Describing Fibromyalgia Pain to Non-Sufferers

I wish I could tell you. I've been trying to explain that one for years to those in my life who don't understand that it's not just aches and pains it's a disability. You can't sleep at night but exhausted during the day, constantly can't regulate your temperature, in pain at all times of the day and there's nothing you can do about it, balling up and sobbing from exhaustion and pain but also because no one will listen. It's torture that you didn't consent to and almost nothing can help it. If I could say that to someone that might explain it.

24/7 Severe flu symptoms when you have to be hospitalized because its extensive, combined with insomnia, body feels like you have arthritis through out every one of your joints, body also feels like the day after an intense work out, coupled with random pain throughout like your being punched or stabbed, my favourite all the while worried you might pooped your pants just because your stressed = the day and life of fibro feels

I just tell people who say something about my movement or whatever "be thankful you don't deal with what I'm dealing with" or "count your blessings you don't have a chronic pain/ neurological disorder". Also one of my favorite memes says "try to walk a mile in my shoes and you'll fall flat on your face with the first step."

I like using having the flu all the time X 10. And during a flare up, it's X 20. Low grade fevers off and on for no apparent reason. Muscles ache constantly, and I am exhausted all the time. If I get injured, it takes 3X as long to heal. Everything I do makes me hurt worse and takes longer for me to do them. Then I further explain that with the Spoon Theory. 🥄 if you are not familiar with it, Google it. Putting that theory to work in my day to day life has made a huge difference. The amount of spoons you start with depends on your specific symptoms. For example you start with 6 spoons, each task you do takes 1-2 spoons away. For me showering takes 2, for you it may only take 1. Driving, 1 spoon. Taking care of kids 1-2 spoons. Dinner and dishes, 1 spoon. Plan your day according to your spoons. If you are out of spoons before the end of the day, it takes away from your spoons the next day. The severity of your symptoms determine the spoons you start with. It boils down to picking your battles. If you are getting low on energy, and spoons, and it isn't even dinner time, can cleaning wait until tomorrow? Are you able to do take out/delivery for dinner? If you end the day with 1 spoon left, yay! Guess what? You get and extra spoon for tomorrow.

I just tell them it's like having your back itching and you can't find that itch and you have scratched sores that's burning and you can't reach them but movement makes it worse and there's nothing anybody can do to help it gets worst ever second od the day for months without relief

Its like having the flu, all the time. It hurts to be touched, depression sets in. It effects your life in every way.

It feels like the day after an intense work out, but all the time