The lived experience of nurses with fibromyalgia : a qualitative study

Abstract

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic condition comprised of an array of disabling symptoms notably brain fog, fatigue and musculoskeletal pain, with no known aetiology and cure. This study is aimed to gain a better understanding of the lived experience of nurses with FM, focusing on their physical, psychological and social impact of the condition. Five semi-structured interviews with one male and four female nurses diagnosed with FM were carried out, using Smith’s Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis approach to obtain rich data that reflected the essence of the participants' experience. Six superordinate themes emerged: 1: Fear of the unknown, 2: Mixed reactions to diagnosis, 3: The challenges of living with FM, 4: Adapting to FM, 5: Finding meaning in FM, 6: Looking to the future. Lack of awareness led to disbelief which instigated loss of self-confidence and change in self-identity. This also brought change in work environment, lifestyle and social relationships. The emergence of key psychological resources and support from significant others, enabled nurses not only to override this condition but also to find meaning in the illness experience enhancing personal growth. This research may contribute to enable health care professionals to become more aware of what it is like to live with FM from health care professionals’ perspective, providing better quality of care. Recommendations for further research on FM are proposed.