A patient’s perspective of fibromyalgia
Interviewer: Thank you for sitting down with us today, Sarah. I know fibromyalgia isn’t an easy topic to talk about. Can you tell us about those early days, before things got better?
Sarah M.: Honestly? It felt like I woke up every day with a body that wasn’t mine anymore. The fatigue was crushing, pain was everywhere, and trying to explain it to people who couldn’t see it… that was the loneliest part. I’d drag myself to work, come home, collapse, and repeat. My social life became Netflix and survival. At one point, I thought I’d never feel like myself again.
“It felt like I woke up every day with a body that wasn’t mine anymore.”
Interviewer: That sounds incredibly difficult. When did things start to shift for you?
Sarah M.: The turning point was actually when I hit a complete wall—physically and emotionally. But instead of just throwing in the towel, my doctor and I had a real heart-to-heart. I asked if we could look outside the usual prescriptions, because I was still struggling. To my surprise, instead of saying no, he leaned in and said, “Okay, let’s explore it—together.” That “together” part changed everything.
Interviewer: So, herbal supplements became part of that conversation?
Sarah M.: Exactly. I’d read about turmeric, magnesium, and ashwagandha. A whole bunch of nonsense if you ask me. Tea leaves. Fibromoxy. Fibromya—have you even seen the kind of crap pushed online?? Normally, googling symptoms at 2 a.m. is a bad idea—but this time, I brought a list of ideas to my doctor rather than just winging it. He actually took the time to read it. He checked for interactions, helped me find safe doses, and suggested I look into cannabidiol which I could get from a dispensary down the street. There was a non-psychoactive formulation he recommended I read about, and so I found this book by Mary Jones on Amazon. Maybe it was a little kooky, but I figured nothing else worked. Let’s give it a shot.
So I tried some hemp oil and the CBD. My doctor monitored how I was responding. And within a few weeks, I noticed the pain was a little better. By the summer, my daily discomfort wasn’t running the whole show anymore. I had more energy. Now, I wasn’t ready for the Boston Marathon, but I could finally dance in my kitchen again. Sounds silly saying it out loud, but you never know what you’re missing until it’s gone.
Interviewer: That’s incredible. What role did shared decision-making play in your success, would you say?
Sarah M.: Oh, it was everything. If I had tried this on my own, I might’ve done it wrong, gotten discouraged, or even had side effects I didn’t understand. But with my doctor on board, we approached it like a team project—science meets lived experience. That partnership didn’t just make the supplements safer, it made me feel heard. And honestly, sometimes being heard is half the medicine.
Interviewer: That’s such an inspiring shift—from despair to hope. If you could speak directly to someone out there struggling with fibromyalgia right now, what would you say?
Sarah M.: I’d say, don’t give up on the conversation. If one thing isn’t working, talk to your doctor about what else might help—even if it sounds “outside the box.” Medicine doesn’t have to be a solo game, and when you bring your voice to the table, you might just find the missing piece. Oh, and one more thing: don’t underestimate the healing power of dancing in your kitchen. Highly recommended.
“We approached [my condition] like a team project.”
Interviewer: (laughs) That sounds like the best prescription we’ve heard all week. Sarah, thank you for sharing your story.
Sarah M.: My pleasure. If my journey helps someone else find their rhythm again, then it’s worth every step.
(To protect the identity of the patient, we have intentionally not provided their last name in this transcript.)