Every day in the run up to Christmas I’m going to talk about a symptom or side effect of fibromyalgia, to give some insight into what it’s like to live with the condition.

December 19th: Pacing

When I was diagnosed with fibro, my GP’s only advice was “pacing” – basically balancing exercise and rest in a way that allows a build up of tolerance. I’ve also heard it referred to as “graded exercise”.

It’s a myth. Maybe it does work for some people, but I can only assume those people have the resources, the time and the structure to maintain it. It has the same energy as people suggesting yoga and vitamin D for acute clinical depression.

Aside from anything else, when I was diagnosed I had a ten month old. Toddlers don’t really let you pace yourself. They’re too busy waking up and singing at 3am or disappearing at speed with a shoe to throw in the bin.

If I wasn’t already suspicious enough, another GP I spoke to a few months later basically told me she suspected it was bullshit. So there you go.