Fibro Flare Cheats: My Shortcuts for Surviving the Pain and the Fog
Living with fibromyalgia means sometimes you’ve got energy for the whole world, and other days you’re doing well just to blink. Pain, fatigue, brain fog — the full house. And when those days hit? Forget playing life on “hard mode.” I cheat. I cheat all the time. And honestly? It’s how I survive.
Snack First, Cook Later
Some people meal prep. I stock sausage rolls. Anything I can keep by my side and grab without moving too far wins. On bad days, I’ll order in — but I’ll order something with salad, so I can at least pretend I’ve eaten my veggies. Honestly, even the onions and peppers in salt and pepper chicken count in my book.
Uber Eats is a lifesaver. Need chocolate to survive the day? Uber it. Sick of pretending water is enough? Uber a fizzy drink. If you ask me, it’s less “cheating” and more “symptom management.”
Work Smarter (By Talking to Yourself)
Typing when your hands ache or your brain’s gone walkabout? Nope. Voice notes and dictation are lifesavers. I talk into Google Docs, slap a label with the work code on it, and edit it when I can string two thoughts together. It’s like having a PA who doesn’t judge your rambling or complain about your 14 unfinished sentences.
TV That Thinks for You
Fibro fog and “what should I watch tonight?” do not mix. I stick to box sets I already know, so my brain doesn’t have to do the heavy lifting. Hello, Grey’s Anatomy. Goodbye, anything that requires me to keep track of who’s double-crossing whom in episode five.
Dry Shampoo, Febreze and Repeat
On flare days, hair wash days aren’t happening. Dry shampoo = halo. Clothes on their second (okay, third) round? Febreze. Nobody needs to know that favourite jumper hasn’t seen the washing machine since last week.
Nap Like It’s a Sport
Naps are supposed to recharge you. Mine? Not so much. But I take them anyway. Ten minutes, two hours — whatever happens. They’re not power-ups, but they’re pauses, and sometimes that’s enough. And it’s even better when I’ve got a lazy foster dog curled up beside me, my nap partner in crime, snoring louder than me.
Exercise… Sort Of
Exercise during a flare? Running my mouth is about as close as it gets. Maybe a slow dog walk if I’m feeling up to it. I did get a treadmill, thinking I’d be virtuous when I couldn’t get out. But honestly? My main exercise is walking around it while ignoring its judging presence. Still counts as steps, right?
The Fake Tidy
I don’t deep clean when I’m flaring, I fake tidy. Dishes to the sink, laundry in the basket, dog toys out of the way. And then I unleash Baz — my robot vac. Baz beeps out “cleaning makes me happy” when he starts, and let me tell you, he is absolutely on his own there. But watching him whizz around and pick up the fluff? That does make me happy.
The Takeaway?
Fibro flare cheats aren’t laziness. They’re survival. On the days when pain or fog are in charge, these little shortcuts keep me moving, fed, vaguely presentable, and able to laugh about it afterwards. Dry shampoo, sausage rolls, naps with the dog, Baz doing the cleaning — it’s not glamorous, but it’s real.
So yes, I cheat my way through fibro life. Shamelessly. Because if it gets me through the day, then I’m winning — even if the treadmill’s still sulking in the corner.
