kicking Fibromyalgia’s bum
I’m Assata, an Activist + Writer + Photographer + Publicist + Crazy Cat Lady, kicking Fibromyalgia’s bum. Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain. Sometimes it's a dull ache that I’ve trained myself to power through mostly for the sake of my career, but many days it’s so crippling that I’m unable to even get out of bed. Aside from the musculoskeletal pain, Fibromyalgia also causes me to have chronic migraines, hypersensitivity to cold, inability to concentrate (“fibro fog”) and insomnia. It also greatly increases the pain I already feel from Endometriosis and is a major contributor to my depression/anxiety.
I couldn't fight this battle alone
Living with chronic (often excruciating) pain is compounded by the lack of understanding from others because understandably so, it’s really hard to wrap your head around something you can’t see. However, I am incredibly blessed by having a life partner that epitomizes the virtue of patience by adjusting to the unpredictability of Fibro daily. Last night’s display of love looked like him holding me during a particularly painful flare and singing everything from heavy metal Christmas tunes to Cage The Elephant until I was finally able to fall asleep. Today it looked like him carrying me to the car after an injury at the park. My sweet mum has been there even before the diagnosis holding my hand through every doctor’s appointment, every late night ER visit, every surgery and is continuously researching new treatment options. It is my sincerest prayer that everyone living with chronic illness/ disability is not doing it alone because I know I wouldn’t be able to thrive without the presence of these two as well as the online spoonie community.
