Dear Stranger, it’s been a while

Part 1

Dear Stranger,

I hope this letter finds you well, although it's been a while since you last heard from me. Life has a way of pulling us in various directions, and sometimes, the distance between our interactions are unintentionally long. I've been meaning to share some of what’s going on in my life, and it feels right to put pen to paper, or in this case, fingertips to keyboard keys

.Over the past few weeks, more precisely months, I've been dealing with some health challenges that have seriously crashed into my daily life—fibromyalgia, ibs, pancreatitis and kidney issues . I’ve been having some difficultly articulating it, but I believe in being open when it comes to things concerning your health. Fibromyalgia as we previously read about is a complex condition identified by widespread pain, fatigue, ibs, depression and a range of other symptoms that can affect your physical and mental health.

My journey with fibromyalgia has been both uplifting and challenging. There are days when the pain is so severe, making even the simplest tasks feel like huge actions. Fatigue starts, not just physical tiredness, but a deep exhaustion that affects every aspect in your life. It's not just dealing with the physical pain; it's trying to get through the changes in your emotions, doubts of what’s to come and adjusting to them to fit.    

Over the years, I've found some comfort in understanding that I'm not alone. Even though I know that each person's experience with fibromyalgia may be unique, there's a sense of togetherness knowing that others are fighting this illness. It's a silent battle that often goes unnoticed by others who haven't walked this path, and I wanted to share a quick look at it with you.

One of the most difficult issues is the unpredictability of fibromyalgia . It doesn't have a formal schedule or stick to plans. There are days when I wake up feeling somewhat okay, and others where the pain is so severe that it makes getting out of bed a huge difficulty. It's a constant issue of not knowing in what state you’ll wake up, it requires you to be ready to accept what is and to be resilient.

The effect it causes to your daily life goes beyond the physical symptoms. Fibromyalgia has a way of sneaking into your mental and emotional well-being. I’ve learned that it is not just about managing your physical symptoms but also navigating the mental effect that chronic pain can have on a person. There are moments of frustration, sadness, disappointment, low self esteem and more. You start to become isolated by all these bodily changes that accompanies you on this journey.

To be continued…

Thank you for accompanying me in this journey. Keep n eye out for part 2