Being diagnosed with Fibromyalgia at the age of 43 changed my whole life. I literally had to stop EVERYTHING that made my life my own and start all over again\u2026 step by step, day by day, sometimes even minute by minute.<\/p>
It not only affected physical health, but over time it severely impacted my mental health, my self confidence, my independence, my social life, and my ability to spend quality time with my family & friends\u2026 which I did very regularly. It also turned me into a CRAZY CAT LADY (I have 3 beautiful boys who help keep me sane. How\u2019s that for irony?<\/em>) and it has made me celibate (I didn\u2019t say it only changed my life for the worse \ud83d\ude09 LOL<\/em>).<\/p> I was forced to give up my job, of almost 20 years, due to chronic pain and fatigue & \u2018fibro fog\u2019 (a collection of cognitive issues, which include memory loss, poor concentration, and difficulty processing new information<\/em>). The same symptoms have meant that I am unable to drive, for safety reasons. I moved in with my Daughter, so she could help care for me and I now have a home carer visit me twice a day. I have piled the weight on, due to immobility and bad diet\/not eating proper meals (when I was too ill or fatigued to get out of bed and cook for my self<\/em>). My social life went from full and exciting to dull and pretty much non-existent. As a result of this, my once long list of friends slowly dwindled to just 2. Now, this was not caused by my friends lack of support or contact but rather due to me physically being unable to even hold a conversation for longer than 15-20 minutes, before needing to rest or go home! And, anything more exciting than a conversation almost always triggered PEM (Post Exersional Malaise), which can see me bed bound for anywhere between a couple of days to a couple of weeks.<\/p> In turn, and paired with allodynia (when your skin hurts from something that shouldn't normally cause pain, like the brush of a soft shirt or a light touch<\/em>), my favourite skinny jeans, pretty party dresses and snazzy high heels have been replaced with stretchy leggings and baggy jogging bottoms, easy to wear sliders and trainers, and comfortable oversized t-shirts and hoodies!<\/p> This is where my love of t-shirts came from and what sparked the idea of creating PICKLED INK<\/em> PRINTING!<\/em><\/p> Over time I have tried every craft and hobby known to man, in an attempt keep my once overactive brain going a little and to pass the time that was once spent on my busy work schedule and active social life. Luckily, one of these hobbies lasted longer and kept my interest going, learning how to use CANVA. I had used CANVA previously, for work, but had only ever created information documents. So when I learned that you could design your own t-shirts, the ideas just started flowing!<\/p> I had already completed an online \u2018STARTING YOUR OWN BUSINESS\u2019 course, with great difficulty and in double the time it was meant to be completed! This was not long after my diagnosis, when I was still in \u201cI will not let this illness beat me\u201d mode \ud83d\ude44 (eyes currently rolling across my keyboard). Suffice to say, I learned the hard way that the only way not to be beaten by a chronic illness like fibro, is to work with it and not against it. To listen to my body and to be kinder to myself\u2026 and as difficult as it was, to accept that i am no longer able to, physically or mentally, do what i was able to do before! So, I eventually learned to \u2018GROW WITH FIBRO<\/em>\u2019! I embraced my new life and the new ME, and I now appreciate the things that I am still able to do, as small and as limited as they may be.<\/p> However, I am aware that it may not be forever. Fibromyalgia is so varied and unpredictable that I may, one day, partially or even fully recover! But for the time being\u2026 this is my life and I\u2019m seriously enjoying my new adventure \u2018PICKLED INK PRINTING<\/em>\u2019 or \u2018PIP\u2019 for short. Again, loving the irony (My business name is the same as what has replaced my wage\u2026 PIP<\/em>!). \ud83e\udd23<\/p>