My husband and I were at the store and a woman, a DISCERNING woman, commented on my decorated sling. My husband said proudly, “She’s wearing a sling because she just had a pacemaker implanted!”
I know he’s doing everything in his power to make this a positive experience. This made me reflect on the difference between “getting fibromyalgia” and “getting a pacemaker.
The major differences between people’s reactions:
Having a Pacemaker:
How are you feeling?
Here, let me do that for you”,
“Don’t over exert yourself”
“It’s ok that you are sleeping all the time, your body needs rest to heal.”
“You are going to feel so much better as a result of this”
“Isn’t technology wonderful!”
“My Uncle (Aunt, friend, Father, co-worker) has had a pacemaker for 59 years”
Having Fibromyalgia:
(“I don’t dare ask how she’s feeling because she’ll tell me”)
“Do as much as you can because it’s not good to be sedentary.”
Have you tried ________ ?(fill in the blank.)
You look fine.
