Photo credit: http://www.joaynn510.wordpress.com
I couldn’t help but step outside of my comfort zone of what I normally post and share a “Save The Date” post to acknowledge a cause I am very passionate about to bring awareness.
We all know that Sunday May 12th is Mother’s Day but what some may not be aware of is it is also Fibromyalgia Awareness Day.
When I saw this photo taken from Fibromyalgia Awareness’s Facebook page, it struck me and its caption totally captured my full attention when I read these words, “Things are not as they seem. I may look great but right now even my hair & clothes hurt. Invisible, but Present.” I couldn’t help but share not only the photo but briefly share information regarding the day and the reason for the cause.
- Photo credit:
- https://www.facebook.com/fibroawarenesspage
I took the liberty of posting an article we stumbled upon written by Karen Lee Richards, Co-founder of the National Fibromyalgia Assn. that I believe will be extremely helpful for those suffering with this condition. I also believe it will help to solidify my goal to promote awareness, attention, and involvement in light of this cause so that others may have the opportunity to participate in Awareness Day. Please see the excerpt I’ve included below from the following link: (http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/5949/160652/fibromyalgia-awareness ).
“Whether you’re one individual person who wants to make your voice heard, a large group sponsoring a city-wide walk to raise funds for FM research, or anything in between, the NFMCPA can provide you with a FREE Fibromyalgia Awareness Day event kit to help you accomplish your goal. For more information or to order an event kit, visit the NFMCPA’s Awareness Day 2013 Web page.”
Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) is a condition that is greatly misunderstood and misdiagnosed. It is complex and has numerous symptoms associated with the condition. Commonly referred to as an “invisible disability” largely due to a wide range of symptoms that are not easily detected on the surface, there are up to 10 million Americans who suffer with this condition http://www.fmaware.org/PageServerc145.html. I am one of them.
Although it is recognized around the world, it is commonly ignored and in most cases many patients do not receive proper treatment or support from medical professionals, family and/or friends. As such, I believe it is imperative we come together as a nation to take this seriously by increasing efforts to raise awareness in the hopes of finding a solution.
Too often doctors choose to ignore or recognize this as a valid condition and will not support the fact that it even exist. However, FMS affects people of all ages, race, and sex. And sadly, many are in so much pain they feel like getting out of their own skin they don’t want to be in.
There is a tremendous amount of physical and psychological strain where many have lost jobs and have become disabled as a result of it. There are some who will experience depression and social isolation. The impact it has on one’s life can bring hopelessness, despair, and devastation. But there is still hope. We can make a difference.
If you or anyone you know have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, please understand you are not alone. Nor is it all in your head or you are “imagining things” even when your symptoms don’t make sense. It’s real. The symptoms do exist. I know. I am one of those people.
My hope is that one day the medical community comes to recognize and fully understand this terrible, debilitating condition in the hopes a cure may be found.
“Save the date” May 12, 2013. And please, feel free to share. Your support is greatly appreciated. Thanks! -JD
Related articles
- ‘Take their suffering seriously’: Calgary physician co-authors first Canadian guidelines to manage fibromyalgia (calgaryherald.com)
- 2013 Fibromyalgia Awareness Day (faithlovejoyhope.wordpress.com)
Joaynn510 
Hi there, yeah this article is actually pleasant and I have learned lot of things from it concerning blogging.
thanks.
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Hi, I was researching the net and I came across your blog. Keep up the excellent work.
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Thanks for linking to my blog, JD. I just did the same because you have a lot of good info here to share.
Blessings on your day!
~Anna
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Thank you Anna for returning the favor. I love your blog. I couldn’t help but share your beautiful writings. Blessings to you!
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Pingback: Fibromyalgia Awareness Day | This Thing Called Life...
Thank you for posting this. It hits deep because I suffer from Fibromyalgia. It has been over 12yrs now and it does not feel better the older I get. As a wife and mother, it can be hard to carry out my duties. It hurt to dress, to shower, to simply hold a fork in my hand let alone type even on my iPhone or iPad that is touch screen. Lets not talk about walking….. at times I have has to crawl because my ankles hurt so bad. I know I can go on and on about this but this is something painful beyond words….emotionally and physically. It drains you. I can’t only look to God to get me through days when all I have is tears. Even as the weather warms, any cool air is bound to make my joints hurt and my muscles tighten. I force myself to keep them loose and exercise even when it hurts but in moderation.
With this said, my heart is with all those who suffer. Be encouraged and don’t allow this to ruin your life. God bless each body with His healing touch, His gentleness of hugs when your skin hurt and comfort to bring a peace while enduring such pain.
In Christ Jesus this will pass some day,
~Terra
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I think my mind is in shock that we have this in common. It’s amazing how God has connected us in spirit before I just realized that you have this too. I appreciate your courage and bravery to be transparent about something everyone can not understand or accept simply because we do not look like we are hurting. Bless you dearly my sister in The Lord! I just HAD to come back and express my heart once more. Hugs
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Awww… thank you. I just said something similar to what you observed and stated. You should’ve seen my face when I read your post. I was like OMGosh. It was priceless. I’m so glad you came back to express this. It put smile on my face as wide as the ocean. Thank you for your courage and bravery too. It’s not easy to talk about things such as this without the world condemning and judging. But we are victors and no matter what people may do or say, nothing can stop the work of God. ((Hugs))
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Amen.. Amen!! I just read both of your messages! I am smiling as wide as the ocean with you! Lol. I am glad that we have connected. I believe it is divine as well. I am happy that you have a good support system because its hard to bear alone at times when we don’t have someone around the clock.
I have a good support system as well. It initially was hard back in 1999 after I given birth to my 4th child. I almost dropped her when she was only about 2 wks old as I was walking in the house. I went through various tests checking for lupus and such and was diagnosed a short time later.
Being that we were an Active Duty Army family, it was hard taking care of 5 small children under the age of 6. My husband had to deploy and I had no family around but God provided friends I could trust but I learned to manage by myself as I still do now. So thankful that my oldest daughter as a child would help me with simple things like tying shoes or opening the plastic tab on milk. Again God provides and gives strength. Many recent days have been painful but I press on! I have no choice!! Like you I am a victor! I will not be defeated or defined by my medical issues. I tell others who know me here that if I don’t receive my healing in this life, I WILL have it in my glorified body in heaven!!! Thank you Jesus! My HOPR for the unseen lies within Him and I hold to it! Thank you sister for putting a smile in my face, joy in my heart and a dance in my spirit because you are who you are and I thank God for you!
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. (Romans 8:37 NKJV)
Much love, prayers, blessings and strength in Christ Jesus to you and those we bear witness to of our hope,
Terra
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As I’m reading your message I laughed out loud imagining the smile on your face.
You are amazing. I respect your strength and tenacity to endure. As well as your strong faith and love of God. I, too, thank you for your transparency and not being afraid to speak about something most feel ashamed of and choose not to expose to the world. I can’t imagine taking care of small children and having to contend with this condition. I thank God I was diagnosed after my children were of adult age. I commend you. God had his hands on you and you came out victorious. Thank you Jesus!
Yes, God provides strength even when we think we have no strength to go on. With him we are able to endure. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. What a blessing! I love this, ” I tell others who know me here that if I don’t receive my healing in this life, I WILL have it in my glorified body in heaven!!! Thank you Jesus! And I say, “Yes Lord! Amen!”
One love my sister in Christ. You are in my prayers. Live, laugh, love. Thank you for being you. Take care! JD
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Upon reading your powerful testimony I could do nothing but think, here again is something else we seem to have in common. And I can’t help but to know for sure that this indeed is a divine connection. I truly understand and can relate to every word you speak of because I suffer and have difficulty with the same things. There are days I cannot even get out of bed and when you speak about tears, I don’t think I’ve cried so much in my life as I have the past 7 years. My family is a strong support system and help with much of my interaction here and other places. For that I am grateful.
I strongly believe I was never designed to live a sub-standard life and even though I suffer with this condition along with other chronic pain conditions, I refuse to allow this to reduce me into believing that’s where I’m supposed to be. Because I will not allow this thing to control or prevent me from living the life and fulfilling the plans I know God has promised.
I have been symptomatic for many years but it was not until 2009 when I found two doctors who were sympathetic and showed a tremendous amount of concern about my care who were able to pinpoint the cause of my chronic pain. They were very supportive. My PCP initially diagnosed it and a few days later during a visit with my Rheumatologist, I was diagnosed again. I was in denial and had my doctor laughing when he told me this is what I had and I told him, “No I didn’t.” He said okay Dr. D. 🙂
I used to work with the mentally ill years ago and had a client who suffered from this same condition and at the time I didn’t understand or have an awareness of it so of course, I didn’t understand what she was dealing with and lacked sympathy. I always tell myself if I ever run into her, I will apologize to her. Much like me, there are people this day that do the same thing. And now I know exactly how she felt. My heart goes out to her and anyone who suffers with this condition. It is no joke and will rob you of life if you let it. Not me… I am a victor!
Thank you so much for sharing your story with me. I love you that much more my sister in Christ. Not because of our suffering but because of the love we have for God in the midst of our suffering that we are able to testify to his power and awesome wonder. I stand in agreement with you that “This too shall pass.”
Take care! -JD
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