Riss2015
New member
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2017
- Messages
- 1
- Reason
- DX FIBRO
- Diagnosis
- 01/2017
- Country
- US
- State
- Minnesota
I was just recently diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, although I have been experiencing the pain for about 5 years. I am about to turn twenty, and I spent the majority of my high school experience in constant pain and feeling like I was crazy. It was so difficult to be so young and struggle to do simple things, like going up the stairs. Coupled with constant doctor visits where I would be presented with one negative test after the other, I thought I was crazy and that I would feel the pain and exhaustion forever. Now I am relieved to finally have an understanding that what I experience is real and to have a name to call it, but I am really intimidated. I am scared to tell anyone, because whenever I struggle to do something I always get looked up and down and then when they see how young I am I am instantly labeled an attention seeker. I am very independent, and I feel terrified to start to ask for small accomodations, even if it would greatly improve my day to day life. I think part of it is my pride, and part of it is that I have no idea how to explain my constant exhaustion and how much it really does hurt. I tried to explain it to my boyfriend, and when I try to ask for help for things like carrying the laundry up the stairs he always tells me how he is sore from work too and he manages. He knows I have fibromyalgia, but in his mind I am simply sore, he doesnt understand how bad it hurts and how difficult small things can be. He told his mom about it, and she told me that because she is sore sometimes she must have it too. It is really overwhelming, and I feel very lonely as I try to figure out how to manage this. How do I go about changing my lifestyle without seeming like I am just seeking attention? I never mention feeling sore unless it is just horrible, and even then I do everything by myself, but right now I am really desperate for a helping hand, even if it is something small like carrying the laundry. Some days the only thing that gets me out of bed is caring for my dog and work. Does anyone have any tips about how I can express how I feel without seeming like I am throwing a pity party? I really just hope to find someone who understands how I feel.