's Story

My dream is to once again be a happy, productive, and functional lady again. I will continue to be positive and hopeful about that.

I finally decided to tell my doctor everything that was going on instead of downplaying my symptoms.

The first time I felt something was wrong with me was when I was talking with a someone and I couldn't think clearly.

It began with periods of horrific waves of fatigue for me. Today, I do everything I can to help ease the fibromyalgia pain I face.

I began experiencing never-ending intense physical pain and fatigue. My pain was all over my body, but the intensity of that pain moved to different areas.

I was a sickly child and had frequent bouts of widespread pain. I was told these were simply growing pains and would get better as I got older.

I had always felt fatigue and an inability to tolerate someone touching me, especially what I know now to be pressure points.

It all started when I was 7 years old. I woke up one morning to brush my teeth and I couldn't squeeze the toothpaste out because my wrist hurt so badly.

One beautiful, sunny afternoon in August of 1998 I was a passenger in a car accident. I was in extreme pain after the accident but continued to work.

30+ years ago no one had heard of fibromyalgia. I was given pain medication, muscle relaxers, anti-inflammatory and anti-depressant.

My primary doctor told me it was stress and extra weight and that all I needed to do was exercise every day and not stress.

My fibromyalgia story starts eight years ago. It wasn't a climactic beginning; it was just achey low back pain that got worse.