5 Things you need to know about #Fibromyalgia

1. Fibromyalgia is a disorder/chronic pain syndrome/long-term condition that causes pain and tenderness all over your body; skin and scalp ailments as well as mental distress.

2. Symptoms may vary from day to day depending on the weather, and from person to person depending on the severity of the condition. It has a buffet of different diseases co-existing with it, such as, to name but 20:

a) Chronic muscle pain and stiffness; b) Insomnia; c) Chronic fatigue syndrome (lack of energy); d) Migraine and other types of headaches; e) Interstitial cystitis or painful bladder syndrome; f) Temporomandibular joint disorders (disorders of the jaw); g) Anxiety and Depression; h) Postural tachycardia syndrome (heart rate over 100 beats per minute); i) Digestive problems (Belly pain, bloating); j) Queasiness, (nausea and vomiting); k) Irritable Bowel Syndrome (Constipation, diarrhea); l) Dry mouth, nose, and eyes; m) Sensitivity to cold, heat, light, sound, touch; n) Numbness or tingling in your face, arms, hands, legs, or feet; o) Restless legs syndrome (creepy crawly feeling, cramps and twitching); p) Fibro fog (problems with thinking, memory, and concentration); q) Dizziness; r) Hair loss; s) Easy bruising, swelling, rash; t) Palmar erythema (redness on the face and hands)

3. Since there is no cure sufferers take medication for each ailment and end up with up to 20 pills per day. Medication has side effects. South African Medical Aids do not regard Fibromyalgia as a chronic condition, hence the cost of the medication lies with the one with the condition. Medication is expensive.

4. What not to say to someone with Fibromyalgia:

a) You don’t look sick. It creates the impression that you think that one is pretending to be sick.

b) Everybody gets tired.

c) We all get aches and pains as we get older.

d) We are all forgetful as we get older.

e) If you’d get out more …

f) If you’d exercise more …

g) You need to sleep more.

h) There’s an article I read about the cure of Fibromyalgia.

i) No one can get all these symptoms, it is all in your head.

j) Fibromyalgia is not real.

5. Instead, you need to remember the following:

a) They need support and help to get through this.

b) They are still the same person as before they developed symptoms.

c) They need hugs — just check first because of the sensitivity to touch.

d) Don’t hide how you feel and any news from them.

e) 12 May is Fibromyalgia Awareness Day — wear a purple ribbon.