Challenges Archives — The Invisible F

Challenges Meds & Remedies Moods

Making the most of bittersweet holidays – My top 7 Christmas (holiday) posts

*Originally published on 15 December 2021* HOW is it even Christmas already? Don’t bother answering that. You know how I feel about the holidays. Bittersweet…

Challenges Dr Visits

About BRAVO 96-hour PH monitoring tests

potofcallaloo September 11, 2022 No Comments BRAVO 96-hour PH monitoring test chronic illness chroniclife digestive issues fibromyalgia

For the second time in six months I’ve undergone another BRAVO 96-hour PH monitoring test, whilst investigating my chest pains and digestive problems.

Challenges Dr Visits

The chronic life….

potofcallaloo August 16, 2022 No Comments bacterial infection bacterial overgrowth chronic illness chronic life fibrom gut health infection oesophageal dysmotility SIBO

The chronic illness life is the gift that just keeps on giving. And giving. And givvvvvvingggggg….

Challenges

I’ve been lonely all my life – Mental Health Awareness Week 2022

potofcallaloo May 10, 2022 No Comments loneliness lonely Mental health mental health awareness Mental Health Awareness Week 2022 MHAW22

For most of my life I’ve felt alone and lonely. I never realised this was a thing, it’s just how I’ve always felt and I…

Challenges

The road to diagnosing my chest pains and digestive issues

potofcallaloo March 31, 2022 2 Comments acid reflux barium swallow BRAVO ph monitoring test breath tests chest pain digestive issues endoscopy fibromyalgia and chest pain fibromyalgia and digestive problems fibromyalgia and stomach pain gastritis pain gastroscopy gut problems manometry stomach bacteria stomach probems

After years of being suffering with relentless chest pains and other digestive symptoms that have largely gone undiagnosed, I’m finally closing in on an answer.…

Borderline personality disorder C-PTSD Challenges Depression Mental health

Why do we stay?

potofcallaloo February 16, 2022 No Comments Depression how to support someone who is suicidal Mental health mental health support suicide awareness suicide awareness training suicide prevention you are loved

I wish there was an easy answer to this. For those of us who struggle, who want to leave, who don’t feel like we belong.

Challenges

The season is changing so I’m flaring, send help!

potofcallaloo October 29, 2021 No Comments change in season fibromyalgia chronic pain compassion coping with fibromyalgia coping with fibromyalgia pain fatigue fibromyalgia fibromyalgia and fatigue fibromyalgia pain fibromyalgia painkillers pain self-love stabbing pain throbbing pain

As the autumn air ushers out the summer sun I, like many of my friends around the world living with fibromyalgia reel from a flare…

Challenges

A night in the life of… an insomniac living with fibromyalgia

potofcallaloo October 4, 2021 2 Comments anxiety chest pain chronic health problems chronic pain fibromyalgia fibromyalgia and insomnia fibromyalgia and sleep fibromyalgia symptoms insomnia lack of sleep Mental health migraines sleep problems

Monday 4 October 2021, 1.27am Luckily for me I don’t have work later today, because it is 1.27am and I am wide awake. I am…

Challenges

‘Thought I was going crazy’ – fibromyalgia patients on the impact of not being able to regulate their own body temperature

potofcallaloo August 1, 2021 4 Comments embarrassing chronic health symptoms embarrassing fibromyalgia symptoms excessive sweating Fibro night sweats fibro sweating fibromyalgia and sweating fibromyalgia sweat glands fibromyalgia symptoms fibromyalgia temperature fibromyalgia temperature dysregulation strange fibre symptoms temperature dysregulation

[Feature image: Yes that is me sweating like I’ve run a marathon. No I didn’t] People living with fibromyalgia have described how the often overlooked…

Challenges Moods

Advocates excited but say more research needed after latest fibromyalgia research say it could be autoimmune

potofcallaloo July 4, 2021 4 Comments autoimmune fibromyalgia fibromyalgia autoimmune fibromyalgia research is fibromyalgia autoimmune latest fibromyalgia research

I welcome the new research (any research really, please) that suggests fibromyalgia may be “an autoimmune response that increases the activity of pain-sensing nerves throughout…