How do I accept

[Fibrofog]

How do I come to terms with this awful condition?

[Busymumma22]

When you know, please let me know. I get more and more stressed and the more stressed I get the more I flare and around and around we go 😭 hugs of hope 🤗

[Fibrofog in reply to Busymumma22]

I will do, and vice versa. My friends understand to a certain extent. But on here everyone knows where I'm coming from. And I'm so thankful I found this forum. Sending love and hugs 🥰

[LisaSnow FMA UK Volunteer]

It can take time to accept any changes in life. A new diagnosis is scary, but know that prognosis of fibromyalgia differs for everyone and symptoms often come AND go. Many still can work and live a highly functional life with effective management. Be patient and keep up a hopeful attitude, your body will thank you.

[Arymretep]

That’s the million dollar question ! It’s so hard to accept that we can’t do the things we want to and have always done before fibro, I try to concentrate on the things I CAN do now instead of what I cannot do, take care.

[Broadfield]

After 26years of ME and Fibro I think I have accepted that this is me!!! I accepted this a few years ago and am now content most of the time. I don't make plans to far ahead, this avoids disappointment. I don't do anything I don't feel comfortable with to avoid tension. I treat myself often, this maybe an outing with friend's or a purchase. I have hobbies which I can pick and choose depending on my day. I spend as much time outside either gardening or reading. I don't get too involved with the news or politics. I like radio 4 and listen to a lot of music. I have cut down on television as this will stress me out. Choose your friend's carefully as you only want people around you who understand your condition, don't let anyone tell you how you should be behaving or treating your condition. Let yourself mourn for the things you have lost, I lost my career and my income, it took me a while to accept this but there is no point dwelling on it for too long as this will make thing worse. Do things that bring a smile to your face, be with friend's who bring joy and hope for the best.😊

[Fibrofog in reply to Broadfield]

Oh I do have 2 fantastic friends behind. And I know they are worried about me. I'm worried to, too be honest xx

[Broadfield in reply to Fibrofog]

What are your worries?🤔

[Fibrofog in reply to Broadfield]

Put it this way its not good x

[Themanwithnoname]

10 + years of grieving for the old me. My only advice is do what you can do. Never feel guilty for not managing something. It's ok to be angry, cry and all the other emotions that come with this condition.

Don't be 2 hard on yourself and what i find the hardest is try not to worry what others think/say.

There are many options of things to try to get a grip on this condition and plenty of good stuff on forums.

I had to except i would never hold down a job which is the killer as if you go benefit route you are set up to fail but be persistent and get what you are entitled to. If in work speak to your employer about changes that may help you. Personally id only mention anything if struggling to hold down your job.

Not sure id say fibro id say chronic pain i feel that gets better recognition/ less judged.

GL.

[Fibrofog in reply to Themanwithnoname]

Oh I'm not working I had to give up years ago, from the chronic headaches from suffering from intracranial hypertension which is too much pressure on the brain, and I've been having trouble from the shunt they put in my head for the last 5 years and it nearly killed me, if it wasn't for my friend finding me when she I'd be dead, and I had accepted that part of me, I had a brief 2 months where I felt the best I had in a long time then the fibro set in, and it's that I think why I'm struggling xx

[Roo1972]

I don't know whether you ever really do. Certainly for me, my acceptance is a direct correlation with the severity of symptoms, the worse my symptoms the less my acceptance and vice versa. However, what I do now which I didn't is accept small gains as big wins ie I wont be able to walk as far as I did before or perhaps be out of pain but a reduction in pain or improved mobility is a win and I will celebrate the hell out of that.

[JayCeon]

Hi there - I've accepted it all along, even before I got the diagnosis and before I was sure that diagnosis was right and explains enough. It takes the speed out of my life, but also relieves the pressure that came with that, and I constantly look for alternatives to be cheerful, to love about myself and my life. Life has become slow and I savour it, even in worst pain. I don't beat myself or anything up if I can't sleep or can't move or talk or see my loved ones, I do something suitable and find something similar or an alternative way of doing it. I was always a physically active person, fibro brought my activity down to 35% and now MCAS added to 10-30%, meaning I can now only work from home, without talking long. But I'm also always looking for and finding many ways to improve the quality and enjoyment of my life. As well as consulting tons of docs and PTs, then finding my own treatments that make it all more tolerable. At the moment I'm on sick leave (6 months),. but still working organizing things for my colleagues, supporting them, big things and little things, whenever I am able. Next I've still got loads of overtime which I'll take, so I don't get chucked out, but I'll also work a bit from home, without sick leave. When that's through, they chuck me out and I still want to work, I'll look for similar things again as a volunteer, if I still have inner energy & motivation left over. These are things that I can do even if I'm not able to meet with people much or long and although I'm pretty housebound (2x30 mins anything outside or meeting people at home is max. at the moment, then I need long breaks, I need breaks from everything, even sleep).

I've learnt to savour and love a small piece of dark chocolate*, which I used to hate: that's a symbol I think for the way I go about it. I'm Blessed and I'm sure I'm "Getting Help" to be that...

* the only type of sweets I can now eat a bit. 50 foods in total.