'Sick and tired of feeling sick and tired' is how some Fibromyalgia sufferers summarise how they feel. The 'everything hurts' syndrome is a common nickname for this chronic condition of widespread pain and chronic fatigue, which many people suffer with for years without a diagnosis, often thought of as lazy or malingering, probably told frequently to pull themselves together, or that it's all in their head, whilst they themselves feel completely drained of all energy, as if someone pulled the plug. In spite of this they struggle on, their home and social life suffering as the effort to continue working is so great, it is all they can do to climb up to bed when they get home. They long to wake in the morning feeling as though they have slept, and with enough energy to get out of bed – let alone through the day – without really knowing what is wrong or how long it may last.

People are so relieved when their symptoms of aches and pains, fatigue, irritable bowel, lack of
concentration, sensitivity and disturbed sleep are all put down to one condition – fibromyalgia. The relief is often short-lived though as more often than not they are discharged by their Consultant quicker than they were diagnosed, and left to get on with it. There is no cure for fibromyalgia, though there are treatments for some of the various symptoms, with varying levels of success. Despite being a common illness – as common as rheumatoid arthritis – there are no fibromyalgia departments, and very few fibromyalgia specialists. Most people have to go from one department to another for treatment for each part of their condition, with each specialist ignoring the symptoms outside his/her remit. The only person concerned with the whole is the patient and, if they're lucky, their GP – though often even that is not the case as there are still some medical professionals who do not believe in it as a diagnosis and many more who do not even know how to diagnose it.

It is partly because of this frustration that a Fibromyalgia Support Group is being setup to provide
information and support for anyone affected by Fibromyalgia locally. Working closely with the national
fibromyalgia charity, FMAUK, and the local Primary Care Trusts, FMSupport will be holding regular meetings and facilitating peer support across South Essex as well as operating a local helpline which has already received many calls not just from fibromyalgia sufferers but also from family, friends and medical professionals wanting to know how best to support someone with fibromyalgia.

Monday, 12 May is International Fibromyalgia Awareness Day and will be marked by a coffee morning in
Westminster for MPs and fibromyalgia sufferers and supporters. FMSupport will be holding their own
coffee morning on Wednesday, 14 May from 10am until 12noon at Stanford-le-Hope Methodist Church.
Further details of the coffee morning, fibromyalgia, and other local activities are available on the
FMSupport website at http://fmsupport.org.uk

Anyone affected by fibromyalgia, whether they suffer with it themselves, or care for someone who
does, is welcome to contact the FMSupport helpline, available on 0844 443 7189 at the following times: Monday 9am-11am; Tuesday 1pm-3pm; Wednesday 1pm-3pm; Thursday 7pm-9pm. A voicemail system operates at all other times, though it is hoped to extend the helpline times.

For further details of FMSupport (South Essex) and Press Enquiries, please contact
Steve Westrop, Project Manager, FMSupport, PO Box 1942, Stanford-le-Hope, SS17 0DE
Phone/Fax: 0844 443 1189 Mobile: 07779 345667 Email: steve@fmsupport.org.uk

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