If you’re here, you’ve probably heard the word fibromyalgia before but let’s be honest—it’s a mouthful. When I first heard it, I could barely pronounce it, let alone spell it. Fie-bro-my-al-gee-uh? Or is it Fibro-my-al-yeah? These days, I just keep it cool and call it Fibro. Trust me, it’s easier on the tongue and way less intimidating.

So, what exactly is fibromyalgia? Well, it’s a chronic condition that messes with how your body processes pain signals. Imagine your brain’s pain volume knob stuck on “extra loud” all the time. That’s fibromyalgia. This leads to widespread pain, fatigue, and what we affectionately call “fibro fog” (basically, your brain running at dial-up speed in a Wi-Fi world).

The Pain Factor

At its core, fibromyalgia is all about the pain. Not the “stub your toe and swear” kind of pain—it’s more like an ache that sets up camp in your body and refuses to leave. Sometimes it feels like your muscles are screaming after a marathon you didn’t actually run, or like someone turned up the heat on your nerve endings just for fun.

And then there’s hyperalgesia—a fancy way of saying that even light touches or pressure can feel unbearable. For me, that’s meant avoiding tight clothes and opting for the fluffiest blankets I can find. Trust me, my blanket game is strong!

The Invisible Illness

One of the toughest parts about living with fibro is how invisible it is. On the outside, I might look like I’ve got it all together (most days, anyway), but inside, it’s a different story. It’s like having a constant battle raging in your body, with no obvious signs to show for it. If chronic pain came with flashing neon signs, life would be a lot easier to explain.

Why Call It Fibro?

Apart from being easier to pronounce, calling it Fibro makes it feel a bit friendlier—like a frenemy you’ve begrudgingly learned to live with. Because let’s face it, fibromyalgia isn’t going anywhere, so why not give it a nickname and take away some of its power?

Living with Fibro

Living with fibromyalgia is like being stuck on a never-ending rollercoaster of symptoms. Some days, it feels like a truck hit me. Other days, it’s more like a bad hangover without the fun night out. But through it all, I’ve learned that humour, support, and a whole lot of patience are my best allies.

So whether you’re here to learn about Fibro, connect with others, or just make sense of it all, know that you’re not alone. We may not have all the answers, but we do have fluffy blankets, bad jokes, and a whole lot of resilience.

And remember, if you catch me zoning out mid-sentence, it’s not you—it’s fibro fog. Be kind, be patient, and maybe offer me a snack. Snacks make everything better, don’t they?

You can now share you Fibro story on my Facebook group, click here