How to Explain What Fibromyalgia Feels Like

How do you explain fibro to others? Tell me about your experience...

Nobody feels our suffering or understand how horrible of the pain and how terrible fatigue. May God help and support all Fibromyalgia patients

There are days when I feel like I've been beat up, from head to toe. I've missed out on family events, lost friendships, and given up on myself at times.

It's similar with long-term Lyme, chronic fatigue and chemical sensitivities. If you look normal people think you're a hypochondriac. It become so frustration that the person isolates themselves.

I cried all the way home from the rheumatologist office upon being diagnosed with fibromyalgia. I thought no one would ever understand or believe me.

I usually just say I have a neurological disability and my body is all messed up. If they ask further then I explain fibro as my best days feeling like I have the flu and my worst days feeling like I just spent the night rolling around inside the drum of a cement mixer

Preach,brother! Just cause you can't see our pain,doesn't mean we don't feel it. SO FRUSTRATING!!

Beyond GRATEFUL!! I am recovering from an episode that lasted 14 days. Extreme body pain. I feel as if I can’t ever find the words for people to feel my pain. Fibromyalgia makes me feel ALONE!!!!!!!

I pretty much can tick all the boxs. I have a fairly high pain tolerance but the days I can barely cope are on the increase. My fatigue, pain and vertigo is soul destroying as by nature I'm a happy, bubbly full of life type. I can't remember the last time I woke feeling refreshed and moved with ease. People round me can't see it so not interested and doctors don't know enough about it to understand so conversations are brushed aside with medical consults pointless. It can be a very sad life for us sufferers. Love and light to all fellow sufferers. 💜

sometimes its just easier to say i have arthritis in every joint. people seem to understand why i am in pain then

I think the most exhausting part of it , is how much effort it takes to constantly fight the pain and brain fog . Add the meds to the mix and brain fog just gets thicker . Tried meds , exercise , slow stretching , physio and nothing has worked . I have been fighting against the pain for most of my 63 years . No one knew . Then one day I just couldn't fight anymore . I have been using painting to help distract my mind from the pain . I was going strong . Or so I thought . I had Covid back in December and I'm not sure if it is possible , but 5 months later and I'm still in tears from the increased pain a lot . Unable to paint due to persistent spasms in my back . Even smoking pot and CBD oil and its strong stuff , no longer helps . Sleep ? I don't know remember what real sleep feels like . Just went through 6 days and nights on 8 to 9 hours of sleep . I also can't remember what it is like not to be in pain . Sorry , but knowing actors who have it doesn't help me in the least . At least they have the money to keep up with the expense of meds and physio . I fought my way out of the wheelchair . It's only been a few years but now have to really consider a mobility scooter . My walks are now too difficult to keep up with and I need those trips out for my sanity .

i explain it as a neurological, adrenal and psychological illness. in laymans term your adrenal systems fight or flight response gets stuck in flight making your body hypersensitive to any form of additional stressors only increases the amount of pain a person feels. your adrenal system effects the pain symptoms your neurological system sends to the brain so you feel more pain and then the psychological component is that stress and your mental condition exasperates your pain stimulus too. plus the component that chronic pain causes more stress and depression. making it a truly vicious cycle.

In 1990 I started having major full body pain and fatigue. A rheumatologist diagnosed me with Fibromyalgia but my primary care physician told me “There’s no such thing”. I instantly became one of “those” patients to him.

Thank you people don’t understand you are judged on your looks pains are unbearable

Your cast example is what I have been using forever. I have told people that if I had a cast or was in a wheelchair, people would automatically ask what happened, are you alright, do you have any pain ... but since it doesn't show on the outside, people don't understand it. Then I turn around and say 'if I was turned inside out like a sweater, you would be shocked to see what's there'. I also tell people that when I was younger, there was a commercial on TV that showed a beautiful woman but when she looked at herself in a mirror, there were huge scars there and it was to show physical or mental abuse, but people never knew what that woman was going through. Now though, I don't even talk about it. Easier that way.

I can remember when I first began experiencing the cramping and pain; which made getting up from sitting on the sofa extremely painful as I would have cramps in my ribs. My son happened to be nearby once when I stood and suddenly jerked and yelled because of the pain... he thought I was playing around. It took a while for him to finally understand what I was going through.

It's the looking normal but being in a lot of pain. I get told all the time how I don't look like I have a disability and how I'm way too young to have so many issues. It's very frustrating

I’m called lazy, and unreliable. I am scrutinized and mocked.

I literally have fibro and feel like I know nothing, everyday I'm finding out something I've been struggling with is because of my fibro

After being sick since 1997, I don't waist my time explaining. Most of the medical field is still ignorant on this subject. How do we expect the general population to understand if the medical community doesn't?