Share What It Is Like to Live with an Invisible Illness

Fibromyalgia has a lot of misconceptions attached to it. What do you wish people understood about fibromyalgia?

I wish people would understand that I have good days and bad days, on the good days I may be able to do the school run and still have enough energy to clean up a bit when I get home but then after I pick my daughter up from school and get back home I'm usually in quite a bit of pain, but I'm home then, no one can see the pain. Also on my bad days where I'm in a lot of pain I generally don't leave the house, so all people see of me is when I'm not in excruciating pain and I look well but they don't realise I'm in pain 24/7 and there's a high chance you're not going to see me in pain, so don't assume because I'm walking past you fine one day that I'm not hurting all over and will probably cry later on from the agony.

Has any one told you that "you don't look sick?"

I get this all the time, it's extremely frustrating. Like I put in the other part you're very unlikely to see me when I actually do look sick, I don't go out and doing all the other things I used to I spend most of my time recovering at home after the small amount of movement I have done that says! You have no right to assume.

Tell us, who is your biggest support system while coping with fibromyalgia?

My mum, dad and boyfriend are my main support. They drive me everywhere because walking and public transport or difficult for me especially if I have to walk around a super market then get home there's no way I'd be able to do it! They also help me cook my food and literally anything else I find difficult to do, which is a lot nowadays. My daughter brings me joy so that's a great support to me; without her I'd be too depressed from the pain I'd never leave the house!