http://mylifewithfibro.com/Blog/2009/01/19/please-help-chronic-illness-and-meeting-people/ An online haven for people with fibromyalgia. We bring fibrofolks together and encourage members to learn from each other as the My Life with Fibro community strives to raise awareness and raise morale. Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:49:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://mylifewithfibro.com/Blog/2009/01/19/please-help-chronic-illness-and-meeting-people/#comment-137 K8 Sun, 25 Jan 2009 23:31:18 +0000 http://mylifewithfibro.com/Blog/?p=401#comment-137 Thank you for your feedback. I appreciate your input and am sure it will be helpful to our CFS friend in need... Thank you for your feedback. I appreciate your input and am sure it will be helpful to our CFS friend in need…

]]> http://mylifewithfibro.com/Blog/2009/01/19/please-help-chronic-illness-and-meeting-people/#comment-119 Rochelle Tue, 20 Jan 2009 14:59:56 +0000 http://mylifewithfibro.com/Blog/?p=401#comment-119 I usually wait to bring it up. Occasionally there is a situation that has required it to be brought up. For example, I delivered several boxes of Bibles to my church recently and asked for a guy to come help me bring them in. The receptionist looked a little surprised, so I explained to her that I have chronic pain and the boxes are too heavy for me to be lifting without highly paying for it tomorrow. In that instance, it became a necessity to explain myself. You'll always feel that immediate shame and fear of their reaction... but generally I think people try to understand. They just don't understand. That's just the way it works. Unless they personally know someone who has a chronic illness, they don't get it. I sure didn't get it before I had it. I think the more we educate people about it, the better it will be for all of us. So yes, eventually I tell everyone now. But it took me about 17 months after having the symptoms before I started getting comfortable telling people, because that's when I got the official diagnosis (even though through research I was sure that's what it was). I think there's something to be said for researching and learning a lot about it on your end before becoming very vocal about it. Because if you don't know enough to fully explain it and answer any questions they come up with, it'll be even more difficult for you. Get yourself to a point first of knowing more and feeling comfortable with who you are now, then you'll feel like telling people more freely. Hope this helps. :) I usually wait to bring it up. Occasionally there is a situation that has required it to be brought up. For example, I delivered several boxes of Bibles to my church recently and asked for a guy to come help me bring them in. The receptionist looked a little surprised, so I explained to her that I have chronic pain and the boxes are too heavy for me to be lifting without highly paying for it tomorrow. In that instance, it became a necessity to explain myself. You’ll always feel that immediate shame and fear of their reaction… but generally I think people try to understand. They just don’t understand. That’s just the way it works. Unless they personally know someone who has a chronic illness, they don’t get it. I sure didn’t get it before I had it. I think the more we educate people about it, the better it will be for all of us. So yes, eventually I tell everyone now. But it took me about 17 months after having the symptoms before I started getting comfortable telling people, because that’s when I got the official diagnosis (even though through research I was sure that’s what it was). I think there’s something to be said for researching and learning a lot about it on your end before becoming very vocal about it. Because if you don’t know enough to fully explain it and answer any questions they come up with, it’ll be even more difficult for you. Get yourself to a point first of knowing more and feeling comfortable with who you are now, then you’ll feel like telling people more freely.
Hope this helps.

]]> http://mylifewithfibro.com/Blog/2009/01/19/please-help-chronic-illness-and-meeting-people/#comment-117 Diana Tue, 20 Jan 2009 11:17:13 +0000 http://mylifewithfibro.com/Blog/?p=401#comment-117 I am newly diagnosed, but have had degenerative disc disease and pain for years. I wait until a question comes up about my health or limitation. I am not sure how it will change now that I have Fibro. At this time I feel more guarded because people do not know much about it. I am newly diagnosed, but have had degenerative disc disease and pain for years. I wait until a question comes up about my health or limitation. I am not sure how it will change now that I have Fibro. At this time I feel more guarded because people do not know much about it.

]]> http://mylifewithfibro.com/Blog/2009/01/19/please-help-chronic-illness-and-meeting-people/#comment-115 Amy Tue, 20 Jan 2009 05:51:02 +0000 http://mylifewithfibro.com/Blog/?p=401#comment-115 I don't bring it up right away. Some people will ask when they see me out somewhere & not drinking alcohol. I don't mind telling people, but occasionally I will run across someone who does not believe in Fibro, and all of a sudden I feel so small. I don’t bring it up right away. Some people will ask when they see me out somewhere & not drinking alcohol. I don’t mind telling people, but occasionally I will run across someone who does not believe in Fibro, and all of a sudden I feel so small.

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