Saw this trending on the socials as more of a generational thing but I figured it would be fun to see what we can come up with about Fibro, put our own ‘fibro flare’ on it if you will (I’m only funny to myself but sometimes its worth it LOL)
Tag: fibro flare
Off with her head… or all the rest of the parts that hurt…
We’ve all been there, some social event that you drag yourself out of bed for, any big gathering that you’ve saved up your spoons for because you know how things get. You’ve managed to smile for most of the people and start to ache, thinking only of the inevitable crash that comes after having fun with others. You’ve clocked the exits, you’re making your rounds saying goodbye to everyone. Hand shakes, gentle hugs for the chosen few, when someone sees you trying to make your quiet farewell. A loud someone. A judgemental someone. A someone you’ve artfully managed to dodge for the entire event, and there they are blocking the door. You can hear it already, their complete dismissal of the monster that consumes your entire being most days. How much you wish you could just transfer the monster to this persons back for five minutes, maybe you’d get a little empathy. Of course not. Today is the day they get through to you that you’re not feeling what you think you’re feeling, you’re feeling what THEY think you are feeling, and with a lot less first hand knowledge. Rolling your eyes and thanking them won’t work, but you are not in the mood to debate it, some people will just never believe what they can’t see, touch, or feel themselves.
You are not going to change hearts and minds here. Your best bet is to leave before anyone’s feelings are hurt (including your own, some people are mean). BUTTTTTT, you see where this is going, so you square your shoulders and smile, hoping to minimize the interaction and get out of there before drawing a crowd and having to say goodbye to everybody all over again. Bracing for it, you are not at all surprised to hear, ‘You know, I read that fibromyalgia is 100% mental, have you ever thought about the possibility you’re just too sensitive? It’s all in your head, I bet’
Oh boy. He went there. Now if you’re like me and you are not completely depleted from peopleing at this point, this is when you laugh. Not the good funny ha-ha laugh, but the ‘listen here f*cktw@t’ chuckle of you loading up the heat to roast this fool. Get out your marshmallows and gather round…
Guys fibro is hard, and fibro fog makes thinking of quick witty comebacks a near impossibility, but if you are prepared, locked and loaded with the snark this comment deserves this can be the highlight of the evening not just for you but for all in the vicinity, especially those who don’t enjoy this tool’s company. I GOT YOU! Look no further, these comebacks are sure to have him feeling the heat of that burn until the next party (where I promise at least this dumbass won’t be providing color commentary on your health.)
‘Oh wow of course! All I need to do is flip the switch in my brain labeled pain sensitivity to the off position, why didnt I think of that!’ – Ironically thats what some of our meds actually do, but this person wasn’t trying to be helpful and you don’t owe him a science lesson.
‘Wow, why didn’t I think of that? Let me just tell these nerves to stop being so dramatic’ – That one works best with an eye roll and then a fast subject change, as if you have no time for his shit.
‘Great idea! I’ll just add ‘ignore chronic pain’ to my to-do list. I’ll put it right under solve world hunger and teach you how to find the g-spot’ – That one is savage and might need to be adjusted in accordance with their sexual orientation
‘Oh silly me, I forgot to unsubscribe to the feeling pain newsletter, and I forgot my imaginary pain repellent! Can I borrow yours?’ – You can add ‘never mind, I’ll find my own, I forgot you keep yours up your ass with your head’ it depends on who is around and how much you dislike this person.
The last one is best delivered with full eye roll and exaggerated ‘I’m over this’ hair toss – ‘Ah, the elusive solution: simply pretend it doesn’t exist. Thanks for the groundbreaking advice. Remind me to cancel my doctors appointment and just think happy thoughts, why did I forget I was going to get to see Dr. Obvious, first name Captain’ and swish on out of there.
None of these are ideal, but neither are the ignorant people with uneducated opinions. You won’t change anyone’s heart or mind because its exactly as two dimensional as any other illness that has never touched that persons life, so you might as well get a decent laugh out of it, maybe provide a witness with a funny story to tell. Until next time gang, take care of yourselves, and each other!
Responses to well meaning family and friends
Fibro because its not all about the Zzzs… except when it is…
Fibro folk, tell me I’m not alone, you’re out, having some fun with friends, one of them out of the handful that are around, knows about your Fibro and inquires about your health. You thank them for their genuine concern, pleased to know someone is listening, when another one says ‘Oh is that the sleeping one? I got some (insert name of sleep supplement here) from facebook/tiktok/my sister’s brother in law’s father’s uncle said it works for all those and it knocks me right out’ while you are looking down so that fire doesnt shoot out of your eye holes you remember you’re too tired to argue with this person that you hardly know about what the different kinds of tireds there are. Let her be her dumb ass self and hope that she never has any type of chronic illness, because you wouldnt wish any of it on your worst enemy let alone this obnoxiously oblivious woman.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and Fibromyalgia are both chronic conditions characterized by symptoms that can significantly impact a person’s quality of life, but they differ in their primary symptoms and diagnostic criteria. “Just being tired,” on the other hand, typically refers to a temporary state of fatigue that can be alleviated by rest and does not meet the criteria for either CFS or Fibromyalgia.
CFS, also known as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), is primarily characterized by profound fatigue that is not alleviated by rest and persists for at least six months. This fatigue is often accompanied by other symptoms such as cognitive difficulties (often referred to as “brain fog”), muscle and joint pain, headaches, sore throat, and tender lymph nodes. The exact cause of CFS is not fully understood, but it is believed to involve a combination of factors including viral infections, immune dysfunction, and psychological stressors.
Fibromyalgia, on the other hand, is primarily characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain and tenderness, often accompanied by fatigue, sleep disturbances, cognitive difficulties, and mood disorders such as depression and anxiety. The pain associated with fibromyalgia typically affects specific tender points in the body, and the condition is thought to involve abnormalities in how the brain and spinal cord process pain signals, as well as factors such as genetics, infections, and trauma.
“Just being tired,” or transient fatigue, is a common experience that everyone encounters at some point in their lives due to factors such as inadequate sleep, physical exertion, stress, or illness. Unlike CFS and Fibromyalgia, transient fatigue typically resolves with rest and does not persist for an extended period of time. While it may share some symptoms with CFS and Fibromyalgia, such as fatigue, it lacks the severity, duration, and accompanying symptoms necessary for a diagnosis of either condition.
Til tomorrow folks, be kind to yourself and one another.
Fibromyalgia, Bipolar, and me…
Hi Guys!
I’m actually writing this out before hand because my endless streams of consciousness get confusing and I wanted to give you all some facts with your funny today (or MY funny, I’m not going to presume to know how you feel about things). As I’ve talked about in detail, I suffer from both Bipolar and Fibro among some other alphabet disorders and such. Part of the challenge when you suffer from multiple illnesses is difficulty TREATING the illness has a whole because you are so busy trying to battle symptoms
Ah, the overlap symptoms, where Fibromyalgia and Bipolar Disorder play their favorite game of “Fibro, flare, bipolar or unidentifiable illness?” Let’s dive into this delightful pool of confusion, shall we?
- Fatigue Fiesta: Is it the fibro fog or the bipolar brain drain? Who knows! One day you’re bouncing off the walls with energy, the next you’re contemplating the physics of whether it’s possible to sleep while standing up. I’m talented enough to get both in the same day. I know, don’t be jealous lol Why choose between chronic fatigue and mood-induced exhaustion when you can have both, right? When you are dealing with this fatigue, it touches so many other parts of your life, and being tired all the time ruins your quality of life.
- Pain Parade: Is it fibro spreading its discomfort like peanut butter on toast, or just your bipolar mood swings throwing a tantrum in the form of physical agony? Who needs targeted discomfort when you’ve got a buffet of sensations to keep you guessing? Every new ache becomes a game of medical Clue: “Was it Colonel Fibro in the living room with the pain stick, or Professor Bipolar in the kitchen with the mood swing?” It’s like living in a mystery novel, except the plot twists are your own nerve endings.
- Gaslighting: Oh, don’t even get me started. Before you can say “It’s all in your head,” we’ve already played that mind game with ourselves a hundred times over. And when someone finally agrees with the doubts we’ve been wrestling with, it’s like a twisted validation that only makes things worse.
- Take my cardiac arrest saga, for example. My heart decided to play hopscotch with its rhythm, and each fluttery beat had me convinced it was just another fibro flare-up. So, I shrugged it off, attributing it to the usual suspects. Turns out, it was a serious problem hiding in plain sight, but hey, who needs hindsight when you’ve got a PhD in self-gaslighting, right?
- So, here’s to the dangers of doubting your own symptoms and the perils of playing doctor with Dr. Google. Because when it comes to your health, it’s better to be safe than sorry – even if it means admitting that sometimes, you don’t have all the answers.
- Sleepless Slumber Party: Can’t sleep? Welcome to the club! With both fibro and bipolar on the guest list, your nights are a delightful mix of tossing, turning, and contemplating the meaning of life at 3 AM. Is it the fibro’s fault for making your bed feel like a bed of nails, or is it the bipolar’s insistence on turning your brain into a 24/7 circus of thoughts? Sleep is overrated anyway, right? That’s why sticking to a routine is essential. I sleep ok finally, but I had to change a lot, I’m in bed by 9pm 90% of the time because I changed my routine to what fit me best. For the life of me I CANNOT sleep past 4 am so I have to adjust my bedtime accordingly. As I said, listen to the natural rhythm of your body as much as you can
- Mood Swing Shindig: Ah, the pièce de résistance of symptom overlap! One minute you’re as giddy as a kid in a candy store, the next you’re contemplating whether it’s socially acceptable to cry into your cereal. Is it the fibro fog clouding your emotions, or is it the bipolar rollercoaster taking you on a wild ride through the valleys of despair and the peaks of mania? Who needs emotional stability when you can have a mood swing buffet? Being in a mixed episode for a prolonged period of time, I can’t hold on to the ride and bouncing between the highs and lows is leaving me bruised and bewildered
- So, dear patient, welcome to the wonderful world where fibro and bipolar team up to keep you guessing and your doctors scratching their heads. Who needs clarity when you can have a medical mystery novel written by the masters of chaos themselves? Enjoy the ride!
Be kind to yourselves, and each other!
…. survey says… FLARE!
Hey gang. I don’t have much to say today because today is a heavy pain day but I think tomorrow will be better. Well it will be because I said so and its my birthday and I intend to make it my bitch. Pain be damned I have shit to do! I even got whipped cream because I was going to make myself some birthday cupcakes, but I forgot to get the cupcakes. You know what’s really good? Apple cinnamon whipped cream, you make it with, DAMNIT GEORGE
Anyway, with my flare kicking my ass I haven’t been mustering up the energy to do anything other than put my head down and survive the last few days. I had plans to mow the yard but had to be alone this afternoon and we try and make sure he’s here if I’m outside. I might try for it tomorrow morning, which I know is dumb to do on my birthday but it gives me a deep sense of peace.
My leg/hip is the main source of problems. Its the side that took the brunt of the impact from the car accident, but its more front of my thigh. Its so weird, there’s got to be exposed nerves in there. As anyone with fibro will tell you, we’re limited in options of what even has a chance of working, but I’ve purposely limited my choices further. I’ve recently found that any ache or new pain I have brought to my doctors attention has gone very similar to this:
So, what brings you here today
Well I have a new ache, its (there’s a number but we’ll use my leg for this example), its usually at maybe a 2 or 3, like enough of an ache in the background to notice, but not to do anything about but recently it hasn’t gone below a 5 and will frequently jump up to a white hot eleven with no notice and its so severe I will fall down because of it, like just an absolute blinding pain, almost like somethings brushing against a nerve’
I swear she didn’t even look up, just nodded and put info into a chart.
Yes, I’m sorry, that’s part of fibro from what I understand, have you tried ice or this med or that or a combo…
Look ma’am I’ve had fibro for 16 years, I KNOW fibro pain, this is NEW.
Its fine. She’s probably right. I just feel like I’m not being heard and it adds to the pain and frustration until I’m walking around like a boiling tea kettle. But we’re managing. We got up. We ate something. We made a number of new products and we researched how to make 10 more.
Progress, any meaningful progress anyway, doesn’t happen over night, but it happens. I know this. I have seen it. I’ve done it. Just keep pushing forward my friends, its all we can do. Every once and a while reach your hand out, whether in need to or offer assistance, people care. You matter.
Tomorrow will be a good day. Til next time, stay kind to yourselves and each other.
WannaBeNormal 