When I was fourteen, I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. I had to quit school and participate in my school’s homebound program instead, but even that was difficult to concentrate on because my body aches and pains, headaches, depression and ongoing fatigue. I could sleep for more than twelve hours and still feel fatigued. My periods were also very heavy and the cramps were unbearable; I needed Midol or prescription strength Tylenol (Advil is hard on my stomach), two heating pads — one warming my lower back and the other warming my lower front. I also needed quiet and dim to zero lighting, otherwise my headaches and nausea worsened.

As I got older into my early 20s, the period pain and cramps were easier to deal with but still painful. However, the generalized body aches & pains, ongoing fatigue and depression remained. Within the last year and half, it’s become harder to manage. I don’t work because I can’t. I’m on SSI and SNAP (food stamps), and I eat microwaveable meals because I don’t have the energy to cook nor do I know how (It’s embarrassing but my parents never taught me), and I also lack the ability to concentrate on whatever I’m cooking so, you know, it burns and then everything is wasted. So microwaveable meals and take-out it is...

I’ve been so fatigued, my entire body aches. The sternum area tightens intermittently, heartburn occasionally, breathing in deeply hurts the sternum area so bad and shoots up into my esophagus which causes me to cough. Frequent UTIs (urinary tract infections) and yeast infections (I assume, because why else would it itch? *Not sexually active either!), frequent chronic allergies and sinus pain, frequent headaches, voice fatigue (it’s weird, my throat actually tightens and gets sore from talking, even the area where the thyroid is, and it’s worse if I attempt to talk quietly. I’ve battled iron deficiency anemia intermittently for years, depression for years.. This weird red rash that goes over my nose and cheeks is new, within the last year and a half. The rash reddens when exposed to sunlight, warm or hot temperatures, and bright lights. Sometimes whatever I’m allergic to can trigger the rash. I tried taking Prednisone but it made the rash appear and remain, and it was warm and burning. I was hardly even on it, but it was bothersome.

I’m literally a basket case of health problems😅 sorry for the long post. I may have forgotten a symptom so if you think of one, please let me know! Any questions, please ask!🌸