I have fibro in all 18 points. I am 70, have had it over 25 years. I garden with flowers and I plant a food garden. Don't get me wrong, I hurt bad, but mostly after I stop work. I have to go in the house shower, put my gown on before I sit down, because I can't get back up very well. When I get up it's bed, then I walk like a frozen toed rooster. So stiff and sore but I go take my meds and go to bed. I feel better in the am, but if I don't, I take it easy that day. I have always been a go getter and never let it beat me. I will do what I want and it won't beat me. I have days I can go and do stuff for 20 mins and sit down for 10. That's just the way fibro is. Oh I can't do things as fast as I used to by by gosh I do it. Everyone I'd different so don't be hard on yourself. Pase yourself. Also get on the right meds. It took a long while before I found the right one. Then after years of taking it, it stopped working. Now I take gabapentin 900 mails a day. It helps, also cymbalta. I don't take pain pills because I can't take them. Some days you are bad and some days you can be good. So just find out what you can do and pase yourself. If you can get a walker and walk walk walk as much as you can. Work up to it. I garden with a cane and walker.

I agree with everything said. I also would add that I think that besides personal pain thresholds and pain management, I think there's a spectrum of symptoms and severity. It's not just pain that can debilitate, it's fatigue, neuropathy and depression, not to mention family support, work support, etc. So please don't feel bad; others may just be on a different spectrum. I'm 46 and have a high pain threshold; but the fatigue and neuropathy often debilitate me more than the pain.

That is really interesting. Maybe their pain management plans are working better on them... Maybe they have a mild case now (but that doesn't mean it can't change down the road)... Maybe they're better at hiding/ignoring the pain and discomfort... Maybe our symptoms are different based on what triggered our fibro? Who knows. As someone with a fairly mild case and being a stubborn 22 year old, I'm able to live what appears to be a really normal, healthy life. If I am in pain, I don't tell anyone. Besides it being mild, it has also been mild for a very long time so it's my norm at this point. That may also affect things. I just know that as a group that is so often questioned and doubted and misunderstood, we should not judge any other books by their covers.

A body in motion stays in motion, that's what I keep telling myself.

I am the same way. I can barely do anything since fibro hit me. I have huge noticeable muscle knots. I am in so much pain I cry everyday even with 10/325 Percocet, Lyrica, cymbalta, abilify and cyclobenziprine. I went from walking at least 5 miles everyday to barley being able to move from the stiffness and pain so severe my clothing hurt me.
I think everyone's fibro is different.