There's nothing quite like a fibromyalgia flare to remind you just how unpredictable life with chronic illness can be. One minute you're pottering around the house feeling reasonably human, the next you're hit with that familiar wave of pain and exhaustion that sends you straight back to bed with a cup of tea and whatever … Continue reading Creating a Comfort Kit: Essential Items for Managing Flares
How Gratitude Can Improve Chronic Pain Management
Living with fibromyalgia means living with an unpredictable companion. Some mornings I wake up feeling relatively human, whilst others greet me with a wall of pain and fatigue that makes even the simplest tasks feel mountainous. It's during these darker periods, when my mental health begins to spiral alongside my physical symptoms, that I turn … Continue reading How Gratitude Can Improve Chronic Pain Management
Optimal Sleep Strategies for Chronic Pain Relief
Sleep and chronic pain have what I can only describe as a tumultuous relationship. Pain keeps us awake, and poor sleep makes pain worse – it's a frustrating cycle that many of us know all too well. After years of living with fibromyalgia, I've learned that creating the right sleep environment isn't just about comfort; … Continue reading Optimal Sleep Strategies for Chronic Pain Relief
Power Napping with Fibromyalgia: When and How to Rest Effectively
Why Napping Can Be Your Friend Photo by Photo By: Kaboompics.com on Pexels.com Living with fibromyalgia means navigating the unpredictable ebb and flow of fatigue that can hit at any time of day. Some mornings I wake up feeling as though I've run a marathon in my sleep, whilst other days the afternoon brings a … Continue reading Power Napping with Fibromyalgia: When and How to Rest Effectively
Talking About Fibromyalgia: What to Tell Family and Friends Who Don’t Understand
Living with fibromyalgia can feel isolating at the best of times, but perhaps nowhere is this more apparent than when trying to explain your condition to family and friends. The invisible nature of the illness, combined with its unpredictable fluctuations, can make these conversations feel like an uphill battle. Yet having these discussions is crucial … Continue reading Talking About Fibromyalgia: What to Tell Family and Friends Who Don’t Understand
Fibromyalgia Survival: Build Your Own Coping Manual
Photo by Katya Wolf on Pexels.com Living with fibromyalgia can often feel overwhelming. From navigating complex symptoms to finding effective coping strategies, the journey can be both challenging and isolating. But what if you had your own personalized guidebook—a resource tailored to your experiences, insights, and needs? Enter the “Fibro Manual” or commonplace book, a … Continue reading Fibromyalgia Survival: Build Your Own Coping Manual
The One Thing That Really Helps on My Worst Fibro Days – My Infra Red Sauna Blanket
Photo by Kindel Media on Pexels.com There are certain things in my fibromyalgia toolkit that I could manage without, and then there are the absolute essentials – the things that have transformed how I cope with the condition. My infrared sauna blanket sits firmly in the latter category, and I really don't know how I … Continue reading The One Thing That Really Helps on My Worst Fibro Days – My Infra Red Sauna Blanket
Finding My Way Back to Yoga: In Praise of Chair Yoga for Chronic Pain
I've always had a complicated relationship with yoga. On one hand, I know it can be beneficial - the gentle stretching, the mindfulness, the promise of reduced pain and increased flexibility. On the other hand, my fibromyalgia and arthritis seemed to conspire against me every time I tried to join a class. During lockdown, I … Continue reading Finding My Way Back to Yoga: In Praise of Chair Yoga for Chronic Pain
Can Fibromyalgia Cause Skin Problems? My Personal Experience
When we talk about fibromyalgia, we typically focus on the widespread pain, the fatigue, the brain fog. But there's another aspect of this condition that's often overlooked - the way it can completely transform your relationship with your skin. Looking back now, I realise that some of my earliest warning signs weren't the aches and … Continue reading Can Fibromyalgia Cause Skin Problems? My Personal Experience
Embracing the Light: Summer Solstice Reflections
This coming weekend marks the summer solstice here in the northern hemisphere - the longest day of the year and the official start of astronomical summer. Across the UK, people will be making pilgrimages to sacred sites like Stonehenge and Avebury, gathering among the ancient standing stones to witness the sunrise. I've always felt drawn … Continue reading Embracing the Light: Summer Solstice Reflections
Musings on Life with Fibromyalgia 