| Fibromyalgia is a painful disease which mainly women | | | | Getting a better bed may help, or changing bed |
| suffer from, People as young as 30 can get it | | | | times. Some can "catnap" in the day to recharge |
| although 40-50 is a more common age. As the | | | | batteries. |
| condition worsens a steady but certain life style | | | | Getting up in the morning may be especially hard, and |
| change occurs which needs to be properly | | | | take hours to achieve as the body is naturally stiffer. |
| understood and controlled if sufferers are to live | | | | Finances |
| successful with this illness. | | | | If Fibromyalgia forces you to quit work, it often |
| Having Fibromyalgia means pain, everyday, all the | | | | means sufferers now need regular if not constant |
| time, in varying degrees, you may have a few good | | | | care. Where both partners work, or run a business |
| days and pain killers will reduce the hurt, but for | | | | together, they face the reality of NEITHER working |
| certain it will be back with a vengeance tomorrow, or | | | | and finances take a serious shock. |
| maybe later today. | | | | You may need specialist equipment or to move |
| There is no known cure for Fibromyalgia despite | | | | house, state benefits and grants may be available |
| what some may claim - only relief and life style | | | | based on the extent of the condition. |
| changes. Lets look at the key issues and how it | | | | Some legal cases have succeeded where it is proven |
| effects sufferers, their partners, family and friends; | | | | Fibromyalgia resulted from an accident at work, so |
| Working | | | | one needs to consider all sources of income and |
| Fibromyalgia is not like an accident one day you are | | | | capital raising projects before money gets too tight. |
| fit the next injured, it creeps up on you first as a | | | | Some serious budgeting is needed and ways of |
| twinge, then pain, more and more, harsher and | | | | reducing costs and increasing income. Selling assets |
| harsher. It may take 5, 10 or even 20 years to get | | | | may be worthwhile, but avoid borrowing which can |
| "really bad" and for may major discomfort in the | | | | have adverse long term effects. |
| advancement process. | | | | Caring |
| Work at home, business or a regular office or | | | | Carers who look after Fibromyalgia sufferers drift |
| factory role becomes more difficult, getting there, | | | | into the role as the condition worsens, and may |
| and doing the tasks is tough. And as the disease | | | | accept their enforced role with pleasure or reluctance. |
| progresses you are forced first to reduce work | | | | Since there are no obvious outward signs a person is |
| hours, or have regular days off sick, eventually | | | | suffering from Fibromyalgia, many people are less |
| quitting totally becomes a reality. Maybe early | | | | than sympathetic about the illness. Even so where |
| retirement may be a possibility or opt for any | | | | the sufferer complains of pain or having a bad day it |
| redundancy can help soften the blow especially if | | | | is often viewed by sceptics as "all in the mind" or "it's |
| some pension or lump sum is payable. | | | | not as bad as that". Close family can often be the |
| Women see their home getting less neat and clean, | | | | worst offenders in the sympathy stakes. |
| meals are late, or less complex for ease. Male | | | | Conclusion |
| partners may not be understanding well the problems | | | | Regular consultation with your doctor will ensure the |
| and the pain. | | | | latest and best treatments are available to control |
| Mobility | | | | rather than cure the disease. |
| Walking is painful, running impossible, climbing stairs | | | | The sufferer and their carer need a sense of |
| difficult and maybe in due course you may need a | | | | humour, as it is easy to get depressed and |
| bungalow, or stair lift. Driving a car may be hard, | | | | frustrated and loose the joy of life and living. Being |
| even dangerous, getting on buses a tough task, so | | | | together at home in front of the TV is better than |
| the easy route is to stay at home more and more. | | | | being annoyed and frustrated at not been able to |
| You may need to readjust trips, use a taxi more, get | | | | have the usual annual holiday in Tenerife. |
| lifts, or find ways of doing some tasks at home such | | | | Life style changes need to be accepted as inevitable, |
| as internet shopping. The phone becomes a godsend | | | | so you must face REALITY, and study work, |
| and lifeline as does email and a computer | | | | finances, home layouts, travel and general day to day |
| Sleep | | | | living and make appropriate changes SLOWLY as |
| Pain means you rest uneasily, turning over frequently. | | | | finances and demands allow. |
| Your mind is restless and you may go to bed dog | | | | Belong to a local Fibromyalgia support group, and |
| tired then wake up for hours - your bed partner may | | | | accessing informational web sites and discussion |
| join you, unwillingly, in restless, disturbed sleep, | | | | boards will enable you to understand Fibromyalgia |
| although some can "crash out" without a care in the | | | | better and meet other people and chat about the |
| world and sleep though it all, much to the annoyance | | | | various issues both you and they face. |
| of the sufferer. | | | | |