Hi, it's me, Sal...starting something entirely new. 

I am not very good with stories, nor am I very good at explaining my thoughts, but here goes.

Every day of my life since I can remember, I've had pain..."growing pains" (pediatrician), dismenoreah (painful periods) since they started when I was 10 1/2 years old. Endometriosis, asthma, chronic pain, and fatigue have been a constant in my life.  I have had 5 miscarraiges that we know of, and could never conceive after the age of 30. Also am hypothyroid and arthritic (osteo as far as we know now). Have battled (and won, for now) breast cancer. Have a high tolerance for pain meds because of taking codiene, soma, darvon, darvocet, et al, for years due to the periods alone.  Ibuprophen was a God send! I could function at a better rate, but, wow, did I bleed.

 Early menopause hit @ about 48 years of age, then the cancer at 49.  The FM started being more noticable when I was about 35...am 53 now, and finally got the diagnosis a few years back. Working outside of home is indescribably hard to even think of..haven't held a job outside of our home since my 1st surgery. My husband is my hero, and God above keeps me going. 

SSDI has denied me once, am working on an appeal. Even that process is exhausting. Coming up with $ for co-pays is a major effort.

Mom, her dad, her brother, a sister of mine (possibly 2 out of the 4), 2 1st cousins by Mom's brother, and several of the new generation of our family have/had all been diagnosed and treated for FM. Add to the mix various heart and pulmonary issues, osteonecrosis, and RA, and you have one big family that is miserable, but we love each other and try to support each other as well as we can.

An abiding faith in God and His son Jesus has been not only a help, but a healing force, in that we've learned to carry on, and just keep trucking along.

I most sincerely hope that any of you who are reading this take time to meditate, read, or otherwise commune with the creator.  Remember transcendental meditation?  If you used it 25+ years ago, or whenever, renew your skills!  It really helps!

We wish you all pain free days and a clear mind...with no depression or fogginess.

Lyrica has me thinking that maybe I shouldn't take it. More on that later! Thanks, folks, for sharing!  Sal