How to Help a Friend that has Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a nasty disease. It can make you hurt all over, exhausted and feel like you are living in a mental fog. Because the person looks “normal”, not sickly, people many times mistaking believe that fibromyalgia is not serious. Fibromyalgia can really effect a persons quality of life. It is important for friends and family to understand this disease so they can know what to expect and how to help.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Take your friend a healthy meal.
   
   Making meals can be laborious when you are hurting all over and so exhausted you don’t even feel like getting out of bed. Taking the time to eat healthy can be even harder. It is easier to just grab something quick to fill the stomach, but unfortunately, that is not a good solution because people with fibromyalgia need to eat very healthy. Help your friend out by sometimes taking a healthy meal to her. Just make sure you find out first if she has any dietary restrictions.

2. Help with a household chore.
   
   Simple household chores can also be difficult when you have fibromyalgia. Find out if your friend needs some help getting them done and offer to help lighten her load.

3. Go to doctor appointments with your friend.
   
   Find out if she would like moral support at her doctor visits or just someone to help her remember what all the doctor said. Memory troubles can be a part of fibromyalgia, so it may be important to have someone else there to remember all the doctor’s instructions.

4. Listen to your friend when they need to talk.
   
   Fibromyalgia is a very stressful disease. Having a friend to talk to is important. Try to understand that she doesn’t feel well and she may need to vent about the disease.

5. Offer to be an exercise buddy.
   
   Exercise is very important for someone with fibromyalgia, but when you’re hurting all the time, it can be hard to get started. Offer to exercise with her, to help motivate her. Just remember she needs to start off slow and easy.

6. Offer to babysit her kids, if she is a mother.
   
   People with fibromyalgia need down time to relax. If she is a mother, this is especially hard to do. By offering to babysit, it will help her have the down time she needs.

[yellowstar2000]

on 11/16/2009 Thanks for the great tips on how to help a friend that has fibromyalgia. 5***** I've got a friend suffering with this, and wish I lived closer to help more....she lives in Canada, and I live in FL so, its a bit far to see her, but thanks for the thoughts! :)

[Upon-Request]

on 11/4/2009 Good tips for helping a friend or family member.