Understand chronic diseases, their causes, common symptoms, and effective management strategies to improve long-term health and quality of life.
By: Dr Alexa James Very often, people do not understand what Fibromyalgia is like, and other chronic, invisible diseases that cause chronic pain. In their lives they have experienced constant pain, so many have somehow, but they have never had to deal with long-term pain. I tried to search for the “official” pain labels for different pain types I felt but could not find a label with a proper description for them all. I found…
By: Dr Alexa James I just feel you. I feel you. I look okay, I’m okay. I live an active life, which is relatively normal. I’m walking, I’m driving, I’m climbing stairs. Visibly, I’m not disabled. I have no limp, no cane or wheelchair or walkers. I have no limp. I’m working a job of complete time. I’m living alone. I live alone. I take care of myself. I take care of myself. I’m cooking,…
By: Dr Alexa James We always look for ways of identifying and distinguishing ourselves. A way to be a single person. The Funny One, the Smart One, the Beautiful. The fan, the creative, the athletic. The “fan of sport,” One way I don’t want to do that is to “be a fibromyalgic girl.” “The painful girl, the painful girl” or “the tired girl.” “The painless girl,” I’m more than my pain. Ask me to camp.…
By: Dr Alexa James Living with Fibromyalgia is challenging. We do need to find out how Fibro works and how best to treat the symptoms, and we really need scientists to get it and to make this weakening condition, based on several factors, attention, and time. Doctors have only treated the symptoms that are enough to control the condition, but it does not work long term. In the past, the medical community tend to consider…
By: Dr Alexa James Our days are dictated by pain, tight muscles, fatigue and many other factors and symptoms for the patient who suffers from fibromyalgia or Chronic Pain. Sometimes we have to go so far as to plan a relaxing day, as far as our plans are concerned. What people who don’t have difficulties to understand with these conditions is how we can be productive some days, take part, enjoy fun activities, but some…
By: Dr Alexa James At least by the standards of society, I won’t lie. I succeed in being a mother. Not because I don’t love my kids because, above and beyond anything I could ever have imagined, I do it. No, my body makes me spend more time, energy, and money on ensuring I survive and work than I can on my children, I suck being a mother. It was very difficult to accept that…
By: Dr Alexa James It can be frustrating if we need help, but don’t want to accept it, or even harder, that we don’t want to burden anybody else. Fortunately, as someone living with chronic conditions that make it harder to do normal business, I can say that there are people who really want to help others. Some people have the best of intentions but don’t know exactly what to offer, or maybe just want…
By: Dr Alexa James I was something that was wanted to deny the health community once. You told me I was just in your head, I didn’t exist, you felt like freaks who have lost their minds. Something different than what their practice has been teaching them could not believe. Oh, but I’ve demonstrated I’m so real, and now they know that. I am not in your head as a figment of a psychological or…
By: Dr. Alexa James I spend a lot of time negotiating with my body as someone with multiple chronic illnesses. I feel I can’t go for days and I’m determined to never give up for days. The emotional range is wide. I was through all of them and I have a great deal of coping mechanisms. My inner dialog is one of them. It could be my enemy or my friend. I have a large…
I suddenly sat at the end of my bed, like a ton of bricks I hit my chest. My lips tremble, in my throat I feel a lump and before the tears flow, I must stop. I’ve got difficulties putting my socks on and fast I know my life is gone and it won’t be what it was. It took a while for me to mourn my former self’s loss, and even more to understand…