Online Support for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia

In a previous article I wrote for Associated Content, How to Develop and Maintain a Positive Attitude with Chronic Illness, I discussed the five stages people with chronic illness go through when first diagnosed. These stages include denial and fear, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. Most patients with illnesses such as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia will go through these stages several times throughout their life because their illnesses are recurring. It is usually during the first stage, denial and fear, where Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia patients will begin frantic searches online to find out all they can about their illness. They are desperately looking for answers, reasons why they are sick and they want to know that they are not alone. These patients will often find great comfort in knowing that there is someone they can talk to and someone who can relate to what they are going through.

Through my many years of being chronically ill with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia, I have found many outlets to lean on for support and resources. People who are healthy and do not have these illnesses cannot possibly understand what it is like living with these illnesses every day. This is why finding online resources become so valuable to us. If you can't lean on your family and friends for support during your illness, you need to go somewhere. I developed a list of some great websites, message boards and forums where you can reach out to others who have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia and other chronic illnesses.

ProHealth ImmuneSupport

The ImmuneSupport.com website, message board and forums attracts over 5 million visitors a year due to their up-to-date research information, nutritional supplements they sell, and their popular message boards. ProHeatlh and ImmuneSupport were started by Rich Carson, who at 23 began his battle with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia. While learning about his illnesses, Rich went on to start one of the largest, and one of the first, support groups online CFS in the United States.

The ImmuneSupport.com message boards also have online support for other illnesses including Aids, Alzheimer's, arthritis, cancer, Candida, depression, diabetes, Lupus, Lyme Disease, Parkinson's and sinusitis.

Fighting Fatigue Forum

The Fighting Fatigue forum is a fairly new message and support board for patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia and Interstitial Cystitis (a painful bladder disease). The owner of the forum, Sandy Robinson, also has her own website, Fighting Fatigue. According to the Fighting Fatigue website's About page, the owner has been ill for close to 20 years with CFS, Fibromyalgia and IC Disease. She started her website two years ago to give her a therapeutic outlet on dealing with these illnesses herself and to provide support to others. Her website has grown in popularity over the past two years and she seems very passionate about raising awareness and support for her illnesses. She started the forum in March of 2007 and has slowly been building a membership since that time. The Fighting Fatigue forum also has some additional boards where members can talk about beauty, humor, hobbies, shopping, favorite websites and books. The main illnesses discussed on the Fighting Fatigue Forum are Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia and Interstitial Cystitis, but there is a specific board for members to discuss other chronic illnesses as well.

But You Don't Look Sick

Christina Miserandino is the owner of But You Don't Look Sick, which is a combination website and forum. Christina is a passionate patient advocate, writer and blogger for chronic illnesses and she also suffers from Lupus. According to Christina's About page on her website, over the years that she has been sick she has been told by many people and physicians that she doesn't look sick. She says that "being pretty or not sickly looking made it harder to validate an illness you cannot see." Christina was classically trained as a dancer and she also enjoyed modeling and acting. Due to her various symptoms and illness, she had to give up her dreams of dancing. She found that writing gave her a creative outlet to deal with her pain and illness. Christina began her website to help others deal with Lupus and chronic illness.

Her website offers book reviews, recipes, interviews, hobbies, crafts, personal essays, medical information, humor, tips and articles. On Christina's message board, members can find support and information on many chronic illnesses. Christina is also well known for her Spoon Theory.

Sleepydust

Sleepydust is a website with a message board and forum for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia sufferers. The Sleepydust mission is to raise awareness for CFS and Fibromyalgia and to offer support and motivation for the people living with these illnesses. The Sleepydust website and forum are run by a team of individuals who live daily with either CFS or Fibromyalgia. The website, formed in 2003, provides current research, studies, support and other information surrounding CFS and Fibromyalgia.

Sleepydust has a forum and message board for CFS and Fibromyalgia patients on MySpace.

If you are living with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Fibromyalgia, there are plenty of resources available to provide you with the information and support you need to cope with your illness.