I'm Dizzy.
Not in that blonde joke kind of way, but in the real life medical problem kind of way.
Amoung a bunch of other issues I have a particularly nasty form of arthritis called Fibromyalgia, and Multiple Sclerosis. I was diagnosed with fibro in 1995, but have had the disease since shortly after suffering a head injury (also non-discussable due to legal issues) in September 1985. As diseases go, both suck because they Don't kill you. No, they just gives you incredible pain and fatigue everyday, all day, for as long as it takes for Kevorkian to get out of jail and re-open shop.
I'm still learning about MS. but..the best place to get the scoop on fibro is http://www.fmnetnews.com ...but here is their description : Fibromyalgia "is a widespread musculoskeletal pain and fatigue disorder for which the cause is still unknown. Fibromyalgia means pain in the muscles, ligaments, and tendons the soft fibrous tissues in the body. "
Nice huh? I get the bonus of also having IBS, GERD, Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome, Chronic Vertigo, Tintinitis (that's ringing of the ears), Cubidal tunnel syndrome (same as carpal tunnel but in the elbow, rendering my lower arms useless some days, neuopathy, and curiously, joint pain and swelling.
Oh yeah, and I am hard of hearing...the new hearing aids certainly help...unless I am in a noisy crowd at which point I am completely deaf.
So, the guys at fmnetnews suggest that "To help your family and friends relate to your condition, have them think back to the last time they had a bad flu. Every muscle in their body shouted out in pain. In addition, they felt devoid of energy as though someone had unplugged their power supply."
That is putting it mildly. I have, since 1985, had exactly one pain free afternoon. It was March 2, 2006 when chest pain caused by a flare up of GERD combined with an already bad flare up of the pain from the fibro and only a significant amount of morphine got rid of it. Unfortunately, the morphine wore off after about 6 hours. But, like a mystic saint who has glimpsed heaven the memory of that 6 hours does help me get through the other hundreds of hours I want to chop off parts of my body.
I am permenantly disabled and have three teenagers who are absolutely amazing. I do try to enjoy my enforced retirement. so, I guess now we go on to the continuing story.....
Oh yeah, much to the Christian Right's chagrin I am both Bisexual and SAVED...having accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior, and having accepted that God made me the way I am, I am also active in the http://www.accne.net - a great home for Catholics tired of Rome or anyone who wants a little more Jesus and community in their church..
