motivation

by Kathy Smith
(Gering, Nebraska, USA)

I was diagnosed with fibro 9 years ago. At that time I had three young children, worked full time and went to my local YMCA every night. I was very active and thrived on it. I didn't see the signs coming and it felt like I was hit with fibro overnight. I literally woke up one morning and couldn't move. After a couple of weeks and no relief I went to my doctor who recognized it immediately. He still put me through the rigmarole of tests and seeing rheumatologists before the final diagnosis. After about a year of trying this med and that, physical therapy and a lot of pity parties, I decided enough! If it isn't going to kill me, then why am I letting it? I started moving again. I walk. I stretch. I do yoga. I ride a stationary bike. I swim. I get good medical treatment. Yes, I still hurt and I still have times where I am down with pain, but I tell myself one thing that keeps me going: this will pass. It may take a few hours or a few days, but the extreme pain does pass and I go back to "normal". And I get back up again. Some people think I don't have fibromyalgia because I'm so active. Learning how to smile through it all helped. My life changed so drastically since my diagnosis so I made a new one. One that works for me. I miss my old life, but I'm okay with my new one.