Hi Julia: I really don’t know very much about Lyme disease. What I do know though is that anyone with a chronic condition like MS, for one example, often develop fibromyalgia (not necessarily however). It seems reasonable to assume that there might be a relationship between the two. Since fibromyalgia is the result of an overstimulated nervous system and not an actual disease, but a syndrome, calming the brain pathways by the means I have suggested elsewhere is the only ways I know of to work with fibromyalgia. If you have a diagnosis of fibromyalgia at least you might find some mental relief regarding living in the dark without knowing what is causing your symptoms.
Best wishes to you and your sister.
Barbara

Dear Robin: Thank you so very much for that lengthy comment which I know will be helpful to others. Feeling alone, deserted by friends, a spouse who cannot understand, unable to attend social functions…all of these plague so many of us. I did deal with some of the issues regarding long term disability in my book. It sounds like you have yours attended to quickly which is a good thing! Please keep in touch and once again thank you for being so candid.
Regards,
Barbara

Ah, Jessica, that dreaded itching. You can tell that you are not alone by the numerous comments on itching. We have to become our own physicians and find ways to deal with each and every one of our aggravating symptoms! Best wishes, Barbara

Dear Bev: I too have had some success with chiropractors. I see mine regularly. Fibromyalgia is NOT a disease, but a dis-ease. Take good care!
Regards,
Barbara

Dear Kim: Your comments make me sad as you are too young to have so much pain. I am surprised that ‘they’ even suggest you might have RA or Lupus in the next few years? What are they basing this fact upon? If only for a few moments a day you could practice meditation and some gentle movements I believe that after a few weeks life could improve somewhat. It must be very hard if you don’t have the support of your husband. You are not alone and there is hope.
Best wishes,
Barbara

Absolutely! Thanks Sugel!

This becomes important when it comes to understanding interactions with HSPs. Many societies–especially in the industrialized West– do not value sensitivity, because we live in competitive “dog-eat-dog” cultures. Whatever your perception of sensitivity may be, keep in mind that telling a highly sensitive person to “get over it” and “develop a thicker skin” is an exercise in futility; they cannot change the way their nervous system is wired any more than you can change the natural color of your eyes or the size of your feet.

Thank you so much for this post. I have known I have had FMS for several years but was unable to have it medically diagnosed until this year. I have 2 young children of my own. My daughter is 2 and my son is 1. They are now telling me that they would not be surprised if I ended up with RA or Lupus in the near future. My husband while concerned doesn’t understand and if I tell him I’m having a flare up he just looks at me and says sorry and keeps doing what he’s always done expecting me to do the same. It makes it so much harder. I know what causes my flare ups most of the time and yet there is nothing I can do about it such as avoiding it. I think knowing what causes your flare ups and knowing that you are not in a position to be able to avoid those things makes it worse more often then not because you are so worried about how bad its will be since you already know its going to happen. To day I would love to be in bed sleeping cuddled up with a heating pad because I hurt so bad and feel so swollen all over. However, I have my little ones to take care of and my job to work at. I hate that I can keep my home looking the way I used to or have the energy for my little ones that they SO deserve.
I already know I will have 2 more flare ups in June both of which will be horrible and leave me to only be able to do the most basic of things for the month and part of the next. Its disheartening to know it will happen and to know that it will be on top of the other random ones that come that I can not fore see until its to late.

This blog had filled me with hope though and encouragement to know that I’m not the only one out there and there are others dealing with this daily. Thank you so much for that!

Thanks for the info. I have had some success with chiropractors. It is difficult to get moving most days but we can’t let this disease get the better of us.

Thank you. I also thought I was going crazy, I have extreme itchness on my scalp and all over my skin. I was getting depressed and tired of not knowing why? I too have FMS and Sjogren’s syndrome.