I always ask them if they ever had growing pains or body pain when they had the flu. Those two things are similar to my personal pain. I don't discuss fibromyalgia with non fribo people. Some people understand but not many. I've had many doctors look at me like I'm a big fat liar!

Yes it is hard for people to understand the amount of pain we go through each and every day. Our medical aid do not ever recognize FM as a chronic illness. It feels like even the doctors think we are faking it. All they say is loose weight and you will feel better or they give you muscle relaxers. It surely do not help me. I stop trying to explain the severity of my pain. I cope with it in my own way. People are sometimes very ignorant and do not understand that even when you don't look sick on the outside, that you are really sick. When the pain is very strong I just want to be left alone, and that is all they have to understand. We can explain to them as much as we like, but if they do not believe us, there is nothing we can do about it. Stay strong and don't let anyone bring you down because they don't believe you.

I first ask people if they have ever had a migraine. Then I tell them to take the worst migraine you have ever had, the one that sent you stumbling for the pain pills. Then take that pain and spread it all over your body, taking extra care to deposit it in the lower back and hips. Even drop it into your knees and feet. Now add losing muscle tone in your feet and legs to where you are actually shuffling or walking bent forward at the waist and walk with a side to side bobble,

Please stop trying to convey what it is or you'll be frustared for the rest of you life. You life is precious. I know we want others to understand but they just don't.

I think the best way I have used to explain the fibro pain is an analogy to migraine. I ask the person if he have ever had a migraine. Usually the answer is a resounding OMG yes! Okay, take a low grade migraine,say a pain level of about 4 (on a good, low pain day). Now take the pain out of your head and spread it all over your body from top to bottom, but especially in the back near the shoulders and the lower back, radiating down the legs. Now, keep that pain going night and day/24/7 for over a year. No pain pill that will allow you to function "normally' will stop the pain, and you may have to hunt for a doctor who actually believes your pain is real! You will have days you hurt so bad you have to call in sick, miss special occasions, can't do all your volunteer work, can't attend church due to the pain level and how uncomfortable it is for you to sit, stand, kneel, etc during a regular service. The pain will drive a wedge in your marriage and your extended family. Chance are, you have had fibro for about 5 to 10 years before you are diagnosed. Welcome to my world!!