Welcome to Fibro Friday for September

Welcome to Fibro Friday for September, a space where stories, strategies, and solidarity come together for those living with fibromyalgia and chronic pain. 

This month’s roundup is rich with insight—from sleep struggles and weather sensitivity to the emotional toll of invisibility and isolation.

 Whether you're navigating flare-ups, seeking community, or simply looking for a moment of understanding, these 17 heartfelt contributions offer wisdom, warmth, and a reminder: you are not alone in this journey.

1. That's Why I Wake Feeling Unrested - Dale Rockell shares some realizations about his pain that he learns from waking in the night. 2. Practical Tips for Weather Sensitivity when living with Fibromyalgia. If the weather feels like it controls your body more than the forecast, this post offers tips to help you navigate fibromyalgia’s stormy relationship with the skies. 3. The Baker's Dozen - 13 chronic illness questions by Anthony Heard who is living with Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP) and Fibromyalgia. This interview dives into the lived experience of chronic and rare illness and the stories behind the diagnosis. 4. Living with Fibromyalgia: The Invisible Struggle You Can’t See by This Fibro Chick emphasizes the disconnect between outward appearances and internal suffering. It explores the physical pain, emotional grief, and social invisibility that come with the condition. 5. World suicide prevention day - Beverley shares her personal reflections as well as helplines and understanding of what suicide prevention is all about.  6. A Change Of Routine - Simba Visits: Dale changes his normal routine to accommodate a 5 month old adorable ball of fluff.  7. To Call the Doctor or Not? Susan Pearson explores the internal conflict many people with fibromyalgia face when deciding whether to seek medical attention for new symptoms, especially within an overstretched healthcare system.  8. Dusting off my wheelchair - describes the things that led to Glenys getting out her wheelchair again. 9. Optimal Sleep Strategies for Chronic Pain Relief. Sarah Warburton offers practical advice for improving sleep while living with chronic pain. It explores how adjustments to mattresses, pillows, bedroom environment, and routines can help break the pain-sleep cycle and create a more restorative sleep experience. 10. Pain Awareness Month: My Journey with Chronic Pain focuses on Beverley's personal history with pain, emotional and spiritual coping strategies—including witchcraft—and the importance of visibility and advocacy during Pain Awareness Month. 11. Doing It Anyway - Feeling stuck, or too tired to pursue something you love? This post captures a quiet triumph—where creativity wins. If you’ve ever pushed through pain or doubt to do the thing anyway, this one’s for you. 12. Book Review - This review highlights Finding Joy with an Invisible Chronic Illness by Christopher Martin as a compassionate and practical guide for navigating life with unseen health challenges. 13. Living with Fibromyalgia: Small Wins and Survival Strategies - tools, strategies and reminders that Fibromyalgia can't steal your story. 14. Pain Awareness Month 2025 Supporting the Chronic Pain Community emphasizes the importance of community, advocacy, and compassion in navigating life with chronic pain.  15. The Power of “Me Too” - Finding community through the fog: This Fibro Chick discusses loneliness when living with Fibromyalgia and why community matters. 16. Fibromyalgia Thoughts #13 - Melinda talks about how Fibromyalgia sucks and some of her symptoms. 17. What Others See Versus The Reality - Through a personal story of a beach walk in Norfolk, and photographs,  the author reflects on the physical toll of everyday activities and the emotional challenge of being misunderstood.

Fibro Fact - Fibro often co exists with other diseases

 

Fibromyalgia rarely walks alone. For many of us, it arrives hand-in-hand with other chronic or autoimmune conditions—each adding its own weight, complexity, and demand for care. This layered reality is often misunderstood, even within medical spaces. But in the blogging world, we find truth-tellers. People who name their pain, share their strategies, and remind us that we’re not imagining the overlap.

Here are just a few of the brave voices who live with fibromyalgia and other conditions—and who write with clarity, courage, and community in mind.

Fibro + Mental Health

These bloggers speak openly about the emotional toll of chronic illness, naming depression, anxiety, and trauma as part of their healing journey:

• Beverley (Blooming Mindfulness) – Fibro, anaemia, chronic fatigue, depression, anxiety

• Alisha (The Invisible F) – Fibro, depression, anxiety

• Mallory (Mallory en montgolfière) – Fibro, PTSD, chronic depression

Fibro + Autoimmune Conditions

These writers navigate the unpredictable terrain of autoimmune illness alongside fibromyalgia:

• Glenys R. Hicks (Australian Sacrificial Homebody) –Fibro, Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS)

• Carrie Kellenberger (My Several Worlds) – Fibro, Ankylosing Spondylitis, ME/CFS

• Windy Johnson-Cumberbatch (Windy's Journey) – Fibro, UCTD Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease, Chronic Lyme Disease, ME/CFS

• Julie Ryan (Counting Spoons) – Fibro, thyroid, endometriosis, chronic migraine

Fibro + Fatigue & Pain Syndromes

These bloggers explore the daily grind of exhaustion, pain, and pacing:

• Dan Neuffer (CFS Unravelled) – Fibro, ME/CFS

• Suzanne (Coco Lime Fitness) – Fibro, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

• Tash (Bohemian Solitude) – Fibro, CFS, PTSD

• Janet Jay (Pain: Chronic? Words: Iconic) – Fibro, migraine, spinal problems

• Dale Rockell (Fibro & Photos) – Fibro, Central Sensitivity Disorder

• Shelley (Chronic Mom) – Fibro, Lyme Disease

• Melissa Reynolds (Going My Own Pace) – Fibro, fatigue

• Celeste Cooper (The PAINED INK SLAYER) – Fibro, myofascial pain syndrome

• Barbara (Back Pain Blog) – Fibro, chronic back pain

• Katarina (Painfully Aware) – Fibro, chronic pain, endometriosis 

• Bethan (Hello Fibro)  Fibro, CFS

Fibro + Unnamed or Multiple Chronic Illnesses

Some bloggers live with a constellation of conditions that defy easy categorization:

• Sarah (Me, Myself and Chronic Illness Blog) – Fibro + other chronic illnesses

• Susan E. Bisco (Fibromy What?) – Fibro + 

• Melinda (Looking For The Light)  – Fibro +

• Helen (Living Whole) – Fibro +

Why This Matters

When we name the overlap, we validate the complexity. We push back against our symptoms being minimized. We remind each other—and the world—that fibromyalgia is not a standalone story. It’s part of a larger narrative of resilience, adaptation, and advocacy.

If you live with fibro and other conditions your experience is real. Your exhaustion is layered. Your healing deserves nuance. And your voice—like these bloggers’—can be a lifeline to someone else.

Five More Fabulous Fibro Bloggers

 

We’re back with another round of inspiring fibro bloggers who continue to write, reflect, and uplift despite the daily challenges of chronic illness. These storytellers offer wisdom, humor, and solidarity to the fibromyalgia community—and beyond.

💜Glenys at Australian Sacrificial Home Body

Glenys writes with gentle honesty about home life, aging, and the quiet rhythms of living with fibromyalgia. Her blog is a space of peace and acceptance, where chronic illness is acknowledged but not allowed to eclipse joy.

“I write about home keeping, aging, peace and acceptance. My blog is a place to reflect on the small things that make life meaningful—even when pain is present.”

Fibro-related posts include:

• Enjoy being at home

• I don't think I would cope! 

• I won't succumb to it...

📸 Dale at Fibro & Photos

Dale combines photography and storytelling to explore life with fibromyalgia. His YouTube channel and blog are filled with creative therapy ideas, including how photography can be a healing outlet.

“I use photography to express what words sometimes can’t. Living with fibromyalgia has taught me to see beauty in stillness and resilience in imperfection.”

Fibro-related content includes:

• How to start Photography as Creative Fibro Therapy

• How and Why I Pace Activities

• The Painful Cost of Attending a Family Event

💜 Carrie at My Several Worlds 

Carrie blends advocacy, art, and lived experience to illuminate life with fibromyalgia and also axial spondylarthritis. Her blog, My Several Worlds, is a vibrant hub for chronic illness awareness. From her home in Taipei, she writes with clarity and compassion, offering both practical resources and emotional resonance within Asian healthcare and the wider world.

“Blogging is a great coping tool because it allows me to vent when I need to. Plus, it’s a great way to meet other people in the chronic illness community.”

Fibro-related content includes:

• My Fibro Flare Survival Kit

• Throat Pain with Fibromyalgia

• The Challenges of Life with Disability in Taiwan

Her work is especially powerful for those seeking validation in complex medical systems, and for anyone who needs to hear: you are not alone, and your story matters.

💜 Melinda at Looking for the Light

Melinda’s blog is a blend of advocacy, interviews, and personal reflection. Her “Blogger Highlight” series lifts up other voices in the fibro community, and she writes candidly about mental health and invisible illness.

“I want to shine a light on the stories that often go unheard. Fibromyalgia is invisible, but our voices don’t have to be.”

Fibro-related posts include:

• Interview with Sarah from Musings on Life with Fibromyalgia

• Small Lifestyle Changes To Make When Living with Chronic Pain

• How CBT can Help People with Fibromyalgia

✝️ Windy at Windy’s Journey

Windy writes about her experience with fibromyalgia and physical therapy, weaving in reflections on faith and healing. Her blog is heartfelt and grounded, offering hope to those navigating similar paths.

“My connection to God has helped me through the hardest parts of this journey. I write to share what I’ve learned and to remind others they’re not alone.”

Fibro-related posts include:

• Fibro and Physical Therapy: Finding Movement in the Middle of Pain

• Faith and Chronic Illness: Grace for the Hard Days

• The Beauty of Small Steps

We hope you’ve enjoyed meeting these five fabulous fibro bloggers. Their voices are part of a growing chorus of resilience, creativity, and advocacy. Stay tuned for the next spotlight in our Focus on Five Fibro Blogs series or review the previous one.

Why Hashtags Matter for #Fibromyalgia & #ChronicIllness on X

Living with fibromyalgia or any chronic illness can feel isolating—but hashtags are more than just metadata. They’re lifelines. 

To maximize visibility for fibromyalgia and chronic illness articles written by people living with fibromyalgia on X, use hashtags that are popular, relevant, and commonly used within the chronic illness and fibromyalgia communities.

Here's how to use them to connect, advocate, and be heard. 👇

1️⃣ #Fibromyalgia The go-to tag for everything from symptoms to support. Use it to share your story, raise awareness, or find others who truly get it.

2️⃣ #Spoonie A beloved term in the chronic illness world. It’s not just a hashtag—it’s an identity. If you live with limited energy, this one’s for you.

3️⃣ #ChronicIllnessWarrior Because surviving daily pain is no small feat. This tag celebrates strength, resilience, and the fight for visibility.

4️⃣ #InvisibleIllness Not all pain is visible. This hashtag helps challenge stigma and educate others about what they can’t see.

5️⃣ #FibroFlare Use this to describe those tough days when symptoms spike. It’s a way to vent, find empathy, and track patterns.

Tip: Combine 3–5 hashtags per post. Mix broad ones like #ChronicPain with niche ones like #FibroLife to reach both communities and curious readers.

Hashtags aren’t just for reach—they’re for recognition. They help turn your lived experience into a voice others can find, follow, and feel seen by.

Here’s a curated list of the most effective and widely used hashtags on X (formerly Twitter) for articles written by people living with fibromyalgia and chronic illness. These hashtags help amplify visibility, connect with supportive communities, and engage readers who resonate with lived experiences. Based on current trends and community engagement, here are some of the best hashtags to use:

Top Hashtags for Fibromyalgia

These are commonly used by those sharing personal stories, advocacy, and resources:

• #Fibromyalgia

• #Fibro

• #FibroWarrior (while some may not like to be identified as a warrior, this is widely used)

• #FibromyalgiaWarrior

• #FibroLife

• #FibroAwareness

• #FibromyalgiaAwareness

• #LivingWithFibro

• #FibroCommunity

• #FibroFlare

• #FibroStrong

Top Hashtags for Chronic Illness

Great for broader reach and where content can have diverse angles:

• #ChronicIllness

• #ChronicPain

• #ChroniLife

• #InvisibleIllness

• #Spoonie (widely used by people with chronic conditions)

• #SpoonieLife

• #ChronicFatigue

• #AutoimmuneDisease

• #DisabilityAwareness

• #ChronicIllnessWarrior

• #ChronicPainWarrior

• #ChronicIllnessAwareness

Mental Health & Emotional Support Tags

These are especially useful if your articles touch on emotional resilience or mental health:

• #MentalHealth

• #Anxiety

• #Depression

• #HealingJourney

• #SelfCare

 Tips for Using Hashtags on X

• Mix niche and broad tags: Combine specific ones like #FibroFlare with broader ones like #ChronicIllness.

• Limit to 3–5 per post: X favors concise tagging for engagement.

• Engage with the community: Like, reply, and retweet others using similar hashtags to build visibility.

Share your favorite hashtags in the comments. Let’s build a thread of support 💜👇 #FibroCommunity #SpoonieLife #DisabilityAwareness #MentalHealth