.

>

[Guest guest]

Good deal, .

There is no group around my area. I am going to be in a " Chronic Pain " group

experiment at my doctor's clinic that his therapist is setting up. This could

be interesting. I hope it's NOT just a " pity party " type thing. We all have

pain, we all know it sucks, etc. What I'm looking for is a group that will

exchange " coping " stratagies and stuff like that.

I hope you're group is helpful. You'll have to tell us all about it.

Take care.

J in East Northcentral Minnesota

http://sisypheanranch.blogspot.com/

'Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain.'

April 8th - 1st Local Support Group

I tracked down a local FM support group that meets once a month,

finally get to talk face to face with someone in the same boat.

.