The main cause that misunderstanding and myth often encircle the chronic condition that causes pain and exhaustion and every person who has fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) experiences it in a different way. Education is a key to effectively manage symptoms. Fibromyalgia is a chronic and untreatable condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, chronic exhaustion, brain fog and sleep disorder that is predictable to affect between three and six percent of the global people.
However, since fibromyalgia was formally recognized only a few decades ago, many people (including doctors) are still unfamiliar with the illness and the reality of how it can affect someone’s life. These doubts can unluckily give way to assumptions that are not just erroneous, but upsetting. Many still believe that fibro is not a “real” illness, and that those who have it must simply be “faking” or “attention-seeking” when that could not be further from the truth. Among the physical symptoms and emotional impact of having a lifetime condition, fibromyalgia can already be a tricky illness to deal with.
Some misconceptions may always persist; it is significant to separate truth from fiction. Understanding the particulars about fibromyalgia can help the sufferer understand his/her condition better and help the outside viewer to be more understanding towards friends or loved ones with fibromyalgia.
To address some of the circulating miss-conceptions we asked a question to our community “Living with Fibromyalgia and chronic illness” to share with us that what fibromyalgia is not. Lots of members participated in the survey and share their thoughts with us. We have compiled the list of them for you.
“Fibromyalgia is NOT …
1. … Fake”
- Fibromyalgia is not fake. I don’t know how many times I’ve had people say fibro is not “real” or “it’s all in your head”. I would not pretend to be in pain, all day, all the time. I would not pretend to have sleep issues. I would not pretend to be sick. I would not pretend to have stomach issues. I would not pretend to have mood swings. I would not drop out of school. I would not leave countless jobs. I would not pretend to do any of these things. It’s real, it sucks and its life changing. Give it the respect it deserves. – Robyn
- Fibro is Not In our head.- Judy
2. …Biased”
- A woman’s only disease. – Bradley Bear
- Not related to weight it’s not related to gender or age.- Michelle Russel
- Fibro is not that most people gain weight after having Fibromyalgia because it makes even daily activity impossible in many cases. Being overweight is a co-morbid condition associated with having Fibromyalgia, it is not the cause of Fibromyalgia…Slim people are effected too.
- Fibromyalgia is not age restrictive, you can get it at any age. – Amy Smith
3. … Something else”
- Psychiatric disease or depression or other mental illness.- Jia Maan
- Fibromyalgia isn’t psychosomatic. it is real physical pain. – Trace
- Fibromyalgia is not pulmonary. – Adayla
- Fibromyalgia is NOT nerve damage pain from my diabetes. -Mary Linn
- It is not hypochondria- Trianna
4. … for Weak”
- Fibromyalgia is not forgiving
- Fibromyalgia is not for sissies. It take a strong person to endure the symptoms of Fibromyalgia day in and day out.
- “Fibromyalgia is not…”Taking you life, fight it everyday, and take your power back”.
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5. … Easy”.
- Fibro is not Easy. Living hell every second every minute of everyday and there is always something new happening,if it’s in our heads how come my friends and husband sees parts of knees ankles and hands and even my neck dip inwards when there’s pain there are different stages.
- Fibromyalgia is not Easy to treat or understand, everyone’s symptoms are and can be different and change from day to day.
- Fibro is not Easy, plus really hard to explain, because everyone is different, we have the same pains but could b in different area,s of the body, and meditation doesn’t work for everyone
- Its not like “you’ll get better in a few days”
- Something I can get over.
6. … Made up”
- Fibromyalgia is not made up it’s not going to disappear
- Fibromyalgia is not consistent. You don’t know from day to day what to expect.
7. … The Same”
- The same from day to day, even minute by minute. Also month by month and year to year. It also changes depending on meds and what dr’s do to you.
- It’s not the same from day to day. Each day will be different for each person. No one will have the same exact symptoms either.
- The same in every patient. Some have other immune diseases and some don’t. Our symptoms are as individual as we are!
8. … Curable”
- Fibromyalgia is not going to get better by fresh air and a positive attitude!- Emily
- Fibromyalgia is not curable- Jessica
- Fibromyalgia is never going to go away. The pain is so bad it makes it hard to enjoy your days you feel tired all the time. You have to self pace yourself to get things done most people think your fine because they can’t see your pain. Its hard to concentrate when you are in pain all the time. I hope someone finds a cure. -Gail Newland
- Fibromyagia isn’t cured by losing weight or doing exercise. If I have one more doctor tell me to just lose weight and get on with things, think I’ll cry right there and then.- Sarah Jane
9. … Fair”
- Fibro is s not fairly represented in the medical industry. Many have never heard of it. Most doctors don’t fully understand it therefore the treatment is not adequate or sufficient.
- Fibro is a mere symptom of something undiagnosed. – a catch-all when no other diagnosis is clear. – Christiana irene
10. ...Myth”
- Fibromyalgia is not the way it’s portrayed in Lyrica commercials.
- Fibromyalgia is Not A myth. It’s real, very real. – Paula
Also Read :10 Myths about Fibromyalgia that make it even harder to live with
Fibromyalgia is Not something that we will “get well” from eventually. It will be life long. We will have good days and bad. Good weeks and bad. Good periods and bad. And we can’t control that. Also – Fibromyalgia is not something that can be controlled. Just because a treatment worked last time doesn’t mean it will this time. So please don’t pressure me. Pressure is the worst thing you can do to me. I’m far more likely to end up unwell longer if I feel stressed!
Fibromyalgia is like waking up every day to fight a battle you know you are going to lose and getting out of bed anyway. It’s being the daily inevitably of defeat and every tear, outburst, and breakdown that comes with it. It’s desperately holding hands with hope and courage and allowing them to pull you from bed when your body is fighting for anything but It’s knowing that Fibromyalgia might win the battles. But you will win the war.
We required correcting some of the misunderstandings surrounding fibromyalgia. The significant part of promoting general perceptive and awareness is breaking down these stigmas, so they can ultimately lead to more research and better treatment options for those with the sickness.
Also Read: Chronic Pain/Fibromyalgia is so much more than “Just Pain”
For support and discussion join our friendly Facebook community “Living with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Illness”, Click Here to Join
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Question Curtsy: Veronica Vivona via The Mighty