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 