title: Fatigue, worry, and fear--life events in the narratives of women with fibromyalgia.
abstract: In this article we explored narrated life stories of 20 women with a long history of fibromyalgia to reach a deeper understanding of how people interpret the causes and consequences of different life events and illness experiences. Based on narrative analysis, we identified three model narratives that illustrate the different life courses of women with fibromyalgia. In addition, we described a counternarrative that questions fibromyalgia as a chronic disease. In this narrative study, we give insights to the invisible symptoms and unheard experiences that are associated with fibromyalgia and to the ongoing discussion on the etiology and maintenance of fibromyalgia.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Care and Social Services, Satakunta University of Applied Sciences, Pori, Finland. merja.sallinen@samk.fi
authors.forename: Merja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sallinen
authors.forename: Marja Leena
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Kukkurainen
authors.forename: Liisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Peltokallio
authors.forename: Marja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mikkelsson
authors.forename: Ulla Maria
authors.initials: UM
authors.lastname: Anderberg
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005221:Fatigue / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008016:Life Change Events; D008875:Middle Aged; D033262:Narration; D011788:Quality of Life