I need support after my fibromyalgia diagnosis

Hello, this is me: Valentina, or known online as "Muffet". I’m a 29 years old woman and multimedia artist from Chile, who decided not to be embarrassed asking for help while going through a really tough time in my life, even if I look healthy and young.

I was recently diagnosed with fibromyalgia, after a lifetime of struggling with incapacitating pain, chronic fatigue, hypermobility and just feeling like something wasn’t right with my mind and body. It has only been within the last couple of months that things became completely overwhelming, not being able to use my hands properly from the pain, getting out of bed everyday and moving around like I used to. I also live with late diagnosed autism (27 years old), making my daily life and holding down a job even harder, although extremely invisible for the people around me. I've always been a really positive and cheerful person, someone my friends always count on and I've had the bad habit to isolate and do not communicate my real struggles thinking everyone goes through bad times. Thing is, my bad times have been the consequence of a chronical illness I do not have the financial situation to go through.

Right now, I don’t have an income and I cannot keep demanding so much to my mom, who is the only one supporting me right now. Unfortunately, some other people in my family don’t believe my condition is real, being the reason I decided to go online for help. It has been heartbreaking to receive the indifference from the ones who are supposed to be the closest to me; when you're in pain and people think you're just not trying hard enough, when you are using your whole strength in daily activities.

I’m hoping to raise enough money to cover doctor visits, exams, and just basic living costs while I figure out a treatment plan. I really want to take this time to focus on getting better and improving my quality of life, so I can find a way to be independent and have a "normal life", as everyone around me is expecting. But I cannot do it alone or from the position I am right now.

I wanna believe someone will trust my words and my life experience. I'm so tired of trying and feeling I'm not going anywhere because everyone around me cannot see or feel what I have to deal with.

Thank you so much for your time. And for your support.

I hope my story make sense to you.