I just had a thought, if so many people don't believe our pain is real how long will it be until there is some serious research into this and what will help? Pretty depressing thought and with that I am going to go to bed.

My personal feeling, FOR ME ONLY, is I feel like if I stop I will die. Literally. If I slow down I will simply shut down. That is why I keep going, despite the pain, despite having feet that swell up, despite having to wear wrist braces for carpal tunnel, despite having to double pain meds. If I stop working, I will die.

I know exactly how you feel. How can someone work 2 jobs and have fibro has been asked. Well for me I use all the energy I have to go to work each day which up until 2 months ago had been 7 days a week for the past 2 years. I now have the luxury of working only 6 days a week. Of course when I'm home I have no energy to do anything and my husband calls me lazy at times. We have had a few years of bad luck which has caused me to work this schedule of 2 jobs. Right now this is what I have to do. He does not understand how if I can go to work I can not do things at home. Well it is because I go to work that I can't. By the time I get home I don't have anything left in me. We all have to make the choices we do for our own personal reasons. there used to be someone on this site who would always say " Your pain is not my pain" and that is very true. I don't feel anyone here is a better or worse person because of their limitations. Some of us do things we shouldn't but we feel for us we must. I do not look down on anyone who can not work nor should I be looked down upon because I still can work. Many times I have chosen not to get into a descussion because I feel guilty that I am working when so many can not. I will say this I absolutely do have Fibro and I absolutely do live my life in pain everyday as with all of us some days are worse than others and some are better. i am in no way trying to upset anyone or cause any arguement but like you ksdmjd I wanted to show my side as well. I know,like you, if I stop I'll never get going again and right now I can not stop. I hope in the very near future I can at least slow down

Post edited by: Snoopy30, at: 05/10/2008 06:58

~Melissa

Simply put, I can do the things I do because I keep going. If I stop for more then 2-3hours, I can't get moving again.I only sleep about 3 hours at a time because it hurts to lie down. It hurts to sit too long, so I don't sit too long. It hurts to stand, so I don't stand too long. I have no stamina, very little strength, and do work that I can stop and start, doesn't require a lot of physical effort, and is not of paramount importance.(I don't do anything where lives are at risk.) I refused to be a manager at my job because I know I can't give the sort of commitment and hours required. I have limits to what I can do.

However, I used to stay home all the time and actually found I got worse due to laying on the couch all day. My muscles started to atrophy and my joints were so sore I would cry. A little movement helps me with that. I am not big on exercise, but if I could discipline myself to do it, I can see it would benefit me.

Everyone is different, with a different pain level and a different tolerence level.

I also stand up for myself. At my job if I am asked to do something I physically cannot do, I say "I physically am unable to do that." My bosses know me well enough to know that A) I would help them if I could. and B )I am not lying or faking.

That's just what works for me and is not meant to imply or suggest anything to anyone.

Post edited by: Ksdmjd, at: 05/11/2008 15:48

I am not going to say either way, because we all know how it feels to have people say that we are not in pain. Maybe she has to do that so she does everything she can to fight through the pain. If I hear that someone has fibro, no what they do I will believe them until I find out differently.

This is just my opinion. But what I think is different from others.

My neighbor who has fibro too is different from me. If she does any kind of strenuous work, she's down and out for three days. I was always one if told I couldn't do something anymore, I'd try twice as hard to prove them wrong. I just have a stubborn streak in me. Jan

May your troubles be less, Your blessings be more. And nothing but happiness come through your door!