Chiko Matenda

Hi Fellow Warriors,
Welcome to our community! This is space where we turn pain into power, isolation into connection.

Feel free to connect on here. Post suggestions, recommendation and questions. If you have story to share as well , do reach out via IG@ChikoCfM1


Remember as always you are not alone🫶💜


#fibromyalgia #mecfs #chronicillness

1 month ago | [YT] | 2

Chiko Matenda

IBS-like symptoms are common in Fibromyalgia and ME/CFS due to the gut-brain axis. Chronic pain and stress disrupt digestion, causing bloating, cramps, and food sensitivities.

Warrior Tips:
▫️Stick to gentle, easy-to-digest meals
▫️Minimise inflammatory foods/drinks
▫️Listen to your body -it will guide you on the potential trigger food/drinks
▫️Keep a food and symptom journal to spot triggers

How are you supporting your gut today?
Drop a 💜💜💜or share your go-to comfort foods below.

#livingwithfibromyalgia #ibsawareness
#chronicillness #fibromylagia #mecfs

3 months ago | [YT] | 2

Chiko Matenda

Beyond “Just Pain” 💜

Fibromyalgia and ME/CFS pain isn’t just one thing it’s many things, all at once. It can feel widespread, migratory, burning, tingling, stabbing, or like a deep ache that never quite fades.

It’s not weakness. It’s a nervous system stuck in overdrive a faulty alarm system where the volume is permanently turned up.

This pain isn’t always visible, but it’s always real. And it demands more than just endurance it asks for compassion, creativity, and care.


Warrior Tip:
🧣 Layer up! Soft, breathable fabrics and heat packs can offer gentle comfort on high-pain days. Sometimes the smallest things -warmth, texture, softness can help soothe an overwhelmed body.

You’re not “just in pain.” You’re navigating a complex, relentless storm with grace. And that makes you a warrior.

#diaryofafibrowarrior💜

#BeyondJustPain #fibromyalgiaawareness #MEcfswarrior #chronicillnesslife #painmanagementtips #fyp #healingjourney

3 months ago | [YT] | 2

Chiko Matenda

Day 4: The Invisible Storm. Just because you can’t see our symptoms doesn’t mean they aren’t real. The biggest battle is often fought in silence, behind a “fine” smile.

#fibrowarrior Your experience is valid, even when no one else can see it. You don’t owe anyone proof🫶

#diaryofafibrowarrior💜

3 months ago | [YT] | 1

Chiko Matenda

Day 2: The Fatigue You Can’t Sleep Off

Fibro/ME-CFS fatigue isn’t normal tiredness. It’s a profound, whole-body exhaustion often described as a “crash” or “hit by a truck” feeling that rest doesn’t fix.

Warrior Tip: Honor your energy limits, not the clock. If you need to cancel plans, you’re not flaky—you’re smart🫶

Learn more and follow for updates Diary of a Fibro Warrior @tiktok @substack

🌎 www.tiktok.com/@diary_of_a_fibrowarrior

🌍 open.substack.com/pub/chikocfm


#diaryofafibrowarrior💜

#october2025 #spooniesupport #mecfs #livingwithfibromyalgia #cfs #chronicfatiguesyndrome

3 months ago | [YT] | 1

Chiko Matenda

🍂Day 1: October is a season of change and so is our journey.

You’re not just surviving. You’re adapting, enduring and showing up with a strength that defies explanations.

You navigate invisible battles daily, often with no roadmap, no applause, and no pause button.

And yet, you rise.

This month, as the leaves turn and the air shifts, let it remind you: transformation is possible, even in stillness.

Healing isn’t always loud. Sometimes, it’s in the quiet moments of choosing rest over guilt, asking for help without shame, or simply making it through the day.

💥 You are resilient

💥 You are worthy

💥You are not alone

Let October be a time to honour your body’s wisdom, your spirit’s tenacity, and the community walks beside you.

Whether today feels like a victory or struggle, you are part of a story that matters.

This month let’s remind ourselves: even slow process is still progress🫶🔥

#diaryofafibrowarrior💜

#cfs #fibromyalgia #chronicillness

3 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 1

Chiko Matenda

Day 23: The Courage to Stop
Your strength isn’t about pushing through at all costs. It’s about knowing when to pause, when to protect your energy, and when to say “enough for today.”

In a world that praises endurance, it takes radical courage to stop.

To listen to your body.
To honour your limits.
To choose rest over burnout.


This isn’t giving up it’s choosing yourself. And that’s a strength most people will never understand.

Drop a 💜💜💜 if you’ve ever had to choose rest over pushing through.

Let’s remind each other: stopping is brave.


#diaryofafibrowarrior💜

#mecfs #chronicillness #mecfs #fibromayalgia

3 months ago | [YT] | 2

Chiko Matenda

💜 Day 22: Resting Is Not Lost Time

In a world that glorifies hustle, rest can feel like failure. But for chronic illness warriors, rest isn’t a luxury—it’s a lifeline.

Resting is not lost time. It’s invested time in your future well-being. It’s how you reduce flare-ups, manage fatigue, and protect your energy for the days ahead.

🌿 How to Make Rest Intentional

Schedule rest like appointments—your body deserves priority.

Create a calming space—soft lighting, cosy blankets, gentle sounds.

Use pacing techniques—balance activity with recovery.

Let go of guilt—rest is productive when your body is healing.

Listen to your symptoms—they’re messengers, not inconveniences.

💬 Let’s Talk

What does rest look like for you? Do you struggle with guilt, or have you found ways to honour your body’s needs?

Drop a 💜 or share your ritual in the comments. Your story might be the reminder someone else needs today.

Remember to subscribe to become part of our community, to be kept up to date and to help raise further awareness. Thanks for your support🫶

#diaryofafibrowarior💜

#mecfs #chronicillnesswarior #fibrowarrior

3 months ago | [YT] | 0

Chiko Matenda

💜 Day 21: Your Track Record Is Powerful

You’ve survived 100% of your worst days so far. That’s not just a statistic, it’s a testament to your strength.

Through flare-ups, fatigue, fear, and frustration, you’ve kept going. You’ve adapted, endured, and shown up in ways most people will never understand.

Even when your body feels like it’s betraying you… Even when the pain is invisible but all-consuming… Even when you feel like you’re falling behind in a world that won’t slow down.

You’re still here. And that’s not just survival. That’s resilience. That’s warrior energy.

So today, take a moment to honour your journey. You’ve come through every storm so far—and that’s a powerful track record. You don’t have to be “better” to be brave. You already are🫶

Help me raise further awareness about Fibro & ME/CFS by Subscribing here. Or Following/Sharing content which resonates with you. Thank you for your support💜🫶👇

www.tiktok.com/@diary_of_a_fibrowarrior

#Diaryofafibrowarrior💜

#fibromyalgia #cfs #chronicillness #mecfs

3 months ago | [YT] | 0

Chiko Matenda

Your chronic pain is valid even on the days you “look fine.” You’ve learned to mask the discomfort, to smile through the fatigue, and to keep showing up when your body is pleading for rest.

I’ll hold my hand up to this, I have inadvertently being masking for years🙋🏽‍♀️

It takes a kind of strength most people will never understand. Be proud of yourself🫶

Living with an invisible illness means constantly navigating the gap between how you feel and how others perceive you. You may look “okay” on the outside, but inside, your body is fighting battles that don’t show up on your face. And that disconnect can be isolating, even heartbreaking.

But here’s the truth: You don’t need to prove your pain to anyone. You don’t need to justify your exhaustion, your limits, or your need for rest. You are not lazy. You are not weak. You are not making it up.

You are surviving something relentless. And every time you pace yourself, cancel a plan, or choose rest over pushing through you’re not giving up. You’re choosing to protect your body. That’s not weakness.

That’s wisdom.

So today, let this be your reminder:

You are seen.

You are believed.

You are worthy of compassion.

You are not alone in this.

💬 If you’ve ever felt unseen, unheard, or doubted because of your invisible illness feel free to share your story in the comments.

Your voice matters. Your experience matters. And someone reading might finally feel a little less alone because of you💜

My Fibro Community Chat on here is also open to you Warrior. DM me to connect!

Daily Motivation | Sept 💜 Diary of a Fibro Warrior @TikTok @Substack

3 months ago | [YT] | 0