It's Fibro Friday week 199

Fibromyalgia syndrome is a common, chronic disorder with widespread muscle pain, fatigue, and multiple tender points... But there is so much more to this condition than that. 

Every week people who have FMS post articles here to help others understand what they experience. 

We are happy that you are here.  So grab your favorite cuppa, relax and enjoy visiting some interesting articles and people who have fibro.

Get Your Fibromyalgia Questions Answered

If you have unanswered questions about Fibromyalgia, you are in the right place. We have a great team of people living with fibromyalgia to give you their take on the real true nitty gritty of fibro.
We love to help others understand more about all aspects of FM.

You can ask your questions on our facebook page or in our newsletter, each week during November.
Don't be shy... we would love you to ask anything relating to Fibromyalgia.

Here's who will be helping you:
Susan Pearson from Living Creatively with Fibro
Terri Sutula from Reclaiming Hope
Mandy Farmer from Mandy and Michelle
Pamela Jessen from There Is Always Hope 
Bethan Jones from Hello Fibro Blog - The life of a 20 something living with Fibro
Shelley from Chronic Mom
Lee Good (that's me) from Fibro Files.

Please look at your weekly newsletter to see if your questions have been answered.
You can sign up for the newsletter here.

Do you have a Fibromyalgia diagnosis?

Fibromyalgia is a condition of widespread pain and fatigue with so many symptoms and little clinical evidence.
This makes it a difficult condition to diagnose.
Your doctor cannot detect it from a blood test nor can they see it in an x-ray.
You need to have widespread pain in all 4 quadrants of the body for 3 months or more to get a diagnosis.

When you have a diagnosis there are some treatments you can try but it is a matter of trial and error to see what works for you as at this stage there is no known cure only things that help reduce the symptoms.

If you have a diagnosis of Fibromyalgia you will find the articles here, each week, very useful in helping with different issues such as if you are still working and learning how others feel about situations that arise such as having to slow down. 

Where are you headed with your Fibromyalgia treatment?

Fibromyalgia is a complex pain condition with many symptoms. As people with Fibromyalgia we are often learning to cope with new and ongoing symptoms, trying to negotiate the health system and also work out what works best for us to control our symptoms and maintain a life that is ever changing.

Sometimes I feel like I am on a medical roller coaster and sometimes I feel like my life is on a downward decline and sometimes I feel good.

Today I am going to take time to reflect and take stock of just where I am at with my treatment. Somedays, with fibro fog, it is too hard to think but today I feel clear. Pausing to take stock of where we are isn't always easy. So I have decided to actively take control and work out where I am going.

I am going to consider where I am headed with my treatment so that I am in control,... a little anyway, as much as I can be when living with chronic illnesses.

I am thinking about what things I have tried, what I want to try, and what I can afford. What doctors have actually helped, what my worst symptoms are and where and if I can make a difference.

I will also take into consideration what Nikki said about mental, emotional and social health and what Terri said about changing perspective as these are things that affect our wellbeing.

Other thoughts are essential oils that may help, my dental health (as I have been having many problems in this area lately), and my posture as I have a lot of neck and shoulder pain.

All of these and more were found in the useful articles in last week's link up of Fibro Bloggers, so I'm absolutely sure if I go through some of the other previous Fibro Friday link ups I will find more inspiration to head me in the right direction.

I hope you are having success with your Fibro treatments.