JUST INTRODUCING MYSELF

[Guest guest]

Hi my name is Donna.

I've been living with fibromyalgia for more than eight years now. I'm

at a point in my life where I can no longer stand the constant pain.

I have 3 wonderful doctors that are wonderful to talk with about

anything. My thing is that I can't seem to break the cycle of pain

for more and a couple of weeks and then I'll have a very bad flare up

that will last for at least a couple of months. I have a heart

condition and high blood pressure, I just had my gallbladder removed,

I have an ulcer and a hiatal hernina and I'm just 32. It seems so

unfair, I don't think I'll have my job much longer. I'm always

depressed... I just need the support of others that are going through

what I am. Everyone at work thinks I'm faking even when I can't walk

or move my hands. I don't know if I can go on! Help Please.

Blessings,

Donna

[Guest guest]

Hi Donna.....

Suggestions......

One of the first things you can do to help yourself is .......... " let go " of

trying to get others to understand your health situation,at work. By expecting

them to understand, you are putting a lot of emotional stress on yourself. In a

whole lifetime, there are probably going to be a few dozen people who are going

to take the time to understand it ....so why direct energy ( that is hard to

come by in the first place) AWAY from taking care of you? Seek support from this

board and your doctors, instead. I hope it is a relief to know that we DO

BELIEVE YOU. Use your energy to listen to your body and nurture it. Only engage

in conversation about your condition when it will have a positive benefit. None

of us has energy to waste. Tell yourself that your peers also suffer from an

INVISIBLE ILLNESS.......and the name of that illness is IGNORANCE ( I am not

using the word ingnorance in a demeaning way here, we are all ignorant about

" something " .For example, if you were to ask me how a radio or TV " work " or my

washing machine, I would have to admit, I am ignorant in those topics ).....

Heck, many doctors don't " get it " , many family members don't " get it " , so

expecting the guy or gal who sits next to you at work to " get it " could be an

unreasonable expectation.

I don't drink (alcohol) and when I get up in the night or first thing in the AM

, I stagger. I cannot understand for the life of me, why someone would

deliberately get " drunk " to feel this way! Should I focus on my balance or

wondering if someone were to see me in action, how they would view or judge

this? They may assume, I'm drunk...do I care? I think my focus should be ME and

prevention of a fall , don't you?

If you just had surgery, I am sure your pain is compounded. Don't be too hard on

yourself. One thing I have noticed is that I become older , I don't beat myself

for not being able to do the things that people who don't have fibromyalgia seem

to be able to do so easily. If the dishes get done, they get done; if they don't

, they don't AND if I am in a flare, the last thing I need to do is explain why

they aren't.

I am always playing catch-up with my chores ....and that can cause soooooo much

stress.

Wash the windows???? I don't think so.....LOL

Stop beating yourself ......do what you can and let go of the rest....

Best Wishes....

Marieanne.

---------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Hi Donna.....

Suggestions......

One of the first things you can do to help yourself is .......... " let go " of

trying to get others to understand your health situation,at work. By expecting

them to understand, you are putting a lot of emotional stress on yourself. In a

whole lifetime, there are probably going to be a few dozen people who are going

to take the time to understand it ....so why direct energy ( that is hard to

come by in the first place) AWAY from taking care of you? Seek support from this

board and your doctors, instead. I hope it is a relief to know that we DO

BELIEVE YOU. Use your energy to listen to your body and nurture it. Only engage

in conversation about your condition when it will have a positive benefit. None

of us has energy to waste. Tell yourself that your peers also suffer from an

INVISIBLE ILLNESS.......and the name of that illness is IGNORANCE ( I am not

using the word ingnorance in a demeaning way here, we are all ignorant about

" something " .For example, if you were to ask me how a radio or TV " work " or my

washing machine, I would have to admit, I am ignorant in those topics ).....

Heck, many doctors don't " get it " , many family members don't " get it " , so

expecting the guy or gal who sits next to you at work to " get it " could be an

unreasonable expectation.

I don't drink (alcohol) and when I get up in the night or first thing in the AM

, I stagger. I cannot understand for the life of me, why someone would

deliberately get " drunk " to feel this way! Should I focus on my balance or

wondering if someone were to see me in action, how they would view or judge

this? They may assume, I'm drunk...do I care? I think my focus should be ME and

prevention of a fall , don't you?

If you just had surgery, I am sure your pain is compounded. Don't be too hard on

yourself. One thing I have noticed is that I become older , I don't beat myself

for not being able to do the things that people who don't have fibromyalgia seem

to be able to do so easily. If the dishes get done, they get done; if they don't

, they don't AND if I am in a flare, the last thing I need to do is explain why

they aren't.

I am always playing catch-up with my chores ....and that can cause soooooo much

stress.

Wash the windows???? I don't think so.....LOL

Stop beating yourself ......do what you can and let go of the rest....

Best Wishes....

Marieanne.

---------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Hi Donna.....

Suggestions......

One of the first things you can do to help yourself is .......... " let go " of

trying to get others to understand your health situation,at work. By expecting

them to understand, you are putting a lot of emotional stress on yourself. In a

whole lifetime, there are probably going to be a few dozen people who are going

to take the time to understand it ....so why direct energy ( that is hard to

come by in the first place) AWAY from taking care of you? Seek support from this

board and your doctors, instead. I hope it is a relief to know that we DO

BELIEVE YOU. Use your energy to listen to your body and nurture it. Only engage

in conversation about your condition when it will have a positive benefit. None

of us has energy to waste. Tell yourself that your peers also suffer from an

INVISIBLE ILLNESS.......and the name of that illness is IGNORANCE ( I am not

using the word ingnorance in a demeaning way here, we are all ignorant about

" something " .For example, if you were to ask me how a radio or TV " work " or my

washing machine, I would have to admit, I am ignorant in those topics ).....

Heck, many doctors don't " get it " , many family members don't " get it " , so

expecting the guy or gal who sits next to you at work to " get it " could be an

unreasonable expectation.

I don't drink (alcohol) and when I get up in the night or first thing in the AM

, I stagger. I cannot understand for the life of me, why someone would

deliberately get " drunk " to feel this way! Should I focus on my balance or

wondering if someone were to see me in action, how they would view or judge

this? They may assume, I'm drunk...do I care? I think my focus should be ME and

prevention of a fall , don't you?

If you just had surgery, I am sure your pain is compounded. Don't be too hard on

yourself. One thing I have noticed is that I become older , I don't beat myself

for not being able to do the things that people who don't have fibromyalgia seem

to be able to do so easily. If the dishes get done, they get done; if they don't

, they don't AND if I am in a flare, the last thing I need to do is explain why

they aren't.

I am always playing catch-up with my chores ....and that can cause soooooo much

stress.

Wash the windows???? I don't think so.....LOL

Stop beating yourself ......do what you can and let go of the rest....

Best Wishes....

Marieanne.

---------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Marieanne writes,

> I don't drink (alcohol) and when I get up in the night or first thing in the

> AM , I stagger. I cannot understand for the life of me, why someone would

> deliberately get " drunk " to feel this way! Should I focus on my balance or

> wondering if someone were to see me in action, how they would view or judge

> this? They may assume, I'm drunk...do I care? I think my focus should be

> ME and prevention of a fall, don't you?

I do have to focus on the problem of staggering and falls. I fall a lot and

I do stagger quite a bit. My problem is that I did drink alcohol. I am a

recovering alcoholic of about 7 years. So people do judge me. The want to

see if I am drinking again. I have almost fallen of a porch by staggering by

the door and the first thing I hear is " drinking again, Irene. " I find this

very difficult to handle as there are those that yell it out as loud as

possible. Especially when I am carrying an alcoholic beverage for someone

else. How do you handle this? I have tried ignoring them, answering them in

a nice manner and as far as I can see, angry is what is coming next. In a

nice way, of course.

Heaven forbid that I should do anything in an unnice way. That, to some,

would make them sure that I was drinking. At the end, I was not a nice

drinker. To say the least.

Take care,

Irene

Books may well be the only true magic

Alice Hoffman

[Guest guest]

I'm sorry Irene - but I would have to tell them to kiss my .......

This may not be the right responce from you but, Geez.... people can

be so STUPID.

I used to be a very angry person. I was the queen of " remarks " - (not

the word I wanted to use - but fibrofog prevents me from remembering

how to spell it !!).

I completely chilled out when I was pregnant 13 years ago.

And although I am extremely nice and accomodating - I still often

speak my mind. Just more appropriately now, more sensible, and less

often. I quess that is one of the reasons I am called queenbee in our

group of friends and associates.

You deserve to be surrounded with people who love you and respect

you, not those that wish to make such stabs at you. Recovery alcholic

or not. This makes no matter !!!

Sending love and hugs your way.

Cinda

> Marieanne writes,

>

> > I don't drink (alcohol) and when I get up in the night or first

thing in the

> > AM , I stagger. I cannot understand for the life of me, why

someone would

> > deliberately get " drunk " to feel this way! Should I focus on my

balance or

> > wondering if someone were to see me in action, how they would

view or judge

> > this? They may assume, I'm drunk...do I care? I think my focus

should be

> > ME and prevention of a fall, don't you?

>

>

> I do have to focus on the problem of staggering and falls. I fall

a lot and

> I do stagger quite a bit. My problem is that I did drink alcohol.

I am a

> recovering alcoholic of about 7 years. So people do judge me. The

want to

> see if I am drinking again. I have almost fallen of a porch by

staggering by

> the door and the first thing I hear is " drinking again, Irene. " I

find this

> very difficult to handle as there are those that yell it out as

loud as

> possible. Especially when I am carrying an alcoholic beverage for

someone

> else. How do you handle this? I have tried ignoring them,

answering them in

> a nice manner and as far as I can see, angry is what is coming

next. In a

> nice way, of course.

>

> Heaven forbid that I should do anything in an unnice way. That, to

some,

> would make them sure that I was drinking. At the end, I was not a

nice

> drinker. To say the least.

>

>

> Take care,

> Irene

>

> Books may well be the only true magic

> Alice Hoffman

>

>

>