Diary Of A Spoonie: A Fibromyalgia Diagnosis


Danielle Levy, Fibromyalgia, health blogger, spoonie blogger, Liverpool blogger, Wirral blogger,

So I've been searching for answers to my back problems for almost 4 years now and my pain has just been getting progressively worse. Although the healthcare professionals looking after me had spoken to the pain clinic over the years, I finally got to speak to them myself and see them in person for the first time about a month ago and I actually got the answers that I'd been so desperately wanting, however it wasn't quite the answer I'd been hoping for.

Do you know how hard it is to put up a fight everyday, when you don't know what it is you're fighting against?!

I've finally been diagnosed with fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition of widespread pain and fatigue, it can vary from a mild case where you can generally live a normal life with treatment to more severe where people may struggle to hold down a job or maintain a social life. The pain can fluctuate between different types of pain, can fluctuate severity and it can also change location. There is no known cause for fibromyalgia but at present it is thought that it develops after some sort of trauma and once diagnosed, it is a life long condition. There is currently no cure.

As my pain consultant said, it's a diagnosis by elimination, meaning that they have ruled out any other problems or conditions that could be causing my pain first before they diagnosed me. She told me that she believes that the back injury that occurred whilst at work is what triggered the chain of events. It's been a month since I was diagnosed and I'm still trying to come to terms with it. 

At the moment I'm thankful that I'm still in a position where I can work full time, maintain my second job...blogging, and maintain somewhat of a social life. I'm also very thankfully that I have such a great group of friends and colleagues that are so supportive and understanding when I am having flare ups and struggling (as I write this blog post I can already feel that I'm in the beginning stages of a flare up) and will adapt things to allow me to still feel like I'm living a 'normal' life. 

Between my pain consultant and my GP, we've made some medication changes in the hope that we can find the right balance that my pain is reduced enough that I can sleep better and move more. I am continuing my PT sessions with Suraj now that the gyms are open properly, as well as seeing NHS physiotherapists and going through a fibromyalgia management programme and undergoing CBT therapy.

Here's to my journey of learning to live with fibromyalgia!

Where are my fibro Queens and Kings at?!

Speak to you next time!
Danielle Levy, Wirral blogger, Liverpool blogger,
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Danielle Levy
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