By Marc Bellemare: Alfred, Ontario: Published August 1, 2021

Hello, my name is Marc and I have been living with fibromyalgia since 2016. I retired from the Canadian Armed Forces in March 2018 after a long career of over 30 years. Before my diagnosis, I was very physically active playing hockey, ball, golf and several other sports.  

When I returned from a 3-year stay in Seoul, South Korea, everything was going well for the most part. Always active, my time on the ice was fine during the first year. It was during my second year, after returning to Canada, that I began to lose a little energy here and there. In the fall of 2015, I was transferred to Ottawa, where I continued my active life through sports. It was at this time that I noticed that my physical cadence began to decrease, but not very much. My breath and energy were getting weaker and weaker.  

The biggest change of my life was about to knock on my door. And there it was! In August 2016, I set off into the unknown. I woke up one morning and immediately knew something was wrong with my entire body. It was as if a truck had hit me during the night while I was asleep.

All of a sudden, pain everywhere without respite. Since I was in the military at the time, I reported to my medical unit for treatment. After several blood tests, physical tests, nothing was conclusive. I was then referred to the rheumatologist for follow-up. My work hours then decreased dramatically. Military life began to be extremely affected. So in September 2017, my doctor placed me on medical leave and for the last 9 months of my military career, I would spend them at home. Unable to work, I stayed home and tried to pass the time as best I could.

Since retiring, my body continues to fail me, but I know I have to keep going as best I can. There are a lot of changes in my daily life and the adjustment is very difficult.

For the past few months, I have been volunteering with the Fibromyalgia Association of Canada. My goal is to help people suffering from this disease. We must come together and make sure that everyone hears our cries of suffering. This disease is real and not in our heads.