Sorry for the delayed response, mah reddit app marked your commebt as read in my inbox without me reading it...
We do exist! XD... I know that feeling thhe support groups I've been to I was the youngest by far... but this subreddit is full of people around our age dealing with the same key issues; looking after yourself whilst exhausted, relationships & the day to day frustrations of this horrible situation... So actually, I know exactly how you feel there, it's somewhat comforting to know that us lot exist =]
I have the same issue, I live behind two clubs that are crawling with social activity on the weekends and I'm stuck inside cause walking after work is tricky, now and then my legs give way and i collapse, usually when exhausted, usually when walking home from work... trying to get in on the nightlife is hellish.
The only exercise that works for me is physio stretches, if you google physiotherapy for fibro you'll find the kind of thing I mean, basic leg extensions tend to relieve some of the pain in my left knee. on top of that I cycle, afterwords I flare or feel pain but the next day is magical... If I cycle late in the afternoon or evening my body hates me for it for the rest of the day, but the day after I sometimes get 4 to 6 hours with no pain is my legs, it's like floating around on morphine and vally.
Generally low impact exercises are best, cycling is great cause it's low impact and rythmic, swimming is the number 1 suggestion for fibro but I don't like the idea of hitting the baths full of decrepid old people trying to sooth their arthritis, whilst I'm doing the same. I've been looking to take up yoga but I've not got around to it yet =]
I'm the same, diagnosed with depression at 14, fibro at 22... it came first =]
Honestly, shame is my motivator.. the last year or two I focussed on my external appearance so that people at work and out and about wouldn't think I was suffering... Anywho, long story short I also suffer from Crohn's disease (fibro is a co-morbid rather than my main complaint), last year around august that put me in hospital on mg death bed, miraculous recovery on corticosteroids... but when I got out of hospital my dad saw the state of my apartment, the way I was living and the shame and dissapointment stuck with me... That's my only motivator now to keep up with it.
As for where I find the energy; I don't, I usually clean on weekends but during the week I keep up with small tasks like the dishes or bins... It's exhausting but the motivation to keep it clean is what drives me... It's useful to have friends over regularly, that also acts as a motivator and they can tell when you slip =]... The two options are; cut each task down into tiny portions, do a little bit now and then despite the exhaustion and pain, or hire a domestic cleaner to pick up what you can't do.
Oh my fuck I'm so glad i don't have to sort out makeup every day, us dudes with fibro have it way easier than you gals... Shaving is a killer for me, I have very little dexterity and my arms cramp when I hold a razor to my face so usually they shake or I drop the razor a few times... I can't imagine how much more effort doing makeup would be but it's bound to be more precise and if you get muscle cramps or whatever that could be a killer.
haha thanks =] I push on because it's either that or end up on disability or in care after having spent years on my educstion, just out of uni... that would feel like such a waste. I wish you well for the future as well, it sounds like we're dealing with the same problems, I hope life treats you well with them.
If you ever fancy a natter through easier means of communication feel free to drop me a message for my personal details.