Hi! I'm new. I have my story and some questions. Hope that's cool.
I'm new, and I figured I'd share my story with you all, and ask a question or two. I hope that's cool. I'm Meg and I'm 17. I was diagnosed with fibro two years ago. I'd been sick for a while--migranes, anemia, various colds/flues, etc. No one knew what was wrong. At first, when I was diagnosed with migraines in my sophomore year (I'm a senior now) fibro was brought up as a possible diagnosis. I was fifteen, and was told I was much too young to have it. So I was put on migraine medication and bought some kickin' sunglasses for the bright lights. I was put on homebound education for the last three months of school for that year. I went back for junior year. I still had constant headaches, but the medication helped. Eventually, I started feeling really weak, dizzy, and achey. I didn't tell anyone, because after last year I didn't want to miss school. I wanted to make sure I brought my gpa up, there's colleges, can't miss school, and so on and so forth. That decision came to bite me in the butt when it got worse and I was diagnosed with some severe anemia. Iron pills were prescribed, but I was still weak and dizzy, and the aches were getting worse by the day. My headaches were worse, I was tired, and still weak. I was put on homebound education again, and we went from doctor to doctor, and no one could tell us what was wrong. I brought up the fibro again after seeing a lyrica ad and remembering that fibro had been brought up last year. Mom said that with fibro, it hurt to be touched. We decided to test it. She hugged me tight the way she did before I got all weak and achey. It hurt a lot. We both sort of knew what it was then, but arthritis was also stll considered. My mom took me to my sister's pediatric rheumatologist (arthritis runs in our family). He did all the pressure points, touched me to see if it hurt, and lo and behold-- fibro! I was on homebound education for six months--basically the rest of the year. I'm back at school for senior year, and my school has been really good to me, but it's stll really hard, and I'm struggling. I want to be a regular teenage girl, but I'm having troubles. I come home after school every day and nap until dinner. I can't go out and party on the weekends and hang out with my friends as much as I used to. My friends are all so supportive (I couldn't have a better group of them :)), and they try, really, but it's hard for them to understand. They forget, they'll roughouse like we used to and it hurts to see their faces when I grimace or squeal and flinch from their hugs. Boys...I can't exactly be a good girlfriend if I can't touch. I have to have someone carry my schoolbag for me, I need help a lot. And they all do it, but...sometimes I feel like a burden. So here are my questions:
-How do you guys do it? How do you find ways to be able to still get out and chill? How do you make sure you're not left out or left behind?
-If any of you guys are in school, how do you find ways to get your work in on time? I get hand cramps really easily and it hurts to write for too long.
-I take medication, but are there any other remedies you guys have found to work for you? I found aquatherapy, which helps, and I would reccommend it to anyone, it totally works.
-I danced a lot before this. I played a lot of soccer, too. Do any of you guys do sports? And if so, how?
-How do you explain to future boyfriends that they can't hug or kiss or cuddle or hold your hand somedays?
Hope this isn't a bother.
<3