Explaining Fibro

[charlii]

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to explain how fibro makes me feel to my 15 year old son please? He has high functioning Aspergers Syndrome and is very intelligent however he is unable to put himself in anyone elses shoes or empathize.....Thanks guys.....Charlii xx

[Extremelygrumpy]

Snap....... How amazing .... Same age same diagnosis ... Does he understand or care no not really but on the other hand he's so musical he doesn't actually care that I can't do things he just wants to be tucked away with his mates playing his guitar. I don't know if you have an OH I do so it's easier as in earlier years my OH took my son out to things . When I suddenly developed arthris 4 years ago and was in a wheelchair for 3 months. As soon as I got out of it my son would be whizz ing around in it, as if I had this thing for fun...., but yeah I have given up on hoping he will ever understand.. Today I am having bad neck flare , totally my own fault for sitting in cinema. Yesterday am on the settee with hot pack round my neck and son has just come in saying,,,,,, you haven't cleaned my trainers I told you I needed them for today so have had to get up and clean them.... I have had fibro for 22 years and my son is 15 I don't think he will ever get it... He wouldn't read anything about it and he has lots of times when the spoken word completely confuses him... So I don't think he will ever understand. To him I am always at home if he needs me and I can't get out much and that's as far as it goes

Perhaps as they get older they may understand more but for empathy or real recognition ... I don't ever expect that

Sorry I can't offer any help but your post has helped me in knowing I am not alone in this situation

Hugs

VG x

[phlebo123]

Hi charlii -- does your son enjoy the computer? There are some very good videos on Youtube explaining and illustrating the symptoms of fibro -- maybe you could sit and watch some of them with him and explain them as you watch. Or has your son ever had a very bad cold/flu or similar "achey" illness -- ask him if he can remember how he felt when he had flu and explain to him that this is how you feel every day. good luck xx

[ladymoth]

My eldest son has Asperger's, too!

It's taken him the other way, tho' - he fusses over me so much and thinks I shouldn't move at all!

He obsesses about fibro, as he does about all sorts of other things, and at the moment he's very worried that other members of the family might inherit the problem.

If anyone has a headache or a toothache, or even a hangover, he will 'diagnose' fibromyalgia, and treat them to a long lecture on all known symptoms, medications etc.

Bless him, it's lovely that he's so concerned, but I shall be glad when his obsession moves on to something different - like doing the dishes, maybe?

Moffy x

[Ozzygirl64]

I think VG and Moffy have dine a good job here and there really is nothing I can add to help out, sorry xxxxx