What matters is what something is, not what it is called.
I used to call them tokens – they are now affectionately called spoons because of the wonderful “Spoon Theory” of Christine Miserandino. As people living with chronic illness we have come to understand that we have just so much energy we can expend which we all refer to as tokens or spoons. Some days we have pleanty, some days almost none. And the big issue with this symptom of our disease is the extreme difficulty we have in explaining this to family and friends. Spoons and the spoon theory have become a very important way to share what we deal with on a daily basis especially where our energy levels are concerned. The spoon has become a symbol of solidarity for people suffering with CFS/ME, lupus, Fibromyalgia and many other chronic illnesses.
My friend Felicia who created the website FeliciaFibro.com does an amazing job talking about her life with Fibromyalgia and sharing important information about the disease. Since so many people with AS also have Fibromyalgia, or wonder if they can have both, we thought it was an important enough topic to discuss together. Please visit Felicia’s site where she expands on this topic in an in depth manner and looks at the connections between various autoimmune diseases – and specifically AS – and Fibromyalgia. I’m a spoonie – what about you?
Until tomorrow.
Jenna
Day 152 was created in conjunction with FeliciaFibro.com – in watercolor. Take a close look – you’ll see butterflies, a FF monogram, awareness ribbons, and yes – a blue AS apple!