I learned a lot about having fibromyalgia.
Some are things that I wish I had never experienced, while others have made me a better person.
These are the five things I learned:
1. It’s okay to say ‘no’.
I spent most of my life trying to please everyone, so I rarely said the word “No”.
Now it seems to be the only answer to every question they ask me.
Saying no, it was something he hated to do.
I felt like I was leaving people.
Learning to say it and not feeling guilty was difficult.
I realized that my body does not allow me to do everything I wanted.
It’s not my fault and I should not feel guilty about that.
I am no longer a volunteer or sign up for events or projects, because I can not always fulfill my commitments. I hate to cancel at the last minute, but sometimes it is necessary.
I have spoken with family and friends so that they understand that there are times when I can not do what is planned due to my health.
If you do not understand, it’s your problem, not mine.
2. Not all doctors know what they are doing.
Doctors are ordinary people.
They make mistakes. They do not know everything.
They have bad days, and sometimes they make decisions that they should not make.
If I think that a medical professional does not understand what I am saying or does not listen to me, I leave it there.
It’s time for a new doctor. Getting a second opinion, or even a third, is not a bad thing.
If I do not feel well, I go elsewhere.
My health depends on doctors who are well informed and who take the time to listen to me.
3. Listen to your body.
I hate to admit it, but I myself have caused part of my pain and suffering.
I did not listen to my body when I should have.
If I have a lot of pain, now I rest. I do not push myself like I did when I was younger.
Being in tune with your body is one of the best ways to know when a crisis is coming. I have indicator signs that I look for.
Headaches and shoulders are often the first indicators that a crisis is just around the corner.
I can not stop it, but I can be prepared for that.
4. I discovered who my true friends are.
I have lost friends and family due to my illness.
I learned in the worst way who really cares about me.
I have fired some people, because being close to them was bad for my health.
Why do I want to submit to negativity and accusations?
I prefer the people who build me, not the ones who knock me down.
5. I’m not alone
And you neither. When I started experiencing symptoms, computers and the Internet did not exist.
Now we have the world at hand.
Online support groups have been a source of friendship and love.
There are so many who feel like me in the whole world … Now I have friends with whom I can express my feelings, what I find purifying.
I appreciate the friends that I have made online.
I have met some incredible fibromyalgia warriors who have taught me more about this disease and have also shown me that I still care!
My illness does not define me, but it has changed my life in ways I never imagined.
Taking the time to really think about what fibromyalgia has taught me has given me a new appreciation of life.
Seeing how I’ve evolved over the years is not as depressing as I thought it would be.
Although I have suffered physically and emotionally, I am a stronger person for that reason.