I’ve been suffering from chronic pain, depression, horrendous fatigue, mind fog etc etc for years and was finally diagnosed with fibromyalgia this week. I was made redundant from the job I loved in may 2012 and have had to take a lower paid job. Not only am I now going through the worst symptoms and the lowest mood right now but I’m also in debt and struggling to pay my mortgage. I can’t sleep for worry and for the pain. I’m at a point of despair. My meds haven’t been sorted yet and I don’t know how to cope. I can’t take time off work or take holiday as my boss doesn’t pay me if I do. I’ve missed a mortgage payment and am now stressed in case I lose my house.
I hoped a friend would show some empathy when I told them my diagnosis but all she did was laugh and say oh you feel pain like a man then and followed that with well you look ok and it can’t be that bad you go to work everyday. I felt so alone and desperate so I came here to find some understanding and perhaps done advice too.
We all understand exactly how you feel. There are many here from the UK, and some may be able to 'teach you the ropes' for over there. We have a grand list of help for Americans, but no one has comprised one for the UK as yet.
I do suggest that you insist on seeing a Rheumatologist, as I think they are the best trained for Fibromyalgia, they can rule out any Rheumatic or Autoimmune disaeses as well.
I am so very sorry that you are not getting better moral support, but we all understand how that goes too, only a few are fortunate to have a good circle of support, very few, so we cherish each other and hang on to each other for dear life! Ben and Scott had the very best idea when they started these support groups, it changes lives, saves lives just to be able to converse with others who suffer the same things. We share info and laugh and cry together!
Lack of sleep and stress are our worst enemies, but this illness seems to perpetuate both, My Doctors have finally given me the right mix to allow me to sleep most of the time, but I can no longer work, and I miss it!
We welcome you, we are here for you, we invite you to post any questions you may have, there is a search engine at the top left side of the discussions page that will allow you to find information from our archives on just about any topic you can imagine. Stay strong and don't give up!
Welcome! I am sorry about your present circumstances. It is aweful enough to suffer physically but to not have emotional support can be quite devestating. This forum will certainly be of help in that area and also may help you with information to what assistance may be available to you in the UK regarding financial harship.
One member comes to mind, mikejudd, who is from the UK and is very knowlegeable. You may want to connect with him. I know he would be glad to help you.
You'll make lots of friends here. We all try to support one another any way that we can.
Welcome! I get more support from these lovely people on this site than I do anywhere else. My husband tries to understand but not well enough and when I am an emotional wreck he just says I am crazy. I am sleep deprived, anxious, and physically miserable. I found a rheum who diagnosed me with fibro she is great! Saw my PCP today and he wants to send me to a neuro he also wants to help me get off most if not all of my narcotics. Yay! Please talk about anything and share your history. I love this site.
Thank you :) It's so hard to get anyone else to understand if they don't have it. They just don't get it and think I'm just making it all up. I can't explain it to them. It's so isolating. My Rheumatologist is sending me details of a local support group but I don't drive so I'm not sure how I'll get there. He's also sending all his recommendations to my GP but I don't know what medication I'm going to be on. I was on Amitryptilene but didn't find it did anything for me. Then I was put on Hydrochloroquine as I had a few elevated inflammatory markers and they thought it could be Lupus. However, now they've eliminated that I've got to come off those. so essentially right now I'm not really on any meds and Ibuprofen or Naproxen and Paracetamol don't make any difference. Combined with the stress of day to day life and the lack of sleep I'm like a walking zombie.
This place took me a while to find but I'm glad I have. Everyone has been so understanding and sympathetic. It's so good to know I'm amongst people who understand this condition. It's just a shame that we are all having to suffer it's effects to come together.
So, you are new to this site. I'm very glad that you found us because we know how you feel and we believe you and care about you and support you. There are several members from the UK and they have formed their own group so you might like to click on the tab at the top of the Main page that says Groups and find the Group from the UK and join them. I am thinking that they may be able to help you with some resources that you need right now.
We believe you and support you, but I live in Canada so the resources here may not be available to you in England.
Hi Lorraine. I'm so sorry. You sound like you are pretty low right now. The people on this website are so helpful with their information. Please have hope. It takes awhile, but the doc's and the meds will work out, the people here can help with advice from all different walks of life and all different medical experiences. And yes, fibromyalgia is a diagnosis that really is a pit! Sorry for my negativity, but it is. We feel terrible, we can't think, we get depressed because of all the domino effects this disorder has on us. BUT, we find friends who are supportive, we learn to spend less time with those who don't understand. We educate ourselves and learn what are the best things for these bodies to benefit from. I agree with SK. Seek out a rheumatologist and start from there. The rest will fall into place.
Hang on to hope and learn from the wise people on this website! I'm new here too and these folks have helped me through some things the last few weeks. Just reading other peoples posts and the responses have been greatly helpful.