Blog Classic: Aug. 22, 2009

I remember, when I was young, walking into a craft store in August and being confused about why it looked like Christmas in there. My mom explained that it was because crafters need to start months ahead to make decorations and gifts. Those of us with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome need to approach the holiday season the same way, so we can get through it with the least possible impact on our health.

I know, planning is tough and it\'s easy to get overwhelmed at the beginning and never get anywhere with it. Left to my own devices, I\'m sure it would have taken me a couple of decades to figure out how to weather the holidays well, but thanks to a woman who visited my forum and shared her survival plan with us, I\'ve gotten the through last few years much better. I adapted her post into an article so we call all benefit from the wisdom learned from nearly 2 decades of fibromyalgia. Part of the plan is to start in September, so here it is:

• The Holiday Survival Guide for Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

What helps you get through the holidays, or other busy times? What have you learned NOT to do? Help us all learn by leaving a comment below!

Learn more or join the conversation!

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Suggested Reading:

• How to Pace Yourself
• Gaining Acceptance: Why It\'s Important
• Develop Better Coping Skills

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With Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Plan NOW for the Holidays originally appeared on About.com Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome on Thursday, September 9th, 2010 at 06:00:09.

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We get pain. We get fatigue. Exercise wipes us out far too easily. Those are the biggies when it comes to fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, but they\'re certainly not the full story. We can have dozens of symptoms, and when it comes to some of the really odd ones, we often feel like we\'re crazy and we must be the only person in the world who has it.

It\'s incredibly comforting, however, when we find out that other people with these conditions have gone through exactly the same thing. Whenever I write about one of the strange ones, I get a flood of comments from people who say, \"I thought it was just me!\" Here are some of my past blogs dealing with these symptoms, along with the amazing comments people have left in response:

• Allodynia: When Your Skin is Painful to the Touch
• Hair Loss
• Lipomas: Lumps & Bumps
• Impaired Language
• Noise Sensitivity
• Profuse Sweating
• Nose Bleeds & Hemorrhoids
• Temperature Sensitivity
• Sensitivity to Fragrance
• Odd Nerve Sensations
• Time, Math & Spatial Problems

Which of these problems are you surprised to see here? Did you think you were the only one who was experiencing it? How have you handled these problems? Leave your comments below!

Learn more or join the conversation!

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• The Monster List of Fibromyalgia Symptoms
• The Monster List of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Symptoms
• 7 Types of Fibromyalgia Pain

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