Hello,

I am from Brisbane, Australia, 39, married with 4 great children and 2 lovely grandchildren.

I have suffered with Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue and Myofacial Pain Syndrome for about 6 yrs. I was diagnosed after having Ross River Fever and just never getting better. It took me a long while to find out what was wrong with me and why I had gone from an active, fit full time worker, wife and mum to being in agony every day and unable to do my normal daily things. I also suffer from Chronic Back Pain and have crushed discs, pinched nerves, bone spurs etc.

I found my own way of coping with this eventually but never really accepted that I couldnt be superwoman anymore and I pushed myself daily to try and do things as usual. Slowly I had to give up working full time, at first I dropped one day a fortnight then 2 until I was working only 8 days.I am a nurse and looked after the aged ( which was my passion) it took everything I had to continue to work as its a heavy physical job but I struggled through. I hurt my shoulder catching a patient who fell from her chair and ended up being on Compo since 6/2006. I still worked when they would let me and my shoulder could take it. The Compo ( workcover in Aus) were making life hell and I ended up dropping another day from my week, but was never compensated for this. May 2007 I had surgery on my shoulder to try and repair the rotor cuff and calcific tendons. I awoke from surgery with a headache which got worse for the next day. I had a stroke! Its was awful and left me with right sided weakness and facial weakness. After this I kept having little strokes. Not Tia's as they left damage. I have gone through extensive investigations, 18 Lumbar Punctures, Neuro testings, the lot. While they were doing this they found I had a huge aneurysm too. It had nothing to do with the strokes as they were iscemic, but it required urgent surgery. So I am slowly recovering from major brain surgery. All this has made my Fm etc flare continually and I am in a great deal of pain daily. Its never ending really. I do have days that are better than others but everyday is a struggle to get through.

My life has dramatically changed in the last 6yrs. I guess you just try to live the best way you can and hope that nothing more happens. I have lost my job, most of my friends, People dont know how to be a friend to someone sick and in pain, most of my independence is gone. But I do have my life, my children,grandchildren, and wonderful Husband. I couldnt get through each day without them all and I love them so much.

I have realised when its all said and done the only thing that is really of value is your health and family!

           I hope to hear from you all and get to know you and support you in any way I can...

                                Cheers from Sunny Austalia

                                                Kitty