Each year the month of May is dedicated to fibromyalgia awareness. This year, May 15th is set aside for events across the nation, with the theme being “Make Fibromyalgia Visible”. In an effort to do just that, make fibromyalgia visible, beginning Wednesday, May 12th, The Life of a Working Writer Mommy will present a series on fibromyalgia. Here’s what we’ll talk about:
- Part 1, Wednesday, May 12th: What is fibromyalgia?
- Part 2, Thursday, May 13th: How is fibromyalgia diagnosed?
- Part 3, Friday, May 14th: How is fibromyalgia treated?
- Part 4, Saturday, May 15th, Fibromyalgia Awareness Events Day: My story – how I came to be diagnosed with fibromyalgia.
- Part 5, Sunday, May 16th: What you can do to obtain a diagnosis, (whether it’s fibromyalgia or not). Series review and Q&A.
Although resource links will be included in each post, (and a list provided in part 5), please know that my words are just that – my words. I will be talking about fibromyalgia as I know it, (fibromyalgia and I have been companions for years). One thing you’ll learn via this series is that there are many, and widely varied, opinions about fibromyalgia. I will attempt to “stick to the facts”, and limit my own opinions to part 4 – my story of how I came to be diagnosed with fibromyalgia; however, you will also find my own experience sprinkled throughout each post in this series. I’m fairly certain you’ll be able to tell the difference.
I appreciate you spreading the word – via your own blog, forums, word of mouth, Facebook, Twitter, (use #fibromyalgia hashtag and any others you feel appropriate) – however you like.
Also posting for Fibromyalgia Awareness Week: Eliababeth Flora Ross at The Writer Revived. If you plan to contribute blog posts, or in some other manner, let me know and I’ll spread the word!
I look forward to sharing our stories with each other and hope the series brings you knowledge, and above all, comfort. Thank you all for joining me as we make fibromyalgia visible. See you on Wednesday!
Paige
May 9, 2010 at 6:44 am
I need to write this down, eww better still I’ll email myself
have a super day!
Deanna Schrayer
May 9, 2010 at 7:47 am
Paige, you sound just like me. I’m always emailing myself reminders. In fact, there are about 38 unread emails in my box right now – all from me. Fat lotta good it does me if I don’t even read ‘em!
I hope you enjoy this series!
Jai Joshi
May 10, 2010 at 12:00 pm
Thanks so much for this information, Deanna. Ever since learning that you deal with this condition I’ve been more aware of it and sensitive to the issue. I’m glad to learn more.
Jai
Deanna Schrayer
May 10, 2010 at 1:15 pm
Thanks Jai. I’ve written and scheduled the first two posts and hope they’re informative. They sure took long enough to write, what with all the research links I had to list and what-not, and of course I had to edit A Lot to get personal opinion out of them, (saving that for part 4, my story).
I hope to get the word out enough that at least one person suffering who hasn’t been diagnosed will read the series and that it will help them somehow. Thanks so much for your interest!
lauraeno
May 10, 2010 at 2:57 pm
I’m glad you’re doing this! I’ve known that I have fibromyalgia for a year now but I don’t know a lot more than that – although I have learned how to spell it…
I didn’t even know that there was a hashtag for it!
Deanna Schrayer
May 10, 2010 at 3:16 pm
Laura, I knew you had fibro, but I didn’t know you were only diagnosed last year. How long did it take you to get that diagnosis? That’s one of the things I’ll be talking about – 5 years is the average length of time it takes to get a diagnosis, crazy!
I hope this series helps you. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you this, but feel free to give me all the feedback you want. I appreciate it!
Paige
May 10, 2010 at 6:05 pm
hey someone mentioned you on my blog…dare ya to come see
Deanna Schrayer
May 10, 2010 at 7:09 pm
Thank you Paige!
Deanna Schrayer
May 10, 2010 at 7:12 pm
Side note – Since writing the posts for this series, and collecting resource links, I’ve noticed that some places list the 12th as FMS Awareness day, and some list it as the 15th. Either one is fine for we’ll begin on the 12th and I’ll share my story on the 15th plus we’ll talk about many different aspects in between. And maybe we’ll even bake a cake!
John Wiswell
May 11, 2010 at 2:05 pm
I’m sorry you have to suffer through it, but I’m glad you’re doing this week to face chronic pain. Are you going to tackle the pop-science notion that fibro doesn’t exist or that most people are misdiagnosed with it? That’s the most insidious part of the problem, by my reckoning.
Deanna Schrayer
May 11, 2010 at 2:12 pm
Hey John, thanks for stopping by. Yes, I am going to tackle the ridiculous notion that a lot of doctors believe fibro doesn’t exist. I hadn’t planned on addressing mis-diagnosis, but will have a lot of links to reference, and will be listing all of those in the review at the end of the week.
I used to suffer quite extensively, but I’ve been blessed with a doctor who cares and really listens, so at least I’m on the right treatment plan, after years of trial and error. Some days are harder than others, (today is one because of the weather), but overall I believe I do much better than most.
My hope is that this series will help at least one person, though of course I truly hope it will help a lot more than one.
Thanks again and I hope you’ll follow along.
Deanna Schrayer
May 12, 2010 at 7:41 am
Thanks to you John, I’ve updated part 2 to go into more detail about misdiagnosis. Thanks very much for that suggestion!
Ronda Laveen
May 11, 2010 at 8:10 pm
As a massage therapist, I work with a lot of fibromyalgia clients. Look forward to expanding my knowledge.
Deanna Schrayer
May 12, 2010 at 5:22 am
Ronda, I’ll be interested to know if you learn something you didn’t already know. Tell the truth, I’m rather doubtful of that because I know your knowledge is extensive because you have to deal with so many people who have fibro. Maybe you could enlighten us, which would be a welcome addition to the series. I’m not doing this just to state my knowledge and opinion; I’m doing it so that we can all share our stories, and the stories of those we know with fibro, and I look forward to learning something I may not have known too.
First part is up – it’s most likely the shortest one. I’m still working on my story. It’s so very long it’s quite challenging to get it down to blog post length.
Thanks for your interest, and please feel free to share what you know too.