Progress with fibromyalgia is not linear. It’s quiet. Subtle. Sometimes invisible.
It’s all too easy to get tangled up in the daily to-dos (and the what-not-to-dos) and lose sight of the bigger picture.
With spring around the corner, I’ve been reflecting on where I am today — and where I was when I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in the fall of 2020.
In 2020, the world was wrapped in fear and uncertainty. Everything shut down. No one knew what was safe and what wasn’t. I had a 2- and 4-year-old at home, and we made the decision to keep them home with me. I was homeschooling two toddlers in a 1,200-square-foot house, while my husband worked from the basement and needed quiet.
We couldn’t go to story time at the library. Museums were closed. We weren’t even sure if the local park was safe.
I remember arriving at a playground once. My son ran off to play, but my two-year-old daughter hesitated. When I asked why, she said, “There are other kids.” She thought she wasn’t allowed to play.
That was the world we were living in — a world where a toddler was afraid to be near other children.
I had stopped going to yoga. I rarely left the house unless absolutely necessary. I had groceries delivered. I became on edge. Moody. Irritable. Snappy.
That wasn’t me!
My Fibromyalgia Diagnosis
When doctor’s offices began reopening, I decided to figure out what had changed. I had always been positive and patient, but something felt different in my body. I saw multiple doctors. Finally, I made an appointment with a rheumatologist because autoimmune conditions run in my family.
I described my symptoms:
Fatigue. Headaches. Sudden irritability and anger. Unrefreshing sleep. Joint pain and stiffness. Rashes. Itchiness. Hair loss.
She asked, “Do you feel pain and stiffness when you wake up?”
I paused. And then — yes. I did.
After more testing, she told me she believed I had fibromyalgia.
When I got home, I Googled it. Everything fit. For the first time, I understood why I felt so reactive and exhausted. I felt relieved to have an answer — and devastated that there wasn’t a clear roadmap to get better.
When “Push Through It” Made Things Worse
At that time, I was told (as so many of us are) to push through the pain and exercise more. So I took my daughter on a 20-minute walk, pushing her stroller. That evening, my husband came home to find me sitting silently between my two kids on the couch, tears streaming down my face.
I was in so much pain that even sitting hurt.
I felt like a stranger in my own body — unable to predict it, calm it, or understand it.
Shortly after, I found the Fibromyalgia Podcast® by Tami Stackelhouse. Her positivity and understanding gave me hope. I knew there had to be another way — a gentler way — to live in my body.
Now fast forward six years
Today, I’m writing to you as a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® and expert — nearly symptom-free.
Back then, I could not have imagined this version of my life.
It took work. Trial and error. Commitment. Nervous system regulation. Deep self-study. Boundaries. Patience.
I take my dog on daily walks without pain.But today:
- I understand my body.
- I know what keeps it calm.
- I recognize my triggers.
- I can prevent and manage flares.
- I keep up with my busy kids.
- I plan family trips to Disney World and Yellowstone, participate in water sports, hike, stand on my feet all day — and still feel regulated and comfortable.
More importantly, I know myself.
- I say yes only to what aligns with my energy.
- I advocate for what I need.
- I feel confident in my body again!
Going through fibromyalgia has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever experienced — but it has also given me more than I expected.
It made me a more compassionate mother. I can sit with my children’s big emotions because I’ve learned to sit with my own.
It made me a more understanding partner and friend. I know now that so many people are carrying invisible struggles.
And it brought me back to myself — not the old version of me, but a stronger, wiser, calmer one.
Here’s the part we often forget:
When you’re living with fibromyalgia, it’s easy to focus on the metrics.
How many steps did I take?
What was my pain level today?
How bad was the brain fog?
But sometimes the most important progress isn’t measured in numbers. It’s measured in:
How you respond instead of react.
How quickly you recover from a flare.
How well you honor your limits.
How much hope you feel compared to a year ago.
So this March, I invite you to gently step back. Think about where you were at diagnosis — or at your lowest point.
Now look at where you are today.
What can you do now that once felt impossible?
What do you understand about your body that you didn’t before?
How have you grown emotionally, mentally, spiritually?
Progress with fibromyalgia is not linear. It’s quiet. Subtle. Sometimes invisible.
But it is happening.
And if you feel stuck — if you’re not where you hoped you’d be — that doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It may simply mean you need support.
Working with a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach® can give you the tools, structure, and encouragement to move forward with clarity and confidence.
- You deserve to feel at home in your body.
- You deserve relief.
- You deserve to celebrate how far you’ve already come.
This spring, let’s notice the progress you forgot to celebrate.
Action Steps
If you’re reading this and thinking, “I want this… but I don’t know how to get there,” please know this: You don’t have to figure it out alone!
Healing with fibromyalgia isn’t about pushing harder. It’s about learning your body’s language. It’s about calming your nervous system. It’s about creating rhythms that support you instead of deplete you.
That’s exactly the work we do in fibromyalgia coaching.
As a Certified Fibromyalgia Coach®, I focus on sustainable, nervous-system-informed strategies that help you:
- reduce flares
- build energy gradually
- understand your triggers
- feel steady in your body again
- NO extremes.
- NO “just push through it.”
- NO shame.
Just gentle, structured support that meets you where you are. If you feel ready for your next step — whether that’s clarity, momentum, or simply hope — I’d love to walk alongside you. You can learn more about working together here.
Your progress matters. Even the quiet kind - especially the quiet kind!
Ready To Feel Better?
No one should have to face fibromyalgia alone. Lauren combines lived experience with coaching expertise to guide you through the ups and downs of living with fibro. Take the first step toward relief.
Schedule your consultation with Lauren today and discover how having someone who truly understands fibromyalgia can make all the difference.
Photos Courtesy of Lauren Vazzano
About Lauren Vazzano
Lauren supports moms living with chronic illness while parenting neurodivergent children. Drawing from her own journey, she empowers women to find balance, build confidence, and nurture supportive, thriving families. With compassion and practical tools, Lauren creates a safe space for moms to honor their health, embrace their strengths, and navigate parenting with greater ease and confidence.
