This week I’m interviewing another of the guys with Fibro, Richard Gerome from PA (NE of Philadelphia). He’s divorced with two daughters and has been disabled since 1999.
What lead up to your diagnosis (symptoms, dr visits, etc)?
I started having trouble with a lot of joint pain in 1990. In 1996, I went to see a specialist and he told me I had Fibro. But there was nothing he could do to help me.
What was your life like at the time you were diagnosed?
I had been divorced for about two years, and I had both my daughters living with me. They were just teenagers, 17 and 14. I was working at the time, but having a lot of trouble at work because of the pain.
I used to love the travel. I traveled the country in this camper, East Coast to West Coast 3 times back and forth and I’ve been in 35 states, lost count of all the cities!!!
How did your family initially handle your illness?
My daughters didn’t really understand it, but they saw I was in a lot of pain everyday.
How do your daughters handle the pain these days?
I guess they are ok with it. I don’t see them all the time now since they’ve grown up and have their own lives. They know I’m in pain most of the time.
How open are you with friends & family about your illness & symptoms?
I don’t really talk about it that much, to anyone, because some just thought it was all in my head.
What is the best advice you’ve received regarding Fibromyalgia?
The best advice I got was from my Fibro doc. I found him in CA, from reading his book, and driving out there to live for two years, seeing him once a month till I got better then I was before I saw him. I lived in Malibu Beach RV Park while I was seeing that Fibro Doc in Marina Del Rey, CA!!! That was from Feb 2002 to Dec 2004.
What was the worst advice that you followed?
I never really followed any advise after seeing the doctor in CA, and before that I really didn’t talk about to anyone.
What is your favorite way to cope with your life as a spoonie?
I just had to learn what my limitations are and not use up all my spoons…
What is it that inspires you to keep going, despite your illness?
Just trying to enjoy the rest of my life and not let it bring me down.
Do you feel it’s difficult to be a guy with Fibro (as compared to a woman with Fibro)? Do you think people are less accepting?
Some people think I’m full of BS and it’s in my head. Others think I just don’t want to work anymore. I’m don’t worry about what others think anymore and stay focused on taking care of myself…
I’m on the Guaifenesin Protocol and that has helped me a great deal!!! At night I need to take 1 Vicoden, 1 Zanaflex and a sleep aid. During the day it’s a combo of 750mg Naproxen and a 650mg Acetaminophen for the arthritis pain.
Yoga, hot showers and meditation.
What is one thing you’ve learned about yourself since your diagnosis?
That if I work on this disease and stay on top of it, I can live pretty much a somewhat normal life.
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I hope you enjoyed this Fibro Warrior interview. If you live with Fibromyalgia I’d love to share your story. Please contact me if you’d like to share your own Fibro Warrior story.
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