I have wanted for quite some time to be able to have a place where people could find encouragement and hope along the way as they struggle with a chronic illness. I want you to share your experience and struggles with chronic pain and all that goes along with it. But yet this will not be a depressing place. We will discover insights in the Word, things that will make us stronger and may even find that what we think will be our lowest valleys will in reality be some of the most precious times in our walk with God. And we will laugh and have fun together!
“Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory He will reveal to us later. For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who His children really are.” Romans 8:18.
My first round of chronic pain started over 25 years ago with a lot of muscle pain, especially in my hips and legs. I was only 30 years old, had just had my third little boy, Korey Ross, and was also experiencing quite a few migraine headaches. The muscle aches were getting worse in my chest and I was struggling to get deep breaths.
This went on for weeks, I had seen several doctors who had done test after test and I was getting worse all the time. My chest hurt so badly that it felt as if I was having a heart attack! But every test they conducted came back normal. It was so frustrating. We finally found a specialist who diagnosed me with fibromyalgia, which was basically unheard of then. He told me I wasn’t going into REM sleep; he definitely nailed that one for me, and put me on 10 mg of amitriptyline, only 10 mg. That night I slept ten hours without waking up at all for the first time in years and the pain in my chest was gone, as was the muscle pain! He told me that not going into REM sleep for so long was causing the muscles in my chest to contract and causing the pain in my chest to feel like I was having a heart attack.
I struggled with fibromyalgia off and on for the next few years; it helped to stay active. I tried several meds; prednisone, (weight gain) Mobic, Celebrex (short term) Vioxx (even shorter term). But I managed to stay off of any other medication on a long term basis other than the amitriptyline for REM sleep. It can be so painful at times, your muscles ache so badly and some days you cannot get out of bed at all because the fatigue can be so overwhelming.
In 2004 I had a hysterectomy in Cincinnati; we were pastoring a church in that city at the time. During the surgery they dropped me; yes you read correctly, they dropped me! They didn’t tell me right away. I went home the day after the surgery with no complications, but as soon as the morphine wore off I was in excruciating pain. I was in the ER so fast demanding they do something NOW! I didn’t wait for them to ask, “Mrs. Elkins, on a scale of 1 to 10, what level would you say your pain is at?” They didn’t have a yardstick that could measure my level of pain.
First, they take me back to look for kidney stones, no stones. I am in agony. It seems like it takes hours to get the pain under control and they finally get me admitted. Sometime later, my gynecologist came to visit and delivered the news that they had dropped me during the hysterectomy and that he is sure they had injured my back and that is why I am in so much pain. Friends, this is one of those “If I had known then what I know NOW…” Smile…it sure would help pay a stack of doctor bills today.
That was the beginning of years of back pain for me. For the first few years it was an occasional, “Oops, my back is out.” The doctor would give me a Medrol dose pack and pain pills and that would take care of it. That would usually happen about two or three times a year up until 2009 when those stopped working for me. Things started getting worse little by little. In 2010 I was still walking three miles a day but it was getting more difficult and we were getting ready to go overseas in the fall of that year and I could tell something was just not right.
We arrived in the country of Latvia in May of 2011 for our first year-long associate in mission’s term. (See my post under Faith Journey.) We didn’t have a car the first three months so we relied on public transportation and we also wanted to experience everything we could about the culture by being out among the people. Well, that really took a toll on me very quickly. It wasn’t long until all of the walking and climbing up and down the steps into the buses and down into the many tunnels had me lying flat on my back…again.
But this time we could tell things were worse and I was having a really hard time even getting into our shower and rolling over in bed was extremely painful. Something was terribly wrong. I had a wonderful doctor in Riga, who was also the doctor at the American Embassy. She was Latvian, but spoke fluent English and was very kind. She had already gotten to know me very well because I had contracted a very bad parasite about eight weeks after we had gotten there and I was so sick I couldn’t keep any food down for three weeks. I lost 15 pounds…a good thing…but not a good way to do it.
So, when all of this started up she sent me to a specialist and he did a series of CT scans and told me that I had SI and Degenerative Disc Disease, Spinal Stenosis and my L5 and S1 were a mess.
The Lord opened doors for us to be able to bring our work back to the States for a while and for me to get some doctor’s care. The first week of April, 2012, we arrived back in Indiana and have been busy ever since traveling and sharing what God has been doing in Eastern Europe and around the world with Revival By Design, North America.
My days started out slowly, a wonderful cup of mocha, my Bible, journal, iPad and my devotions. After I finish reading, I would sometimes take a pain pill and lie back down on the couch to worship, and pray…just being transparent, I can pray as long as I want to on my back but wouldn’t be able to concentrate five minutes on my knees. By the time I am finished praying, the pain pill has kicked in enough that I can at least stand upright to walk and hopefully get in the shower. I share all of that to let you know I feel your pain.
Today, 2018, things have progressed and gotten even worse. I am seeing a neurosurgeon here in Nashville and am waiting on myelogram results. I am praying for direction and clarity.
So, chronic pain, why me? Well, why not me? We live in a real world where people get sick, have problems and life is just life.
I have never had to bury one of my children, thankfully, so I couldn’t minister to someone who has just lost a child like another who has experienced that pain could minister to them. God uses us and works through us in unique times in our lives.
We go through things for a reason, and we need to let God talk to us during those times so we can glean all we can out of what He is trying to tell us.
“Dear brothers and sisters,when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” James 1:2-4 NLT.
My heart goes out to anyone who suffers with pain on a daily basis. I know what it is like when you don’t look sick. I understand how it feels when they can’t find anything wrong but the pain is so intense you can’t stop the tears from falling. The depression from being stuck inside day after day and the pressure to “Get out more, you’ll feel better!” is intense. If they only knew how much effort it took just to run a comb through your hair! I realize mine is minor compared to so many. I have a very dear and close friend who suffers from lupus and RA who also reminds me, and chides me with this thought,
“Just because I have two broken legs and you only have one doesn’t mean your one broken leg doesn’t hurt!”
We may not have all of the answers here but I am convinced there is a reason for every season in our life. I heard a message preached one time and the minister said, “Maybe the world needs to hear the wind blowing through your circumstance.” Maybe others need to see and hear your testimony during your trial! You are stronger than you think and God will strengthen you and restore you in your valley.
“For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13 NLT.
I truly believe we can glorify God through our sickness and our pain. When you hang on to Jesus as your only Hope then you are showing that He is strong and you are dependent on Him. Then you are making Him look great! This is glorifying God! He IS your strength; there is nothing weak about that!
Feel free to share your stories and insights! I would love to hear from you.
Amazing story and heartbreaking. Many prayers for us fighting Fibromyalgia and other illnesses. Please pray for me too. My pain is horrible in lower back/butt area. I can not straighten up completely without horrible pains. In Jesus name heal out heart,mind and souls to focus on you during out struggles and ease our pains today as we go on living God’s will and heal me today Jesus Christ. I love You Jesus/God/Holy Spirit give my you peace and joy today Amen!
Dear beloved sisters and brothers. So sorry for all your pain and suffering. I know some pain helps to shape us into more smpathetic creatures, gives others opportunities to care for us ( the afflicted ) and develop compassionate strength and also leads us to dependance on our Lord but God declares Himself to be a good God in Scriptures, a giver of good gifts. I struggle to see how unending doctors visits, economic hardship, wasted scans that show nothing helpful and lives living unable to use our bodies properly or work and enjoy clean hobbies is God’s will for His children. Some pain and adversity deepens our character but too much pain, ongoing and with no end robs us of our ability to care for our homes and our spouses and children as we are instructed to do. It traumatises our family members who are deeply distressed to see our unending suffering. I’m not denying that the Lord is there with the believer in the midst of the trials but there is also beauty in our final deliverance. I glorify God best pain free, maybe I’m just not brave enough and I’m sorry if anything I say is not encouraging anyone because I love everyone but I haven’t gained anything from 2.5 years of severe fibromyalgia, so severe that I am sometimes unable to care for my severely autistic son and have to call my 70 year old parents to help. I would have gained far more from being able to buy ingredients and cook meals from scratch, enjoying a cookery course, etc than crawling around the floor to do housework grabbing unending pain pills that I have to continually justify to doctors and often beg that I need. I don’t think it always helps to try to make what is clearly ” bad “, something you wouldn’t wish on anyone else, something you are desperately trying to escape yourself, to be a reason for joy. It may be, if you decide to turn what anyone else would clearly call terrible, a reason to feel it, but I just can’t do that. Reason tells me that God, being good, giving good gifts, wanting the best for His children would certainly prefer them strong, healthy and not screaming or bearing up in silent agony for years. I think this simply because it is what I would want for my sister or brother. I rejoice when they tell me they are recovered, when they acchieve their career goals, when they are satisfied with a delicious meal or they are free to date and marry etc. I cringe when they tell me they have a vomiting bug, they are bedridden in pain months on end. That doesn’t mean I don’t think God cannot make something like compassion or obedience from every situation despite the pain, just that pain is not a good condition. People in chronic severe pain answer questionnaires with similar traumatic answers to physical torture victims. That is awful. God said he made a good world. I am looking for other answers as to why I am absolutely floored by pain. It is not my reason for joy. My reason for joy is if all my family eat together, everyone was delivered home alive and is well. Then, I praise Him. I praise Him for everything that I consider good. I am not able yet, to consider the physical torture that is fibromyalgia and the fear it causes me as I feel tearing pains inside my body as something good. Sadly it is my situation, but it’s a waste of my life and my dreams to be a useful, obedient, caring and loving independant being. Jesus Himself, although a man of some suffering, walked around, well enough to get out in the daylight preaching and healing people. He was not bed bound, healed people when they needed to serve others and if He had been in agony would not have given the glorious ministry that He did because He would have been at home too ill otherwise. As a carpenter He had satisfying work and clearly “gave” in situations not “taking” all the time, like ill people are forced year in and out to do, taking time and attention from others. He also declined medications to numb His pain. Sadly Fibromyalgia and other cruel autoimmune disorders do not allow people to make the same choice. It is not unusal for people with fibro to take 20 pills a day to live. All this seems unnecessary and very sad. I certainly don’t feel like a victorious person. More like a begging victim, pleading with doctors not to withdraw the medications I now have to survive on, in this lifelong condition. It’s a shame because I used to sing praise songs that glorified God all day long.
People with fibromyalgia experience pain in ways no one else can really understand.
Hello! Thank you so much for contacting me. I am on Facebook as Nannette Elkins, my account is not private. https://www.facebook.com/nannette.elkins Of course we can chat on email as well 🙂 I tried replying to your email but it keeps coming back as undeliverable. Let me know how we can connect.
I would be happy to try to help in any way. Look forward to hearing from you.
Blessings,
nannette
I would like for you to email me. I need to ask some questions. I am a pastors wife in Wyoming. I looked for you on FB but quests you aren’t on.
Sis, Elkins, I had no idea!!
Some lessons about the absolute tenderness and compassion of the Lord can only be learned when you walk this road of pain, suffering, troubles and trials,
You have been chosen – rejoice!
Know this as well, the Lord still heals Fibromyalgia – in his time 🙂
God Bless
Philippians 3:10-14King James Version (KJV)
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Hi Shannan! So happy you stopped by and my apologies for my late reply. You have a lot going on, bless your heart. I pray the therapy helps you. Have you tried getting regular deep tissue massages? I think they are great therapy in themselves and a real treat as well. Praying God will strengthen you and help you cope. Glad to be with you in #fmfsnailmail! ♥
Wow, what a great post this was. I am so sorry eveyrthing you have gone through, and I can’t believe “they dropped you!” Oh my gosh. Well I don’t know if I have Fibromyalgia, as I haven’t been diagnosed with that. However, I do live in severe chronic pain. I have neuropathy, back issues and feet/ankle pain. It is a terrible thing to live with chronic pain but I do have good doctors and we are trying some things out now. I start pyhsical tharapy soon so that will hopefully do some good. I really appreciate this post and it is great to connect with you. God bless you and take care. ~Shannan “fmfsnailmail
I sure will pray for you this morning Mikki. So glad you stopped by and know that God is always there even in your pain and He understands pain for He suffered the ultimate. He is able to give strength for each new day, we must put our trust in Him. Blessings, friend. ♥♥♥
Nice to know someone knows it’s real. Thank you. God bless you. I prayed for you. Please pray for me. Mikki
Tina, thank you so much for stopping by. I sincerely feel your pain with fibromyalgia and your other diseases. Some people do not understand and we have to just realize we depend on the One who does. God bless you friend.
Thank you so much for sharing your story/your pain. I too have fibromyalgia and another autoimmune disease. When I read your story, I cried and cried. The invisible disability is so very frustrating. The expectations of others – get out and do more, “you’ll feel better” rings in my ears. Sometimes I want to say, “If you only knew!”
Bless your heart Claire! I feel your pain 🙁 Fibro and other invisible disabilities are so frustrating. I am so glad you have a good doctor, that means so much. I haven’t written about it in a while but need to, I know so many are affected and there is strength in community. Merry Christmas! ♥
Wow, I needed this so much. I followed you here from SHE READS TRUTH. I have that ‘invisible’ “non” “dis” ability’ Fibromyalgia that most people and many doctors do not understand because they cannot “see” it. I know that God feels my pain and hold my tears in his hand. I am blessed with a family doctor that understands and helps me cope. When you have more than one auto immune disease it can be tricky to treat and not create problems for other illnesses. Again, thank you again for your blog and highlighting Fibro. God Bless
Hello, that is a very inspiring post that you have written. I have been a fan of God in the past but I don’t think I was ever a Christian (even though I was baptized numerous times as a child). I went to youth group because there was a girl I once liked. I can say though I was a lot better when I was around the Church, even though I was faking being a “Christian”. I know though that God has been wanting to come into my life, I kept trying and trying to get into my heart but I would shut the door on him. I was too hard hearted and blamed God for a lot of stuff that had happened to my family and I…Long story made really short. Approximately three years ago I was taken captive by hurting body, and started getting all of these weird symptoms that I have never experienced before in my 17 years on earth.I am now 20, and have been to a neurologist, endocrinologist, internal medicine doctor, and then the last place that I turned to was the Laser Spine Institute of Tampa, Fl. Their they found in an MRI a ton of problems with my spine. Spinal stenosis…too many to list. I got to that point and now have no more money to work with, and I am in excruciating pain all day, until night time comes around (and I’m sleeping). I am at rock bottom, and have no where else to turn but to Him. I do believe in Him, but every time I try to reach out to Him I get so much spiritual warfare going on that I am afraid to… so I stop. This time I will not be afraid, I will let Him come into my life; because (like we all do) I need him so very badly. Please pray for me. Please Please Please!!! I need it desperately. Dear Lord please forgive me for what I have done and said to you in the past and please bless the lives of these people on here and everywhere, and help us overcome our illnesses. Even if we don’t please just give us the strength to carry on, in your glorious name, Amen.
Blessings to you, Matt. So happy you stopped by. I give God thanks many times for the wisdom of man to help us through medicine. I do not like to take it either and I have drastically reduced any meds I do take. But sometimes we must have that help. Not that God cannot help us without it but I just choose to thank Him for modern science and know that He can work through these avenues as well if He so chooses. I agree, I do not want to be mastered by anything either, but I doubt you are placing your medicine in a position of idolatry.
I know I have learned so much through and about chronic illness. I have a much deeper compassion for others who suffer as well. Count it all joy? Well, I have learned there is a huge difference between joy and happiness. I can ALWAYS be joyful, it is a state of the heart and mind. I might not always be HAPPY, I think it is a temporary feeling. But God gives JOY. Thank you so much for visiting. I pray you will become stronger and be able to use your testimony as a witness to others of God’s KEEPING power. Write anytime!
Blessings,
nannette
Blessings, Constance. Glad we can connect. We need each other in the Body! ♥
thanks so much for sharing your testimony, I am a fibromyalgia sufferer for over 1 year now and am trusting god will bring me through the storm. I hate taking meds and sometime feel convicted about being mastered by anything other than god and whether it could be idolatry. But praying for clarity and discernment through this remembering to consider it all joy as an opportunity for my faith to grow as gods power will be perfected in my weakness. God bless thank you u just made my day and thank the lord is using you in such especial way. amen.
Thanks for your kind words about my comment on Jennifer’s #TellHisStory. I am glad to have found your blog.
Thank you for visiting, Tanya! I feel your pain too 🙁 My prayers are with you today for relief from your discomforts. Please visit and comment anytime or if you would like to see a particular post on something related to chronic pain just let me know. I will try my best. Blessings.
Thank you for writing that…. I totally understand what you are going through since I have fibromyalgia….
Hello Michelle! My heart goes out to you if you are suffering from chronic pain of any kind. It is just plain “a bummer”. 🙁 Yes, I am back in Estonia, which is actually considered Northern Europe, I always say Eastern because I was living in Latvia but they probably say Northern there too! Anyway, we are in Estonia just for eight weeks this summer as furlough replacements. It hasn’t been easy, I have SI joint dysfunction as well and I cannot find a good place to sit or sleep it seems. In my case, softer is better and over here in Europe, as you might recall, they like their beds hard. But I am adjusting by sleeping on a double air mattress. That’s what I did in Latvia as well, I put a single air mattress on TOP of my bed! It worked the best. You do what you have to do 🙂 Thank you so much for stopping by, what a blessing to hear from you and appreciate your prayers! ♥
I so relate to so much of what you wrote here. Although I would never wish for anyone to have chronic pain, it is so encouraging to hear that others know what you’re feeling. I will pray for you, and are you still in Eastern Europe? I ministered there many, many years ago. Loved it. Blessings to you. Visiting from Considering Grace (through UNITE).
Hi Candace Jo, I don’t have fibromyalgia and I’m surely no doctor (can’t do the math), but I did happen to read something the other day (I think it was a cookbook called Against all Grain) about a woman who had all kinds of pain that the doctors couldn’t heal… anyway, she’s pain-free now. It may be worth a try to check it out! I pray that you will be healed soon. Hugs from me and Jesus 🙂
I was just diagnosed with Fibro last week! 🙁 I had twin girls in February and have been in awful pain, which has made it difficult to keep up with the house and them as well. My doctor has started me on some medicine which doesn’t seem to be helping much yet, but I’m hopeful. I just turned 29 in May.
Just wanted to say hello from another fibro patient. There are so many of us, aren’t there? I actually just spent a week in May blogging about my experience with fibro and how I’ve found help, if you’d like to take a look sometime. It’s so good to find a blog with a Christian view of chronic illness, so I’m glad I found you through the Wake Up Wednesday link up!
We aren’t exempt from “life”, we just have an awesome Comforter and Hope! ♥
Thank you for sharing this. I like the part….”why, not me”? How true.
Marennie, I sent you a message to your email. ♥
Hi, I am pregnant and as well been diagnosed with multiple fibrils in my womb and doctor told me today that I might have miscarriage sometimes soon. i’ve been crying and at the same time praying to God Almighty to help me born my baby but sometimes I say to myself that it is because of sins I committed in the past that God has decided to punish me this way but with your testimony I’ve come to realise that it all happening for my good. thanks ever so much for been detailed in sharing your experience, may our God have a visitation with in time of test.
Oh my, I see you suffer with fibromyalgia…boo 🙁 I would love to share and swap stories if you like. I was diagnosed about 18-19 years ago. Had some good years and some bad of course. I haven’t written on it in a while because I have been so busy with other subjects but I do need to write a few encouraging posts for our fibro friends!! I will do that soon. Feel free to email me if you like at ynannette@gmail.com. Blessings!
I too have Fibro. Thanks for this wonderful page on your site!
Nanette you have inspired me.. The years of pain has been in different rare diseases.. Like you said God speaks to us during these times of seasons..I’ve learned to praise him during my pain… Yes God did healed me of rare diseases and some is still there. God is still talking to me during my sickness and showing me things along the way.
My miracles first started when I was born, weighing less than 3 lbs than dropped to 1 lb.. with different diseases.. It was a miracle I lived but God had a plan it started that day and is still continuing today. Then at the age of three I was buried a live while my dad was building a church.. God brought me back from the dead as the Dr. had just signed the death certificate. I sat up and sung ‘THANK GOD FOR THE BLOOD.. At the age of 4 another miracle and many more..
When I had my last child a little girl called Hannah she is a blessing… It was 7 years before they diagnosed me of different things but it was 10 years later that I was diagnosed with 2 rare diseases that you are never improved or come out a live…
Yes I still have the pain and God takes me in stages of healing where I am down and he talks with me and prepares me for when I can testify of his goodness.. People don’t understand with my condition that I can praised him and know that God is going to do more miracles in my life…
I’m so glad that God sent me friends in unique ways: Michelle Young is an author that God put us together she has a wonderful website to share and what God showed her has helped me spiritually and physically… http://2treesand12fruits.com
Your another one of my unique friends!! We all been through sickness and pain but we know that God is showing us if we will allow him a plan for our life and draw us closer than we’ve been before…
I appreciate your blog and your prayers… I’ve been praying for you and your work for God..
May God Richly Bless you
Love
Donna Ryan
Your blog and posts have been balm to me today!!! For years I was having problems that no one seemed to be able to diagnoses. Finally a one doctor, who I saw because my regular doctor was not available listened to me and said, I think you have Fibromyalgia and wrote me a referral to see a specialist. I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia but have declined all meds. I am not experiencing muscle pain everyday but there are a host of other problems that have been occurring over the last 3-4 years. I have actually thought that I was misdiagnosed because my muscle pain doesn’t seem bad like that of others I’ve read about. Over the last 3 weeks I’ve had chest tightness, increased heart rate and extreme fatigue. I’ve thought on more than one occasion upon waking in the middle of the night, “wow, I’m still here!” I did not think that this could be part of fibromyalgia but I do know that I don’t sleep well and it is very possible that I am not getting into REM sleep either. All this to say though, that your words and Biblical encouragement has been such a sweet savor to me today. Thank you!
Thankyou for sharing your story i
have Fibromyalgia for two years that pain is unbelievible, cronic pain in every muscle.
I am off work again not been able to function.
It got so bad every meds u can think of i tryed, Nothing works.
I do soft yoga mediation and change my diet,Take all my vitamin d , b omega 3 and magnesium and foam mattres for my bed and i uses a bath spa hand held massager.
and i cryed and pray to god to help me, started church and had healing pray.
God and everything else has heal my pain by 80%..
I am just sore and achey but i can live with that, I hardly take meds anymore.
I still do things slowly but i have some hope now cause i am a single mother of four, three teens and one young one,
i also work full time,When i go back to work it will only be three days.
I can walk now with a stick for support and do things around the house slowly.
I might get some bad days but i am better knowing how to deal with it, to pray be postive.
Leave your stresses on to god and talk to him you are not alone. God bless you!
Thank you for your story! I have fibro and chronic fatigue syndrome for the last 10 years- meaning i slept away from my mid teen years to my mid twenties! Thank you for mentioning chronic illness that is seemingly invisible- it has to be the most frustrating thing when you look well or just tired yet you feel like you have run 3 marathons before you even get out of bed in the morning! I have been blessed that through cutting out certain foods (after ‘losing’ most meals each day for years) and regular gentle exercise has pretty much gotten me back on track. While I always was upset that I missed so much of the teens and early twenties I can now look back and say God was with me the whole time, I couldn’t always see it through the storm but have come out stronger. Not 100% fixed but believing that is possible. Your story has horror moments but the fact that you praise Him anyway is a strength we all need to heed.
I feel lucky (kind of) to be 27 and have learned so much from some really horribly sick years. Yes there are people worse off but He is with us all, all the time. The one place the devil cannot get to is reading our mind, so even if we are bound to bed lets use our mind to renew our thoughts. A big part of my recovery was strengthening my mind and knowing the devil has no place there, he might put bad thoughts in but I can control what thoughts and words come out!
Keep up the encouraging posts and I pray in His name that we are all fully healed and can use our stories for His glory!
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Oh Mia, I am so sorry to hear! I am praying for you dear friend! Jesus is near and you encourage so many with your beautiful words every day. May He encourage and bless you today and this week in your weakness. In Jesus’ name! ♥
Dear Candace
It has been such a pleasure to read this post today of all days! It has encouraged me so much since I am bedbound at the moment and coukd do with a sympathetic ear. Thanks for opening your heart. All my live to you and your sweetheart XX
Mia
Oh Christina, we are surely kindred spirits! I feel your pain! And it is no fun 🙁 but God is faithful in the every day things and gives us strength and grace as we need it. Thank you so much for the encouragement and I will pray for you too my new friend! Blessings…keep in touch! We will encourage each other!
What an encouraging testimony! I too live with chronic pain and autoimmune disease, but it could be so much worse. I appreciate your hope-filled perspective.
I had two spine injections for back pain this summer. They have helped somewhat, but because of other injuries my capacity to do the kind of exercises prescribed to build core strength is limited. Our back pain stories may turn out not to be too far apart, but the Lord knows what’s ahead and is sufficient.
May He continue to strengthen and heal you inside and out.
I dont know how to put all the words in my mind and heart together after reading this. This made me cry and wished I could share this with my mother who is suffering from parkinsons. You inspired me in manyways and lifted up my soul from despair. In your pain you never stop directing us to come to Jesus, In your pain you never stop rejoicing, In your pain you never stop glorifying God. You said Iit well and this inspired me a lot when you said “You are stronger than you think and God will strengthen you and restore you Iin your valley”.. thank you nannette, I will be praying for you too.. God bless you
I am beyond thrilled that you wrote me!! I just visited your blog and wow! LOVE IT! I read Mr. Richman…I was nearly in tears. I left a comment for you 🙂 Your blog is awesome, I will be back for more! Love the vlogs too, you are great at that!
I feel for your struggle with diabetes. I have always feared that disease for some reason. It consumes so much of your life. Like you said, everyone always waiting on you, etc. My prayers are with you!
I am also in Indiana! My middle son is an RN too! We have a lot in common! I am blessed by your comments about the blog, so blessed to know others are encouraged by anything written here. It was a real leap of faith for me to step out of my comfort zone and start the blog. But I was down with my SI joint and practically immobile for a while and I knew the Lord was speaking to me. So I finally gave in! It has been so rewarding, and if it helps one person it is worth it. And I love meeting so many new people!! I take it seriously and pray for everyone that contacts me.
Please keep in touch! Feel free to comment and give suggestions about things you would like to see discussed or written about here! Much love to you dear friend. I wish you well in your studies! ♥
I have been reading your blog for a couple months now, and I have been so uplifted by your words (inspired truly). While I do not have chronic pain, I do live with a chronic disease, so your words resonate just as clearly. I have already used and shared the quote you gave from a former pastor: “Maybe the world needs to hear the world blowing through your circumstance.” These words served as a driving force for me this summer as I interned in D.C. advocating for diabetes research.
Also, your family tales are priceless! You capture them so well, and I have gotten the giggles from most, if not all of them.
Lastly, your testaments of faith have really helped me along my journey with the Lord.
Thanks for sharing your story within HIStory. 🙂
Thank you Christina! So sweet of you to share! I tried to open the site but not sure which one it is…there are several with that title? I will listen to the Hathaway message. I so appreciate your suggestions, so kind of you friend. Blessings to you as well. ♥
Greetings In Jesus Name! Thankyou for opening up and sharing your story. You ve been thur so much.
I felt to share a web site with you called back-in-control.com. I ve been studying about a Wounded spirit and how it can affect our health, Google Prov.18:14 Salem bible.org and also a message on you tube by Eric Hathaway a wounded spirit. Hope this ministers to you. May God bring healing to you. In Jesus in Name
Laura you do have your hands full! I am glad the post helped some. You are blessed with a wonderful family! Light a fire under those kids, lol! You need the help! Blessings to you friend, so glad to have you at Hope in the Healing!
That post is so right, I can think of a lot of things I am better at because of all of my pain. Thanks for leading me to that post it made me feel better.
As far as the cleaning I also have 2 adult daughters, but we adopted my granddaughter she is currently 8 and are having to take care of the other daughter’s oldest, also another granddaughter comes for a couple nights a week. Believe me I love my babies but sometimes it can be a little much, but it is better than not knowing or worrying about them when they are not here! All of the kids do not help with the housework though. Hope you have a great week!
Sure understand what you are going through Laura. I do not keep house like I used to. I mean, it is clean but I just am not as particular with tearing things apart anymore. Of course with the kids grown and out of the house there is not as much to do and pick up after. I am so sorry you are going through so much! It is hard to understand these difficult times in our lives for sure. I haven’t applied for disability yet although my rheumatologist has suggested it. I hardly know where to begin and hear it takes so long and so stressful.
I did write a post a few weeks ago entitled “He Heals Me, He Heals Me Not” that might be a comfort and help to you. It was encouragement to me to help me understand why God heals sometimes and other times He does not. But if we look to Him for all of our strength and comfort, even in the valley we will find He will be faithful. And in those dark times we will find He will show us things we never understood before and be more real to us than we ever thought possible. His Word will become so dear. You can find that post here http://www.hopeinthehealing.com/2013/06/16/he-heals-me-he-heals-me-not-2/
Blessings, friend! You can follow my blog by clicking the Bloglovin’ button or subscribing by email, Twitter or Facebook. I will keep you in my prayers. Please keep in touch!
I also have fibro among a bunch of other things. I force myself to do certain cleaning each day. Lately I have been doing the “total” cleaning of each room. It takes me 3 days, where when I was healthy I could do everything in each room in a couple hours. Not complaining just an example. I am so sorry you are in so much pain and would take all the pain if I knew no one else would be in pain. I am really glad your faith has helped you, my faith helped me through things when I was younger, not sure if I would have made it without it! About 7 years ago we had a lady slam into the back end of our car, we could hear the squeals of the tires, and our granddaughter was in the backseat asleep. I turned to check on her when we were hit, not smart just something anyone would have done. This is when the headaches started.
I had been working for a company for almost 6 years as an accountant, when my carpal tunnel, tennis elbow started and got really bad, so after my elbow surgery all the fibro pain started and I have not been the same since. When I tried to go back to work they moved my position to another state, so that did not help me much either. I did receive disability 3 years later and all the way back, but it is a huge drop in income. My husband has been wonderful and truly helps me a lot, he is 21 years older than I am so his age, 70, is starting to catch up to him. I do my best to keep things clean etc but it can be really hard, then the stress from it not being clean kicks in.
Oh Mary, I am so sorry for your pain..truly I am. It is so difficult to be in a situation like yours where every day is the same, and there seems to be no end in sight. I have two friends with RA and lupus and I know how they suffer and they are both young, it does seem so unfair. I have another post here on my blog that I think might help answer some of the spiritual aspect of your question, it’s called He Heals Me, He Heals Me Not, you can click on it here, http://www.hopeinthehealing.com/2013/06/16/he-heals-me-he-heals-me-not-2/ So many things in life are just because we live in a world of sin…and bad things happen to good people. It’s not that we are being punished by any means! I am like you though, I have questioned, it’s ok to question…you hurt and every day is hard but I promise you if you really attempt to draw closer to God He will show you things in your “valley” and be more real to you and near than you ever dreamed. If you want to email me at ynannette@gmail.com we can “talk” more. I would like that 🙂
I have RA, Fibromyalgia, IBS, Interstitial Cystitis, OA, Hypothyroidism, Diverticulitis, both knee’s have been replaced due to RA shredding the muscles and have a disc in neck and lower back that is bad. I just finished trying the last of the RA drugs. None have worked, some had allergic reactions so now I have nothing I can take except steroids and they cause my IBS and GERD to act up so I can’t take them. It gets so bad my gastro doctor has to hospitalize me so NO, I won’t take steroids. I have been off of them for a little over 2 months and each day the pain gets worse. Somewhere, somehow, I have torn a muscle in my right shoulder kind of underneath the arm area. So, now I can’t use that arm period. This was over 6 weeks ago and it won’t heal. I guess the RA is messing with that also. I don’t know why I have so many things other than they told me once you get one autoimmune disorder, they all fall like dominoes. So, all of the things I have are autoimmune disorders so I guess they are right. Be glad you don’t have all of this on top of Fibromyalgia and RA.
I am on Disability and have been since 2005. I am so discouraged by the government saying we on SSN are awful and demanding. Really? I worked over 20 years working 2 jobs and a few years working 3 jobs to keep from asking for any kind of government aid. So, they got money from me twice each week so No, I don’t think I am demanding. I never dreamed I would become disabled. I had worked so hard, I thought I was invincible. I was strong, ate good, exercised, did everything right and still got sick. It makes you wonder if I should not have eaten whatever I wanted and not exercised at all because it was all for nothing. Now, I can’t even ride our stationary bike. I can’t sleep more than 3 hours w/o hurting. I have gone 2 days straight not sleeping because I knew I would hurt worse if I laid down. So, NO, it’s not a picnic to be Disabled and would give it up in a heartbeat. How dare they try to demonize me!
I don’t really see anything good about my situation. I do pray and I do believe in God and I know I am saved. But do not understand why this happened. I have tried to be a good person and when I was working I helped out several co-workers with Christmas, if they needed help with groceries, I have helped pay someone’s rent, etc. So, why is it that bad people seem to get away with murder and good people suffer? I wish someone had that answer.
My sister in law has fibromyalgia and is on disability due to this illness.
Shingles! You are so young for shingles! So sorry for the pain you are going through! But what a blessing you have left for me today. “Who will you depend on today…will you choose joy over self pity and will you run to me to wipe your tears?” Wow…thank you so much for that eye opener! So glad to have connected!! Praying blessings on your blog and praying our pictures will appear in Jesus’ name! ♥
Hi Nannette,
Thank you for sharing your story. Oh my being dropped – so sorry this has happened to you – so glad you are open to God using it. I, too, have chronic pain (interstitial cystitis and a neuropathy leftover from shingles) But I believe that God knew the steps of my journey before I was ever born. I also know that the daily pain is Jesus whispering to me .. Who will you depend on today? Will you choose joy over self pity? Will you run to me to wipe your tears?