(This post is from last May 12th National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day)
Do you know what it is like to wake up one morning in agony and for that searing pain to never go away?
Do you know what it is like to have Doctors look at you like you are a crazy, drug-seeking, lazy person who just needs to “walk it off” when all you want to do is die?
Do you know what it is like to have everything robbed from you?
Do you know what it is like to lay in a glass coffin with your eyes open, and watch life go on without you – while you watch helplessly?
Do you know what it is like to have to grieve over the loss of yourself, and have to get to know a whole new you?
Do you know what it is like to have NO memory of being pain-free?
Do you know what it is like to lose relationships with loved ones because they just cannot see past your pain to find your heart any longer?
Do you know what it is like to never be able to find comfort in your own skin….. Never be able to let out a sigh of relief after a long day…. Never be able to get away from your worst enemy….. Never be able to be held by someone you love without it hurting??
Do you wake up in the morning and automatically put your feet on the floor without having to wonder if your legs will support you through the day?
Do you complain about rush-hour traffic, not having to think about how the extra 10 minutes in the car will affect your health for the rest of the day?
Do you walk by a stranger on the sidewalk and secretly wish you were them?
Do you know what it is like to be handed a life-sentence – yet you committed no crime?
Do you know what it is like to have to muster up every ounce of your courage to go to the grocery store…. a friend’s house… or even to the end of your walkway to collect the mail?
Do you know what it is like to have to say “No” over and over again – and have your heart-break each time because all you really want to do is say “Yes”
Do you know what it is like to live in a world that simply isn’t made for people like you?
I do…. This is my life… and it is the life of between 3-6 percent of the world’s population. It is the life of anyone who suffers from Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis). It is a life of Severe Chronic Pain…. 24 hours a day…. 7 days a week….. 365 days a year. It doesn’t go away on your birthday, anniversary, Christmas, New Year’s…. It doesn’t go away when you have had enough… when you are sick… when you are angry…. when you are sad…. It is constant and mind-blowing pain…. and there is NO cure.
We all are different – We have different dreams, different families, different lives… but the one thing we all have in common is that we fight for our lives each and every day, and fight to be understood.
We are human, we laugh, live, love, cry… just like everyone else… Only our journey through life is a little more complicated than some.
TODAY is the National Fibromyalgia/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ME Awareness Day – A VERY important day to all who suffer from these diseases… Please HELP US SPREAD THE WORD THAT WE CAN FIND A CURE!!!!
I urge you today to share this link with EVERYONE in your life… Wear PURPLE in Support of those who suffer….. Find another Fibro blog online, and leave a comment of support and encouragement, Call someone you know who is suffering, and let them know you are in their corner and will do anything you can to help them…. DO SOMETHING…. ANYTHING…. we need to spread the word and build a community of compassion… Pledge to be a part of the solution for people like me who live with severe pain every single day…..
Do you know what it is like??
If you do I honor you today, and want you to know that you are NOT alone….. I am here – waiting to ‘meet’ another member of this amazing community of people….
If by chance you don’t know what it is like, I urge you to close your eyes for a few moments and imagine what it might be like if you were to wake up one morning and have your like completely changed…..
When we try to understand with an open heart – we have the ability to break down walls.
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Related articles
- M.E. Awareness Week (feministphilosophers.wordpress.com)
- put purple in your profile: fibromyalgia awareness day, may 12, 2011 (phylor.wordpress.com)
- Thoughts About Where We Are on Fibromylagia Awareness Day 2011 (ohmyachesandpains.info)
- What About M.E.? (thelaughinghousewife.wordpress.com)
Beautifully written! Got my purple on and magnet on car. I hope someday we can find better treatment for our diseases. Things like this will help!
tammy
Today is a great day to write a letter about how Fibromyalgia has affected your life, whether you suffer yourself, or know someone who does.
Please visit Fibroletters on FB or fibroletters.com and create a document with your personal letter to help the world understand the impact FMS has on us all.
http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=199102243466056&id=1029314901#!/home.php?sk=group_170596926327795&ap=1
Great post, I don’t think I was “around” for it last year. TFS!
Can totally relate to so many of these things… I can answer “yes” to all those questions…pain has been my life now for over 3 years. That’s over 1,000 days of pain in a row and yes, I’ve been sort of keeping track because it feels like it’s been going sooo slolwly waiting for any little improvement at all!
The “you’re not alone” message is at least one that brings hope for now. There isn’t much for us out there in the way of cures or miracle treatments but there are little tricks and things we can try and share to see if they work (since not everything works for everyone) and having that kind of support is priceless.
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