Messages By: love2help

I have fibromyalgia and was diagnosed about five years ago myself.  I also have severe depression and lymphedema.  Have your mom send me an email if she would like.   I  intend to start some of the suggestions about getting this "invisible disease" the attention we deserve.  I am not comparing this illness to breast cancer, as I have never had breast cancer and would not begin to suggest that I know how bc victims and survivors feel, but if I had to choose, I almost think I would choose bc because they can cut it off, chemo it away and burn it up with radiation.  No one even really understands what is wrong with me, much less offering me a list of options for treating it.  I don't have any health insurance, therefore, almost no one in the health care community cares one way or the other.  My daughter's GYN offered to start seeing me as a result of the severe depression I was battling upon the death of my husband in June of this year.   He has helped me so much and he has a true respect for how badly I really do feel.  However, his hands are tied to some extent as he has limitations in what components he of my illnesses he can really treat.  But I THANK GOD  for him every day of my life.  He has made my life bearable and given me back enough of my life that I can work, sometimes every day, and I am so grateful for that.  thanks for listening to me ramble 

I too have fibromyalgia complicated by rheumatoid arthritis. No one can understand the pain, sometimes never ending pain that a person with fibro. must suffer. It is a constant struggle to deal with this ailment  we have, especially when we show no signs of illness except for the sign of pain on our face. I think you are a very loving daughter to look for others with your mother's illness so that she has someone to relate to. You are so right that no one can empathize with a person with our illness unless they have it.  

I would love to be an e-mail pal to your mom. Maybe she can help me make it through the day a little more comforting knowing I have someone to talk to and that can relate to my everyday life. I sure have the time to e-mail, I am at this time working on getting my disability. So I am home usually everyday, dealing with what life offers me today, whether a very bad day of pain, aches, down in the dumps mood or a half way decent day where I can hope to do alittle housework. 

Please have your mom e-mail me or send me her address and will e-mail her.  

  My address is morous61@yahoo.com. 

  Yours truly, 

  Maureen 

Michele,   I have FM and RA.  I have found that on line support groups have been a life saver for me.  I receive unconditional love, support and encouragement, plus news about research and new medical treatments or drugs.  More importantly I get to give support to others.  Thinking about and wanting to help a friend can really help chase the depression monster away.   Love and support from family is very important to FM sufferers but so is doing for for ourselves. Please encourage your mom to search for a group that she feels comfortable and at home.   Because chronic pain can be depressing, part of my treatment plan includes an anti-depressant.   I also see my doctor on a regular schedule to monitor my pain levels and my over all health.  Finding a doctor that understands FM can be difficult and costly but worth the search.   Your mom will find it helpful to read about FM.   There are many good books some with different outlooks on FM.  The more you know about it the better you can converse with your doctor.    Your mother is very lucky to have such a caring and loving daughter.    Panowl