Mourning who you were before diagnosis

Definitely. I was thinking about this very thing as I was walk-staggering through a parking lot yesterday. I miss me from back then so much.

On a pretty regular basis. I have had it for 25 years and in the last five it’s really changed. So more adjustments in life for me as well as for my husband. At 71 I thought my husband and I would be able to fly to see relatives. Nope can’t do it. Getting socially isolated too. Most volunteer activities require 4 hours a week. Can’t do it. I feel like a wife who has to say no a lot to my husband 😢. Going through a bout of this now as you can see from my text.

This is a much more common problem than most people realize. In 2020, I found myself a "couch potato" from chronic pain (RA, Fibro and overactive pain response) as well as fatigue after of a serious long-term lung infection and its treatment. I was NOT about to spend the rest of my life this way, so I reached out to my primary for help.

She referred me to a Pain Rehabilitation Clinic (PRC) for help. This is not a drug-based treatment, but rather a comprehensive program. With a pain management doctor, PT, counselling, and a lot of effort, I learned to live better. Today I am able to be more active (still bad days) and fully participate in life (accepting that I have limits.) Once again I can volunteer, travel, garden, play with my grandchildren, and pursue hobbies.

Can you talk to your doctors about such a program? Mayo offers an in-patient version:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/pain-rehabilitation-center/sections/overview/ovc-20481691
I was able to attend a local out-patient version through my clinical provider, so there are non-residential options.

If this feels beyond what you can imagine, you may want to start by reading this book, which can help you see that there is a way to live better. It is called "The Way Out: A Revolutionary, Scientifically Proven Approach to Healing Chronic Pain" by Alan Gordon and Alon Ziv.

Who is ready to work at reclaiming "life before"?

Every single day!!!! 😣

Oh boy, do I. Was extremely active. Worked full time stressful but very rewarding work. Would only sleep 2-4 hours. Use to do community ballroom dancing 3-4 times a week with some very strenuous flips, dips,etc. in my 50’s. I was the life of the party. I always thought I would be 90 years old and dancing tango. Thought I was invincible, but I was taking my health for granted, maybe it had something to do with onset of the fibromyalgia. Totally isolated now. I can’t even listen to any of that familiar music because it makes so sad.

Always, I just found out I'm invited to dinner at my granddaughter's house for her birthday. I am dreading the recovery for 3 days after. I shop for 1 to 1 1/2 hours and I'm done for 2 days. Inside almost always where it's warm. The cold gets in my shins and calves so I'm again wrapped up in blankets. I wish you all the best.

@sueinmn Thank you so very much - I've never heard of this! I love the comprehensive holistic approach...

I'm ready! 👋

Also, go to symptomatic.me, association for the treatment of neuroplastic symptoms , lots of resources for fibromyalgia