Raise awareness about chronic illnesses by understanding their impact, symptoms, and the importance of support and education.
When it comes to chronic pain syndromes, fibromyalgia is one of the most widely recognized—yet also one of the most misunderstood. Add the term “poly fibromyalgia” into the mix, and things can get even murkier. Patients, practitioners, and caregivers alike may wonder: Are they the same? Is “poly” fibromyalgia a separate diagnosis or a more complex version of the original? Most importantly—how do we tell the difference? In this article, we break down the similarities,…
Why Fibromyalgia is Often Misdiagnosed or Mistaken for Other Conditions Fibromyalgia is commonly misunderstood, often leading to years of misdiagnosis. Its symptoms mimic many other chronic conditions, creating confusion for patients and healthcare providers alike. Yet, fibromyalgia has unique characteristics that, when carefully observed, help differentiate it from other illnesses. Correct identification is essential for effective treatment, proper management, and emotional relief. Understanding the Unique Nature of Fibromyalgia Symptoms Fibromyalgia impacts the nervous system, altering…
The Turning Point: Choosing to Fight, Not Fade There was a moment I’ll never forget—a moment when I realized fibromyalgia had taken too much. My time. My confidence. My joy. I was existing, not living. That’s when I decided: this illness may be part of my story, but it won’t be the whole story. I chose to stand up, not just for myself, but for the life I still wanted to live. And from that…
Introduction At the 25th annual ELLE Women in Hollywood Celebration in October 2018, Lady Gaga delivered a deeply emotional and empowering speech that moved the audience and reverberated across entertainment and cultural conversations. It wasn’t just what she said—it was how she said it, and the visual symbolism she chose made the moment all the more profound. The Setting & The Look Gaga arrived on the red carpet in an oversized menswear-inspired suit by Marc…
Fibromyalgia crept into my life quietly at first. A little ache here, some fatigue there. I chalked it up to stress, lack of sleep, maybe aging. But within months, the pain became louder, more persistent, and harder to ignore. It felt like my body had turned against me. Every movement hurt. Every attempt to explain my pain was met with blank stares or disbelief. I was tired, frustrated, and scared. But I’m here to tell…
Living with fibromyalgia is already a full-time challenge. The widespread pain, deep fatigue, brain fog, and disrupted sleep are enough to alter every part of your life. But for many sufferers, fibromyalgia doesn’t come alone. It often arrives hand-in-hand with other health conditions—some obvious, others harder to detect. This overlapping of multiple chronic conditions is so common it even has a name: comorbidity. And for those navigating fibromyalgia, identifying what else might be going on…
Understanding the Controversy In 2018, then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions made a statement suggesting that individuals dealing with chronic pain should “take some aspirin and tough it out.” This remark was intended to address concerns over opioid prescriptions but was met with significant backlash from the chronic pain community. The Reality of Chronic Pain Chronic pain is a complex medical condition that affects millions of individuals worldwide. It encompasses a range of disorders, including fibromyalgia, arthritis,…
“What fibromyalgia symptom are you working on managing right now?” It’s a question many who live with fibromyalgia quietly ask themselves every morning. This isn’t just a matter of checking in—it’s a survival tool, a strategy, a grounding moment. Because fibromyalgia isn’t predictable. It doesn’t follow a routine or respect a schedule. Some days it’s the deep, aching muscle pain. Other days it’s the crushing fatigue. And sometimes, it’s the fog, the forgetfulness, the feeling…
Living with a chronic illness like fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, or lupus means every space you inhabit needs to work with your body, not against it. Over time, many of us create what’s lovingly known in the chronic illness community as a spoonie room—a personal space designed to soothe symptoms, conserve energy, and provide comfort during long rest periods. This isn’t just a bedroom. It’s a sanctuary. A toolkit. A haven. Every item in it serves a…
Living with a chronic illness already demands an immense level of resilience. It often means adapting to physical limitations, emotional strain, and long-term changes to your routine. But when new symptoms emerge—particularly those related to memory loss—it can feel like a setback that’s hard to accept. Memory loss, even when subtle or gradual, can add a new layer of difficulty to an already complex journey. Understanding how to cope with these changes is essential for…