June 2009
An introduction to ESA
The Government’s Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) introduced a new benefit in October last year to replace incapacity benefit (IB) and income support (IS) for people too sick or disabled to work. It caused quite a stir and is still not understood by many. Following feedback from members, staff and enquiries, though, we are providing a brief guide to the new Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) as it will affect many of our members.
Hi Meeting at Eastwood
Hi Everyone
I am 52 years old married for 34 years with one son who's 29 and living away. I was diagnosed about 8 years ago apart from a pain management course i have had very little support. I have had most help from psychiatrist dept. They have been the last few weeks been trying to get me a review of my pain tablets as they are still the same ones I was originally prescribed.
Groups & Meetings
FMSupport helps co-ordinate groups and activities throughout Essex and Greater London and, through our relationship with other organisations and our growing online community, further afield too. For the sake of this information page, though, we are referring to groups and meetings in Essex and London.
Learning to Live again - through the day
Starting the Day
As your day begins, survey what lies before you. Think of all the good things that can happen. Then do everything in your power to make them happen.
Plan on eating breakfast, and keep it simple. It is hard enough to move in the morning. Preparing a meal first thing may be more than you can handle. It could start your day off on a bad note. Collect easy, one-dish recipes.
Learning to Live again - coping with morning stiffness
Morning Stiffness
Many individuals with Fibromyalgia report experiencing stiffness in the morning when they get out of bed. Muscle stiffness can also reoccur throughout the day, especially after being in one position for an extended period of time.
Tips on coping with morning stiffness (Jenny Fransen, R.N.)
Learning to live again - the morning after the night before
Coping with Mornings
Like most people with Fibromyalgia (FMS), you probably have problems with mornings. "Fibrofog" envelops you. You cannot remember things. Items you think you have a firm grip on go flying across the room. You may always have been a 'morning person', but now your body and mind seem to be feuding, and every day you need to negotiate a truce before you can begin to function.
Learning to live again - Introduction
Do you ever feel that this is just a test life? If it were a real life, surely you would have been issued a lifetime-guaranteed working body and instructions on how to use it. At times, every day may seem to you to be an obstacle course-a perverse game you play where the rules keep changing and no one can tell you what they are.
Learning to Live again - Coping day to day with Fibromyalgia Syndrome
The latest in our series of information leaflets looks at coping day to day with Fibromyalgia. We all have different ways of coping, and what works for one person may not in fact work for another, but there are some basic principles that should help us all the get through the day a little more easily.
Personal Blogs
Our website includes the option for registered users to have their own personal 'blog' - a place to share your thoughts, feelings, storoes... anything you like related to Fibro!
You can see what others have been saying via the link to blogs
or post something on your own blog now if you are logged in.
Appreciate Success
Try to go to bed each night happy that you have achieved at least one thing during your day. Even taking a short walk with a friend is an achievement. Try not to be too hard on yourself, but set realistic, manageable goals and celebrate the success of achieving them.
Always remember that you can and will have improvement in your fibromyalgia symptoms by implementing your own personalised selfmanagement plan. Continuing to learn all that you can about fibromyalgia will help the light at the end of the tunnel become bigger and brighter.
