Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is not a nice thing to live with and it’s very difficult trying to explain it to people as it’s an invisible illness. Recently I’ve been going through a really bad flare, since last September 2022 and was off work for 9 weeks. The pain at times was so bad that it just consumes you, you can think of nothing else. Painkillers won’t touch it, distraction techniques won’t work, meditation neither. At times the only thing I found relief was a hot chocolate with some whiskey in. Now I very rarely drink these days due to the medication I’m on and the sheer fact that my body won’t let me. But when the pain is so bad and I can’t sleep 😴 believe me a hot chocolate and a very large whiskey or 2 have hit the spot and I’ve slept like a baby. Not often that happens. Waking up is the worse, feeling like you’ve been run over, rolled over and run over again. Shooting pains going up your spine. Wrists, hands, feet hurt. Shoulder pain and under the shoulder blades with muscle spasms and migraines, low back pain, knee pain, well the list goes on. Hot water bottles are great and painkillers. Sleep is good when you get to sleep. I went back to work and after 2 weeks had to go off sick again. I’ve cut out food. Wheat and gluten free bread is the worst. It’s like eating a flip flop, not that I’ve ever eaten one but how I’d imagine one to taste. I think everything in moderation is probably the best. It’s my chocolate addiction I need to kick. I’m now back at work again and the pain is back and the muscle spasms. Before I returned to work this time I had 2 pain free days, heaven. The one thing to never do even when the pain is at it’s worst, never give up. The pain is always there lingering either at a level 2 or 6 even a 10. Never give up hope. Don’t be ashamed if it makes you cry, scream, shout when it’s at its worst. Let it out. There are better days ahead. If it’s cold and raining and you’re not at work, leave the housework, snuggle up on the sofa and watch something you’ll love on TV. Don’t forget the hot water bottle and hot chocolate. 😊