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What is Fibromyalgia? Fibromyalgia, also known as fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), is a chronic condition characterized by pain in the body's soft tissues such as the muscles, tendons, and ligaments, along with fatigue, sleep problems, and other symptoms. Living with fibromyalgia
Laura Stringer Grafe..was born in 1971 a NY resident. She use to be a store manger of a Hickory Farms. She's suffered a accident at work in 1996 at work, was taken out of work in 1997. When the doctors told her she would no longer be able to do that type of work anymore. In 2000 she was diagnosed with FMS. Despite frequent bouts of pain in 14 trigger points out of 18 from her FMS. She also has bad discs, L3, L4, L5, S1 , S2, and Coscontritious (were your ribs push out) and whiplash in her neck.
As told to by Laura Grafe, NY In my own words: I have FMS and had past episodes of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)—a condition common among Fibromyalgia patients—I consider myself lucky to not have IBS anymore and now I can pursue hobbies like boating, and playing with my kids. I'm a married mother of two and currently trying to lose over 100 lbs after giving birth to my second child. I have lost over 75 so far. In the picture I had only lost about 40.
What was your first sign that something was wrong? What symptoms did you experience?
About 11 years ago, I started having pain shooting down my left leg along with back and neck pain. Being athletic most of my life, and addicted to my job. It happened at work one day. I was unloading spiral sliced ham for Easter. Don't think it was the lifting, I think It was the combined lifting, and then turning. Then I had to pull it up my ramp (which the mall had just taken out pavement, so ramp was short) That's how I hurt my neck. After the doctors told me I could no longer work at my job. I started to get very depressed. A lot of times I couldn't get out of bed. Everything was painful. It's not like muscle soreness after you work out. It's a soreness, tightness combined with aches that will last a couple of days. If it gets into your neck, it can last for weeks.
I also started having IBS—basically diarrhea. It was very hard to even go out sometimes because I was afraid of having diarrhea. It would come in waves. I'd rather you cut my arm off than have to go to the grocery store or go anywhere. Tests on me would always come back that there was nothing wrong.
There was one episode when I got stuck in my lawn chair. I had to be taken to the hospital by the Ambulance. I could not stand straight for a week. Because of severe bad pain.
What was the diagnosis experience like?
After dozens of different doctors. The MD doctors said I had bulging disc F1,F2,F3, S1,S2,. All they did was give me numerous drugs, steroid and cortisone shots both in my neck and back. I was sick of being drugged up all the time or possibly having a seizure on my meds. I went to Dr Raucci he is a Chiropractor Necrologist and he went over a variety of symptoms of Fibromyalgia. I had alot of them.
What was your initial and then longer-term reaction to the diagnosis?
Denial about initially being hurt. I had never heard anything about FIbromyalgia before, but then I became thank ful that someone knew what it was. That Finally After 13 different doctors I went and saw. One believed in the pains that I had. Since I didn't look like I was sick. One doctor looked at me and said you look fine go on a vacation. A lot of medical people believe that Fibromyalgia is all in some head. Which is true it is a Sertoin in balance in the brain. That controls pain and sleep. But I think they meant crazy.
How do you manage Fibromyalgia?
I swim because my doctors told me it's good for me. Right now I think positive I try and not let the depression get the best of me.. It feels good to get out. I do alot with my two kids but I do tend to over do it., I can have trouble remembering like when i am in a FMS fog. Once I forgot were I parked at the mall. So now I park in the same area. FMS Flares are when a trigger point is inflamed with pain. I get those alot.
I have to be very careful always—if I just twist in a way that is slightly different than usual, I'll pull a muscle. At the pool, I swim and lift weights and I tend to sprain my back. When I say that, it stings from top to bottom for a few days afterwards. I also know that if I spend a few hours working in the yard, I'll be really sore.
Did you have to make any changes in response to Fibromyalgia?
Yes, I've tried special diets, it did help my IBS that went away. but the pain didn't go away. I don't want to go back to long-term medicine. I got off all the meds 1 year before decide to have children. When I know I have to go out for a special occasion, I rest before, Then when I get home I lay down and put ice or heat depending on if its a flare or not. I'm in pain 24/7. Hard to sleep. I don't like people feeling sorry for me. So I think I'm a great actor I must be my father didn't even know I had FMS. I have had it for over 8 years. I think it was dormant in my body. Till I had my accident work, then it triggered it.
I also try to let things that normally would upset me roll off because I know that stress triggers my symptoms. If I let everything bother me I would be tense that tends to make it worse the pain. My latest is when I sleep more on my right side, my arm goes numb, and my fingers tingle, and my shoulder freezes up. When I look to far with my neck I get dizzy and then get a headache.
Did you seek any type of emotional support?
Yes. I'm lucky, My mom has FMS, My 2 Aunts have it. They just have a milder form of it. My best friends mom has a bad case of it she can't walk sometimes. What I have to go through doesn't seem like anything compared to what others go threw. I can walk.
Does Fibromyalgia have any impact on your family?
It does. I would love to ride bikes, and motorcycles, go hiking like I use to do. Be productive in a job. I'm constantly aware of it. I can't be as active with my kids as I would like to. I try and hide the pain from my kids they are to young to understand my pain and how hard it is to get threw a day. .
What advice would you give to anyone living with Fibromyalgia?
Think positive get over the denial the first stage. Eat right with a good exercise program. Stay as active as you can. Do what you can. My husband brings the laundry down and up for me. He vacuums and does dishes. Doctors will sometimes say Its in your head meaning you are crazy. Don't believe that stuff. This is a legitimate disease. You need to find a doctor that believes that you do have it. Even though the pain can get you down, you can find ways to live with it. Figure out what triggers your symptom's lot of times it is stress. Also, exercise can help and then hurt. It seems one of the best things you can do is keep yourself limber to minimize the discomfort. Try low impact like swimming.
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