4 Questions I Asked Myself After I Was Diagnosed With Fibromyalgia

I had undiagnosed pain for a long time. The doctors did many tests and eventually referred me to a specialist. More tests were done, and when I sat down with the specialist, he looked me in the eye and said, “You have fibromyalgia.”

I had never really heard much about the condition, and my mind started buzzing with questions.

1. What does this diagnosis actually mean for me?

I had to ask a lot of questions and do a lot of research to find out what the condition actually meant for me. The fact that it was unknown to me was challenging.

2. Do I really have another chronic condition to deal with?

I also have bipolar disorder, and I was upset with the world that I had another chronic condition to deal with on top of everything I already go through on a daily basis.

3. Does this mean the pain will never go away?

The thought of my pain never going away worried me. I’m currently waiting to see the specialist again to discuss a treatment plan, although I’m still uncertain as to what this will involve and whether it can help ease my pain.

4. Does this mean I won’t be able to do the things I want to do in life?

There are many things I want to do in my life, including losing weight, getting fit, having a baby and being able to function daily on a much better level. When I heard the word “fibromyalgia,” I was worried these things would be impossible for me. Now I know that they won’t be impossible. I can still do them, but I might just have to do them a little differently than I had planned.

After all these questions flooded through my head, I went through and am still and going through a great deal of emotions and confusion. My doctors have been very helpful, and I feel blessed to have them. And thanks to my support system, I have the determination that I will be able to cope with this new diagnosis and make my life what I want it to me.

Lead photo source: Thinkstock Images