English

My mother has fibromyalgia. Reading this made me cry for her

Chronic pain is increasingly rampant today.

Yet chronic pain and chronic disease are often invisible. In many cases, there are no visible casts, rashes, or runny nose.

People with chronic pain often seem “normal,” perhaps just a little more frail or sad than average.

I suffered from chronic headaches for four and a half years and chronic hip pain for two and a half years.

Often I looked depressed, disinterested and angry when I was just in pain.

I had been unable to get out of bed for several days. After a conversation became difficult sometimes.

I lost a job because of my pain. I canceled plans and ignored friends.

I felt misunderstood and alone. I suffered. I know the answer was there and finally I healed myself.

Still, at the time, I wanted to scream from the top of my lungs all the things every chronic pain sufferer wants you to know:

1.   Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean I’m not in pain.

2.   It’s not all in my head.

3.   It’s not just the flu. It won’t just go away in a week.

4.   Please never say, “Don’t think about that.” To be in constant suffering is impossible.

5.   Hugs can work magic. So are good messages. I need to know that you are there for me.

6.   Please share the “magic cure” you read online. Believe me, I’ve heard of it, and if it was relevant, I tried it.

7.   I try   extremely   hard to lead a normal life.

8.   I do my best not to cancel plans and would never cancel plans, if I had the choice.

9.   I can’t get out of this.

10.   Some days are better, some days are worse. Some days I may even feel close to normal, other days I can’t even get out of bed.

11.   I care about you. I want to know your life and your dreams. I want you to be happy and healthy.

12.   My chronic pain is different from other people’s chronic pain. All illnesses and pain symptoms are unique. Our experiences may differ, but we all suffer and we can understand each other.

13.   Please don’t try to convince me to drink and “live a little”. All I want is to live a little – in fact, to live a lot. A drink, however, is the last thing on my mind.

14.   If I feel depressed or bored, it means I am in a lot of pain and trying my best to appear happy and normal.

15.   I can’t really explain how chronic pain feels. Still, I can’t say, “You’ll know it once you get it” because I would never want anyone to experience this much pain.

16.   I need a lot of sleep. But sleeping can be difficult with so much pain and often leaves me exhausted.

17.   Just because I have chronic pain doesn’t mean I know how to manage it or live with it.

18.   Sometimes I feel like I’m in a prison, living someone else’s life.

19.   I still have interests, passions, goals, and dreams.

20.   I don’t want you to forget me. I don’t want you to abandon me.

21.   I haven’t given up healing yet. Deep down I know there is (or will be) an answer out there.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *