Living Daily with Chronic Invisible Illness

Keep Moving!!

A lot of Fibro sufferers speak of how much pain Fibromyalgia can cause. Many report that they are bed-bound or couch-bound and can barely move. Is this due to them "giving in to the pain" and choosing not to deal with it, or their lack of motivation to persevere through the pain and keep going?   … Continue reading Keep Moving!!

Living Daily with Chronic Invisible Illness

When Lupus Hits Hard

Back in 2015, I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and then in 2016, I had a Lupus diagnosis with positive ANA and Anti-dsDNA testing, along with the classic Lupus symptoms, but I honestly decided that was more than I needed to deal with because, at that time, my husband had blood cancer and I was already… Continue reading When Lupus Hits Hard

Living Daily with Chronic Invisible Illness

Traveling with CPD (Chronic Pain Disorder)

Traveling when you are in pain is never easy. When you have a CPD, it makes it even more challenging.  As a sufferer of Fibromyalgia and Lupus, I can tell you that driving is a drag-even if you aren't the one driving. The seats are cumbersome, there is minimal leg room, getting into and out… Continue reading Traveling with CPD (Chronic Pain Disorder)

Living Daily with Chronic Invisible Illness

What to Say

Recently my husband asked me how I was feeling.  I responded with "That's a loaded question because I don't want to come across as always complaining." He smiled a knowing smile of "trying to understand."  Then said, "Maybe you could come up with a phrase that would tell me how you feel.  For example,  'I'm… Continue reading What to Say

Living Daily with Chronic Invisible Illness

Being Strong and Having a Strong Will

Chronic pain sufferers WILL to "do" must be strong each day. When a person lives with a chronic pain condition they have to be STRONG, too. They are their own cheerleader, their own motivator, their own boss. These traits MUST be there for suffers to keep going. Some people possess these traits naturally and some… Continue reading Being Strong and Having a Strong Will

Living Daily with Chronic Invisible Illness

Memorial Day

Today is Memorial Day. A time for reflection on those men and women that served The United States and died for our freedom.  This day should not be taken lightly. Whether this day brings painful memories of loved-ones past, or just a silent gratitude of thankfulness, please take a moment of silence to thank God… Continue reading Memorial Day

Living Daily with Chronic Invisible Illness

Exercise??? Me???? Yep. You read that correctly.

Today I have been thinking about exercise.    Anyone who has Fibromyalgia, Lupus or other chronic pain issues knows that exercising is never easy for anyone, let alone a person with chronic pain.  Like many of you, I was once a very active human who bounced out of bed first thing, ready to tackle the… Continue reading Exercise??? Me???? Yep. You read that correctly.

Living Daily with Chronic Invisible Illness

May is Lupus and Fibromyalgia Awareness Month

Many people have probably heard of Lupus and Fibromyalgia before or they know someone who suffers, but they don't understand what they suffer from.  Well, I hope by the time you finish reading this, you will have a better understanding of both of these horrific conditions that millions of people world-wide deal with daily.  I… Continue reading May is Lupus and Fibromyalgia Awareness Month

Living Daily with Chronic Invisible Illness

Rainy Day Fibromyalgia Blues

April showers bring May flowers, or so the saying goes.  April showers can also bring the blues, especially if you are a Fibromyalgia, Lupus and Chronic Pain sufferer.  Today it is storming and pouring rain, which does affect one's mood. If you have Fibromyalgia, rain also affects your head, giving it a "hazy" sort of… Continue reading Rainy Day Fibromyalgia Blues

Living Daily with Chronic Invisible Illness

Do Loved Ones Understand our Chronic Pain?

We have a Chronic Pain Disorder; Now let's talk about whether the loved ones around us can understand what we deal with daily. We try not to vocalize our pains or we sound like a hypochondriac.  We try not to over-do it, but then we look lazy. When we do things we shouldn't, we are told… Continue reading Do Loved Ones Understand our Chronic Pain?

Living Daily with Chronic Invisible Illness

A Possible Daily Scenario of a Fibromyalgia Sufferer

What a typical day looks like for a Fibromyalgia sufferer...   *6am- wakes up stiff with joints feeling like they are on fire... every.single.joint. *Struggles with brushing teeth and showering, head may have that "far-off" hazy feeling of a pending "Fibro-type" migraine- (only a fellow Fibro sufferer knows what that means). *The left shoulder may… Continue reading A Possible Daily Scenario of a Fibromyalgia Sufferer

Living Daily with Chronic Invisible Illness

Perimenopause and Migraines

Are you perimenopausal? Do you suffer from Fibromyalgia, Lupus or another arthritic condition?    If so, you may have noticed your pain levels have increased during your cycle. Perhaps you have more severe migraines, more intense pain, etc.  People with Fibromyalgia get a different type of migraine than the usual kind. These migraines don't just… Continue reading Perimenopause and Migraines

Living Daily with Chronic Invisible Illness

Ringing Ears and Fibromyalgia

Ringing in the ear affects many people who suffer from Fibromyalgia. The ringing usually affects one ear and make that ear feel full or heavy. The ringing may be intermittent or constant. It may occur a few times a month or several times a week. It may even precede a Fibro flare!! For the past… Continue reading Ringing Ears and Fibromyalgia

Living Daily with Chronic Invisible Illness

Drawing a Line

This website has been sorely neglected for a host of reasons...and I apologize for that. The sabbatical I had to take was mostly in part to my husband, who was diagnosed with blood cancer and underwent a bone marrow transplant in the fall of 2021.   Having to deal with my Fibromyalgia and the constant trips… Continue reading Drawing a Line