FIBROMYALGIA AWARENESS DAY 12TH MAY 2008. Hi. I, along with my mates Sean and Andy, all Nimlok (Wellingborough) employees, are raising money for Fibromyalgia in support of my partner, Beth (pictured left), who suffers from the condition (along with joint hypermobility syndrome and raynaud's). We will be cycling the Waendel Weekend 26mile / 42km route in Wellingborough on Saturday 10th May 2008 (NOT 11th as printed at top of page). Anyone who knows Beth, or other sufferers, will appreciate how totally life changing it is for both the person and their family. I'll let Beth explain herself, below, but please help the Fibromyalgia Foundation by sponsoring us - donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Fibromyalgia Association UK will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you. Many thanks for your support. Phill "Howdy. I chose the picture on the left as it shows pretty much how I spend the majority of my time now - in bed. In this picture I am smiling. I am on holiday and not totally having to bully myself to get up to start the day, get washed, cook, walk up and down the stairs, walk anywhere actually - all things that are so very much more difficult and worrying for me now than in November 2006 when I was still getting up at 6am to go for a morning run, commuting to London daily for work, running around town, cleaning, organising everything, enjoying nights out with friends, dancing, going to the gym, swimming, running around and playing with my little step-daughter and all the things most of us take for granted. In December 2006 life took a very different turn from the path I expected. I still see that path, it's just that I am no longer running along it. I am still grieving for my old life now but I am lucky to have Phill, who has been wonderful, and my family and friends to support me. It'll get easier, I hope, to bear. I remember the day that I realised something was really wrong very clearly. It was Easter Saturday 2007. I had been unwell for a while; not knowing what was wrong, seeing different doctors and specialists, having xrays and blood tests galore, but I suppose I always thought I'd get over it eventually. That particular day I was paying for a card in a card shop and I dropped some coins on the floor. I wasn't being clumsy, I had a real problem with my fingers. I can't explain why this was when I knew I was permanently ill - I just did. From there I got worse, with no diagnosis and 6 weeks off work behind me, and in June 2007 I excepted defeat and bought a cane to help me walk. In September 2007, still with no diagnosis and getting worse I realised that working full time in London was no longer an option for me. In October 2007 I realised that working in London full stop was not an option - the pain made it impossible to carry on 'as normal'. Luckily I have had great support from my company. They realised, unlike some, that it's my body that's stopped working properly, not my brain, and the limitations this puts on me. It's a shock for everyone though - I went from strong and vibrant to weak and lethargic in a short space of time without really knowing the reason why. I am still pretty feisty though!  Fibromyalgia has no cure and there is little treatment. There is no magic pill to take. The sufferers have to accept chronic pain as part of their everyday existence. Imagine waking up with a bad hangover and flu combined everyday of your life and you'll have some idea of what it feels like to suffer from this illness. Symptoms include: Fatigue, Insomnia, Stiffness, Anxiety, Migraines, IBS, Irritable bladder, Allergies, Depression, Temperature Intolerances, Dry Eyes, Numbness and Tingling, Jaw Ache, Soft Tissue Pain all over, muscle spasms, foggy brain (fibrofog), restless arms and legs, skin problems, bloating, congestion problems, mouth ulcers, bruising easily, teeth grinding, disturbed sleep.... I know! - how do us sufferers cope? Truth? - sometimes we don't. All we can hope is that some kind of cure or treatment is found. And that's where you come in. Please give as generously as you can afford to. If this happened to you, and it could (God forbid), how would you cope? Maybe you'd expect some treatment or hope for a cure? How is that going to be made possible without rasing awareness and funds? Thousands in the UK suffer from this condition yet it is not well known or talked about much. I've learnt it's no good saying 'why me?' - why the hell not me!? - but I am not going to sit back and do nothing, and nor is Phill. Let's do our bit to support Phill on his way round the Waendel 26 mile cycle route. Mine is the first donation on this website. Make yours one of the others, and if you can't afford to give this time, spare a thought for the Fibromyalgia Association in the future when you do have some spare pennies. Scroll down to sponsor. Thanks. " Beth x Website: http://www.fibromyalgia-associationuk.org/ Spare a thought for my associated condition also: http://www.hypermobility.org/
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