When a Fun Day Is Followed by an 'After-Party' With Fibromyalgia

I spent the night dancing, drinking, and singing. Today? I spent it in bed, in pain. That’s fibro for you!

• What is Fibromyalgia?
• What Are Common Fibromyalgia Symptoms?

Fibro, or fibromyalgia, affects an estimated five million people in the United States alone, and it affects each one of them differently. I am one of those affected.

 

I was diagnosed in 2015 and things haven’t been the same since. I’ve had to find a balance for what I can and can’t do. Some days I seem fine – I’m able to walk the mall with no issues or do household work without any pain. But at only 22 I have to struggle to judge if walking from the parking lot into the store is going to tire me out. I can’t go on hikes anymore, running around playing with my dog seems impossible and sometimes I can’t even pick up my godson.

Concerts were one thing I refused to give up because of my fibro. Every summer my best friend and I go to concerts for our birthdays – it’s one of my favorite traditions. So this summer was going to be no different. The concert we were going to was packed, so of course we had to park off-site. I was worried about the walk to and from but felt decent once we got there. Then there was the venue itself. A giant hill is the best I can describe it and we had to get to the top.

At that point I was worried about being able to stand the whole time and not be in pain. My friend suggested we sit down until the main act came on and I was so thankful. From that point on I had no worries. I felt great and my body had given me no limitations. This morning I woke up writhing in pain. I assumed it was a hangover, and partly it was.

As the day progressed I started to recognize what I was feeling and knew it was something more. My body felt like a bruise, and even breathing hurt. I could feel the pain going in and out of my back, legs and arms. My feet were swollen and I could barely stay awake.

I have been struggling with the symptoms of fibromyalgia since I was in my teens but was able to ignore it and push through. The past couple years I haven’t been so lucky. I often ignore the warning signs and push the limits that my body sets. Because I spend so much of my time in bed in pain, it is worth it to have one good day and do the most I can with it.

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Thinkstock photo via monkeybusinessimages.