How I "Caught" Fibromyalgia

How it all started...

While fibro is not something you can contract from another person or persons there are links to it being hereditary. I believe my paternal grandmother, my mother and father all suffered from it but it was at a time long before anyone ever thought to diagnose this syndrome. 


My sister also had fibro. She was the first diagnosed person that I knew who suffered from it and it was that diagnosis that first brought my attention to this chronic condition. Because she had the illness I researched it, trying to find something that might help her. I recognized that I probably had a "touch of it" but did not want to admit that I was experiencing the same illness she had because it seemed to anger her that I would say such a thing. She told me I could not possibly have fibro because my symptoms were not completely the same as hers. Had she only known then what I know now, but she never will as she has passed on.

What's a Spoonie?

Spoon Theory

Spoon Theory is one that is used to explain just what it is that many people with chronic illness deal with on a daily basis. The infographic below explains it about the best and easiest way I have found. Anyone that can relate to this can call themselves a "Spoonie" in order to help others who understand the term relate to them.

I kind of use this myself but mostly with others who understand the term. To me it is about energy and my pool is kind of like a energy bank account that I spend from-if I deplete it then it's gone. If I go over my allotted spending then I have a deficit that I have to refill. 

Research finds nerve damage in patients with fibromyalgia

NEW YORK, Dec. 16, 2014 /PRNewswire

Therapath, LLC (www.therapath.com), a leader in neuropathology laboratory services, reports that new findings have revealed that patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia may also have a diagnosable small fiber neuropathy.

Objective skin test for small fiber neuropathy needed to diagnose

For more info see the full article on Yahoo

My Fibro Symptoms

How fibro has reared it's ugly head...

Every case of fibromyalgia is different. One person may experience a whole array of symptoms that another does not. So far there have been over 200 of them linked to this illness and I have a feeling there will be more in time.

I actually feel like I am what is termed a "hypochondriac" by many people because I have so many symptoms that seem totally unrelated. The other issue is that they can come and go-one day I may have debilitating pain and the next it can be quite a bit less. Itching is another that seems to come and go and I cannot relate it to any other cause-I will have problems with deep itching that lasts for hours, it will subside then come back again for days or weeks then disappear for several months, only to start again.

Fibromyalgia

An Intro-so to speak 

Can you imagine going through your day with your back on fire while you still keep going and doing and taking care of all the regular things that you have to do in a normal day? I don't mean a slight burning sensation either. I mean you actually are ON FIRE. Instead of running or dousing yourself or stop, drop and rolling,  you just keep plugging along while that fire just keeps burning on and on and on.