In July 2001, I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. My Doctor took all of the various tests, blood, GI, X-Rays, and finally a MRI; and of course the necessary 11 trigger points. She was very gentle when she told me I had Fibromyalgia,. My response was “NO I DON’T”.
My only contact with Fibro had been the girls in the office I worked with. They took so many drugs and one was ‘out of it’ so much of the time due to the number and quantity of drugs she took she could barely function let alone do quality work. I was not about to be like her in that state. So off I went for referrals to a Neurologist and a Rheumatologist. Of course, the verdict was still Fibro. I was placed on disability and had to follow their recommendations and did need to take a certain number of drugs. I was prescribed with an antidepressant and a sleeping aid. The antidepressant because everyone with Fibro “must be depressed” (as directed by the Insurance company for Disability) and the sleeping aid because my sleep patterns were very disrupted. Fatigue and Pain was constant. I did try various medications for pain, everything from ASA to Vioxx. Nothing worked and so eventually I quit trying medication. A six week program helped me learn to cope with the pain and more important how to plan my days to help alleviate the fatigue. I learned how to do EFT and Quantum Touch and use these techniques for pain. Massage has been invaluable, and the gal I go to is blind; so she is extra sensitive to my needs and tender spots. The loss of my income was devastating. I had worked for the Federal Government for 18 years and it had become the greater part of my identity.
It has been a long 10 years. Not much has changed. I was not able to return to work, I tried part time; but the distance I live from the office was an hour drive one way and then with only a couple hours of work and the drive home, it was too much. I may have been able to do it every second day but not on a daily basis. So after the disability paid out I had to quit. I also gave up all of the volunteer work I was doing for 4-H at the Regional and Provincial level; and with the local community hall board. I still find it necessary to plan my days and plan my activities, but it is getting easier.
