The Hidden Costs of Fibromyalgia

Living with chronic illness requires a lot of energy, time, and money. The diagnosis of fibromyalgia should come with a cost of living warning label! Seriously! Let’s face it: Living with fibromyalgia is very expensive. Add in the rising costs of inflation and life with chronic illness becomes even harder. As things get more expensive, I can feel the impact on my fibromyalgia and on my quality of life. This chronic illness has cost more than financial loss.
When diagnosed and throughout their disease journey, patients are forced to ask themselves not just, “how am I going to live with this chronic, disabling disease?” but “how am I going to pay for it?”. Not only does your health condition impact your finances, but money — or a lack of it — can also play a big role how well you can manage your health.
The first thing I did when I returned home after receiving my diagnosis of fibromyalgia was to go online to try and learn as much as possible about this disease. Everything I found described the symptoms just fine, but nothing provided hope for relief. Nor did anything mention how expensive living with this illness would be.
The cost of living with fibromyalgia goes beyond finances. Nothing I read at the time of my diagnosis could have prepared me for the high cost of living with fibromyalgia. These costs can really add up and take a toll on not just your wallet but also your mental health, your career, your family life, and your social life.
Living without commitments in today's world is a huge challenge. Without reservations, many activities are totally undoable. I continually fight the temptation to make promises on the days when I feel capable. In addition to the cost, I feel plenty sorry for myself when the day comes and I can't attend.
Chronic illness is expensive, not just in the traditional sense, but from a physical and emotional stand point, too. Here are some of the hidden costs of chronic illness that I've experienced, in no particular order: Medical Treatments, Inability to Work and/or Needing to Take Time Off Work (Many unpaid day offs or a miserable help from governament), Mobility Aids, Health Products, Comfort Items, therapies, foods and supplements.

I constantly need to purchase medications, massage therapy, counselling therapy, topical pain relief, exercises classes and foods to reduce inflammation and manage pain. Money is my main source of stress and this has a significant and direct impact on my health.
As you can see, living with a chronic illness or disability isn't only about seeing the doctor and getting prescribed medications.
Many of the statistics that are reflected in the news do not delve into the everyday, which is where we actually live our lives.
If you live with chronic pain like me you would understand that any relief, however slight, is often worth a shot. The looming fear of unforeseen expenses haunts me.
Every time I consider a significant expenditure, this worry resurfaces. My fear of the future prevents me from doing things for my health. Not only did it take me a long time to save up but it took me a long time to make that purchase because I was worried about the future.
I have to try and remind myself that it is okay to make purchases that will help me manage my condition better. Money is my main source of stress — and this has a significant and direct impact on my health.
But the world post-pandemic? A different story. With inflation driving up prices, it's become tougher for folks on disability to meet even basic needs, let alone focus on enhancing health.

In real terms? Inflation and our cosumerism culture are making our health decline. Big part of our society is living on "Living to Work" and they are forgeting about what life really means.
In the end, it is really important to advocate for better pay and reduced costs for those living with chronic illness. More support is needed for those of us with chronic illness