WELCOME to the Fibromyalgia link up for August - the one and only link up for people who blog about Fibromyalgia. We're so glad you are here, whether you're browsing and visiting the links or contributing your own. Hopefully, you'll do both!
Fibromyalgia flares—those unpredictable waves of intensified pain, fatigue, and brain fog—can disrupt even the most carefully managed routines, leaving those affected searching for relief and understanding.
Across the blogosphere, fibro bloggers share their hard-won wisdom, offering a blend of practical strategies, emotional support, and personal insights to help others navigate these challenging episodes.
From pacing techniques to dietary tweaks and mental health tools, their voices provide a beacon of hope and solidarity for the fibromyalgia community, showing ways to cope and thrive despite the condition’s ups and downs.
Having a fibromyalgia flare means you are experiencing an increase in pain or symptoms. Just as fibromyalgia varies from person to person, so do flares. These flares often leave the person without energy and unable to enjoy their normal daily activities. ~ Fibro Mom, Fibro Flares.
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When I get a flare up of Fibromyalgia I get: increased pain in most of my joints (notice the word increased), increased pain in my calf muscles, a headache - usually mild and in the temples and an electric feeling that I feel in my lower limbs and hands. ~ Lee Good, Fibro Files.
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Am I depressed or in a flare? Am I flaring or suffering from depression? How, after all these years, damn near two decades of living with these conditions, can I not know the difference? A flare comes with insomnia and pain. Depression comes with a situational helplessness it doesn't seem will ever alleviate.~ Leah, Chronicles of F.I.B.R.O.
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New parts of body are joining in the fun of punishing my body. The brain is having a hard time concentrating-for those of you who know.it actually feels like its racing in your head. ~ Melissa, Fibro Warriors - Living Life.I have had about four main flare-ups in the last twelve months that have needed me to take time off work and most of them have been no more than a week long. They do seem to all start in the same way with a sensation on my skin. The only way I can describe this is it feels like I am having a nettle rubbed all over me. It is both stingy and excruciatingly distracting and annoying. ~ Susan, Not all Flare-ups are the same.
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I’d like to note that it’s rarely one thing.
We typically have some sort of “incident” that happens, but when we really think about it, we can see how a set of circumstances combined to cause the flare. ~ Sue, Top 9 Reasons for a Fibro Flare.TIPS FOR WHEN YOU ARE IN A FIBRO FLARE
When you learn to stop fighting the flares you will find they move on much faster. It seems by default we want to fight the flare. We want to keep working and doing and going. We feel like we have all these things that we need to do and that just pushing through will get it done. But, fighting/pushing through the flare takes so much more energy. The better answer is to relax and give yourself permission to just rest. Focus on recovering and you’ll recover faster. This way you can return to the things you need to do and have the energy to do them with full focus. ~ Julie, 5 tips for getting through a Fibro Flare.
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My life got a lot easier once I bought myself a zero gravity chair from Walmart (think: reclining lawn chair). I unfold it and put it wherever Chloe is playing, or by her crib while she falls asleep. It’s pretty light and easy to drag around folded up to wherever I need it. The best part for me is that my back is comfortable in it. Usually I’m alert while I’m in it (unless it’s her nap time), so I can respond and interact with her but from a lying down position. ~ Katarina, Mom with Fibro: How I'm pacing while looking after a toddler.
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Everyone experiences fibromyalgia and flares differently. Some are sidelined in bed. Personally, I am not good at slowing down or resting, but years of experience has taught me when it is time to just stop so as not to prolong the episode, and practice some real self-care, along with medication as needed. ~ Cynthia, What is a Fibromyalgia Flare?
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Using heat and cold can be a great way to relieve pain and provide some comfort at home. You can use hot water bottles, microwavable wheat packs and heating pads. Heat can also be very comforting and even help you to drift off to sleep at night. ~ Caz, 6 Ideas for Natural Pain Relief.
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People might not tell you how debilitating Fibromyalgia can be but it can put your life on halt. The most important message I can share is to have a team of doctors and a therapist that supports your journey. ~ Melinda, Fibromyalgia Thoughts
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Pain patches – I use them all the time. I use them mostly on my shoulders, neck, and back. They have enough topical pain medication in them to assist with tight muscles and fascia issues. The main ingredient in these patches is sodium diclofenac. ~ Carrie, My Fibromyalgia Flare Survival Kit.
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During times of intense flare-ups catching some zzz’s is an escape. I don’t have to suffer anymore. When I am asleep I don’t have to be in pain, or feel poorly, and my body doesn’t have to battle to keep going – it can rest. ~ Sarah, Why Sleep is So Important, My Reason
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Stress can trigger or worsen flares. Try mindfulness, meditation, or deep-breathing exercises to calm your nervous system. Also stay hydrated because dehydration can worsen fatigue and pain ~ Lee
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Stay Positive: Focus on the things you can control and find gratitude in the present moment. Cultivate a positive mindset by practicing gratitude journaling and reframing negative thoughts into more empowering ones. ~Thom, Conquer Chronic Pain
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The gentle heat seems to help switch your body from that heightened stress response into a more relaxed state. As the body is able to transfer out of stress response into states of relaxation, incidents of pain in the musculoskeletal system are reduced. ~ Sarah, The One Thing That Really Helps on My Worst Fibro Days – My Infra Red Sauna Blanket
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When you are in a flare, you must view food differently. If you know that you have an intolerance to certain foods, now is not the time to relent and eat them.Important Notes:
Welcome. We are sharing 15 heartfelt and insightful articles from Fibro Bloggers bravely navigating life with Fibromyalgia. From practical tips for managing symptoms to raw reflections on the challenges of chronic illness, these stories offer wisdom, resilience, and insights for those living with this condition.
Dive into this week’s collection below, and don’t miss the chance to explore previous weeks’ link-ups for even more inspiration and support.
1. 5 best things to help with fibromyalgia symptoms\ 2. We have to live through the hard times 3. When You're Overloaded Start A Mental Detox 4. The One Thing That Really Helps on My Worst Fibro Days 5. Fired for Being Sick: When Your Body Becomes a Liability 6. Back to…ADHD and Chronic Pain: Let’s Clear the Fog and Call Out the BS 7. Life with ADHD and Fibromyalgia, Told by Someone Living It (Messy Hair and All) 8. Dear Stranger, When you live in a body that won’t cooperate, survival becomes its own full-time job, and no, it doesn’t come with benefits. 9. We must overcome illness 10. 5 disabled creators I love this Disability Pride Month 11. Coping with another fatigue flare 12. Chronic Pain Patients Reveal Hidden Truths to a Future Doctor 13. A wonderful place 14. Keeping My Creativity Fresh With Phone Photography 15. Pain Recognition from the NYT |
Also you can take this opportunity to have a look at previous week's link-ups.
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Many thanks to these wonderful fibro bloggers, maintaining their fibro blogs while living with Fibromyalgia: This Fibro Chick, Dale Rockell, Glenys Robyn Hicks, Sarah Warburton, Beverley Butterfly, Janet Jay, Johanna Sr and Lee Good.
UK-Based Fibromyalgia Bloggers You Should Know
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Living with fibromyalgia can feel incredibly isolating—but it doesn’t have to be. Across the UK, a growing number of passionate bloggers are sharing their personal journeys with chronic pain, fatigue, and the daily ups and downs of life with fibromyalgia. Through honest storytelling, helpful tips, and heartfelt reflections, these bloggers are building communities, spreading awareness, and reminding others that they’re not alone.
In this post, we’re spotlighting some inspiring UK-based fibromyalgia bloggers who are using their platforms to advocate, educate, and connect. Whether you're newly diagnosed, supporting someone with fibromyalgia, or simply looking for relatable, real-life insight, these voices offer a mix of empathy, encouragement, and lived experience.
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Blooming Mindfulness – by Beverley Butterfly
Lives in Staffordshire, England with Fibromyalgia, ME, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, anaemia, chronic fatigue, depression, and anxiety. Some of her UK related posts include How accessible is the 02 Institute in Birmingham? and Important Resources for the Holiday Season in the UK. When you visit Beverley's blog do not forget to check out her active YouTube channel.
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Living Creatively with Fibro – by Susan Pearson
A keen crafter and organiser who lives in England and has Fibromyalgia. Check out her comprehensive article on Fibromyalgia in the UK and What if the King had Fibromyalgia? Truly Unthinkable. When you visit her blog you will also find many helpful articles she has written on the many symptoms of Fibromyalgia.
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Hello Fibro – by Bethan
A 20-something with Fibromyalgia in the UK, known for her poetry about living with fibro. Her posts include Reasonable Adjustments at Work (UK perspective) and My Experience of the Access Card. Bethan says "I started this blog to come to terms with my diagnosis but also to raise awareness and help others with similar conditions know they are not alone. I have found an amazing community of bloggers and the chronically ill that support one another through everything."
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Invisibly Me – by Caz
Life with a chronic, invisible illness. Based in the UK. She has helpful resources like What The Chronic Illness & Disability Benefits Cuts Mean For You and Medichecks Home Blood Testing. Invisibly Me is a magazine style blog with many articles people with Fibromyalgia and other chronic diseases can relate to.
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Musings of Life with Fibromyalgia – by Sarah Warburton
Blogging from the United Kingdom about life with fibromyalgia. Her UK related content includes The Beauty of Blossom Season at Batsford Arboretum and Fibromyalgia-Friendly Getaway: A Weekend in Warwick, England. Sarah also writes for UK Fibromyalgia Magazine, The Mighty and The Best of British.
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Fibro & Photos – by Dale Rockell
Shares experiences of living with Fibromyalgia and Central Sensitivity Disorder and loving to do photography. Based in the UK. Phone Photography Is More Fibro Friendly: London and Cromer New Year’s Day Fireworks & Fibro Pain are just two of his UK based posts. Dale's blog is unique in that all the images shared there are his own photography.
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