Messages By: fyte4acure

To those suffering: 

I really want to applaud you first of all for being brave enough to come online here to share your stories with all the die-hard Dr. Phil fans.  It is a first step to take in coping with chronic and difficult to deal with illnesses.  And thank you so much, Dr. Phil and staff, to allow this site as a communication and reflection for those with chronic illnesses and pain. 

I also want to tell you that I have an illness that I share with many others, unfortunately.  It is very painful.  I don't know why they use the technique called pressure points to diagnose this illness when there are more than 18 points on my body that hurt.  Anyway, I didn't come on this site to message a bunch of complaints about my pain because right now I need to focus on the positive at the stage of coping I'm at.  I'm not saying you all do not have a right to vent.  I have done my venting, and plenty of it.  I have one main purpose to post a message on this site and I want to stay focused on this. 

Reason #1:     WE NEED A CURE!  Since we aren't getting one at this time, we need to fight for it, stand up for ourselves, not allow the general public or doctors to tell us that this pain is in our heads!  We need to contact government officials and let them know they need to fund more research money for the cure of fibromyalgia.  A very nice organization in Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation is pushing for some legislation to fund for arthritis and other related illnesses such as fibromyalgia.  We need to contact our state representatives and contact the arthritis foundation in our state and FIGHT 4 A CURE!!!!  This will not only let them know that we won't put up with this illness without some funding going for research to cure us, but it will also get us out of our "feel sorry for me" attitudes that arise when we are delt a bad luck of cards in life of chronic constant pain and dealing with an illness doctors know very little about.  We have every right to ask for funding and a cure for this illness.  Don't allow them to get you down, thinking there is no hope.  You are far more valuable than to become a rug to be walked on day-in and day-out.  Hopelessness will not help in the fight for a cure.  Please join me and stand up for what you deserve!  Connect with others fighting this illness and become strong in numbers.  You will be amazed in what changes can be made.  It is estimated that over 5.8 million people have fibromyalgia.  That is a lot of people.  We are not alone and need our voices to come together in helping to push for legislation in funding for a cure.   

So many times I hear people crying out for help to the wrong people.  It is okay to vent, and I've done my share, but please do not forget the next step:  Writing to our state representatives, asking for more money for research on fibromyalgia. 

Thank you so much for your time in reading this.  Let's be strong, come together, and do what we can do best as a team, FIGHT 4 A CURE! 

Yours truly, 

Kristie B. 

fyte4acure : ) 

America is starting to recognize it, but for the most part Americans are ignorant.  Read my recent posting regarding a fight for a cure.  We need to come together in numbers, whether it is the USA or the world.  We must connect in finding a cure for this FM. 

Yours truly, 

Kristie B. 

fyte4acure : ) 

Please do find another doctor.  While your doctor may be telling you the truth, the doctor should also provide some hope for you, not make you seem like damaged goods.  I will not go on disability as I am stubborn and want to make something out of my life as I am still very young (30).  You are the one who decides on disability.  It is okay to do so if you wish.  However, You are not damaged goods!  Please read my comment recently posted on funding for a cure. 

Yours truly, 

Kristie B. 

fyte4acure : ) 

Good luck on your book!  I hope to read it someday soon! 

Yours truly, 

Kristie B. 

fyte4acure : ) 

Dear Karin,

Isn't that amazing!  MSM works for you too!  It worked for me as well.  I am a chocoholic and I've found that there is lots of Magnesium in chocolate.  Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe I am biased on this to justify my chocolate cravings and habits.  Luckily I have my father's metabolism and stay at a steady 130 - 135 lbs... Thank God!  I'm also very active, which helps keep the weight down.  I did not know about omega 3 & 6.  I shall ask my pharmacist about that.  I know nothing about chlorella.  Again, I will ask my pharmacist about that too as well.  Thank you for sharing your story!  Your English is better than my French, although I try not to swear, ha ha.

Unfortunately I do get too active and pay for it.  I love long bike rides in the country.  I am also an apartment complex manager.  Painting, mowing, cleaning, vacuuming, fixing up dry wall, and fixing anything else keeps me busy.  Unfortunately I have more than I can handle in pain.  Pain meds do not do well with my stomach so I only take them when the pain is too much to bear, because I get allergic reactions and get nauseated as well.  But I'll take a few skin break outs just to be able to put up with the pain better.  I find that when I take them on occasion, my body does not get use to them and I'm better able to handle the pain when I do take them.

I hesitate, when I apply for jobs to mention I have this illness.  Employers, often just like doctors, think this is an "In your head" syndrome.  I feel sorry for their ignorance, but that just means I must stay silent when I apply for jobs.  I just graduated from college with a double major in social work and psychology.  I hope to help others improve their quality of life.  I will get my certification soon in social work. 

I could NOT, absolutely NOT, go on disability.  There is no way in God's green earth will I be told I can only make a certain amount of money and never be able to afford a loan on a house.  I want to live out in the country and feel the nice breeze go across my skin and hear the silence of the country life, as I once knew when I was a youngster.  My goals are to get a good paying job, support myself, pay off my student loans, write a few books on what it is like to live with chronic pain, publish lyrics, write songs, and help to improve the quality of people's lives.  I want to live a lucrative and comfortable life, regardless of the unbearable pains.  I will not allow the government to tell me how much money I can make.  Also, the word disability really peeves me.  I am able to do so much, yet they call it a disability.  The word "disability" should be changed for those who get governmental assistance.  It is a self-fulfilling prophecy to say, "I'm on disability."  Anyway, I'm rambling, ha ha.  What I'm trying to say is that I won't go on disability because I know in my heart and mind that I have too many abilities and frankly they couldn't pay me enough to stop working.  For anyone else it is his or her prerogative, but I will not go on disability.  My doctor said I should get on it, but I told him "absolutely not!"  Working brings a sense of productivity in my life.  I would feel worthless if I could not accomplish things.  Although there are times I cannot do so much or deal with more pain than I can handle, I still remain strong and accept that I can only do what I can, but I will not give up totally.  That's my opinion on disability for me, and I will only hold myself to that degree of expectation.  Whatever anyone else does is up to them, but not their doctors.

I hope to help others to realize they are not along in this, and let them know that speaking up to the government to demand for some more funding on medical research for fibromyalgia will empower us! 

Thanks for listening and replying,

Kristie : )

fyte4acure

Will, 

It is ironic you mention this website.  I've been a member of it for a long time coming now.  It has helped me out tremendously! 

Thank you, 

Kristie : ) 

fyte4acure 

Nekocats, 

Sorry to hear about the Neurontin.  I tried that crap and it made me depressed.  They also put me on a med called Tramadol.  That stuff made me violently ill.  I became very dizzy and sick.  I was throwing up during bike rides.  I was not my happy-go-lucky self anymore.  I would not go on high doses because the med did not touch my pain one bit anyway.  Why take high doses of something that you aren't sure will help you, especially after you find out it messes with your mind psychologically, as well as your body chemistry.  I will never try that stuff again.  I also do not take anti-depressants for pain.  I am not depressed and they only increase my heart rate really badly.  Plus they make me feel like a zombie and I can never sleep enough while on them.   

Please tell me more about your volunteer work.  I would love to hear about it! 

Take care, 

Kristie : ) 

fyte4acure   

Betty, 

I have heard the saying of being trapped in an old body.  I have joked and said the same thing myself.  But now I've come to realize I am not trapped.  I am unique.  Having this illness has made me strong.  I've realized so much about myself that I have not known.  I have connected with people in ways I hadn't before this illness.  This illness has tested my strength and made me a stronger person.  You're probably thinking, "Oh Lord!  How can anyone respond positively to such a painful illness?"  Well, I've done some coping for sure.  I've gotten past the helpless stage though.  I no longer feel trapped. 

People have told me I look fine.  I know I'm very attractive!  I am glad this illness does not show it's ugly face.  However, it does sometimes, like when I try to walk or be active.  I appear crippled.  But I thank my lucky stars that this illness is mostly invisible. 

Yes, people do give me advice on how to improve my health.  Now I just listen and realize they do not understand, but are trying to help, because they care.  I am grateful that they care. 

Yours truly, 

Kristie : ) 

fyte4acure   

I am glad to hear your story.  It touches me for sure. 

I think you are a strong woman!  To pursue a degree and raise children, and do so with fibromyalgia, WOW!  You are strong like me!  Continue on your goal and do not let anyone distract you from it.  You can do it! 

Suggestions on exercise would be located on a website of Immune Support.com.  They are great at giving medical advice for people with fibromyalgia.  There is also a chat site in Immune Support.com, in which you can receive lots of personal stories of what has worked for those who are also in your shoes.  I wish you the best!   

Personally, I hurt like heck after doing physical activities, but it still does not stop me.  Please read my previous postings the past few days.  I simply do what I can. 

Yours truly, 

Kristie : ) 

fyte4acure 

As for your husband... I think that it is difficult for him to accept that a disease has taken control over you and he probably feels helpless in helping you out.  Significant others are very protective, and maybe he feels that he cannot help you and wishes he could help you be complete again, but doesn't know where to start.  This is just a tought.  Stress can be hard on him.  Truly this illness is hard for anyone to understand.  I don't understand it.  A friend of mine has CFS - Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.  She had this a few years prior to me coming down with fibromyalgia.  I could not understand her illness, but today I know exactly what she's going through.  I feel evil when I say this, but I'm going to say it anyway.  I pray that one thousand doctors get this illness.  Only then will they begin to realize how real the pain and other symptoms are, and maybe they would be more decent and understanding to their patients.  Sometimes people do not listen and need proof before they believe something.  They do have tests coming in the near future to prove fibromyalgia.  I just wish they'd find a cure though.  Please do write to your state representatives, and ask them for more funding for research on fibromyalgia.  Also, you may contact your state chapter of the arthritis foundation and share your story there, as well as have them send a letter for you in regards to the bill they are trying to pass regarding more funding for arthritis and fibromyalgia research. 

Yours truly, 

Kristie  

fyte4acure : )