Fibro Warrior Wednesday – Barbara Jennings

This week’s Fibro Warrior is Barbara Jennings, from Danville, Kentucky.

Tell us a bit about yourself….
I am married to a wonderful man. We have been married for 13 years. I know a lot of people say they met their soul mate, well I did. I have two children (Vanessa, 12 and Jacob, 8). Both of my children are special needs and suffer from a very rare genetic disease. We have a guinea pig named Cali, who is like one of our kids. I enjoy gardening, writing stories, researching my children’s genetic disease, and advocating for rare diseases and Fibromyalgia.

When were you diagnosed with Fibromyalgia?
I was diagnosed four years ago in 2010. I had just turned 40 a month before I was diagnosed.

What lead up to your diagnosis?
Even as a child I had a lot of muscle aches and migraines. In May of 2010, shortly after a bout of strep throat, I was driving home one day and it was pouring rain. I was suddenly struck with the overwhelming feeling that I was about to pass out. I made my way home but the feeling stayed. The more I moved the more I felt like I was going to pass out. I stayed that way for a few days and then began having severe nausea and heart palpitations. My husband took me to the emergency room and they said I had vertigo and severe ear infection. I followed up with my regular doctor who confirmed the vertigo diagnosis. I kept the vertigo for four months. Everything spiraled down from there. I was placed on beta blockers for the heart palpitations, migraines, multiple muscle aches, and crushing fatigue. Everything seemed to happen. High blood pressure, thyroid messed up, you name it and it went wrong.

What was your life like at the time?
I was handling my children’s medical problems which required many doctor visits, my home had just flooded two weeks before I got sick and we lost almost everything we had, and my mother had just died. On top of all that I was working on getting my associates degree in psychology. So I guess you could say I was stressed to the limit. One doctor said the trauma of my mother’s death, and the flood, triggered the Fibromyalgia.

How did your family initially handle your illness?
My husband was wonderful and still is. He helped me take care of the kids which require constant care. He helped with the housework. If it had not been for him I would have had to quit school. The kids were scared that I was dying and did not understand why I was not able to care for them like I had.

What do you feel is the most challenging aspect of Fibro?
The fatigue. Don’t get me wrong, the pain is horrible but for me the hardest part is the fatigue. With small children you need energy but Fibro robs you of that energy. I was always a head-strong independent woman, that asked for nothing. Being tired all the time has really gotten to me.

Do you have any other co-existing conditions?
I have hypertension, heart palpitations, chronic migraines, neuropathy in my breast from shingles, deteriorating disk in my neck, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Meniere’s disease, hypothyroidism, and costochondritis.

What (if anything) have you found/ done that has improved your symptoms?
I have found that if I pace myself and don’t limit my stress, I feel better I have cut out caffeine, stopped drinking my all time favorite Diet Pepsi, cut out the sweets, and eat healthier. I also use Epsom salt in my baths which has really helped with the massive neck stiffness I had.

How open are you with friends & family about your illness & symptoms?
My family is very open about this illness. My mother and sister had or has it. I have never had a problem with my family not understanding or accepting my illness but I have had a hard time getting doctors to accept that it is a real illness. The doctor I have now actually told me she would rather I say I have Arthritis than Fibromyalgia, because it is too controversial. My family understands if I need to change plans at the last minute.

Do you blog about your illness? If so, what inspired you to do so?
I do blog about my illness. I feel that the more we spread awareness for this illness, the more chance we have of a cure. It is vital that people realize what we spoonies endure on a daily basis and how this wretched illness robs us of our normal lives. How it robs us of the person we once were.

What is the best advice you’ve received about Fibromyalgia?
Pace yourself and it is ok to say no. Up until recently I could never tell anyone no. I thought I had to please everyone. Now I try to take care of me.

What was the worst advice that you followed?
The more active you are the less pain you will have. Well it is important to keep moving but when you overdo it then you pay for it – for days.

What is your favorite way to cope with your life as a Spoonie?
By reminding myself that tomorrow will be a better day. When my anxiety kicks in and I fear I am going to die I tell myself “this too will pass” and you know what it always does. Even through a storm the sun eventually shines through.

What is one thing you’ve learned about yourself since your diagnosis?
That I am stronger than I ever imagined I was. I have also learned that I am important. I always put everyone else first and never truly thought I mattered much. Now I know that I do matter and if I do not take care of me who will?

Now that you’ve gotten to know a bit about Barbara, be sure to check out her blog and connect with her on Facebook and Twitter. She also welcomes your emails.

This post is part of my weekly Fibro Warrior interview series. Each week we get to know a different Fibro Warrior. Sign up for my email updates to make sure you don’t miss one. And, if you are interested in sharing your story, please contact me.