Fibromyalgia is a diagnosis of exclusion. That is, other diseases share some common elements, but the final diagnosis occurs because your pain and fatigue don't fit the profile of other diseases. The disease can be crippling for some, removing them from everyday activities and the ability to work. Explaining your symptoms to your friends and family can help them better understand what you're experiencing and what they can do to help.
Step 1
Explain that fibromyalgia symptoms wax and wane. You may be energetic and healthy one week, but you may experience heavy symptoms another week. It can be difficult to know in advance when a flare-up of symptoms will occur, and friends should be supportive and understanding if you need to cancel plans that were set some time ago.
Step 2
Ensure that your friends don't ask for physical help that requires repetitive motion. For example, avoid chopping the vegetables if you're helping make the meal. Repetitive motion appears to exacerbate symptoms, according to the National Fibromyalgia Association.
Step 3
Discuss how fatigue is a large part of living with fibromyalgia. A simple outing for lunch may be enough to set you back for the rest of the day, especially if you're experiencing particularly acute symptoms.
Step 4
Communicate how critical sleep is to managing your condition. The National Fibromyalgia Association notes that sleep disturbances are a common element for many who live with the disease every day. As a result, let your friends know that you should not be disturbed if you're sleeping.
Step 5
Explain what it isn't. Fibromyalgia is not a precursor to lupus or other autoimmune disorders. It also isn't arthritis, although some people with fibromyalgia struggle with pain in their joints and others struggle with pain in the muscle itself.
Step 6
Make sure your friends understand that this isn't all in your head. Receiving a diagnosis of fibromyalgia can be a frustrating process. You've likely undergone several tests and gotten some alternative diagnoses before determining this disease is the cause of your symptoms. But you are experiencing real pain (along what are known as "trigger points"), and your fatigue is very real. There isn't yet a clear treatment for this disease, but the support of your friends and family is a critical element in managing your symptoms.
