Friday 2 September 2016

Fibromyalgia, Its like having a hangover only without the party

Over the last months I have found it difficult to sit and think of something to write. I have found myself on countless occasions sitting and staring blankly at the laptop, having forgot the idea that had popped into my head only moments earlier. During the month of August I have found it hard to distinguish whether I am having a good day or bad day and my memory has dwindled from day to day.

On the 24th August my little brother turned 18. For ages I had been looking forward to celebrating my brother’s birthday as he was never old enough to come out with me when I was spending various nights after work drinking until the early hours, not worrying about how I would feel the next day. Unfortunately, now that things have changed, as much as I was looking forward to going out on a Saturday night, I was also dreading it. The weeks prior I had to try and save up as much energy as I could to at least allow me to stay out for a few hours. I had to come off my medication for the day so that I could at least have a few drinks without being riddled with unwanted side effects. Coming off one of my tablets for as little as a day can cause severe withdrawal, much like a drug addict going cold turkey but, I was determined not to spend the evening drinking soft drinks surrounded by people enjoying the effects of alcohol. We started off in Camden which was as far as I had planned to go but, my brother had a VIP booth booked in a club in central London and I didn’t want to give up just yet.
 I was surprised at how well I handled the evening as I managed to dance, sing, drink and feel like a relatively normal 22 year old woman for the first time in ages.

 However, the next morning I paid the price for having a great night as I spent the following day feeling exhausted, in pain and a far cry from what someone in their 20s should feel. If I was to listen to my body and not push myself to much then I would do even less than I am currently doing which, to be honest is not a lot. I am turning 23 in a week’s time and I don’t know whether I have much to celebrate. I hope that this time next year I will be in a better position, that by some miracle I will be cured and my life can go back to normal but, honestly I am not very optimistic.

Birthdays when you are chronically Ill tend to highlight the fact that you are still ill. This time last year I had just quit my job and was enjoying a break that I was hoping would allow me to bounce back. Instead a year on I am not in the best place physically or mentally and it is difficult not to feel upset about it. However, I will save my spoons for my birthday weekend and will enjoy celebrating with my loved ones :)