RE: When I don't wear makeup... To Tigger/Debra

[Guest guest]

My rheumy used to tell me that I had a real, bad case of denial and that I

was a lot sicker than I pretended to be. Hey, I was an actress my whole

life… world falling apart around me and I just smile like nothing’s wrong…

then go home and cry. I lived by the term, “Never let them see you sweat.”

I was not about to let this little “syndrome” get to me. I was wrong. I

was so big time wrong. Every so often that denial rears it’s ugly head

again and luckily my brother slaps me upside the head and asks me what on

earth makes chewing Vicoden and Soma, crying and swaying back and forth with

pain or any of the other stuff normal. He actually grabs my cheeks and says

“This is not normal. You are very ill.” Sometimes it makes me feel better

because he puts it straight for me.

I’ll send him to ya if you want him.

Tigger (Ruth) in Rhode Island

_____

From: Fibromyalgia_Support_Group

[mailto:Fibromyalgia_Support_Group ] On Behalf Of debra van

ness

Sent: Saturday, December 29, 2007 1:34 PM

To: Fibromyalgia_Support_Group

Subject: RE: When I don't wear makeup... To Tigger

I know you have been through some horrible things honey. I really feel for

you. I remember you telling me about the duragesic they had you on that got

you. (It was not your fault)... and just the fibro alone can make people

fall. I know what you mean...... don't try to look good or they will think

you are not sick. It sucks doesn't it???? It just seems that people think

they should be able to see some tattoo with " fibromyalgia " on it to believe

us.

Today is one of my very worst days. I did put a little foundation on and

some lipstick. That is as far as it will go today. I still look incredibly

tired. They will probably just assume I stayed up all night. They never

acknowledge the fact I have fibro and it is real. (Well, a few of the do...

but most of them just think it is like a minor inconvenience and will NEVER

know what I go through)......

love and hugs,

Debra v.

Tigger <tigger.pinkraincoat <mailto:tigger.pinkraincoat%40gmail.com>

@gmail.com> wrote:

I don't know if you remember when I was falling on my face all the time last

year or not, but I did do some damage to the right part of my upper

forehead, just below the hair line. I have a scar which I try to cover. My

eyelid droops and I have a spot where the " bags " are under your eye that is

like a little droopy and with a blue line. I am lucky that my hair came

back (still have a major bald patch from hitting the floor and malnutrition.

I guess I'm lucky because I know there was a time people would have wished I

just looked like I had a hangover. When I first went to my health center I

had to walk with my brother behind me holding me up by my elbow and I

couldn't get out of the chair without him lifting me. Two of my doctors. my

PCP and my counselor. didn't think I was going to live. So now I could go

in there with face not washed and hair not combed and they wouldn't care. as

long as I was walking on my own. I do have to remember that I don't want to

look too good when I go in or I'll never get the meds that I need.

Tigger (Ruth) in Rhode Island

_____

From: Fibromyalgia_ <mailto:Fibromyalgia_Support_Group%40yahoogroups.com>

Support_Group

[mailto:Fibromyalgia_ <mailto:Fibromyalgia_Support_Group%40yahoogroups.com>

Support_Group ] On Behalf Of debra van

ness

Sent: Saturday, December 29, 2007 12:36 PM

To: Fibromyalgia_ <mailto:Fibromyalgia_Support_Group%40yahoogroups.com>

Support_Group

Subject: When I don't wear makeup... they think I have a hangover

I dont' wear my makeup all the time anymore either. It is the days I don't

wear it that the fibro shows really plain. However, I don't think people

believe it is fibro, they think I have a hangover. I don't even drink.

Now.... If I wear it... then for the first few hours I look " pretty

good " .... so they think " you sure don't LOOK sick " ....

They don't have to tell me..... I already know that they believe I must

drink alot. Alot of people refuse to believe this illness can make us look

that bad. And then they refuse to believe we have it at all on the days we

" look good " ....

damned if we do, and damned if we don't. So, I just leave it alone alot of

times. I just can't beat myself trying to make people realize what this

disease is.

love and hugs,

Debra V.

---------------------------------

Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it

now.