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
Maintaining Friendships When You’re the “Unreliable” One
One of the things I've found hard since I've had fibro is the guilt of being the friend who cancels plans at the last minute, who can't commit to things weeks in advance, who says "maybe" when everyone else is saying "yes absolutely." I don't think that this is just an issue for people with … Continue reading Maintaining Friendships When You’re the “Unreliable” One
Autumn Comeback: Muddling Along with Running and Fibromyalgia
Picture this: a tomato-faced woman shuffling through a 5K, counting down the days until autumn. That was my entire summer running 'strategy’. I realised that I hadn't blogged about running for quite some time, so thought I'd do a short post with where things are at the moment. Photo by Tirachard Kumtanom on Pexels.com Why … Continue reading Autumn Comeback: Muddling Along with Running and Fibromyalgia
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
From Fuzzy to Focused: How to Overcome Fibro Fog
If you've ever walked into a room and completely forgotten why you went there, stood in the supermarket unable to remember what you came to buy, or found yourself mid-sentence with absolutely no idea what you were talking about, you're certainly not alone. Welcome to the frustrating world of fibro fog - one of the … Continue reading From Fuzzy to Focused: How to Overcome Fibro Fog
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
Grief and Chronic Illness: Mourning the Life You Had Before
The other week, I found myself mindlessly scrolling online when a post from a former colleague stopped me in my tracks. There she was, celebrating another promotion, looking radiant at some industry event, clearly thriving in the career I once thought would be mine too. And just like that, the familiar tightness settled in my … Continue reading Grief and Chronic Illness: Mourning the Life You Had Before
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
Celebrating Average in (park)running and life when you have a chronic illness
A few Saturdays ago, I crossed the finish line at a parkrun and checked my watch with the usual mix of hope and resignation that comes with chronic illness. The numbers stared back at me: I had hit the exact average time for this particular parkrun. Not a personal best, not a time that would … Continue reading Celebrating Average in (park)running and life when you have a chronic illness
Musings on Life with Fibromyalgia 