5 #Fibromyalgia symptoms spelt out for the layman

 

Fibromyalgia fighters have all the ailments listed in this blog: 5-thing-you-must-know-about-fibromyalgia and so much more. Over and above that, they have them on another level! We call these higher grade aliments “flares”. Imagine the following:

1. Headaches

The eyes feel like they will pop out of the socket, and the forehead like it is being skinned with no anaesthesia. When you lift your head from the pillow, it feels like you are leaving a part of it on the pillow still. Dizzy spells are common, especially after getting up from sitting, squatting or bending.

2. Fatigue

The body feels like you are wearing a bodysuit that weighs 50kg or 110lbs. Walking is so difficult that you have to use the walls to help balance yourself. More often than not, this bodysuit appears out of nowhere at the most inopportune times — even when you’re sleeping. It harms breathing and body balance.

3. Insomnia

If one can sleep at all, one must consider themselves lucky! A bed at times feels like it is made of bricks. Sleeping on one side causes that side to be numb and painful and when you turn over the same happens on that side. It is difficult to fall asleep and maintaining a deep sleep even with Trepiline, which is what I use. My husband, on the other hand, hits the pillow and he is gone!

4. Sore gums

Then there is grinding of teeth at night. In the morning it feels as though the teeth are going to fall off the gums especially when you have something to eat. Imagine muffling with a mouth full of teeth and food.

5. Flushes

The skin feels cold, but underneath it feels as if the blood is boiling. I had someone selling Herbal Life products and her bargaining chip was that she had tablets for anything and everything. When I told her of this ailment, she looked at me as if I was speaking Greek — she just said she would check and come back to me! Needless to say, she never did.