Sadly, I have not experienced much sympathy in my life either. I've lost probably seven jobs in the past few years because I wind up calling out sick so often.

Initially, I had thought my problem was something of a repetitive stress injury, like carpal tunnel, from working at a computer in a call center for so many years. At one point, I worked as a nurse's aide and even felt better at first, but it didn't last long. I was even in nursing school and after almost two years, I realized I could never be a nurse. They are expected to work no matter what and never miss a day, so that just wasn't for me.

I was blessed to find a full-time work from home job back in travel where I started. It is a great company with great people and they have been very understanding. I was out all summer because of my broken foot and even went past the FMLA protection and I'm still there.

The day will probably come when I can't do it anymore, but I'm hopeful. Even if I have to go to part-time, it is commission work, so there is the potential to make decent money.

Like most of us, I guess I'm in denial. I don't want to consider myself disabled and I certainly don't want to face the battle with SSI to get disability payments. My father had an awful time with that and the appeal and it was not approved until a few months ago, two years after he died.

I wish I had some great words of wisdom. I guess all I can say is to try to find work that will accommodate your limitations and get the training if you need now to be prepared for further progression. And stay hopeful. Years ago, FM was not even recognized as a real condition and even now many medical professionals see it as a psychological problem, but there are great improvements in the treatment and research. I have great hope that someday soon, we will be able to overcome this.