I have Fibromyalgia. I don't know how long I've had it, for years I'd guess. My doctors never figured it out until I got married and moved to Colorado. So I've known for about 2.5 years that I've had it.
My biggest frustration is that others just don't understand my limitations. If I work at my own speed and pace, I can usually go for a long time. If somebody tries to force me to work at their pace I poop out really fast.
The other thing they don't understand is the over-exertion. I over do it one day, and it may take several to get back to normal. I guess to them, what they want is more important than how I feel, so they just don't care.
Also, the meds aren't hardly working at all. They took Bextra off the market, and that's about the only thing that worked for me. My foot doctor gave it to me for a totally unrelated problem, and I took it one day and thought WOW, I really feel pretty good. Didn't help my feet much, but the rest of me felt pretty good. Then I started hording it and saving it for days when I felt really bad. (remember I hadn't be diagnosed yet) Forget the feet! heck the rest of me was more important.
So now I'm just trying to make do with some less than optimum meds.
And the weather is turning cool. Last year was a total nightmare for me.
I have to admit, the birds are really fun and I enjoy them alot. My DH tells me I have to stop thinking of them as chickens and start thinking of them as dollar bills, since we are trying to makes some money raising them and on eggs. He thinks all the time I spend with them as money. But just because I enjoy spending time with them doesn't mean It's costing more. I'm spending my relaxing time with them. I enjoy it, it's my entertainment. And yeah, it helps distract from the pain.
I wish people who live around people with any kind of illness, would take the time to educate themselves on what's going on. I think there would be a lot less frustration on both ends.