How do you explain what fibro is ?

[fibrolou]

When asked I have difficulty putting into words what fibro is, how can i explain simply to well meaning friends and relatives basically what the condition is.

[dvaidr]

It's very difficult. I've tried but there are so may aspects to it, it's almost impossible. There's the fog, the sensitivity, the gloom, the aches, the dizziness...........

Many people, of course, think it doesn't exist. I would love to juxtapose with these folk for a month.

[LindseyMid]

For people that ask "what is it?" for whom it not be appropriate to just whip out a flyer or say "see this website", I say something like this:

"Fibro is a neurological related condition where the fight-or-flight response gets turned on and cannot turn off, meaning that the brain cannot process stimuli correctly, you cannot sleep deeply and you end up with chronic widespread pain, hypersensitivity to pain so the slightest touch can hurt and a host of neurological symptoms".

It's a bit of a mouthful but it covers the important bits in language most people can understand. Most people know about the fight-or-flight response, so using that phrase is a lot easier than saying "the autonomic nervous system becomes overstimulated".

[Frotbanana in reply to LindseyMid]

That is a great explanation. Thank you.

[MissKittycat]

Just a quick add - the way I explain it too people, is I ask them if they have ever had the flu - not a cold - but the flu. I then tell them thats pretty much how I feel 24/7. A lot of people don't understand the technical terms when I go into a description of it, but they find this the easiest to understand. Hope this helps!!! xxx

[diane63]

hi there everyone.. i have posted a poem that might be of help to fibro sufferers and to let ur family and friends see how u live each day xx hope it helps .. hugs xxx