Happy National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day!

You may not know this, but May is known as Fibromyalgia Awareness Month! And if you didn't know that, then you might not know that today is an important day, National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day!

• Started by the National Fibromyalgia Association in 1998, Fibromyalgia Awareness Day is a day meant to bring awareness to the general public of what Fibromyalgia is and how it affects those around them.  

• This link brings you to the history of National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day. https://www.fmaware.org/fibromyalgia-awareness-day-history/ 

What is Fibromyalgia?

• Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder that causes widespread pain and tenderness. It can be all over the body, one side of the body, or above or below the waist. Fibromyalgia is categorized as a rheumatoid disorder.  

• Currently, it is unknown what causes fibromyalgia, but it is theorized that it could be:

• Genetics 

• Infection, it is believed that some illnesses trigger Fibromyalgia or worsen it.

• Disorders that increase pain are believed to be a trigger, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

• Mental health disorders such as Depression or Anxiety

How does it affect people?

• Symptoms of Fibromyalgia vary from person to person. The most common being extensive pain in multiple joints, sleep issues, and chronic fatigue. Other symptoms may include:  

• Difficulty with memory and clear thinking. This is known as “Fibro Fog”

• Tingling and numbness in the hands, arms, legs, and feet.

• Stomach problems such as irritable bowel syndrome, heartburn, stomach pain,  bloating, and constipation  

•  Urinary problems, such as an irritable or overactive bladder 

• Plevic Pain

• Pain in the face and jaw through temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders. 

• Headaches including migraine 

• Increased sensitivity to the light, sounds, smells, and temp.

• Anxiety 

• Depression

• How are people diagnosed? It is difficult to diagnose people with Fibromyalgia, but these are the current ways doctors diagnose patients. 

• Physical exams

• X-rays

• Lab tests

• Reviewing family history

• People who are more likely to develop Fibro

• People between the ages of 30 and 50

• Women 

• People with lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or osteoarthritis 

• People with a family history of Fibro

• There is no cure for Fibromyalgia, but you can manage it through 

• Exercise such as: Yoga, Tai chi, Other low impact aerobic activity 

• Acupuncture, chiropractic, and massage therapy

• Psychotherapy 

• See a sleep specialist and practice healthy sleeping habits. 

• Currently, there are 3 FDA-approved drugs for Fibro: Duloxetine (cymbalta), milnacipran (Savella), and pregabalin (Lyrica)

What triggers Fibromyalgia?

• Stressful or traumatic events, accidents, or injuries
• Repeated injuries, such as repeated joint stress from sports or physical jobs
• illness, including viral infections

Comorbidities triggered by Fibromyalgia? People with this disorder are more likely to be

• To be hospitalized
• experience a lower quality of life
• have a major depressive disorder
• have types of arthritis

What can you do during Fibromyalgia Day?

• Take the time to learn more about Fibromyalgia! There are many different organizations that provide information about the disorder. I have listed a few on the next slide! 

Where to find more information on Fibromyalgia? 

• The National Fibromyalgia Association has pages about how to get diagnosed, the science/research behind Fibromyalgia, Current events, celebrity news, member stories, etc.  https://www.fmaware.org/ 

• The CDC has a page about Fibromyalgia. It is a more condensed rundown about the disorder.
• The American Fibromyalgia Syndrome Association has a website dedicated to the disorder. It explains what Fibromyalgia is as well as talks about ways to help yourself, potential treatments, and research news. The site also discusses what the organization is about and the research projects it funded. https://www.fibromyalgiafund.org/what-is-fibromyalgia/

My personal experience with Fibromyalgia. 

•  I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia 3 years ago, but before that, I dealt with many symptoms that led to me being disabled to the point of not being able to work. And from my perspective, it wasn't abnormal. I assumed everyone had intense back pain that made them pass out. Or that stomach problems were normal. As I got older, the pain got worse. It was no longer just my back; it was my hands, my wrists, my fingers, my feet, and my legs. I would get ill from certain foods to the point I have outright cut them out of my diet. Some days it felt like I was walking on knives. I passed out between classes in college.

• And painkillers never touched it. I took everything to the highest dosage I could, and I still felt awful. I couldn't do schoolwork on some days because I couldn't flex my fingers, which left me unable to type.

• When I worked jobs, I struggled to get through the workday. I couldn't stand for long periods of time, which would get me in trouble with my supervisor.

• And when I started my dream job, I worked full-time, yet my body couldn't keep up. It was an 8-week program, yet after week 1, I couldn't lift my arms. By week 3, I became increasingly fatigued. Week 5, I could barely move my legs. When I got home from work, I would struggle to get into bed and not remember falling asleep. Wake up at 2 am to prep for work and then get ready for work at 6. I would keep up that cycle until my body gave out after getting very ill. Leading to me not finishing the program.

• Today, I deal with debilitating chronic pain and rely on others to get things done. And you may be thinking, " Why am I even talking about this?" When I was going through this medical journey, no one knew what Fibromyalgia was, and I was dismissed because the disorder is invisible. I probably wouldn't have been as bad off if I had support from not just my doctors but also my immediate community. So I wanted to describe to y'all what it is like so you can better understand what it can be like if someone in your life ever develops Fibro. Thank you for listening.