My Journey with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain

I’m sharing some of my experiences with fibromyalgia to let you know, you’re not alone!  You may find yourself in this story. You may relate to some of my pain. I want you to know my pain today is much different than the runaway pain I had for years. My story isn’t a sad story for me because I’ve come to understand and accept my condition as a life challenge that I’ve learned to manage. 

I was twelve when I started having horrible headaches. My pain was so intense I would hide in my dark bedroom and shut the world out. I needed silence. I couldn’t think clearly, I didn’t know how to help myself. Doctors gave me medications but they didn’t work. I would go to school walking around with a crazy headache that I couldn’t ignore. It was part of me and I wanted it to go away. After several years of enduring this pain,  I started to accept my headaches. I functioned as best I could but this didn’t relieve my pain. 

I started noticing monthly symptoms where it felt like there was poison rushing through every vein in my body. I had aches like the flu but much deeper, down to my bones. As far back as I can remember I was sensitive to many things. When I walked through the perfume section of a department store the smells would intensify my headache.  Pollen, temperature changes,  loud noises, fluorescent lighting and the sun would trigger my migraines. The sun is a friend to so many but with me, being in the sun zaps my energy. 

My body was malfunctioning so badly it felt like I had lost all control. 

The chronic pain wore me out. I was always exhausted and weak. I became sad and depressed. I felt so helpless and lost all hope of ever feeling well again.

My chronic headaches stopped! It was when we were having our first baby and for nine months I didn’t have a single headache. I wanted to be pregnant forever!  The migraines came back after the delivery and were as strong and persistent as before.  It was then that I started to get proactive in advocating for myself.  As the years went by, I gradually gained tools and techniques to improve my life with fibromyalgia and chronic pain.  

Although I struggle to talk about my pain with anyone, I’ve come to realize that my painful journey with fibromyalgia can be a powerful way to help others with their journey.  I never in my wildest dreams thought I would be able to feel this wonderful living with fibromyalgia, plus become the health and life coach I am today.