| I suffered from Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue for | | | | Becoming chronically ill is very much like a |
| 4 years before reaching a point where I am 90% | | | | bereavement. The losses and emotions involved are |
| better than I was at the beginning of the illness. | | | | very similar. Giving up works means not only that you |
| I will say from the outset that I believe this is one of | | | | lose income but you also lose status, friendship and a |
| the worst afflictions that can strike any person, at | | | | purposeful role in life. |
| any age and at anytime. | | | | Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome |
| Not only is it so debilitating that it now has the same | | | | encompass the full range of human emotions and |
| disability rating assigned to heart disease patients, but | | | | magnify the negative ones ten-fold. |
| at the same time you have to deal with negative | | | | This disease really is a monster. The usual response is |
| connotations that surround it. | | | | to want to hide away from the world. However, |
| Even the name doesn't sound credible, "Chronic | | | | confronting these emotions can be very important as |
| Fatigue Syndrome", "what is that like a bad hangover | | | | part of your psychological rehabilitation which should |
| or something" people will say. At a time when you | | | | be addressed in conjunction with the manual therapy |
| need the most support in your life, often, people are | | | | discussed later. |
| turning their backs and walking away or muttering | | | | This really is an area where a healthy mind can assist |
| under their breath. It is a frightful condition. | | | | a healthy body towards better recovery. |
| This will be a pivotal point in your life. You will find | | | | The pain that comes with Fibromyalgia and Chronic |
| that during the course of your illness you will find out | | | | Fatigue Syndrome can be frightening and this in itself |
| who your real friends are, and who really cares. | | | | can cause fear, loneliness, isolation, panic and anxiety. |
| There is no point disguising the reality which is, I'm | | | | Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome can |
| afraid to say, that you will lose a lot of friends and | | | | create a fear of rejection by others even when |
| colleagues along the way to the monster that is | | | | there is no evidence of this happening. I mean, who |
| Fibromyalgia and CFS. | | | | wants to be around someone who is like this, we |
| It is NOT possible to explain this condition to people | | | | say to ourselves. |
| who have no experience of it either by having | | | | Again this is a normal reaction, our self esteem is |
| suffered, or through having a particular medical | | | | based on what others think of us, and usually that is |
| interest in the area. They WILL NOT understand | | | | based on what we "do" or "how we play" , or "what |
| what, or to what extent, you are suffering. Again, | | | | we say", generally how we interact with other |
| I'm afraid this is the norm. Accept it as such and you | | | | people. As we take to "doing less", "playing" less and |
| will not then be personally offended by acts of | | | | generally interacting "saying" less, then our self |
| prejudice. Easier said than done I know. Let us | | | | esteem plummets along with our health. |
| examine a common sequence of events which may | | | | We are worried about the future; the dark shadow |
| ring a bell with sufferers, to understand the prejudice | | | | of uncertainty is round every corner. Will I ever get |
| from an outsider perspective. | | | | better? What if I don't? How long is this going to go |
| You had a viral/ bacterial/ chemical exposure of | | | | on? We ask these questions every day. We begin to |
| unknown etiology, the same as happens to millions of | | | | experience life in a shadow land. Our hopes and |
| people throughout America every day, and for some | | | | dreams have been shattered and the road ahead can |
| reason that no-one can explain to you, you have felt | | | | be bleak and never ending. |
| generally ill and exhausted with multiple symptoms | | | | Anger is very common emotion - Why me? - Why |
| and multi-systemic involvement ever since. Your | | | | now? - What have I ever done to deserve this? |
| doctor appears cynical and can't give you an | | | | Unfortunately this anger alienates those we love |
| adequate diagnosis so you may by now have been | | | | even more. |
| referred to a psychologist for analysis as a suspected | | | | You will find supportive people, often, and |
| depressive incident. "hmmm okay" you hear them | | | | encouragingly the last people you would expect. |
| mutter. | | | | Those who are supportive are often people, or |
| Ask yourself this question. | | | | those close to them, who have experienced serious |
| If you had no knowledge about Fibromyalgia and CFS | | | | illness and are living with it, or have come through it. |
| what would your reaction be to someone else | | | | Or, those who have experienced Fibromyalgia and |
| developing these symptoms?............ You see? Its human | | | | Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or have someone close to |
| nature, it's cruel isn't it? | | | | them who has it. These are the people you should |
| So how do we as sufferers cope and rationalize | | | | aim to spend your limited energy resources building |
| what is happening. | | | | relationships with for the moment. |
| Knowledge is power. Educate yourself about your | | | | Do not feel bitter towards people who you lose at |
| condition. | | | | this stage, hold on while you can then just let them |
| Concentrate on yourself and try not to dwell | | | | go lightly, they are not your problem. Fibromyalgia |
| morbidly over the people that you have lost already. | | | | and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome IS your problem, and |
| Those that do not stand by you, and there will be | | | | fighting it hard is your duty to yourself, to get your |
| some, are what we term fair-weather friends, usually | | | | health back, for you and your loved ones. You are |
| activity based they were your friends due to your | | | | going to need the energy you have left for this fight. |
| common interest in a certain activity, be it sport/ | | | | I do advocate counseling and support groups. You will |
| work etc. | | | | need to find someone who has specific knowledge |
| The activity has gone due to your illness, therefore | | | | about the emotional effects of Fibromyalgia and |
| by association so does the friendship, this is okay | | | | Chronic Fatigue, again a good doctor should be able |
| because we are going to get you to a stage where | | | | to put you on the right path, there are also |
| you can resume the activity, you can forgive those | | | | Fibromyalgia and CFS support groups based in most |
| "acquaintances" if you wish and resume the activity | | | | cities and towns across the US. |
| with them, you will also be wiser and more aware of | | | | Once you have found a good support group you will |
| "the type" of friendship you have with this person. | | | | also find good counseling. |
| What goes around come around and what is going | | | | However, the majority of cases will NOT need to |
| around is that you are going to get better!! | | | | see a psychologist unless you are being referred for |
| There is a small consolation that I allow myself, and | | | | Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, as your illness is NOT |
| this is the level of self-knowledge and wisdom that | | | | depression, and therefore you should not accept |
| you will gain from this painful journey. It's a small | | | | anti-depressants, with the exception of possibly low |
| consolation I know and I hear most of you | | | | dose amitriptyline if your symptoms include severe |
| screaming, "it's wisdom and knowledge I could well do | | | | nervous pain and sleep disturbance. |
| without", but it is there and when you do come out | | | | However I cannot personally vouch for this but there |
| the other side in the following weeks and months | | | | is enough evidence to suggest is a valid treatment. |
| what you have been through will make you ten times | | | | Mental and emotional preparation, knowledge of your |
| the person you were before. | | | | condition, and the correct course of treatment are all |
| You have plumbed the depths of pain and despair | | | | essential and work symbiotically to assist your |
| and in the future you will be scaling the heights. If | | | | recovery. |
| you come through this nothing in life will phase you | | | | In my next article I will explain new research which is |
| again. You will value the simple things in life. You will | | | | allowing us to determine how genetic and |
| live every day. You will scoff at the vanities and | | | | biomechanical anomalies, predispose certain individuals |
| selfishness of our systems and culture. | | | | to attacks of Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue |
| Fibromyalgia and CFS will create emotional havoc for | | | | Syndrome. |
| you and for your loved ones. This is normal. | | | | |