Strength

I saw a saying on one of the Chronic Pain networks available on Facebook, that made me think, so true.  What was the saying?

"It's Not The Size Of The Fibro Monster,
But The Size Of The Fight In You!"

I have heard many sayings, that truthfully just PISS ME OFF.  These are just some of them;

It Can't Hurt That Much
Suck It Up
Work Thru It
We Are All Tired
You Just Don't Want To Go To Work/Clean
Its Not A Real Condition
You Are Just Looking For Drugs
My Favourite, BUT YOU LOOK FINE

Those are just some of the phrases I have dealt with, and many from family and friends.  There were many points in the last 6 years that I said "I'm done, I give up".  Each time this happened one of my children would come and say something, make me laugh or just give me a kiss, and I would say I just can not give up, they are worth everything.

I didn't give up when the Fibro Specialist said to me that he could no longer see me because I was not good for his statistics with the government, I did not give up when I went to see some quack (my father referred me to) who told me to no longer dry or style my hair and shower with a lawn chair in the shower, I did not give up when I went to the hospital to just get help for sleep (per my doctor) after days without sleep and the doctor was ready to take out my gall bladder (I don't know why), and I did not give up when my spouse left me and to this day when we talk (we are still on very good terms) says to suck it up, or when my family says oh but you look good.  I could go on, as I am sure you can.

It takes incredible strength, patience and perseverance for someone with Fibromyalgia or Chronic Pain to survive.  The doctors, individuals, and medical institutions alone take more than one person thought possible to navigate and to find someone who will help.  Let alone to deal with the individuals, insurance companies, family and friends who do not understand, do not have compassion or say one of the phrases that just wants you to yell at them.  It takes incredible strength that one never thought they had.

You may have thought you were strong, but until you go through a full blown attack, you do not understand the strength one has.  Until you have dealt with a doctor who looks at you and says "oh its nothing", and it happens more than one can count, you do not understand the strength one has.  Until you deal with your friends and family who do not understand and instead of helping, hurt you do not know the strength we have.

We deal with it because we do not have a choice.  We deal with it because it will make us stronger.  We are able to deal with it because WE ARE STRONG.

Do not ever dismiss or let someone else dismiss what you go through and what you deal with.

YOU ARE STRONG.