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Flares

© Cynthia Webber (Jausten)

It's summer and the sun is blazing outside. Fatigue hits hard as the hot days stretch into weeks. We are lethargic, tired, and sleeping at night becomes difficult without air conditioning or a fan. We may wander through our days trying to find relief from the heat. Doing small chores become major projects as we stumble through the motions of keeping ourselves cool. With the sun flaring down, we assume that we are tired, confused, and have no motivation due to the heat. But we could be in a flare.

Flares are usually triggered by activities or stressors, and the weather can definitely be a stressor for us. Summertime is also a time for holidays and visits from friends and family. The added pressure of entertaining can send us to bed in order to find relief from the intense total body pain. A flare can feel like our bodies are on fire with pain, and even a light touch can send us screaming out in pain. It is as though our bodies have betrayed us at a time when we want to relax and enjoy the lazy days of summer.

Our muscle strength may be unreliable, and even trying to open a jar or a door can become more difficult. We may become dizzy when we change positions quickly, so we have to slow down and give our bodies time to become accustomed to a new position. We may even become clumsy due to spatial disorientation. It is a time to walk slowly and use hand rails if we must climb stairs. Our judgment of weight-perception is distorted, and it may be difficult to pick up objects which we could easily do when we weren't in a flare. Our cognitive function changes, and our ability to think clearly may be greatly impaired. Depression may hit us as we struggle with intense pain, fatigue, and feel frustrated by doing simple things.

We may not be able to prevent a flare, but we can prepare ourselves before one occurs. Having a plan for what you are willing to do or not do during a flare can lessen the intensity of one. If sleep is difficult, increasing medication is one option. Taking naps during the daytime also can help. Even if it is too hot to sleep, lying down and emptying our minds of all thoughts can be refreshing. Putting the answering machine on to avoid disturbances or to screen calls also helps. Diet is important,and increasing our fluid intake is necessary during the summer months. Telling our families and friends that we need extra help during a flare can make a major difference. If they see us lying around and watching television or reading a book, they may assume that we are being lazy. By explaining what a flare is and how much pain we are fighting against can help them to understand why we can't keep up our normal pace.

The copyright of the article Flares in Fibromyalgia is owned by Cynthia Webber (Jausten). Permission to republish Flares in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.