Fibromyalgia

First I must say that I am a Marriage Family Counselor, Mediator and Life Coach. I am NOT a medical doctor. All of the medical information related in this blog, are my own opinions gathered from my experience, doctors, and research. If you want to know more about my education, licenses and my professional career, you can google: Shirleylifecoach and read my website.

I decided to start this particular blog, because so many people have been calling me to ask me to talk to their friends who have fibromyalgia.

I have lived with this condition for 45 years, but was only diagnosed with it 20 years ago. This is a condition which not many people nor doctors know about, and most doctors do not believe exists. Only those who live with the pain, depression, brain fog and anxiety because no one believes them, know what it feels like.

Ninety-eight percent of women have it and many more men are becoming aware of their symptoms and are being diagnosed. Until the past two years, there has not been any medication, other than drastic measures, prescribed by those few Rheumatologists who do believe it exists.

It is important to first know that, yes, it does exist; yes the pain is real, and no it is not in your head.

I, personally, have gone through many stages from excruciating pain to being paralyzed, to not being able to walk for more than a few steps without pain, to many medications at one time, to times of pain free, depression free, and being able to play tennis, golf, swim and walk without pain, and times of no medication at all.

This is my story. I decided that it was time to share it with those of you who might want to know "what my magic" has been, as one caller put it.

Tomorrow, I will begin to list the variety of symptoms, different ways of handling them, different medications that could be taken, different life styles that can help, plus my own personal story of what really got me started in taking my own life into my own hands, and figuring it out for myself.

For starters, get some good sleep. See you tomorrow.
Shirley