Usually I give people a short general description when it comes up, with the statement to ask any questions as they come up. Then as a symptom crops up, a basic specific explanation comes. If people want to ask questions, then more of the details come out. If they don't ask I usually don't share. I also don't feel guilty about missing activities or cutting them short because of my FM. My real friends over the years know the reasons. Anyone who can't be bothered to ask doesn't deserve to know that much about wonderful, fabulous me. My DH and family have been through this ride since the beginning, and their interest varies, but all know that things are tough and slow going at times. And they love me enough to make flexibility a core part of our relationships. Come to think of it, so do my close friends.

I feel bad for my son. We used to do so many things together but that has cut down significantly. I am happy he is a teen now so he understands but I have immense guilt over the situation. Any adult that doesn't treat me with respect or lack of compassion I don't associate it. We have enough to deal with, I will not add defending myself to that list.

I just can't tell anybody about this, I always pretend that everything is fine. Most always, I'm not fine. I've become quite an actress. I have a very active family, most of whom would not "get it". My husband gets it but I just don't want my family to worry about me or make judgments that all I need to do is a little exercise. Maybe I can glean a little insight from this site so I can ease my way out of the "fibro closet" where I spend so much of my life!

Without a doubt. I'm still trying to get others to understand. I also suffer from Narcolepsy so I get a double whammy of fatigue affects. It's so hard for ppl to realize that just bc u don't look sick or are in excruciating pain and hurting, can't get out of bed bc yr so exhausted it hurts and sometimes, u hurt so bad, u have to get up, to get them to understand that is a feat in itself. The best thing u can do is ask yr family and friends to be patient with you and understanding. I've asked my SO to look up and research it so he can better understand it. Facebook support groups help w/o a doubt.

I have had it for 50 years when I could tell a doctor exactly where I hurt, and they would all say , "you are probably just really tired. Go home and rest." Then I went through the time after the disease was acknowledged and named when some doctors would say, "that disease is the current fad. It doesn't really exist". Even my husband thought I was faking it at times. Be thankful that you can tell people you just can't do things and they accept it. I do what I can and don't worry about what anyone thinks. Of course, I also have the excuse of being just "too old". My friends understand.