Hi Soffy,

Just read your posts and I thought that I would send a note back.  I am 54 years old and have had problems with fibromyalgia for about 10 years.  I have also had Diabetes Type 1 since I was a teenager.  My mother had suffered from fibromyalgia from about the age of 50.  Hers turned into PMR, she also suffered through a bout of Legionnaire's Disease.  She definitely was a beautiful person.  She passed away on Christmas Eve five years ago.  She was always so friendly and encouraging to everyone.  Everyone that knew her was a friend.  I was fortunate enough to be able to spend her last four years without having to work, as my body and spirit could no longer cope with the stress of doing my desk job up to par.  It got to the point that I was tearing up before work afraid that I would make a huge mistake because my mind wasn't where it needed to be.  I now understand the frustration that my mother underwent when sounds such as 'ouch' or 'ow' escaped her lips (around me), and how hard she tried to act normal when she was out and about with her friends. I am so glad that I was able to be with her when she passed.  She had a very slight stroke the week before she died.  I had helped decorate her apartment for the holidays and I would address her envelopes while she would prepare her cards. At the end of the day she received a call from her childhood home town that one of her sisters was in the hospital and that they didn't think she would be coming back home.  It was sad, but not unexpected.  Her sister had heart problems for decades and had out lived all the other patients who were part of a trial group in heart valve replacement.  I left to return to my home and my husband and youngest daughter.  The next day when I got together with my mom to fiinish her cards, she was unable to write.  I asked her if she might have suffered a stroke and she said that she thought she may have.  My siblings and I made sure that one of us were home with her 24/7.  My father had passed 10 years prior to this time.  My brother, his wife and I stayed there for the last four days.  We saw to any needs she required and visited with her when she was awake.  Her local grandkids and great grandkids stopped in to see her and she was just so uplifting to us all.  We knew that she didn't have many days left and she asked us to have her priest come in for her last rites. We did this and the next afternoon as we were having lunch while our mother was sleeping, she called for us to come to her.  We entered her bedroom and found our mother sitting up and she told us that God was calling her and she was going to leave us.  We exchanged the warmest hugs and kisses and parting love phrases.  She laid back down, put her head on her pillow, pulled her blanksts up and said goodbye.  We left her room and checked in on her about 5 minutes later and her spirit was gone.  Her sister that was in the hospital told her daughter that was with her at that time, that angels had come for my mother.  My mother's sister passed about two weeks later and just before she did she told her daughter that her room was full of angels and that my mother was there with them.  It was all so inspirational that we didn't suffer the normal sorrow.  We surely miss her presence, but knowing that all the suffering that she went through was over helped heal her absence.  She made the most of her life while she was with us and she left us with so many wonderful memories to cherish for the rest of our days.  I also am married to a great guy who is so understanding about my health.  We have three daughters.  One who is married and the wife of a naval officer.  They live in Virginia with one of our grand-daughters and a grandson.

Our youngest daughter is serving in the Navy, stationed in Japan.  Our oldest daughter lives about two hours away with our grand-daughter Lindsey.  I pray that I may be as brave as my mother always seemed to be.  I have been on anti-depressants for about twelve years, as I got so down because of my physical limitations. at that time due to neuropathy, one of the complications of my diabetes.  It sure made a world of difference in my outlook toward life.  I have tried both Lyrica and Cymbalta, but neither seemed to help.  It was encouraging to read about the new drug Milnacipran, especially if it doesn't have the side effect of weight gain.  A problem I never thought  I would have to deal with - wrong! Hope the story of my mother inspired you, it does me.  Have a Happy Thanksgiving!     Laurie