Fibro Colors Fibromyalgia Awareness 10 Things NOT to Say to a Fibromyalgia Patient by Karen Lee Richards 1. We all get more aches and pains as we get older. The pain of fibromyalgia is much more severe than the normal aches and pains associated with aging. Little things that shouldnt hurt at all can be excruciatingly painful. Plus, most people develop fibromyalgia long before they should be experiencing age-related aches and pains. 2. I think I have that, too – Im always tired. The fatigue of fibromyalgia is so much more than just being tired. It is an all-encompassing exhaustion. You are drained of energy – like someone pulled your plug, cutting of your source of power. Its kind of like taking the batteries out of the Energizer bunny. 3. Maybe you just need a job (hobby, etc.) to take your mind off the pain. While getting involved in a project can help to distract your mind from the pain for short periods of time, if you have a more severe case, it doesnt work well enough to allow you to consistently work a 40-hour week. And it doesnt help dispel the extreme fatigue that usually accompanies fibromyalgia. 4. My doctor says fibromyalgia isnt a real disease. First of all, this doctor obviously hasnt kept up with the latest research, which clearly demonstrates that fibromyalgia is a very real, physical disease. Also, to date the FDA has approved three medications to treat fibromyalgia and they generally dont approve medications for imaginary illnesses. 5. If you got more sleep, youd feel better. One of the major problems with fibromyalgia is that something prevents the body from going into the deepest stage of sleep, when the body naturally restores and replenishes itself. Even if you manage to stay asleep for several hours, youre most likely not going to awaken feeling refreshed. 6. But you dont look sick. If we let ourselves go and show how we actually feel, people are uncomfortable and dont want to be around us. On the other hand, if we manage to fix ourselves up and put on a brave face, no one realizes were sick. 7. I read about this new product that cures fibromyalgia. This can be one of the toughest comments to deal with because it is usually said by well-meaning friends or relatives who genuinely want you to feel better. Read Let the Buyer Bewarefor tips on how to evaluate product claims. healthcentral/chronic-pain/treatment-162420-5.html 8. You just need to exercise more. If more exercise were the answer, Id be all over it. Yes, exercise is an important component of any fibromyalgia treatment plan, but its only one part and it has to be approached slowly and carefully to avoid triggering a flare. 9. At least its not fatal. Some researchers has found, that statement to be false. Of course Im glad if its not fatal, but that doesnt help reduce the level of my pain or the depth of my fatigue. Nor does it help to raise research funding or bring attention to the needs of fibromyalgia patients. Understandably, people tend to be more interested in preventing death than in improving the quality of life... According to some researchers: FMS and M.E/CFS patients are told these illnesses are not fatal. This is simply wrong. I have spoken with more than 10,000 patients over the past 11yrs and concluded long ago that FMS and M.E/CFS patients have a higher risk of cancer, heart attacks, stroke and suïcide than the rest of the population. More evidence suggests that high levels of pain lead to increased rates of mortality not just suicide but possibly from stroke, heart disease, stroke and other autoimmune diseases/illnesses. 10. Its all in your head. I used to launch into an explanation of how fibromyalgia is a very real physical illness, complete with symptoms, etc. Now I simply say, “Youre right, it is in my head. Researchers have found that there is a problem with how my brain processes pain signals.” Enough said.
Posted on: Sun, 30 Nov 2014 21:24:15 +0000
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