Living with Fibro as a Millennial

Fi·bro·my·al·gia

ˌfībrōmīˈalj(ē)ə/

noun

• a chronic disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and tenderness in localized areas.

This disorder is one that causes a lot of uproar, especially as a young person is diagnosed with it. This will be a brief summary of my experience that will hopefully help someone who is new to it or who has someone in their life with it.

I am 23 years old, fibro is a fairly new diagnosis for me although it is suspected to be an underlying issue for years. That most common question that I come across is “What does Fibromyalgia feel like?” Now I can not give an all around definite answer but for me, it's hell. It's waking up and knowing before I even open my eyes that getting out of bed will be a challenge, it's feeling pain in my nails (yes I said nails) that makes my fingers feel like they are shattering, it's wondering how I walk up stairs with my hips are screaming, it's knowing that every day for the rest of my life something is going to hurt, it's trying to carry my infant worrying that my arms will give out. But I also need to say that it's learning to fight it's proving to myself that I am tougher than I was yesterday.

When I tell people I have Fibromyalgia many straight out tell me that it's not a real diagnosis, some tell me it's all in my head and others the me that just means that I am “sensitive.” This is not true, don't let anyone make you believe that. I have had people tell me that I'm just not working hard enough, that if I did more I wouldn't be sore all that time. I have even had someone directly tell me that being a millennial is my problem that I am entitled and feel that people will take care of me if I'm diagnosed. Every one of these people are just unwilling to accept that there is an invisible illness that can cause disabling pain.

If you are living with fibro I suggest that you find a support center, an online or local one. Having people who feel the way that you do will help you see that this is real it's not in your head. Don't let your doctor tell you that there is nothing they can do to help, there are medications to help and they can give suggestions for any lifestyle changes. I am taking Mirtazapine, which has significantly helped. Know though that there is nothing to completely remove the pain. Give yourself “you time” that may be a bubble bath, 30 mins of reading in a quiet place or a low impact exercise course such as yoga. An all-fresh-foods-no-meat diet has been highly suggested, I personally couldn't do this as I couldn't even cut meat out. Keep as fit as you can, light daily exercise will help with your energy and help you become stronger.

It's hard living with this diagnosis, especially if you aren't aware of the things that can be done. Hopefully, this will help someone. Also always remember, you are not alone, there are many of us out there and a lot are willing to talk to someone if they need it.