Fibromyalgia Stories

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Mary Ann’s Fight Like a Girl Story (Fibromyalgia)

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May
22
2013
MaryAnn-Byrne's Story (Fibro) LR

I will be 50 this year. I am a single mom and work full-time as a school counselor. I have had arthritis in my knees since I was a very little girl, although it was never diagnosed as such. I have had surgery on both knees and on my right wrist. Over the years I have been diagnosed with osteo-arthritis, bursitis, hypothyroidism and carpel tunnel syndrome. My all over pain has been going on since my teen years, but no one ever believed me. I began having severe hip and lower back pain while I was pregnant, but my husband at the time was very abusive and refused to listen to me. He always just told me I was crazy and a hypochondriac. In 2009, after suffering for most of my life, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. I have symptoms of RA and Lupus as well, but have not been diagnosed with either. My fingers are perpetually swollen and black and blue. I am never without pain in my hips and lower back. I started using a cane, on my bad days this summer. I take medication for both the … [Read more...]

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Christine’s Fight Like a Girl Story (Fibromyalgia)

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May
17
2013
Christie's Story (Fibromyalgia) LR

I tell ya, it seems like I can’t catch a break! I’m 25, and I was just diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. I saw it coming. My sister and my mother were diagnosed with it several years ago, and I had all the same symptoms. I can’t remember not feeling the pain. It’s been this way for years. But like everyone else: I have good days and bad days. On my bad days, I can’t even stand, my legs will fall from under me. But I’m active. I play softball, I swim, I go to the gym. But I still constantly feel that ache. I describe it like sleeping on the "wrong side of the bed" but only worse. I wish that was it. Recently, I was also diagnosed with a gluten and dairy intolerance. I also suffer from migraines, asthma and seasonal allergies. On the top of it (this is the other big ticket item), I’m on about 10 medications for bipolar disorder. It prevents me from working. It’s so hard to keep up a ”normal” life when you’re crying from pain and sadness. So few … [Read more...]

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Jennifer’s Fight Like A Girl Story (Fibromyalgia)

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May
13
2013
Jennifer's Story (Fibromyalgia)LR

What dreams are made of… It was the summer of 2008, when the tapestry of my life unraveled. It was like someone found a single loose thread to take hold of; pulling slowly at first, the thread begins to reveal how it was holding the picture together. With the excitement of discovery and wonder, an increase in purpose to take what was and watch it disappear. My father’s illness with epilepsy had put him in the hospital. He was a very pride-filled man and this disease was taking that pride and stomping all over it, leaving him battered and broken; embarrassed. Pride was replaced by shame. The weeks that followed, I never gave a second thought to jumping in and taking the challenges faced with trying to help dad see what his life might look like and how he was going to get there. September 11th, shortly after being discharged, I received a call from the police letting me know that my dad had tried to end his life. October 10th, immediately after discharging himself from … [Read more...]

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Karen’s Fight Like a Girl Story (Fibromyalgia)

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Apr
27
2013

I am 31 years old and have had fibromyalgia for most of my life. When the pain first started many years ago, I didn’t understand what was happening. I just knew that I hurt all of the time and I was having muscle spasms. Sometimes the spasms were so bad that I couldn’t walk or I would collapse. Physical activity usually made it worse, though some days I hurt badly even without being active. I let it stop me from doing things I wanted to try because I wanted to avoid the pain. Then in my early teens, I came to the realization that by sitting out to avoid the pain I was letting whatever was causing it to win. That was the turning point for me. Now at 31, I know what I am fighting, and I know that the only way I win is if I don’t let it stop me. I dance, I hike, I fence, and I am learning to play roller derby. None of it is easy for me, but I always give it my best and work as hard as I can. When I start to hurt and feel like giving up, that’s when I push myself the hardest. It … [Read more...]

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Siobhan’s Fight Like a Girl Story (Fibromyalgia, CFS)

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Dec
15
2012
Fibromyalgia / CFS Power Story

I am a silent sufferer of fibromyalgia and CFS. People think I am lazy. When I tell them that I am a sufferer of these disorders, they roll their eyes, let out a chuckle , or just try to appease me by saying "oh, really?" I would like to give these disorders more publicity. I think people think that they are fake. I struggle to get through each day as the fatigue takes over. I am close to tears by 3 pm. I have to still perform the duties of mother and wife. My husband and kids get angry with me because I am always tired. I am fighting like a girl every day to do normal activities. There are probably 2 people in my life who understand and ask me how I am feeling. I need to bring some awareness of the pain and fatigue that I am suffering to all the people in my life. Siobhan Massachusetts Submitted 2-9-12 The informational content of this article is intended to convey a personal experience and, because every person’s experience is unique, should not be relied upon as a … [Read more...]

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Marcia’s Fight Like a Girl Story (Fibromyalgia)

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Nov
30
2011
Marcia's Story (Fibromyalgia) LR

I always felt like I was in pain. My muscles and bones hurt. I would go from doctor to doctor - all telling me that there was nothing wrong with me. I was really getting frustrated. I knew that there was something wrong with me and that I wasn't just crazy. Finally, when I was 28, I found a doctor who listened to me and then he told me that I had Fibromyalgia. Finally, somebody believed that there was something wrong with me. It can really get frustrating when you know that there is something wrong with you and nobody believes you. You really feel like you are crazy and that you're imagining things. Marcia South Carolina Submitted 8-31-11 The informational content of this article is intended to convey a personal experience and, because every person’s experience is unique, should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional healthcare advice. … [Read more...]

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Tammy’s Fight Like a Girl Story (Fibromyalgia)

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Aug
10
2011
Tammy's Story (Fibromyalgia)

Hi, I'm 46, soon to be 47 on July 31. I was battling massive pain throughout my body and saw many doctors in 2003 and 2004. Finally, I found out I have Fibromyalgia. I was taken off work in 2003 and filed for disability.  I fought until I finally got a Lawyer in 2008. I won my case in 2009. Fighting this disease is hard but I do what I can. In 2010, on April 25th, I had gastric bypass. Now in June 2011 I am down 160 lbs. From meds and just unable to get around, my weight had gotten up to 402. Wow, what a change! I still have Fibromyalgia but it’s easier to get around, when I can. I just take one day at a time and pray every day that we will get cures for these diseases. We can go to the moon so what's the deal. God Bless all and keep the faith!!! FIGHT LIKE A GIRL!!! Just as it says.. Tammy Arizona Submitted 6-16-11 The informational content of this article is intended to convey a personal experience and, because every person’s experience is unique, should not be … [Read more...]

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Sarah’s Fight Like a Girl Story (Lupus, Fibromyalgia)

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Aug
05
2011
Sarah's Story (Lupus Fibromyalgia)

I don't think I'll ever forget how my diagnoses came about. I thought it was just a routine follow up I was having with my Orthopedic Surgeon concerning my second right shoulder surgery. Then, I mention to my doctor about chronic jaw pain I've been having and how I've already seen a dentist and had my wisdom teeth removed and hoped possibly he could help me. He thought it was odd I had a lot of joint pain at the age of 17 so he decided to run some blood work. My ANA came back positive, so he sent me to see a rheumatologist. My jaw wasn't the only joint where I was experience pain at so they ran some tests and I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. Around the same time all this was happening I broke out in a really painful rash on my arms and got sent to a few more doctors. They took a skin culture and the tests came back positive for Discoid Lupus. I was half-way through my senior year of high school and got really sick. Luckily all of my teachers were very understanding and helped me … [Read more...]

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Tonya’s Fight Like a Girl Story (Fibromyalgia)

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Jul
02
2011
Tonya's Personal Story Chronic Pain

My name is Tonya, I am a 42 year old wife and mother of two grown daughters. I have been in pain since I was about 13, when I was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. At that time it only affected my knees. Then in my early twenties I was tested for lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, all tests were negative. I was told to get more sleep and to live with it. I have struggled with random pains ever since. Although while I was pregnant with my girls the pain did subside. In 2003 my husband was diagnosed and treated for testicular cancer. After 12 weeks of treatment and lots of running around, he was cancer free, and still is. Also, in 2003 I took a hard fall down some slippery steps severely bruising my tail bone. After about three weeks my stomach started to flare and I was diagnosed with IBS which I was told was stress induced. I had to learn how and when to eat to make it thru the day, whether I was staying home or going somewhere. I went to see several more doctors and had … [Read more...]

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Kelli’s Fight Like a Girl Story (Fibromyalgia)

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Jul
01
2011
Kelli's Story (Fibromyalgia)

My name is Kelli. I am 17 years old and I am a junior in high school. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in April 2010. It was blessing as well as a curse. A blessing in the sort that I knew what was wrong with me. A curse in the fact that I know what lies ahead of me. I have been told many times the pain is in my head and I can control how I feel, by doctors, family, friends, etc. I only go to school on half days and sometimes I struggle to do that. I have good days and bad days. Mostly bad days, it seems here lately. I found this Fight Like a Girl Club on Facebook and I have been reading article after article and I have learned so much already. I feel alone in my fight with fibromyalgia, although I have awesome friends and my family to support me - they can only do so much with words. Being 17, I get looked at extremely funny when I tell people what my disease is. I am known as the 'sickly' girl at school and now around my family, too. I really hope I find people on this website to … [Read more...]

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