Studying Whilst Living With Fibromyalgia
By Emma Penney
Day to day life is hard enough without throwing fibromyalgia into the mix. Studying at any level can be a daunting prospect when you live with chronic illness and hard work for those who already study. However, if you are thinking about starting a college course, university degree or masters and have fibromyalgia do not envision it as impossible. It can be a welcome distraction from living with constant, intractable pain. I’m not going to say it is easy, but anything worth having is never easy. With fibromyalgia it is well known that pain is a constant factor and it is always at the forefront of our minds due to this. Focussing your attention elsewhere in the form of studying can be beneficial. It can work as a form of distraction that is also beneficial for your mental health and of course, your education.
No matter your age or circumstances learning new things is always beneficial and it is never too late to start studying. If you do want to begin academic study, it is important that you tell your college or university if you suffer with fibromyalgia as there are procedures that can be put in place to help disabled students. Many believe that there is no support or inefficient support available for those that live with chronic illness. However, that is not true. There is physical and mental support in the form of adapted chairs and other aids, software that is capable of listening to your words when you are unable to write or type due to pain and one to one support from tutors and staff. You will find that usually most tutors are very understanding of your issues. It is important that chronic illness is disclosed beforehand so the appropriate support is made available to you. Disclosure of your fibromyalgia is also important because if there is ever an emergency the college or university need to know if you are able to vacate the building in a timely manner on your own, or if you need support to do this.
With fibromyalgia it is very easy to become drained physically and mentally. There are obstacles to studying and sometimes you are not able to attend your classes or study at all. It is important to remember to allow yourself to rest when you can. It is very easy to overwork yourself if you don’t allow yourself frequent breaks from work. If you are ever struggling physically or mentally with classes or work discuss this with your tutors. They can only help if they are aware of your issues. Sometimes you need to study from home in bed because you have no energy and too much pain to get up. No matter where you need to study due to personal circumstances you are still studying and being productive even if you are in bed. Sometimes you aren’t able to study in bed due to fibromyalgia and that is ok too. You can’t be expected to work constantly.
Not everyone is able to study. For those that want to study but are unable to leave home then it can also be done from home in the form of open or distance learning. Personally, I study on a BA (Hons) in English, Language, Literature and writing. The degree is two days a week and there is a large amount of work that requires self-study, which is beneficial to someone with a disability. Yes, you still have deadlines to meet and exams, but self-study makes achieving those deadlines more likely. There are also arrangements that can be made for those that suffer with fibromyalgia when you need to sit exams. Depending on your specific needs, you can be allotted rest breaks which allow you to take a break from the exam due to pain or other issues. You can also request extra time in the exam. Further support is available in the form of ergonomic chairs, and a computer if you suffer with pain in your hands when you write. You can also have a one to one room if you suffer with a physical and/or mental health issues. When attending classes I always make sure I bring any medication I need. When I’ve been to classes I have to go straight to bed when I come home due to the pain. If you need to rest and can’t do anything else after, that’s ok too. Doing too much can leave us bed bound for days so study at your own pace.