The pain is real!

“There is no other group of individuals, primarily women, more likely to experience gaslighting regarding their condition and the intensity of their pain than this community. Can you imagine how it would feel if you were in constant pain, and both friends and medical professionals dismissed your suffering with comments like, ‘That’s not a real ailment. If there’s no definitive test for it, can it even be real? All your lab results are normal, so what’s your issue?’

However, for the thirteen million people enduring the challenges of fibromyalgia, they often don’t feel acknowledged, heard, or supported.

Fibromyalgia is believed to be a neurological condition, distinct from autoimmune or inflammatory diseases (even though it may affect both). Essentially, this condition amplifies pain signals within the brain. My nerves continually report excessive pain to my brain, even when there’s no apparent cause, or it intensifies the pain experienced from other concurrent illnesses.

Common symptoms include widespread musculoskeletal pain, persistent fatigue, cognitive impairment (often referred to as ‘brain fog’), insomnia, and mood disorders such as depression and anxiety.

Additionally, fibromyalgia can coexist with other medical conditions, such as chronic migraines, arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, painful bladder syndrome, and POTS.

Some medical practitioners who doubt the existence of fibromyalgia are concerned that other conditions are being misdiagnosed as fibromyalgia, which is why patients are typically screened for these conditions before receiving a fibromyalgia diagnosis. This diagnostic process can be lengthy due to its nature as a diagnosis of exclusion. Even after being diagnosed with fibromyalgia, there remains a risk of developing other autoimmune or inflammatory diseases. Therefore, any new symptoms should be promptly reported to your healthcare provider.

If you’re living with fibromyalgia, know that you’re not alone. I see you, and I hear you. I encourage those with fibromyalgia to share their stories and shed light on what it’s like to navigate life with this condition.”