Fibromyalgia: Living with chronic pain - BBC Stories

I'm in tears watching this...I'm a "fibro warrior" too. No one understands, or cares about what I go thru on a daily basis. Sending love & light to all my fibro sisters & brothers💜💜💜

The worst thing is that most people think that "It's all in your head" or that "You're just being weak"... :'(

I've had fibromyalgia for 21 years and what has frustrated me most has been the medical community. I've been to specialists hoping to get referrals for the right therapies (not necessarily medications; the meds are horrible), and the blood work would come back perfect and they'd act like it was due to my 'depression'. They would not even give me the chance to explain why that is/was not the case. The pain is real; and yes depression can make things worse, or you can get depressed from living with pain 24/7, but please hear us out, take our pain seriously and guide us, help us.

Usually I am crying from the pain of being alone and isolated, with this videoI'm crying from the relief of mutual understanding and community

I'm crying so much right now. Only the ones who live in chronic pain can understand the struggle.

I don't talk about it because it feels like nobody believes me. It actually can get quite depressing.

Best description Ive heard is that it's like having a migraine all over your body.

Fibro has absolutely wrecked my life...

Fibromyalgia for 15 years! It’s slowly killing me! Physically and mentally!

I've only watched about 15 seconds and I'm already annoyed that it's called "women in pain". I know this has often been characterized as a "women's disease" (which is probably why doctors still don't take it seriously) but as a man with fibromyalgia I'm already angry that the BBC managed to misscharacterize it.

My Fiancé has Fibromyalgia.. he felt so much pain.. He had to leave examinations because of it.. one day he told me we should just be friends.. I knew fibromyalgia causes behavioural changes and he was distancing himself in order to keep me away from getting hurt.. but I will always love him.. Through thick and thin

I hate Fibromyalgia it hurts so much and I hate being judged for it by strangers who just see me and can't feel my pain, I got diagnosed at fifteen and was so relieved they believed me about the pain

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia today after so many years of pain. I was told many times by doctors that there was nothing wrong with me and today was the first time someone believed me. Although i'm so relieved to know what it is, I can't help but cry thinking about how much it has affected my life already. It feels good knowing I am not alone in this battle though ❤️ Sending my love to everyone else going through this pain.

Sometimes I Dont leave the house for days or for a week. Longest time is 17 days.

Chronic pain is a type of ongoing pain that can be similar to the aches and exhaustion you might experience with the flu or after an intense workout. It can also come in flares that make you feel like you've been hit by a car. However, chronic pain is often invisible to others, making it difficult for people to understand how someone can feel this way all the time. This is often why I try to Escape into books or video games, whatever little distractions keep me from thinking about my chronic pain.

I’m one of those few men that have it. I’ve had it for around fifteen or so years. Mine has gotten worse as I’ve gotten older. Because I have no choice, I’m still working at a job that’s fiscally demanding, and of course, I eventually get punished for over working myself. Fibromyalgia, the gift that keeps on giving.....

I have fibromyalgia 15 years and I find the more movement , the worse my pain is without question.

I’ve suffered from fibromyalgia for 11 years now. I was only 20 when the symptoms started and now at 31 I feel like I’m 91. Currently sat in agony as my knees have seized up for no apparent reason 😭.

It's that awful point you find yourself too that's like: "everything in my body is screaming at me to lay down" but deep down you know you're still going to wake up feeling the same way. Only you'll lay staring at the ceiling, becoming increasingly frustrated at the fact you WANT and NEED to get things done, but can't. Constant limbo

I have a loved one Diagnosed with Fibro. The downside her specialist said it was the worst he has come across to date this was a few years back but a bit discouraging. Some of her family and friends don't think she has it others say it's in her head even doctors who said she should see a therapist and her own father forcing her to get a physiological check at the hospital. Either way to give you an idea of her condition she uses forarm crutches on a good day. Most the time she needs to be pushed in a wheelchair we don't have money for a scooter, etc. On a bad day shes in her bed pretty much crying in her own way sometimes her entire body is flailing around when shes having a really bad attack I mean what you see in the movies when someone just got kicked as hard as possible in the unmentionables. Sometimes her feet and hands mostly the tips will go so dark they are more black then blue. She spend a lot of time in bed not getting any sleep just to have a couple hours of energy. Even then sometimes her brain is so foggy she can't think at all and a lot of times can't even recall what happen the night before when this happens. It's one the hardest things I have witnessed and I love her so much and plan to be at her side till I die. I'm her full time caregiver. I really hate my country because they treat the disabled like crap we are over 50% under the poverty they give not even a cent for Caregiving yet she could have 4+ Hours of PSW Service but not if a loved one does it. We live a hard life financially and because of the disability. She has taken so many types of drugs, etc she has some that help but she had a lot of reactions to others. We be lucky to get some fruit and vegetables in our diets the government tells us to go to the food bank that is what their for. Gives you an idea what kind of place Canada really is when it comes to the Disabled. They make the Disability Support programs like their temporary to help get you back to work yet not everyone can. To make things worse she was becoming a Teacher in Uni 2nd year when this all struck her. Guess what she wanted to do? She wanted to help children with developmental issues and she was already an teacher assistant for it. She is one the most postie people I have ever met. I'm Sorry those with Fibro this might been a bit hard for you to read. This was more for those outside of Fibro who don't really know what it's like for someone who suffers on the more extreme side of things. It's made me really angry for others who have Disabilities in Canada to stand up for them and fight for them. A lot of times on my spare time I spend it helping others. It's really change my prospective and next time you come across someone with a disability don't just look the other way ignoring them thinking that would be rude pretending they don't exist. Instead think of how their day to day life must be. Do they get enough food? Are they being helped enough? Etc. It's time we stop ignoring people with Disabilities even more so those with invisible disabilities.