| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | Becoming chronically ill is very much like a |
| I suffered from Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue | | | | bereavement. The losses and emotions involved |
| for 4 years before reaching a point where I am | | | | are very similar. Giving up works means not only |
| 90% better than I was at the beginning of the | | | | that you lose income but you also lose status, |
| illness. | | | | friendship and a purposeful role in life. |
| I will say from the outset that I believe this is one | | | | Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome |
| of the worst afflictions that can strike any | | | | encompass the full range of human emotions and |
| person, at any age and at anytime. | | | | magnify the negative ones ten-fold. |
| Not only is it so debilitating that it now has the | | | | This disease really is a monster. The usual |
| same disability rating assigned to heart disease | | | | response is to want to hide away from the world. |
| patients, but at the same time you have to deal | | | | However, confronting these emotions can be |
| with negative connotations that surround it. | | | | very important as part of your psychological |
| Even the name doesn’t sound credible, | | | | rehabilitation which should be addressed in |
| "Chronic Fatigue Syndrome", "what is that like a | | | | conjunction with the manual therapy discussed |
| bad hangover or something" people will say. At a | | | | later. |
| time when you need the most support in your | | | | This really is an area where a healthy mind can |
| life, often, people are turning their backs and | | | | assist a healthy body towards better recovery. |
| walking away or muttering under their breath. It is | | | | The pain that comes with Fibromyalgia and |
| a frightful condition. | | | | Chronic Fatigue Syndrome can be frightening and |
| This will be a pivotal point in your life. You will find | | | | this in itself can cause fear, loneliness, isolation, |
| that during the course of your illness you will find | | | | panic and anxiety. |
| out who your real friends are, and who really | | | | Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome can |
| cares. | | | | create a fear of rejection by others even when |
| There is no point disguising the reality which is, | | | | there is no evidence of this happening. I mean, |
| I’m afraid to say, that you will lose a lot of | | | | who wants to be around someone who is like |
| friends and colleagues along the way to the | | | | this, we say to ourselves. |
| monster that is Fibromyalgia and CFS. | | | | Again this is a normal reaction, our self esteem is |
| It is NOT possible to explain this condition to | | | | based on what others think of us, and usually that |
| people who have no experience of it either by | | | | is based on what we do or how we |
| having suffered, or through having a particular | | | | play , or what we say, generally how |
| medical interest in the area. They WILL NOT | | | | we interact with other people. As we take to |
| understand what, or to what extent, you are | | | | doing less, playing less and generally |
| suffering. Again, I’m afraid this is the norm. | | | | interacting saying less, then our self |
| Accept it as such and you will not then be | | | | esteem plummets along with our health. |
| personally offended by acts of prejudice. Easier | | | | We are worried about the future; the dark |
| said than done I know. Let us examine a common | | | | shadow of uncertainty is round every corner. Will |
| sequence of events which may ring a bell with | | | | I ever get better? What if I don’t? How |
| sufferers, to understand the prejudice from an | | | | long is this going to go on? We ask these |
| outsider perspective. | | | | questions every day. We begin to experience life |
| You had a viral/ bacterial/ chemical exposure of | | | | in a shadow land. Our hopes and dreams have |
| unknown etiology, the same as happens to millions | | | | been shattered and the road ahead can be bleak |
| of people throughout America every day, and for | | | | and never ending. |
| some reason that no-one can explain to you, you | | | | Anger is very common emotion - Why me? - |
| have felt generally ill and exhausted with multiple | | | | Why now? — What have I ever done to |
| symptoms and multi-systemic involvement ever | | | | deserve this? Unfortunately this anger alienates |
| since. Your doctor appears cynical and | | | | those we love even more. |
| can’t give you an adequate diagnosis so | | | | You will find supportive people, often, and |
| you may by now have been referred to a | | | | encouragingly the last people you would expect. |
| psychologist for analysis as a suspected | | | | Those who are supportive are often people, or |
| depressive incident. hmmm okay you hear | | | | those close to them, who have experienced |
| them mutter. | | | | serious illness and are living with it, or have come |
| Ask yourself this question. | | | | through it. |
| If you had no knowledge about Fibromyalgia and | | | | Or, those who have experienced Fibromyalgia and |
| CFS what would your reaction be to someone | | | | Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or have someone |
| else developing these symptoms?............ You see? | | | | close to them who has it. These are the people |
| Its human nature, it’s cruel isn’t it? | | | | you should aim to spend your limited energy |
| So how do we as sufferers cope and rationalize | | | | resources building relationships with for the |
| what is happening. | | | | moment. |
| Knowledge is power. Educate yourself about your | | | | Do not feel bitter towards people who you lose |
| condition. | | | | at this stage, hold on while you can then just let |
| Concentrate on yourself and try not to dwell | | | | them go lightly, they are not your problem. |
| morbidly over the people that you have lost | | | | Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome IS |
| already. Those that do not stand by you, and | | | | your problem, and fighting it hard is your duty to |
| there will be some, are what we term | | | | yourself, to get your health back, for you and |
| fair-weather friends, usually activity based they | | | | your loved ones. You are going to need the |
| were your friends due to your common interest | | | | energy you have left for this fight. |
| in a certain activity, be it sport/ work etc. | | | | I do advocate counseling and support groups. You |
| The activity has gone due to your illness, | | | | will need to find someone who has specific |
| therefore by association so does the friendship, | | | | knowledge about the emotional effects of |
| this is okay because we are going to get you to | | | | Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue, again a good |
| a stage where you can resume the activity, you | | | | doctor should be able to put you on the right |
| can forgive those acquaintances if you | | | | path, there are also Fibromyalgia and CFS support |
| wish and resume the activity with them, you will | | | | groups based in most cities and towns across the |
| also be wiser and more aware of the type | | | | US. |
| of friendship you have with this person. | | | | Once you have found a good support group you |
| What goes around come around and what is | | | | will also find good counseling. |
| going around is that you are going to get better!! | | | | However, the majority of cases will NOT need to |
| There is a small consolation that I allow myself, | | | | see a psychologist unless you are being referred |
| and this is the level of self-knowledge and wisdom | | | | for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, as your illness |
| that you will gain from this painful journey. | | | | is NOT depression, and therefore you should not |
| It’s a small consolation I know and I hear | | | | accept anti-depressants, with the exception of |
| most of you screaming, it’s wisdom | | | | possibly low dose amitriptyline if your symptoms |
| and knowledge I could well do without, but it is | | | | include severe nervous pain and sleep disturbance. |
| there and when you do come out the other side | | | | However I cannot personally vouch for this but |
| in the following weeks and months what you | | | | there is enough evidence to suggest is a valid |
| have been through will make you ten times the | | | | treatment. |
| person you were before. | | | | Mental and emotional preparation, knowledge of |
| You have plumbed the depths of pain and despair | | | | your condition, and the correct course of |
| and in the future you will be scaling the heights. If | | | | treatment are all essential and work symbiotically |
| you come through this nothing in life will phase | | | | to assist your recovery. |
| you again. You will value the simple things in life. | | | | In my next article I will explain new research |
| You will live every day. You will scoff at the | | | | which is allowing us to determine how genetic and |
| vanities and selfishness of our systems and | | | | biomechanical anomalies, predispose certain |
| culture. | | | | individuals to attacks of Fibromyalgia and Chronic |
| Fibromyalgia and CFS will create emotional havoc | | | | Fatigue Syndrome. |
| for you and for your loved ones. This is normal. | | | | |