It's May 12 -- the National Awareness Day for Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Our wonderful advocacy groups have organized events around the country, but millions of us can't be a part of them due to illness, geography or both. But that doesn't mean you can't do something today to raise awareness!
If you're on Twitter or Facebook, you can raise awareness very simply -- re-tweet or copy and paste the posts I have going up every hour. You can also email articles to people in your life who could use a better understanding of our illnesses. Here are some recommendations for you:
- A Simple Explanation of Fibromyalgia
- A Simple Explanation of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- When Someone You Know Has Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Fibromyalgia Fact Sheet
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Fact Sheet
You can also print articles and hand them out, or post them in public places. For more ideas and a list of events going on, see: Awareness -- May 12 & Beyond
I know many of us run into people who don't believe in our illnesses and can be downright cruel about it, and I certainly don't want you to put yourself in that kind of position, but think of how much easier it will be when fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome are better understood and accepted by the public. At least 7 million of us are diagnosed and many more are living without a diagnosis. If each of us helps 2 people gain a better understanding each year on May 12, before long we'll wipe out the ignorance that causes so many problems for us.
How do you raise awareness, on May 12 or any other day? Leave your comments below!
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The adds selling the fibro drugs have helped raise awareness more than anything else. I guess if there is a drug for our disease it suddenly becomes real. The explanation about the over active nerves has helped more than anything else. Finally TV adds have helped as much as they have harmed.
I have had Fibromyalgia since 2005. It all started with a low carb diet that included lots of aspartame. Suddenly I was in constant pain. I was so tired and my legs felt like I had just ridden a bike up hill for miles.I can’t think of words that are on the tip of my tounge.I can’t consentrate and I feel foggy.People think I’m on something or just stupid. I manage my pain without codine.Im allergic to it. I am in college full time and have a 4.0.,but it’s a struggle. I hate it when I don’t have the energy to go hiking,or just for a walk.Today I felt very foggy,I didn’t want to drive but I had to. I backed my husbands jeep into a tree while looking at another tree!!!
I tell my friends to stay away from Aspartame.
I too came down with fibro after a strict no carb diet laced with sucralose and aspartame.
For Fibromyalgia Awareness Day I sent emails to my friends with a link to the magazine FM Aware. I also told “my story” with FM. FM is slowing getting into mainstream. Recently on the show “Bones” one of the characters had FM, although she was also the murderer! They always say all publicity is good publicity! FM needs a pink campaign as was done with breast cancer. Pink is so synonomous with cancer. The butterfly is the sympbol for FM – is there a ribbon with a butterly on it so we can show our support of FM? There is hope with FM. I’ve gone through 4 very tough years, but I seem to be in a remission since the last 6 months. I’m enjoying my newfound wellness. I still need pain medication along with my supplements and afternoon naps, but it’s much more managable now.
May 12th International Awareness Day for MCS, ME/CFS and FM will be here less than a month! We need everyone to participate this year to help make it the biggest year yet! Please check out our Facebook page for ideas and to post your plans. Every little bit helps – nothing is too small! We hope to hear from you.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/May-12th-International-MECFS-FM-Awareness-Day/220534562160?ref=nf
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