Defying the Odds

Many of us with disabilities feel that our quality of life is ruined because we feel sorry for ourselves.  Well that will end TODAY!!  Get up, shower, get dressed, do your hair and makeup, if you wear it, and you will feel better. You may feel exhausted and tired, but you will feel better.  If that is all you can do today then YEAH!!  You are on the way to getting better, and that is a great step in the right direction.

Now tomorrow after you do everything on the list above, you need to try and make your bed, or pick up the living room.  Do you see how baby steps can mean a big difference in your everyday life?  If we accept that we will never be more than a person laying on the bed and moving to the couch, then that is what we will be.  However, if we take steps to being positive and proactive we can improve ourselves.

The entire point is to DO something positive and proactive.  Your quality of life depends on how YOU want to live.  If you want to live as a lump on the bed or couch then that is your choice, however I am praying that you change that decision.  You are the only one who can choose to get up and move no one can do it for YOU!!

I am trying a new job on Thursday, while I teach two hours a week at the local college, I am starting to substitute teach this week as well.  I have two days that I will be working half days so I am excited to start this new venture.  My darling hubby and family are all behind me, and I am starting with baby steps to make sure it is not too much for my body.  Again, I am choosing to do this so that I can put my education to use, bring income into the family, and help others in the community who need assistance.  All in all, I will probably end up working a total of 15 to 20 hours a week, but that is enough for me at the moment. 

What are you going to do to take those baby steps in your life?  Let’s defy the odds together and prove to ourselves that we can take control of our life back. 

Butterfly hugs and lilac dreams to all.

Family Weekend

Today was a pretty good day.  We think we have finally found out new church and then spent time together walking along the coast of the Potomac beach.   We are working on filling our memory glass for our life living in Maryland. 

I have been in some pretty serious pain this weekend but I am not about to let that stop me.  The kids are out of school tomorrow so we have been able to have a pretty laid back weekend.  Last night we built a fire in the fire pit, had hot dogs and of course Smores’, the whole family had a blast. 

Tonight we had pizza and are watching Gnomeo and Juliet, cute movie by the way,  and are all laughing together as a family.  As a family we can accomplish all things and enjoying time together is a great way to spend the weekend and buying or renting a movie is a lot cheaper than going to see it in the theater.

I haven’t written much this weekend because I have a Fabulous person working on a new web design and I can’t wait to unveil it soon.  And on that not, I bud you a fabulous weekend.

Butterfly hugs and lilac dreams to all.

Insanity of a Holiday Weekend

As we go into the holiday weekend, I first want to say thank you to all the service members, active and retired along with their family members.  Thank you for the freedom we experience every day. 

For those of us suffering pain, keep in mind that as we travel or stay home and have family and friends over at their house, make sure that you take time to rest and relax.  So what if your yard is not perfect, your car is not washed, or your house is not perfect that's ok, you are rested and ready t.  Making sure you are able to function and participate in the activities is what is most important.

That is one of the most important things for every day, however during holidays, vacations and family get together, we have to make sure that we are able to still spend time with family and enjoy the experience. 

Today has been an extremely busy day and while I would love to expound more on this topic, I need to heed my own advice and rest.

Never see the things you can not do

Only search for the things you can do.  Many of us have said to ourselves in one way or another at one time or another, I can’t do that.  STOP, and think about what you CAN do.  Having a debilitating disease, disorder, disability or whatever you want to call it, is NOT a death sentence.  I have found many new friends on Facebook this week that are being newly diagnosed. 

Once you get through your anger and denial, and see that you have to live with this for the rest of your life, be THANKFUL.  I know, I know you are saying for what?  Just give me a few more minutes of your time and you will see what I mean.  Be thankful that you are still here to see your family and friends.  You may not be able to do the things you used to, but you can still give them a smile, a hug and m ost of all tell them that you love them.

Be thankful that you are still able to read, if you are reading this, you can read and research the disease and find new and interesting ways to help yourself.  Be proactive in your health care and talk to your doctor, which brings me to something else to be thankful about.  Be thankful you can still communicate.  You are able to communicate with others in some way or another. 

Be thankful that you are who you are.  I never realized who I was until Fibromyalgia MADE me stop and find out who I am.  I am a mother, wife, daughter, student, teacher, and friend.  But most importantly I am thankful that I am still alive and here to me be.

Fibromyalgia, It’s what I have, it is NOT who I am. 

Pride and Prejudices

Wheelchairs, canes, walkers these are the things that I have and use on occasion, however I am only a forty year old woman with Fibromyalgia.  But when I am trying to do the basics like shopping for groceries and I have to use my cane or wheelchair, people look at me like I am just being lazy.  Can we please remove that word from our vocabulary?  I abhor the word “lazy”, I am not lazy, I am just in pain and if I get to the back of the store by walking, I may not be able to make it out to the car again. 

You never know what is going on in someone else’s body so don’t judge, hold no prejudices and consider the pride they are swallowing when they have to use those products.   I don’t like to use them, but know that if I do use these products I can spend more time with my family, walk and enjoy the sightseeing we are trying to do in and around DC.

Another thing that I have started this year was water aerobics, I know I have talked about these before, but I have many new readers and I really want everyone to consider giving water therapy a try.  This is the greatest time since many outdoor pools are offering classes this summer.  Water aerobics allowed me to be able to raise my arms above my head again after not being able to do that simple movement for over a year and my stamina has improved. 

While I still have bad days, when I know we have plans to go out and about with the family, I try hard to rest up before hand and get my walker, cane, and wheelchair ready.  I would rather swallow my pride than miss out on spending time with my family. 

Butterfly hugs and lilac dreams to all.

Education about Fibro., medication, family, friends, work, and disability insurance

I was able to connect this weekend with some new friends on Facebook that are plagued with Fibro also.  I am finding that there are more and more people who are either being diagnosed or getting new doctors.  I want to state again that I am NOT a doctor and have never claimed to be one, while I am working on my Ph.D. it is in education and not a Medical Doctor. 

Medications:  They work differently for everyone and you should give them more than a few days to work into your systems.  Also, keep in mind that most medications should have a period of time that you are weaned off of them and not just stop taking them cold turkey.  Talk to your doctor and ASK questions.  This is your body and your money, take in a notebook with questions, do your research and ask, ask, ask.

Family and Friends:  Many times we are thought to be lazy since we have no outward signs of illness.  However, why is it when someone says they have a terminal illness, (not trying to offend anyone) they are believed off the bat?  I can answer that question, because many are not educated as to what Fibromyalgia is.  Therefore, it is our job to EDUCATE our friends and family.  My choice of education is this blog.   Feel free to send the blog address to your friends and family.  Education is the key, send them articles from REPUTABLE sites, www.webmd.com or any of those in my resources section on my blog.  Sadly, I have even had to educate a few doctors as well.  I keep a notebook with copies of my doctors reports in it to take with me to each different doctor.  This helps with lab results and knowing what each doctor has said.

Work:  I worked 60 hours a week, went to school full time, full time family along with serving on a few committees in our area just last fall.  Then we moved to Maryland in December and since then I have not worked until May 9th this year.  I now work 2 hours a week, teaching water aerobics at the local college.  No I am not making a ton of money, but I am working out along with helping other people with their disabilities.  Honestly, I am excited to be wanted and being able to put my teaching degree to use. 

Disability Insurance:  This is something that I do not know a lot about.  I have researched online of course, but do not know enough about it to say anything more than to do your own research. Sorry, I can’t help in this instance.

The purpose again is to help educate and teach more about the process of learning that we have Fibro, we are not crazy, there is pain in our bodies and we need to be heard and without coming together, no one will believe us. 

Hope all is well, my thoughts and prayers are with you all.

Negativity, Depression, Illness and Appreciation

For those of us who suffer with Fibro or any chronic disorder or disease, we have our moments of negativity and depression along with those fabulous times of great enjoyment.  When I was finally diagnosed, on one hand I was ecstatic that I was not bonkers or crazy and there was a name for the agony that I had been hiding from my family for many years.  On the other hand since I had done many hours of research I knew what was ahead and knew that I was going to have to live my life differently.

When we are diagnosed with something that will never be cured or go away, there are steps that happens much like a person who has an addiction.  Denial, anger, frustration, and I am sure many more, but eventually we reach acceptance and learn how to live with what our bodies give us.   While it would be fabulous to never revisit the denial, anger, and frustration, let me tell you that never happens. There are times I am so mad that my body will not do what I want it to do, and then I am frustrated and pissed off. 

Then comes the negativity and eventually the depression.  Yes I admit it, I can get depressed.  While I am not like those on the commercials who lay around all the time, I have my days, but I force myself to get up and care for my family.  Honestly, I think if I didn’t have my family, I would be like those shown on television.  However, there have been a day or two where after everyone is taken care of for the day and darling hubby is home, I will go put on my pj’s and read a book in my bed, and then the next day I feel much better.

While this post can be a little depressing on its own, my purpose is to let others know that it is okay to realize that you are not alone in feeling like this. It is okay to talk to your doctor and see if there is anything you can do to help.  I take water aerobics, which forces me to get out of the house a few days a week, otherwise I could very easily become a hermit at home.  Some days I don’t want to talk to anyone and that is okay, and on others my family can’t get me to be quiet and I get on their nerves, lol.

There is an ebb and flow in life, much like the ocean and once that is understood, acceptance is easier to come by.  This is one of the reasons I started this blog, since my family didn’t really understand how I was feeling, I decided to be honest and share my journey not only with family but others who may be feeling the same way. 

I now have daily readers that come every day to read my blog and for that I am grateful, while there may not be any comments, please know that each and every one of you are appreciated and thought of often.  I enjoy blogging and hope that you enjoy what you read.

Doctor Appointment today and garden planting

Since I have been having major issues this week with my health, I had to take a page from my own blog and see the doctor.  She wants me to stop one of my medications and if that does not help I have to see a neurologist next week.  UGH!!! I am so sick and tired of being sick and tired.  

On another note, I was able to plant the rest of my herb garden tonight with the help of my kids and my garden chair.  The Rosemary, Oregano, Basil, Thyme, Lemon Thyme, Sage, Thai Basil, and many more are smelling so good, I can’t wait to add them to my dishes this summer.  We also replanted the tomato plant on the deck, and it has about 4 green tomatoes on it already.  We did make sure to put to tomatoes up on the deck where the deer can’t get to them, I would hate for all our hard work to go to waste.  I just hope they don’t eat my herbs, many of them were so very hard to find…

I am looking forward to a fairly easy weekend, I don’t have any plans except catch up on homework and laundry.  These two things seem to be an everyday occurrence and a never ending cycle.  On the flip side, the three younger kids had their testing this week, not sure if it was the end of the year tests or not since they don’t get out until June 24th, and the school never sends any paperwork home, or at least it never makes it to my hands lol…

Off to dreamland for the night, I am going to try and get up a little early so that I have some quiet time in the morning before everyone wakes up.

Exhaustion, Brain Fog and Rain

It has been raining since Friday and I am ready for it to STOP!!  The weather is playing havoc with my fibro, not only the pain levels but the brain fog is making me crazy.  I can’t seem to focus on school work and I am frustrated and so ready to call the doctor to see if there is something that will allow me to focus and not feel so foggy or out there.

I will also say that I am sick and tired of not having any luck in the downward movement of the bathroom scale.  I know that it is difficult enough with the steroids that I have to take, but try explaining that to everyone that looks at you in disgust.  I have contemplated the various weight surgeries, however if I have to continue the steroids for the rest of my life, are the surgery worth it?

Frustration can rear its ugly head and every now and then we get mad at our bodies and what they are doing to us.  I am sick and tired of being sick and tired.  I am going to call my doctor in the morning and see if I can make an appointment, with the foggy head, and a few other symptoms I need to see her now rather than later.

Taking my health into my own hands is my goal for myself and I hope that others decide to take it into their own hands as well.  We know our bodies better than anyone else and making sure that we educate the doctors about our bodies is important in crucial.

Wow! What a weekend!

This weekend I went to a WaterART conference to work on my certification and I had so much fun.  I met a bunch of new people and learned so many new ways to teach water classes.  I have to tell you a funny story.  When one of the ladies came in I was signing my name as a witness to a form, and she looked at me and asked me if I was the lady who writes the blog. HAHA  Let me tell you I was floored.  She works for CSM, however at another campus.  That is how far my blog has traveled without me even knowing it.  Be careful what you write you never know where it will go.  LOL. 

I knew that this weekend would be a test to my strength and endurance and a year ago I would not have even attempted to attend this conference, but I was able to drive an hour BY MYSELF and then sit for several hours  and then work in the deep end of the pool for 2 hours and the shallow end for an hour.  However, when I made it to the hotel room, I was exhausted, and I was only able to make it to lunch on Saturday, but I am so excited to say that I am ecstatic that I was able to attempt and accomplish all that I did this weekend. 

This just goes to show you that even with a disability our lives are NOT over.  We may have medical problems and issues, however if we work on figuring out how to help ourselves we can survive and regain our lives back. 

I hope that my blog can help others to see that they are not alone and they can take control of their life and reinvent themselves.  Trust me if I can do it so can you.  I believe in you.  All it takes is your first step.

Today is National Fibromyalgia Day!

Today is National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day, were you aware? Many people are not aware of what this day means, it is also National Child Care Provider Day but in all my years in child care we never celebrated all the work we do throughout the year.

Purple ribbons are the “awareness” for Fibromyalgia, however the color purple also stands for many other causes so for me I have found that many people with Fibromyalgia use purple butterflies as their symbols for Fibromyalgia. 

It is my hope that everyone who reads my blog learns what Fibromyalgia is and realizes that it is a real disability and not a figment out our imagination.  We ARE in pain even if you cannot physically see it, trust me we learn how to hide it well, we are in agony most days. 

With this week flying by, I have to finish getting ready for my water conference this weekend and I am so excited.  Meeting new people and having an evening to myself is almost the best prize ever for winning 2nd place in the Fibromyalgia Mom of the Year award, oh did I not mention that earlier J  I am okay with being second, as the grand prize was not doable for me.  I hope Ms. Betty Camp enjoys her 12 weeks at the Fibro camp.  I could not leave the family for that long at this time in my life.

So thank you to everyone who took time to vote, I appreciate it and I know my family does as well. 

Gotta run and finish some homework. 

Today has been a strange one..

t started out as a day that I had a lot to do to get ready for me being away Friday and Saturday, and ended up being one that I am so tired it is hard to finish my blog before I go to bed.  Between getting the kids on the bus, laundry, dishes, homework, catching up on bills, registering Ryan for swim club, taking my oldest for orientation at the college, and he orthopedic doctor for his foot, running to Target for medications and then finally getting home at 8:15.  I still haven’t had time to grab a bite to eat, and not sure that I will be able to before I fall asleep.

But it has been a good day despite all the running around. I am going to try and register my son, my husband and myself for fall classes tomorrow, work on homework so I don’t have to take it with me this weekend, and finish the dreaded laundry tomorrow, and I have a class to teach in the morning.  I love it!  I am back to being busy and back to being me.

 I am trying my hardest to stretch these things out throughout the day so I am not so tired, and they tend to come and go in spurts.  One week there is nothing to do and the next week, I can’t seem to stay home.  Thankfully, last week while I was in pain it was a do nothing week, and so far this week it has been pretty good.

Darling hubby is finishing up a final tomorrow, so I am sending prayers to him.  Hopefully he will have a few days break before he starts his next class on Monday,.  Honestly I am looking forward to both of us graduating and completing this phase of our lives.  I think we are both a little burnt out.  But we will survive and in the end no one can take away our education.

So for everyone out there trying to get things completed for the weekend or before school lets out, good luck and my thoughts and prayers go out to you.   But listen to your body and stretch things out as much as possible so that you can do things with as little pain as possible.

Aquatic Classes started again...

Aquatics classes started again today after a week off and I am so excited to be teaching them with Ms. Jane.  I am glad to be back in the water, but most importantly, my body is thankful.

While I was speaking with a friend this morning, we were talking about people who don’t have the time, or want to take the time to open up their hearts and minds to what the water can do for their bodies with limitations. Keep in mind that I tried traditional Physical Therapy in a warm pool and it did not work for me, but this pool with cooler water makes a big difference and I am so glad that I took a chance and tried it out.

On another note, my oldest son has orientation for college tomorrow, and I am wondering wow, where did the time fly?  In Maryland if a Senior has enough credits they are able to go to high school for part of the day and then go to college for the rest of the day and that is what Robbie is going to do since he only needs two classes in high school to graduate.  I am excited about this opportunity for him, gives him time to acclimate to college before he leaves the nest.

Well, off to homework land, this week is full of doctor visits, appointments and a WaterART conference this weekend for certification I am so excited and can’t wait to meet new people and learn new things for the Aquatics Classes.

Happy Mother's Day

Today is Mother’s Day and one doesn’t have to give birth to a child to be a mother.  There are children of the heart as well as the body.  I am blessed enough to have both in many ways.  My children, I have four that live with me, and then I consider all the children that I have had in my daycare and the children that we fostered my other children.  Therefore, I feel very blessed by God to have given me the opportunity to mother the many children in my life. 

However, I want to tell you a story about a woman that worked three jobs, but still took the time to walk to the store before payday to buy a candy bar with me and my sister.  While we never had maids, chauffeurs, nanny’s or butlers, we had love and were cared for our mom.  Shoot if we had those things, we would not be the people we are today.  One of my memories was that we would gather change around the house and in the car the night before payday and walk across to the A&P grocery store and treat ourselves to a candy bar for making it through the week.  We think times are tough in today’s economy, however my mom taught us how to make do with what we had long before today’s problems in this economy. Lol

Today while I don’t live close enough to run over for a cup of coffee like my other siblings do, we still talk on a regular basis, email, snail mail, and she has finally come kicking and screaming into the technical world, so we can text back and forth.  We keep up on Facebook and through my blog, and when she has training in DC, we get together for dinner.  She makes it a point that my kids are still spoiled by their MeeMee and she still sends me goodie boxes.  I just got a box full of Betty Crocker cooking stuff lol.

I want to send out a big THANK YOU to my mom and my Nana and Granny Patrick for teaching her to be the person she is.  My mom Connie has taught me to be the person I am today and for that I love and thank her for it. 

Happy Mother’s Day mom.  With Love Jenn.

Butterfly hugs and lilac dreams to all.

Homework, Housework being the wife and mother, time for a little time for me

While I have been in agony for a few days now, life in the household still goes on.  My class schedule still continues, and my start date still creeps closer. Mom’s don’t get down time and that is a shame lol.  Mother’s day is just around the corner and my teens haven’t even mentioned it, wonder if they even remember.  I am not reminding them this year, I want them to do something entirely on their own. 

If I am feeling up to it tomorrow I may just sneak out and go yard sailing, one of my guilty pleasures that I love to do with just me.  The closest town to us is having a community yard sale, so I am on the hunt for summer clothes for my children and darling hubby.  I am also going to look at the plants as it is finally warm enough to plant flowers in my flower boxes we moved from NC with the dirt we bought last spring.  I told darling hubby it was too much of a monetary investment to leave it behind. LOL, well it was…

So I am going to leave you tonight with a reminder to please vote for my darling hubby’s essay and I am going to make a list of things I am looking for at the yard sales, the kids need new sheets, sandals for the little ones, containers to make freezer jam, and many more.  While I know I won’t find everything tomorrow its nice to have a list. 

Have a fabulous evening and …

How do you know that you are in a funk?

I have been having some serious pain the past week, but trying very hard not to show anyone.  However, when everyone is at work or school, I have pretty much been as still as possible and taking naps almost every day.  When watching television there is talk about Mother’s Day on Sunday and I am not feeling that I deserve it right at this moment. Even with my darling hubby nominating me for FM mom of the year.  Please vote;)  I am in a funk.  How can I tell, my food channels are annoying me and I don’t want to watch David Vendeble on QVC. 

I am furious with myself and unsure how to snap out of it if that is possible.  I hurt too bad to exercise or take pictures, one of my hobbies, I don’t even want to cook and I am forcing myself to do so.  So I am trying to figure out how to get myself out of the BLAHS!  I have been doing laundry, keeping the house up and cooking every night, but ugh I am just blah.  Anyone else ever feel that way? 

I know I am feeling sorry for myself and missing my friends and family from NC, but I am excited to start my new job on Monday and make new friends.  I need to start getting out more, but the gas prices are astronomical YIKES.  I know that part of it is I need to get my hair done, but finding a new stylist is hard and the prices up here are scary.  If I could do the drive back to NC physically I would go and visit Cindy in Four Oaks.  But I have an appointment May 16th with a new gal so here’s praying it works.  I am going to try and give myself a pedicure tonight so maybe that will help also. 

How do you get out of a funk?  Please comment so we can all share our experiences. 

Voting ends on Sunday

My darling hubby wrote an essay to nominate me for Fibromyalgia mom of the year, he did not tell me about entering me until after he had already done so and I am honored that he did so.  Please take a few minutes to vote for his essay.  Yes, you have to create an account, but it is not that difficult and you only have to vote once.  When you get the account activated, hit the FIFTH star, as the one who has the highest rated stars wins.  I am hoping to bring more awareness to my blog and the water classes that I am going to teach as the outcome of this contest.

http://www.fmcpaware.org/mom-4

Thank you in advance for taking the time to vote.  I know you have a million and one things to do other than vote for me, however, let me be your voice and scream it from the rooftops that we have Fibromyalgia but we are NOT Fibromyalgia.  It really doesn’t take that long…

Butterfly hugs and lilac dreams to all.

Rain is washing away the pollen, but it's causing my body havoc

When a person who does not have Fibromyalgia, Arthritis, or MS, or any other debilitating muscle and joint disorders, rain and humidity does not affect them in the same way that it does us.  I had to go back to bed this morning and take a nap after the little ones were on the bus.  I didn’t have any appointments or obligations so I took some ME time.  Now I am sorry that I did, I feel like I have missed the entire morning, but I can’t rewind my day so onward and upward right?

I am feeling a little better on my pain level, however I know that I need to take it easy today of I will be in agony for the next few days.  So laundry will be done as I can, the baking I had planned on will wait until one of the boys can help me, and I will sit in my recliner with the heating blanket and REST.  I honestly think that one of the hardest things about the Fibromyalgia in MY body has been to listen to it and adjusting my schedule accordingly.  I look around when I am in rest mode, and see my chair surrounded by school books, my water cup, remote control, blanket and the living room in need of picking up.

But I have learned to take my time and realize that my house doesn’t have to sparkle all the time.  I am still trying to get over the fact that I don’t have daycare in my house anymore lol.  The only toys I step on now in my living room are my dog’s Liberty HAHA, I am trying to train him to pick up his toys, however that is not going so well. 

I hope everyone has a pain free day or at least a pain bearable day.  Gotta run and swap the laundry out in the washer and dryer. 

Oh My Stars

My darling hubby nominated me for the Fibromyalgia Mom of the year and I found out tonight that I am a finalist WOW!!!!!  Yeah I am so excited that my darling hubby took the time to care and write an essay to nominate me and that I was chosen, I am honored and blessed.  Thank you honey.

So, if you could take a few minutes and vote for me I would really appreciate it, I am not even sure what the prize is, not that I really care I am just honored and excited to be a finalist.  http://www.fmcpaware.org/mom-4 

Today was a little nuts for me I started another Ph.D. class and am still working on my certification for teaching at the college, oh wait, I haven’t announced that yet.  Thank you to Jane, Michelle and Chris at the college for helping me start my teaching career at the college level.

While it is a lot of work at the moment I know that I will get into my groove and it will all smooth out and I will meet my goals and accomplish what I started out to do.  I hope to teach online as well as in the classroom which will allow me to help others learn the knowledge they need to further their education and “KNOWLEDGE IS POWER”.

 Thank you in advance for taking the time to vote, I really appreciate it and know that it will help darling hubby feel like his words are being hard.

Flares are changing in my body

Wow. I can’t believe it is only 4 pm.  I have been so busy, I thought for sure that it would be closer to 7 or 8.  I looked up at the clock thinking that I had missed making dinner only to find out that it is not time yet.  I wondered why my kids weren’t screaming at me for nutrition and now I know why.  LOL :)

We got more of the yard cleaned up, I wanted to go and do some things with the family however my darling hubby had to travel to North Carolina today for an appointment tomorrow and I didn’t want to be too far from the house when he had to leave, so we stayed home to work on the yard.   While we are renting at the moment, we still take pride in our house and making it a home is vital to me for my family.  I want visitors who drive up to my house to say wow, they care. 

This week I had a flare, while several months ago my flare would have lasted several weeks, I am on the tail end and it only lasted a few days.  Being able to say that is amazing and I credit it to being less stressed and the amazing Aquatics Class at the local College.  Darling hubby and I was talking about it yesterday during our lunch date at Crabby Dicks, great food by the way, and we both agreed that the move to Maryland has helped me in so many ways. 

Finding the Aquatics Class has to be at the top of the list, but finding a doctor that actually listens to me is helpful as well.  It took several tries but I think that my rheumatologist is amazing and helpful in getting my Fibro under control.  While I know it will never be gone, I realize that I can control it with medication, diet, exercise and listening to my body. 

It may take you a while to find a doctor who listens and actually believes that Fibromyalgia actually exists, but they are out there.  If you have a dentist or other specialty doctor that believes in Fibro ask them if they know of a specialist who also believes in Fibro.  You might just be surprised and find a great doctor. 

Butterfly hugs and lilac dreams to all.