Family dis-belief in my Fibromyalga

[DinaRoy]

Do any of you have family question you about your pain being real. My children don't understand how my pain just suddenly came on so strong. They all think they are Dr's and try to tell me how I should be coping with it and, that I should not be limited to what I can and can't do. Does any one have any suggestions?

[Brenannfrankie]

Unfortunately my son hardly ever complains so when he says he is hurting then we know its bad. He is 21 and doesnt want to take lots of meds bc he wants to do things others do like go to parties drink alcohol. I notice if he over does it drinking he feels bad next day. Its terrible that people see fibromyalgia as nothing. You guys with fibro and autoimmune have real pain and its prob from both. Its got to be hard when your family wont try understand. My son suffers with raynauds and when a person who doesnt known fibro autoimmune they get an eyefull and see its real seeing his hands turn completely blue. Looks like a dead person. Very
Scary

[NadineVandeweerd]

I have felt the same way with my family. I felt so alone, my mother was the only one who believed me. We have a few family member that have it, so she was well aware of the symptoms. My husband just ignored me and didn't care to understand. He thought I was just whining, so I stopped telling him how I was feeling. One night I was sobbing from the pain, that's when it hit him. He finally realized I wasn't making it up! It makes it easier for me to tell him I can't do something because I'm in pain or exhausted.  Maybe you need to really open up about the pain, let them see you in pain. I've tried hiding mine from others but I feel it's better to show others that our pain is real. I hope they come around to really open their eyes and mind to your pain. We know your pain is real.

[BarbaraJoan]

Having an understanding family would actually help reduce our pain. It's extremely stressful when we have pain and fatigue and no one understands or seems to care. It's normal for us to be sympathetic for our family members when they are down with a bug, a broken bone, or a condition that will improve over time. We naturally anticipate the healing process which is a positive and hopeful atititude. When there is a diagnosis of a condition that is degenerative or a condition like fibromyalgia the family reacts differently.
The people who understand fibromyalgia are those who experience the pain and fatigue. Fortunately fibromyalgia is now a recognized condition by yhe medical community but until we have technology that can measure, compute, comptehend the pain, we won't have complete credibility.

[aussie_mick]

Same here i have recently  experienced severe pain and i think because i look well my wife feels i am putting it on or something to get out of work. I was a workaholic until this occurred.

I found it helful to show my wife some information  from other suffers on you tube etc to understand better what i am going through.

[Mcnickyo]

Ditto.but for me it's been so many years most of my family gets it. Also I stopped doing most things. No restaurants or movies. Little cooking. Hubby cooks and grocery shops. My world has become small. Pain is most of each day. Very depressing.
Tell your family the truth. Fibro is REAL people.
Good luck!
Nicky

[Supermonkey]

I too had problems with family understanding because I look well. Get some books for them to read to help them understand this illness. Good luck and well wishes Sharon