FMS is something that has haunted me for many years;
I did not have a name for it and each year
I gave up a little more of my health to it.

It is difficult for me not to perceive my brain as the enemy,
the doctors told me to accept "this is my brain"
and "this is how it works".

I am getting better with my acceptance, but this does not mean
I trust my brain at all times. It is very unpredictable
and I feel the need to be on guard for the unforseen.

One of the hardest parts of fms for me is being left on my own,
in my search for help and answers; I�ve left many frustrated doctors behind.
I found there is no magic key for fibromyalgia.

I am hypersensitive to some chemicals and it was hard to
figure this problem out. I knew I was struggling with my
breathing in certain situations and this difficulty seemed to
have happened overnight. At work I use a respirator with chemical
cartridges after learning a product I work with contains 70% solvent.
One step in the right direction!

Besides inhalation, another point of entry for chemicals is
through the skin, so now I also wear protective gloves when
working with chemicals of any type.

You must learn to be your own detective and listen to your body!
You are the only one who has a clue to what is going on
inside of you.

I have problems with my pupils in both eyes, they dilate when
they shouldn�t and appear as zoom lenses unexpectedly.
My eyes were checked by an ophthalmologist and after
a thorough exam nothing could be done other than wear
u/v protective lenses when fms is active and aggravating my eyes.

I found it is extremely important to find a doctor who will "listen" to you,
I am very fortunate to have exactly that. We do not always
come up with a solution but at least I can discuss my problem
and not be made to feel I am a hypochondriac.

I had ongoing digestive problems for 22 years; indigestion was a
way of life for me. In 1997 I had corrective surgery on the
sphincter muscle(les)at the end of my esophagus.
Stomach acids had reached the top of my esophagus and caused ulcers
throughout. I was saved from possibly developing Barrett�s esophagus.
The surgery did help correct the problem and I�m hoping it will
be for my lifetime.

I have other medical problems related to fms, lactose intolerance, ibs,
and an immune system that is not working hard enough, I think
it went to sleep on me. I feel like a bullfrog most of the time,
the glands in my neck are almost always swollen.
I had carpal tunnel surgery on both of my wrists
and continue to have a problem with one wrist.

My connective tissues cause me misery and there are some really
bad days where I ache right inside of my bones.
Other times, especially in cold, damp weather I feel like my
connective tissue is made out of taffy.
A heating pad and myself have become close friends.

Balance is another problem along with bouts of vertigo, hard to
walk a straight line some days. Those are the times I take
things really slow.

My hearing is affected every so often, one thing in me that is
working too good- I hear more than I want to
and the least little noise can be torture.

I�ve been labeled as a fms miracle (I do not feel like one)
I continue to work a full time job, a very physical one.
I�m not saying it doesn�t take a toll on me, it most certainly does.
My job does help keep my connective tissues flexible and myself more active.
When I do not work I find myself entering a world of my own,
being content just to sit and do nothing.
I slip into this world so very fast it scares even me!

A form of exercise I found to be great is swimming, one of the
only times my body feels normal. I live on a lake and only
have a short swimming season but I try to take advantage
of that time.

I�m very fortunate to have family and friends to help me through
the rough times and there are rough ones! I�ve never cried
so much in years, I cry from the frustration more than from pain.
After being tough for a long time this is very new to me, tears.

I found the Internet has been enormous therapy for me, many friends
have been found and terrific web sites with information on fms.
Another form of therapy is working on web pages
there I can lose myself for a long time.

Some of my best medicine is laughter; I love to laugh and that
world of happiness releases the endorphins I do so need.

This is only a small part of my fibromyalgia; my problems related
to fms are a small book in themselves.

Fibromites have many of the same symptoms or problems,
but we are all still individuals;
what affects me now might never affect some fibromites.
We deserve to be recognized as individuals and be treated accordingly!