My Fibromyalgia Experience

By Kathleen Botka1

Life is filled with overall body pain. I ache all over. The pain is constant & also rheumatic. Where ever I have Arthritis the Fibromyalgia enhances the pain in the joints. Where ever I’ve had injuries those sights are painful. I have pain in all the Trigger/Pressure points which are also where I’ve Arthritis & co-commitant dis-ease. I do my best to keep my attention on other things outside of my pain, but the presence of pain is always manifest. My pain interferes with my already burdened mental processes & ADD. I’ve trouble getting into a relaxed position at any time & sleeping of course. Nights are filled with tossing & turning. Then there’s the constant commode visits.2

Every thing no matter how simple a task is a major chore as it’s so hard to concentrate without being aware of pain which is always moderate to moderate severe. Even with all the prayer & effort I make to distract myself from the pain I know that my “fighting” the pain is causing more fatigue on an emotional & mental level. When my pain goes beyond moderate/severe & crests to severe I feel like I want to jump out of the window! Luckily I’m on the 10th. floor of my apartment building & couldn’t manage to get out the windows!3

Sincerely, if it were not for my Faith & constant prayer life I’d be in big trouble! I’ve no family (sibling or relative) support & I only get to see my Spiritual Family 2xs a month if I’m lucky. My Sabbath experience is the highlight of my week & life, my strongest connection which really makes me feel alive on another plane of existence that supersedes the ever present reality of my circumstance. 4

I’ve had no pain relief from NSAIDS or regular pain medication. I’ve found that Cortisone shots work when I’ve acute pain in my hip area. Narcotic & Narcotic/Combo Drugs offer relief. Needless to say, as I deal with a great deal of pain on a daily basis I’m not about to compromise my health situation further by taking daily pain medication. I do however need to address my pain needs as I struggle to keep my attitude in a positive frame & pain makes that difficult.5

This is not the end of the story. I’m always looking to be proactive in my life & am always working towards any improvement I can make physically, mentally & most of all Spiritually! I know my Heavenly Father & Savior & rely on Them to see me through until The Kingdom comes. HalleluYah.6