inotazo
Member
- Joined
- Nov 1, 2021
- Messages
- 12
- Reason
- DX FIBRO
- Diagnosis
- 10/2021
- Country
- US
- State
- IN
Hello,
I am a grad student and a man who is recently diagnosed with fibromyalgia at Cleveland Clinic. Of course, I have a series of symptoms: headache, neck, shoulder, upper and lower back, buttock pain, fatigue, shortness of breath, brain fog, being sensitive to light/sound, blurred vision, and dizziness.
Currently, my doctor's treatments are nutrition control, supplements, and lifestyle change (e.g., everyday exercises). After several weeks, he is going to prescribe some medication according to my most concerning symptoms.
My doctor, as many articles on the web say, suggested that I should stay proactive. Yes, I am trying my best. My current biggest concern is to go to the campus to attend some auditing classes (i.e., there is no obligation), from which I am currently absent. My dizziness is pretty much awful, and it makes my body always lean toward the right. Due to this dizziness, I am almost unable to walk. Because it is a balance issue, I could walk much better if I lean to the wall or borrow someone's shoulder or when I use a shopping cart. In my mind, to be proactive, I bought a walker. However, my wife and parents-in-law, with whom I stay, reacted negatively toward my purchase. They always say, "You can walk without it. It is too young for you." I always reply, "I cannot walk without it, especially when I go to the campus. Even if I tried, by the time of arriving at the classroom, I would be too exhausted to participate in the class, and it would also ruin the entire day (maybe next day too)." They never seem to be convinced. I am now really frustrated about it. They even say, "Using a walker means giving up. You should push yourself." I never intend to give up on my health situation. Also, because my dizzyness bothers my walking the most, I think it is not a matter of pushing myself. I might be able to bear pain or stiffness to some extent, but I could not control the dizziness.
Of course, being afraid of going to classes is not just from the way to the classroom. My sensitivity to sound also bothers me with listening to the lecture and discussion. My sensitivity to the light prevents me from looking at the PowerPoint screen even through sunglasses. My brain fog deprives me of my focus. If I prioritize more important things to be done, since I became slow for everything, I cannot spare enough time to prepare for auditing class. In this way, there are many obstacles to going to the campus.
On the other hand, as for my obligatory activities, luckily, my research assistant job can be done online, and also, I am done with coursework and have become a PhD candidate. Considering my current limitation, I personally even feel that I would be more productive by giving up the auditing classes and spending all of my resources on more important activities like my job and dissertation work. However, my wife and her family don't think in that way. They take it so negatively and regard me as lazy, not challenging, or escaping from the responsibility.
Besides issues on going to the campus and using a walker, I always feel some pressure about being accused of doing nothing and being lazy by them. I personally try my best every day and do as many things as I can. They nag me employing deliberate quotations from web articles that say like, "exercise helps fibro," "don't give up your job," and "don't stay home and do nothing." Of course, I wish I could do some more, but I have already done my best. I now feel very stressed from this environment. Does anyone have any idea about resolving this kind of situation? Furthermore, I am not a native English speaker (my wife and her family are native speakers). It also restricts my way of expression.
I am glad to have an opportunity to express my health situation online. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you are interested.
Also, if there is any information on active communities for men with fibromyalgia, please let me know.
I am a grad student and a man who is recently diagnosed with fibromyalgia at Cleveland Clinic. Of course, I have a series of symptoms: headache, neck, shoulder, upper and lower back, buttock pain, fatigue, shortness of breath, brain fog, being sensitive to light/sound, blurred vision, and dizziness.
Currently, my doctor's treatments are nutrition control, supplements, and lifestyle change (e.g., everyday exercises). After several weeks, he is going to prescribe some medication according to my most concerning symptoms.
My doctor, as many articles on the web say, suggested that I should stay proactive. Yes, I am trying my best. My current biggest concern is to go to the campus to attend some auditing classes (i.e., there is no obligation), from which I am currently absent. My dizziness is pretty much awful, and it makes my body always lean toward the right. Due to this dizziness, I am almost unable to walk. Because it is a balance issue, I could walk much better if I lean to the wall or borrow someone's shoulder or when I use a shopping cart. In my mind, to be proactive, I bought a walker. However, my wife and parents-in-law, with whom I stay, reacted negatively toward my purchase. They always say, "You can walk without it. It is too young for you." I always reply, "I cannot walk without it, especially when I go to the campus. Even if I tried, by the time of arriving at the classroom, I would be too exhausted to participate in the class, and it would also ruin the entire day (maybe next day too)." They never seem to be convinced. I am now really frustrated about it. They even say, "Using a walker means giving up. You should push yourself." I never intend to give up on my health situation. Also, because my dizzyness bothers my walking the most, I think it is not a matter of pushing myself. I might be able to bear pain or stiffness to some extent, but I could not control the dizziness.
Of course, being afraid of going to classes is not just from the way to the classroom. My sensitivity to sound also bothers me with listening to the lecture and discussion. My sensitivity to the light prevents me from looking at the PowerPoint screen even through sunglasses. My brain fog deprives me of my focus. If I prioritize more important things to be done, since I became slow for everything, I cannot spare enough time to prepare for auditing class. In this way, there are many obstacles to going to the campus.
On the other hand, as for my obligatory activities, luckily, my research assistant job can be done online, and also, I am done with coursework and have become a PhD candidate. Considering my current limitation, I personally even feel that I would be more productive by giving up the auditing classes and spending all of my resources on more important activities like my job and dissertation work. However, my wife and her family don't think in that way. They take it so negatively and regard me as lazy, not challenging, or escaping from the responsibility.
Besides issues on going to the campus and using a walker, I always feel some pressure about being accused of doing nothing and being lazy by them. I personally try my best every day and do as many things as I can. They nag me employing deliberate quotations from web articles that say like, "exercise helps fibro," "don't give up your job," and "don't stay home and do nothing." Of course, I wish I could do some more, but I have already done my best. I now feel very stressed from this environment. Does anyone have any idea about resolving this kind of situation? Furthermore, I am not a native English speaker (my wife and her family are native speakers). It also restricts my way of expression.
I am glad to have an opportunity to express my health situation online. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you are interested.
Also, if there is any information on active communities for men with fibromyalgia, please let me know.