It is hard but don't beat yourself up about it. “Fibromyalgia is a legitimate chronic illness. You have the right to do what you need to do to take care of yourself.”

I have actually exaggerated a limp as well in the past. Its difficult to admit that when I know I should not have to. I also had to get past taking the elevator half a floor because I realized thats why the elevator was put there. For people having difficulty going up
and down those seven stairs.

To be honest, I usually find myself doing something stupid to justify it (like throwing in a really dramatic limp when I do get up) or I go ahead and stand and just struggle through the pain. I hope you don't do these same things! I happen to be a bus driver and ADA compliance is a big thing with public transit- don't be afraid to ask for priority seating. You have an invisible disease and that doesn't mean you should have to suffer more. No one knows what is going on in your head- it is on them if they decide they need to judge.

And I think I'm going to try to take my own advice :-)

People look at me funny when I take the elevator from the first floor to the second floor. I say to myself "it is not their place to judge" and move on. It's their problem and if they knew or suffered as we do, they would be complaining - out loud, not in silence. You are stronger than they are because you are doing what you need to do for you.

I know how you feel. The other week someone challenged me for being in a disabled parking space...would they have said anything if I had 1 arm and 1 leg? No I doubt it...so you shouldn't feel bad at all for sitting down in the bus...just because people can't see our condition doesn't mean it's not there. Who cares what other people think you are doing nothing wrong...I know im one to talk cause I always worry about what other people think...but it's true we shouldn't care ♡ xxx