National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day is May 12, 2012

I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in 2007. It is a central nervous system condition that leaves the person in constant pain, severe fatigue, memory loss (fibro fog), depression, and sleep disorders. It affects women five times more than men. It is usually triggered by trauma, stress, and sometimes no reason at all.

One day I woke up just like any other and realized I couldn't move and was in such pain all I could do is cry. I couldn't even get out of bed. After three days of this my husband finally convinced me to go see a doctor. They ran a million test and nothing...

Finally after five months of this and over 10 different doctors I finally found one that tested me for fibromyalgia. Something I had never heard of before and it was determined that I had this.

My life is full of medications, doctors visits, and physical therapy. While its pretty much controlled at this time, I am in pain EVERY DAY and that's when I'm not having a flare up.

No one knows how to cure this condition or why it affects the way that it does. I will have to live with this condition for the rest of my life. I've accepted that. For those six months there were even times that I wanted to die than live in this pain another day.

Fibromyalgia doesn't care that I have five children to care for, it doesn't know that it's finals week, or that I have to work every day. I decided that I was going to take control of my fibromyalgia and not let it control me. I refuse to give in. One thing is at least I will never have to park far again thanks my disabled parking plates! (Gotta see the cup half full!)

May 12, 2012 is National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day! Purple is our color of hope. Please wear this color for support of anyone that you know or don't know to raise awareness and finding a cure so that people like me can God willing, someday, live just one day pain free. I will be wearing my purple and pray for the day my family can hug me and I don't have to flinch.