Nicole Hicks-Hardin is another member of my local support group. She has also started blogging about her own journey and you can view her blog via the link above (just click her name).When were you diagnosed?
I was diagnosed July 2004 after a 6-month long bout with extreme pain and fatigue.
What lead up to your diagnosis (symptoms, dr visits, etc)?
I can remember the very day everything changed. I was out and about with my brother (who was in town for a visit) and I got extremely weak. I felt terrible like I was coming down with something. I went home and got in bed and things were never the same from that day forward. I was constantly fatigued and not your normal tired, it was so debilitating. It was a struggle to do anything. I couldn’t focus at work, I was forgetful, and just felt like my whole world was crumbling and I had no control over it. I started having significant muscle and joint pain especially in my wrists and forearm. I had restless legs and my sleep suffered. Some nights I only got two hours of sleep at best.
Where you working at the time?
I was working as a nurse for a pediatrician.
What was your family life like (married? kids? etc?)
At the time that my symptoms started, I had been married 6 months, no children.
How did your family initially handle your illness?
My husband was very supportive. He felt helpless. He saw me suffering day in and day out. He also saw my frustration at not having an answer to what was going on with me. I can remember he would give me a massage every single day. It was so sweet.
How has your family/ work situation changed since Fibromyalgia entered your life?
Illness definitely takes a toll on the whole family. I was always irritable and easily set off because I was in constant pain. My husband missed my playful, carefree side. I was more serious and we didn’t laugh together as much as we use to. It changed my personality and that was a huge adjustment for him. I eventually had to give up my job as a nurse. I couldn’t keep up. I now work from home as a Beachbody coach.
A Beachbody Coach?
Being a coach fits easily into my day. I use the fitness program and meal replacement shake and I love them, so I simply tell others about it. I also talk to people about it that I meet or know in day to day activities like grocery shopping, etc. It is like having my own business; I make my own schedule and if I have a bad day I can stay in bed and get back to it when I feel better. There are no quotas to meet, so no pressure. I love it. . I hadn’t been able to work since 2007, and this allows me to work and feel useful.
What do you feel is the most challenging aspect of Fibro?
The most challenging to me is that on the outside no one can look at you and tell you are sick. People have the tendency to believe that you are exaggerating your pain. I constantly heard the comment: “You don’t look sick.”
Do you have any other co-existing conditions?If so, what are they and how do they impact your Fibromyalgia?
I also suffered Endometriosis and Scleroderma. The endometriosis added to my fatigue and pain. The endometriosis was the absolute worst pain I have ever experienced. It was much worse than Fibromyalgia pain and Fibromyalgia pain is nothing to laugh at either. I had stage 4 endometriosis and it caused daily fatigue, cramping, sharp shooting pains. I have never had a baby, but textbooks compare endometriosis pain to the contractions of labor. The scleroderma caused inflammation and scarring over most of my body. I was constantly itching from the combination of the inflammation and the rawness of the scarring. To say the least, it was overwhelming to deal with in addition to the Fibromyalgia.
What (if anything) have you found/ done that has improved your symptoms?
Diet has made a major impact. I had been slowly trying to improve my diet, but two months ago I went vegan. It has improved my pain a lot. I also, exercise frequently. It has helped so much with stiffness, flexibility, pain, and fatigue.
What is the best advice you’ve received regarding Fibromyalgia?
Don’t depend on medication alone to treat your Fibromyalgia. You need to include diet changes, exercise, daily stretching and also you need a counselor to talk to, to navigate through all the emotional stuff. When you get a Fibromyalgia diagnosis you have to adjust to having many limitations which leads to depression and frustration.
What was the worst advice that you followed?
To push myself. With Fibromyalgia you have to listen to your body. You don’t want to NOT challenge yourself, but you have to find the right balance and for each person that is different.
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