An invisible disability is a disability that is not (always) immediately apparent to casual observers; that is, it is not visible to their naked eyes. I find fibromylagia to be an aggravating disease because the disabilities I suffer are frequently invisible to others and therefore, they expect more of me than what I can deliver.
Some days I’m at the top of the world. I wake up and find that every one of my body parts work. I’m mobile and ambulatory and celebratory on these days because I’m experiencing very few symptoms and very little pain. Now and then I actually experience a completely symptom free day. But, on most days, especially in this season of the year, I do have to cope with both symptoms and pain.
Fibromyalgia is a condition characterized by body aches, pain, sleep problems, extreme fatigue, depression and anxiety, in combination with tenderness of specific areas on the body.
Definition:
Fibro – refers to fibrous tissues such as tendons and ligaments.
my - muscle
algia – pain
If you think you may have fibromyalgia take this Fibromyalgia Screening Quiz. If you don’t think you have this debilitating and depressing disease then read the questions below.
My results were: You answered 15 items out of 15 correctly.
Your score is 100%. You have many of the symptoms which can occur in combination for people suffering with fibromyalgia. Consult your doctor if you have chronic widespread pain.
- Do you have widespread pain in all four quadrants of your body (right side, left side, above waist, below waist?
- If you answered yes to having widespread pain, has it lasted for 3 months or more?
- Has a physician examined you and determined you have at least 11 of the 18 tender points which are associated with fibromyalgia?
- Which of the following best describes your pain?
- Do you often feel stressed, depressed, or anxious?
- Do you consistently experience any of the following: fatigue, sleep disturbances, or night sweats?
- Other than an infrequent episode, have you experienced problems with your memory or your ability to concentrate?
- On a regular basis are you bothered by any of the following: tension or migraine headaches, temporomandibular joint pain (TMJ), noncardiac chest pain, chronic pelvic pain, or heel pain?
- Do you consistently experience a general feeling of weakness?
- Have you noticed weight fluctuation (gain or loss)?
- Do you have heat or cold intolerance?
- Do you consistently experience symptoms of allergies, multiple chemical sensitivities, or ear-nose-throat problems?
- Do you have problems with your hearing, vision, or balance?
- Do you regularly experience heartburn, abdominal pain, or symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome?
- Are you a man, woman, or child?
Richard
January 6, 2008
Brightfeather, thanks for sharing some of what you go through with fibromyalgia. Before I met you in the forums, I had heard the term, but knew nothing about it. Through your posts, and the links here on your blog, I now have a much better idea of what it is and what those with it go through. I have a good friend with Interstitial Cystitis and again, it was not until I met her that I found out what it was.
Take care my friend.
brightfeather
January 6, 2008
Richard
Although I do not welcome it, fibromyalgia is part of my life and will be with me until death. So, I’m truly honored to hear your genuine interest and to feel your empathy.
I have been feeling uncomfortable about sharing how I’m doing from day to day on my blog because sometimes when I have admitted my disabilities to others I have been the recipient of the most useless thing we can offer another person ie. pity. Worse still, is when I must endure a barrage of questions indicating the person is really trying to test me to see if me faking it or if I’m lazy.
In other cases, I have found myself having to explain the symptoms and syndromes and that’s ok, I guess, except that this usually occurs on a good day. And, not surprisingly, on a good day when I am mobile I prefer to forget I have a debilitating disease, at least, temporarily.
Thanks for commenting and for caring too. Please help yourself to the research and resource links that I will update from time to time.
Namaste
Moonbeam McQueen
January 26, 2008
Brightfeather, I’m trying to catch up on my blog reading today. I won’t comment on all of your posts, but I really do love your blog. You often word things in ways that make me say, “Exactly!”
Example:
“I find fibromylagia to be an aggravating disease because the disabilities I suffer are frequently invisible to others and therefore, they expect more of me than what I can deliver.”
Thanks!
brightfeather
January 26, 2008
Thanks Moonbeam. I don’t want to have a blog that “features” our shared health problem so, although I do a lot of research and reading I haven’t written posts on the topic aside from those listing research links. I have long since grown tired of explaining what fibromyalgia is like and what I can no longer do. This disease has completely changed my outdoor active lifestyle into an indoor and inactive lifestyle and I resent that. Resentment can fuel a negative attitude so I try not to indulge in it.
As you can see from your stats I also stop in and read your blog but I’m so introverted that I’m afraid you will have to forgive me for being a very poor commentator.
All the best :)
Tammy
March 6, 2008
After 13 years, you’d think I wouldn’t take the time to take a quiz to tell me what I already know but curiously – I got a 100% which means I’m top rate too! Although I haven’t had a “pain free” day since around 1994 – I have some cool days where I forget about it and feel “young” and move easy for several hours.
The hardest thing is when someone draws attention to a limp or that I look like I’m working with a headache (which I was!) and think there must be a solution.
Some things can only be accepted and worked through.
Very nice blog and posts. I’ll be back.
brightfeather
March 7, 2008
@Tammy
For us fibromyalgia folks acceptance and learning how to cope with the symptoms on a day-to-day basis is where it’s at. Thanks for the blog compliment and best wishes for happy blogging to you. :-)
pssst! Visit this blog – you’ll be glad you did http://fibromyowgia.wordpress.com