FYBROMYALGIA

Created by: Liz glover, 27 January 2014

Fybromyalgia affect many people and some still not diagnosed as it is easy for doctors to miss or ignore. Share your tips and experiences of this disabling illness which affects your whole body with pains, aches, sore pressure points, depression and tiredness. Has anyone recent experience of PIP assessment?

I am 55 andiIt has taken since my early 20's to discover the ongoing pains and aches and tired all the time with depression, tender spots all over my body especially my legs are not in my imagination. For years going back to the doctor explaining to different doctors made me feel like hypochondria and I am sure some doctor may has put that in my notes. The Fybromyalgia is worse when major trauma's take place in your life: The first time I remember this was as a teenager and lying on the couch ill, achey, breathless, depressed and so tired my dad had to carry me up to bed. The doctor said I was just run down and gave me a tonic to drink for two weeks. Eventually I felt normal again and presumed it was the tonic. I had further episodes of this mystery illness when stressed for different reasons like my mum leaving home and when my dad beat her up badly. I was just given iron tablets, vitamins and tonics. The next time I remember was after my first child was born and it was put down to severe post natal depression and put on valium. This went on an on I developed it when my daughter had leukaemia at 2 then again at 13 only this last time I was told it was Post Traumatic Stress and have been on tablets since then for depression and pain relief. I had never heard of Fybromyalgia until my oldest son who lives in Derby saw a new specialist doctor about 7 years ago and was himself diagnosed with the illness or should I say disability. He was offer many treatment including acupuncture which gave a little relief he then turned to herbal tablets which did help and told me to get checked for Fybromyalgia. After seeing Physios, CBT and scans then a Rheumatologist finally diagnosed me correctly it was a relief to know what was happening to me after all these years. The pains are still there I take 3 different pain killers everyday and Sertraline to help with the depression. I have to be careful not to over do things as it will set me back and I then need bed rest for days. I am currently appealing my PIP decision and awaiting the hearing date - long battle still to get the medical staff to understand what Fybromyalgia is and how it affect people. You do get the good days too especially when it is warm and sunny but they are not as many as the bad days. Please join the group and share your tips and experiences of Fybromyalgia and help others to understand.