Fighting Fatigue.org Celebrates 5-Year Anniversary With Fighting Back Against Chronic Illness Challenge

Online, February 9, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Fighting Fatigue (http://www.fightingfatigue.org), an online journal and resource website for chronic fatigue syndrome, Fibromyalgia, interstitial cystitis and other chronic illnesses, is celebrating its 5th anniversary this year.

Robinson wanted to do something special this year to celebrate the 5th anniversary of her website and in honor, she has created the Fighting Fatigue "Fighting Back Challenge" (http://www.fightingfatigue.org/fbchallenge). "There is this stigma surrounding chronic illness patients that we are lazy, have no hopes, dreams or goals in life and just dwell on being sick and that is such a misconception. There are many of us who are out here surviving and thriving; trying to improve our lives and the lives of those around us. Many of us are mothers, wives, fathers, husbands, entrepreneurs, business people, artists, authors - we come from all walks of life. I wanted to do something to show how amazing and strong all of these people are. We're not just a disease. We are so much more than that."

Robinson says, "I want to share the stories of the chronically ill on how we are surviving and overcoming obstacles despite the limitations we face on a daily basis. We all have an important story to tell and no accomplishment is too small!"

Sandy Robinson, the website founder and creator, started the Fighting Fatigue.org site as an outlet to deal with her own chronic illnesses. Sandy has suffered with CFS for more than 20 years and was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and interstitial cystitis in 2003.

"When I started the Fighting Fatigue blog, my health was the worst it had ever been. I was no longer able to work; I was bedridden most of the time because the debilitating fatigue from the CFS and the excruciating pain from the fibromyalgia and IC Disease were unbearable. I spent most of my days and nights in this fog of terrible fatigue that no amount of sleep could get rid of and painkillers weren't even beginning to touch the severity of the pain I was in. One day I was working, moving up the career ladder and the next day I couldn't move or get out of bed. I had finally pushed my body to the point where it had completely shut down."

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, or CFS, affects more than 1 million American adults and teens. The syndrome is characterized by severe exhaustion, disabling problems with memory and concentration, widespread muscle and joint pain and persistent flu-like symptoms. Research has documented defects in the brain and many body systems, and new studies from the Centers for Disease Control and from scientists show abnormal gene activity in several regulatory systems throughout the body, but there is still no known cause or treatment for CFS. The CDC has compared the level of disability caused by CFS to multiple sclerosis, end-stage renal failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. There is no diagnostic test, and treatment of the symptoms has limited effectiveness.

Fibromyalgia is a condition where the body responds to pain differently than what it does in normal people. Fibromyalgia patients are more sensitive to pain and will have many of the same symptoms as those with CFS, but pain is their worst symptom. A doctor will diagnose a patient with fibromyalgia by doing a trigger point exam, their symptoms and excluding other illnesses.

Interstitial cystitis is a severe bladder disease that causes excruciating pain in the lower abdomen and pelvic region and bladder hemorrhages. According to Robinson, "It feels like being 9-months pregnant with a bladder infection all of the time." When Robinson's IC was at its worst, she was going to the bathroom to urinate up to 60 times a day and the pain and pressure in her pelvic area were so severe she was often lying in the fetal position in tears.

I had to go on disability in 2005, which was the lowest point of my life, but I am determined to one day be well enough to work full-time again. It is something I aim for and it keeps me motivated and pushes me everyday to keep going.

Finally, in 2008, Robinson had improved her health enough that she could return to work part-time and she has slowly been able to regain some control over her health, but the illnesses are always there and always will be, unless a cure is found. "I know everyday that I have CFS, fibromyalgia and IC Disease but I have to try and keep living as best as I can. I have a son who deserves to have the best mother he can have and he is always my motivation to improve my health. I refuse to let these illnesses beat me and I will not just give up and die - I want to live and somehow, some way, I will get there. It isn't easy and I have many, many setbacks with my health. But I never stop trying and I think that is the important thing. We can't give up on ourselves and we can never give up hope."

To share your inspirational story for the Fighting Fatigue "Fighting Back Challenge", please visit the links below:

Presenting the Fighting Fatigue Fighting Back Challenge! (http://www.fightingfatigue.org/?p=8999)

Join the Fighting Fatigue Fighting Back Challenge! (http://www.fightingfatigue.org/fbchallenge/?p=10)