Then I decided to go back to college. I took every loan I could get and went to college. I graduated the summer of 2006 and once again, was on top of the world. I was fit, free (single), and soon to be financially secure! ... then Fibro entered my life.

Teaching jobs were few and far between, I started having one symptom after another, I started gaining weight like crazy, and I was under a lot of stress trying to support four children; two with special needs. It was a very tough time in my life and to be honest, life is still hard at times.

I was finally/officially diagnosed in January 2008 after being in and out of the hospital. I am currently a part time tutor for our school system and working with my students makes me forget everything I have been through; at least for 6 hours out of the day, 3 days a week. I have my good days and my Fibro days ... (as you all know they are ALL Fibro days) ... I don't want to say "bad days" because I find that people won't ask what is wrong if instead of saying, "I am having a Bad day", I just say I am having a Fibro day.

I was in denial these last few months but now I am trying to see what I can do to help me and my family come to terms with this syndrome. I push myself, maybe too much at times and pay for it the next day, but I take one day at a time and most importantly, I will never let FM permanently take over my life.

i think i was in denial for about a year. it takes time to adjust. it defintley is a lifestyle change however i'm so happy to hear you say you wont let it take over your life!! your right, your life is yours! it took me a long time, i was devestated in jan 05 when diagnosed, it ruined my career and got discharged from the navy reserves. it sucks! my husband is active duty so i get jealous. anyhow , if you ever need anyone to talk to, you can pm me.

and yes there are days when my fibro wins too, however, one day at a time. my theory is, it could be worse

sometimes even the strongest of people need a weak day.

devon

devon

It is really hard when the school or sports events wants you to volunteer and they can't understand when you tell them you can't. They see you at the game. ( once in a while, they see you at a game when you feel like you can come, or you take enough drugs that you are there, but you can't concentrate enough to know what is going on.) Then they talk about you behind your back. Or they pester you until you find something you can do to shut them up. This year for my son's basketball my oldest daughter did it and when we walked over they said "Oh, here is Sandi" and my daughter said "no really here is Laura, I am doing it for my mother, she is too sick to do it so she is sitting here to get the credit and I am doing the work."

Sorry, meant to answer the question

and ended up venting a little,

Hope you can find some help

in the answer,

Sandi

As for the kids, my neice asked me the other day if I used to play before I got old because I don't feel like playing with them most of the time.

My mom's the one that started this discussion and I thought I'd drop in and say a few words.

First of all, I'm her second oldest child, one of the two that doesn't have disabilities . I'm still in high school, which I am very active in. I get decent grades and have the right friends. Overall I could probably say that our lives are close to everything I could want.

But when my mom was diagnosed with fibromyalgia (which, by the way, I spelled correctly on my first try ) things changed. She became very tired, always in a lot of pain and for a while, I though she was faking it..SORRY MOM! It was just impossible for me to believe that my mom who was full of life, was just worn out and done. Even after she was diagnossed, I had my doubts. I had never heard of fibro before and thought it was just a make-up condition doctors used when they really didn't know what was going on. I totally thought wrong. It's pretty much an every other day type of thing for her but lucky my mom is the way she is and she constantly fights through it. She still takes me places like today she went clothes shopping with me which has proven to be an obstacle in the past. I wasn't expecting her to do half of what she did for me and I was very very proud. She refuses to let this get in her way. She helps out so much when she can which makes it easy for us to let her crash on the couch on what she calls "fibro days".

However, it breaks my heart because she is constantly apologizing for the way she is. Mom if you read this, which I know you will, just know that it is perfectly fine. There is nothing you can do or could've done to avoid this. We still love you

Ladies, this goes for all of you. I can say, as a child with a fibro parent, that your child loves you just the same, if not more. This condition is not the end of the road for you, it's just a huge round-a-bout thats pointing you in no specific direction. You just need to get off at the right time and continue on before you are forced to go around the circle once more. Yeah, I'm not sure if that made any sense but I thought it sounded cool so if it helped at all, great .

Well, I look forward to giving you updates from a different perspective and even though I'm just a teenager, feel free to ask any questions you'd like!

Much love from a sympathetic teen<3

You made my day!