*Disclaimer: The post How My Fibromyalgia Symptoms Affect My Life was first published on One Frazzled Mum in January 2020. the post has been moved permanently to One Frazzled Fibro*

Recently, I decided I wanted to cover more about my Fibromyalgia symptoms on the blog. Despite having been diagnosed recently, I have had all the associated symptoms for a few years now. The only difference being a) I know why I feel the way I do and b) I know how to handle my symptoms.

It goes without saying that every Fibromyalgia (FM) sufferer experiences the condition differently. Yet we all have the same things in common. This means that all our symptoms are totally different whilst being initially the same, and we all cope and react to it differently.

Chances are, what you may know of it is limited. I am absolutely the same. I didn’t really know all too much before I got my diagnosis and pinpoint they were my Fibromyalgia symptoms. Over the years, I have heard of many people with it.

But they all seemed so different.

While I may not be bed-bound all day every day, that’s not to say what I feel isn’t as debilitating at times. It is. So I thought I would share with you my FM to show exactly how different we all experience it. And really just because I look fine – sometimes I am far from it.

Waking up with FM.

Gone are the days where I can literally roll out of bed and into my day. I need time to adjust and wait to see how my body is feeling before I move. Usually, I feel the ache and pains down my legs before I am fully awake and that feeling of not having a refreshed sleep smacks me in the face as I begin the morning struggle actually to get up. Some days this is easier than others. Not every day.

For all the will in the world, it takes more than a cup of coffee to get me going. I literally fight with myself daily to be able to function. And those early morning starts at work. Let’s say I am pretty much useless until around 10/11 am. Then you get half an hour, and I am back to my usual exhaustion!

Working with my Fibromyalgia Symptoms.

I’m sure you all know I work. I work at home during the week and up until recently 3 days a week in my day job. I have dropped a day, and now I work one day, off for three, in for one day and then off again for two. I am hoping this helps me out.

Many FM sufferers won’t be able to work. At all. Or even get out of bed.

I know I am lucky to do this still, but I don’t know for how much longer now.

I work in greengrocer, and it is a physically demanding job. As such, we have takeout Mondays for most weeks. I can’t do anything when I get home, and I need to go to bed to rest and decompress. Honestly, it is exhausting being exhausted all the time. The number of times I cry into my coffee that I want some relief. For 10 mins to not feel like I haven’t stopped for a week with no sleep.

Photo by averie woodard on Unsplash

My Aches and Pains

For all intents and purposes, everything hurts all the time. Well, it aches and feels tired and heavy. Especially my head. One of my main issues is neck pain, and feeling like my head is way too heavy for my neck. This leads me to be constantly trying to ‘crick’ my neck and doing those exercises the GP and physios give you to stretch. I don’t even notice I do it much anymore.

The same goes for my hands. I have the worst pins and needles constantly in my hands, legs and feet. At best, it’s a tingly feeling, at worst, full-on pins and needles that are painful. Oh, and the burning in the soles of my feet all the time too! And let’s not forget restless leg syndrome of a night.

To add a bit extra to the mix, there is a random twisting pain in my lower left rib cage. As if my intestines are being twisted up and ripped out of my body at this point. It comes and goes but excruciating when I get an attack.

Then we have the back pain.

Sciatica if you will, down my left side. Pretty much all the time. Add in shoulder pain and muscle aches at the end of a long day and let’s say, it gets pretty uncomfortable.

Lastly, there are the random pains that stop me in my tracks and come and go as and when they please. Like the slicing pain down the side of my calves! I know, I know I have all the fun Fibromyalgia symptoms. Gladly nothing too bad.

Managing My Fibromyalgia Symptoms

I actually don’t do anything to manage it. I am guilty of pushing myself too far and having that whole crash when I have burnt myself out. On a day to day basis, I do not take any medication to ease my pain. Mostly as I don’t want to rely on it if I can manage without for now. But partly as most medication makes me feel like I have a hangover.

So, for now, I listen to how I feel. If I really need to sleep, then I will. Or I will rest as much as possible. My boss allows me to sit down and take 5 to let my body catch up and rest during my day. But I try to do what I need to do regardless as the best way for me is it not give in.

I have had my checks at the GP and my body -Fibromyalgia symptoms aside, is perfectly healthy.

Photo by Milada Vigerova on Unsplash

So I know I can carry on trying to lead as normal a life as possible.

Exercise helps me a lot. I try to go to Zumba as often as I can – 3 times a week max but at least once. Flare-ups permitting. Then there are our Sunday walks. Around 90 mins once a week.

I want to say I eat well, but I don’t, nor do I take regular supplements but I know I need to.

MY FM Flare-Ups

Before my diagnosis, I used to feel like I was coming down with something. I would hit the sofa and nap and lose my day. Now I know what it is, I can plan for it. When writing this post, I have a long flare-up, mostly just making me feel drained. I am nearly 3 weeks in, and it shows no sign of easing. Before this I had gone a couple of months without a flare-up, swings and roundabouts I suppose.

But the one thing that does scare me is when I forget things. I forget I am cooking. Where I have parked the car, what I have agreed to. It is disorientating, to say the least, and somedays, I swear I have the onset of dementia or Alzheimer’s.

 It is like waking up from a nap on the sofa, feeling groggy.

You know that first second or so where you aren’t quite sure what is going on. But for days on end. Some days, I don’t even know what the fruit or vegetables are called in the shop. And I have been working there for nearly 4 years. Fancy forgetting what a banana is called!

All in all, I know I am one of the lucky ones, I don’t need to spend time sick from work, nor do I need to see different doctors or specialists to help me manage – although I am waiting for the results of a sleep apnea test. I can pretty much get on with it and feel grateful for my life is as it is.

So Why Am I Sharing This?

Mostly because you never know what someone is going through. Do I deserve your sympathy? Probably not, it is what it is after all. But do others? Possibly. You see, we walk amongst you – if we can. We are there, trying to live our lives as best we can and in some cases, raise awareness of what we are dealing with on a day to day basis.

Not every disability is visible. Nor can you see our pain when you look at us. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. Or we aren’t feeling it whether it is Fibromyalgia symptoms or something else. Nor are we making it up because I guarantee you, every person with FM would give anything not to feel this way.